Blue Jay Flyer
August 25, 2021
From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope everyone is settling into the new school year. We have had a busy couple of days, and we are working to fine tune our procedures in order to get the students into a routine. While most things are running smoothly, we are aware of some issues with the traffic in the morning. Starting today we allowed car riders to enter the building at 7:40 am. Students were held in the gym until they were dismissed to their homeroom at 7:45. This small fix seemed to alleviate the backup, so we will continue with this procedure for the time being.
Parents in the AM drop off line - please remember that the car rider line is a fast pace drop off line. Parents should not be exiting their car to help their student get out, and all students should be exiting from the passenger side of the car. If your student is unable to get out of the car by him or herself, you are always welcome to park across the street and walk your son/daughter to the blue awning using the crosswalk. Please continue to read through the newsletter for other important reminders about our daily routines.
I think we have had a great week and we look forward to learning and growing together as a school each week.
Courtney Weinheimer
Option C Electronic School Forms
If you haven't already, please log into your parent portal on Option C to complete and sign the electronic forms. These must be completed no later than WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMEBER 8th. None of these electronic forms need to be printed and returned.
Any questions, please contact Jill Katterjohn in the school office at jkatterjohn@stjohnsdrschool.org or 385-7970.
Student/Parent Handbook
For future reference, the Student/Parent Handbook can also be found on the school website under the Parent tab.
Reminders from the Nurse
Starting next week, any student who returns from an absence due to sickness will need to stop by the nurse’s office for a quick wellness check prior to entering their homeroom. The wellness check will consist of 5 questions and a temperature check.
Also, if you still need to drop off medication for your child, an adult needs to deliver the medication to our school nurse. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MEDICATION TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILD UNLESS THEY HAVE AN ORDER TO SELF CARRY FROM THE PHYSICIAN.
Covid Resources
Shopping Cent$ Thurs. Aug 26
Shopping Cent$ is a fundraiser that earns money for our school and doesn't cost you anything more than what you normally spend! Here's how it works - we buy gift cards to various restaurants, gas stations and retailers at a discounted price and then sell them to you at face value. The profits then go back to the school. Instead of using cash or credit at your favorite retailers, you can buy from us and use the gift cards for your purchases instead. It's that easy!
We have cards in stock for a wide range of places - Amazon, Bath & Body Works, Dick's Sporting Goods, Meijer, Speedway, Target, Chipotle, Olive Garden, Wendy's and many more. We also carry cards for some local businesses - Pebble Creek, Barnesburg Bar & Grill, Skyline, Shagz-A-Salon and Eli's Sports Bar.
Shopping Cent$ orders will be filled TOMORROW - Thursday, 8/24. Order forms were sent home in the Blue Jay folders. Please send in an order and help our school earn money!
The Shopping Cent$ program is always looking for volunteers! We sell cards before and after masses at St. John the Baptist Church and need volunteers to fill some open slots for the 4:30 and 11:00 masses. The time requirement is less than 1 hour per month and again, all profits go back to help the school. Less than half of our current volunteers have kids in our school - please get involved and help this program! St. John Neumann is also looking for someone to coordinate their weekend mass program. If you're interested in helping out for any of these opportunities, please contact Amy Roetting - amyroetting@hotmail.com.
Library to Reopen Aug 30
As Dr. Seuss said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
We are so excited to announce that our school library will reopen this year! Beginning Monday, Aug 30th, students in grades K-5 will visit the library once a week and those in grades 6-8 can drop in when time allows.
A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Trisha Maddux, our new volunteer librarian, and her group of volunteers for the countless hours they are spending to make this happen for our students. We are still looking for a few more volunteers if anyone is interested in helping in the library on Mondays or Thursdays. Please contact the school office for more information.
Dismissal Reminders
We have three options (bus rider, car rider, walker) for students after school. If your child is a car rider you must pull your car down to the lower lot and wait for your student to exit at the parish center doors. For safety reasons we cannot have parents parking across the street or in the cemetery lot and walking down to the lower lot to pick up their student or having your student walk up the cemetery drive. If your student is a walker they will be dismissed after the car rider line has been dismissed and the students will walk directly to the cemetery lot.
Restrooms
Please have a talk with your child(ren) about what is appropriate to flush in the restroom. We are having an issue with students flushing large amounts of paper towels in the bathrooms. This is causing us to close restrooms and endure expenses to fix the issues. Also, please remind your students that the majority of the restrooms, with the exception of the Junior High, have automatic flushers. Students should not be using their feet to flush a toilet as these devices are not meant to be touched and break easily. We have already had to replace two different toilets due to the automatic flusher being kicked off by students.
Attendance
If you need to pick up your child(ren) during the school day for an appointment, please send a note to their teacher(s) that morning stating the reason for early dismissal and if your child(ren) will be returning to school that day.
Cafeteria
To Prepay School Lunches:
1. Login to your FACTS account and click on Prepay Accounts.
2. Click on Add Funds.
3. Follow the prompts as to how you would like to pay. Any monies added to your account will be a lump sum per family, not individual amounts per student. When using a checking or saving account, there is no additional fee. For credit card payments, there is a service fee up to 2.85% per transaction.
School Uniform Exchange
spirit wear fridays
Friday is designated as "BLUE JAY SPIRIT WEAR DAY." Students may wear a school spirit wear t-shirt, sweatshirt or jersey from any St. John's activity with their regulation uniform bottoms/jumpers. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. All other uniform rules apply.
Also, although it doesn't seem possible with the warm temps this week, fall is right around the corner. If your child needs a uniform sweatshirt or jacket (that can be worn over their uniform polo shirts everyday in school, now is the time to order. Special orders are running about 2-3 weeks for delivery.
Click here for photos and pricing of all styles or visit our webiste at stjohnsdrschool.org.
An order form is attached below for your convenience. Any questions, please contact Laura Heidorn in the school office at lheidorn@stjohnsdrschool.org
2020-21 Yearbooks
Please contact Laura Heidorn at lheidorn@stjohnsdrschool.org if you would like to purchase a 2020-21 yearbook or obtain pricing and availability for any other previous years.
Blue Jay Gallery
Welcome New Students
Recess Fun
Cafeteria Helpers
We Are Family
High School News
Mercy McAuley
8th Grade Parents: Visit www.mercymcauley.org/ClassOf2026
Details about Mercy McAuley’s admissions process and upcoming recruitment events can be found at www.mercymcauley.org/ClassOf2026. Questions? Please contact Kevin Brinkman, Director of Admissions, at brinkmank@mercymcauley.org or (513) 681-1800 x2272. (See flyer)
Mercy McAuley Shadow Day Registration Now Open
Registration for 8th grade Shadow Days at Mercy McAuley High School is now open! On Shadow Days 8th graders are paired with a Student Ambassador for the day and will see firsthand what it’s like to be a Wolf! Guests will attend classes, meet teachers and students, learn more about sports and extracurriculars, and experience a Pep assembly. Lunch is provided to all 8th grade guests, who will leave with a special Mercy McAuley T-shirt and other giveaways. Registration is required. Visit www.mercymcauley.org/shadow for more information and to register. (See flyer)
Mercy McAuley Offering HSPT Prep Class
Mercy McAuley High School offers a 4-week prep course to help 8th graders prepare for the High School Placement Test (HSPT). The course covers academic content on the test, familiarizes the students with test format, teaches test-taking strategies and eases apprehension about the test. There is a $75 fee for the 4-week course, which is from 9 – 11 a.m. on the four Saturdays leading up to the test: October 23, October 30 November 6, and November 13. Visit www.mercymcauley.org/hsptprep for details and to register. (See flyer)
Mercy McAuley Holds Grade School Sports Nights
Grade school girls are invited to experience the excitement of Mercy McAuley athletics at Mercy McAuley’s Grade School Sports Nights! Future Wolves receive free admission to the games and will enjoy snacks, activities and giveaways. Join us for the JV and/or Varsity games! (See flyer)
Grade School Soccer Night – September 16
4:15 p.m. (JV) / 6 p.m. (Varsity)
Grade School Volleyball Night – September 30
4:30 p.m. (JVB) / 5:30 p.m. (JV) / 6:30 p.m. (Varsity)
Seton Grade School Nights
Grade School Volleyball Night - Tuesday, August 31
Festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Seton Commons with the Varsity game beginning at 6:30 p.m. The theme is All Out Green!
Grade School Soccer Night - Wednesday, September 15
Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. at the PAC (1915 Quebec Road) with the Varsity game beginning at 7:00 p.m. The theme is Luau!
Elder High School – Grade School Events
Elder Shadow Days:
A shadow visit is the best way for an 8th grade boy to experience what a day at Elder
High School is like! Be led by an Elder student for an entire day, and see what it’s like
to be a Panther! The preferred shadow dates, and additional information can be found at
Elder Financial Aid & Scholarship Information Night:
The Financial Aid & Scholarship Information Night is a great opportunity for prospective
families to learn about our robust tuition assistance program. We will discuss
application deadlines and how to apply for these funds.
Thursday, September 16 th - 6:00 - 7:00 PM
RSVP at www.elderhs.org - check out the “Upcoming Events” at the bottom of our
homepage. This event is intended for 8th grade parents/guardians.
Elder Soccer Grade School Night:
All grade school students are invited to attend Elder Soccer Grade School Night as the
Panthers take on the Lakota West Firebirds at the Panther Athletic Complex (PAC).
Free admission and giveaways to all grade school students!
Saturday, September 25 th - JV begins at 5:00 PM - Varsity begins at 7:00 PM
PAC - 1915 Quebec Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45205
Elder & Seton Football Tailgate Party & Grade School Night:
Join us for Football Grade School Night as the Panthers battle against Indianapolis
Roncalli in The Pit. All 7 th & 8 th grade students are invited to a free tailgate party before
the game, and all grade school students will receive free admission to the game!
Friday, October 8 th - 7 th & 8 th Grade Tailgate party begins at 5:30 PM - Kickoff at 7:00
PM
Register for the Tailgate Party at www.elderhs.org – check out the “Upcoming Events” at the bottom of the home page.
St. John's Athletic Boosters
Last Call for Girl's Volleyball Sign-Ups
Girls' Volleyball registration will close on Monday August 30th. Sign-ups are only offered online at www.stjab.com. If you sign-up late, a spot on a team cannot be guaranteed and a late fee will be charged.
Important dates:
- Optional volleyball clinics remaining for 3rd-8th Grades:
- Sunday's August 29th and September 12th.
- 3:30-4:30 pm - Grades 3 & 4
- 4:30-5:30 pm - Grades 5 & 6
5:30-6:30 pm - Grades 7 & 8
Cost - $15 per clinic. This is our ONLY fundraiser for the volleyball program all year.
- Cash and checks will be accepted at the start of each clinic. Checks can be made out to St. John's Athletic Boosters.
***Please do not drop your daughter off any earlier than 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time.
- 3rd & 4th Grade team selections
- Date - Sunday September 12th
- Time - 3:30-4:30
- We are asking that all 3rd and 4th graders attend this clinic so we can split the teams evenly.
- If your daughter can't make this clinic, please contact one of the coordinators so we can evaluate your daughter. There will be no cost for the Sept. 12th clinic for 3rd/4th grade since we are requiring the players to attend.
- Tryouts Grades 5-8. We will have a two day Tryout format.
- 1st Day - Friday September 17th - 5th-8th Grade ONLY
- 5th and 6th Grade - 5:00-6:30 pm
- 7th and 8th Grade - 6:30-8:00pm
- 2nd Day - Sunday September 19th - 5th-8th Grade ONLY
- 5th & 6th Grades - 3:00-4:30
- 7th & 8th Grades - 5:00-6:30
- 5th-8th Graders will be evaluated and placed on a team based on their skill level. Numbers will dictate how many teams we have at each level.
We will be playing in the Girls Western Athletic Conference (GWAC). Information about the league can be found at www.gwacsports.com . The season runs from November to early January (depending on the grade level) with practices starting in October. GWAC combines 2-grades on one team so 3rd & 4th grades will play together, 5th & 6th grades will play together, and 7th & 8th grades will play together. Email any questions to stjohnsvolleyball1@gmail.com
Courtney and Lisa
stjohnsvolleyball1@gmail.com
FCC St. John's Night
It’s here!!! Our annual St. John’s night at the FCC game! Tix are $30/each. Venmo @thememoryfamily06 please put your name, email address and number of tickets in the comments.
Cash or check (payable to St. John’s Athletic Boosters) can be sent to Shannon Memory c/o Alexis Memory, Mrs. Caldwell’s class. Please include your name, email, and phone number with your order.
Your email address is how we will deliver tickets. Please contact Shannon Memory via text 513-227-9428 with questions!