Dads’ Club Project 2 Accreditation update 2 Evening Under the Stars 3 Kindergarten ‘19-’20 3 Christmas Spirit Week 4 STREAM Corner 5 Poster Contest Winner 5 Larissa’s Lovebugs 6 Parent Forums 6 Health Corner 7 Catholic Identity Corner 7 Is It Bullying? 8-9 Student Council Corner 10 The Mission of Annunciation Catholic School Within our strong Catholic community, we develop children to their fullest God-given potential - spiritually, intellectually, morally, socially, and physically. IMPORTANT DATES DECEMBER 17 - ACS Spelling Bee 19 - Christmas Concert 21 - Early dismissal 24 - Jan. 7 Christmas Break JANUARY 7 - Staff Day 8 - Students return 21 - No School, Martin Luther King Jr. Day 23 - State of the School meeting, 6:00 PM 26 - Evening under the Stars 27 - All School Mass Catholic Schools Week begins 29 - Diocesan Spelling Bee FEBRUARY 1 - STREAM Showcase Talent Show, 1:30 What’s Inside: December 2018 Volume X Issue 5 Half day Dec. 21 Christmas Break Dec. 22– Jan. 7 Classes resume Jan. 8 Accreditation Visit is Huge Success! We are thrilled to report that the accreditation visit was a huge success. The Visiting Accreditation Team gave an overwhelmingly positive presentation to the school staff and Advisory Council at the conclusion of their visit. We received many commendations and no recommendations for changes or improvements to our Action Plan. A copy of the Accreditation Team’s presentation is posted on our school website under the News tab. We thank each and every parent, staff member, volunteer, and supporter for the role you played in the start-up and development of our school to this point and the continued work you will do to take us into the next chapter of ACS history. See page 2 for more details. Above, the ACS student body sings a blessing on the visiting team at monthly Community Prayer, Wednesday, Nov. 28. “Can You Hear the Angels?” Annunciation Christmas Program Wednesday, December 19, 2018 St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend Student Attire: Guys in Ties Girls in their Holiday Best Holy Day of Obligation - Feast of the Immaculate Conception St. Gabriel’s - Friday night vigil Mass, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. Saturday Mass, Dec. 8 at 9 a.m.
Transcript
Dads’ Club Project 2
Accreditation update 2
Evening Under the
Stars 3
Kindergarten ‘19-’20 3
Christmas Spirit Week 4
STREAM Corner 5
Poster Contest Winner 5
Larissa’s Lovebugs 6
Parent Forums 6
Health Corner 7
Catholic Identity
Corner 7
Is It Bullying? 8-9
Student Council
Corner 10
The Mission of Annunciation Catholic School
Within our strong Catholic community, we develop children to their fullest God-given potential -
spiritually, intellectually, morally, socially, and physically.
IMPORTANT DATES
DECEMBER
17 - ACS Spelling Bee
19 - Christmas Concert
21 - Early dismissal
24 - Jan. 7 Christmas Break
JANUARY 7 - Staff Day
8 - Students return
21 - No School, Martin Luther
King Jr. Day
23 - State of the School
meeting, 6:00 PM
26 - Evening under the Stars
27 - All School Mass Catholic
Schools Week begins
29 - Diocesan Spelling Bee
FEBRUARY 1 - STREAM Showcase
Talent Show, 1:30
What’s Inside:
December 2018
Volume X
Issue 5
Half day Dec. 21
Christmas Break
Dec. 22– Jan. 7
Classes resume Jan. 8
Accreditation Visit is Huge Success!
We are thrilled to report
that the accreditation
visit was a huge success.
T h e V i s i t i n g
Accreditation Team gave
an overwhelmingly
positive presentation to
the school staff and
Advisory Council at the
conclusion of their visit.
We received many
commendations and no
recommendations for
changes or improvements
to our Action Plan. A copy of the Accreditation Team’s presentation is posted on our
school website under the News tab. We thank each and every parent, staff member,
volunteer, and supporter for the role you played in the start-up and development of
our school to this point and the continued work you will do to take us into the next
chapter of ACS history. See page 2 for more details.
Above, the ACS student body sings a blessing on the visiting
team at monthly Community Prayer, Wednesday, Nov. 28.
“Can You Hear the Angels?”
Annunciation Christmas Program
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church
6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
All are welcome to attend
Student Attire: Guys in Ties
Girls in their Holiday Best
Holy Day of Obligation - Feast of the Immaculate Conception
St. Gabriel’s - Friday night vigil Mass, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Saturday Mass, Dec. 8 at 9 a.m.
Page 2
Accreditation Visit Update
ACS hosted its first Western Catholic Education Association three-day
Accreditation visit November 28-30. A team of professional educators led
by the Associate Superintendent from Salt Lake City verified that our Self-
Study reflected the wonderful teaching and learning environment that
facilitates our Catholicity and high achievement for all students. They
affirmed the Action Plan goals that we have chosen for the next six years,
focusing on: strengthen the faith and moral development of students and teachers, articulate
and expand the STREAM program, analyze data to help drive instruction and assess student
growth, increase student achievement of the diocesan technology competencies, increase
student and parent awareness and understanding of School-wide Learning Expectations (SLEs)
and the mission and philosophy.
The term of accreditation is for six years with annual reports due each spring to the Catholic
Schools Office at the diocese. We are committed to improving student learning and to the
continuous school improvement process. Our gratitude goes to the visiting team members for
their objective and enthusiastic Report of Findings! Watch for excerpts from the report in the
school newsletter and parish bulletin over the next few months.
You may be assured that we are committed to this important process and are pleased to have
the seal of approval from Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA)!
ACS Dads’ Club Campus Clean Up Day
The ACS Dads’ Club held their first campus beautification day on Saturday,
November 10. A group of school dad’s and their kids worked hard to do some seasonal
cleaning and patch work. Their effort and time was greatly appreciated. Here are few
things they were able to accomplish to benefit the school community greatly.
- Trash/Litter cleanup around campus buildings, parking lots and common areas
- Cleaned desks, chairs and other surfaces (as best/when possible) in all classrooms in
lower and upper halls and classroom 7, 8 and art classrooms. Swept floors in the lower
hall classrooms.
- Patched the hole in the wall near the computer cart and the pillar in the lower hall.
- Power-washed the round tables and the patio floor in the upper pavilion and power
washed the picnic tables and patio floor in the playground area outside the lower hall.
- Repaired the snake fencing around the entire perimeter of the playground fence line.
Thank you Mike Scagnoli, Presdient of our Dad’s club for organizing this event and
thanks to all who helped!
More opportunities to
help out around the
campus will be available
in the new year!
Page 3 December 2018
Priority Admission for Kindergarten
1. Siblings of current students: November 19-30
2. Active Registered Families of St. Gabriel’s, St. Rose and Our Lady of Joy parishes: December 3-21
Priority Admission for grades 1-8 begins January 14 - February 3
1. Opt-out period for current students in grades K-8.
2. Siblings of current students who will be entering grades 1-8.
3. New students who are parishioners of St. Gabriel’s, St. Rose and Our Lady of Joy.
Open Admission for grades K-8 begins February 4
1. Registered Catholic families in parishes within the diocese
2. Non-Catholic families
Admission Requirements
1. To enter the Kindergarten, the child must be 5 years old by September 1.
2. At the time of application, parents must present the following:
• Completed online application and payment of $200 application fee (the fee is non-refundable
if your child is accepted.)
• The child’s birth certificate and immunization records.
Put on your boots & bling, saddle up, and canter on over to join us at the annual Evening Under the Stars. This year’s event will take place at Our Lady of Joy on Saturday, January 26, 2019. The country western theme will guarantee a rompin’, stompin’ good time! Come in your casual denim or bling it up with diamonds. All are welcome! The night will start off with a "beers and cheers" cocktail hour with the bluegrass sounds of Peter McLaughlin & Mark Miracle from the Sonoran Dogs. Start your bidding on the silent auction items before the buffet dinner and then enjoy country music from the Josh Roy Band for some boot scootin' boogie. Our special guest for the evening will be Father Dennis O’Rourke. Tickets:
• Individual tickets are $75 each until December 14, $100 thereafter.
• VIP Experience- Don’t miss out on the new VIP experiences with early entry into the event with a private cocktail hour and more…. Family & Corporate sponsorships that offer a personal ad in the 2018-2019 year book, recognition and marketing opportunities for the family name or business in the annual business directory and more.... Go to www.acsphx.org for more information and purchase your VIP experience, sponsorship or tickets.
from the spectators. The smiles. No, I wasn't there
to cheer on the Sun Devils to victory or eat all the
great smelling food at the student booths, I came to
walk with Larissa, my student at Annunciation. For
the past 4 years, Larissa's family has walked in the
parade to raise awareness and support for the DS
Network of Az. This organization provides families
with children who have Down Syndrome with a
variety of resources, workshops, and activities to
enjoy. Larissa goes to GiGi's house, where she can
paint, go to cooking classes, swim, learn life skills,
and dance the night away with her Dad at a Daddy Daughter dance. All
of this for free! Walking and being there with Larissa and her family
was so exciting, but it was Larissa's smile that made it a fantastic
experience!
Earlier in October, Larissa's mom was able to come in to the classroom
to speak to Larissa's peers about Down Syndrome and how to
keep supporting, how to be patient and most importantly, advocate for
Larissa. Our students have always had a love for Larissa, who started
at Annunciation in the first grade, and really appreciated the additional
information from the presentation to help them understand and
advocate even more for their friend. We are beyond blessed in having
Larissa and her sweet smile in our class!
Sweet Larissa Walks, with Family
and Friends, to Raise Awareness/Support for the Down
Syndrome Network of AZ
2018-19 Parent/Community Forums
Teen Age Brain Jan 24, 6:30 – 8:00 Sonoran Trails Middle School (Presenter: Cadi Angeli)
Emotional Intelligence- Feb 26, 6:30 – 8:00 Sonoran Trails Middle School (Presenter: Cadi Angeli)
How to Talk to Your Children about the Sensitive Issues – Mar 19, 6:30 – 8:00 Sonoran Trails
Middle School (Presenters: Barb Iversen)
Ending the Silence: Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression – Apr 16, 6:30-8:00 Cactus
Shadows High School Lecture Hall (Presenters: NAMI- national Association of mental Health Valley
of the Sun)
Helping Youth/Teens Cope with Parent Divorce and/or Remarriage- May 2, 6:30-8:00 Cactus
Shadows High School Lecture Hall (Presenter: Barb Iversen)
Page 7 December 2018 Page 7
Help your kids foster the fruit of kindness by discussing ways we can show these
virtues at home and at school. Role play scenarios where we it might be
challenging to put others before ourselves and explain why we’re called to do so. St Martin De
Porres is a tremendous example of embodying kindness. He was praised for his unconditional care of
all people, regardless of race or wealth. Watch a short video on his virtuous life here for inspiration!
The virtue of generosity begins with gratitude. The month of November is a
time when families often think about all the blessings for which we can be
grateful. As we move into December, this is a beautiful time to talk to our fami-
lies about turning that gratitude into momentum to pay it forward. We can be
virtuous by using our gifts, time, talent or resources to bless others like we’ve been blessed.
Think about the last time you were generous with your time or your money. What inspired you to give? If you
gave to fill a need, what moved you to act to meet that need? Did you respond because you felt a connection to the
need? Perhaps you experienced that or a similar situation and someone helped you through it. Out of gratitude,
then, you give to meet the need. Maybe you realized that you have the gifts – talents or finances – to be able to
fulfill the need. Out of gratitude to God, you offer what you have to meet the need. Giving to meet the needs of
others, including the Church and its charitable works, comes from realizing that all that we have comes from God.
When we give to the Church or serve others, we are expressing our gratitude to God.
This month, consider what motivates you to give to other people or causes. Call to mind all the things for which
you are grateful. How will you express your gratitude for these gifts? More importantly, how can we teach our
children to foster these virtues of stewardship, generosity, service and mercy?
January will be full of stewardship opportunities for Catholic Schools week as we celebrate and honor our parish,
community, students, nation, vocation and teachers. Look for more soon!
What does KINDNESS look like?
• Being thoughtful of others, the virtue of curtesy.
• Choosing actions that seek the good of others, the virtue of friendship.
• Recognizing the dignity of all people, the virtue of respect.
Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.
No, That’s Not Bullying Understand the distinction to help your child resolve everyday issues with peers. By Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Contributor Nov. 17, 2017
A CLIENT OF MINE, A young boy, once came in and announced, “I was bullied today!”
“What happened?” I asked.
“This kid in my class … he told me, ‘Stop making that annoying noise!’”
No, my client didn’t have Tourette’s syndrome. No, this wasn’t an example of bullying.
A young girl I worked with felt hurt because her friend was spending more time with another girl. So,
she wrote a two-page letter accusing the friend of being mean and detailing everything the friend had
ever done that upset her. She gave the letter to the friend who responded by accusing her of being a bul-
ly.
No, that wasn’t bullying, either.
Bullying is a serious problem – one that causes untold misery and, in some cases, can even be fatal. As
a clinical psychologist, I’ve heard stories of horrendous peer abuse. But more and more, I’m also hearing
examples of ordinary conflict, anger, thoughtlessness, insensitivity or kids just not liking each other re-
ferred to as “bullying.”
Researchers have a very specific definition of bullying: It’s deliberate meanness, targeting a particular
individual, usually over a period of time (although sometimes a single cruel act can count); plus, there’s
a power difference between the person doing the bullying and the target. That power difference is what
makes it difficult or impossible for kids who are truly being bullied to protect or defend themselves.
When we call typical rough spots between kids bullying, we trivialize the very serious incidents of peer
abuse. We also unintentionally tell kids that they’re fragile. Although it may fit with our parenting in-
stincts to leap to protect our children from any form of meanness, if we do so too readily, we imply that
our children are too delicate to be able to handle even the mildest forms of meanness.
Meanness is common among kids. They argue, complain, accuse, gossip and exclude. I’m not defending
or excusing this behavior. Obviously, we need to encourage all kids to be kind. But given that we adults
haven’t managed to achieve world peace or perfect relationships, we also need to recognize that learning
to be kind, especially when we’re upset, takes a lot of effort and practice.
At some point, your child is likely to come home saying that another kid was mean. Your child might
even accuse the other kid of being a bully. If the incident is severe and involves a power difference, you
may need intervene or involve the school for safety reasons. But if the incident involves conflict between
peers, rather than bullying, it’s an opportunity to help your child learn about getting along. Here are
some strategies to try:
1) Start with empathy. When kids are upset about something that happened with peers, comfort from
a parent matters a lot. Just describe your child’s feelings by saying something like, “You felt mad when
she did that” or “You felt embarrassed when he said that.” An extra hug might help, too.
2) Ask what happened. Children often don’t see the whole context of an interaction. They often focus
Save the date for
the school musical!
When: March 8-10, 2019
7 p.m.. Fri. & Sat.
2 p.m. on Sun.
Where: St. Gabriel Catholic Church
Information about auditions will be
coming home soon.
on the final event and overlook the build-up. For instance, your child might focus on the other kid
kicking his chair and overlook that the other child asked him five times to move over.
Try to get the facts by asking questions about what happened before or after the incident, what other
kids were doing or what was happening around them. Your goal is just to piece together a full narra-
tive, rather than to assign blame.
3) Discourage retaliation. When we’re upset, it’s tempting to want to get even with whoever hurt
us by doing something worse in return. Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that the other child will
respond to meanness from your child by thinking, “Ah, since you’ve been mean to me, I’ll be nicer to
you!” Meanness is likely to make the problem worse.
4) Gently encourage perspective-taking. Being able to imagine someone else’s point of view is es-
sential for resolving conflicts, but it’s a skill that develops only gradually for children. Ask your child
questions such as, “Why do you think he might have done that, besides trying to be mean?” “How do
you think she felt when that happened?” or “What do you think she wanted you to do?”
5) Problem-solve together. Children are black-and-white thinkers. When there’s a conflict, they
tend to focus on who’s right (They are!) and who’s wrong (The other kid!). This is not useful.
Instead, ask questions to help your child figure out how to move forward. “What do you think you
might do?” “How do you think she’d react if you did that?” “What else might help?”
Sometimes children don’t know how to resolve conflicts. Different situations call for different respons-
es. Your child may need to speak up, apologize, compromise or give in graciously. It may help to stay
near a teacher or hang out with different, more compatible friends. Often children resolve conflicts by
letting a little time pass and then trying again, just by acting friendly.
Page 9 December 2018 Page 9
Kennedy-Moore, E. (2017, November 17). No, That’s Not Bullying: Understand the distinction to help your child
resolve everyday issues with peers. Retrieved from https://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-
