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Monday, March 28, 2011
Dear Parents in Christ:
I hope this finds you all very well at the start of another fine week. I would like to remind you that the Standardized Testing is scheduled for Monday, April 4th through Friday, April 8th, and will begin each day at 8:10 a.m. for Kindergarten-8th grade. These tests will be administered to all K-8th grade students. The students in these grade levels will be given the Stanford Achievement Test –Tenth Edition (SAT 10) and the Otis-Lennon Scholastic Aptitude Test – Eighth Edition (OLSAT 8).
In past years every second grade was tested. From this year forward we will be testing all students in all grades for consistency as well as a means of identifying student progress. The Stanford 10 (SAT 10) is a multiple-choice norm-referenced assessment which assists Everest Academy in measuring a student’s knowledge base in the areas of Reading, Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, and Social Science. This test serves as a valid and reliable tool as an objective measurement of achievement. The Stanford 10 is an un-timed test, and therefore, your child(ren) will the appropriate time as needed to complete each section.
The data obtained from these tests assists us in evaluating student progress and maintaining both high standards and expectations for our students. Teachers also utilize this tool to identify and support children who may be at risk in specific academic areas. The Stanford 10 test is also the standardized test that is most closely aligned to our NCE Curriculum and it therefore provides a degree of accountability with regard to fulfilling the curriculum with our students from grade to grade.
A norm-referenced assessment compares students to their peers (within the classroom, school, or nationally). Many entrance exams and national tests are norm-referenced and compare a student’s performance to the performance of the Normative Sample, which is the large sample group on which the test was developed and measured. The score compares the student’s performance to peers who have taken the test in the same season (Fall/Spring). These scores are typically presented in percentiles.
Students who miss testing due to illness will have the opportunity for make-up testing the following week during allotted times. We strongly encourage our parents to avoid missing any test days except for serious illness. Students will have no assigned homework or long-term projects due during the week of testing.
To assist your child in performing their best, please consider the following suggestions:
1. Discuss with your child the importance of doing his/her best on the test and not to be nervous in any manner due to the testing.
2. Make certain your child is getting plenty of rest every night before testing.
3. Make sure your child has a good, healthy breakfast.
4. Send healthy snacks each day along with water to drink (examples: protein bars, NutriGrain bars, cheese crackers, dried fruit. Candy or sweet snacks are discouraged).
5. Provide your child with several sharpened No. 2 pencils.
6. Ensure your child has a free reading book to read in the event that they finish testing before other students.
Thank you very much for your support in preparing your child(ren) for the upcoming standardized tests. If you have any further questions, please call or email me at anytime at cgamache@integerusa.com.
Sincerely in Christ,
Christine Gamache
Principal
11550 Bell Rd.
Lemont, IL 60439
630.243.1995 Phone
630.243.1988 Fax
Dear Parents,
Here is some news about what’s new at Everest Academy. . .
Peek into Pre-K
We are so pleased to introduce the new Pre-K Newsletter “Peek into Pre-K” written and edited by Mrs. Cindy O’Malley. The first issue was fabulous!
As a supplement to the school’s weekly newsletter, the Pre-K newsletter will highlight special events and activities happening in Pre-K . Our Preschool is an exciting part and program of Everest Academy and we want our whole school community to share in all the lovely work of our teachers and children, as well as the happy happenings in Pre-K.
Thank you to Mrs. O’Malley for her creativity, time, talent and professionalism in brining this new publication to Everest Academy. Please share “Peek into Pre-K” with friends and family.
Open House
Thank you families for your referrals! The Delgado family earned Everest Bucks by inviting a family who attended a recent Open House -- a referral in progress -- great work!
We had a wonderful time with new families stopping by to visit Everest Academy this Wednesday at our evening Open House. We had 7 families attend -- with the potential for 10 new students from Pre-K to 7th grade. We will have an Open House on April 6th and a Preschool Open House on April 14th at the library. Soon we will announce even more Open House dates.
Sincerely in Christ,
Christine Gamache
Everest Academy
Principal
Teacher professional development
Guest speaker: Jim Fannin
Teachers took time for professional development this Wednesday with guest presenter Mr. Jim Fannin. Thinking positive, appreciating our loved ones, seeking to optimize student learning were topics of Mr. Fannin’s presentation.
Jim Fannin is the world's #1 Coach of Champions. Jim has coached more champions - in sports, business and life - than anyone else on earth. As a mental performance coach to some of the world's top athletes and most successful company CEOs, he has been called the "Change Your Life" Coach. Jim’s S.C.O.R.E ® Success System has transformed tens of thousands of people's lives by teaching them to reduce and manage their thoughts - putting them in a "Zone State."
Present to introduce Mr. Fannin’s was his friend and supporter, Dr. John Planek, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics at Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Planek shared that he has seen Jim’s system improve the performance of both coaches and athletes.
Legislative Action Alert
from the Archdiocese of Chicago
The full U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the reauthorization of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (DCOSP) the week of March 28th. As many of you know, this program has allowed low-income students living in the District of Columbia to attend private, including Catholic, schools. Funding for the program has been reduced during the last several years, as no new students have been allowed to participate. House Speaker John Boehner introduced H.R. 471 to reauthorize the program and increase the funding. On March 10, 2011, this bill was approved by a committee vote of 21-14. Next week the full House will be asked to pass the legislation.
The passage of H.R. 471 is very important. Please take action now to convey to your Member of the House of Representatives that he or she should support H.R. 471. Go to http://capwiz.com/catholicbishops/home and scroll down to check out the Alert on D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. More details and a sample advocacy message to your Representative are available here. If you are on Facebook, join the USCCB page at www.facebook.com/usccb and click on "Take Action" on the left side of the page to learn more.
Dear Everest Dads,
Greetings, Everest Dads! Pressed you are for time, so a brief message: are you spiritually fit? Was your last retreat – spiritual, not hunting – in high school? Lent, and Palm Sunday weekend at that, is the BEST time to get your heart and head aligned through a very time-proven product, St Ignatius of Loyola’s spiritual exercises.
Fr Matthew Kaderabek, ex-Green Beret and current Legionary, will help you:
· Identify your enemies, internal and external
· Help you recognize “kill zones” and keep you out of them
· Load you up with plenty of spiritual ammunition to make you ready and eager for spiritual combat!
Enjoy these other great features:
· Just 90 minutes from Lemont (Rolling Prairie, IN, near Notre Dame)
· Low price for the weekend $150
· Confession and spiritual direction available
· Fr André and other Legionaries will be available
Thanks sincerely.
Yours in Christ,
Father Andre
A LifeTouch photographer will be at Everest Academy on Tuesday, April 12th to take spring portraits. These portrait sittings are optional. Students will be allowed to dress in their “Sunday Best”, rather than their regular school uniform, on that day if the family plans to purchase a spring portrait package.Only those paying at the camera on picture day will be photographed. You must provide exact payment as the photographer will not be able to provide change.
The event was very well attended, with 60 or more present. We also had the honor of Mrs. DeBiase’s mother in attendance at the event -- what fine lady. Now we see where Mrs. MaryAnn gets all her personality and talents!
Dear Parents, I want to officially thank each one of you for your confidence and support in my assuming the role of principal at Everest Academy. It is as I have stated before and firmly believe a privilege to be here at Everest with you and your families. We have a wonderful school and fine families. We know as we move forward we are called to live by our motto "Always Higher" and are striving to develop our school to another level. I look forward to working with you and serving our school community as best possible to do this. I appreciate and count on your prayers and ongoing involvement to accomplish this.
We are very pleased to say that Everest Academy is certainly progressing due to all you are doing as parents to prepare your children and in the many ways you have participated in the development of our Everest community. We thank you for all your help and support. At this time we ask your assistance to plan for the upcoming school year. In order to do so your input and feedback is essential and we ask that you please complete our school survey. The survey is a consistent means to obtain this information from you.
As a school we use the survey conducted by ICIFusa (International Center for Integral Formation), the research and development organization for schools implementing the method of Integral Formation® developed by the Legionaries of Christ. The survey may take up to 15-20 minutes to complete. We ask that it please be completed before March 30th, 2011. This information will provide vital feedback from you as we seek to identify those areas that require improvement and will leverage those areas you define as the strengths of our school.
We will compile the information we receive from this survey and incorporate it into the priorities we identify for next year. We will also report the results back to you. Thank you very much for your help in ensuring that Everest Academy fulfills its mission. Please connect to the following link to complete our annual Parent Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PKQH6SY Paste this link into your browser to access the survey.
Thank you for your time and consideration. Please feel free to contact me at anytime for anything I may assist you with.
God bless you,
Sincerely in Christ,
Christine Gamache
A beautiful Mass was celebrated in honor of our fathers. We certainly appreciate all that our dads do for us and it is fitting to say thank you dads! Father Matthew gave a wonderful homily, reminding us that we need to be "extra-terrestrial" and phone home to God at least three times each day.
Following the spiritual combat presentation by Father Matthew, and some lovely refreshments, the dads had time in the classrooms with their children. Dads took part in interviews with Kindergarten. The riddles in Grades 1/2 kept them guessing. In Mrs. Fleck’s class the dads competed one-on-one with their children and found out if they are "smarter than a 3rd or 4th grader." In grade 5/6 and 7/8 everyone participated in great competitions testing both dads and students on the curriculum. Thank you dads for joining us. We had a super time with you! 
EVEREST ACADEMY IS PLEASED TO PRESENT
ANOTHER AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM OPTION:
Introduction to Tae Kwon Do will be offered to children of Everest Academy grades 1 – 8 beginning Friday, April 8th and will run for 6 weeks ending on May 20th. (No class April 29th) T-USA Martial Arts of Palos Heights and Lemont will provide the classes. Instructor Mary Beth Toussaint, Outreach and Education Coordinator, will facilitate the program.
Tae Kwon Do, the Korean art of defense, builds focus, concentration, discipline and above all …respect. Students will learn the fundamental techniques in a safe “non contact” environment. Tae Kwon Do develops endurance, flexibility, and coordination. All students will receive a “white belt” on the first day of class, and will progress through the T-USA curriculum. Future sessions will allow students to promote through the T-USA belt ranking system on-site at Everest Academy.
Classes will meet after school and will run for 50 minutes. Students are asked to bring t-shirt and athletic pants to change into at the end of the school day. Parents are welcome to view all classes and learn the benefits of the Tae Kwon Do Program.
Program Fee: $72.00 per participant (6 week session) Please submit both registration forms and your payment by March 30th. We need a minimum of 8 students to run this class.
Permission Form HERE!
Martial Arts Registration Form HERE!
Instructor Mary Beth Toussaint provides education in the Korean martial art of Tae Kwon Do to children of all ages. With over 17 years of experience, Instructor Mary has enhanced the lives of students through the Korean Martial Arts. She has provided education to elementary, middle, high school, and college students as well as corporate and small business groups throughout the Chicago land area. Mary Beth Toussaint is a former teacher of secondary education and a mother of four children. Instructor Mary holds a Korean HapKiDo Federation Certification, a World Tae Kwon Do Federation Certification and has over 20 years of experience in Classical Ballet training. Mary Beth and her husband, Robert Schwenn, own and operate T-USA Marital Arts in Palos Heights and Lemont, IL. T-USA enjoys a history of serving the communities of Palos Heights and Lemont, IL for over 20 years.
PARENTS, WE HAVE A WONDERFUL DRAMA CLUB IN PROGRESS.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE PARENTS BEGIN TO ASSIST
IN ANY MANNER THEY WISH TO DO SO
TO PREPARE FOR THE GREAT PRODUCTION DAY.
Your child is embarking on an amazing adventure in theatre by participating in Everest’s spring play. We invite you to come along for the journey by helping us out.
We appreciate the fine work that Mr. Jordan Smith and Mrs. Jennifer Collins are doing to prepare our Drama Club members for our production of Peter Pan. A successful show cannot be produced without the help of volunteers. Please don’t be intimidated if you’re not an “expert”. We greatly appreciate all help!
Thank you!
Dear Parents,
Good news, the deadline for ordering yearbooks has been extended to Monday, March 28th. If you’d like to reserve a yearbook and/or DVD for your child, please complete the attached order form and send it along with your payment to the office by March 28th.
As a special incentive, students who purchase a yearbook will receive an invitation to the premiere showing of the DVD, “Everest Academy Year in Review 2010-2011.” This end-of-the-year party will provide time for students who purchased yearbooks to have their yearbooks signed by other students while they enjoy popcorn and watch the Year-in-Review DVD. Purchase of the DVD is not necessary to be invited to this party; however, if you order a yearbook, the DVD is only $5. After March 28th, the DVD’s will be sold for $20.
Thank you for all the ways you support Everest Academy!
From Brother Juan Vazquez, LC
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Parents and Families in Christ,
Greetings during this first week of the Lenten Season! I would like to give you an update on our Outreach Program, “Change for Change”. We are making progress… the yellow buckets keep filling up, but we still need your help to reach that goal of $1,300 for Amayrani and Juan Pablo. THESE ARE TWO STUDENTS THAT WILL REMEMBER YOU FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!
As of last Friday, March 11th, the whole school has raised $504.69,. 3rd and 4th grade are currently in 1ST PLACE, with $188.98!!! Keep it up, we can do it! Every amount counts!
Thanks and God bless!
Yours in Christ,
Br Juan LC
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Parents and Families in Christ,
Greetings during this first week of the Lenten Season! I would like to give you an update on our Outreach Program, “Change for Change”. We are making progress… the yellow buckets keep filling up, but we still need your help to reach that goal of $1,300 for Amayrani and Juan Pablo. THESE ARE TWO STUDENTS THAT WILL REMEMBER YOU FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!
As of last Friday, March 11th, the whole school has raised $504.69,. 3rd and 4th grade are currently in 1ST PLACE, with $188.98!!! Keep it up, we can do it! Every amount counts!
Thanks and God bless!
Yours in Christ,
Br Juan LC
Everest's Mass Schedule:
The basic guideline for Mass at Everest Academy is that there will be one Mass per day. This will either be a before-school Mass at 7:15 am or an All School Mass during the school day.
Each week day there is a regular 7:15am Mass, except on the days on which there is an All School Mass during the school day.
Typically, All School Masses are held each Friday at 2:20 p.m.
Periodically an All School Mass may be held on another day of the week due to a Feast Day or other school celebration. If this is the case there will be no All School Mass on Friday, but rather a regular 7:15 a.m. Mass.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
OUR VALIANT KNIGHTS
& OUR GREAT COACH,
DR. DIAMOND!
OUR VALIANT KNIGHTS
& OUR GREAT COACH,
DR. DIAMOND!
The Everest Knights Basketball Team had an amazing year finishing as Second Place CHAMPIONS in our League! The Knights’ hard work, discipline, and fine sportsmanship show their fine leadership. We love our Knights - Go Knights!
Congratulations
James Beecher and
James Beecher and
Michael Spell,
we are so proud of you!
we are so proud of you!
This past Saturday, as winners of Everest Academy’s All School Spelling Bee, Michael Spell (Grade 7) and James Beecher (Grade 6) attended the Knights of Columbus Regional Spelling Bee at St. Mary’s School in Mokena, IL. James received 1st place and Michael received 2nd place. Both boys will represent our region at the Knights of Columbus State Spelling Bee on April 2 in Chatham, Illinois.
Congratulations on your win in
last night's semi-finals!!
We cheer you on in
TONIGHT'S FINALS!
Marist HS
Main Gym
4200 W. 115th St. Chicago
Wed March 16th
8:30 pm
Dear Everest Academy Families, Faculty, and Staff,
Today we are launching a very special school-wide campaign to conscientiously promote Everest Academy: Building the Heart of Everest Academy. The best schools in the country realize that building a school is not just the work of the admissions office, but that everyone in the school community is part of the admissions plan and each act as ambassadors for the school. Being part of Everest Academy is a blessing to us and surely it is a gift to share with others.
This is our second year in the beautiful new school building. During the first year in our new location we were just getting settled. This year, Everest Academy is becoming better known in Lemont and the surrounding areas -- and in fact, the school is growing. We plan to continue this momentum and gain more beautiful families for Everest Academy. We want others to experience the gift of being part of the Everest family and of having their children benefit from our method of Integral Formation®.
We currently have 90 students. Our goal for next school year is to have 150 students -- Building the Heart of Everest Academy with 65 additional students. We are aiming high -- Semper Altius -- and we will reach this goal if we pull together and each do our part to bring new families to the school. Your goal as a family in should be to bring one new family to Everest Academy between now and August.
We chose Building the Heart of Everest Academy as the theme because Christ, our children, and our families are the heart of our school. Our daily goal is to help our students become all they can be -- based on the solid foundation of a lively and personal relationship with Christ, who is the center of our school, all that we do, live, and accomplish.
The visual for the campaign is a heart displayed on the wall outside of the school’s chapel. It represents the heart of Christ which holds our present students -- our existing students and all the new ones who recently joined us in January -- as well as space for the 65 additional children God intends to join us here at Everest Academy. The visual for the campaign was inspired by Mrs. Jenny Duffy and the Everest Marketing Team members: Mrs. Ramirez, Mrs. Waligora, Ms. Natalia Bleka, Mrs. (Mrs. Duffy’s mom). In addition, Marino Ramirez, a student who was present, contributed some fine insights to the campaign concept. Our creative Mission Corps Team, Megan and Pily, developed the visual, which we plan to keep on display for the remainder of the year.
Each month we will post and send home “Heartbeats” which are resolutions to work toward as part of our campaign commitments. The most important campaign commitment -- and what has brought us to where we are today -- is prayer and real sacrifices on the part of our families, benefactors and school team. Behind anything worthwhile that is intended to provide the best for our children, the church, and society is the need for daily prayer. Our other efforts will flourish only with prayer and through prayer.
We hope you will join us as we pray for, work, and promote the growth of the heart of Everest Academy. We will entrust this campaign into the hands of our Blessed Mother Mary and certainly together we will achieve our goal.
Please send in any promotional ideas you have for our Building the Heart of Everest Academy campaign to Natalia Bleka and our Marketing Team. We can add your ideas to our monthly Heartbeat resolutions. Thank you for your ongoing support, involvement and love for your school.
Everest Academy
In the Heart of our Families
In the Heart of Lemont
In the Heart of the Church
In the Heart of Christ
Heartbeats for the Month of March, 2011
Pray for:
· Our current school families
· For each child that should be at Everest Academy that their parents are moved to send them to Everest Academy
Expose Everest to others. Invite one or more families and friends to come to an Everest Academy event-get your own relatives excited about what happens at Everest:
· Open House on March 23rd
· Lenten Family Night
Distribute school information brochures and flyers for events:
· To friends
· Post them on a local information board
· Pass them on to your Dr’s office
· To any clubs or affiliations to which you belong
Dear Parents, Faculty and Staff,
Thank you for making our 2011 Gala a great success! The Everest spirit was flowing throughout the gymnasium and generosity was pouring forth from all in attendance.
We want to share a list of the vendors we used that evening. We had a wonderful experience with each of these vendors and we encourage you to use them if you are planning an event.
Our Awesome Band: Jasper Cunningham
Phone: 815.245.6115
Email: jaspercummingham.com
Our Friendly DJ and Auctioneer: Andy Fuzak
Phone: 815.579.0255
Our Sweet Table: Oak Mill Bakery, Chicago
Phone: 773.788.9800
Our Fabulous Square Tables and Chairs: Narnia Estate
Phone: 815.836.8617
Our Delightful Hot & Cold Appetizers: Celina’s Fresh Market
Phone: 630.243.1669
Our Delicious Dinner: Ali Tucker Artistic Entertaining
Phone: 630.243.8665
Our Stage, Dance Floor and All Table Utensils: Rentals Unlimited
Phone: 630.759.4200 Contact: Keith
Our Entertaining & Informative Everest Video: SolidLine Media
Phone: 312.939.8600 Contact: Greg Vass
Our Photographer: Chuck McNulty Photography
Phone: 630.783.8141
Thank you for your prayers and your participation.
May God bless you!
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The Pilgrim Queen
Pray together as a family and honor Mary as a special guest in your home.
Prayer for Everest
Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for making Everest Academy a reality. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, may we touch the lives of many people and bring to our community the joy of knowing and loving Jesus Christ. We thank Our Mother Mary for her help and ask for her continued care and protection. Amen.
School Masses
Join us for All School Mass on Friday at 2:20pm or Morning Mass at 7:15 am Tues., Wed., and Thurs.
Lean on Me Holy Hour
Spend some time with Jesus every Thursday, after morning Mass 7:45am