StJP Principal Newsletter
January 29, 2016
Catholic Schools Week
What is National Catholic Schools Week?
National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. It starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week, which in 2016 is January 31 - February 6. The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week 2016 is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our nation.
Daily Themes
Celebrate the following daily themes and celebrations in your (arch)diocese during Catholic Schools Week 2016.
- Sunday - In Our Parish
- Monday - In Our Community
- Tuesday - In Our Students
- Wednesday - In Our Nation (National Appreciation Day For Catholic Schools)
- Thursday - In Our Vocations
- Friday - In Our Faculty, Staff and Volunteers (Teacher & Principal Appreciation Day)
- Saturday - In Our Families
Good News for the Nation: Catholic Schools Are Thriving
Catholic schools offer academic excellence and faith-filled education for students nationwide. National test scores, high school graduation rates, college attendance and other data show that Catholic schools frequently outperform schools in both the public and private sectors. While some Catholic schools are challenged by declining enrollments and school closures, the good news is that there is a strong demand and enthusiasm for Catholic schools. Thirty-two percent of Catholic schools have waiting lists for admission and new schools are opening across the country.
Catholic Schools Week Schedule of Events
Catholic Schools Week January 31-February 7, 2016
Catholic Schools Week is our opportunity to show off our school, have some fun, and be excited about Catholic education. Let’s get into the spirit and make it GREAT!!!
Sunday 1/31
9:30 am Opening Mass for CSW Immaculate Conception Church
8th grade bake sale after every Mass
Students will be speaking at Mass (please wear your uniforms)
Open House at Little Joe’s Campus 10:30-11:30
Chorus Performance in cafeteria @10:40
Glenside teachers are encouraged to come to Mass and visit Little Joe’s
Little Joe’s teachers will be in their classrooms
Monday 2/1 Community/Day of Service
School Spirit Day (Students may wear spirit wear; or blue & gold)
Announcement during the day will focus on three special people who have lived a life of service
H & S will provide lunch in the convent for teachers
Breathing Room Activity with prayer partners (you may decide what time works best with your prayer partners). Discuss with students
the importance of this service project and how much they have done
to help our Breathing Room community
Tuesday 2/2 Student Appreciation Day/In our Schools
Treat provided from H & S; Remember students with allergies
Dress down theme: will be a favorite book character; each classroom can choose a book from the list or of his/her choice and the students can dress as a favorite character.
Teachers will show appreciation by presenting them with a small token. Examples: Present your students with a “Good Egg” Award; Fill a plastic egg with small treat and/or a hw pass. Make a “Pat on the Back” Award; trace a hand out of paper and write a short note on each hand that tells why the student deserves a pat on the back.
Reading Assembly K-3 9:00-9:45 and 4-8 10:00-10:45 Gymeteria
No HW for students
Create a poster of your book theme which will be hung up at the Reading Assembly. This does not have to be a big production, just something fun so the children can contribute and see their special classroom book idea hung up and shared for CSW and the assembly.
1:30-2:30. Schoolwide Bingo in the classroom (you will do this like last year with your prayer partners in the upper building)
Wednesday 2/3 In our Nation /Celebrate Heritage Day
“Heritage Day”
Dress down theme: Students will dress in a special color or colors that
represent their heritage, ethnic backgrounds, or in red, white and blue representing the United States.Example: Italian Heritage green, white, and red representing their countries flag
Optional: In classrooms students could share traditions and customs about his/her cultural background.
Cultural music played on the hour that celebrates culture and diversity done by main office over the intercom, students may get up and move or dance to the music
Thursday 2/4 In our Vocations/Parents, pastors, sisters (Career Day)
Dress down theme: Dress for the job you want.
Career Day: Father Brandt and/or Monsignor Diamond, and Sister Sandra am and pm talk briefly about their vocation and how they came to choose this calling over the intercom
Internet Safety Assembly GYM 9:30 AM grades 4-5, 10:30 AM grades 6-8 (tentative)
Special Visitor grades 6, 7, 8 at 11:00 AM in the GYM
Career Assembly at 1:00 PM FFH K-8
Parent Information Assembly (Adult Only) with speaker on internet safety 7:00 PM in St. Luke’s Church. Teacher presence is encouraged! Everyone that attends will be able to gain new information
Friday 2/5 Teacher Appreciation Day/Celebrate faculty, staff, and volunteers
No Dress down day. All students must be in school uniform.
First Friday Mass 10 am; 12 Noon Dismissal
Teacher Faculty Meeting
H & S will provide lunch in the Gymeteria.
NJHS will do something with regard to teacher/classrooms (optional please let Deb Pio know if you would be interested in a NJHS student coming to your classroom to help, read, or do an activity with students)
Saturday 2/6 In our Families
During CSW Encourage students to spend some quality time with their families
Sunday 2/7
9:30 am Closing Mass St. Luke’s Church
Students will be reading/speaking at Mass (please wear your uniforms)
8th grade bake sale after every Mass
Open house from 10:30-12:00 STJP Campus
Band Performance
Little Joe’s teachers are encouraged to participate in the 9:30 am mass and visit open house
Glenside teachers will be in their classrooms
************Students do not have to participate in Dress Down Days, but if they do not participate, then they must wear their uniform. Gym class will still take place this week, so please make sure students wear appropriate clothing and they must have sneakers for gym.******************
Please note that Little Joe’s will do variations of our daily activities
Parent Internet Safety Presentation
On Thursday February 4, 2016 from 7:00 PM-9:00 PM in the church(during Catholic Schools Week) we have a very special speaker coming to StJP to talk with you (adult only) about internet dangers and safety for your children. We also have him scheduled to speak to grades 6-8 during school that day, but he will be giving them the middle school version and not the adult version.
You do not want to miss this! The cyber world is scary and Home and School has offered to bring in this fantastic speaker to present to you and share his knowledge.
Below is a link if you would like childcare. Please sign up using the link so we know how many children for planning purposes.
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084dada622abfe3-internet
Please take a look at the link below to learn more about Eric Szatkowski and his presentation.
Re-registration for 2016-2017
So far we have 155/310 students re-registered for next year. On February 1st open enrollment will begin for new families. We want to give our current families the opportunity to re-enroll before opening it to the public. We are asking you to complete your registration in January so that we can plan our budget for the 2016-2017 school year accordingly. Our faculty and programs are determined by our number of students. Therefore, we must know how many students will be attending so we can plan for the upcoming year.
A re-registration deposit for families is required and will be debited via FACTS on April 1, 2016. Families with one child at StJP will be charged a $50.00 enrollment deposit, and those with two or more children will be charged a $100.00 deposit. Your re-registration deposit will be credited towards your family's total tuition for the 2016-2017 school year.
To re-enroll current students in Pre-School through 8th Grade you must log into My Students Progress (MSP) to complete the process. We have made this easier and paperless for your convenience. Directions along with an example on how to re-enroll via MSP are attached.
To enroll (NEW) siblings of current students in Pre-School through 8th Grade you MUST complete the following two step process to guarantee placement for the coming school year.
1. Before January 31st log into MSP and complete the Save the Seat Section for the new sibling.
2. You must attend one of the new sibling registration appointments. Please sign up using the applicable link below.
Glenside Campus (Grades K-8) Sign-up Date link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084dada622abfe3-current
Jenkintown Campus (Pre-K ages 2 to 4) Sign-Up Date link:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084dada622abfe3-current1
Please bring the following items to your appointment:
- · Original Birth Certificate
- · Record of vaccinations
- · Baptismal Certificate, if applicable (from any other parish other than ICC or SLC)
If your Tuition account is not current for 2015-2016, please contact the Business Manager, David Bauer immediately to discuss your account status and payment arrangements, so that you can re-enroll.
NOTE: If you have not taken steps to re-enroll current students and siblings via MSP for the 2016-2017 school year by January 31, 2016 and have not attended the new sibling enrollment appointments, your child's space in next year's class is NOT guaranteed.
Beauty and the Beast Jr.
All interested 3rd through 8th grade students are invited to be a part of our Spring Musical, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. !
The rehearsal schedule varies between Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school. Depending on what role a student receives, they may not have rehearsal for a few weeks, or could have rehearsal 2-3 times a week. Most rehearsals are after school from 3 to 4:45 pm in Fr. Fitzpatrick Hall. The official rehearsal schedule will be given out once the show is cast.
The shows are May 19th, 20th, and 21st 2016 at Bishop McDevitt High School.
For more information, students can pick up an Audition Packet in the music room. Crew (7th/8th only) information to follow!
Rolling out the Red Carpet.........for the Penny Party February 19! YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS!!!!!!
Do not pass by without visiting the link!!!!!!
http://stjpschool.org/numo/extensions/wysiwyg/uploads/u.1.PennyParty2016%208.5%20x%2011%20poster.pdf
Purchase your tickets below:
https://stjp-penny-party.cheddarup.com/
The official raffle for this year's Penny Party is the Oscar Swag Bag. Raffle tickets were sent home with students last week. The total value of the prize is $800. The bag includes: Apple Watch Sport 38mm in Space Gray, GoPro HERO HD Water Proof Action Camera, Michael Kors Wristlet, Hand and Stone Facial Spa Hift Card and the Amazing Escape Room Challenge. There is something for everyone in this bag! Tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5. If you have any questions, please contact Christina Riehman-Murphy at riehmanmurphy@gmail.com.
Please return any unsold tickets to the school office. We have receieved requests for more tickets from families.