President  
Danielle DeChristopher

Corresponding/ Recording Secretary  
Danielle Wagner

Treasure  
Veronica Lowe

 Dear Divine Providence Families:
 
Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! I hope that this first week of school was a smooth transition from the relaxing days of summer. On behalf of the Family School Association (FSA), I would like to say hello to our returning families and to extend a welcome to our new families as they join the Divine Providence community. The FSA board has been hard at work planning many activities for the upcoming year. I hope that you will be able to join us for what will be an exciting and successful year.
 
You may be wondering what the FSA is and what exactly we do. The Family School Association is a community of parents who volunteer time, knowledge, and resources to support the school, the teachers, the administration, and, most importantly, the students. All families are automatically members of the FSA. With the funds raised during the various events and activities throughout the year, the FSA has been able to provide the school with resources that enhance the educational experience, support the rigor in the curriculum, and expand the school’s technology.
 
Last year alone, the FSA raised money through the Scholastic Book Fair to purchase a leveled library that supports students in all grade levels, Preschool through Grade 8. Money raised through various fundraisers like Mixed Bags, Box Tops collections, Shoparoo, World’s Finest Chocolate, and “Chef’s Night Out,” allowed the FSA to bring in a STEM day where students in all grade levels had the opportunity to work on robotics, coding, engineering with Legos, among other activities, in the gym. Additional money raised was given to the school to support the purchase of a new science curriculum. The FSA also supported after school activities like Garden Club and Chess Club. As school community building activities, the FSA hosted the Back to School BBQ, a Halloween Party in October, and a night out at the Chicago Wolves game in February.
 
It is because of the support we receive from families and those who volunteer that we are able to strengthen the school’s curriculum and sense of community. I would like to personally invite each of you to our next FSA meeting, on Tuesday, September 18 at 7 P.M. in the Mayfair Room, so that you can see how you might be able to volunteer this coming year and continue to support our students, teachers, and administration.
 
We can start our volunteering and community building this Saturday at the 4:00 Mass followed by the Back to School BBQ in the gym. I hope to see all of our families, returning and new, there. We are still in need of volunteers to help. Please let us know when you arrive at mass or the BBQ that you would be willing to help.
 
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” (Peter 4:10-11)
 
Danielle DeChristopher
ddechristopher@gmail.com
FSA President 2018-2019

• To advance Catholic education by fostering a strong faith community within its membership.
• To provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to express their views regarding their children, the school and educational programs, and in tum learn the  feelings of other parents, the pastor, principal, faculty and school-related groups.
• To provide a means for the pastor, principal, faculty and school-related groups to dialogue with parents/guardians to enhance the total educational experience.
• To offer well-planned programs of particular interest to parents/guardians and children focus on the areas of faith, education and civic affairs in cooperation with school administration.

 
The FSA Board encourages all school families to support our fund-raisers and to actively participate in the many functions we sponsor throughout the year. Your support and assistance is what will make these activities possible. Throughout the year, we will be sending home notices asking for parents to volunteer some of their time at a specific event. Please try to help, even if it is only for a short period of time. Help is always welcome. The children truly appreciate your efforts!