Blue Jay Flyer
September 16, 2020
From the Principal's Desk...
Seek the LORD while he may be found
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It seems a bit unusual to say that we just had our first Monday of the school year even though we have been in session for two weeks. I am happy to report that your daughters and sons are consistently demonstrating their care and respect for one another by wearing their masks, maintaining social distance, walking on one side of the hallway and waiting each morning to have their temperature taken before they are permitted to enter the building. We are very proud of them, and I’m sure you are as well.
I recognize that many things have changed for them when it comes to school. There are also many things which have stayed the same and perhaps been rediscovered. There is a clear excitement at being back in school; a desire to be with friends and classmates. There is a renewed willingness to work at learning and participating even while wearing a mask. And there is a genuine sense of being part of the community of St. John the Baptist School. The faculty and staff share this with them.
I want to continue to thank you for your support as we continue to work to improve things. After further discussion with the health department, we will be able to return to full lunch periods perhaps by tomorrow. We have been working to resolve some of the technology issues from our first Distance Learning Wednesday. We have been able to have some of our primary grades return to the art room. We continue to look for ways to make things just a little bit better for all of our students.
In this Sunday’s first reading (IS 55:6-9), the prophet reminds the Israelites and us of what we should be looking for. “Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.” The LORD is always near to us. It is our challenge to seek Him. As we take care of one another during this pandemic and as we demonstrate our care and compassion at school and at home, we are seeking the LORD.
This week may we all take the time to look for God’s presence in the ordinary of our lives. May we trust that God is not hiding from us or separated from our struggles. We may have to continue to wear a mask, but we continue to have the opportunity to Seek the LORD while he may be found.
Peace,
Dan Minelli
Calendar of Events
Items Due By Friday Sept. 18
OPTION C REQUIRED SCHOOL FORMS
CAFETERIA FEES
If you have not already paid your $50 per student Cafeteria Fee for the 2020-21 school year, please do so by Friday. Payments can be made via check, cash, or Venmo @SJB-School.
FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH FORMS
Regardless of family income, ALL school families must complete and return the Free and Reduced Lunch Form. Please return to the school office in a sealed envelope no later than Friday, September 18.
Please see attached files below. Print, sign, and return the Family Income Form.
Before Care Program Ending
Now that the school year has gotten started we have been able to evaluate our Before Care program. At this time, we do not have enough students registered to continue offering Before Care each morning. If our registration numbers go up, we will consider offering the program again, however at this time that is not possible due to monetary concerns.
We will continue throughout the rest of this week to open our Before Care at 6:45AM. Beginning MONDAY September 21, we will not be open in the morning. Please make other arrangements for your student in the morning. We will update with any more information as we know it.
THIS DOES NOT EFFECT AFTER SCHOOL CARE.
Dismissal Policy Reminders
This is an important reminder concerning our dismissal and student pick up policies. We are requiring that everyone follow these policies for the safety of all of our students.
1-Bus riders will be dismissed first due to the expectations of our local public school districts regarding students boarding buses.
2-Car riders will be dismissed next. Only students who will be picked up in the car rider line may be dismissed through the gym lobby doors.
3-Walkers will be dismissed last. This includes students who are being picked up by a parent waiting across the street or in the church lot.
No walkers will be permitted to exit through the gym lobby to meet a parent who is not in the car line.
Dropping Off Items Not Permitted
Teacher e-mail issues
2019-20 Yearbooks Have Arrived
Shopping Cent$ Orders Filled Thurs. Sept 17
We need YOU and your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to help minimize tuition increases for all St. John's school families!
Shopping Cent$ is a fundraising program for St. John's School that doesn't cost you a thing. St. John's earns money when you purchase gift cards at face value for places you already shop. It's easy...just send your order form (attached below) and check (made payable to Shopping Cent$) or cash with your child every other Thursday morning and they'll bring home your gift cards that same afternoon. St. John's school earns between 1.2% and 25% of each purchase.
See the lastest order form below for gift cards we have in stock and samples of gift cards we can special order (right column). Go to www.shopwithscrip.com for the complete list of available gift cards we can special order for you.
SEND IN YOUR GIFT CARD ORDERS TOMORROW, THURSDAY, SEPT 17!
Gift cards can also be purchased from your desktop or mobile phone. For more information, please visit our website under the parent tab/shopping cent$.
Walk for Technology Date Moved to Oct 2
School Spectacular Nov. 14
The second St John School Spectacular- Let it Shine will be held on Saturday, November 14 as both a live and virtual event.
Our hope is for this fundraising event to earn enough each year that tuition increases can be held to a minimum – or even not happen at all. Last year the evening netted over $74,000 which more than covered the tablets for our 4th to 8th graders while keeping the registration fee the same and holding the tuition increase to it’s lowest in 5 years. This one large fundraising event will keep families from being bombarded with so many others during the year.
For that reason, we ask your help in making this event a financial winner! And there are many ways you can contribute.
This year we plan to add a basket raffle, similar to the one so successful at the festival. We would like each class to sponsor a theme basket which you will hear more about later. You can donate items or gift cards for the baskets or donate Amazon gift cards so the organizers can take care of making them fabulous!
The silent auction committee also needs donations. This is a great opportunity for your business to receive publicity while helping the school. We welcome gift certificates, event tickets, sports memorabilia, certificates for services, wine/alcohol or handmade items-just about anything! To donate, please email ststegmuller@gmail.com or superwomanamg@gmail.com We are happy to arrange for pickup.
Our live event will be limited to 150 to abide with social distancing guidelines, tickets will first be available to our sponsors. Sponsorships which include tickets start at $500 and you can obtain more information by contacting Mary Beth Salyers at 513-708-4908 or mbsalyers13@gmail.com.
Because of going virtual, our silent auction and raffles will be open to anyone anywhere! Please watch for a link to be sent home in future correspondence.
Thanks for your support for your school! We cannot do it without you!!
Blue Jay Gallery
High School Admissions News
SJB Athletic Boosters
Basketball Sign Ups Open
Instructional basketball sign ups are open for both boys and girls in grades Pre-k - 1st grade.
Please click here for more information and to sign up.
St. John's Athletic Boosters Golf Outing
When: October 3rd, 2020
Time: 11:00AM shotgun start, please arrive no later than 10:30AM to sign-in
Where: Pebble Creek Golf Course (9799 Prechtel Road; Cincinnati, OH 45252)
Cost: $80/person (Includes Golf, Lunch ticket w/drinks, Skins game, Prizes, and more)
Hole Sponsorship $150
Company Sponsorship (hole sponsorship and foursome) $450
Click here to register: 2020 St. John's Athletic Boosters Annual Golf Outing