Newsletters

April 28, 2023 Newsletter

Upcoming Dates of Importance! 
Monday, May 1st -       1-hour delay, curriculum work
Sunday, May 7th -        First Holy Communion, 1:00 pm
Friday, May 19th -        All School 8:15 am Mass. 8th grade recognition/awards. Grade 8 early dismissal
Tuesday, May 23 -        Last Day of School
        - All-School 8:15 am Mass followed by San Damiano Awards. 
        - Early dismissal at 1:00 p.m. 
       - 8th Graduation Mass at 7:00 p.m. in the Church
Wednesday, May 24th   - Used Uniform sale in the Parish Hall, 4:00-6:00 pm

Dear Parents and Students - The Voucher has been expanded to help more families and the SGO Scholarship is now open for PreK students!! Thank you to everyone who contacted their State Representatives in support of School Choice. Our voices were heard! Below is a note from the Indiana Non-Public Education Association explaining the expansions to the School Choice Scholarship (Voucher) and the expansion of the Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). I will send new income guidelines, when finalized by the State. Have a great weekend and thank you for choosing our school! Sincerely - Rob S.

NEWSFLASH:  Another historic session for School Choice! -from INPEA

The General Assembly passed their biennial budget that included another round of historical expansions for school choice took another step closer to universal choice for all families. With strong leadership by the House and support from the Senate, Indiana simplified the Choice Scholarship Program and expanded it to more Hoosier families. The following new changes go into effect on July 1, 2023, for school year 2023-24:

  1. The Budget removed the eligibility pathways/tracks (hoops) so new Kindergarten students may be eligible

  2. The financial eligibility guidelines were increased from the current 300% to 400% of Free and Reduced Lunch eligibility. For example, the income guidelines for a family of 4 will increase from $166,500 to $220,000

  3. The 5 year old birthdate eligibility was moved to October 1st for all students. This will help younger Kindergarten students who could not access the Voucher or SGO as August 1 has been the current cutoff

  4. SGO scholarships applications will now be open to PreK students to help offset tuition costs 

Did we get everything we had hoped for? No, but pretty darn close! The fees language died, but maybe we’ll see it next year. 

Over the 12 years of private school choice, our school leaders and school communities have slowly owned the responsibility of engaging in the legislative process. In states like Indiana, it is imperative that the voice of non-public schools be loud and coordinated.

     With that said, let me share my heartfelt thanks for all of you who have owned it. Over the past few years our non-public school voice has grown, and we have seen success because of you. Our next call to action will be asking you to thank our legislators for another successful session! Many lives have been touched by these efforts. Thank you. John, Andrea, & Beatrice - The INPEA Team 

RED CHOICE SCHOLARSHIP ENVELOPES!  Red Choice Scholarship envelopes were sent home today, Friday, April 28. Please sign the enclosed paperwork and return to the school office as soon as possible. If you did not receive a red envelope and you believe you should have received one, we probably still need your 2022 1040 Federal tax return. Please contact Pam or Mary Beth in the school office: 260-484-3392 or schooloffice@stcharlesschoolfw.org to find out exactly what needed to file for the Choice Scholarship.

Come to the Annual Spring Concert! Thursday, May 4, at 7:00 pm in Hession Ctr. Gym. All Welcome! Performing will be our Orchestra students (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced - 46 students strong), our Band students (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced - 29 students strong!), and our 12 member Choir. We are happy to have organized our choir again this year for a full year of participation including the Pueri Cantores diocesan Mass! We are also pleased with the number of students who picked up instruments and are learning how to create tones and pitches to create music! The students want to share what they have learned with us this year. This will be a delightful evening for all! At the end of the concert, two eighth grade students will receive awards from the Fine Arts Boosters. All are then invited to enjoy an ice cream treat as you visit with friends in the Hession Center Lobby or outdoors.

    Parents, the students have received directions regarding concert attire and time to report for “warming up.” Please check your email for a message from the directors or your child’s book bag for a written note!


Click here for the rest of the SCBS April 28, 2023 Newsletter