September 2010 Parent Newsletter
In this Issue:
- Message from the Principal
- September Dates to Remember
- Welcome New Faculty
- School Pictures and Senior Picture Make-Ups
- Magazine Drive Kick-Off
- Alumni and Reunion Weekend
- The Giving Seed
Message from the Principal
Dear Aquinas Friends and Families,
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year. Our campus was constantly busy this summer, with students participating in record numbers in a variety of camp, sports, and work-outs in the Fitness Center.
Recently, I greeted our new 7th and 9th grade students at their respective orientation sessions. Thanks to the many AQ students who came in to lead tours and help our new students prepare for a successful start to the school year. Our enrollment is stronger than expected with approximately 730 high school students and 220 junior high students.
Returning students will have some adjustments to make during the first few days of school, too:
- Miss Ann Habershaw will be the Assistant Principal for the freshman and sophomore classes. Mrs. Patricia Battisti will be the Assistant Principal for juniors and seniors.
- The breakdown of counselors is as follows:
Freshmen: Ms. Clara Montalbano
Sophomores: Mrs. Janel Kieffer
Juniors A-E: Mrs. Margaret Gorton
Juniors F-L: Ms. Clara Montalbano
Juniors M-Z: Mrs. Janel Kieffer
Seniors: Mrs. Margaret Gorton
I encourage our students to become involved in all aspects of Aquinas life and to use these years to develop their talents and abilities. Our teachers, counselors and staff are all available to help guide students toward setting and achieving goals. It is important that our students begin their academic focus on September 8th in order to guarantee a successful year.
Please remember that the parent newsletter, NewsNotes, is available on the Parent page of the Aquinas website (www.aquinasinstitute.com) on the first of each month. You may request that the newsletter be mailed to you by contacting Mrs. Fronckowiak at 254-2020, extension 1060.
In order to access your child's grades and assignments online, you will need to provide us with an active email address. We will assign you your pass code. Please contact Mrs. Fronckowiak if you have not provided your email address.
I hope to see you at our Meet the Teachers evening on September 23rd at 7:00 p.m. and the opening of school Mass, which will also include the students of Nazareth Hall on September 29th at 9:30 a.m. Please take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about the Aquinas community and learn more about the courses your students are enrolled in.
Sincerely,
Dennis G. Sadler '62
Principal
September Dates to Remember
September 1– Maplewood Association Meeting 7:00 p.m.
September 6 – Labor Day
September 8– School Opens
September 10 – Summer Reading Test
September 11 –ACT
September 13 –School Pictures during PE classes
September 14 – Primary Election Voting Site noon – 9:00 p.m.
September 15 – Junior Retreat
September 17-19 – Alumni Reunion Weekend
September 20 – Senior Picture Make-Up Day
September 22 – Mathletes Competition at Aquinas at 3:30 p.m.
September 23 – Meet the Teachers Night 7:00 p.m.
September 23-October 1 – Magazine Drive
September 24 – Juniors Order Class Rings during lunch periods
September 29 – Opening School Mass at 9:30 a.m.
Welcome New Faculty
Please join us in welcoming the new members of the Aquinas faculty and staff:
Dance: Ms. Pam Schickler and Ms. Kristi Schillaci
English: Ms. Mary Candace Minchella and Mrs. Caitlyn Hadcock
Foreign Language: Ms. Michela Pizzolanti
Science: Mr. Richard Durham and Mr. Douglas Kirst
Social Studies: Mr. Robert Barton and Ms. Emily Zicari
Theology: Mr. Richard Calitree
S.T.E.M.: Mr. Peter LaPietra
In coordination with our new partnership with Nazareth Schools and the Sisters of St. Joseph, two new positions have been formed to focus on community service and women's leadership. Ms. Sarah Coppola will join us as an AmeriCorps volunteer assisting Aquinas and its students with Community Service. She will help foster broader and deeper opportunities for our students. Ms. Rachelle Zambito '91 graduate of Nazareth Academy has joined our staff as the Coordinator of The Nazareth Women's Leadership Academy at Aquinas. The Sisters of St. Joseph are funding this position to develop and promote women's leadership programs consistent with educating women for 138 years by the congregation and Nazareth Academy.
School Pictures and Senior Picture Make-Ups
Upstate Portraits will be on campus on Monday, September 13th to take school pictures during Physical Education classes. Students must be in dress code. Order forms will be distributed on September 8. If you wish to order pictures, make sure that you present your order form and money on September 13th.
Stegall's Photography will be back on campus on Monday, September 20th for any senior that missed the sessions that were held last school year.
Senior portraits must be taken by Stegall's Photography. In addition, any portraits that do not abide by the dress code specifications as listed in this article will not be published in the Aquinas yearbook.
Seniors will please note the following information. Students are to abide by the following dress code guidelines:
Boys:
Front tie buttoning shirt with collar and tie;
A sweater or sport coat may be worn, but a tie must be visible;
Sideburns must not extend below the ear lobe; no other facial hair; hair must not extend beyond halfway down the shirt collar;
No earrings.
Girls:
Blouse with pointed collar;
Only top button may be worn open (no cleavage);
A sweater may be worn, but blouse collar must be visible;
Knit shirts may not be worn as sweaters.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Mr. Jim Shook, Arete Advisor
254-2020, extension 3052
The Magazine Drive Kick Off
The annual AQ Magazine Fundraising Drive is held each fall to benefit the school and the students. Last year, the drive raised just over $26,000, which was used to supplement technology throughout the school.
The Magazine Drive is our only school-wide fundraiser. You can help with the success of this year's drive, which will run September 23 through October 1. You may place new subscription orders and gift orders as well as renew your current subscriptions. Renewals will begin to arrive when your current subscription expires. Orders will be taken through AQ students, or you may choose to place orders through the Great American Fundraising website.
More information will be sent home with students. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to support this effort, too.
Alumni and Reunion Weekend
Many events ranging from the Varsity Boys Soccer vs. McQuaid soccer game to tours of the campus have been scheduled September 17-19 as part of Alumni & Reunion Weekend.
For a complete listing of this year's event, see the reunion brochure.
Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at ext. 1064 or alumni@aquinasinstitute.comif you have any questions.
Homecoming Shirts for Sale
Do you want to show off your AQ pride at this year's homecoming festivities? If so, DECA will be selling homecoming T-shirts.
All sales will be pre-paid only and order forms, which will include cost, will be available to the students September 13.
If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. West at extension 3055.
Student Performs One-Act Opera
Soprano Catie Bauman made her debut performance on the Aquinas stage August 13 – 15 in the Black Box Theatre, in a benefit production of Gian Carlo Menotti's one-act opera, "The Telephone".
Catie attended Nazareth Academy and will begin her junior year at Aquinas in September. The performance also featured Eastman baritone, Jordan Wilson, and was presented by Cara D'Emanuele Productions.
In lieu of tickets, a donation of non-perishable food items valued at a minimum of $5.00 per person was collected at the door. The donations benefitted the Holy Spirit Social Ministry. and is presented by Cara D'Emanuele Productions. and is presented by Cara D'Emanuele Productions.
All performances will take place in the Blackbox Theatre at the Aquinas Institute, 1127 Dewey Avenue, Rochester, NY 14613.
Senior Wins Junior Achievement Scholarship
Congratulations to Paul Schmidt '11, who has been chosen as the recipient of the 2010 Junior Achievement Business Ethics Scholarship Award.
Paul's essay was chosen from more than 50 entries throughout Monroe County and was judged based on the concepts learned from the Junior Achievement Business Ethics program.
As with past recipients of this award, Paul has been invited to speak at the Rochester Business Ethics Foundation Award Luncheon on September 21st.
Congratulations Paul on a job well done!
Driver Education and Learner's Permit Information
Aquinas offers the New York State Driver Education Program in the Fall and Spring semesters each school year.
Theenrollment form and guidelinesmay be downloaded from this page, or are available in the main office of the school.
In addition, students may now take the New York State Learner's Permit Test at Aquinas. Upon passing the test, the student will be given a receipt to take to the Department of Motor Vehicles to procure the permit. Students may take the test at age 15, but will not be able to get a permit until they turn 16. Driver Manuals and test scheduling are available through Miss Habershaw.
Questions about the Driver Education Program and Learners Permit should be directed to Miss Habershaw at 254-2020, ext. 1035, or ahabershaw@aquinasinstitute.com.
On Campus Parking
Students driving to school will not be allowed to park on campus without an Aquinas parking pass. The lot will be checked on a regular basis and consequences will be issued for infractions.
Parking passes are available in the Main Office for $75.00. Please contact Mrs. Hilfiker for more information at extension 1002.
Senior High Travel Club to Visit Italy
Join the Aquinas Senior High Travel Group as they take an educational adventure over the February, 2011 break to Italy. There will be guided sight seeing tours, as will as visits to historical palaces, churches, monuments and the opportunity to experience the cultures of the area. Contact Mrs. Epstein at extension 3053 for more details and information.
Come join in the educational and cultural experience.
The Giving Seed
Whether you are back to school shopping at amazon.com for books and bags, buying a pair of shoes for football or cross country at footlocker.com or purchasing music on iTunes, each purchase your family makes through The Giving Seed at one of 40+ top online retailers directly benefits at The Aquinas Institute. Shop. Search. Give.
How does it work?
- Visit www.thegivingseed.com
- Click on Aquinas Institute-Roch from the drop down menu
- Select your favorite retailer from the drop down menu
- Shop as usual
Using the Google search bar at www.thegivingseed.comwhen AQ is highlighted also gives back to AQ for every search you start.
Aquinas Parents Association Update
The 2010-2011 APA team will be hosting several events in September and October, which include:
Meet the Teachers Night on September 23rd at 7:00 p.m.
Freshman Communion Breakfast on October 3rd at 9:30 a.m.
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Breakfast on October 7th at 7:00 a.m.
If you are interested in volunteering for these events, please contact APA President, Anne Gray via the APA website.
Check Out the AQ Website
For all important or emergency announcements, please visit the Parent announcementpage on the website for updates. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Lopuchowycz at ext. 1038.
Just a reminder that NewsNotes are posted on the Parent announcementpage. If you would like to request a hardcopy version of the monthly publication, please contact Mrs. Fronckowiak at extension 1060.
Coming Up In October
October 1 – Magazine Drive Ends
October 3 – Freshmen Communion Breakfast 9:30 a.m.
October 4 – Junior Retreat
October 6 – Maplewood Association Meeting 7:00 p.m.
October 8 – Faculty Workshop—no school
October 9 – SAT
October 11 – Columbus Day—no school
October 11-16 – Spirit Week and Homecoming Festivities
October 12 – Theatre Boosters 7:00 p.m.
October 13 – PSAT/Plan Tests for sophomores and juniors only 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
October 14 – College Financial Aid Night 6:00 p.m.
October 14 – Mathletes at East 3:30 p.m.
October 15 – Interims available via online gradebook
October 18 – Junior Retreat
October 20 – Junior Retreat
October 21 – Alumni Office phone-a-thon 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
October 23 - ACT
October 25-30 – Red Ribbon Week
October 25 – School Picture Make-Up Day
October 26 – Junior Retreat