Let us sing praises
Loyal hearts and true
St. Lawrence, hail to you!
Hail the virtues you inspired
Making us strong, in God.

Let us be thankful for these treasured years.
Rich in the joy of life
Years that brought abundant share
Of the things we hold so dear.

May kindness and compassion be
In all we do and say
And ever be a part of us
Increasing day by day.

May the truths that you’ve inspired
Make our lives to be so sublime
That we may glorify our God
And grow in grace divine.

That we may glorify our God
And grow in grace divine.

It’s almost here!!!

Our Spring Fling Tag Sale is Friday, May 16th (9 AM - 6 PM) and Saturday, May 17th (9 AM - 12 PM).

We are looking for a limited number of hard-working, serious 6th, 7th and 8th Graders to help during Drop-off hours (Tuesday, May 13th, Wednesday, May 14th, and Thursday, May 15th, from 3 - 7 PM), and Clean-up on Saturday. Seventh graders will receive Community Service hours toward Confirmation . Eighth graders will receive Community Service hours for High School. If your daughter/son is interested, please ask them to see me in the office for a permission slip.

And for the parents, we would love to have everyone pitch in, if only for an hour or two. (You may get hooked!) If you haven’t already volunteered, we still need a couple of cashiers, carry-out people (Dads if available), traffic control. And of course, many hands to help set up. We’ll have food and lots of fun. Give me a call at the office, or email, and let me know what hours you can come.

I’m looking forward to hearing from all of you!

Thank you!!

Mary Ann

P.S. Donations of paper and plastic bags, and newspapers appreciated!

As you “spring-clean”, please consider donating your no longer needed/wanted items to our Spring Fling Tag Sale, which will take place on Friday, May 16 (9 AM - 6 PM) and Saturday, May 17 (9 AM - 12 PM). Drop-off days and times are as follows: Tuesday, May 13, Wednesday, May 14, and Thursday, May 15, from 3 - 7 PM each day.

Listed below are YES (we can take it) and NO (sorry, we can’t) items:

YES:

Baby/children clothing and equipment, toys, games, puzzles, books, CDs, records, DVDs, videos, sports and garden equipment, jewelry, knick-knacks, linens, furniture (indoor and outdoor), kitchen equipment (pots and pans, dishes glasses), small electrics (in working order), baskets, paintings, seasonal (Christmas, etc.), craft items

NO:

Adult clothing, shoes, hats, computer equipment, exercise equipment, upholstered furniture, mattresses, textbooks, magazines, National Geographic bound volumes

We’ll be looking for volunteers to help sort and set up during the week, work at the actual sale itself, and clean up on Saturday.

Questions? Give me a call at the school office.

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Mary Ann O’Neill

As you know, the Archdiocese has decided to close our school, ending our 82-year history of excellent education, which has been the heart and soul of our parish. We believe this decision can be reversed—but we need your help.

The parents of St. Lawrence accept our share of the responsibility for the Archdiocese’s decision and are working diligently on a business and marketing plan to reorganize and improve the school. We intend to present our plan to the Archdiocese in the hope that they will reconsider their decision. As part of this plan, we will need to fund the current operating deficit and a likely deficit in next year’s budget; but most important, we will need to demonstrate the parish’s and the community’s support for keeping the school open.

To bring our budget out of deficit, we are seeking a pledge of donations from the parents, parishioners, alumni and the community. We recently contacted some of our alumni by e-mail to gauge their support, and we received pledges of over $100,000 spread over the next three years. This is an encouraging start. We hope we can count on you to join our efforts!

To make a pledge, simply print and fill out the pledge form attached below or call the Save St. Lawrence O’Toole School Parents’ Group at 845.279.4948 to make a pledge over the phone. You can also make a pledge online or by e-mail.

Although the school has struggled over the past few years, it is well worth saving. Our facility is far and away the best of any of the area Catholic elementary schools. Our teachers are dedicated. And our students are fantastic! In seven of the last ten years, a St. Lawrence O’Toole graduate has been the Valedictorian of his or her high school class. Our graduates have received prestigious scholarships and many go on to attend some of the finest universities in the United States. Finally, and not least of all, our Home School Association’s fundraising efforts (which amount to almost $100,000 every year) are the envy of the Archdiocese. There is much here to be proud of, and much to build on.

We, as parents, want to see the school reopened, reenergized, reorganized and thriving again in the near future. We believe in the strength of a Catholic education and, as Catholics, we believe anything is possible with God—and with hard work and faith. Fr. Doughty has promised his support. We ask for your help and, above all, your prayers.

Yours in Christ,
The Parents Group

A printable version of this letter is available here.

It has been decided that this year’s Fashion Show, scheduled for April 13^th, will be canceled.

Thank you,
The HSA

St. Lawrence O’Toole School won
“Best Float” in the Putnam County
St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
What a show of Spirit! Thanks to all our students, teachers
and parents for helping with the float and marching with pride.

St. Patrick’s Day 2008

This Sunday is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Mahopac. The children have been looking forward to riding the St. Lawrence O’Toole float and we will not disappoint them.

We will march with pride on Sunday as St. Lawrence O’Toole School.

We will meet at 1:00 pm at the Bee & Jay Plumbing parking lot wearing our green.

See you there!

God bless us all,

Love,
Mrs. O