SPB Family Newsletter
August 1, 2018
Mission Statement
The Eucharistic community of Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School focuses on Christ-centered values and develops the unique potential of each student through a rigorous and engaging curriculum.
WELCOME BACK, GREEN KNIGHTS!
While summer isn't over just yet, I am looking forward to seeing the smiling faces of our students in our hallways once again! I am thrilled to move into the principal role this year, and I am excited to continue the traditions of academic excellence and faith formation for which Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School is known. Our theme this year is Forward in Faith, Hope & Love which matches our parish's capital campaign theme. Steeped in 63 years of tradition, we move forward as a school community in our faith, with hope, and in love. We want to extend a wonderful welcome to the new families who are joining us this year!
We look forward to various events coming up to welcome our SPB students and families back to school. Be sure to review the important dates below. Please note that Meet the Teacher on August 20 is for K-8 only. This year we are also asking that all back to school forms be completed online and hard copies submitted by the first day of school. If you are having trouble with your computer or your printer isn't working, stop in the computer lab during Meet the Teacher to complete them and print them out. The link is currently live and can be accessed here. The online forms are for K-8 ONLY. Preschool families should have received hard copies in their welcome packet to complete and submit.
You will notice some changes this year in our faculty/staff, in our building, and in the way information is shared with you via our weekly newsletter. Learn more about the newest members of our faculty/staff as well as the changes you will see in the building by reading further down this newsletter.
Technology continues to be a high priority. At the beginning of summer, our website underwent a total redesign resulting in a more modern website that is now mobile-friendly. Gradelink continues to serve as our student information system and now also hosts our website. Our fifth graders will now be included in our 1:1 Chromebook program. Beginning this year, the Chromebooks and carrying cases received in fifth grade will be used by the students through eighth grade. We also added two new wireless access points to the Jansky Learning Center to accommodate increased WiFi usage, and a SMART Board was purchased for the new preschool classroom. Finally, we are trying a new format for our weekly newsletters this year. Our hope is to offer a more modern, dynamic, and interactive design that is reader-friendly. It will allow us to add files directly to the newsletter, including PDFs, pictures, etc. We hope that you like it!
In these final days of summer, let us take time to thank God for all the graces He has bestowed upon us and ask Him to keep Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School students, parents, faculty, and staff in his loving care. Should you have any questions prior to the start of school, please call us at 440-442-6766 or email office@saintpaschal.com
Blessings,
Diane M. Raguz
Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
August 3-20 - PTO Uniform Exchange
Please visit the self-serve PTO Uniform Exchange in the Parish Life Center for great bargains on gently used uniforms.
August 5 - Kindergarten Meet and Greet
Incoming kindergartners are invited to join us for a Meet and Greet following the 10:00 Mass in the Eymard Room.
August 12 - Preschool Classroom Reveal
Preschool families are invited to meet their preschool teachers and check out the new classrooms following the 10:00 Mass.
August 20 - Meet Your Teacher (K-8) - 4:30-6:30 p.m. (does not include preschool)
- Join us on this day to meet the teachers, see class lists, pick up school supply boxes, and more!
- Physical education uniforms will be on sale this day in O'Brien Hall and spiritwear will also be available for purchase.
- Visit the computer lab to complete back to school forms online and print them out if needed.
- Register for the Before Care or Extended Day programs in the office.
- See what our PTO is all about and meet some of the members.
August 22 - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
- The Before Care and Extended Day programs both begin today.
- Hot lunch begins today, too.
August 23 & 24 - Kindergarten Staggered Start
- Kindergartners and their parents will come to school in small groups to be introduced to their classrooms, teachers, and routines. Be sure to check the letter that was sent home to you for detailed information.
- The FIRST FULL DAY for kindergarten is Monday, August 27.
August 27-31 - Preschool Staggered Start
- Be sure to read the letter that was sent home for detailed information about your scheduled dates and times.
- The regular schedule for preschool classes is Tuesday, September 4.
We ask that ALL back to school forms be completed and submitted by the first day of school. It is imperative that we have these forms on file, especially the Emergency Medical Authorization, should an emergency with your child occur. Thank you!
New Faces to Our Faculty and Staff
- Mrs. Sheila Klepcyk is our new Assistant Principal. Mrs. Klepcyk has many years of experience as a teacher and administrator. Her last administrative position was as the Assistant Principal at St. Barnabas in Northfield for several years.
- Mrs. Karen Sarosy will serve as our Physical Education teacher. Mrs. Sarosy has served as a Physical Education teacher for many years in diocesan schools, including a long tenure at St. Barnabas at the same time Mrs. Klepcyk was there.
- Mrs. Sandy Lyall-Kovacs will be our new Project Challenge teacher. We will share Mrs. Kovacs with St. Bridget of Kildare in Parma where she also works as the gifted teacher. Some of you may know Mrs. Kovacs as she is also a parishioner as well as an alum!
- Mrs. Jaime Dixon joins us in Preschool. She will be the lead teacher in one of the Early Learners classes in the morning and then teach the PreK class in the afternoon. Mrs. Dixon has been teaching little ones for the past thirteen years.
- Mrs. Beth Detzel is certainly not a new face to SPB, but she is new to our staff. Mrs. Detzel will work as an aide to Mrs. Mickol in preschool a couple days a week. She has a background in education and is excited to return to the classroom, although this will be a change from teaching high schoolers.
- Mrs. Kristie Mack knows SPB as a student, a student teacher, and now as a parent! Don't worry, you are not seeing double. Mrs. Mack is Mrs. Klick's twin sister. She will serve as a preschool aide in Mrs. Mickol's class.
Unfortunately, I was informed a few days ago that our Spanish teacher, Mrs. Romina Berardinelli, has accepted another position and will no longer be working for Spanish First Class, the company with whom we contract for our Spanish teacher. As soon as I know who our new Spanish teacher will be, I will share that information with you.
Exciting Changes in the Building
Many of you have already seen the signs that were installed throughout the SPB campus. They are a nice addition and will certainly be helpful to the many visitors we have on our campus. The biggest and most noticeable change is to the former computer lab and library, now named the Jansky Learning Center (JLC). The wall was removed, fresh carpeting installed, broadcast equipment set up (including a green screen), and new furniture ordered thanks to our generous PTO. The computer stations/desks are expected to be here in August. Unfortunately, the other furniture has been ordered but will not arrive until possibly November. Say goodbye to the desktop computers that were in the computer lab! There will be a few set up in a station in the JLC, but students will be using iPads and Chromebooks. Be sure to come and see the JLC in person!
While the wall came down in the computer lab/library, a wall was put up in one of the very large preschool rooms to create two rooms to accommodate our growing preschool. New carpeting was installed in both classrooms, too. The extra room has allowed us to add another Early Learners class in the morning and a PreK class in the afternoon. There will be a special classroom reveal for our preschool families on August 12.
A few other classrooms in the building also had a refresh with new flooring. You will see these changes in the classrooms of Mrs. Alan and Miss Martinson. The new flooring in these classrooms was made possible through a grant written last year that we received through the Rooted in Faith campaign. A few of our junior high classrooms also have new chairs made possible through a donation from an anonymous family. Of course, our teachers will add their special touches to their classrooms to welcome our Green Knights back to school on August 22, the first day of school!
Meet Your Teacher Night
Find out your homeroom!
Drop off your supplies!
Catch up with friends!
Monday, Aug 20, 2018, 04:30 PM
St. Paschal Baylon Elementary School, Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights, OH, USA
A Little Pep Talk from Kid President
Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School
Diane M. Raguz, Principal
Sheila Klepcyk, Assistant Principal
Karen M. Lipstreu, Administrative Assistant
Rev. John Thomas Lane, SSS, Pastor
Email: office@saintpaschal.com
Website: www.saintpaschal.com
Location: 5360 Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights, OH, USA
Phone: (440) 442-6766
Facebook: facebook.com/stpaschalbaylonschoolohio
Twitter: @SPBGreenKnights