So Let’s Celebrate!

The year has started off with lots of new things going on, a new principal, new teachers, new parents, new students, even a new Parish Picnic (did you all have fun? check out the pictures on page 3)...but we need to remember that this is also a year of remembrances at St. Ambrose School. Mrs. Dalmut and Mrs. Goldman explained at Back to School Night that the DFE is the perfect time to not only look where we are now, but also to reflect on the journey that brought us here. We have already seen some great new changes in the school and I am sure that we will continue to see more. We do not want to forget the strengths that make the school. For me, one of the strengths of the school has always been it’s ability to adapt and be flexible, whether it’s on the playground or in the classroom, for an individual student or an entire class, St. Ambrose Catholic School pays attention to the needs warranted by the situation and adapts to benefit everyone as best it can.

While we revel in the wonderful changes going on in the school I think we also want to take some time this year to look back at the history of the school. The 2005/06 school year is the school’s 10 year anniversary. We look forward to the next 10 days, weeks, months, years, but I would also like us to take a little time to look back over these last 10 years and celebrate!

I need your help...parents, teachers, students...tell me how you would like to celebrate this year. Please take some time to think about this and send me your ideas, be creative! I would like to hear from those of you who have joined us recently, as well as the “old school,” so don’t be shy, send me all of your thoughts on how we can celebrate and rejoice in St. Ambrose Catholic School. Drop a note off at the school and Mrs. Fox will put it in my box, or give me a call, I’m in the directory (listed under Madeline Clamp) or you can send me an email at PTO@StAmbroseSchool.org.

So lets Celebrate!
Cecily Miner
PTO President

The “Buzz” From the Principal’s Desk

What a wonderful start to the new school year. The students and teachers are focused on lessons, the office staff is sorting through the many forms, the volunteers are sharing their time and talents, and I am enjoying meeting the wonderful families that make up our faith community at Saint Ambrose School. It is a privilege and a pleasure to work with the officers and members of the PTO. We have already had two board meetings, and it is so energizing to be a part of the ideas and plans to strengthen the mission of our school. I have to say that I have been affiliated with many fine academic institutions, both in a professional and parental capacity, and, although some are bigger in size, none surpasses St. Ambrose School in the parents’ dedication and willingness to help. It is truly a “family” united by our faith in God.

The DFE (Design for Excellence) is past the planning stage, and the different committees are beginning to set their agendas. I want to express my appreciation to the faculty for taking on this huge task while maintaining such superior dedication and professionalism in the classroom.

The front of the school looks beautiful. The flowers brighten the façade, and are a living symbol of the love we feel for St. Ambrose School. We owe a great debt of gratitude to the Knights of Columbus and the St. Joseph Workers for their hard work. They spent last Saturday planting, pruning, and weeding, all for our school.

The kindergartners had a great field trip a few weeks ago, visiting Mr. Herbert in his kitchen at Northern Virginia Community College. They decorated cookies and snacked on cookies and milk. I also went on the field trip – after all, you know what they say about “all work and no play…”

Mrs. Joanne Yates

Board Reports

President’s Report

Pledge Drive: Thank you to all of you who have pledged. I don’t have final numbers for you yet but at last count from our Treasurer we were just over $49,000 from about 90 families. This is a wonderful turnout and I’m very pleased that so many of you felt strongly enough about this new fundraising model to give it your support. I will be able to give you a more detailed report in the next newsletter once all of the pledges are in and have been tallied. If you have not had a chance to send yours in it’s not too late so please go ahead and drop it off at the office or send it back in in the Wednesday folder ATTN: PTO Treasurer. Thank you again for your incredible support.

Target’s Take Charge of Education: I’m pleased to announce the addition of Target to our list of merchant supporters. I’m sure that you have all registered your Safeway & Giant cards, now you can add your Target Charge or Target Visa cards to the list. Simply go to www.target.com/tcoe and register your card with Target and St. Ambrose will receive 1% of the sales on your Target Charge card and .5% of the sales on your Target Visa card. St. Ambrose designation number is 122807.

Treasurer’s Report

Volunteer Committee Report

St. Ambrose 2005 Parish Picnic Something for all

And Then There Was One

It was barely summer 1995 and there was a new school in town. Perhaps I should move my children? I thought of a shorter commute. No, we were happy; change is a hassle, scary and sad. I avoided any further thought on the matter. God had other plans. One morning in August I started thinking about making the change? Suddenly panic set in that perhaps I had waited too long. Like a bolt of lightening, I called the school and met with Mrs. Lesniak; 3rd grade had a wait list and Kindergarten was full. Within 2 days she had found a place for both of my children. She had a heart of gold and to this day her gentle presence can be seen throughout our school community.

What a blessing it was to take an active part in my children’s day to day lives by being a room parent, a playground/recess mom and a Grace art teacher. The memories hit me in the face each time I enter the school. With 21 years of combined (3 children/1 still here) experiences, they permeate every nook and cranny; many of them being in the boys’ bathroom since my son’s class of 2001 holds the record for causing the most floods and creating the most artwork with rolled tissue. Everywhere I look in the lunchroom, there’s a memory from a Colonial Day, a Christmas play, a field day and an Appreciation day.

Yes, I can still smell the aroma of homemade applesauce, pancakes and sausage floating through the halls on Mrs. Butler’s kindergarten pajama day; and see my kids racing down the grassy hill, surrounded by fall colored trees, to grab one of the soccer balls, catch the grasshoppers or run into the forbidden woods. There were many arguments and words of forgiveness exchanged on the playground; endless lessons learned about teamwork and friendship. Teaching art was the most rewarding experience of all! I remember green- dusted kids covered in chiseled Styrofoam, cemented hands placing colored glass in stepping stones and geometric art that belonged in a museum. Each class always had a high-energy level, an intellectual curiosity about the artist featured and a sense of pride in their final piece. The kids were magical to me in their respect for one another’s creation and the support that they gave as they worked side by side.

I am sad, apprehensive and excited as my son begins his college days and my daughter starts her second year of high school (but RELIEVED that my youngest is still here). They learned so much about respect, patience and love from the principal and teachers. When they graduated from St. Ambrose, they left knowing that they were members of the Catholic Church, spread throughout all time and space; and therefore never alone. Cecily is right, our time at St. Ambrose goes very quickly. I plan on enjoying these last 3 years with all my heart and soul. And I thank God every day for leading me to this school. Ida Smith

I would like to print thoughts,
memories, poems, essays from
as many families as possible so
please send me your written
gifts via Email to:
PTO@StAmbroseSchool.org

Prayer of St. Ambrose

Lord, Jesus Christ,
I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling,
for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth
but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by
many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts
and words.

Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection,
I look for your healing; Poor troubled sinner that I am,
I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear
your judgment, but I trust in your salvation.

Lord, I show my wounds to you. I know my sins are many
and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in
your mercies, for they cannot be numbered. Lord Jesus Christ,
eternal King, God and man, crucified for mankind, look upon
me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you. Have
mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your
compassion never ends.

Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the
cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and
precious blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified
Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world.

Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with
your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what
I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins;
purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy
of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive,
although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins,
the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil thoughts,
and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do
the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body
and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies.
Amen.

Guess the Teachers

So you think you know the teachers? OK, test your knowledge of who the teachers were when the school opened. Match the teachers names with the class they taught the year the school opened. Be careful, it could be tricky! Answers will be posted in the November Beehive.

Student’s Corner:

Do you know how to play chess? Don’t know how to play chess but would like to learn? Come join the St. Ambrose Junior Chess Club.

• The club meets two Friday’s a month after school for 1 hour.
• Play is open to all students in grades 2 – 5.
• Players will be matched up based on skill level.
• Check the Wednesday folder for more information or contact Mrs. Deb Caffi.