Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your efforts to help make the start of our school year so smooth.  In spite of this week’s heat, we are off to a great beginning.  I was glad to meet so many of you at the Ice Cream Social and Open House, and I have really enjoyed getting to know your children at school.  I would especially like to thank the eighth grade parents who helped to transport the eighth grade students to the funeral of their classmate’s mother.  The presence of the entire class provided emotional and spiritual support for the classmate,  and I am proud that they showed such sensitivity and caring.  This is why St. James of the Valley School is so special.

On a safety note, the students have been instructed that if they are a car rider, they are to leave the building when the car riders and walkers are called.  If they reach the parking lot and find that their ride is not here yet, they are to return to the building to wait.  The reason for this, of course, is to supervise and protect our students.   If they drift over to the playground, they are out of sight from the building and cannot be supervised.  After the school clears, I do check the playground area and bring any unescorted student back to the building.  I would appreciate it if you could reinforce this policy with your children.  I would also ask that if your pick-up routines vary for some reason, then please notify our office with a note. 

Finally, a reminder that Friday, September 3, is an important deadline for tuition payment.   Any parent who pays their tuition in full by September 3, will  receive the following discounts:  $125.00 for one (1) child; $175.00 for two (2) children; and $225.00 for three (3) or more children.  Also, please remember to write your payments for tuition and fees on separate checks.

I hope that your view of the start of the school year is the same as mine.  If it is not and you have special concerns, please contact me at 821-9054.  As a parish and school community, we want your child to have the best possible education.  Please have a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Sincerely,

Jim Haag