Archive for December, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: St. Peter School Celebrates Christmas All Month Long

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Festivities for all ages involves the entire school community

Warwick, RI, [December 21, 2009]:  The Christmas season began for the children of St. Peter School when Santa arrived for a surprise visit during the Macy*s Believe Campaign Letter Writing Challenge and Santa Bus Tour. St. Peter School was the only school selected in Rhode Island for the visit. Over 170 students wrote a letter to Santa on specially decorated paper and deposited them in Santa’s red mailbox at Macy*s during a ceremony recognizing the school.  Macy*s pledged to give $1.00 to the Make-a-Wish Foundation for every letter written.  

St Peter Students wave to Santa Photo 1: Students wait along the school yard fence for a visit from the Macy*s Believe Campaign Santa 

The following weekend, over 100 families gathered in the St. Peter Church Hall for Breakfast with Santa and special reading of A Polar Express by ABC 6 anchor, Allison Alexander.

 Caroling Photo 2: Students in their pajamas sing carols along with the piano during Breakfast with Santa
 Listening to A Polar Express Photo 3: Preschoolers from St. Peter School listen as ABC6 personality, Allison Alexander reads A Polar Express at the school’s Breakfast with Santa

The next day, the school community gathered for the Annual Christmas Concert. Children in all grades performed during the concert. As a finale, the teachers performed a special holiday dance to resounding applause. Over 500 members of the community attended to enjoy this very special performance.

With voices ready, students in grades 1 through 4 gathered the very next day to serenade Warwick’s Gaspee and Pawtuxet Village neighborhoods with Christmas Carols. Thankfully, the weather was brisk but dry and over 27 parent volunteers walked with the students and helped prepare and serve hot chocolate and baked goods when they all returned to campus.

 Caroling Group of Students Photo 4: A group of St. Peter School students gather at an elderly neighbor’s door to serenade her with Christmas Carols.
 Caroling-003 Photo 5: (L-R) Ella Centracchio, Myles Walsh and Thomas Sullivan, First Graders at St. Peter School clown around while singing Christmas Carols in Warwick’s Gaspee and Pawtuxet Village neighborhoods. 

Back at school, the elves (aka parent’s association) were busy preparing for Christmas Fun Day! On Friday, the students enjoyed holiday shopping, a penny social, a special lunch, crafts and games.

Preschool snowmen 

 Photo 6: There was no snow yet, but preschooler, Ava Rataic, builds a snowman out of felt during St. Peter School’s Annual Christmas Fun Day. 

Kindergarteners with Santa 

 Photo 7: (L-R) Kindergartner’s Aidan Moreira, Sean Gallagher, Olivia Tracy, Aaron Narcavage and Lily Bastia catch Santa in the hallway during St. Peter School’s Annual Christmas Fun Day.

The Christmas festivities culminated with the Student Council’s Outreach Committees annual sale of Candy Cane Grams; candy canes with special notes delivered to friends, siblings and favorite teachers. Over 400 “Grams” were sent with the profits being used to buy gifts for a local needy family for Christmas.

 Outreach Committee

  Photo 8: Members of the St. Peter School Student Council Outreach committee delivered over 400 Candy Cane Grams during December to raise money to benefit a local needy family’s Christmas gifts. 

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WARWICK BEACON: Lights of the Season

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
ST_PETERS_2_concert

St. Peter's School students performed their annual Christmas concert Sunday at Bishop Hendricken High School to an audience of more than 500 family and friends. Here, seventh and eighth grade students perform in the finale.

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WARWICK BEACON: St. Peter’s raises $1,300 for House of Hope

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
by Colby Cremins
“Give me an S! Give me a T! Give me a P-E-T-E-R!” Principal Joan Sickinger yelled through a black megaphone during a school rally on Thursday.

Clad in a panther costume, Sickinger was dressed as St. Peter’s mascot to accept a reward for her students for their fundraising success.

“I’m very proud of you for being the number one school,” Sickinger shouted.

The 200 students, grades pre-k through 8th, had spent the past four weeks participating in the House of Hope “Spare Change for the Homeless” campaign. The campaign addresses the fact that many people may wonder what kind of difference a little spare change can make, but if all that change is put together it can make a huge difference in the lives of homeless individuals and families in Rhode Island.

The school set a goal of $500, which they thought was a reasonably attainable amount; they raised almost $1,300 by the time the month was over.

“St. Peter’s has collected the most money out of all of our participating schools,” said Tom Miller, associate director of the House of Hope.

The students came up with several different suggestions for what Sickinger could do if they reached their goal, like dying her hair pink, but she went with the mascot.

“This is so out of character for me, I don’t even dress up for Halloween,” said Sickinger.

Miller came to St. Peter’s during a school guild assembly to address the parents and garner their support for the program. He then returned to the school to educate the students about homelessness and how easily it can affect someone they know.

“I get the kids to participate in a role play where I pretend to be their dad that has lost his job and his house. I tell them to take a trash bag and fill it with as much of their stuff as they can carry and that’s all they can take,” said Miller.

The campaign started with students bringing in pennies, then nickels, and so on week by week. During the assembly Principal Sickinger, along with two seventh grade students, presented Miller with a check for $1,292.54.

“That money is going to homeless moms and dads, aunts and uncles, boys and girls,” said Miller.

He went on to tell them how much their participation was appreciated and what a difference that money will make. The House of Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides permanent housing to families and individuals in need, allowing them to know they have a place to come home to every day. The organization is in its 19th year.

Sickinger said that the students had an incredible grasp on the issue of homelessness and the effect it can have on people.

“If I was homeless I would want someone to help me,” said seventh-grader Adam Joyal.

St. Peter’s holds fundraisers throughout the year in which students, teachers and parents participate.

“It made me feel good that we helped underprivileged people,” said eighth-grader Jackie Ferrara.

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MEDIA ALERT: St. Peter School to Host a Reading of A Polar Express and Breakfast with Santa

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Warwick, RI, [December 1, 2009]:  Join the children of St. Peter Parish for a magical journey on the Polar Express and breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 12, 2009 from 9am to 11am in St. Peter Lower Church located at 350 Fair Street, Warwick.

Children can come wearing their favorite pajamas as they listen to ABC6 personality, Allison Alexander read A Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Reading of the story will take place at 9:45am & 10:30am. Also, take your child’s photo with Santa as they reveal what’s on their Christmas List! Continental Breakfast includes Starbucks coffee and hot chocolate and Le Favorite Bakery baked goods as well as Christmas music and a Penny Social. Plus, a special gift for every child…if they truly believe! Cost is $25 per family and includes all activities.

Please RSVP to St. Peter School by email info@stpeterschoolri.com or phone 401-781-9242 by Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Include family name, students grade(s), # of children, # of parents and # of grandparents. Limited spaces will be available at the door. 

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