Grades K - 8 School Mass - The students in Grades K - 8 will attend Mass on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 8:30am in the St. Sylvester Church. The 8th grade students will minister at this Mass. Come and Celebrate with us.

St. Sylvester Sports Club Meeting - The St. Sylvester's Sports Club will meet on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 7pm in the Church Hall. Board members are asked to make this meeting date a priority. We look forward to seeing you there.

2011 - 2012 Gym Uniform Policy - Starting on Monday, November 7, 2011 begins the policy of no gym uniform shorts being worn to school until April 2012. Remind your child(ren) that when this policy goes into effect plain royal blue or plain navy blue sweatpants must be worn to school on their specific gym days. Please refer to the school gym uniform dress code or contact Mr. Grgurich for clarification.

Fall 2011 Parent Teacher Conferences - Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, November 10, 2011 for Grades K - 8 from 12:30pm - 2:30pm & 4pm - 7pm. Be on time for your conference and be considerate of others by keeping with your scheduled 10 minute conference.

Parent Teacher Conference Early Dismissal - The students in Grades PreK - 8 will have an 11:30am dismissal on Thursday, November 10, 2011 in order for the parent teacher conferences to take place in the afternoon and evening hours. Don't for get to look for your conference request forms that were sent in the mail this week.

Spring Spectacular Dress Down Day & Early Dismissal - The students in Grades K - 8 will have an early dismissal at 11:30am on Thursday, November 10, 2011. Preschool 3 year old morning and 4 year old full day programs will dismiss at 11am. The 3 year old afternoon program will not meet on Thursday, November 10, 2011. The faculty will use the afternoon and evening for Parent Teacher Conferences. Also, on Thursday, November 10, 2011 the students in grades K - 8 will have a $1.00 dress down day to help defray costs for the Spring Spectacular fundraiser. Students will be permitted to wear jeans or sweatpants (NO SHORTS) and gym shoes. Any type of long or short sleeve shirt may be worn with exception to decals, sayings or symbols that go against the Catholic nature of our school. As always Mr. Grgurich reserves the right to deem what is appropriate and what is not. If you are not sure if something you might wear would be considered inappropriate call the school office. Keep it fun and simple.

Next BAKE SALE - Our next Bake Sale will be on Thursday, November 10, 2011 hosted by the Kindergarten! All bake sale items are .25¢ with a .50¢ purchase limit! All proceeds benefit class field trips unless stated otherwise. The Bake Sale starts at 12:30pm by the big bulletin board on the main floor of the school building. If you purchased a SNACK ATTACK Card you do not need to send in any money with your child.

Mrs. Joanne Hough, Speech Pathologist / Parent Conferences - Mrs. Joanne Hough, Speech Pathologist at St. Sylvester School will be available for parent conferences on Thursday, November 10, 2011 from 4pm - 7pm in the Speech Room across from the boys and girls bathroom on the main floor of the school building. She would like all parents whose children are currently receiving speech and language services to stop for a 10 to 15 minute conference with her before or after the conference with their child's teacher. All other parents who would like information or have questions regarding speech and language concerns are welcome to stop by or email her as well! joanne.hough@aiu3.net

Mrs. Anna Marie DiCesare, School Counselor / Parent Conferences - Mrs. Anna Marie DiCesare, School Counselor at St. Sylvester School will be unavailable for parent conferences on Thursday, November 10, 2011. She would like all parents who request a phone conference to call the school and leave a message with Mrs. Long. All other parents who would like information or have questions regarding the school counseling program are welcome to request additional information in the school office.

Mrs. Jeanne Veith, AIU Reading and Math Specialist / Parent Conferences - Mrs. Jeanne Veith, AIU Reading and Math Specialist at St. Sylvester School will be available for parent conferences on Thursday, November 10, 2011 from 11:30am - 6:30pm in the AIU Reading and Math Room located on the bottom floor of the school building next to the Library. She would like all parents whose children are currently enrolled in the AIU Reading and Math program to stop for a 10 minute conference with her before or after the conference with their child's teacher. All other parents who would like information or have questions regarding the school counseling program are welcome to stop by.

Wounded Warrior Project Dress Down Day November 11, 2011 - The purpose of the Wounded Warrior Project is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need. What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist warriors as they recover and transition back to civilian life. Thousands of wounded warriors and caregivers receive support each year through WWP programs designed to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment. On Friday, November 11, 2011 the students of St. Sylvester School will honor our veterans by having a red, white and blue dress down day for $1.00. All proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. The Dress Down will consist of jeans or sweatpants, t-shirts or long sleeve shirts of the color red, white or blue and gym shoes. Please NO SHORTS.

Children's Grief Awareness Day, November 16, 2011 - Children's Grief Awareness Day provides an opportunity for all of us to raise awareness of the impact that the death of a loved one has in the life of a child. To bring awareness to this day, there will be a $1.00 dress down day on Wednesday, November 16. Students are being asked to wear the color blue, which is this year's color for Hope the Butterfly. Hope is the symbol for Children's Grief Awareness. The money will be donated to Highmark's Caring Place, which is a support group that focuses on the needs of children affect by death. On Thursday, November 17, 2011 we will also have heart-shaped suckers on sale for $0.50. If you would like to learn more about Children's Grief Awareness Day or Highmark's Caring Place, you can visit www.highmarkcaringplace.com. The Caring Place and the Pegher Family thank you in advance for your support. On Wednesday, November 16, 2011 the students of St. Sylvester School will have a blue dress down day for $1.00. All proceeds will go to the Highmark's Caring Place. The Dress Down will consist of jeans or sweatpants, t-shirts or long sleeve shirts of the color blue and gym shoes. Please NO SHORTS.

St. Sylvester School "SNACK ATTACK" - For the Month of November we are selling "SNACK ATTACK" cards for $4.00. These cards will allow your child to buy 2 items at 8 bake sales this school year. This will eliminate the need of remembering money for each bake sale. Each homeroom teacher will hold onto the cards so that they will not get misplaced. Cards are on sale now in Mrs. Hart's classroom. Any questions email Mrs. Hart at ahart@saintsylvesterschool.org. This will be the last month we are selling the SNACK ATTACK cards.

December Market Day Orders - December Market Day order forms are due to the school office on Tuesday, November 22, 2011. Internet orders are due on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 by 11pm. Pick up is scheduled for Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 4:30pm - 5:30pm in the Church Hall. As always we are in need of volunteers to help on Market Day, consider giving 1or 2 hours. If you would like to volunteer, please contact our chairperson Mary Gasiorowski at (412) 884 - 7165.

2011 Santa Lunch - Our second Santa Lunch is scheduled for Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 12pm - 3pm in the St. Sylvester Parish Church Hall. Come join us for lunch, ice cream sundaes, raffles, door prizes, crafts and a visit from Santa. All tickets will be $8 a person and must be purchased by Tuesday, November 29, 2011. A ticket order form can be picked up in the school office. For additional information call Donna Dziadyk at (412) 952 - 7647.

Ladies Afternoon Out - The Ladies Afternoon Out will take place on Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 11am - 3pm at the South Hills Country Club. The cost per tick ticket is $20.00. This price lunch, dessert, coffee, iced tea and soft drinks, cash bar and five vendor raffle tickets. The Ladies Afternoon Out is an opportunity to preview, sample and purchase the newest items from your favorite vendor. Some vendors that will be present are: 31, Silpada, PartyLite, Tastefully Simple, Tupperware, Discovery Toys and more! All tickets must be ordered by Thursday, November 10, 2011. Any questions should be directed to Karyn Reinhart (412) 303-5967 or Fara Bowen (412) 337-5310.

Ultimate Fan Frenzy Ticket - On Wednesday, October 26, 2011 each family received our next fundraiser, Ultimate Fan Frenzy Ticket. Each family is being asked to sell five tickets. Each ticket will cost $5 and the winner will receive 2 tickets to the December 8, 2011 Steeler Game (parking pass included), 2 tickets to the December 20, 2011 Pitt Basketball Game and 2 tickets to the January 10, 2012 Penguin Game. You will receive 5 fundraising points for each ticket sold. Any questions regarding this fundraiser, please contact Cheri Pegher at 412-884-8111 or pegher4820@verizon.net.

2011 Celebrating Home Candle Jar Sale - Our Celebrating Home Candle Jar Sale began on Wednesday, October 19, 2011. When the Celebrating Home Candle Jar order form comes home; start asking family, friends, and neighbors to make a purchase. Our Celebrating Home Candle Jar orders are due no later than Monday, November 7, 2011. Checks should be made payable to St. Sylvester School. The delivery to the school and pick-up date is scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2011 from 2:30pm - 7pm in the Church Hall. If you have any questions concerning the Celebrating Home Candle Jar fundraiser or are able to volunteer on the pick up date you may contact Paula Warywoda at (412) 819 - 0192. Order forms can be picked up in the school office. A reminder each candle sold earns 5 points.

Mama Joe's Pies of Amherst, Ohio Pie Sale - Just in time for Thanksgiving St. Sylvester School is sponsoring a Mama Joe's Pies of Amherst, Ohio Pie Sale. All orders must be placed by Thursday, November 10, 2011 and picked up on either Saturday, November 19, 2011 from 4pm - 5:30pm or Sunday, November 20, 2011 from 8:30am - 1pm. Order form can be requested through the school office. When completed return it to the Rectory Office by Thursday November 10, 2011. Checks should be made payable to: St. Sylvester School. Order forms can be picked up in the office.

St. Sylvester Parish Ladies of Charity Halloween Candy Request - The Ladies of Charity will make fruit baskets for our homebound parishioners the day after Thanksgiving. They are requesting that any abundance of Halloween candy be donated to use as fillers for the baskets. Approximately 50 baskets will be made and given to our older parishioners. Thank you for your consideration. All donations can be sent to the school office.

Thanksgiving Food Drive - Brentwood Food Bank On Wednesday, November 2, 2011 our Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Brentwood Food Bank began and will continue until Wednesday, November 16, 2011. We certainly appreciate all you have done in the past, and thank you in advance for being so generous with this year's food drive. This service project is being sponsored by St. Sylvester School. Remember every item collected will help someone less fortunate this holiday season. What a great opportunity for the St. Sylvester School community to shine and show their spirit of giving.

School Choice Update "The Battle for Justice Continues" - A reminder there are two legislators in our area that are either opposed or undecided about school choice Senator Wayne Fontana, opposed (fontana@pasenate.com) 412-344-2551 and Representative Harry A. Readshaw, undecided (hreadsha@pahouse.net) 412-881-4208. Take time to email or call Senator Fontana or Representative Readshaw and let them know how you feel about School Choice and how your tax dollars should be spent in regards to educating your child. Form letters can be obtained in the school office and then returned to the school office after you sign the letters. We will forward these letters to Senator Fontana and Representative Readshaw. It is imperative that we do this today! Also see the attached School Choice Myth. We will print one myth about school choice for the next 9 weeks. Look for each one as an attachment with the weekly newsletter.

FootballMania - THANK YOU to all the families who helped sell tickets. Our profit is $13,664. We had 9 winners this week. These tickets were sold by the following families: Aston-Reese, Artman, Saitta, Gravener, Jackson, Malloy, Donnelly, Pegher, and Betz.

Family Bingo, Friday, December 2, 2011 - The Family Bingo Committee would like to ask families for donations to create gift baskets which will be raffled off at this year's Family Bingo. We will gladly accept any donations; nothing is too big or small. If you are the creative type and would like to prepare your own gift basket for raffling, that would be appreciated as well. Donations can be left at the school office. Please contact Cheri Pegher at 412-884-8111 or pegher4820@verizon.net with any questions regarding donations. Thank you for your donations!

St. Sylvester School Field Trip T-Shirts - St. Sylvester School is ordering T-Shirts to be worn during Field Trips. This is to help promote our school and to make sure that all our students stay together. The T-Shirt will be gray with the Lancer Image on the front. If your child does not have a Field Trip T-Shirt they will not be able to attend the Field Trip. Additionally, the Field Trip T-Shirts are not considered part of the gym uniform. The Activities Committee will cover the cost of the T-Shirt. If you would like to purchase additional T-Shirts, the cost of the T-Shirt will be $5.00.For additional information see the attached form. The due date for the order form is Friday, November 18, 2011.

Teens for Jeans Service Project - Jeans of all sizes are greatly needed! They must be gently worn. All jeans collected will end up in homeless shelters. The more jeans the better! Money to buy jeans is greatly appreciated as well. All donations may be dropped off in the Church, rectory, or school office. This campaign will continue throughout winter. Thank you for your support.

Forensic Team's 1st Tournament - Good Luck to our Forensic team at their 1st Tournament! This tournament will be held this Saturday, November 5, 2011. Results will be posted in a future newsletter.