St. Jerome School Weekly Newsletter
September 1st, 2021
"Teach us to give and not count the cost."
St. Ignatius of Loyola
From Mr. Merrick
Dear St. Jerome Families,
We have been excited to begin the new school year, and we look forward to welcoming back our Pre-K and Kindergarten students tomorrow.
As we adjust to the routines and procedures of school, I want to give a few reminders to help us with morning drop off and pickup. The first few days of school tend to be a little slower as students bring in their first day supplies and get into the swing of things. Here are a few reminders to help us keep traffic moving while allowing all students to safely enter school:
- When entering the school yard, please pull as far forward as possible- the staff members will stop the first car once you are pulled up enough
- Please make sure your child has everything and is ready to get out once you are stopped. Once in the school yard, all students need to exit. Please do not wait to drop off at a door- we will make sure the students get into their building quickly and safely
- The diagrams and reminders are included below.
- Any students who need extra time or need to be walked to the doors (including Pre-K students) may go through the second line, park, and be walked to the ramp of the St. Joseph Building. Any students going to the Blessed Mother Building will then be crossed by a staff member.
The hot lunch order form is going home today and is also below. Please follow the instructions on the form. Please note that this year, pizza will be served on Fridays. Our plan is to periodically do some special lunches on select Thursdays during the school year.
Back to School Night will be on Tuesday, September 21st at 6:30 PM. Please be on the lookout for more information over the next few weeks.
Due to the predicted weather, this week's Winchester Wednesday is canceled. The next one will be on Wednesday, September 15th. Haley Quinn's will be serving food tomorrow (please check their Facebook page for updates).
There is no school this Friday or this coming Monday for the Labor Day Weekend. We hope that you all enjoy the break. Please be on the lookout for the Weekly Reminders email this Sunday. Along with other information, it will let you know when each class will be having their gym day and (in 1st-8th grades) need to wear their gym uniform.
Have a great rest of the week; St. Jerome, pray for us!
St. Jerome Spirit Wear Store
The St. Jerome Apparel Store through Sixsmith Sporting Goods is now available online here. Items include zip-up SJS sweatshirt that may be worn in school, the St. Jerome t-shirt, masks, sweatpants (not for gym class but may be worn on announced spirit days) and a lunch towel that may be customized with your child's name.
All orders must be placed online by Sunday, September 12th. Orders will be packaged and delivered to school for us to send home.
Morning Arrival/Drop Off
Car: Beginning at 7:20 AM, cars will be directed to enter through the school yard. The cars will be stopped and the students will exit their cars and go directly into the buildings. This year, any grade may use this car line as long as the children are able to get out of the car and walk into the buildings, as directed by the staff members. Cars will then be sent out onto Holme Ave. If a child needs to cross, please have your child cross in front of your car. Drop off will continue until 7:35 AM. Please make sure that your child is able to quickly and safely exit your vehicle to keep the line moving; we do also ask for your patience during the first week as students come to school with their supplies and new family adjust to the routine.
Pre-K and Kindergarten families may also use the second line to park and walk their children to the ramp; staff members will help direct the students into the building. Staff members will also help cross any siblings between the buildings. Please see the diagram below.
Walkers: Walkers enter the the doors on Stamford Street to avoid the cars in the school yard. Younger students will be crossed to the St. Joseph Building.
Northeastern Music Instrumental Program (3rd-8th Grades)
My name is Mr. Steven Morrisette Jr., and I am the instrumental director at St. Jerome. This will be my first year with Northeastern Music and I am looking forward to getting to know you, your children, and the school community. Before joining Northeastern Programs, I was a high school music teacher, band director and woodwind instructor in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for six years. I grew up in Bensalem, PA and live there now. As a musician, I perform with the Philadelphia Wind Symphony as a saxophonist. I earned my Bachelor of Music (Music Education) from Temple University.
Here are some things for you to know about the instrumental music program at St. Jerome provided by Northeastern Music Programs. Students will be given one 30-minute group lesson per week and have ensemble rehearsal once a week. Performance dates and times are still being discussed. The registration link is provided below. String instruments can be started in 3rd-8th grade and band instruments can be started in 4th-8th grade.
The parent information meeting will be September 7th @ 6:30PM.
Lessons will begin on September 14th . Lessons will be during school on a rotating schedule as they were in past school years. No student will miss the same class every week. Schedules will be sent when they are created. Rehearsals may be held either before or after school (dates and time TBD). Your child will not be pulled out of class twice in one day. I will send out updates as we get closer to the first lesson. Words cannot express my excitement to begin the new school year!
Registration is now open! New members of the program may enroll here: Northeastern Music Programs | (nemusicprograms.com)
We will continue follow school policy regarding Covid policies. As an educator, I am prepared to adapt to whatever changes necessary to keep your children safe. If there are any questions, feel free to email me at: smorrisette@nemusicprograms.com. I look forward to meeting you all this year. Let’s make some music!!!
Best regards,
Mr. Steven Morrisette