newsletterNPS PARENT TEACHER ORGAN IZAT ION

Spri

ng

2020

Nativity App Website SignUp Genius Facebook Get the latest NPS news at your fingertips. Download from the

App Store or Google Play.

Check out the NPS website.

2019-20 PTO volunteer sign-up available here

(access from the app too).

Join us on the NPS PTO Facebook page!

Catholic Schools Week Day of Service First Grade - January 28, 2020

kelly henderson | President henderson.kelly@gmail.com

A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT The new year is always off to a fast start with

Catholic Schools Week at the end January. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Nativity and the importance and value of a Catholic education. We are fortunate to belong to such a supportive community that encourages us to live out our faith on a daily basis.

The following pages contain a roundup of PTO’s early 2020 activities and many well-deserved acknowledgments for our hardworking volunteers. From those who help support the school’s daily activities to the financial support shown at Knights Under the Star, our parish and school families really are THE best! Thank you!

Pictured below are some of the new STREAM supplies that were recently purchased with PTO funds. We work hard to be good stewards of these resources, to support our teachers and staff, and to help provide the best education possible for our students. Wishing you and your families a safe and relaxing Spring Break! Warmly, Kelly Henderson

Thank you for your continued support of the PTO-sponsored “Knight Out” restaurant fundraiser program. We had a fantastic turnout at Cactus Grill ($427) and Chick-fil-A ($361), which bumps our total up to nearly $3,800 for the year! Funds from these events help support social and community building events, including our monthly First Friday donuts, Welcome Committee activities, and our first annual Kindness Week. Questions or comments? Contact Emily Gencarelli.

Our remaining events are shown below. The schedule can also be found on the NPS app under the “Knight Out” button.

• Chipotle: Wednesday, April 15, 4-8 p.m. (Hawthorne Plaza, 5065 W 119th St.)

• Shake Shack: Monday, May 11, All Day (Town Center Plaza, 5200 W 119th St.)

MARCH APRIL MAY

16-20 Spring Break 1 Service Logs Due to Office 6 PTO Meeting | 8:15 a.m.

29 Family Day of Service Tomahawk Park after 9 a.m. Mass

8 PTO Meeting | 8:15 a.m. 7 Knight Flight Fun Run/Walk 6:30 p.m.

15 Knight Out @ Chipotle 4 - 8 p.m.

11 Knight Out @ Shake Shack All Day

18 Father/Daughter Dance Parish Hall | 7 p.m.

15 Olympics & School PicnicPTO

CALE

NDAR

2

New STREAM Supplies New STREAM Supplies

PTO is a great way to become more involved in our school community by supporting our children, teachers and families.

Contact Emily Gencarelli by March 15 to apply at 785-218-1485 or egencarelli@gmail.com.

VP Elect A-Team Angels VP Elect Social VP Elect

StewardshipVP Elect

Guiding Shepherds

Oversee volunteers for most of our in-school projects. If you’re a people p e r s o n a n d a g o o d communicator then this is the role for you!

Organize volunteers for all the community events that bring our families together. Bring your party planning skills to PTO!

Manage service hours, c l a s s s t e w a r d s h i p pro jects , and school f u n d r a i s i n g / s e r v i c e projects. Play a role in all the wonderful ways our NPS community gives back!

D i rec t vo lun teers fo r act iv i t ies that involve w e l c o m i n g n e w a n d returning families to our school. Let your creativity shine in this role as an NPS ambassador.

Room Parent Coordinator

Library Volunteer Coordinator

Lunchroom Angels Coordinator

Teacher Appreciation Committee

School Supply Coordinator

Spirit Wear Coordinator

Uniform/Used Uniform Coordinators

Book Fair Chairs

On-Call Angels

Nativity Bakers

Hearing/Vision Screening

Quick Visits Social Chair

Back-To-School Night Coordinators Trunk or Treat Chairs

VIP Day Refreshment Chairs

CSW Open House Chairs

CSW Breakfast with Parents

Trivia Night Chairs

Mother/Son Event Chairs

Father/Daughter Event Chairs

Classroom Stewardship Projects Service Hours and Awards

Fall Festival Basket Chairs

Red Bag Chairs

First Friday Mass Donuts

Preschool Liaison

Quick Visit Welcome Committee

Preschool/Kindergarten Coffee Coordinators Balloon Arch/First Day of School

New Family Welcome Chair & Committee

Kindergarten Round-Up Committee

Kindergarten Screening Chairs

*Elects are voting members of PTO’s Executive Board. They play a supporting role to the current VPs next year and assume official responsibilities during the 2021–22 school year.

Treasurer Elect Secretary* Meetings

Handle all monetary and budgeting responsibilities. If you enjoy money matters and organization then this is the job for you!

Record, distribute and post minutes from all Executive Board meetings. *Not an elect position. Will serve during 2020-21 school year.

PTO meets the first Wednesday of the month at 8:15 a.m., which is subject to c h a n g e b a s e d o n v o l u n t e e r availability.

PTO IS RECRUITING FOR THE 2021-22 EXECUTIVE BOARD

ROLE

SUPE

RVIS

E

JOIN OUR TEAM!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY

During CSW, the PTO Staff Appreciation Committee provided a coffee cart and barista for the teachers and staff on Thursday morning. Baskets were created by room parents with donations from school families that contained items from our teachers’ “Favorite Things” lists and a $20 Target gift card. Teachers were also presented with quotes of appreciation from their students. PTO created baskets for the Specials teachers, front office, cafeteria and support staff. The baskets were a huge hit and we hope the staff felt appreciated for all the wonderful things they do!

PTO would like to acknowledge all of our Room Parents! Thank you for going above and beyond to make CSW Teacher Appreciation, and all of our classroom activities, so special. PTO would also like to thank Emily Creal, Staff Appreciation Committee Chair, and Carolyn Darby, VP A-Team Angels, for all their work in coordinating this day.

We ❤ our volunteers! From the classroom and library to the

cafeteria and beyond, volunteers are vital to the success of Nativity Parish School. Whatever

amount of time you are able to give, PTO is grateful that we can rely on so many people to help with the day to day activities. What a wonderful community we have here at Nativity! Reminder: Cafeteria Volunteers

If you are unable to fulfill your volunteer commitment for a shift in the cafeteria, please find a substitute. The sub list can be found here. Thank you!

Box Tops for Education Don’t forget to download the NEW Box Tops for Education app! It’s an easy way to raise money for Nativity. Instead of c l ipp ing Box Tops f rom packages, you can now earn

money by simply scanning your receipts. Your total is instantly added to our school's earnings online. It’s convenient and super easy! Since the rollout of the new app this past fall, Nativity has earned $388.20 from people scanning their receipts. Questions? Contact Nativity’s Box Tops coordinator, Carolyn Darby.

VP A-Team Angels - This officer oversees volunteers for most in-school activities such as room parents, library readers, lunchroom vo lun tee r s , s choo l supp l i e s , t eache r appreciation and more.

carolyn darby | VP a-team angels carolyndarby9@gmail.com

Cafeteria Volunteers

Library Volunteers

CSW Teacher Appreciation

kristine hansen | VP social kshansen78@yahoo.com

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK OPEN HOUSE & VIP DAY

Catholic Schools Week is always a great way to kick off the new year! Festivities began with a student-led Mass on Sunday at 11 a.m. followed by a school open house with refreshments and classroom visits. Special thanks to Jessica Gura, Kelly Parks and Peg Bono for a fantastic spread of donuts, coffee and more.

VIP Day was celebrated on the Friday of Catholic Schools Week this year. After kindergarten-led Mass, students and their VIPs enjoyed refreshments and classroom activities before attending the Catechism Bowl in the gym. There was an amazing array of baked goods available thanks to the talents and generosity of our Nativity Bakers! Kudos to our refreshment coordinators for the day, Kelly Parks and Emilie Ferguson and a special shout out to Kristine Hansen, VP Social, for organizing the week’s social activities. Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers for helping us provide a warm welcome to our visitors.

Trivia “KNight” ROUNDUP Cowboys and cowgirls filled the Parish Hall on

February 1 for a down home good time of trivia, games and fellowship. PTO would like to extend a tremendous thank you to the Trivia Night

Committee: Christina & Marty Erwin (co-chairs), Billy & Carrie Turley (co-chairs), Tracy & Jared Stotts, Ali & Mark Riegel, and Tish & John Taylor. The Trivia Night Committee would like to thank the Knights of Columbus for providing beer and wine to trivia participants for a nominal donation, Chris Dowdy for providing audio equipment and Windy City Pub for donating a gift card to the winning trivia team.

The Johnsons, Wachtels, DeFeos and Kiewiets took home the trivia crown and the Meiners, Hancoxes, Nessingers and Farrells had the winning table theme with their “Best Western” Hotel attire and accessories. Trivia Night raised $4,342.30 and proceeds will go toward the purchase of three new water fountains with bottle fillers for the school. Thank you Nativity!

THIRD & FOURTH GRADE BINGO Mr. Kearney hosted our 3rd and 4th grade

students and their guests on February 6 for a fun night of bingo in the cafeteria. Prizes and treats were provided by PTO and Mr. Kearney.

Trunk or Treat - 8th Grade5

VP Social - This officer is the party planner and organizes volunteers for our community events such as the Watermelon Feed, Trunk or Treat, Trivia Night, Mother/Son and Father/Daughter events and more.

CSW Open House CSW Pep Rally VIP Day

3rd & 4th Grade Bingo Night

TRIVIA NIGHT

Trivia Night Committee: (L to R) Stotts, Erwins, Riegels, Taylors & Turleys

6

Trivia Winners: Johnsons, Wachtels, DeFeos & Kiewiets

Table Theme Winners for Best Western: Meiners, Hancoxes, Nessingers & Farrells

3rd & 4th Grade Bingo Night

MOTHER-SON DODGEBALL

MOTHER/SON DODGEBALL The gym was packed on Tuesday night for the

wi ld ly popular Mother-Son Dodgebal l Tournament! After enjoying pizza and cookies, the crowd moved into the gym for two rounds of team play followed by each grade versus their moms. Three cheers to the organizing

committee of Carolyn Powers (co-chair), Madeline Fisher (co-chair), Kelly Elder, Emily Erkmann, Emilie Ferguson, and Michelle Textor. Special thanks to our referees, Matt Textor and Clay Fisher, for keeping the evening safe and enjoyable for everyone.

7 1st Grade 3rd & 4th Grade Moms

8th Graders & their Moms

Trivia Night Committee Matt Textor & Clay Fisher

Kelly sullivan | VP stewardship sullivankelly01@gmail.com

CSW Day of ServicE

During Catholic Schools Week, Nativity partnered with Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas to host our very first Day of Service. Prior to Catholic Schools Week, students did chores and jobs for others to earn money to help purchase supplies for our Day of Service activities.

Each student that donated received a “helping hand” cutout, which was displayed in the cafeteria. Under the guidance of Catholic Charities staff, the students assembled 26 bags of pasta and 170 bags of coffee to nourish the hungry, 70 hand-made rosaries and prayer cards were created for the hospice and Friendly Visitors program, 90 gift bags were assembled for the foster grandparent program, 30 home essential bags were made for people in transition, along with 49 planting packets for their New Roots for Refugees program.

While the lower grades stayed on site, 6th grade visited Hope Distribution Center to tour and sort food. The Middle School traveled to Harvesters to help sort, weigh and measure food.

Through this experience students not only learned the importance of donating money, they also learned the importance of giving their time. Overall, the first Day of Service was a huge success. We are proud of what our students were able to accomplish! PTO would especially like to thank Kelly Sullivan and Maggie Kiewiet for the many hours they devoted to making this day happen. Thanks to our Classroom Stewardship Chairs who also

helped facilitate the days’ activities. We are grateful for the dedication and commitment of our volunteers as we help our students learn the importance of giving to others.

FAMILY DAY OF SERVICE TIDY THE TRAILS

SUNDAY, MARCH 29 Our spring Family

Day of Service - Tidy the Trails event is scheduled for Sunday, March 29 after the 9 a.m. Mass. Please sign up HERE by March 23 so we have ample supplies from the City of Leawood. Students are encouraged to wear spirit wear to Mass and then we’ll meet at the Tomahawk Creek Park shortly after. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Questions? Contact Kelly Sullivan.

Service Hours Don’t forget to record those service hours!

Logs are due April 1, 2020, to the school office. A copy of the log sheet can be found on the PTO tab of the NPS website here.

VP Stewardship - This officer manages student service hours, oversees the classroom stewardship projects, supervises the Fall Festival class baskets and Red Bag program.

“Serving others with helping

hands and giving hearts”

8

9

CSW Day of service - K, 2nd & 3rd

3rd Grade 3rd Grade

2nd Grade2nd Grade

KindergartenKindergarten

10

CSW Day of service - 4th, 5th & 6th

4th Grade4th Grade

5th Grade 5th Grade 5th Grade

6th Grade 6th Grade 6th Grade

11

CSW Day of service - 6th, 7th & 8th

Harvesters

Hope Distribution Center6th Grade

Middle School

Middle SchoolMiddle School

Student:

Grade:

Date of Birth:

Age on Dec. 1, 2019:

Total Hours:

Student Signature:

Parent Signature:

DATE ACTIVITY TIMEADULT

INITIALS

Nativity Parish School participates in the President’s Student Service Challenge and has also set age-appropriate service hour goals for students to achieve, even if they are not participating in the President’s Cha l lenge . Each s tuden t who achieves their goal will receive special recognition at the May Devotion held on Friday, May 1, at 1:30 p.m. in the church. Families are invited to attend.

Grade-Level Service Goals: Kindergarten & 1st Grade: 5 hours 2nd Grade: 10 hours 3rd & 4th Grade: 15 hours 5th & 6th Grade: 25 hours 7th & 8th Grade: 35 hours

Tracking Service Hours Students wishing to earn a service award need to log their service hours from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

LOGS ARE DUE APRIL 1, 2020. Questions? Contact Kelly Sullivan at sullivankelly01@gmail.com.

Stewardship of Time & Talent Log Sheet for Service Hours