January 4, 2005

Dear Parents,

Many, many thanks for the many kind remembrances of me at Christmas. Your thoughtfulness is deeply appreciated. I am still in the process of writing individual notes, but there were some gifts with no tags and I want you to know that I am grateful to you.

I am writing this letter in the evening of the feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first native-born American to be declared a saint. She was canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1975. Elizabeth Seton, a convert to Catholicism, founded the first official Catholic School in 1808 in Baltimore. This eventually let to the establishing of the Catholic School System in the United States. ( Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA is operated by the Sisters of Charity, the religious community of Sisters founded by Mother Seton.) Even back in the early days of Catholic Schools, finances were a big concern.

Thank you to all who are participating in the “BCBucks” Program. We still need you to do it consistently. If you remember the letter of November 23, 2004, a little more than one-fourth of our $1,528,122 budget is to come from fundraising. Rather than “hounding you with unending raffles, sales items, and order forms,” we ask you to channel the money you are already spending to the BCBucks Program WHILE still shopping at your favorite stores. The money you spend on everyday living expenses means money for Butler Catholic. We are blessed to have so many of our local businesses be providers for this program. Let’s aim for 100% consistent parental participation. Financial support of Catholic Schools has always meant sacrifice and creative ways of finding funding. This year we celebrate the 35th anniversary of Butler Catholic. Let’s keep it around for many “35 years.”

Starting today, our fourth graders may buy ice cream at lunchtime. This will be on Wednesdays only. Ice cream is 50 or 75 cents. The only requirement is that their lunch be eaten before they can buy it.

Next week, our fifth/sixth graders may choose to have “salad bar” for lunch. The cost is still $2 including milk. Currently, we have between 15-20 seventh/eighth graders buying salad bar daily.

Beginning in February, all of our B C Nights” at the fast food restaurants will be on TUESDAYS! Hopefully, this will eliminate the “what day do we go where” confusion.

Open House for Preschool and Kindergarten will take place on January 16 and 23 respectively, from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Please invite your neighbors, friends, and other family members to come and see what we’re about. Open House for Grades 1-8 will take place on February 2 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. More information on this event will come later.

This letter is going home on the feast of another leader in Catholic School Education. History tells us that Saint John Neuman was in this area of Western PA in the 1860’s – 70’s. As Bishop of Philadelphia, he was instrumental in forming the Catholic School System in the Eastern part of the state. At the end of this month, we will celebrate Catholic Schools Week. As soon as plans are finalized, we will send home the schedule for the week. Both Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Saint John Neuman were convinced that the best place for children to learn was in a school where Gospel Values and Academic Excellence come together. We believe THAT and strive to do that at Butler Catholic. Working together, we CAN do it.

May our Provident God surround you with His very special blessings. Thank you for all that you do for Butler Catholic. Together, with our God, Butler Catholic can be the LEADER in Catholic Education. God bless!

Gratefully,

Sister John Ann