St. Jerome School Weekly Newsletter
Wednesday, September 7th, 2022
“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
St. Teresa of Calcutta
From Mr. Merrick
Dear St. Jerome Families,
I hope that you all had a nice Labor Day weekend and a good week so far. Though the start of school is always busy in the office, I have enjoyed being able to visit the classrooms and see all of the activities and happenings that are students and teachers are engaging in. It was also wonderful to have both of our schools gathered together in the church (because of the rain) for our opening of school blessing yesterday. Fr. Reilly reminded us of the importance of seeing Jesus in everyone that we encounter at school, home, and in the community.
We are settling in more with our arrival and dismissal procedures, and we greatly appreciate your cooperation. This week, we will continue to have the signs out at arrival and Miss Labovitz at the driveway to help with directing you where you need to be. Just a few reminders for the morning:
- We are going to continue with one line coming through the school yard for the slower traffic lane. The two lanes were backing up too much with having to cross students; the single lane worked out much better.
- Please do not pass another car in the school yard. We will do our very best to keep the line moving as quickly as possible, but going around other cars creates a safety issue.
- When using the express lane, please make sure that your child has all of his or her belongings and is ready to exit quickly and walk toward the ramp. For 1st-8th graders, I highly recommend using the express lane so long as your child is able to unbuckle and unload without assistance.
- Thank you for your cooperation and patience- the first couple weeks are always take a little longer as we adjust.
Speaking of routine, please make sure to check your child's folder everyday (especially on Wednesday when we send home most of our communication) and have your child set aside a designated time and place for studying and completing homework. Even if your child is in middle school, it's still important to check in and make sure that he or she has brough home any papers for you (as well as handed in any envelopes that you sent back to school). Building good study habits and routines early in the year will make the rest of the year go smoothly.
Pretzel orders and hot lunch orders are due tomorrow (copies of the forms are below). If you are paying by Venmo, please remember to send in the slip so that we can tally all of the orders and make lists for the classrooms and lunch room. Thank you!
Please remember that, each week, we send our a Wednesday Folder that contains flyers and forms as well as an electronic newsletter. Please be on the lookout for both of these important communications to stay informed about school events and activities. Hot lunch and pretzel order forms were included in this first folder (Pre-K and kindergarten will receive them tomorrow). Our school website Communication page has an archive of newsletters and many of our forms and flyers. The Calendar page has a Google Calendar that is kept up-to-date with school events.
Back to School Night for 1st-8th grades will be next Thursday, September 15th at 7:00 PM, starting in the Church. You will have the opportunity to visit classrooms as well as sign up to help at school events. We will have copies of clearance packets available as all volunteers will need their clearances. Information regarding volunteer clearances may also be found on the school website here; packets may also be picked up in the school office.
Next Thursday, September 15th, is also picture day. Picture packets were sent home today. You may return the paper form on picture day or order pictures online by going to www.tippingschoolpictures.com and entering the code TSP2022A for all students except for 8th graders (the code for 8th grade only is GRADXXC). If you have a PreK child who does not attend school on Thursday, you are welcome to bring him or her at 9:00 AM. We will also have a make-up day in November or December (the photographer gives us the date after the first picture day, but I will try to make it a Wednesday to accommodate part-time PreK students as well).
On Friday, our Band Instructor, Mr. Morrisette will be conducting instrument demonstrations with our 3rd-8th grade classes. He will present information about instrumental music programs here at St. Jerome. Please click here for more information about the band program. There will be a virtual parent meeting at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, September 13th for families interested in learning more about the program. The Zoom link is here and will be included in the reminders for next week.
Have a great week; St. Jerome and St. Lucy, 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 Festival t-shirt, and sweatpants (not for gym class but may be worn on announced spirit days)
All orders must be placed online by Sunday, September 11th. Orders will be packaged and delivered to school for us to send home.
CARES Fun Friday September
St. Jerome Festival 2022
Notes From the Nurse: Required Health Exams
All physical exams need to be completed after June 1, 2022 and will be accepted until the end of the 2023 school year.
Kindergarten
Physical Exam
Dental Exam
Completed Immunization records
Third Grade
Dental Exam
Sixth Grade
Physical Exam
Completed Immunization records
Seventh Grade
Dental Exam
Tdap and MCV4 Immunizations
Forms for medications to be administered in school, forms needed to be completed by your doctor and returned to school before medications can be administered. Please contact the school nurse with any questions (bpaciti@sjsphila.org).
Request for Administration of Medication (MED-1)
Assessment tool
All Heath forms can be found on the school website under Admissions Tab
and the Philadelphia School District website under medical forms.
Archbishop Ryan Theatre Program
Archbishop Ryan Musical Theater is holding auditions for grades 1 through 8 on Wednesday, September 21 starting at 3:30pm. The children will be taught a song and should be finished by 4:30pm.
Grade schoolers should enter the back of the school at the North Café entrance and someone will be there to take them upstairs. PARENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO WATCH.
There will be a participation fee that will be paid later.
If you have any questions, please contact the Student Affairs Office.
Mrs. Kaitlin Freiling
215-637-1800, ext. 6041
Ms. Amanda Hill
215-637-1800, ext. 6042