Saint Angela Merici School

266 East 163rd Street
Bronx, New York, 10451
Tel (718) 293-3365 Fax (718) 293-6617
e-mail: b221@adnyschools.org

August 6, 2008

Dear Parents and Guardians:

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

As the principal of St. Angela Merici School, I am inspired daily by our students, young men and women, who work together to achieve excellence. I am amazed at their efforts to be the best they can be as students, young athletes, young artists, and leaders.

Our students make every effort to be their best in an environment that is vigorous, friendly, and supportive. For instance, our graduates won over $60,000 in academic scholarships and many were placed in Honors classes in their High Schools. Because of our Math Honors Program in grades 5 - 8 some of our students were able to take the Math Regents exam. They received High School credits for Math and advanced a full year in High School.

Most importantly, within our Catholic educational community our students develop spiritually and have strong moral decision-making skills. In a world filled with conflicting value systems, St. Angela’s students are encouraged to adopt principles for living that promote faith, peace, justice and service. This past year our students raised over $2,000 for the Tacachico Project. This money helped in the building of a Hospital for the poor in El Salvador. They also organized a basketball game between the teachers and the students and raised over $600 for the victims of the China earthquake. Lastly, our eighth graders in their desire to make a difference as a class developed a Tutoring Group. They met twice a week to help with the homework of the younger children who were in need or wanted this service. These young men and women made a difference in the lives of over 25 young children whom they worked with throughout the year.

As you know St. Angela’s offers extra school time because of our Extended Day Program. Our students attend school for a total of 1320 hours a year or 264 more hours than students in schools with no extended day program. These 264 additional hours mean our students get the equivalent of 44 more school days a year. More time for teaching means students learn more in school.

Our school also offers extracurricular activities such as four basketball teams, a softball team, band, choir, computer club and art club. These programs are available to 5-8 grades and free of charge to these students. We encourage you to take advantage of these activities.

As we approach the beginning of the new academic year I am reminded that our Holy Father has dedicated this year to St. Paul. We are celebrating as a Catholic community with the rest of the Universal Church the 2,000th anniversary of St. Paul’s birth. We pray that as we study and learn more about St. Paul we will come to a deeper and greater love for Christ. Jesus is the reason for our school and for everything we do at St. Angela’s.

A few items to bring to your attention:

Tuesday, August 19th - school office will re-open. If you need anything please stop by or call the office. Office hours for Tuesday, August 19 through Friday, August 29 are from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

Wednesday, August 27th - Mr. Cohen will be in the school selling Gym uniforms. If you are in need of a Gym uniform please stop by the school between 10:00 AM - 12:00PM.

Please make sure that you have made your July and August TMS tuition payments. Only students with current accounts will be allowed to start school on September 3rd.

Wednesday, September 3rd - the first day of school. Students will arrive between 7:30 - 7:45 AM and go to the auditorium. They will line up in the places they had last year. For new students teachers will be available to help them find their places.

First grade students will line up in the hallway in front of the Music Room and the Science Lab.

Parents must drop off their children and leave the building so that the teachers can take the children to their classrooms promptly. At dismissal parents will have the opportunity to meet the teachers. All teachers will send a letter to the parents outlining their expectations for the year.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, September 3rd, 4th and 5th - dismissal will be at 11:30 AM so that teachers can attend faculty meetings in the afternoon.

Dismissal procedures are posted outside the school on Morris Avenue and by the entrance of the building at 163rd Street.

Monday, September 8th - first full day of school. Dismissal for grades Pre-K and K is 2:20 PM and for grades 1 to 8 it is 3:50 PM.

Students are expected to be in full uniform for the first day of school. Our uniform can be purchased at Jackie’s Kids on Broadway. Please ask for our school representative, Jimmy. Remember all students must purchase the school sweater and it must have the school name on it. Also, school shoes must be black, rubber soled shoes. Shoes cannot have any designs or look like sneakers.

Meet the Teacher Night - Parents will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher and receive more information about the school year. Meetings will begin at 7:00 PM in the school auditorium. We look forward to seeing you at one of the following meetings:

• Tuesday, September 9 – Parents of children in grades Pre K, K and 1
• Wednesday, September 10 – Parents of children in grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.
• Thursday, September 11 – Parents of students in grades 6, 7 and 8.

More information will be sent to you on the first day of school – please check your child’s book bag. Enjoy the rest of your summer. I look forward to seeing you on September 3rd. God bless you.

Yours in Christ,


Sr. Lourdes Mercado-Almodóvar, OBT
Principal