May 26, 2017 Aloha Saint Anthony School ‘Ohana,
Another school year has quickly drawn to a close. It has been a great year of faith, learning, activities, events, and celebrations.
We began the month with our annual May Day program. It was a wonderful day of beautiful songs and dances performed by all of our students, and a special hula by our very own faculty and staff. Thank you to everyone for your energy and hard work in making this a very special May Day! For those who ordered a May Day video, you will be contacted when they arrive.
The following week was Teacher Appreciation Week, which began with beautiful door decorations. On behalf of the entire faculty and staff, I would like to express our humble, heartfelt, and immense gratitude for the flowers, lei, cards, gifts, gift cards, snacks, lunch, homemade baked Portuguese Sweet Bread and Milk Bread (all 80 loaves baked by parents), and all your overwhelming generosity that made us all feel so special and loved. We are truly blessed to work in partnership with you in this very important field of education. We thank you all, for your generosity and support throughout this school year. Thank you for choosing Catholic education, and for entrusting your most precious gifts to our care.
This month, we were blessed with a second Middle School play, entitled “Pinocchio.” It was such a wonderful production, and the Middle School students did a wonderful job, directed, as always, by Mrs. Laree Ott. Way to go!
On May 10, the entire school gathered for a special Mass in honor of the Feast Day of Saint Damien, who dedicated his life to working with Hansen’s disease on the island of Molokai. Father Bong gave a great homily about staying true to your faith, and trusting God, even in hard times. Kudos to the Eighth Graders for such a wonderful job leading us in Mass!
Congratulations to 5th grader Alyss Valerio (5A) whose letter to James Patterson about I Funny: A Middle School Story in the Letters About Literature contest was selected as the Hawaii winner for Level 1 and has been sent to the national competition to be judged by the Library of Congress Center for the Book.
Congratulations to Sabia Farag for winning the Elementary Division of the Brown Bags to Stardom talent contest! Sabia is a very talented singer and ukulele musician!
Congratulations to Austin Holmquist (2B) and his sister Olivia in grade 4 who received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil.
Congratulations to the second graders who received their First Holy Communion! Here they are with their parish friends, Mrs. Weaver (2A teacher), Deacon Weaver, and our Director of Religious Education, Mrs. Donna Estomago on this special day!
The Athletic Banquet was a great success! Thank you to our Athletic Director, Frank Palacat, Coach Frank Palacat Sr., Coach Stewart, Coach Cosier, Coach Quinn, and to all our coaches, athletes and parents who came out to support our athletes during the year. Congratulations to the Boys Basketball 2017 Boys Div. 1 Basketball Tournament Pool B Consolation Winners, and to the Girls for winning the 2017 Girls Div. 1 Basketball Tournament! St. Anthony Warriors are mighty Jensen Foebel and Aleka Palacat (8th on the court! graders) win the NaKoa Award at the Athletic Banquet!
The Class of 2017 created this wall mural with the prayer of St. Anthony of Padua and the Schoolwide Learning Expectations (LOVE) as their gift to the school. The mural can be seen hanging outside the parish hall on the school side. Mahalo!
Moriah Gilmore and Family attend the Baccalaureate Mass for graduates celebrated by Bishop Larry Silva at Our Lady of Peace Cathedral
Congratulations to the Class of 2017 First Grader Alora Babauta is all smiles about the new mural! God Bless You!
Row 1: Vanessa Mello, Alison Jiovani, Maddix Tallis, Makena Bassett, Andreana Cabrol, Aleka Palacat, Moriah Gilmore, Sophia, Ronscka, Row 2: Johnathan Martinez, Isaac Auld, Joshua Prebor, Eddie Sloan, David Torres, Zachary Little, Logan Pearce, Tyler Norr, Michael Thompson, Jensen Foebel, Kalahikiola Bruhn, Ryan Sell.
On May 19, the Class of 2017 graduated during their Baccalaureate Mass. What a celebration of the accomplishments and milestones of a wonderful class. The graduates also presented Mrs. Olsen with a special class gift—a framed picture. It is proudly displayed in our school office. Congratulations, graduates. We are very proud of you, and look forward to hearing about your success on the next step of your journey.
Where are they headed? Isaac Auld – Kailua High School Makena Bassett – Kamehameha School Kalahikiola Bruhn – Kamehameha School Andreana Cabrol – Sacred Hearts Academy Jensen Fobel – Damien High School Moriah Gilmore – Sacred Hearts Academy Alison Jiovani – Moving to Ohio Zachary Little – Damien High School Jonathan Martinez –Kalaheo High School Vanessa Mello – Iolani School Tyler Norr – Saint Louis High School Aleka Palacat – Sacred Hearts Academy Logan Pearce – Kalaheo High School Joshua Prebor – Damien High School Sophia Roncska – Damien High School Ryan Sell – Moving to Colorado Edward Sloan – Punahou School Maddix Tallis – Kalaheo High School Michael Thompson – Damien High School David Torres – Iolani School
Our littlest graduates, the Pre-Kindergarteners, also celebrated their special graduation on Wednesday, May 24, as they completed their time in the Early Learning Center, and are now ready to move on to Kindergarten next year. We are very proud of all of their accomplishments and look forward to watching them continue to grow as Saint Anthony School students. Way to go new Kindergarteners!
Our beautiful school yearbook was produced by Mrs. Petra Ozoa, the Digital Technology teacher, along with her yearbook staff of students, Ali Jiovani (8), Moriah Gilmore (8), Iris Sloan (7), and Tony Jiovani (7). Tony digitally designed the fantastic Noah’s Ark cover! Thank you for a beautiful book to commemorate our school year!
I would also like to thank the Parent Teacher Student Guild (PTSG) for all the hard work that they devoted to the school this year; the Harvest Fest, Holiday Gift Shop and Craft Fair, Trolley and Snow Night, Movie Nights, Pancake Breakfast, Green Gala Silent Auction, Malasada Sale and many other fun events. Thank you to the volunteers and the hardworking chair persons! The PTSG is recruiting new members for next school year and if you’re interested in volunteering, please call the office!
The third graders read the book, The Lemonade Wars and made it a true story by selling lemonade and other baked goods to raise money for the SPCA and the Humane Society. Thank you to all who contributed and celebrated at all the booths! (see photo gallery on SAS website)
The students at St. Anthony School were treated to a special snack this week thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Chris Brown (K2 teacher). The Brown’s invited Aloha Popcorn to make Kettle Corn for the school. It smelled and tasted great! Mahalo for such a fun end of the year treat!
It is with great sadness, and much aloha, that we bid a fond farewell to four of our staff members: Mrs. Laree Ott (6th grade), who is relocating to California. Mrs. Ott has been the Middle School Language Arts teacher for the past 14 years, as well as directing all of the Middle School plays. Mrs. Chelsea Wherry (Middle School Science), who is relocating closer to family in preparation of the birth of her first child; and Mrs. Irene Lucero (Spanish and Math), who is relocating to Kansas for her husband’s job. Mrs. Kayla Neahusen (K1 teacher aide) will be moving to the mainland for her husband’s job. We are so blessed to have had the opportunity to work with all of you. We wish you all the best of luck in your new ventures. You will be missed. A hui ho..until we meet again.
We wanted to let you know that Mrs. Carol Mau is doing well. We send her pictures and cards made by the students for her. She appreciates all the kind thoughts and prayers and well wishes from everybody. Continue to keep her in your prayers. Here is recent photo with her mother on Mother’s Day!
Summer school will begin on Monday, June 5, 2017. We still have openings and you may register in the office. School will be from 8:00am to 11:45am. An After-School program is available until 5:30pm.
We’d like to thank you all for your support of Catholic education. Be sure to check the school website throughout the summer for school news and updates. We wish you all a wonderful, safe, and happy summer. See you on the First Day of School - Monday, August 7, 2017 at 7:45am to 2:35pm! Aloha, Mrs. Bridget Olsen, Principal