IMPORTANT DATES

A.   December 21 – January 1 – Christmas Holiday – SCHOOL CLOSED

B.   January 4 – Classes resume

C.   January 8 – Spirit Shop Open, 2:15-2:45 p.m.

D.   January 11-22 – Everybody Counts

E.   January 15 – Second Quarter Ends

F.    January 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – SCHOOL CLOSED

G.   January 21 – DARE Graduation, 7 p.m., Gym

H.   January 22 – Second Quarter Report Cards Distributed

I.     January 31 – February 6 – Catholic Schools Week

J.    January 31 – St. Antoninus School Open House (after the 11:30 a.m. mass)

K.    February 2 – Family Fun Night

L.    February 4 – PTO Meeting, 7 p.m., Church Undercroft (Spirit Shop Open, 6:30-7 p.m.)

M.   February 5 – Spirit Shop Open, 2:15-2:45 p.m.

N.    February 7 – Kindergarten/New Student Registration (after all masses, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.)

O.    February 8-11 – Conferences

P.    February 12-15 – Presidents’ Day Weekend – SCHOOL CLOSED

Q.    February 13 – St. Antoninus Parish Main-A-Vent

1.         A NOTE FROM MS. DELANEY:  A big thank you goes out to everyone for a successful Christmas Concert this past Thursday.  The students sang and played their hearts out sharing the true Christmas spirit with all of us.  It was quite a performance!  I am so proud of all our students and the hard work they did for our show.  Thanks also to all the “behind the scenes” help from our teachers, staff, and junior high students.

2.         LESSONS IN CAROLS.  Remember that the Giving Glory Contemporary Music Group presents Lessons In Carols on Monday, December 21, at 7 p.m. in St. Antoninus Church.  It is a beautiful evening of music and prayer that the group has done for 19 years.  It sets your heart and mind in the true meaning of Christmas.  Look for a flyer in today’s white envelope.  Hope you can join us.  Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

3.         FAMILY FUN NIGHT.  Suzie and Bernie Pfeiffer have graciously stepped up to be the Co-Chairs of the Family Fun Night this year.  Congratulations and thanks!  The date for the Family Fun Math Night is Tuesday, February 2, 2010, during Catholic Schools Week.  Volunteer sign-up sheets will be in the white envelope when the students return from Christmas break.  Please be sure to volunteer; we can't do this without you!

4.         NURSING HOME VISIT.  A very many thanks to all who donated gifts and other items for the annual nursing home visit.  It was a great success and the residents and staff were very gracious.  It was wonderful to spread Christmas cheer.  Thanks again to everyone!

5.         SPIRIT SHOP.  The last scheduled opening before Christmas is Thursday, December 17, from 7:30-8:15 a.m.  If you have any questions or would like to place an order contact Janene Cappel (922-3713 or caitnick@aol.com).

6.         THEATRE ENRICHMENT PROGRAM.  Again this year we will have a play performance for children grades 3-7 of the St. A. parish.  This year's production will be Dear Edwina which is sure to be a fun and exciting play.  Auditions for Dear Edwina will be Tuesday, December 15, from 6-8 p.m. in the St. A. Undercroft.  Please e-mail your child's name and grade to stadrama@yahoo.com by December 11, and list your preferred audition time and you will receive an audition packet via e-mail by December 13.  Please see the red insert in today's white envelope for more information.

7.         SUNDAY 9:30 AM MASS BABYSITTING PROGRAM.  Sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are still needed to help the adult volunteers for babysitting at the 9:30 a.m. mass.  Permission forms are available in the school and church offices or e-mail the student’s name, address, and phone number to saintantoninus@fuse.net.  If you have any questions, please call the Church Office at 922-5400.

8.         PLAYGROUND VOLUNTEER NEEDED.  We are in need of a volunteer for Playground Duty for the third Wednesday of each month.  You will need to be available from 10:55 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. to monitor the students on the playground.  If you can commit to the third Wednesday of each month for the remainder of the school year, please contact Mary Schultz at 922-6242.

9.         CINCINNATI BELL CB LEARN PROGRAM.  St. Antoninus School has received $4,014.40 to date!!  We began an effort to register our families and friends for the CB Learn Program through Cincinnati Bell this past year.  We are not asking anyone to change their phone service, but if you are already using Cincinnati Bell or are making a switch, St. Antoninus can earn money if you will simply fill out a quick registration form.  Several of our parents and grandparents signed up last year.  You can register this year by going to http://www.cbts.cinbell.com/CBLearn/?id=8 and filling out the registration form – it only takes a minute.  (A hard copy registration form was included in last week’s white envelope for those without access to a computer.  Additional copies are available in the school office.)  It is our understanding that once these are in the database, you will no longer be required to fill out the form each year; we will just receive a check for your participation.  Thank you!!  Please encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to sign up as well.

10.       SCALLYWAG LASER TAG AND MORE!!  Need time for shopping or to run a few errands?  Drop your first through fifth graders off at Scallywag Laser Tag on Monday, December 21, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. for some laser tag, glow putt-putt, board game FUN!  Cost is $15/person.  Look for the flyer in today's white envelope.  Fundraiser sponsored by eighth graders to benefit the DC trip.  For more information or questions, please call Susan Sportsman @ 451-0599 or Nancy Fishburn @ 451-0834.

11.       SAINT FRANCIS SERAPH SCHOOL CLOTHING COLLECTION.  The fourth grade Girl Scout Troop 40601 is now collecting used clothing for the children at St. Francis Seraph School.  The school serves approximately 150 children in Over-the-Rhine in grades K-8 (http://www.stfrancisseraph.org/).  We would like to collect clothes that the students can wear throughout the school day.  This collection is not to compete with the St. A PTO "Used Uniform Sale" fundraiser, so we are collecting only those items which are NOT worn by St. A students.  Items that we are looking for are:  any light blue shirts; plain navy, white, grey or light blue T-shirts; plain navy and grey athletic shorts, sweatshirts, and sweat pants (for their gym class), and any white or blue socks that are no longer needed.  We will also mend items that need repair.  Clothing can be sent to the school office or dropped off at 5787 Lu Clare Drive.  The collection will last until Christmas time.  For questions, please contact Sheela Geraghty at sheela.geraghty@cchmc.org.

12.       BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT THANK YOU!  Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped make our Annual Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament a success.  This is a very fun and important fund raiser for our parish children.

13.       ATHLETIC CLUB ELECTIONS.  The Athletic Club Board will be holding annual elections in January and February.  Anyone interested in being a potential candidate can contact Brian Bohan at 922-4313 or Mike Rolfes 451-6704 for details.  Candidate bios must be submitted by December 23.

14.       WINTER BASEBALL CAMP.  The College of Mount St. Joseph will be hosting a Winter Baseball Camp on December 28, 29, and 30 for boys ages 8-14.  For more information, please call 244-4402.

15.       WESTERN SPORTS MALL is presently taking applications for indoor soccer for all ages, 3-53. We have children's leagues, HS co-ed, teenage, men, women, and co-ed. Leagues get nine games, and the top four play in the tournament.  Potential for 11 games for one low price of $595 for the large field (plus ref. fees) and $490 for the small field (plus ref. fees). We have convenient on-line registration. Indoor soccer registration going on now through December 27 for our winter session. Winter session runs January 10-March 14. Check out our new web page at www.westernsportsmall.net. Please call 451-4900 or e-mail cmitchell@fuse.net for more information.

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GIFT CARD PROGRAM GOING GREEN!  To save on paper, we will be using the newsletter as our order form for gift cards.  Just cut this section off the newsletter, and send your order and check made payable to St. Antoninus to the school office.  Your order will be sent home with your child, usually on Wednesday or Thursday.  Thank you for supporting the parish!!

$5   x _____  Price Hill Chili            $20 x _____ Holy Grail Tavern      $10 x _____ Ron’s Roost

$50 x _____  Biggs Gift Card           $10 x _____ Chipotle                   $1 x _____  Kroger re-chargeable card

$5  x  _____  Skyline                      $10 x  _____ Cracker Barrel

  Total  __________                        Send home with _________________________, Grade ____, Room ____