Weekly Newsletter
Immaculate Conception + St. Joseph School
February 1, 2024
Thank you students, families, and community members for celebrating #catholicschoolsweek2024!
The Importance of Attendance
The importance of attendance and punctuality…balanced with family life experiences, and it starts in kindergarten!
Academic Achievement: Regular attendance is strongly correlated with academic success. Students who attend school regularly are more likely to keep up with the curriculum, participate in class discussions, and complete assignments on time, contributing to better academic performance.
Skill Development: Consistent attendance allows students to engage in continuous learning and skill development. Regular exposure to educational content is essential for acquiring and reinforcing foundational knowledge and skills across various subjects.
Social Interaction: School is not only a place for academic learning but also a crucial environment for social development. Regular attendance ensures that students have the opportunity to interact with peers, develop social skills, and engage in cooperative learning activities.
Establishing Routine: School attendance helps establish a routine for students. Routines provide structure and stability, helping students develop time management skills and a sense of responsibility.
Preparation for Future Success: Regular attendance instills habits that are valuable for future success in both education and the workforce. Employers often value punctuality, responsibility, and a strong work ethic, all of which are cultivated through consistent school attendance.
Teacher-Student Interaction: Regular attendance allows for meaningful interactions between teachers and students. Teachers can provide individualized support, identify learning needs, and offer additional assistance when students attend class consistently.
Reducing Achievement Gaps: Regular attendance can help reduce achievement gaps. Students who consistently attend school have more equitable access to educational resources and opportunities, contributing to a more level playing field.
Economic Impact: Research suggests a positive relationship between education and future economic success. Higher levels of education are associated with increased earning potential, and regular school attendance is a key factor in achieving higher educational attainment whether it be college or trade school.
Building a Positive School Culture:High levels of attendance contribute to a positive school culture. A vibrant and engaged student body enhances the overall learning environment, fosters a sense of community, and encourages a culture of achievement.
We (Bosco Schools) pride ourselves on providing a holistic education to our students, one that focuses on the spiritual, academic, physical, and social development of our young people. Consistent attendance is imperative to ensure that your child is given every opportunity to develop in these areas.
Not to belabor the point much longer but simply to let you know that when your student is gone or tardy, it has a ripple effect. It not only impacts him or her, it impacts his or her classmates, it impacts the secretary, it impacts the teacher, and it impacts the instructional flow. We pride ourselves on small class sizes, when one student is gone or tardy, it is noticeable and has an impact. When 2 or more students are gone or tardy, it has a significant impact. When 6 or more students are gone from or tardy to a class, it has a negative impact on him or her and the class.
We fully support the opportunities given to children who are gone to spend time with family, such as vacations. Those experiences build background knowledge that we cannot recreate at school. When considering other absences, especially for appointments, we sincerely ask you to try your very best to schedule them outside of the school day. Maybe look ahead at the school calendar and try to schedule appointments on days school is not in session. If it absolutely cannot be avoided, we understand but are now asking that a note from the provider be brought back to school. Please refer to the student handbook for procedures surrounding attendance. Note that the school board approved some changes in December that are now in effect.
Thank you for your continued support in this and all areas. Together, we make great advocates for your child’s success!
Mrs. Douglas
Holiday Dress Day
Valentine's holiday dress day will now be Tuesday, February 13, due to Ash Wednesday.
On holiday dress days, students may wear holiday related apparel. This includes:
- Shirts (tops)/pants (bottoms)/dresses that are in the color/spirit of the holiday. All clothing must follow dress code guidelines for length
- Jeans with a holiday shirt are okay
- Leggings with a long holiday shirt are okay
- Holiday related necklaces or headbands
This does not include:
- Hats
- Items that would need to be carried
- Painted hair
- Make-up of any kind
- Face tattoos/stickers
Leader in Me Bingo
What has your family been doing to Think Win-Win this month? Mark your boxes on the January Leader in Me Bingo Card and turn them in by this Friday. Any family that has at least one Bingo will be put into a drawing for a $25 gift card at our Leader in Me assembly on Feb. 5. Watch for the February Bingo cards to be sent home with the youngest member of each family. During the month of February work on Habit 5: Seek First to Understand Then to Be Understood.
Lego Team State
Congregations to our First Lego League Team for making it to state. They competed well, showed great sportsmanship and enjoyed being able to compete at Iowa State University this past weekend.
Our Second Graders
Please keep our second grade students in your prayers as they prepare to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time next week.
Lenten Season is Upon Us
It's hard to believe Lent is already here! Fun fact--Lent is the earliest it can be this year--February 14. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. During the season of Lent, we prepare ourselves for the Resurrection of Christ on Easter. As Catholics, we are encouraged to fast from something (or give something up). Denying ourselves of things we enjoy is a small reminder of Christ's sacrifice for us on the cross. Ash Wednesday is specifically a day of fasting and abstinence which means that Catholics need to refrain from eating meat as well as eat two small meals and one normal size meal (should not add up to two full meals).
As we fast, it is important to remember that we do this as a way to grow spiritually. It is best to avoid complaining about the fact that you are hungry and want a burger 😊. Instead, redirect the struggle into a conversation with God. In addition to giving something up, we should also consider how God might be calling us to grow spiritually by adding something in. This could be attending Sunday Mass more regularly or adding in 15 minutes of prayer each day.
Mrs. Rohret
Campus Minister
Junior High Track
There is a signup sheet for Junior High Girls and Boys Track posted on the wall in the middle school hallway. All 7th and 8th grade girls and boys who are interested, please sign up. There will be more information coming later about a parent meeting for the Junior High track season.
Coach Travis Kuecker
Youth Group
Youth Group will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 7 and Feb. 28. We will meet in room 202 in the HS from 6:15-7:30 for pizza, faith, and fun! Students in grades 8-12 are welcome to attend.
Gold Star Awards for Outstanding Teaching
The R.J. McElroy Trust and KWWL will award ten area teachers the “Gold Star Award for Outstanding Teaching”. If you would like to nominate one of our outstanding teacher, please fill out the nomination form sent home today and place it in the Gold Star nomination box in the school lobby. You may go www.goldstarteacher.com to nominate online. The deadline for nominations is February 20.
2024-2025 Kindergarten and Preschool
We are gathering numbers for our 2024-2025 kindergarten and preschool classes spots are filling up fast. If you have a child who will be entering kindergarten or preschool next year, or if you know of someone who has a child, please fill out the form on our website and return to the school office.
Parish News and Information
Sat 4 PM, Sun 8 & 10 AM, M-W-F 7:45 AM
Sat 5:30 PM, Tue 6 PM, Thur 8 AM
IMPORTANT DATES
- February 4: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
- February: 6: PTO meeting 6 PM IC Room 206
- February 9: No School PD Day
- February 14: Ash Wednesday
- February 15: No School Teacher Work Day
- February 16: No School
- February 18: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
- February 22-23 : No Waterloo Buses
- February 25: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
- March 11-12: No Waterloo Buses
- March 11-12: Parent Teacher Conferences
- March 13-14: No School
- March 15: No School PD Day
- March 17: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
- March 20: Middle School Music Concert
- March 24: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
BOSCO CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM
MISSION STATEMENT
With support from families, we respect and encourage students to reach their potential
- Spiritually by developing a strong relationship with Jesus and knowledge of His church,
- Academically by igniting learning, leadership and life skills,
- Physically by learning about and living healthy habits and
- Socially by becoming active members of the community who serve others as stewards of the Gospel so they are the light of Christ in the world.
Preparing students to be the Light of Christ in the World!
Submit newsletter articles to icsjnewsletter@boscocatholic.org by 3 PM on Wednesdays.
Website: boscocatholic.org
Facebook boscocatholic.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 256, Gilbertville, IA 50634
Immaculate Conception K-8
311 16th Ave
Gilbertville, Iowa 50634
St Joseph Center PS/PK
6916 Lafayette Rd
Raymond, Iowa 50667