June 5, 2024

Dear Annunciation Families:

          T-Minus two days until the walk-a-thon!!!  Walk-a-thon is one of our biggest fundraisers here at AES.  Don’t forget to get your family members to donate! We are thinking all things STEM and we are hoping to add to our classrooms to enhance the STEM experience for our students.  See more details below but consider being a part of our walk-a-thon along the route!!  In addition to being a fundraiser, this day is a special community building opportunity for our students, faculty and families.  Lining the streets of Crestwood with pride, reaching out to our neighbors and having them see our students representing AES reminds us of the value and importance of our Catholic school in the heart of this community.  This year, our grand marshall is Fr. Carolan. Fr. Carolan will be moving on to his new parish, St. James the Apostle.  We are so thankful to Fr. Carolan for the impact he has made on our school and parish community, he will be missed! 

          We look forward to seeing you there! 

          This has been an incredibly busy month so far!  We wish our students participating in finals this week the best of luck as they continue to demonstrate their understanding of grade level concepts.  It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of this school year!

          Congratulations to our students who participated in the Math Olympiad program this year.  All were awarded with certificates last week for their participation.  We thank Mr. and Mrs. Youngren for their dedication to rolling out the program this year!  We also want to congratulate G7 student, Paul Saake, for being awarded with the best Olympiad medal from Annunciation School! 

          We have been fulfilling our AES auction items, see our Instagram and Facebook pages for updates!  We want to thank all of our families for participating in the auction this year!  It has been so much fun to experience these special activities with the students! 

          Very special thank you to our HSA and class parents for assisting us with additional communications throughout the year and this month especially!  Streamlining communications has been a huge success for us this year and we are grateful for the constant contact we are able to provide.  Next year will be even better!! 

Accelerated Math Information for Qualification:

• Students in Grade 5 participated in the ITBS exam yesterday.  Results will be generated sometime early summer. 
• Grade 6 students in at-level will be required to take a placement test for qualification if they meet the overall 90 average. 
  • The placement exam is optional and will be administered on June 17, 2024 at 3P for students interested in qualifying for accelerated math entering grades 6 or 7.For students who are interested in participating in the accelerated track for next year in current grades 5 must meet the following criteria to be accepted:
    • 90 average overall in Math 
    • 85 or above NPR on ITBS
    • Growth in MAP scores
• 90 or above placement test (Students who do meet the 90 overall average in math are invited to take the placement test) 

Facts About Accelerated Math:

• Both 6th grade tracks (accelerated and at-level) complete the SAME curriculum for mathematics.  Pacing varies towards the end of the year but for the most part, students complete the same standards at a similar time.  They are the same books/materials.
• Students CAN qualify for admission into accelerated math in grade 7 if they have not met the necessary criteria for grade 6.
• Students CANNOT qualify for accelerated math in grade 8 if they had not met the qualifications for grade 7.
• Accelerated math in grades 7 & 8 combines both at-level curriculum and the grade above.  Our grade 8 students participate in the regents Algebra curriculum/track.  If students do not complete accelerated math programs in grade 7, there is material they would be missing to be successful in the regents Algebra track.
• Accelerated math placement CAN be rescinded. If a student is not performing with a 90 average or above, students will be invited to change to the at-level track.
• Each child learns mathematics differently, we have two tracks to meet the needs of ALL of our students.  There is no “better” track.  Students who work hard, and achieve their personal best, will be instructed on grade level and meet the necessary requirements in both classes to master grade level standards.  Each track is rigorous, engaging, and challenges our students.  There are also many opportunities for personalized learning with the two tracks. 

**Happy Kid Lunch–Schedule Change & Important Update**

Our last day of Happy Kid Lunch is now June 7, 2024!
          Please note that over the next few weeks the lunch program will not be able to sell lunch items on the lunch line. They will only be able to accommodate snacks and drinks online.
          If your child intends to get lunch, it must be preordered.
          Please be sure that balances are paid for Happy Kid Lunch prior to the end of the year.
          Beginning Monday, June 10, 2024, students will need to bring their own lunch.

Planning Ahead–24-25 Calendar Items:
          We are still awaiting the final calendar for 2024-2025 but I am sharing some important dates below.  Once we have the calendar–we will publish all additional information:

September 5, 2024→First Day of School Grades 1-8, NOON Dismissal

September 6, 2024→First Full Day Grades 1-8

September 9, 2024→Kindergarten Orientation, 10AM 

September 10, 2024→PreK3, PreK4 Orientation, 10AM, Kindergarten NOON dismissal

September 11, 2024→ Kindergarten Full Day, PreK4 NOON dismissal

September 12, 2024→ PreK4, Full Day 

*****The full calendar will be posted as it is available.  We will communicate over the summer when the calendar will be

LIVE on the website.****

Summer Hours:
          Annunciation School will be open daily in the summer from 8A-12P.  Should you need to come in for any reason, we ask that you send an email to notify us. 
          We will be CLOSED for the July 4th holiday.
          We will be CLOSED for one week in August to complete the necessary cleaning/polishing of the floors. 

Class Assignments:
          On or around August 15, 2024, we will notify families of class placement for the 2024-2025 school year.

          A reminder that we cannot accept requests for students/placement for the school year.  With a student population of this size, it is impossible to accommodate each family’s request.

          Together with the current classroom teachers, we work to make decisions that are suited for each student and for each child to have a positive and successful classroom experience. 

Bible Camp:
          Our Bible Camp for the end of the school year is FULL!  Please send in payment if you have not already done so! 

A Hartz Packs:
          Reminder, the deadline is approaching on June 28, 2024 for our school supply packs. Please complete your order online!  This is such an easy program to purchase all of the necessary supplies for the next school year.  We are grateful for this partnership and service we are able to provide our families with! 

Mock Trial Program:
          We brought back our Mock Trial program this year and it has been a tremendous success. Our students on both teams (combination of 6-8 graders) have advanced to semi-finals and final rounds. We are so proud of our students for the hard work that has gone into preparing them for these competitions. Big thanks to our coordinators John Sullivan and Aisling DeSola for all that has gone in behind the scenes to prepare the students for trial. We will share an update with you next week in regards to the final round!!

Next Week – Moving Up & Graduations:

• June 11–PreK3/4→ 10 AM Ceremony, Doors will open at 9:45A
• June 12–Kindergarten→ 10AM Ceremony, Doors will open at 9:45A
• June 13–Grade 8 Graduation Mass→ 6PM, Doors will open at 5:30P
• June 15–Graduation Ceremony→ 11AM, Doors will open at 10:30A

** With the exception of our graduates, faculty, and auction winners, there will be NO reserved seating at our graduation events.  Seating will be on a first come, first serve basis. 

8th Grade Car Parade:
          As is our tradition, immediately following our 8th grade graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 15, 2024, we will have the car parade!  Consider standing outside your homes if you’re in the neighborhood to cheer on our graduates! 

HSA NEWS:
      June is a very busy month at AES and we hope that your children are enjoying all the fun “extras” as we near the end of the school year.  We want to thank our Administration, Staff and Teachers for being so supportive and helping to organize all the auction items and closing events.  We know that this is not easy as you prepare for class trips, finals, the graduations and all the million other things you have to do before the end of June.  THANK YOU!  

          June 6th: Our last Spiritwear for a Cause Day was chosen by our 8th grade.  The charity we will be raising money for is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the theme is “wear your favorite jersey or AES jersey” with AES gym shorts or sweats. We suggest at least $2, but feel free to give what you can.  It is important to remember to send in a donation for our chosen charity in order to receive the dress down day.    

          Tomorrow is also our last Birthday Bash for the year, celebrating our June and summer birthdays.  As we did last year, we will end our Birthday Bash program with a visit from Mr. Softee.  Mr. Softee will be serving a choice of chocolate or vanilla  ice cream in a cup (with or without sprinkles) or a firecracker ice pop.  If these selections do not cover your child’s allergy please let HSA/your teacher know by tonight and we will arrange an alternative treat.  

          Tomorrow is also the Kindergarten Field Day– please follow your instructions from Mrs. Cucuzza and Mrs. Bowring.  

          June 7th: Walk-a-thon will start at 1:15!!  Our students will be walking our regular loop: (1) Students will exit the school yard from our Manhattan Avenue gates and turn left onto Kennedy Place; (2) they will then make a left onto Hollywood Avenue; (3) they will walk down Hollywood Avenue and then will make a left onto Hothorn Avenue; (4) then they will make a left onto Brosnan Place/Schultz Field; and (5) then they will come back into the school yard via the St. Eleanora’s Lane gates.  

          PLEASE REMEMBER to send in your donations.  We have not received many donations into the office.  These donations will go towards science/STEAM initiatives for next year.    

          Please feel free to line up along the entire course.  Parents are not to walk the course with the students for safety reasons.  As we have done the last couple of years, we will have “stations” set-up along the course that will have music, decorations, bubbles and tissue paper poppers.  These stations will be: Manhattan Avenue near the gates,  and Hollywood Avenue: middle of the block between Kennedy and St. Eleanoras, and also between St. Eleanoras and Hothorn Avenue.  FYI- If you are not at a designated station- for courtesy toward our neighbors – please do not use confetti poppers.  We received some notice last year from our neighbors that their lawns were used and then were not cleaned up.  If along the route, please just cheer on the kids and do not use poppers.  The stations are AES parent homes, so we know we have designated clean-up volunteers.  Thank you for your cooperation!!

          8th grade Clap Out:  At dismissal, please join our school community, and give our 8th graders a standing ovation as they exit our school building on their last full day of school.  We dare you not to cry!!  We are proud of their many accomplishments, but most of all for the wonderful young men and women they have become.  Once a Knight, always a Knight! 

           End of the Year Collection: Please consider contributing to the End of the Year Teacher Collection (flyer attached). Contributing to this fund is a wonderful way to acknowledge your teacher, our staff and our administration for their hard work all year.  

Calendar Reminders:
Thursday – 6/6 – Final Exams – (Grades 6-8) –  Spiritwear For A Cause 
Friday – 6/7 – 10 AM Mass – Final Exams – (Grades 6-8) – Kindergarten Field Day
Monday – 6/10 – Final Exams – (Grades 6,7) – Grade 8 ONLY – (11:00AM-12:30PM)
Tuesday – 6/11 – PK3 & PK4 – 10AM – Moving Up Ceremony – Final Exams – (Grades 6,7) – Grade 8 ONLY – (11:00AM-12:30PM)
Wednesday – 6/12 – 10AM – Kindergarten Graduation – Final Exams – Grades (6,7) – Grade 8 ONLY – NO School