The St. Boniface Blaze

Events, Updates and News from St. Boniface School

Volume XVII Issue I October /November, 2019

It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces when the doors opened on Tuesday, August 20th, our first day of school. Besides the many familiar faces, there were also quite a few new ones. We’re glad that you are all here, that you chose St. Boniface School! WELCOME and WELCOME BACK, everyone!

Our annual WELCOME BACK BREAKFAST was held on Thursday, August 22nd. Parents and Guardians were able to join their students for breakfast and escort them to their classrooms before school began. This tradition is a great way for all to re-connect and meet new members of our school community. Thanks to Mrs. Losekamp and her cafeteria staff for putting together a lovely morning meal.

The OPENING COMMUNITY PRAYER SERVICE took place at 8:30AM on Friday, September 6th. This year’s theme was St. Boniface School: Building a Community of Love. Family and friends were invited to join the entire school in praying for a year of learning success, personal growth, service opportunities and, most importantly, love for one another.

Time truly DOES fly and we already have our First Quarter behind us. The students should be well into their routines by now. They have been very busy learning both in and out of the classrooms.

Please join us in welcoming the following new staff members

to St. Boniface School:

K TEACHER Ms. Katelyn Schaeper K TEACHER’S ASSISTANT Ms. Leandra Ulmer SCHOOL NURSE Ms. Kimberly Wilson SCHOOL SECRETARY Mrs. Emma Galbraith

St. Boniface School is the proud recipient of a flag that flew over the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., thanks to Congressman Steve Chabot. A representative from Rep. Chabot’s office delivered the flag to school and it was raised for the first time at St. Boniface on Wednesday, September 11th. A solemn ceremony was held to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

We continue to be blessed by the presence of many individuals who help our students and staff on a regular basis. It has become tradition here at St. Boniface School to have Dominican Brothers commit to a year of service during their Novitiate year. We’re pleased and grateful to have them here!

WELCOME to Brother Francis Xavier and BrotherMacarius!

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St. Boniface School Fall Conferences Wednesday, October 23rd& Thursday, October 24th

It was highly recommended that all parents/guardians attend their student’s Fall Family Teacher Conference. We hope you took this opportunity to get to know your child’s teacher(s), check on your student’s academic progress and to discuss any concerns that you might have regarding your student. Family-Teacher communication is vital for student success. If you were unable to attend Conferences, you have the option to see your child’s teacher by appointment. Contact the school office to make a request.

The St. Boniface Anniversary Garden

Once again, the Spring and Summer weather presented significant challenges in the garden…early and prolonged periods of rain delayed and hampered much of the planting. We were able to enjoy berries, tomatoes and potatoes. Additionally, following treatment,

our apple and peach trees are much healthier and students were able to help pick and enjoy both fruits. Current garden chores include some seasonal clean-up and harvesting potatoes with some student helpers.

Mercy McAuley Blazin’ Wolf Pup Buddies !

Our Mercy McAuley Buddies made their first visit of the year on Tuesday, October 22nd from 11:30AM-1:00PM. Students in grades K-4 were able to meet and chat with their new Buddies over lunch in the Gym. Then they all enjoyed working on an activity with their

Buddies. Some of the grades were able to enjoy the beautiful fall day by taking their activity out on the school lawn. A good time was had by all. THANKS, BUDDIES!

“We are FAMILY!” A school FAMILY consists of students from each grade level with 8th grade students as the FAMILY leader. There is also a staff monitor for each FAMILY. Throughout the year, FAMILIES gather around a theme which usually involves a holiday, religious event and/or a service/character topic. The older students assist the younger ones and are able to develop leadership skills. Cooperation, encouragement, and affirmation are FAMILY goals. Additionally, our hope is that FAMILY groups help to stem bullying as FAMILIES bond and support their members. The first FAMILIES meeting of this year took place on Wednesday, October 2nd and the theme was “Getting To Know You”. FAMILY members took part in a fun icebreaker activity which allowed each group member to reveal something of their personality and preferences. A second FAMILIES meeting was held on Wednesday, October 23rd with the topic of “Love and Care of Self”. We had a guest speaker, Ms. Dani Wiliiams, from Haircuts from the Heart ministries. The next meeting scheduled for Friday, November 16th, will be a Thanksgiving Celebration, complete with a full Thanksgiving lunch feast! For this meeting, gratitude and service to others will be the focus of the day. Sitting together with a meal served FAMILY-style, 8th grade leaders will serve the meal to their younger FAMILY members. OVER

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Kids in Action 2019-20 from Mrs. Kampel

Kids in Action had their first meeting in October. The 16 middle schoolers made a plan for the monthly meetings and designed jigsaw puzzles with positive messages for all students at St. Boniface School. The puzzles will be used for an activity at one of the FAMILY meetings this year. Club t-shirts were also ordered for each member.

Girls on the Run from Coach Kampel

Girls on the Run are training very hard for the upcoming 5K race at Sawyer Point on Saturday, November 16th. There are 10 girls participating from grades 3, 4 and 5. GOTR will have a practice 5K after school on Thursday November 7th. All are welcome to come and cheer for our runners!

THE DePaul Cristo Rey BRUIN BOWL from Mrs.Childs This Academic “Quiz Bowl” competition took place on October 17th, 2019. In total, 32 teams from CISE elementary schools competed. Four of those teams were made of St. Boniface 8th grade students. Two of our teams did really exciting things. Our Green Team members were Sarena Jackson, Karley Sipe, Alonzo Dickerson and Elijah Irby. They came in 1st Place in the Lightning Round Current Events portion of the competition. The St. Boniface Red Team

consisting of Markale Stubblefield, Micah Irby and Kass Griffith took 3rd PLACE OVERALL, and received the Bronze Award. This team received a trophy to display at school and each individual received a Bronze Medal!

CONGRATULATIONS! We’re REALLY proud of you!

The young men and women of LaSalle High School and Ursuline Academy serve as Big Brothers and Sisters for a number of our

students in grades 3-5. The boys meet after school on Tuesdays and the girls meet on Thursdays. They spend time getting to know each other, playing games, doing activities and going on field trips. These young people serve as wonderful role models for our students and we are glad to have them here.

1st Quarter awards assembly On Thursday, October 31stat 1:45PM, the entire school gathered in the gym for the first Awards Assembly of the school year. Students were recognized for academic success and effort during the 1st Quarter. Families were invited to attend and applaud student success. You can view the full list of award winners by visiting the school website www.stbonifaceschool.net .

CONGRATULATIONS! Keep up the Good Work!

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Blazer Band Our musicians have been busy practicing under the direction of Mrs. Dianne Schreck. Band meets each Wednesday after school. Beginning Band 2:45-3:30PM Advanced Band 3:30-4:15PM

Returning Advanced Band musicians include: Nathaly Bracero, Andrew Browning, Isabella Browning, Shane Farley, Melissa Howard, Adonis Munoz, Santo Luis Munoz, Zalman

Myrick, Sage Oehlhof, Marley Wardlow and TatumnWharton.

Two of our Advanced Band students attended Summer Junior Band Camp at La Salle High School for a week in July. Isabella Browning and Zalman Myrick joined other grade school band students in rhythm games, marching with the high school band, and performing the Alma Mater song during this fun week.

This year, all of our band students were invited to take part with the Pride of La Salle High School Band at the Homecoming Football Game at La Salle High School on September 20th. Five students met in the band room to practice going on the football field with the high school band, enjoyed some very tasty food provided by the Band Booster adults, and sat with the band in the stands during the first half of the football game. The weather was very good and it turned out to be a fun experience learning firsthand about high school marching band.

We welcome new band members Mario Barksdale, Jordyn Broner, Caylee Chenault, Jayla Graves, Shianne

Graves, Agatha Horstman, AJ Munoz and Devin Vassar. High school band musicians from La Salle and

Purcell-Marian Schools will be buddying up with us for some of our Wednesday band times to share tips

about best ways to play our band instruments. Along with exercises in our band books, our band students

are learning some marches and Christmas carols to perform in December. Look for information in the

Thursday Folders regarding upcoming concerts which are open to all.

St. Boniface BLAZERS hit the Court

FRIARS’ CLUB GIRLS’ BASKETBALL The girls practice on Tuesdays after school until 5:00PM.Games are held on Saturdays at the Friars’ Club in St. Bernard right next to Roger Bacon High School.

High School Placement Test (HSPT) The HSPT (High School Placement Test) prep has begun for students in Grade 8. Sister Ann has ten sessions scheduled with students prior to the exam date. She will work on math and test taking strategy and Mrs.Childs will do a language arts review. Mark your calendars now:

Saturday, November 23rd

is the scheduled test date.

FIELD TRIPS & PROGRAMS Be sure to ask your child(ren) about the MANY and varied Field Trips they travelled to and the programs that visited our campus. You’ll be amazed! A few examples include:

Fernald Preserve Grade 8 Parker Woods Grades 4 & 5 School House Symphony All School Ohio River Reach Grade 6

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A VIEW FROM AN INTERVENTION EDUCATOR

Where You Stand is What You See

THE POWER OF THE POSITIVE PEER

Students who struggle to learn to read face multiple challenges as we search for clues as to why some

children encounter significant roadblocks preventing fluency from flowing freely. In the midst of the

process, these students often lose hope that they will ever experience success in literacy as their issues

seem insurmountable to them and their confidence crumbles. Even affirming words from their teachers

and tutors appear inadequate to lift their spirits and encourage their efforts. Every once in a while though,

a peer, often with insecurities of his/her own, emerges who spontaneously offers genuinely positive praise

like, “YOU GOT IT!” “I BELIEVE IN YOU!” “YOU GOT MORE THAN ME!” and suddenly, even if for just a brief

period of time, the struggles diminish, calm is restored, confidence flourishes, and stamina is rekindled as

the search for avenues to enable success are reignited. How honored I am to witness this interaction

between peers, and how grateful I am to be the facilitator of learning for such amazingly resilient students.

There truly are miracles in our midst at Saint Boniface School! Sister Mary Ann Trotta, RSM

Breakfast is served from 7:15-7:35AM daily. We encourage you to have your students here early enough to eat and get to class on time.

Students are required to wear their TKD black uniform pants for gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Red St. Boniface T-shirts can be worn as part of the TKD gym uniform.

Each student is given a name tag. These are to remain at school at the end of the day. If your student accidentally brings theirs home, please make sure they return it to school. Replacement name tags will cost $3.00.

Please help if you can… Remember to clip Boxtops for Education. Our

school earns money (10₵) for each label turned in. This year, there have been changes to the BOXTOPS program as they are transitioning away from actual labels to a digital collection method. For now, some items still have the Boxtops label. Continue to collect those and send them in to school. You can also download an app and scan your receipts. Credit will be given automatically. Visit https://www.boxtops4education.com/ for more information. REMEMBER…every little bit helps and we are grateful for whatever you can do!

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Sister Ann Recognized as a CHAMPION OF MERCY

On Thursday, November 7th, Associate Administrator of St. Boniface School, Sister Ann Gorman, RSM, was honored by the Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio. The ceremony and reception took place at Our Lady of Light House on the campus of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood, Ohio. 4

In her letter of nomination, Sister Miriam wrote:

“Sister Ann Gorman, a religious Sister of Mercy, has been an outstanding educator-teacher, tutor, administrator- for over 50 years….While she could be out fishing (her great love!), she chooses to spend long days volunteering her expertise to benefit the students enrolled here. Sister Ann has been a model of mercy and compassion for all who work with her. She has a special love for struggling students, constantly looking for what roadblocks might be limiting their progress, and doing all she can to help them overcome those issues. She is an advocate for mercy and compassion toward both students and parents, trying to see life through their eyes, and encouraging other staff members to be patient and merciful with them as well. …we are grateful that she reminds us to be merciful in our judgments of others. …and does whatever she can to help while treating those in need with the utmost dignity and compassion. She is truly a Sister of Mercy, reminding us all of the great need for mercy in our world.”

We thank Sister Ann for her vocation and for her commitment to ALL in the St. Boniface School Community. Her example serves as an inspiration for every one of us.

Congratulations, Sister Ann!

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Come celebrate the Season… Students in grades 2,3 and 4 are practicing and working really hard.

For the Glory of the King will be presented on Tuesday,

December 10th at 7:00PM. All are welcome!

Keep these dates in mind… SUNDAY November 24th St. Boniface FALL FESTIVAL 12-6PM November 27th, 28th, 29th Thanksgiving Break (NO CLASSES) December 23rd CHRISTMAS BREAK BEGINS MONDAY, January 6th CLASSES RESUME

Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

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