StJP Principal Newsletter
August 28, 2015
Welcome!
Please welcome our newest faculty members
Miss Maureen McLaughlin is our new second grade teacher. She is a parishioner of St. James Church. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary/Special Education from Lasalle University. She is enthusiastic, dedicated, and is going to be a wonderful addition to our school.
Mrs. Theresa Goodwin is our new 7th and 8th grade Math teacher. She comes to StJP with a wealth of knowledge combining a business and Math background. She has a degree in Business Administration from Rider University and a Master's Degree in Secondary Education from Holy Family University. She brings with her 9 years of experience teaching Math to both middle and high school students. We are very excited to have her with us.
Mrs. Alicia Farren is taking on a brand new part-time position with us at StJP. She is our Instructional Support Coordinator. She has three very specific goals this year that eventually we hope to grow into a full time position in the future. She comes to us with a Master of Arts in Education. She is also dual certified Elementary and Special Education. Her background and expertise in this field make her a true asset to StJP.
Welcome to the family!
Congratulations!
Humble Mary of Nazareth, you were chosen my God to bear within you our world’s greatest gift, the Savior of all humanity. I come to you now on behalf of Mrs. Geonnotti who prays for the health and safety of the child that God has graced her to conceive. Guard this life that God has created, and protect the mother God has chosen for this child. Let your gently hands, like that of a skilled physician, assist in her delivery so that this baby will know good health and lasting happiness. May her child be favored with the grace of Holy Baptism, and grow to love our Lord Jesus Christ above all else in this world. Amen.
Exciting New Things at StJP
- Brand new Science Lab
- A Brand new mobile website will go live very soon! Mrs. Ortolani has been working tirelessly all summer long on this!
- We have installed a new Windows 2012 server, with our new StJP domain
- Installed more wireless access points in the lower building and Chapel House
- Grades K-3 are now housed in the lower building
- Grades 4-8 along with Science Lab, Art, and Music are housed in the upper building
- Spanish class will take place in the Chapel House
- The weekly paper envelopes have been eliminated, it will all be done online this year
- A completely new student/parent handbook was created and will be available soon
- A daily communal lunch will take place in the school gym
- Helping Hand's Service Team has been created and is planning wonderful service projects this year
Volunteer Update
We need our volunteers.......
Please know that the state of PA has made changes that we are mandated to follow regarding volunteers. Please see below for further information:
- If your clearances were not up to date or complete, your name has been removed from our list of eligible volunteers.
- Clearances are sent directly to you. The school does not receive a copy. Please send a copy to the school so that your record can be updated.
- Clearances are now paid for by the state. The website is up and running, so please log in!
- Updated Criminal Background Checks, Child Abuse Clearance forms, and the Mandated Reporting are needed before volunteering in the school building. Because the current classes for "Protecting God's Children" are further away, we will allow volunteers until 10/31 to complete that piece, but please sign up for the class now.
- Clearances will only be valid for 3 years. Some parents may need to get their clearances updated.
- Effective 7-25-2015, the State of PA will process your clearances free of charge. The school will no longer process clearances. The following link will allow you to access the system. https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
- The following items are needed in order to volunteer: Criminal Background Check, Child Abuse Clearance, AOP Protecting God's Children, AOP Technology Addemdum (now done with the Protecting God's Children) and the Mandated Reporting.
In addition to the requirements of the state, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia also requires each volunteer to complete the following:
- Protecting God's Children Session with Technology Addendum: A list of sessions over the summer is attached, more can be found on the Archdiocese website.
- Mandatory Reporting: This is an online session and can be found under the tab of "Protecting Children" on the Archdiocesan website. http://archphila.org
- Please email office@stjpschool.org if you have questions.
Upcoming Events/Additional Information
St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service – back for 2015!
Wonderful news! Villanova University has AGAIN approved St. Luke’s(together with St. Joseph the Protector School) as a service site for the 2015 St. Thomas of Villanova Day of Service. That means that 20-30 Villanova students, staff, and faculty will be on our campus on SATURDAY, September 12
from 10AM to 3PM helping us PAINT! Villanova provides (and pays for!) the supplies we request. In addition, we need YOU! Could you spare a few hours to help/lead one of our work teams? Projects include painting LOTS OF woodwork/trim in Rectory and Upper School. Breakfast and lunch are included! Please be a part of a very rewarding and productive day… contact Beth Stieritz, Business Manager, at the Rectory: 215-572-0128 or Businessoffice@stlukerc.org
LINKS TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
CARES INFORMATION
DAILY PROTECTOR
https://stjpnewspaper.wordpress.com/2015/08/24/calling-all-reporters-and-editors/
There will be additional documents/flyers that are attached to the email that is sent with each newsletter. Please be sure to open them.