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January 6, 2010

“Let Me Be As Christ To You”

Happy New Year! It is good to be back and we have hit the ground running! It is an exciting time as we plan for the next school year, while continuing efforts to make this great school even better. It seems amazing that it is already time to ask you to think about next year, but it is that time. You will find much information in the monthly envelope today. One item is the tuition and registration fee amounts for next year. As many of you know, we have operated at a deficit for the last two years. While we had money in reserve to see us through, we have to take action to bring our budget more into balance. I also remind you that there was no tuition increase last year. That coupled with the difficult fund raising economy, has necessitated a tuition and fees increase for the next school year. I understand that this will be a true hardship for some of you. We will continue to make every effort to help through our tuition assistance program.

Re-registration packets for the next school year, 2010-2011 are in today's family envelope. The tuition commitment form along with the registration fee is due back no later than February 1st. If you have a perspective Kindergarten student you must fill out an application and sign them up for a screening time. Kindergarten screening will take place on Thursday, February 4th. There is a $30.00 screening fee and you must provide proof of age (either a birth certificate or a Baptismal certificate).

I want to thank you again for attending the "Coffees with Kathy." So many wonderful ideas came out of that sharing. I will continue to update you on progress as we work to address your thoughts. As you know, there were 3 separate coffee dates. Interestingly, each day was unique in its path, while a few ideas were mentioned on all 3 days. One of the items was a desire for the return of a K-8 Spanish program. I want to let you know that it has become a priority in our planning for next year. Another request was for greater transparency in how our money is spent. You will find an accounting of Fall Fundraising dollars below as a start to this sharing process.

Fall 2009 Fundraising Update: Thank you to all who participated in our Fall Fundraising efforts! Your generosity and support is greatly appreciated. Following is a recap of this fall's events and the program or category to which the funds are allocated. Please contact Sherry Sims if there are any questions.

*Cookie Dough/Magazine Drive $10,500
*SJA Golf Tournament $13,926
*Scrip Sept-Dec $4,501 (estimate-some grocery reports are only through Nov)
*Christmas Cards/Ornaments $4,700
Revenue to Tuition Offset Fund $33,627 (estimate)
 
*Halloween Carnival/Dipping Dots $3500
Revenue to Student Council and Mission Circle
 
*Sally Foster Gift Wrap $2100
Revenue to 8th Grade Graduation
   
*Friday Pizza $3100
Revenue to Jr. High Retreat
   
*Peppermint Shoppe $4000
Revenue to Holy Childhood, the Cathy Joyce Foundation for the Arts, purchase of rolling carts for jr hi backpacks

Our next event is the 2010 Gala on March 20th! This is the Academy's biggest fundraising event of the year and we look forward to having all families participate! There will be a Gala Team Planning Meeting held on Tuesday, January 12th at 8:15am for all Gala Volunteers. The meeting will be held at the Smillie home, located at 4623 South Lane in Del Mar. With only eleven weeks until the Gallery opening, we are looking for people to lend their time and talents, as well as their goods and services. Donation forms are available in the office. We look forward to seeing both veteran and new Gala volunteers. Breakfast will be served.

Need some pizza? Thank you for your wonderful support of our Scrip Program. In the month of December $24,135.00 in Scrip was purchased. This will result in almost $2,000 of revenue for the academy. Please see the order form including Scrip order dates in today's envelope. As you know, these funds help offset the costs of educating our students. Purchasing these cards is an easy way to support our school when you buy gas, groceries, and other items. So easy, in fact, that today kicks off our scrip gift card participation drive! From today until January 18, all families that make a scrip gift card purchase, either at www.shopwithscrip.com (SJA enrollment code is E3DLLD9311LLL) or through the paper forms sent home in today's envelope, will receive participation credit for their class. The first class to reach 100% participation will earn a pizza party for your class. There is no minimum purchase to qualify; even a single $10 Starbucks card qualifies your class for the prize, and earns you tuition credit! If you have any questions, please check out the "fundraising" link on our website, or contact Christine Denny at sjascrip@gmail.com.

Last month I gave special thanks to some elves working overtime. I neglected to mention our Peppermint Shoppe chairs: Erin Pynes and Michelle Gabriel. They led a dedicated team to a record breaking year. Thank you!

We are seriously considering opening a preschool next year and value your input. I plan to have a survey available no later than the first of next week. Please watch for an email with details.

Ki's lunch: Please make every effort to order lunch for your child if you plan to use the hot lunch program. So many students are showing up without lunch or an order and expecting to just put it on their account that we are actually running out of food for the older students. Food without an order is a service to be used in case of emergency only and will have to be discontinued if it is used otherwise.

Items in today's family communication envelope or on line: Re-registration packet for 2010-2011 (due back February 1, 2010), Yearbook Ad Form (due by February 11, 2010), Parents in Prayer, Scrip Order Form, Academic Chess Flyer, One-on-One Basketball Flier, 'Attack' Soccer Flyer, Office Thank you

Wednesday Documents

Community Outreach
Walk—Donate—Benefit Others
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