Blue Jay Flyer
January 6, 2021
From the Principal's Desk...
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope and pray that you have all had a very wonderful Christmas and a safe, healthy and happy start to 2021. I am sure that we are all praying for a very different kind of year. It was great to see everyone return on Monday. As we work to return to in person classes for all five days, we are relying upon your help and support to help us keep everyone safe and healthy.
Our initial COVID numbers as we return are a concern, but they are manageable at this point. We currently have 27 students and two staff members who are under quarantine. We are very grateful to the families who notified our school nurse, Mrs. Elise Hochhausler RN, over our break to let us know of students who would need to be out of school. Please continue to contact Mrs. Hochhausler if you have any concerns.
Today, January 6th, is the traditional Feast of the Epiphany. The Church formally celebrated this Feast last Sunday. The visit of the Magi described in Matthew’s Gospel illustrates for us that an epiphany, a manifestation, an insight into the reality of something often occurs in an unexpected way. The Magi were looking for a king, and they found a helpless baby.
As we begin this new year with all of the struggles of last year, will we be open to an epiphany; a new way of seeing what may be right in front of us. Will we see our families, neighbors, community, nation and world differently? I pray that we will. In today’s first reading (1JN 4:11-18), we are reminded, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us.”
Like the Magi, may we have new eyes to see what is all around us. May we have hearts that are open to the love that God has already poured out on us. May we renew and deepen our own insight into what is real, and then we will be able to demonstrate Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. If we do this, 2021 will be a wonderful year.
Peace,
Dan Minelli
Calendar of Events
School News
New Student Open House/$500 Tuition Credit Raffle
Would you like to be the lucky winner of a $500 tuition raffle? Simply refer a new family to St. John's School (Preschool-8th grade) and upon their official registration, your family's name will be entered into a drawing for the tuition raffle. Winners will be announced at our fall Open House in August.
Re-registration for 2021-22
Financial Aid: Archdioceses One Faith, One Hope, One Love
DEADLINE TO APPLY: Sunday, January 31, 2021
Families applying for the Archdiocese One Faith financial aid will need to complete an application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment by January 31, 2021. Please see attached file below for more information.
Reminder From Our School Nurse
Hamilton County has adopted several different quarantine options that have been given by the CDC and ODH. Please note that due to the current high incidence of COVID - 19 in Hamilton County, St. John the Baptist School will continue to follow the 14 day quarantine per the recommendation of Hamilton County Health Department. We will continue to evaluate this and keep you updated with any changes.
Mrs. Elise Hochhausler, RN
School Nurse
St. John the Baptist School
Covid Testing Protocol
If you, your child, or someone in your household is being tested for COVID-19, please keep your child or children home from school while waiting for the results.
Please notify the school that this is the reason for their absence on the attendance line.
***Reminder Regarding Dropping Off Forgotten Items
**Any forgotten items (laptops, lunches, homework, eyeglasses, snacks, water bottles, etc.) may not be dropped off to the school office. The only exception is forgotten daily medications.
Inclement Weather Policy
Morning preschool and half day kindergarten will be cancelled for a two hour delay. Please refer to page 19 of your Student Handbook (accessible on the school website under the Parent tab) for further information.
A Note from Our School Psychologist
The Ohio CareLine is a toll-free emotional support call service created by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and administered in community settings. Behavioral health professionals staff the CareLine 24 hours a day, 7 days/week. They offer confidential support in times of personal or family crisis when individuals may be struggling to cope with challenges in their lives. When callers need additional services, they will receive assistance and connection to local providers.
Call 1-800-720-9616 to connect.
Blue Jay Gallery
Christmas Album
Keith Haring Figures
Fifth grade art students recently talked about how art can express community. They discovered how Keith Haring drew the human figure with very little detail because he wanted to emphasize that all humans deserve to love and to be loved.
Students practiced drawing one another in Keith's unique style as classmates took turn posing as model figures.
Calling All Readers!
Social Distancing
Recess Fun
PTO News
Dine to Donate Pebble Creek
Monday, January 11, 2021
Dine-in or Carryout
11:30 am-9:30 pm
Skip the cooking and help support St. John's School! We earn 10% of every order placed on Monday, January 11. Thank you in advance for your support.
Santa Shop Donations
Athletic Boosters
Baseball, Tee Ball, and Softball Sign Ups Open
Sign ups are now open for baseball, tee ball and softball. Please visit the Boosters website to register.
https://sports.bluesombrero.com/stjab/
A note from the Softball Coordinator, Robert Roetting...
If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, or have an interest in taking over as the softball coordinator, please reach out to Robert Roetting at rroetting@msn.com. He is looking for someone that can bring some new blood and ideas to help the softball program grow and flourish. Also, please consider signing up as a coach, coordinator, etc.