December 15, 2016

Dear Crusader Families,

I want to wish all of our CtRCS families a blessed Christmas! As I reflect on the season of

Advent, I am reminded that this is a time of waiting and expectation of the birth of

Jesus-God’s greatest gift to us. It is Jesus that is at the very heart of our school’s purpose

and mission. We strive daily to “inspire and challenge our children to become leaders who

proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and action”. Together with you as our partners,

we model this for our students daily as we show kindness, love and respect for one another.

We value our parents and families as our partners in living out our mission.

Please know that we appreciate all that you do throughout the year to support us-from serving

as a homeroom parent at a school party, running in the Steps for Students 5K, assisting in the

office, attending Chili Cook-Off or the numerous ways you show your support. We are so

grateful for all the gifts you share with us all year long. My door is always open as is the entire

administrative team. Our main goal is provide your children, our CtRCS children with the best

Catholic education we can provide. The greatest gift that we can give them is to help them

grow into disciples of Jesus Christ and to show this to the rest of the world through their love

and kindness.

As we leave 2016 behind and venture into 2017, I am confident that we will continue to

partner with you to make CtRCS a cutting edge learning environment that also serves as a

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positive loving community that exhibits all of the qualities found in our Savior. May God

continue to bless you and keep you safe!!

Yours in Christ,

Betty Sierra

Calendar Snapshot Crusader Community Corner Junior Achievement ̾ Yearbook Orders ̾ Rosary ̾ Crusader Meals

Important Reminders Re-registration ̾ January Lunch ̾ Tuition Assistance ̾ Used Uniform Before and After

Care Openings ̾ Clinic News ̾ Living Our Mission

Upcoming Events

Crusader Activities

Christmas Program ̾ Spring Track and Field ̾ Spelling Bee

Staff Birthdays

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Dec. 15 - 6:30 p.m. Christmas Program (Students must be here no later than 6:20 p.m.) Dec. 16 - Christmas Parties - Noon Dismissal - NO BASP Dec. 19 - Jan. 2 - Christmas Break Jan. 2 - NO SCHOOL Jan. 3 - First Day Back At School Jan. 4 - School Spelling Bee Jan. 9 - 13 - Steps for Students Kick Off Week (More information to follow)

Junior Achievement Come be a part of this year's exciting Junior Achievement program! Volunteer training is on

Wednesday, January 11 from 9:30am-12pm.

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054cafac28abf58-junior

Questions? Contact Karen Gaston at karenanngaston@yahoo.com.

Hope to see you there!

Yearbooks Are On Sale Now! https://ctrschool.com/yearbook

Rosary

We are currently meeting in the "cry room" for rosary.

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Thank you to those that were able to join parents last week before school Mass to pray the

Rosary. Below are the dates that parents will meet to pray before Mass for the rest of the

school year.

Jan. 18

Feb. 15

March 22

April 19

May

Crusader Meals

For families with a new baby: New Baby Meals

For families with a special intention: Special Intentions

For students that are ill or seriously injured: Ill or Injured Student

Registration is Now Open! Re-Registration for current families is open through Jan. 20. An email with instructions was

sent last December 1st. You can also access the Re-enrollment form HERE.

JANUARY LUNCH ORDERS DUE The January hot lunch order form has been posted to the school website. Orders are due

Friday December 16th. You may also choose to order for the full semester (January-May).

Please be sure to take care of any outstanding balances. Justus & Co. wishes you a

wonderful Christmas season.

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Tuition Assistance for 2017-18 Families requesting tuition assistance for the 2017-18 academic year should complete the

application through the Archdiocesan Tuition Assistance Program. You will also find the

timeline and deadlines for the assistance application process. Please note that the deadline

to apply in round 1 is Feb. 10, 2017. 90% of the award money available is awarded in round 1,

so we highly encourage all families who think they may need assistance to complete the

application prior to this deadline.

Used Uniform Sale If your CtRCS students need a uniform pick-me-up, then save the date for the Spring Semester

Used Uniform Sale 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12 in the Parish Hall! Gently used and clean

items are currently being accepted at the front office. Or simply bring your items in the

morning of the sale to receive credit toward your purchase. Unused credit from the fall sale

can be used at this sale, as well. Questions? Please contact Advancement Director Megan

Dillingham.

Before/After Care Openings Have you been thinking of trying Before or After Care? We are gearing up for next semester

and would love the chance to care for your student. CtR BASP offers Before Care from 7-7:45

a.m. and After Care from 3:15 to 6 p.m. on site. Our program offers games, homework time,

free time, recess, snack and crafts and the convenience of caring for your child in the same

setting they are used to being in during the school day. If you would like to learn more about

Before or After Care or to find out if there are openings in your child's grade level, please

contact Lori Connell at lori.connell@ctrschool.com .

Reminder From the Clinic

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Parents, please be reminded that

children are not to return to school

for 24 hours after vomiting or

having diarrhea. Students must

also be fever free for 24 hours

without having had any ibuprofen

or acetaminophen (Tylenol)

administered for it.

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Let them eat cake - at Steps for Students

2017!

Join us Saturday, Feb. 18 for Steps for Students 2017, the Archdiocesan 5K Run/Walk supporting Catholic education across the Greater Houston. Team CtRCS needs you to register for this important event that supports our mission. Register your CtRCS students and family members to participate as a runner, walker or

snoozer, and help raise needed funds for our school programs through your family's personal fundraising page. One-hundred percent of proceeds from Steps for Students returns to our campus to benefit our students, teachers and learning environment. Learn more here.

Please note the fun incentives for our CtRCS students registering for Steps for Students this school year!:

● Our first 12 students who register receive a special prize pack from Spring Creek BBQ! (to be

delivered beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3) ● Every student who registers receives a free meal at Chili's or Cane's, and a Free Dress Pass! ● The top fundraising CtRCS family receives Sunday dinner for four and free appetizers at Perry's

Steakhouse!

Let's eat cake and celebrate! If the CtR community registers 500 or more runners, all students will get to enjoy some special "Fuel Cake" on Friday, Feb. 17 at lunch - the day before the race! 650 registrations = wrapping Mrs. Freeman, Mrs. Nowak and Mrs. Janak like a mummy! 800 registrations = Mrs. Sierra takes to the sky at iFly!

We'll reveal more fun incentives involving our teachers and staff each week leading up to and through our Steps for Students Kick-Off Week Jan. 9-13! Visit here for more details on this fun week!

Questions or would you like to volunteer? Please contact Advancement Director Megan Dillingham.

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Spring Track and Field Meeting Mark your calendar for Thursday, January 5th for the Spring Track and Field Parent Informational Meeting. Flyer is attached HERE.

Spelling Bee This week we held our classroom spelling bee in preparation for the school wide spelling bee.

● A list of 100 words were sent home. ● The classroom spellers who spell the most words correctly will move on to the

school wide spelling bee ○ Top 2 in 1st-2nd grade ○ Top 2 in 3rd-5th grade ○ Top three spellers in 6th-7th grade who

● Students who move on to the school wide bee will receive the school wide spelling list before Christmas Break

● School wide spelling bee is currently scheduled for January 4th ● The school wide spelling bee will have three sessions (1st-2nd, 3rd-5th, and 6th-7th). ● Guests of students participating are invited to the school wide competition, however

due to logistics and the size of the classrooms guests are not allowed to watch the classroom spelling bee.

● The school wide session will continue until there is one champion and one runner-up.

● The 3rd-5th grade session and the 6th-7th grade Champions will move on to the Diocesan Bee in February

Good luck to all our spellers!

Stephanie Janak- 12/16 Alison Clancy- 12/20 Anna Fleming- 12/22 Ayse Nicholson- 12/31 January Gini Howell- 01/04 Allison Nowak- 01/05

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Mark Dolce- 01/06 Linda Hecker- 01/27 Kassi Chase- 01/30