MAY NEWS 2015 FIRST HOLY COMMUNION On Saturday, May 9, 2015 our second graders will receive communion for the first time. They have been working very hard in preparation. Please keep them in your prayers at this very special and exciting time. A photographer will be available in the school hall for individual communion photos from 9-10:30 a.m. and after mass until about 1 p.m. RIBBON DAY/MAY CROWNING On Friday, May 15, 2015 at the 8 a.m. mass our eighth graders will receive their first ribbon acknowledging the academic progress they have made over the last nine years. Later in the evening they will be honored at a dinner. We pray for them as they begin their journey to higher education and prepare for their future. The second grade Communion class will participate in the May Crowning at the same mass. UNIFORMS Beginning May 1st all students may wear their uniform dress or gym shorts on appropriate days. LENTEN MISSION Thank you for your participation in the Holy Childhood Mission collection during Lent. We will be sending $375 to the Holy Childhood on behalf of Annunciata School students and Annunciata CCD students TUITION AND ALL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS All financial obligations for this school year need to be paid or up-to-date by May 20th. Failure to bring your outstanding debts up to date may change your tuition status, jeopardize records from being forwarded, prevent students from receiving his/her final report card or diploma (including participation in graduation activities and ceremony) and/or prevent us from reserving a place for a student for the next school year. Any payments for this school year made after May 20, 2015 must be in cash or money order—no checks will be accepted. ANY STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ARE SUGGESTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. **LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR For 3 Thursdays in May (May 7th, 14th, 21st) students may be out of uniform if they bring in toiletry items (i.e. tissue, mouth wash, body lotion, body wash) to help the Little Sisters of the Poor who care for the elderly and handicapped seniors. The Student Council is sponsoring this event. CONTRACT SIGNING Details and procedures for contract signing for the 2015-2016 school year will be made available during the month of May.

MARCH NEWS 2015 TERRA NOVA TESTING Testing for grades K-7 will be administered from March 2nd through March 13th. The preparation you can help with is to be sure that the children have plenty of rest (at least 8 hours of sleep), eat three balanced meals daily and arrive at school on time. This routine sets the tone for the day so the children can start off relaxed and ready to participate. Encourage your children to listen carefully to the teacher as the directions are given and to do the best they can. If your child misses part of the test due to illness, we will do our best to have him/her make it up. Please understand that if several sections are missed, it may be impossible to make up; and therefore, the test may not be sent in for scoring. Try not to schedule vacations at this time. The students should come prepared each day with two or three sharpened number 2 pencils. SUPER DABBER BINGO—SUN. MARCH 15TH Are you looking for something fun to do? Why not go to the Super Dabber Bingo? It’s a relaxing, fun time with several chances to win prizes, a great dinner buffet and only $26 per person. Another good reason is that all proceeds from Bingo go directly to the school and help to keep your tuition cost down. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 2:00 p.m. Bingo games begin at 3:15 p.m. The Bingo committee is waiting to serve you! Have a great time! For tickets call Ron Sellers (773) 734-3934. CONGRATULATIONS! Our sixth, seventh and eighth grade students participated in the annual East Side Lions Club, “Say No to Drugs” poster contest. All the local schools participated as well. The following winners from Annunciata will be honored at a dinner in March at the Lions’ Club where each will be awarded a cash prize: Grade 6 Alicia Plebanski Grade 6 Samantha Sellers Grade 7 Felicia Plebanski Grade 8 Marco Braschi. The above students will be awarded $50.00 cash at the March dinner. Annunciata is proud of you! Congratulations! CALENDAR REVISIONS DUE TO SNOW/COLD DAYS In order to be in compliance with the proper amount of school attendance days, adjustments need to be made in the remaining days of the 2014-2015 school calendar. April 24th will be a school attendance day (it will not be a day off for professional development). An extra day needs to be added at the end of the year; therefore, the last day of school will be June 12th with dismissal at 1 p.m. A revised Annual Calendar will be sent to families next week.

FEBRUARY NEWS 2015 OPEN HOUSE—THANK YOU Our thanks to all of you who helped to make the start of Catholic Schools Week a success! Whether you baked, served, set-up, cleaned-up or attended, all of your efforts helped to make our Open House a wonderful, positive experience. We also acknowledge the hard work of the students and their teachers and staff for the great display of classroom work and projects and the look of the building. Many visitors complimented the students’ work on display, the friendliness of the staff, and the school in general. All in all it was an exhilarating and uplifting day. Many thanks also to the Family and School Committee and the Cultural Club for coordinating the exciting events and to all those who volunteered to carry them out! The activities for Catholic Schools Week included: Scholastic Book Fair, all school bingo, a variety of out of uniform fun days, an ice cream social, celebration of African American history. We ended our week of celebration as we started with an all school Mass on Friday. MANY, MANY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU THAT MADE IT HAPPEN!! EVERYONE NEEDS LUNCH ON FEBRUARY 13TH Since February 13th was re-scheduled as a school day after the lunch orders were turned in, all students from Pre-K through grade 8 MUST BRING A LUNCH from home and something to drink. No hot lunches were ordered for February 13th. TERRA NOVA TESTING Testing for grades K-7 will be administered from March 2nd through March 13th. The preparation you can help with is to be sure that the children have plenty of rest (at least 8 hours of sleep), eat three balanced meals daily and arrive at school on time. This routine sets the tone for the day so the children can start off relaxed and ready to participate. Encourage your children to listen carefully to the teacher as the directions are given and to do the best they can. If your child misses part of the test due to illness, we will do our best to have him/her make it up. Please understand that if several sections are missed, it may be impossible to make up; and therefore, the test may not be sent in for scoring. Try not to schedule vacations at this time. The students should come prepared each day with two or three sharpened number 2 pencils. SUPER DABBER BINGO—SUN. MARCH 15TH Are you looking for something fun to do? Why not go to the Super Dabber Bingo? It’s a relaxing, fun time, several chances to win prizes, great dinner buffet and only $26 per person. Another good reason is that all proceeds from Bingo go directly to the school and help to keep your tuition cost down. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Dinner is served at 2:00 p.m. Bingo games begin at 3:15 p.m. The Bingo committee is waiting to serve you! Have a great time! For tickets call Ron Sellers (773) 734-3934

MAY NEWS 2014 FIRST HOLY COMMUNION On Saturday, May 10, 2014 our second graders will receive communion for the first time. They have been working very hard in preparation. Please keep them in your prayers at this very special and exciting time. A photographer will be available in the school hall for individual communion photos from 9-10:30 a.m. and after mass until about 1 p.m. RIBBON DAY/MAY CROWNING On Friday, May 16, 2014 at the 8 a.m. mass our eighth graders will receive their first ribbon acknowledging the academic progress they have made over the last nine years. Later in the evening they will be honored at a dinner. We pray for them as they begin their journey to higher education and prepare for their future. The second grade Communion class will participate in the May Crowning at the same mass. UNIFORMS Beginning May 1st all students may wear their uniform dress or gym shorts on appropriate days. LENTEN MISSION Thank you for your participation in the Holy Childhood Mission collection during Lent. We will be sending $563 to the Holy Childhood on behalf of our students. TUITION AND ALL FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS The May tuition is due by May 1st. All financial obligations for this school year need to be paid or up-to-date by May 15th. Failure to bring your outstanding debts up to date may change your tuition status, jeopardize records from being forwarded, prevent students from receiving his/her final report card or diploma (including participation in graduation activities and ceremony) and/or prevent us from reserving a place for a student for the next school year. Any payments for this school year made after May 15, 2014 must be in cash or money order—no checks will be accepted. CONTRACT SIGNING (ALL FAMILIES MUST COME IN TO SIGN CONTRACTS) The first tuition installment for the 2014-2015 school year is due on June 10, 2014 (All first payments must be made on June 10th). Contract signing is scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the small lunchroom. If payment is not made on June 10th, a late charge will be assessed beginning June 11th. All previous financial obligations (including church contributions/fundraising/Extended Day/library fines/NSF checks, Bingo, etc.) must be paid in full before any payment for the next school year will be accepted. ANY STATEMENTS MADE ABOUT FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS ARE SUGGESTED AND SUPPORTED BY THE ARCHDIOCESE OF CHICAGO OFFICE OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS. **LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR For 3 Thursdays in May (May 15th, 22nd, 29th) students may be out of uniform if they bring in toiletry items (i.e. tissue, mouth wash, body lotion, body wash) to help the Little Sisters of the Poor care for the elderly and handicapped seniors. The Student Council is sponsoring this event. ***REGISTRATION Beginning with Tuesday, May 6th students may be out of uniform every Tuesday in May if the families have returned their completed registration form including the fee of $75 for returning students or just the form with the bottom portion completed for non-returning students.

APRIL NEWS 2014 CONGRATULATIONS! Our seventh and eighth grade students participated in an Americanism essay competition sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. Three of the students had winning essays, and the first place essay has been sent on to the Third District Americanism Chairman for further competition. The winners are: 1st prize–Evelyn Padilla, grade 7; 2nd prize–Radovan Tomovic, grade 7; 3rd prize–Alexander Omelanczuk, grade 8. Annunciata is proud of you! FAMILY LIFE During the month of April children from K through 8 will be using the Family Life series. It is part of the prescribed Archdiocese religion curriculum, and it also includes child safety. FIRST RECONCILIATION Please pray for our second graders as they approach their First Reconciliation this month on April 29th. They have diligently been preparing for this sacrament, as well as, for their First Holy Communion in May. REPORT CARDS Report cards for the third quarter for grades PK4 through 8 were distributed on Friday, April 4, 2014. FOOD DRIVE Our current Food Drive to help those in need through our St. Vincent DePaul Society will continue until April 11, 2014. Remember Friday, April 11th is the last chance you have to be out of uniform when you bring food items for the Food Drive. Most importantly, you will be helping those in need in our community! LENTEN HOLY CHILDHOOD COLLECTION At the beginning of Lent, each child was provided with a box in which you can add spare change throughout Lent. The boxes are to be returned to your child’s homeroom on April 11th. EASTER/SPRING VACATION We will be out of school from Thursday, April 17th through the week of April 21st. Classes will resume on April 28th. Blessings for a Happy and Holy Easter!

SUPER BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! March 9, 2014 SUPER FANTASTIC SUPER AWESOME SUPER EXCITING SUPER WONDERFUL Many thanks to the Bingo Team and all who helped with Super Bingo! All of your hard work provided a fun day for everyone. The sold out event was TERRIFIC. All proceeds from Bingo go directly to the school; and the unbelievable PROFIT was $9,000 WOW! A huge THANK YOU to the 6th and 8th grade boys’ basketball teams and coaches for helping to set-up on Friday night! It was a tremendous help to the Bingo team. Thanks also to one and all that helped—without you, Super Bingo would not have been such a success. Such great success is attributed to the combined efforts of room parents that coordinated the baskets; basket makers that put the baskets together; parents that donated basket items; parents that donated entire baskets or large items for raffles; parent volunteers that set up for the event; parent volunteers that helped at the event; parents that brought groups of friends and family and co-workers to play; and the Bingo crew that coordinated the entire event. All proceeds go directly to the school budget, and the Annunciata School administration, faculty, staff and children are greatly appreciative for all the hard work everyone put into this SUPER SPECIAL EVENT. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

March 2014 TERRA NOVA TESTING Testing for grades K-7 will be administered from March 3rd through March 14th. The preparation you can help with is to be sure that the children have plenty of rest (at least 8 hours of sleep), eat three balanced meals daily and arrive at school on time. This routine sets the tone for the day so the children can start off relaxed and ready to participate. Encourage your children to listen carefully to the teacher as the directions are given and to do the best they can. If your child misses part of the test due to illness, we will do our best to have him/her make it up. Please understand that if several sections are missed, it may be impossible to make up; and therefore, the test may not be sent in for scoring. The students should come prepared each day with two or three sharpened number 2 pencils. CONGRATULATIONS Through the Southside Catholic Conference, two Annunciata Eighth grade students have received the Christian Leadership Award. The two students are: Megan Verzoni and Alexander Omelanczuk. We are proud of you for representing Annunciata in such a positive way! CONFIRMATION We ask for prayers for our eighth graders. They have been preparing for the sacrament of Confirmation that will take place March 25th. Since the beginning of this school year, they have been doing service hours, as well as, keeping up with their studies. On March 18th they will enjoy the experience of the Confirmation Retreat. HELP ME UNDERSTAND/ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE SNOW WE’VE HAD Throughout this year I have been trying to encourage you to use the morning drop off plan on the parking lot. I just cannot seem to understand why you would have your children climb through the snow and walk in areas that were not shoveled when they could walk on salted and shoveled paths that were purposely cleaned for the ease of walking to the building? It’s also a mystery, why you would park the cars on the very busy 112th Street to drop off children or jay-walk. Many cars just don’t stop on 112th. It’s mind-boggling!!! Please USE the safest plan to drop off children in the morning. Use the Avenue H driveway to enter and the Avenue G driveway to exit (one way West to East). If the children exit the cars on the passenger side they NEVER WILL BE IN FRONT OF A VEHICLE. The children will not be counted late when there is a long line of cars. If you do park the car to walk your children to the building, PLEASE CROSS AT THE CORNERS (WE HAVE A CROSSING GUARD). BE SAFE NOT SORRY!!! GIVECENTRAL.ORG Recently more families are using the GiveCentral.org website. We are happy to see that it is an added accommodation. When using GiveCentral.org for payments, please print the confirmation page with the transaction number and send it to the school office as soon as you make a payment. Sometimes it takes more than 3 days to post online, and the delayed posting may make your payment late. If we have your confirmation, it will avoid mix-ups. Also, let the office know if your intention is for multiple payments. Payments for Family and School cannot be made on GiveCentral.org.