Blue Letter, March 14th 2008

March 14, 2008
Eve of the Feast of St. Joseph

• MICHELLE M—— – KUDOS! This week, Michelle was accepted to Cal State Channel Islands and Cal Lutheran. More importantly, Cal Lutheran also offered Michelle a $10,000 a year scholarship – valuing a whopping $40,000. Another good reason to work hard in high school!
• Congratulations also to SAMANTHA H—– and GRACE T—–, both nominated to receive the Robert C. Byrd Scholarship.
• NO BLUE ENVELOPE NEXT WEEK – HOLY WEEK.
• NO STUDY HALL NEXT WEEK – due to Parent/Teacher Conferences

Now for a totally different kind of note: (in light of $3.50+ per gallon, some practical tips)

Easy Ways To Save Money On Gas
Reduce Your Driving Costs by 25% or More

The cost of commuting, running errands, or vacationing by car has risen sharply with higher gasoline prices, but you can significantly lower your driving costs with these gas-saving tips:

• Keep your car properly maintained and tuned. A poorly tuned car can use more than 25% more gas.
• Use steel-belted radial tires. They increase gas mileage up to 10%.
• Don’t use high octane gas unless your car is pinging and knocking or you have a high-performance engine and the manufacturer recommends premium gas.
• Check your tire pressure weekly. For every pound of under-inflation, you can lose up to six percent in gas mileage, so if your tires are five pounds underinflated, you’ll use up to 30% more gas.
• Don’t top off your tank when pumping gas - On a warm day, gasoline expands and can overflow.
• Don’t warm your car up by letting it idle. The engine warms up faster when driving than it does when idling, and idling wastes about a quart of gas every 15 minutes.
• Save fuel by combining errands into one trip and avoid backtracking whenever possible.
• Wasteful driving habits can double your fuel consumption. Develop gas-saving habits, such as:
• Always accelerate gently.
• Watch traffic ahead of you so you can anticipate slow-downs and avoid stops.
• Coast up to traffic jams by lifting your foot off the gas pedal instead of approaching at full speed and slamming on the brakes. It takes 20% more gas to accelerate to normal speed from a full stop than it does from four or five miles per hour.
• Don’t drive too fast or too slow. It takes 20% to 30% more gas to drive at 70 mph than 50 mph.
• Maintain a steady speed on the highway. Avoid getting stuck behind slow cars where you have to slow down to their pace and then speed up to pass.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• REPORT CARDS ENCLOSED TODAY – Sign and Return by March 19th.
• CULTURAL NIGHT OUT – Our most looked-forward to event of the year for high school: getting dressed up for dinner and a show – and a chance to practice your finest manners. Unfortunately, My Fair Lady did not work out this year. However, we were lucky enough to get a super deal on one of the most loved and most requested of all symphony productions, the powerful and passionate 9th Symphony of Beethoven. Over 100 singers of two Master Chorales will join the New West Symphony Orchestra. The New West Symphony Orchestra has given us tickets for only $15 each, one-third of their original price. We will be planning the dinner shortly and will have info upon return from our Easter Recess. In the meantime, please return the enclosed flyer with payment for the show on Monday. (See flyer.) This is our mandatory event, part of our high school humanities curriculum, so make sure you arrange to get that evening off, if you have a job.

• CTBS TESTING SCHEDULE – Remember, be on time, and sleep and eat well. (See flyer.)
• TRACK – CALLING ANY/ALL Track volunteers. We need to sign up volunteers this coming week, or we will not be able to show at the meet. Thanks. Please call the office to offer your help. Also, we are now signing up 6-8th graders for a meet on April 7th – 9th.
• NEW ADDRESS – phone remains the same: Mr. Fox 350 Steckel Drive, Apt. #20 Santa Paula, CA 93060
• FOOD DRIVE – for Cabrillo Village Food Pantry in Saticoy
  Our 7th and 8th grade students spent Tuesday morning helping to pack food at the pantry. They were VERY grateful for the help of our students. Due to high gasoline prices and the harsh winters back East, supplies of surplus/donated food are severely diminished, according to Mr. Hal Fulkerson, director of the Pantry. They are in desperate need for protein-based donations and asked if we could help a little more. Especially needed items are peanut butter, tuna, and canned meats. If you would like to donate to the pantry, single units or cases of these items, would be most appreciated. The 7th and 8th grade students will be directing this short food drive. Please bring in items during Holy Week – our alms to the poor. Sister will be granting a prize to the class with the most, so mark all bags of cans with your grade level to get credit. Put all donated items in the back of Sister’s white Toyota pick up truck. Thank you.
• End Of Year Slide Show/DVD Being Created. Please send in anything – VIDEO, STILL PHOTOS, Vocal recordings. We will get your originals back to you, unless you do not need them back. The McLaughlin Studios will start compiling over Easter break. Please send in as soon as possible.
• Ora Pro Nobis: For my friend, Dr. Rollin Lasseter, who continues his battle of cancer, and a new round of chemo. For a special intention. We pray for Peter Bacik, Debbie Raab, Henry Teichert, John Henry C——-, Gabriel V——–, and Joe and Anne Schaffner. We continue to pray for Mrs. Dillon’s mother, for Timothy H—–, for Dominic L—-’s grandfather, and Fr. Love’s father. Let us remember to pray for one another. For our alumni and relatives who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. For all the intentions we hold deep in our heart.

CTBS TESTING SCHEDULE
March 18-19, 2008
FACULTY - READ TEACHER DIRECTION BOOK BEFORE TUESDAY MORNING!

Day	Time	Test	Start Time	Stop Time
Tuesday, March 18th	8:25 AM sharp!	FILL OUT Names, etc.	8:30	8:45
	8:45 AM Prepare to start Begin Test I	Reading/Lang Arts, Part I 50 min. plus prep	8:50 A.M.	Recess 9:40 A.M. to 9:55A.M.
	10:00 AM Return to classroom	Reading/Lang Arts, Part II 50 min.	10: 10 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.	Bathroom and water break, back to room. NO SNACKS
	11:05 A.M.	Period 3	11:05 A.M.	11:35 A.M.
	11:35 A.M.	Period 4	11:35 A.M.	12:05 P.M.
	Afternoon: Mass Schedule
Wednesday, March 19th	8:25 AM sharp!	Math, Part I 15 min. Math, Part II 55 min.	8:35 A.M. 10:00 A.M.	By 10:00 A.M. for break.
	The rest of the day will be on normal bell schedule. Period 3 starting at 10:20. No Stations.

Note bene —

• sleep well,
• eat well, and…
• BE ON TIME! (early, even!)

CALENDAR NOTES:

• March 17th-19th Parent/Teacher Conferences
• March 18th-19th CTBS Testing, Grades 4-10
• March 20th-30th Easter Recess
• March 31st School Resumes
• Feast of the Annunciation – Rosary Procession
• April 4th Noon Dismissal
• April 14th GOLF-A-THON
• May 24th 2:00 PM GRADUATION