Art Fairweather
SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC SCHOOL
December 6, 2013
Upcoming Events
December 7 Breakfast with Santa 8-11:30am Festival of Wreaths December 9 Immaculate Conception Mass December 11 Preschool Christmas Program 6:30 pm December 12 2nd Grade Field Trip December 13 Student of the Month at Mass 4th Grade Bake Sale MS Dance sponsored by SCA December 17 Dress Down Day for St. Vincent de Paul (nonperishable food item) December 18 Lions Club Screening 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade Field Trip December 19 Christmas Program 7pm December 20 Early Dismissal 11:30am NO Extended Day December 23-January 3 Christmas Break January 6 Return to School January 8 PTO Meeting 7pm January 9 Early Dismissal 11:30am January 10 Mass with Rosary 3rd Bake Sale
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK…. Thanksgiving was wonderful and blessed time, but it arrived, this year, too close to Christmas! A lot to do before our Savior’s birth. The Advent season at SJES kicked off with our first Advent Wreath ceremony last Monday (see photo below). With our new “Education in Virtues” program, the students are discovering the connection between Advent and Lent, as special times to prepare our souls for Jesus’ gift of love. In addition, every day over the announcements, we establish a virtue for the day, such as prayerfulness, humility, obedience, generosity, gratitude, patience or charity. Those students who exhibit these qualities should be chosen as Students of the Month throughout the year. With inclement weather forecast for Sunday evening, I wanted to review our delayed opening and school closing policy. In the event of either of the above, your home and/or cell phone will get a phone call AND an e-mail detailing the closing. This is provided by our School Messenger service. We follow Fauquier County Public School closing for the first two school days, then make our own decisions. The FCPS website will have the closing information too. The next Principal Chat was scheduled for December 17, but has been postponed. I will attempt to make it up this month, if possible, it may have to be when we get back in January. I hope everyone will attend “Breakfast with Santa,” tomorrow from 8-11:30 AM. The Warrenton Christmas parade is tonight, beginning at 6PM. We used to march in this parade when it was on a Saturday morning, and need to get back to being a part of the celebration. The 8th graders took the High School Placement exam yesterday. We have a big class of bright students in our 8th grade, and I expect them all to matriculate into successful high school , college, technical and professional careers. Speaking of these students, I had a terrific time observing a “History Alive” lesson about the Industrial Revolution in Mr. Stohlman’s 8th Grade Social Studies class recently. Instead of reading and writing about this important period in American history, the students formed two companies (one was the Triangle Shirt Company-remember the fire in NYC?), and while facing each other in a long line, each student did one specialized job in the creation of a picture of a shirt. Speed was stressed, as Mr. Stohlman and an aide played the role of foremen, replacing unproductive workers with a cadre of “immigrants” who stood nearby. All to the tune of loud sewing machines. This is how students best learn history-by re-creating town meetings, assembly lines, and conventions. It was super! Mrs. Galvin, during an 8th grade Literature class studying the book, Animal Farm, inculcated Religion and compared God’s Ten Commandments with the pigs’ seven commandments. A higher level, critical thinking discussion ensued about how often our society and government are interpreting the Ten Commandments as the pigs did-to justify their actionsgreat discussion! This is our last bulletin before the break. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year-Be still and know God!
Art Fairweather
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School News •
Breakfast with Santa, December 7, 8-11:30AM. Tickets are now on sale. There will activities for everyone; great food, secret shopping for 3-12 year olds, crafting, a raffle, the annual cake walk, the finale of the Festival of Wreaths and of course a visit with Santa. We are also looking for volunteers to bake for the cake walk, to help with decorations and to help with the event set up and delivery. We had a lot of fun last year and I am looking forward to even more fun this year. For more information, please contact Carol Vargas, [email protected].
•
As part of the diocesan initiative to maintain a safe environment for all of our children, all volunteers and parents are required to complete a background check prior to working in the school and to complete VIRTUS training. Only those parents who have completed the criminal background check are eligible to volunteer in the school. Those who have not yet completed the background check process may request a packet of forms from the front office.
•
We are once again requesting pictures of any soldiers that are relatives or friends that you would like St. John’s School to keep in their prayers. Please send them to the office and we will put them up on our Military Board.
•
We are looking for individuals interested in substituting in our school. It can be used as volunteer hours or paid position. Please call or come by the office for more information.
•
THE ROSARY will be prayed every Tuesday morning after drop-off. We'll pray for our school's children, faculty and staff, and our own intentions. If you're in need of more prayer in your life, please join us. You don't need to know how to pray the Rosary or even be Catholic. Small children are welcomed to play while we pray! Drop by the office on your way in to find out where we'll be praying.
•
The 2013-2014 Parent-Student Handbook can be accessed electronically via our website: www.sjesva.org. Please take some time to review the policies and procedures of our school and discuss them with your children. Each family is asked to sign and return the acknowledgement form by Friday, September 20th. Those families without access to the website are invited to contact the office to request a hard copy of the handbook.
•
Trail Life USA, is an organization whose stated mission is “To guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.” This is a mission very much in line with morals of the Church, morals which we work to instill in our boys as they grow to be young men serving the Lord and, in turn, the community. Membership is unequivocally so that “all boys are welcome, irrespective of religion, race, national origin or socio-economic status.” Trail Life will be open to boys K – 12. Information is also available at http://www.traillifeusa.com Please see our St. John's Chapter web page http://groupspaces.com/ TrailLifeUSA-StJohns/
•
Annual Band and Strings Mini-Camp @ Paul VI, Thurs Jan 16, 6-8:30 pm, Fri Jan 17 9-4. Open to Diocesan 5th8th graders, early bird special $40. with additional sibling discount if postmarked by Jan 1st. Quetions [email protected]
•
The due date for the 2014-2015 Diocesan Tuition Assistance Program is March 17, 2014. Not only is the application due by the due date but also all supporting tax documentation as required by FACTS Grant & Aid. The information for 2014-2015 will be updated shortly on the website (http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/ tuition_grant.aspx).
Parent Bullet
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Uniform Update Please check the lost and found before the Christmas break. All items left in the lost and found locker after December 20th will be donated.
Extended Day Notice The Extended Day telephone number has changed. Please call Temple Macdonald at 540-316-1310 or Beth Griese at 571-261-1304 if you are running late or have any issues with pick up from Extended Day.
Nurse Notes On, Wednesday, December 18th the Lions Club of Virginia, Mobile Sight and Hearing Screening Unit will be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School. The state mandates that students in grades Kindergarten, 3rd, and 7th be screened. Screening in other grades is optional. Attached, please find the form that must be completed and returned prior to screening. If you choose not to have your child screened and he/she is in grades Kindergarten, 3rd or 7th, you must provide the school office with documentation of alternate screening. No student will be screened without a signed consent form.
Prayer of St. Nicholas Loving God, we thank you for the example of St. Nicholas, who fed the hungry, brought hope to the imprisoned, gave comfort to the lost, and taught the truth to all. May we strive to imitate him by putting you first in all we do. Give us the courage, love and strength of St. Nicholas, so that, like him, we may serve you through loving our brothers and sisters. Amen.
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St John the Evangelist Catholic Church Snow Globes For sale in the Front Office $5.00 Each
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The Office of College Counseling Paul VI Catholic High School Invites you to COLLEGE NIGHT FOR FAMILIES OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 & 8 Topics •
How to prepare in Grades 7 and 8 for a college prep high school curriculum
•
What to consider considering the right college “fit”
•
How colleges review applications
•
What financial assistance and scholarship funds are available
HOW PAUL VI HELPS STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE ROAD TO COLLEGE
Tuesday, December 17, 2013 7:15 – 8:45 p.m. Paul VI Catholic High School Heet Auditorium 10675 Fairfax Blvd. Fairfax, VA 22030 For more information, contact Mrs. Battle, PVI’s College and Career Specialist, at [email protected] or 703 352-0925.
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December 6, 2013
Upcoming Events
December 7 Breakfast with Santa 8-11:30am Festival of Wreaths December 9 Immaculate Conception Mass December 11 Preschool Christmas Program 6:30 pm December 12 2nd Grade Field Trip December 13 Student of the Month at Mass 4th Grade Bake Sale MS Dance sponsored by SCA December 17 Dress Down Day for St. Vincent de Paul (nonperishable food item) December 18 Lions Club Screening 1st, 2nd, 3rd Grade Field Trip December 19 Christmas Program 7pm December 20 Early Dismissal 11:30am NO Extended Day December 23-January 3 Christmas Break January 6 Return to School January 8 PTO Meeting 7pm January 9 Early Dismissal 11:30am January 10 Mass with Rosary 3rd Bake Sale
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK…. Thanksgiving was wonderful and blessed time, but it arrived, this year, too close to Christmas! A lot to do before our Savior’s birth. The Advent season at SJES kicked off with our first Advent Wreath ceremony last Monday (see photo below). With our new “Education in Virtues” program, the students are discovering the connection between Advent and Lent, as special times to prepare our souls for Jesus’ gift of love. In addition, every day over the announcements, we establish a virtue for the day, such as prayerfulness, humility, obedience, generosity, gratitude, patience or charity. Those students who exhibit these qualities should be chosen as Students of the Month throughout the year. With inclement weather forecast for Sunday evening, I wanted to review our delayed opening and school closing policy. In the event of either of the above, your home and/or cell phone will get a phone call AND an e-mail detailing the closing. This is provided by our School Messenger service. We follow Fauquier County Public School closing for the first two school days, then make our own decisions. The FCPS website will have the closing information too. The next Principal Chat was scheduled for December 17, but has been postponed. I will attempt to make it up this month, if possible, it may have to be when we get back in January. I hope everyone will attend “Breakfast with Santa,” tomorrow from 8-11:30 AM. The Warrenton Christmas parade is tonight, beginning at 6PM. We used to march in this parade when it was on a Saturday morning, and need to get back to being a part of the celebration. The 8th graders took the High School Placement exam yesterday. We have a big class of bright students in our 8th grade, and I expect them all to matriculate into successful high school , college, technical and professional careers. Speaking of these students, I had a terrific time observing a “History Alive” lesson about the Industrial Revolution in Mr. Stohlman’s 8th Grade Social Studies class recently. Instead of reading and writing about this important period in American history, the students formed two companies (one was the Triangle Shirt Company-remember the fire in NYC?), and while facing each other in a long line, each student did one specialized job in the creation of a picture of a shirt. Speed was stressed, as Mr. Stohlman and an aide played the role of foremen, replacing unproductive workers with a cadre of “immigrants” who stood nearby. All to the tune of loud sewing machines. This is how students best learn history-by re-creating town meetings, assembly lines, and conventions. It was super! Mrs. Galvin, during an 8th grade Literature class studying the book, Animal Farm, inculcated Religion and compared God’s Ten Commandments with the pigs’ seven commandments. A higher level, critical thinking discussion ensued about how often our society and government are interpreting the Ten Commandments as the pigs did-to justify their actionsgreat discussion! This is our last bulletin before the break. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year-Be still and know God!
Art Fairweather
Page 2
Parent Bullet
School News •
Breakfast with Santa, December 7, 8-11:30AM. Tickets are now on sale. There will activities for everyone; great food, secret shopping for 3-12 year olds, crafting, a raffle, the annual cake walk, the finale of the Festival of Wreaths and of course a visit with Santa. We are also looking for volunteers to bake for the cake walk, to help with decorations and to help with the event set up and delivery. We had a lot of fun last year and I am looking forward to even more fun this year. For more information, please contact Carol Vargas, [email protected].
•
As part of the diocesan initiative to maintain a safe environment for all of our children, all volunteers and parents are required to complete a background check prior to working in the school and to complete VIRTUS training. Only those parents who have completed the criminal background check are eligible to volunteer in the school. Those who have not yet completed the background check process may request a packet of forms from the front office.
•
We are once again requesting pictures of any soldiers that are relatives or friends that you would like St. John’s School to keep in their prayers. Please send them to the office and we will put them up on our Military Board.
•
We are looking for individuals interested in substituting in our school. It can be used as volunteer hours or paid position. Please call or come by the office for more information.
•
THE ROSARY will be prayed every Tuesday morning after drop-off. We'll pray for our school's children, faculty and staff, and our own intentions. If you're in need of more prayer in your life, please join us. You don't need to know how to pray the Rosary or even be Catholic. Small children are welcomed to play while we pray! Drop by the office on your way in to find out where we'll be praying.
•
The 2013-2014 Parent-Student Handbook can be accessed electronically via our website: www.sjesva.org. Please take some time to review the policies and procedures of our school and discuss them with your children. Each family is asked to sign and return the acknowledgement form by Friday, September 20th. Those families without access to the website are invited to contact the office to request a hard copy of the handbook.
•
Trail Life USA, is an organization whose stated mission is “To guide generations of courageous young men to honor God, lead with integrity, serve others, and experience outdoor adventure.” This is a mission very much in line with morals of the Church, morals which we work to instill in our boys as they grow to be young men serving the Lord and, in turn, the community. Membership is unequivocally so that “all boys are welcome, irrespective of religion, race, national origin or socio-economic status.” Trail Life will be open to boys K – 12. Information is also available at http://www.traillifeusa.com Please see our St. John's Chapter web page http://groupspaces.com/ TrailLifeUSA-StJohns/
•
Annual Band and Strings Mini-Camp @ Paul VI, Thurs Jan 16, 6-8:30 pm, Fri Jan 17 9-4. Open to Diocesan 5th8th graders, early bird special $40. with additional sibling discount if postmarked by Jan 1st. Quetions [email protected]
•
The due date for the 2014-2015 Diocesan Tuition Assistance Program is March 17, 2014. Not only is the application due by the due date but also all supporting tax documentation as required by FACTS Grant & Aid. The information for 2014-2015 will be updated shortly on the website (http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/catholicschools/ tuition_grant.aspx).
Parent Bullet
Page 3
Uniform Update Please check the lost and found before the Christmas break. All items left in the lost and found locker after December 20th will be donated.
Extended Day Notice The Extended Day telephone number has changed. Please call Temple Macdonald at 540-316-1310 or Beth Griese at 571-261-1304 if you are running late or have any issues with pick up from Extended Day.
Nurse Notes On, Wednesday, December 18th the Lions Club of Virginia, Mobile Sight and Hearing Screening Unit will be at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School. The state mandates that students in grades Kindergarten, 3rd, and 7th be screened. Screening in other grades is optional. Attached, please find the form that must be completed and returned prior to screening. If you choose not to have your child screened and he/she is in grades Kindergarten, 3rd or 7th, you must provide the school office with documentation of alternate screening. No student will be screened without a signed consent form.
Prayer of St. Nicholas Loving God, we thank you for the example of St. Nicholas, who fed the hungry, brought hope to the imprisoned, gave comfort to the lost, and taught the truth to all. May we strive to imitate him by putting you first in all we do. Give us the courage, love and strength of St. Nicholas, so that, like him, we may serve you through loving our brothers and sisters. Amen.
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St John the Evangelist Catholic Church Snow Globes For sale in the Front Office $5.00 Each
Page 7
Parent Bullet
Parent Bullet
Page 8
The Office of College Counseling Paul VI Catholic High School Invites you to COLLEGE NIGHT FOR FAMILIES OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 & 8 Topics •
How to prepare in Grades 7 and 8 for a college prep high school curriculum
•
What to consider considering the right college “fit”
•
How colleges review applications
•
What financial assistance and scholarship funds are available
HOW PAUL VI HELPS STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE ROAD TO COLLEGE
Tuesday, December 17, 2013 7:15 – 8:45 p.m. Paul VI Catholic High School Heet Auditorium 10675 Fairfax Blvd. Fairfax, VA 22030 For more information, contact Mrs. Battle, PVI’s College and Career Specialist, at [email protected] or 703 352-0925.
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