Saint Catherine of Siena School   Saint Catherine of Siena School February 9, 2018 NEWSLETTER Monday, February 12, 2018 No Mass today… Instead Wednesday Lunch Portal for MARCH Closes TODAY Tuesday, February 13, 2018 Mardis Gras Teacher Appreciation Brunch Thank you, Parent Volunteer Committee! Correction from Last Week’s NEWSLETTER: “To prevent duplicates, please email your donation plan to:” CORRECTED: Jeffrey_Myers@hotmail.com Wednesday, February 14, 2018 Ash Wednesday Mass 9:00 am – Church Uniform Lenten Activity: Give up television and internet Thursday, February 15, 2018 2:15 Cheer More Boys Basketball Friday, February 16, 2018 Family Lenten Activity: Genuinely compliment someone who isn’t expecting it. Saturday, February 17, 2018 Family Lenten Activity: Donate a bag of food to a local church or charity. Sunday, February 18, 2018 Family Lenten Activity: Pray for good things for someone who has been unkind to you. What is Lent? The season of Lent is a Catholic liturgical season consisting of forty days of fasting, prayer, and penitence beginning at Ash Wednesday and concluding at sundown on Holy Thursday. The official liturgical color for the season of Lent is violet. Lent begins on February 14, 2018. What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the forehead. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel. http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/lent-in-the-catholic-church/ Can you give an  end of the day” Good luck “ to my 5/6 girls basketball team who will be playing the Catholic School tournament Championship against St. Chris? The game is at 7:15 at Nashua Catholic jr. HS.  I was at there game  Saturday against PMA we won 12 to 10 moving the girls into the Championship game.  The boys are playing there 1st round game against PMA at 6:00 at Nashua Catholic jr. HS.    I plan on being at both games. Let’s go Purple Knights! Jacquie Saint Catherine of Siena School  “Be who God created you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” 1

Saint Catherine of Siena School Saint Catherine of Siena School February 9, 2018 NEWSLETTER FUNDRAISING UPDATE and REVIEW CALENDAR RAFFLE *** 2016 – 2017 2017 – 2018 $12,457 $16,470 HOLIDAY FAIR $10,000 $13,820 ANNUAL FUND $10,613 $11,057 (pending) CATALOG DRIVE 2016 – 2017 Eliminated $11,260 N/A MOVE-A-THON $8610 N/A AUCTION *** $21,001 *** Parent Participation REQUIRED 2018 5th and 6th Grade Girls Basketball CONGRATULATIONS to the Girls 5th and 6th Grade Basketball Team who played last Saturday against PMA and won 12 – 10…Moving the girls into the Championship game against St. Christopher. Unfortunately, they lost BUT they returned with the 2nd Place trophy! The girls and their coaches have everything to be proud of! GREAT JOB! Catholic Schools Week Non-Perishable Food Drive were donated to the St. Anthony Food Pantry at Blessed Sacrament Church! Thank you for your generous donations. St. Anthony Food Pantry offers a ministry to the homeless and individuals and families in need on the east side of Manchester. Saint Catherine of Siena School  “Be who God created you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” 2 4

RE-ENROLLMENT STATISTICS ? Saint Catherine of Siena School February 9, 2018 NEWSLETTER   RE-ENROLLMENT STATISTICS As of February 9, 2018 77% of students are re-enrolled for 2018 - 2019 At this time 47% have re-enrolled… Please secure your spot for 2018 – 2019 AND we are at 72% of our goal to reach 230 STUDENTS before mid-March. Again, this number is crucial, and it is for the benefit of ALL families! It is time to start referring families! For each new family registered because of your referral, you will receive a $500.00 tuition credit for each child who … 3 children $1500.00! This is a BIG deal! These numbers will surely go up daily… and I will provide a tally each week. Did You Know… That the 6th grade had a visit with a published author from New Hampshire? That’s right. TM Gaouette was also featured in the Parable Magazine. The 6th grade students asked some very good questions. Thank you, Mrs. A 3

Saint Catherine of Siena School Saint Catherine of Siena School February 9, 2018 ONE HEART, ONE CAMPUS Saint Catherine of Siena School  4 4

The Spelling Bee Saint Catherine of Siena School February 9, 2018   “Be who God created you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” 5

KEEP THE FAITH… AND LIVE THE EXPERIENCE Saint Catherine of Siena School February 2, 2018 New Pictures Nice Job, PURPLE KNIGHTS! KEEP THE FAITH… AND LIVE THE EXPERIENCE “Be who God created you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” 6

Saint Catherine of Siena Parish and School February 9, 2018 ONE HEART; ONE CAMPUS From an involved parishioner: As promised, here’s the article stating you can use 529 plan assets up to $10,000 a year for education expenses incurred K-12 as of the new tax act.  It takes effect in 2018. Good luck!   This tax bill provision helps families save on school costs and taxes ·        Starting in 2018, you can use up to $10,000 in 529 plan proceeds for elementary and high school costs. ·        529 plan contributions qualify for the $15,000 annual gift tax exclusion. ·        More than 30 states allow income tax deductions for 529 plan contributions. Darla Mercado | @darla_mercado Published 1:01 PM ET Fri, 29 Dec 2017CNBC.com As of Monday, parents will be able to ramp up on tax savings to help cover the cost of private school. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has expanded the use of 529 plans – accounts that allow savers to accumulate money and pay for college on a tax-free basis – to include elementary and secondary school expenses at public, private or religious institutions. That means individuals can take up to $10,000 in distributions annually from their 529 plans to pay for private school tuition and books through 12th grade – in addition to using their account proceeds for college costs. "It's a great way to start saving for school, especially with the new tax bill going into law and hopefully offering larger refunds," said Jeff Fosselman, a certified public accountant and senior wealth advisor with Relative Value Partners in Northbrook, Illinois. Individuals can also save on state and gift taxes when making contributions into the 529 plan. Barbara F. Letvinchuk, CFP® | Senior Vice President | Financial Advisor RBC Wealth Management, a Division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC “Be who God created you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”   7