June 2, 2008

                                                             

Dear Parents,

                                                      

As we near the end please keep the revised June calendar in a very visible place to remind

you of the last days’ events and highlights.   
 

Don’t forget the ICS Talent Festival this Thursday at 6:00 PM in the school garden.  It will be a wonderful event to honor the memory of Mr. Brian Boykin, our 6^th grade teacher who passed away in March, featuring the ICS Eagle Band, the Vision Step Team, our student poets, and much more!  We will be selling hot dogs, snacks, cotton candy, soda, popcorn as well as Yankee items.  There will be face painting, pony rides and a 50/50 raffle!  Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for students who are not performing.  Children under 4 are free.  The money raised will be used to purchase new textbooks and to provide a scholarship to a 6^th grader in memory of Mr. Boykin. Come out and support this all school event that will be fun and will raise money for ICS. 
 

EXAMS for Grades 1-7 will be given the week of June 9th.  No exams will be given earlier and all students must take them as they are 1/6 of their final average  Please work with your child to prepare for these end-of-the-year tests..  
 

Our 8^th graders graduate on June 14^th at the 12:00 Mass.  We congratulate them and thank

them for their contributions to ICS over their years here.  Our prayers and good wishes go

with them, that their future will be blessed with much happiness and peace.  We are grateful

to their teachers and parents who have prepared them for this milestone.   
 

We have 11:30 DISMISSAL  the week of June 16^th.  Please be aware that there is no Afterschool care that week and students need to be picked up.  They cannot hang out in the building or on the street .  I am often concerned about children who linger on the street

corners or in the stores after school.  We need your help to make them accountable for

going directly home after dismissal.   
 

Our LAST DAY OF SCHOOL is June 20th.  Mass will be at 9:00 and dismissal will be at 10:30 from the Church on 150^th Street beginning with the upper grades.  Students may wear dress up clothes appropriate for Church.  The school office will be closed on that day.  All outstanding bills must be paid in order for students to receive their report cards that day. 

This includes tuition, afterschool fees, Library fines, etc. If other arrangements need to be made please contact the office.  If outstanding bills are not paid by June 30th we will give your child’s seat to someone on the waiting list from St. Pius School.    
 
 
 

SUMMER SCHOOL notices will be sent home this week.  Summer school will run from June 30^th - July 24^th beginning at 8:30 and ending at 12:00  for PreK –Grade 7.  If your child fails any subject or scored below the 30^th percentile in a major subject he/she MUST  attend summer school either here or at another approved summer school program with certified teachers.  Registration information can be picked up at the school office.  We have limited seating and we open it to students from other schools, so sign up as soon as possible.  
 

Please review the DRESS CODE  in the handbook before purchasing school clothes for next year.  There will be a change in the boys’ uniform for Grades 6-8.  They will be required to wear the navy blue sweater vest next year.  It is no longer an option.  Gym Uniforms must be purchased through the Flynn and O’Hara Uniform Company with the school logo on the T-shirt and sweat suit.  Students are not permitted to wear sneakers with the wheelies on them  Most teachers send a supply list home.  Do not purchase binder or spiral notebooks for any grade.  
 

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS --    June 23 -July 25   (Monday – Thursday)  8:30-12:00

                                                       July 28 - Aug. 8 (closed)

                                                       Aug. 11 -Aug.29   (Monday-Thursday)  8:30 – 12:00 
 

During the summer we will have the sidewalk in front of school replaced with a grant we received from the Inner City Endowment Fund as well as the regular summer maintenance completed.   
 

School reopens on Wednesday, Sept. 3rd^h at 7:55 AM.  Dismissal for the first week will be at 11:30. Full days and the lunch program will begin on Sept.8^th.   PreK  will be on a  different schedule and separate letters will be sent out with the information during the summer.   
 

We are grateful to the teachers and staff of ICS for all their dedication and hard work this year.  Their love for the children is so evident and it is what makes Immaculate the special place it is.  Unfortunately we have to say good-bye to a few who will be leaving us.  We are grateful to Ms. Fugate, Mr. Villalobos, Mr. Gill and Ms. Gorkic for their love for the children of Immaculate.  Ms. Gorkic was a member of our school community for 9 years and contributed her Math talent as well as her gardening skills as the school Garden Club coordinator.  Many of her former students return to thank her for preparing them so well for high school Math.  She will be retiring but not without leaving a legacy here at ICS! 
 

In the name of the ICS Team I want to thank  you for your support and cooperation this school year  and wish you and your families a safe, healthy and happy summer. Please remember how important you are to the spiritual and academic growth of your child over the summer.  Take them to Church, pray with them, encourage them to read daily for 15-30 minutes and to practice their writing and Math skills.  Summer is a break from school but not from learning.

May you always know how much you are loved by a God who walks with you today and every day.  You and your children remain in my prayers.    God bless you! 
 

Gratefully,