Crusader Connections

Father Andrew White S.J. School Newsletter

November 7, 2023

🗓️ Important Dates

November 8: Home and School Association (HSA) Parent Meeting, 6:30pm

November 8-9: Parent/Teacher Conferences

November 9: Early Dismissal, 12:30pm

November 10: No School - Happy Veterans Day!

November 14: American Legion Visits

November 17: Thanksgiving Luncheon

November 20 - 24: No School - Happy Thanksgiving!

November 29: High School Placement Test (8th Grade) & Science/History Fair Projects Due

November 30: Science/History Fair

You are invited to the HSA Meeting - Tomorrow!!

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Poinsettia and Wreath Drive

Our Annual Poinsettia & Wreath Sale to benefit FAW Athletics!

We have an amazing selection of fresh, potted poinsettias in various colors and sizes, wrapped in decorative foil – perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself! Group multiple sizes together for an amazing display. The fresh greenery wreaths are hard to beat! They are large, fully packed with mixed evergreens and make an incredible impact. They also smell amazing! New this year – we have beautiful, potted Christmas Cactus in 4 inch pots and also potted, variegated Cyclamen in pink and red!

We’re happy to offer local delivery to businesses who purchase from us! Please let us know if you’d like to set this up!

Online ordering makes it easy to order and pay. All orders are to be placed no later than FRIDAY, November 17, 2023.

Place an Order Today!

🎄 Stockings for Soldiers 🎄

Items Due Tomorrow!

Parent/Teacher Conferences - This Week!

TODAY is the last day to sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences! (As a reminder, Middle School Conferences are optional.) Conferences will be held from 3- 6pm on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 8th and 1-6pm on Thursday, November 9th. Please be prompt and stay within your allotted session to respect everyone's time during this very important meeting concerning your child’s progress. Report cards for the first quarter will be given to parents at the conferences.

Early Dismissal & No School

This Thursday, November 9th, we will have a 12:30pm early dismissal. Conferences begin immediately following our bus dismissal. Remember lunch is not served on early dismissal days so please send in a healthy snack for your child. There will be no school on Friday, November 10th. We hope you will attend the Veterans Day parade in Leonardtown to honor all of our veterans!

Red, White, and Blue Tag Day

This Thursday!

This Thursday, November 9th, students are invited to wear red, white, and blue in honor of Veterans Day. This is a free tag day (in accordance with the Parent/Student Handbook), but if you'd like to bring in a donation we will be sure to send it to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home.

Also, please consider sending in a picture of any family member who is a veteran so students can share these with classmates.

Thanksgiving Luncheon Car Rider Form

Click here 👆 to let us know your child will be a car rider that day.

FAW Thanksgiving Luncheon

The FAW Thanksgiving Luncheon is back! Friends and Family of FAW are cordially invited to attend the luncheon on November 17, 2023. Please follow this link to purchase tickets. Spaces are filling up fast! If you are interested in volunteering for this event please reach out to schakhtoura@gmail.com!

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Please read the Thanksgiving Luncheon flyer for many important details!

We are excited to bring back this beloved FAW tradition!

Reserve Lunch A: 11:15AM - 12PM

Reserve Lunch B: 12 - 12:45PM

Reserve Lunch C: 12:45 - 1:30PM

Science and History Fair Judges (volunteers) are Needed!

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The Father Andrew White School Science & History Fair will be held Thursday, November 30, 2023. We are in need of judges and people to coordinate the children on this day. Students from 5th through 8th grades will be participating. This volunteer opportunity would last from 8:45 - 11:30am. Judges are asked to meet in the gym at 8:45am. Coffee and donuts will be provided. If you can help us in any way, please complete this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDCz1FWnpJnixCzjCkiM3z2_KeedB97NOrzQfiHTzjSCjdxA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Volunteer Form for Science and History Fair Judges

Click here 👆 to sign up to be a judge for our Science and History Fair.

🏀 Basketball Tip Off Tournament Results 🏀

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Our Tip Off Basketball Tournament was last weekend. Our Girls Varsity team advanced to the next round of the Tip Off Tournament. Come cheer them on in the championship game this Friday, November 10th at 6pm at St. Mary's Ryken High School.

📣 Go Crusaders! 📣

Cross Country 🏃‍♀️ Our Last Meet + Season Results 🏃

Meet (Team) Results

Middle School Boys: 2nd Place
Middle School Girls: 1st Place
Grade School Boys: 1st Place
Grade School Girls: 1st Place

Season Results

Middle School Boys: 2nd Overall
Middle School Girls: 3rd Overall
Grade School Boys: 1st Overall
Grade School Girls: 2nd Overall

Thank you to all of the volunteers and Coach Katy Burfield for a successful season for nearly 60 runners in our inaugural season!

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Log Your Volunteer Hours!

Kindly remember to log your volunteer hours today! All FAW families have had accounts created for them, regardless of if you receive the Service Scholarship or not. Only those that receive the Service Scholarship are required to submit their hours; however, it's always nice to see how all of our families volunteer and also to track the amount of hours required to run certain fundraisers. If you did not receive login instructions, please contact the office at office@fatherandrewwhite.org. To view your approved volunteer hours, enter your email address here and click on the link through your email.

NOTE: Chaperoning field trips does not qualify as volunteer hours for fulfillment of the Service Scholarship.

Volunteer Opportunity:

Sound/AV Expert Needed for Christmas Pageant

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Calling any and all sound/AV experts! The Christmas Pageant is coming and we need some help with the sound/AV equipment! FAW will supply the equipment, you supply the know-how! If you have this skill and want to start adding to your volunteer hours, please contact Mrs. Cacko, cacko@fatherandrewwhite.org Thank you so much for your consideration!

October Virtue Winners: Friendship

Save the Date!

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We are looking for volunteers and planners for our Jingle Bell Fun Run, scheduled for Saturday, December 2nd at St. Mary's Ryken High School. If you are available and willing, please contact Rich Spadaccini at rspadaccini@gmail.com.

Santa Shop Envelopes are coming home today!

Save the Date: Make Up Picture Day: December 11, 2023

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If your child was absent for our school picture day or would like to retake his/her picture, please mark your calendar for our make up day: December 11, 2023. If your child received photos and would like a retake, you must return the Lifetouch packet of pictures in original condition to the photographer on our Picture Makeup Day.

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2024-2025 TADS Tuition Assistance Program

Applications for next year’s Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance Program are now available. Families may apply online by logging on to https://adwcatholicschools.org/tuition-assistance/.

On the top toolbar, hover over “TUITION ASSISTANCE” and then click on the “ARCHDIOCESAN TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM” link at the top of the menu. Any families who think they will need tuition assistance for the 2024-2025 school year MUST APPLY THROUGH THIS ADW PROGRAM FIRST, before asking for aid from FAW.

The TADS admissions portal is accessible for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle for all archdiocesan elementary schools.

TADS tuition assistance deadline: February 16, 2024

Mental health is equally as important as physical health (if not more so), and this isn’t just my opinion. The importance of the mind-body connection has been studied and proven extensively. You may have even experienced it for yourself. Maybe there was a time when you were a little “stressed out” or just mentally exhausted, and then you proceeded to come down with a cold or other sickness. Or maybe you were told that your symptoms were psychosomatic (which basically means you’re experiencing physiological symptoms as a result of something psychological). Stress by itself causes physical changes in the body (releasing fight or flight hormones), and prolonged exposure to stress can have severe negative effects (ulcers, high blood pressure, eating disorders, etc). Perhaps the most obvious outward way mental health can affect us physically is through suicide. Worry and depression, beyond making you sick, can literally kill you. Fortunately, the opposite is also true. If you have enough belief in a treatment, it can actually help without having any scientific reason to back it up. This has been shown through studies on the “Placebo effect.” Lastly, but most importantly, (in my opinion) is the powerful effect of faith and prayer. As Proverbs 17:22 says, “A joyful heart is good medicine!”