Crusader Connections

January 6: First Friday Mass, 8:30am, hosted by 4th grade

January 7: Basketball Event at UMD

January 10: MAP Growth Standardized Reading Test (grades 2-8)

January 12: MAP Growth Standardized Language Usage Test (grades 2-8)

January 13: Early Dismissal, 12:30pm

January 16: No School - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

January 18: MAP Growth Standardized Math Test (grades 2-8)

January 19: Winter Band and Chorus Concert

January 20: End of 2nd Quarter and March for Life

January 27: Monthly Activity (grades 6-8)

January 29 - February 4: Catholic Schools Week

January 31: Report Cards Posted on Portal

February 1: STEM Night

Our school continues to participate in the Virtues in Practice program this year. Each month, the whole school focuses on the same virtue as we hope to grow closer to Jesus by imitating His life and virtues. We also learn more about the saints who exemplify these good habits. This month students and families are learning about the virtue of fidelity. Please be sure to model how you are faithful to promises and commitments during the month of January.

Poster Contest: Congratulations to five of our students for their winning posters in the Knights of Columbus “Keep Christ in Christmas” contest.

Christmas Sweater Contest: Congratulations to the students who won the Christmas Sweater contest hosted by our 8th grade. Thanks for your support!

Thank you to all who ordered gift cards. A special note of gratitude goes to Mrs. Casto who filled all of the orders before the holidays. Many thanks! For questions about the RaiseRight gift card program, please contact: faw.scrip@gmail.com.

We hope you were blessed by the joy of giving if your child shared a Santa Shop present with you on Christmas morning. We appreciate the support of all those who donate gift items, wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows. Thank you so much for keeping your eyes open for after holiday clearance items! We are grateful to all those who help us stock over 2,000 gifts and wrapping materials for our students to enjoy. If you spot any items you'd like to donate, please send them to school marked, "Santa Shop." This year we sold and wrapped a total of 1,750 gifts and raised $5,250 for FAW.

Over the span of the next several weeks we will be administering the MAP Growth standardized tests for Math, Language Usage, and Reading for all students in grades 2-8. These tests are computer-adapted assessments that help identify students' ability levels, demonstrate academic growth over time, and provide information for placing students in appropriate instructional programs. Teachers can immediately access the test results, allowing them to evaluate their teaching practices and adjust instructional methods accordingly.

Tuesday, January 10th: Reading MAP Growth Test

Thursday, January 12th: Language Usage MAP Growth Test

Wednesday, January 18th: Math MAP Growth Test

Please be sure your children get a good night's rest and eat a healthy breakfast before each test.

Do you have an announcement you’d like to put in our weekly bulletin? Or perhaps you went to an FAW event, such as a basketball game, and you’d like to share some information or photos you took. We have created an email where you can send pictures, blurbs, etc. This will help us get new items in our bulletin, on our lobby TV, and on our website. Email: FAWnews@fatherandrewwhite.org Kindly send anything you’d like considered in the Announcements by Friday evening of the week prior.

Catholic Schools Week starts January 29th. To kick off the weeklong celebration, each of our three parishes will highlight our school at the Masses that weekend. Please sign up your child to speak by emailing us at fawnews@fatherandrewwhite.org.

Out of parish families are cordially invited to share in the liturgical celebration at St. Aloysius (Leonardtown), St. Francis Xavier (Compton), or Our Lady’s (Medley’s Neck). More information and a schedule of all the week’s events will be sent home later.

We are now posting our basketball schedules and the results from our games on our website. Please see the link below!

📣 🏀 Go Crusaders! 🏀 📣

An attitude of gratitude and a positive outlook go a long way in how we feel overall. I would like to thank everyone for your caring thoughts, wishes and Christmas gifts, and pray that each of you has a happy and healthy new year!

When feeling bad (or anytime actually), one of the first things you should do is a little self assessment and attitude check, starting with the basics. I can't emphasize enough the importance of proper nutrition, hydration, sleep, exercise, stress management, sunshine, fresh air, and prayer! You can start by asking God to help you examine each of these areas and determine if changes are needed. Then don't forget to thank Him for all His blessings, especially the gift of today (hence why it's called the present)!

Several current and former FAW students spent the day preparing lunch for the residents and infirmed at the Convent with the Missionaries of Charity Sisters. They also spent time touring the Franciscan Monastery, enjoyed Adoration and Holy Hours with the Sisters, served dinner, and sang Christmas carols. Some of the kids also inventoried donated coats. They brought the stockings that were stuffed with the kind FAW donations and cards made by the FAW elementary students were distributed.

Please join us in prayer for a fellow Catholic school student from St. Mary's Bryantown. You can follow his journey at Finns Fierce Fight.

Here is a video that was sent from our 4th graders to this 4th grader:

St. Aloysius Church Cross Generation Choir is looking for singers in grade 2 and above to join their choir. They sing at the 11:00am mass on the 3rd Sunday of the month. Rehearsal starts at 10:00am in the church. If interested, please email Beth Domingue at bethdomingue@hotmail.com. This opportunity is also for any older students at other schools if you have siblings who are also interested.

The Home & School Association is seeking a Co-Chairperson (or Chair Team) and committees to plan and organize one of our biggest and best events of the year: the Spring Social & Auction! The groundwork has already been laid for the Social & Auction this April, but we need teams in place to continue with the rest of the planning! Here are the positions that we need filled immediately:

- Spring Social & Auction Co-Chairperson

- Spring Social & Auction Planning Committee Members

Duties include soliciting sponsorships and donations, planning details, some marketing, logistics and executing the event. We’d love your outside-the-box ideas! Chairpersons of this event qualify for the complete fulfillment of the Service Scholarship/Volunteer Hours. If you’re interested in helping with this event, please email our HSA President, Jen Tennyson at jntennyson@gmail.com to get started! The Home & School Association (HSA) is grateful for any time or resources you are able to give!

❏ Attend First Friday Mass (Friday, 8:30am)

❏ Send news and pictures to FAWnews@fatherandrewwhite.org

❏ Submit Volunteer Hours

Email: office@fatherandrewwhite.org
Website: https://www.fatherandrewwhite.org
Location: 22850 Washington Street, Leonardtown, MD, USA
Phone: (301) 475-9795
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fawschool/
Twitter: @FAWcrusaders