Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 14 September 2019
Come! Live in the Light!
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
~ Matthew 5:13-16
Dear St. Clare School Families,
Dear St. Clare School Families,
We enjoyed a few cooler days this past week but it heated up pretty quickly on Thursday and Friday. Our students enjoyed a treat at the end of the day for a week well spent, especially as the media reminded us: it was Friday the 13th and a harvest full moon at that! I am grateful to you, the students and the faculty and staff for maintaining good humor and cooperation as well as for seeing some of our challenges as opportunities. I believe we depleted the popsicle supply at Smart and Final, but everyone got a cool treat in the end!
JOG-A-THON SUCCESS DEPENDS ON COMMUNITY EFFORT
You’ve no doubt seen the post from the Jog-A-Thon Team about our progress. I’d like to appeal to you to take some time this next week to help us reach our goal. Apart from fees to administer the website and the purchase of incentives, sponsorships from private entities and pledges from supporters go directly to the school. I am grateful for the work of the team.
Last year’s success afforded us to free up operating funds that would otherwise have gone to update technology to purchase new and updated resources for science and social studies that are in dire need of updating (resources were falling apart, published in 2008-2012 and were not accompanied with online resources). Flexible seating and active seating solutions were acquired. Flooring was updated, LED lights replaced fluorescent lights and funds became available for unexpected physical plant repairs and maintenance.
We hope you will consider stepping up the effort. Thank you for considering.
OCTOBER 2 AND 3 ARE MINIMUM DAYS
Dismissal for Wednesday, Oct. 2 will be at 12:30 due to the Jog-A-Thon being held in the morning. Thursday, October 3will remain a minimum day, as usual.
The Jog-A-Thon Team will publish a timeline for the morning. School will begin as usual with morning assembly starting as usual. Students will have a brief recess mid-morning and the whole school will proceed to walk to Bellomy field together. At the conclusion of the Jog-A-Thon, the whole school will walk back together and students will proceed to homeroom to reconvene. Students will enjoy pizza prior to dismissal at 12:30.
THE SILVER BOX PHILOSOPHY: AN INTRODUCTION AND A REMINDER
St. Clare School has a unique way of teaching and practicing gospel values with its students. Inspired by a poem written by Michael Bright and published in the book “Silver Boxes” by Florence Littauer, the Silver Box philosophy provides a way for students, especially the littlest ones to reach out with encouraging words and actions to those who might be hurting or may need help.
Teachers in the classroom affirm “silver box” behaviors, and each week they are recognized at morning assembly. St. Clare alums, to this day, will talk about how they would bring the messages home and how they have adopted the philosophy in their own lives.
This is especially important these days as we have many more ways to communicate other than face-to-face. Our online interactions, especially those of our very young (there are students on Fortnite as young as second grade~seven year olds!) remain unmonitored by responsible adults. Please spend some time learning about what your students may have access to via seemingly harmless media. Ask your middle grade students if they have a finsta or spam account that they may have set up without your knowledge. Get to know who has access to your child's information if they use apps like TikTok and others. Below, you will find a Newsweek article that identifies the most dangerous apps for students as well as a link to the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children SVICAC site. Let's work together to teach and model for our children the silver box way to interact no matter the medium.
May we live our lives as Christ has, the mediator and “silver box” who provides encouragement and hope, especially in this world full of hate, anger and resentment.
Here is Michael Bright’s poem. Wishing you a week full of silver box moments!
My words were harsh and hasty
And they came without a thought.
Then I saw the pain and anguish
That my bitter words had brought.
Bitter words that I had spoken
Made me think back through the past;
Of how many times I’d uttered
Biting words whose pain would last.
Then I wondered of the people
I had hurt by things I’d said;
All the ones I had discouraged
When I didn’t use my head.
Then I thought about my own life.
Of painful words I’ve heard;
And of the times I’d been discouraged
By a sharp and cruel word.
And now clearly I remember
All the things I might have done;
But, by a word I was discouraged
And they never were begun.
Lord, help my words be silver boxes.
Neatly wrapped up with a bow;
That I give to all so freely,
As through each day I gladly go.
Silver boxes full of treasure,
Precious gifts from God above;
That all the people I encounter
Might have a box of God’s own love.
Blessings of God's mercy and love,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Our Fifth Graders Receive Their Personalized Bibles
It truly was a gift from the school that we hope they will cherish for a very long time. This edition of the bible is geared from students from the middle grades to high school with prayers, reflections and other information relevant to their age group.
Studies have shown that the average age a Catholic disaffiliates is 13 years old. We need to work together so that our young Christians have the ability to discover for themselves the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. Let us pray together so that God's Word takes root in their hearts so that any question or any doubt that they belong the Lord of our Longing will instead be filled with faith and hope and love.
Congratulations, Class of 2023! May this mustard seed grow on fertile ground.
Gospel Reflection - September 15, 2019
Keeping it Cool: A Treat from Mrs. Mantecon
Hidden Talent Art - Register Now
Shop with Scrip
Lego Robotics is Coming to St. Clare School
Additional information will come.
M.U.S.E. Instrumental Program is Now Registering
"The M.U.S.E. instrumental Program is now registering students for Band Classes starting in September for grades 4-8. M.U.S.E. offers during school group instruction for band in:
Flute
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
Percussion (Snare Drum and Xylophone)
There are fun performance opportunities planned for the students including multi-school Winter and Spring Concerts where students perform in a large ensemble setting with students from other neighboring M.U.S.E. Schools.
For more information including scheduling of classes, rental instruments, and cost go to www.museband.com
Bryant Allard Director of M.U.S.E. Instrumental Programs
UPCOMING EVENTS and THE SCHOOL CALENDAR
The 2019-2020 St. Clare School is now available for public consumption. You will find the calendar in a number of places. They all sync to the Google Public Calendar for our school, so you can trust that these calendars are current.
To find the calendar in our school website, go to https://www.stclare.school/ and scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the "Calendar" icon (third from the left) or visit https://www.stclare.school/calendar.
To find the calendar in ParentSquare, go to your HOME page and look for "EVENTS" and click on "view all".
To subscribe and add the St. Clare School Public Calendar to your calendar app, use this link:
- 9/12 Hidden Talent Begins
- 9/20 Parent-Student-Teacher Conference Sign Ups OPEN
- 9/28 Parade of Champions | Support Student Council
- 9/30 Parent-Student-Teacher Conference Sign Ups CLOSE
- 10/2 Jog -A- Thon | 12:30 Dismissal
- 10/7-10 Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences
- 10/10 Picture Re-Take Day
- 10/18 Multicultural Dinner/Feast
ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
- Mad Science for Grades 1-5 | Thursdays | 1:15-2:15 P.M.
- Hidden Talent Art for Grades K-5 | Thursdays | 1:00-2:00 P.M.
- Muse School Band for Grades 4-8 |register online| http://www.museband.com
- St. Clare School Choir for Grades 2-8 | Tuesdays | 3:00-3:45 P.M.
- FIERCE Basketball Program | Thursdays
- Math Club | Grades 6-8 | Fridays 3:15-4:15 P.M.
- Lego Robotics | Grades 3-5 | TBD
St. Clare School
Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: https://www.stclare.school
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797