Paragon order will be available for pick up Monday, April 12 in the lobby at 2:00PM. If items are not picked up by a parent, then the order will be sent home with students. Don’t forget to collect money and return to the office by Tuesday, April 19.

ILEARN Testing will begin on Monday, April 19th for students in grades 3rd - 8th. The testing window will last approximately 2 weeks. ILEARN is Indiana’s online computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure your child’s proficiency of the Indiana Academic Standards. Today in the Bear Facts you will find information on the ILEARN Assessment. Here are a few tips to ensure your child is successful and prepared for testing. Students need to be present and on time each day. Avoid scheduling appointments during this time. Students should get a good night sleep and eat a good breakfast. Encourage students to do their best.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend. Easter is a time to remember that hope is not lost. We know it has been a long, challenging year, but like the resurrection, we know there is light and hope still to come. As we continue to celebrate the Easter season, let us remember that hope is not lost. Let’s remember all those who are working hard to keep us safe and well, and pray for them daily. We should also take this time to remember the vulnerable in our society and pray that together, we can provide them with the help and support they need. We pray that everyone in our community keeps calm, stays safe and has faith that we can deal with any challenges that come our way.

Please start saving your dish soap bottles for Field Day water games. You can send them in to Ms. Munson.

Paragon pick up day will be Wednesday, April 7. Parents may pick up orders in the lobby after 2:00 on Wednesday or we will send the order home with your child. Payments for Paragon are due by Tuesday, April 13. If you have any questions, please contact the office.

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis offers the Circle of Grace Program to all schools within the Archdiocese. The Circle of Grace Program provides our students with education and guidance on appropriate boundaries, self-respect and respect for others. This program encourages healthy relationships and teaches our students that God is always present with us. The Circle of Grace Program is grounded in the richness of our faith. The program assist children and young people to recognize God’s love by helping them to understand that each of us lives and moves in a circle of grace. Mrs. Duggins will be visiting classrooms during the month of April to provide students with information from the Circle of Grace Program. If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Mrs. Duggins or Mrs. Tucker.

I am sure that many are aware that the Mask Mandate in the State of Indiana will be changed to a Mask Advisory on April 6. Please understand this advisory is not for schools. Masks are still mandated in schools and everyone in the school building will be required to wear a mask at all times.

Remember that school will dismiss at 1:45 on Friday, April 2. There will be no After School Care on this day. We hope that your family will take this opportunity to attend our Good Friday Service at 3:00.

This past weekend we celebrated Palm Sunday and we are now halfway through Holy Week. Holy Week is a very important week in the Church. We remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples, and his passion and death. Students have been learning about Holy Week and will continue on the Holy Week journey with Jesus. We hope that you can join our parish services throughout this Holy Week. Please note that on Holy Thursday, we will not have a School Mass.

Congratulations to our 2nd graders who participated in 1st Reconciliation this past weekend. We hope that on this grace filled occasion of your 1st Reconciliation, you discover the peace and the amazing love of God’s forgiveness. Thank you to Father Joe, Ms. Hellinger and Mrs. Nokes for preparing the students for this special occasion.

Spring Break officially begins at the end of the school day on Thursday. Spring Break gives us time to let go of the stresses of school days; release energy, relax and reset the mind. I know we all deserve this much needed break. While the year has been challenging at times, we have all worked together to make the year a success. I hope you all enjoy your break and I hope you all stay healthy and safe. We will see everyone back at school on Monday, March 29.

I scream, You scream, we all scream for ice cream. Tonight is Zesto’s Night. Enjoy the start of spring with a yummy ice cream and support our school. Don’t forget to turn in your Zesto Coupon to earn money for the school.

It is that time of year to apply for the St. Anthony Parish Stewardship Scholarship. It is important that any parish school family currently receiving the Parish Stewardship Scholarship and/or a family plans to apply for the scholarship next year review and complete the steps below. We understand that during these unprecedented times families have not been able to fulfill the service and Mass requirements. Our hope is that as we see improvement with the Coronavirus, families will begin to have the opportunity to fulfill these requirements. To be eligible for the Scholarship, families must complete and return the Commitment Card. Families received a mailing containing the Commitment Card or or you may click here to complete an electronic Commitment Card. Families must apply online at https://parish.stanthony-clarksville.org/st-anthony-stewardship-scholarship-application Families who received the Scholarship for this current year and have been in good standing, will continue to receive the Scholarship for 21-22 school year. Once more opportunities become available for service hours and Mass attendance, we will let families know how and when we will track those items. Registered St. Anthony families currently not on the scholarship may apply and turn in their Commitment Card. They will be on a probationary period for the 21-22 school year. Once we have normal opportunities for service hours and everyone can safely return to attending Mass weekly, then all probationary families will need to demonstrate their commitment to the Stewardship requirements.

I know everyone is very excited that Spring Break is near. While we do not have any travel policies or limitations in place, we ask that you continue to be cautious and follow social distancing guidelines during your travels. We appreciate all of your help and support in keeping our school community safe and healthy. The CDC has continued to state that the more you interact with others, the more people you interact with, and the longer those interactions are, the more likely COVID-19 is to spread. Below is a document compiled with information from the CDC that can be used to guide your travel choices. If you are traveling, please be safe and stay healthy. Know Your Travel Risk

It is hard to believe we have entered the last quarter of this school year. It is important that we finish the year strong and continue to follow protocol in place to keep everyone safe. I can’t thank our school community enough for the support and dedication throughout this year. Our students must continue to work hard and finish the year strong. It is important that students are prepared each day for class, complete all assignments and stay focused. During this last quarter, our 3rd-8th graders will be taking the ILEARN Assessment. It is important that we continue to stress proper study habits, keep a normal routine, and work hard in all classes.

Now more than ever we see kids using social media. While social media definitely can be a good thing, we have noticed that this communication can also be negative. It is important that as a school community we work together to make sure that all kids are using social media in a positive way. Parents must play an active role in monitoring social media and how to use social media wisely. Each week we want to share information with you regarding social media. This week we have a terrific website for parents to visit to get information about social media. The website is Common Sense Media. The website provides up to date research and guidance on social media basics. You can get information on the latest apps and websites, and get tips on talking to your kids about sharing, posting, and avoiding digital drama. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/social-media

I hope everyone has been able to share our Paragon Fundraiser with family and friends. Don’t forget to register online so family and friends can order online. There is an option for family and friends to donate to the school if they do not prefer to purchase any items. The fundraiser is a great way to show support for our school. The money raised this year will be used for minor renovations of restrooms and classrooms. We would love to update the paint in the restrooms and provide cubbies and storage areas in classrooms. Please show your support by participating in this year’s fundraiser. Remember if your child sells just 1 items they have a chance to win $500. Paragon orders are due by Tuesday, March 9. Please do not turn in cash or checks with your order form. Money will be collected after product is delivered.

This past weekend our Parish began the Faith, Hope, and Healing Program. All parishioners should have received a newsletter and a commitment card in the mail. We ask that all faithful parishioners complete a Commitment Card. A card will be included in the newsletter mailing for you to: • mail to the church using the pre-addressed envelope included in this mailing; • or bring your card to Mass the following Sunday; • or you may click here to complete an electronic Commitment Card. The back of the Commitment Card has a place for you to include any prayer intentions you wish to share. We welcome all intentions and they will be prayed over during the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass. For families that will be applying for the Parish Stewardship Scholarship, this will need to be turned in to qualify for the Scholarship. We will be providing more details regarding the Parish Stewardship Scholarship and how to apply in coming weeks.

This Lent, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis will join together to reflect on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross that were celebrated by St. John Paul II. Through 14 Podcasts, the listener will have an opportunity to practice the three pillars of Lent – Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. Each reflection will be led by priests from the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. The Walking with Christ Podcasts will air in English, Spanish, as well as in American Sign Language on YouTube. New “Walking With Christ” podcasts will be uploaded every Tuesday and Thursday of Lent, and can be found by searching for “Walking With Christ” on the Apple Podcast app and Spotify app, or by following the link to SoundCloud at https://soundcloud.com/walkingwithchrist. Additional Lenten resources, as well as recordings of the podcasts, can be found at https://www.archindy.org/lent/podcast.html.