Raven Rundown, 11/3/2023

November 3, 2023

Mr. Fed's 8th Grade Interview Prep

Amid their busy prep for admission exams and applying to high schools, our 8th Graders honed their interview skills in Mr. Federico's Language Arts class this week!

Students shared their experiences and discussed questions and topics that may come up in interviews with prospective high schools. Mr. Fed had students practice in front of the class and exchange questions to help everyone get comfortable and familiar with the process.

Good luck, 8th Graders—you've got this! And, thank you, Mr. Federico!

Coffee & Conversation with PrincipalUnderwood

Our first Coffee & Conversation of the school year will be held Tuesday, November 7 in the Media Center at 8:15am.

This event is open to the SRLA community and gives families a chance to discuss any SRLA-related topics in an informal, casual setting.

Trunk-or-Treat

It was another terrific Trunk-or-Treat at SRLA!

Thank you to all the parents and families who came out to celebrate Halloween with us!

Share Your Sugar!

SRLA will be collecting excess candy from Halloween and donating it to The Apostle’s House, a homeless shelter that provides services for at-risk individuals and families in Newark and Essex County, as well as a food pantry for the community.

A collection bin will be in the foyer for donations through November 14. Thank you so much for your support!

Give Back with Christmas Gift-giving

A long-standing tradition at SRLA, our wonderful Christmas Gift Giving Program ensures that there is at least one present under the tree for the children of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newark and the seniors and families of St. Joseph’s Social Service Center in Elizabeth. Please consider helping these children, families and seniors during the Christmas holidays. There are three ways to participate:

1.Buy gifts for children.

Check off the appropriate box on the SignUp Genius to buy a warm piece of clothing and a toy for each child. You will be provided with the name, age, and gender of a recipient. Please budget $35-50 per gift, and bring wrapped gifts to school between November 27 and December 4.

2.Send in a monetary donation.

If you are unable to shop this year, our "Holiday Shopper Committee" can shop for you to buy toys, coats, scarves, and mittens for the children! Please make your donation through Blackbaud as soon as possible.

3.Volunteer to be a "shopper."

Sign up to be a "volunteer shopper" to purchase 3 to 5 gifts with donated money. You will be provided with a very specific wish list and you will be reimbursed.

Thank you in advance for your support for this worthy project! We encourage all families to involve their children in the shopping and wrapping of these gifts, a wonderful way to teach children the importance of helping others!

Please sign up by Wednesday, November 8 to participate.

Questions? Please contact Betsy Guarnieri (

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), Andrea Mansfield (

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), or Rosemary Mattson (

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It's Pie Time!

It's that wonderful time of the year, SRLA's annual 8th Grade Pie Sale!

Place your order early for freshly baked pies from the famous Alstede Farms in Chester, NJ just in time for Thanksgiving!

Harvest Apple (10")
Pumpkin (10")
Coconut Custard (10")
Blueberry (9")
Cherry (9")
Pecan (9")
Strawberry Rhubarb (9")

These delicious pies make for an incredible Thanksgiving dessert, and they freeze really well, so be sure to order a few pies for your Christmas table too! The deadline to order is Wednesday, November 15.

All pies are $25, and can be picked up Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 22 at SRLA.

Thank you for supporting our 8th Graders! All 8th Grade fundraisers support the special activities they get to experience in their final year at SRLA!

Contact Tina Fay, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., orJailan Griffiths, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., with any questions.

Thanksgiving Food Collection

Please help feed a family in need this Thanksgiving!

Each grade is asked to bring in a specific item for a family’s dinner, along with $1.00 to help purchase turkeys. Items collected from SRLA will be added to the St. Rose of Lima Parish Thanksgiving Food Collection and delivered to families before Thanksgiving.

Please bring donations to homeroom between Monday, November 6 and Thursday, November 16.

PreK: (1) 29 oz. can fruit (your choice)

Kindergarten: (1) brownie mix

1st Grade: (2) boxes of corn muffin mix

2nd Grade: (1) 26 oz. box of mashed potatoes

3rd Grade: (1) 12 oz. box of Stove Top stuffing

4th Grade: (3) 10 oz. cans turkey gravy (no glass please)

5th Grade: (2) boxes of mac & cheese

6th Grade: (2) 14 oz. cans cranberry sauce

7th Grade: (3) 15 oz. cans of vegetables (your choice)

8th Grade Blue: (1) 40 oz. can of yams

8th Grade Gold: (2) cans of soup

The donation of reusable shopping bags will be appreciated. And if you would like to donate a turkey, please bring it to the church parking lot on Saturday, November 18 between 9:00 and 10:00am.

Thanks for giving!

Gear Up for Gifting

Get your holiday preparations underway with the help of Charleston Wrap and their beautiful selection of home décor, gifts and wrapping, and sweet treats!

Purchases made through the website by November 20 directly benefit our 8th Graders and help fund SRLA's beloved graduation traditions.

Register at www.registercw.com and enter our organization ID: 12719
Use the email-invite generator to invite friends and family to shop and support!
Shop! All orders ship directly to your home.

Thank you so much for your generous support of our soon-to-be graduates!