December 2, 2016
Dear St. Joseph Catholic School Community,
I pray you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving break with family and friends. After the time away, we got right back into the swing of things on Monday. With the start of Advent and a prayer service to mark the occasion, close of the first trimester on Tuesday, an exciting and educational OMSI assembly, Mass, work on preparing grades and report cards, Christmas program practice, the free dress reward today, Family Bingo Night tonight, and all the regular items we do each week, saying it’s been a busy week at school is probably an understatement! Excitement is beginning to mount as we pray and prepare our way through Advent for Jesus’ coming. Christmas is definitely on the mind of many of our students, and it’s clear that it’s not that far away.
Fr. Gary, at our Wednesday Mass, invited students this week to spend some morning time in prayer, reaching out to Jesus and asking for his presence throughout their day and for help in living the day like Jesus would. He also asked them to stop at the end of the day and reflect on how they did. I encourage you to engage your students in this type of prayer and reflection that Fr. Gary has advised. You can also steer them in conversation throughout Advent in both the mornings and evenings on the source of “light” that Jesus is to us and how they are choosing through their words and actions to lighten and brighten the lives of their friends and all those in our school community. Advent is a time of preparation, so let us all prepare ourselves and our students to be better “lights” for others so that when Jesus does come again, he’ll find us ready because we have carried out his example with our neighbors.
We have one announcement on the communications front. Many of you recall me mentioning the new website we’re working on. Laura Atkins (information technology director), Eileen Sherrill (administrative assistant), and I are putting the finishing touches on our website redesign and hope to have the new site ready to go live next week. We’ll look forward to sharing more details about it as it makes its debut.
Finally, with the possibility of freezing overnight temperatures and snow next week, we just want to remind you to be on the lookout for communication - through local media outlets, FlashAlert, and emails - if the weather outside your door looks like it may be challenging to get to school. For full details on how to find out if school will be closed or delayed, please check the information shared in the Cardinal Call in November.
We hope to see many of you at tonight’s Family Bingo Night!
Advent joy and blessings,
Joe Manning, Principal
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THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday, 12/5
No schoolwide events or activities
Tuesday, 12/6
Advent Reconciliation Service for Students in Grades 3-8
Wednesday, 12/7
Regular Wednesday Start Time - 7:55 am
Mass - 8:10 am
Regular Wednesday Dismissal - 2:10 pm
Report Cards Go Home with Students
Thursday, 12/8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
All School Mass (Mass Planned by 5th Grade) - 10 am
Friday, 12/9
No schoolwide events or activities
Sunday, 12/11
In-Person VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children” Training (required before volunteering at school) -
1 pm – Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Battle Ground
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NEWS, UPDATES, & REMINDERS
School kick-off of Nathan’s Toy Story Toy Drive
The St. Joseph Catholic School students, families, and staff are all invited to participate in the 2016 Nathan's Toy Story between Monday, Dec. 5th & Thursday, Dec. 15th. This toy drive collects new toys and games for children hospitalized at Legacy Randall Children's Hospital, many of whom will spend this Advent season and the Christmas holiday in the hospital. Please bring new (in original packaging) unwrapped toys to the school office or your child’s classroom. The donations will be collected each day and these gifts will be delivered to Randall Children's Hospital before Christmas. The St. Joseph Catholic School community participates in this toy drive in honor of Nathan Senko, Mrs. Senko's son, who was hospitalized at Legacy Randall Children's Hospital nearly 15 years ago and died as the result of a brain tumor. The toy drive’s name, “Nathan’s Toy Story” is named after Nathan’s favorite movie. Please consider participating in this toy drive and help "Be A Light to Others" during this joyous season.
K-4 Christmas Program to be held Wednesday, Dec. 14
As we shared in October, we are pleased to be hosting a K-4 Christmas Program for this year on Wednesday, Dec. 14th. Students will be performing Christmas songs which will complement the narration of the nativity story. It’s sure to be a heartwarming evening! Following the program there will be a reception with cookies and punch. Church doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for seating. Students should be dropped off at their classrooms between 6:30-6:40 p.m. Each classroom teacher will welcome their students in the classrooms then parents and guests can go find a seat in the church. Teachers will walk the classes over shortly before the performance and the students will sit with their class. After our final song, students will be dismissed by grade back to their parents. Start planning now! Students are to wear dress clothes to the program. No jeans, please. Ideas include Christmas dresses, sweaters, or button-up shirts with dress pants. Questions: Please contact Sara Phillips at sarap@stjoevan.org.
Dismissal line-up change to begin next week
Beginning next week, we will have classes line up in a different order under the covered play area. This change is to prevent the crossover between middle school students and younger students that has been happening with the way we’ve been lining up so far this year. Kindergarten classes will remain in their same spots, but then the order, going from the portable buildings toward the main building, will be 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st.
Reminder about student health, fever, and illness
With the cold and fever season here now, we want to be sure to pass along some reminders from our Parent & Student Handbook about student symptoms/diagnoses and when students should return to school.
Symptom/Diagnosis: Fever greater than 100.4˚ (orally)
Return when: Temperature below 100.4˚ (orally) for a minimum of 24 hours WITHOUT use of Tylenol® or other fever-reducing medications
Symptom/Diagnosis: Vomiting or diarrhea:
Return when: Symptom-free for 24 hours.
Symptom/Diagnosis; Strep throat
Return when: Must have been on antibiotics for 24 hours. If no antibiotic given, call school before sending child back.
Symptom/Diagnosis: Cough, deep, barking, congested, or producing colored mucous.
Return when: Symptom-free or student must have been on antibiotics for 48 hours.
If you have any questions about whether your child should stay home or not, please contact the school office.
Stock up on SCRIP for Christmas
Christmas will soon be here. Get your gift cards from SCRIP to help make your shopping easier. Special SCRIP orders and large orders of SCRIP need to be ordered by Monday, Dec. 12th. A reminder that all special order and large orders need to be prepaid with your order by this date too. There are still Columbia Sports Wear passes, and they are good through Jan. 16th, 2017.
Join us for Principal & Parent Prayer & Pastries on Monday, Dec. 12
Mr. Manning would like to invite parents to participate in what will be the third of a recurring monthly event at our school - Principal & Parent Prayer & Pastries. Our December gathering will be on Monday, Dec. 12th at 8:45 am in Marian Hall’s St. Ignatius room. As part of each monthly gathering, Mr. Manning will share a parent-focused prayer and provide opportunity for reflection and then there will be a social time for you to chat with other school parents in attendance and with Mr. Manning. Coffee and pastries will be provided.
WA State Catholic bishops pen pastoral letter on homelessness
The Catholic Bishops of Washington state have written a pastoral letter on homelessness released this past month. The pastoral letter “Who is My Neighbor? The Face of Poverty in Washington State” reviews the stories of people in poverty, recounts Christian teaching on the need to help the poor, and considers the role of individuals, private institutions, and government in fighting poverty. The bishops have created study materials for parishes, schools, and individual Catholics to help them confront poverty in Washington state and to explore “ways we can act as a community of faith to alleviate suffering and advocate for change.” To access the letter and other resources please visit this site.
Local Scout troop selling Christmas trees
Local Boys Scout Troop 554 is hosting a Christmas tree lot that is selling nobles, grands, and douglas fir trees ranging from 3-10 ft. They are are also selling wreaths and Christmas baskets. The lot is located on the corner of 136th and Mill Plain and is open from 9 am to 9 pm on the weekends and from 4 to 8 pm on weekdays. Stop by, pick-up a tree, wreath, or basket, and support local scouting!
Food drive - thank you for your support
Thank you to all of you who donated to our food drive to support the Children’s Center this week. We were able to collect nearly 2,000 items. Congratulations to third grade - they were the winners of the class lunch treat, as they brought in more items than any other grade. The school award of free dress was received today - Friday.
Seton Catholic to host middle school dance for 7th & 8th grade students
Seton Catholic will be welcoming area 7th and 8th graders to a middle school dance at their new building on Friday, Dec. 16 from 7 to 10 pm. There is a cost for attendance, and it includes pizza and water. For more information and to access the permission waiver, please click here.
Upcoming VIRTUS Safe Environments in-person trainings - needed to volunteer at school
All parent volunteers need to be up to date with the Archdiocese of Seattle’s Safe Environments requirements before volunteering this year. This means that you’ve attended an in-person VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children” class and have a current background check on file. Background checks are required in the first year of volunteering and then each three years after the initial in-person training. An online refresher class is also required each three years after the initial training is completed.
If you are not yet up to date with training requirements, please plan to attend a class so you will be able to volunteer, help out in the classroom, and drive on field trips. The next area class is scheduled as follows:
Sunday, Dec. 11, at 1 pm – Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Battle Ground
You will need to pre-register for the trainings at VIRTUS Online. Begin the registration process by clicking on the “First- Time Registrant” button on the left side of the page. If you have any questions please contact Sheri in the school office at (360)696-2586.
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