Welcome Letter from the Principal
Dear Parents,
It is with much excitement that I am writing you this letter. As you can imagine, my recent transition to principal has kept me busy this summer. I want to thank you for the overwhelming support and many kind words that I have received over the past month. While I cannot begin to share with you all the wonderful things you said about this school, one emerging theme is that this building is filled with a wonderful, dedicated and caring staff and that the community of John Paul II is something you notice the moment you enter our building.
I am pleased to tell you the new additions/changes to this already strong staff. We welcome Mrs. Jacquie Churchill to 5th grade. She comes to us as a former student at Queen of the Holy Rosary. She taught 4th and 5th grades in Springhill, KS before taking a year off to care for her small children. She is very excited to be back in her 5th grade classroom, this time as a teacher. Mrs. Jodie Gittemeier will be the new 1st grade teacher. Mrs. Gittemeier was my student teacher at John Paul II this past spring. I know firsthand how knowledgeable, caring and passionate Mrs. Gittemeier will be as a 1st grade teacher. In Kindergarten we welcome Mrs. Kelsey Gross. Mrs. Gross has spent a lot of time in our building with many of our teachers as a practicum student at Fort Hays State. While doing this, she came to the conclusion that she wanted to teach at this school should the opportunity arise, lucky for us, it did! Mrs. Marilee Thompson was our librarian last year and the kids will be excited to know that in addition to this role, she will also be our new P.E. teacher. Don’t worry, Mrs. Ahern hasn’t gone anywhere, she is changing roles and she will be our new 6th grade homeroom teacher and middle school Religion and Social Studies teacher. Also in middle school, Mrs. Libby Lee will be our new Science teacher for grades 3-8. Mrs. Lee has 10 years of experience teaching Science and is very excited to be working with our middle school team.
I am currently interviewing candidates for the Art position and should have someone hired by the end of this month. I am still recruiting a Spanish teacher for the 2016-2017 school year. I hope to have someone by the start of school. If for some reason I cannot find someone to fill this position, the classroom teachers will continue to incorporate cultural awareness into their lessons.
The archdiocesan theme for this school year is “You are a masterpiece of God, created with precision for a specific purpose.” As I reflect on this theme I am reminded how, much like a sculptor creates a piece of art, God has created each one of us using spiritual gifts to make one of a kind masterpieces. Each child has unique gifts that will be discovered, celebrated and nurtured at John Paul II.
Please take a moment to read through our July edition of Husky News. It is full of important information about upcoming events. We welcome active participation in your child’s education and invite you to be involved in any way possible. Efforts to make our auction a success are in full swing. Please consider donating your time, talent or treasure to this event as it is the primary fundraiser for our school.
The office will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning August 1st. We will continue to check email and phone messages in July. Enjoy these final days of summer. Please do not hesitate to contact me at any time with your questions or concerns. I am looking forward to the sounds of your children filling the hallways on the first day of school!
Respectfully,
Jenny Yankovich
Principal
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MEET & GREET: Sunday, August 14th
Join us for the Back-to-School Meet & Greet (Preschool - 8) on Sunday, August 14th from 12-2 pm. Formerly known as Registration Day, this is the day to pick up your school calendar, turn in your health forms, sign up for CYO, and purchase necessary items for the school year.
We will have the Uniform Swap table out again this year! Bring in your clean, outgrown uniforms and swap them out for different sizes.
Bring in Your Paperwork! K-8 families should complete the following forms and return on Sunday, August 14th:
If you do not have them filled out before you arrive, we will have paper copies for you that day. Save yourself the time and fill them out early!
Other Important Documentation:
Once you've finished with the paperwork side of things, swing by the playground to enjoy ice cream (served by PTO) and visit with other school families and teachers!
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Please come prepared to pay the following fees:
- Technology fee: $40 per student
- MAP testing fee: $30 per student
- Science fee (Grades 3-8): $20 per student
- Planner (Grades 3-8): $5 each
- Gym Shirts (Grades 5-8): $10 each (or use last year’s)
- Bible (Grades 4-8): $10.00 (use it 5 years)
- Auction Tickets (K-8): $80 per family
- Auction Gift Buyout Option (Pre-8): $20 per student
- Pre-Order Yearbook (Pre-8): $14 each
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INCOMING KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS
We are required to have a copy of all students’ birth certificate on file at the school. We would also like a copy of the baptismal certificate. You may bring in an original to the school and we will copy it, or send a copy to the office. Please have these to the school before the first day of class.
If your child was baptized in either St. Pius X or Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish just let us know and we will get those certificates from our parish offices. Thanks for getting this together early for us!
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AFTER SCHOOL CARE
The John Paul II Day Care provides After School Care for JPII students. If you are interested in care before or after school until 6:00 pm, contact Donna Hogue at 913-432-6419.
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BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT: August 25th @ 6pm
Parents, come to school and meet your child’s teachers. The teachers will go over this year’s curriculum, the text books, the do’s and don'ts for their classrooms, and the fun in store for your children. This will help get the teacher and family on the same page and off to a great start to the school year. (Parents/ Guardians only please.)
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2016 "VOTE FOR JPII" AUCTION
Mark your calendars! Our annual school auction will be on Saturday, October 15th at St. Pius X - Ken Kelly Hall. We've put our own 'spin' on this year's event, themed "The Election", and look forward to another entertaining evening with friends.
What is The Auction?
The annual auction is the school's largest fundraiser of the year. Proceeds from the event go toward our annual operating budget (i.e. salaries, building operations). Guests at the event bid on both silent and live auction items that have been donated to the school by local businesses, national businesses/corporations, parishioners, school families, and friends of the JPII Community. The highest bid wins the prize!
Fund-A-Need is a component of the Live Auction where guests generously donate money toward a specific need the school has identified as a priority (outside of the operating budget). Money raised during this portion of the Live Auction can only be used for that particular need. This year's Fund-A-Need will be for Curriculum Enhancements.
How Do I Get Involved?
As parents/guardians of students at John Paul II, we are called to share our time, talent, and treasure with our church and school community. There are many ways that you can get involved throughout the school year. Volunteering at the 2016 "Vote for JPII" Auction is a great way to start!
We have the following opportunities available:
- Auction/ Raffle Ticket Sales volunteer
- Donations Manager
- Gift Cards
- Set-Up Crew
- Cashiers
- Tear-Down Crew
- Marketing and Signage
Email the Auction Committee (johnpaul2auction@gmail.com) for more information.
What Is My Responsibility?
Each family is asked to donate something for the Silent Auction. The suggested amount for this year is $20 per child, which can be donated as a tangible item or in cash. (Please refer to the information below outlining which details are specific to your family.) In an effort to encourage greater attendance by school parents/guardians, each family is required to purchase (2) auction tickets.
Class Gift Donation Themes:
- Preschool: Arts and Crafts
- Kindergarten: Outdoor Activities
- 1st Grade: Fun in the Sun (or Snow)
- 2nd Grade: Dinner and a Movie
- 3rd Grade: Family Game Night
- 4th Grade: KC Royals/ Sporting KC/ KC Chiefs
- 5th Grade: Buy Local KC
- 6th Grade: Spa/Relaxation
- 7th Grade: Collegiate Football
- 8th Grade: Collegiate Basketball
Items can be dropped off at the Back-To-School Meet & Greet on Sunday, August 14th OR in the School Office on Wednesday, August 17th.
Did you see the Christmas in July trees and JPII volunteers after Mass the past few weekends? Items donated during the CIJ event will be arranged into gift baskets and then bid on during the Silent Auction. Have you heard about the 50/50 Money Pot? Ten dollars buys a chance at winning the grand total (split 50/50 with the school) collected in the pot between now and October 15th. The more tickets sold, the more the pot grows! (Each JPII family is asked to sell one booklet of ten raffle tickets.)
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VOLUNTEERS
There are many committees and organizations that work behind the scenes at JPII. You can be a part of any of them! We are always looking for help. Please consider signing up during the Meet & Greet OR Back-To-School Night. Call the school office if you are interested in any of the following committees:
- Future Board of Trustees member
- Auction Committee
- Missions Committee
- Communications & Marketing Committee
- Technology Committee
- PTO Officer or Room Parents
- CYO Officer or Coach
- Husky Hustle Committee
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VIRTUS TRAINING INFO
Virtus Training The Archdiocese requires ALL employees and anyone 16 years or older, that works or volunteers with children (for example: CYO coaches, Boy Scout & Girl Scout Leaders, Religious Education teachers/classroom aides, parent volunteers, field trip volunteers, etc.) to complete Virtus training. No exceptions! To strengthen the program, each participant volunteer is expected to take the Virtus Training Session and then participate in an online continuing education program. If you are planning on working with children at John Paul II, Queen of the Holy Rosary Parish, or St. Pius X Parish, you must take the Protecting God’s Children training class. You may take the class anywhere in the Archdiocese.
- To attend a session you must register in advance at www.virtusonline.org, click on registration and follow the directions.
- If you have moved here from another parish and have completed the class please contact Denise Godinez at denisegodinez@qhr-opks.org to have your records transferred.
NOTE: Queen of the Holy Rosary will be hosting a Virtus training on Saturday, January 7th from 9am-1pm.
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HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
Check out some of the new textbooks we ordered this summer!
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