Blue Jay Flyer

In support of the FC Cincinnati team advancing to the second round of the playoffs, students are permitted to wear FC Cincinnati shirts or any blue/orange shirts with regular uniform bottoms on Thursday, Oct. 20th.

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

• If you want to have your student's picture retaken, simply return your original package on Picture Retake Day
• If your child is having their picture taken for the first time this year, packages can be ordered online at mylifetouch.com with Picture Day ID: EVTC7CQXP

We are in the planning stages of our Open House for prospective students that takes place during Catholic Schools Week in January. We are asking for a few minutes of your time in filling out a short survey. Please click here to fill out survey. Your response is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to our PTO's Casserole Committee for organizing a teachers' dinner during evening conferences this week and to all those families who signed up to provide food and paper goods. The teachers greatly appreciate having a nice home cooked meal to enjoy.

Purchase Spectacular Tickets or Bid, Browse & Buy

New items are being added daily so be sure to visit often.

Items will be on display for viewing before and after masses at

St. John the Baptist Church on the following dates:

Saturday, October 29th 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Sunday, October 30th 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

• Donate Gift Cards (deadline to donate is Oct. 21st)
• We are asking school families to donate gift cards of any denomination to help support the Spectacular. Gift cards will be used in raffle baskets, class baskets and to purchase items for the silent auction.
• Gift Cards Needed include: Shopping Cents, Amazon, Walmart, Target, Meijer, Graeters, Dunkin’, and Starbucks.
• Families can also donate money to be put towards the purchase of a gift card by the committee.
• Every family that participates will receive a ticket for each child to drop in the class basket of their choice.
• The grade level with the highest participation will receive a donut breakfast
• If you have any questions about the gift card donations please contact Ahna Nichols @ ahna@ex-hs.com
• Purchase an Item From the Amazon Wish List
• Click here to visit and/or purchase an item from the Amazon wish list.
• Sponsorship - All sponsorship levels include free tickets for the event! Sponsorship levels can be viewed at stjohnschool3.givesmart.com under tickets. You may also contact Mary Beth Salyers at mbsalyers13@gmail.com for sponsorship information.
  
• Attend the event - Tickets are $85 each and includes a sit-down dinner, open bar, live and silent auctions, raffles and dancing. Click here to purchase tickets or text stjohnschool3 to 76278.
• Bid, browse & buy online/virtually -
• Register via the GiveSmart website @ https://e.givesmart.com/events/iPN/ to participate virtually. Select register to participate.

Four year old preschoolers traveled to Gorman Farm last week for a Farm Senses experience. By tasting, touching, smelling, hearing, and seeing plants and animals, they gained a whole new level of understanding about farming and the natural world.

Scary good stuff at St. John’s Trunk or Treat Movie Night last Saturday evening! Thank you to The St. John’s Catholic Order of Foresters, Carmen Schultz, Jill Katterjohn, Tom Cunningham, and Zach Collins for planning this fun event for our families.

While investigating Newton's 1st and 2nd laws of motion, eighth grade science students used paper clips and baby food jars to build accelerometers.

Congratulations to our most recent recipients of "Shining Light Awards!" These students were nominated by teachers for being helpful in after care, teaching first graders some Spanish words and helping a kindergarten buddy. Way to let your lights shine bright Blue Jays!

St. John’s PTO is excited to share that the Father-Daughter and Mother-Son dances will return this year! The Mother-Son dance will be held after the first of the year.

The Father-Daughter Dance will be on Saturday, November 19 from 7:00-9:00 pm in the Parish Center. Girls in preschool-8th grade are invited to bring their dads, or a special male guest, to enjoy dancing, drinks, desserts and games at the Boots and Beauties Father-Daughter Dance!

Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite flannels, cowboy hats and boots! If you’d rather wear something casual that is perfect too! The cost is $25 per household. Payments can be made via cash, check (payable to St. John’s PTO). Please fill out this form https://forms.gle/v382V1fhxsuzbssy5 to register to attend. Registration and payment are due by November 1.

We will be sending out information for volunteer sign-ups in mid October.

Please contact Shannon Memory via text 513-227-9428 or email Shannon.m.memory@gmail.com with any questions.

We can’t wait to see you there!

The PTO Dance Committee

November 17

February 9

May 4

6:00-8:30 p.m.

The Place

Registration is now open and will be open through Nov 6th for grades 2 – 8.

Sign-ups will only be offered online at www.stjab.com. In the upper right corner you will see the login or register tab if you do not already have an account. If you do not sign-up during these time frames, we cannot guarantee your son a spot on a team. If you sign-up late and are given a spot on a team a late fee will be charged.

Important info:

• Tryouts for 5th– 8thgrade– Depending on number of teams in each age group, tryouts will be in mid-November.

• 3rd-8th grade will be playing in the Girls Western Athletic Conference (GWAC). Information about the league can be found at www.gwacsports.com. The season generally runs from early February to early April (depending on the grade level). Practices will start in January.

• 2nd grade - The season runs mid January through mid March. The girls will be playing on Friday nights in the St John gym. This will be a transition year where we incorporate the 2nd graders back into Friday the night instructional basketball with the younger St. John girls. There will be no official league. This will be skill building mixed in with some game play.

Email any questions for girls basketball to Will Crawford at stjohnsgirlsbasketball@gmail.com

Sign-ups for instructional basketball (grades preschool-1st grade) will be open in the coming weeks.

We are happy to bring back our Fall into service once again. Bring the whole family on Monday, November 14, at 6:30 pm to St. John the Baptist school cafeteria. We will be putting together 150 Thanksgiving bags together for Bethany House (Bethany House services & empowers homeless & at risk families with the solutions to achieve housing stability and long-term self-sufficiency) & making baby blankets for Pregnancy Center West.

Here are the items we will need to complete the bags.

1. Pack up some snacks - small bags of flavored popcorn, gum, suckers, etc..

2. Make them laugh - silly items, such as a whoopee cushion, magic kit, slime ball

3. Books - puzzles, coloring, etching books, stickers & sketch books

4. Health/Hygiene – tooth brushes, bubble bath, body wash, personal care items

5. Dress Up – packages of eye patches, plastic tiaras, fake tattoos, stick on mustaches

6. Extra items-water bottles, any gift card to movies, arcades, restaurants and Amazon, etc…

***For the blankets, please drop off two 1 square yards of baby/soft fleece fabric.

Please drop off any items to the church gathering space and place

in the bin marked "Create the Good" by Nov.13th.

Tony’s Fight Foundation is looking for students in grades 3-8 to play in their sixth annual youth 3v3 basketball fundraiser at LaSalle High School on November 19, 2022. This tournament began as a benefit supporting Tony Even and his family in March 2017. In October 2016 Tony was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma stage 3ES with Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome, followed by a Renal Cell Carcinoma diagnoses in February 2017. In March 2017 friends and family rallied around them, hosting a 3v3 basketball tournament to show support and help with the medical expenses that come with a cancer diagnosis. After Tony’s test results were clear and Tony, his wife Beth, and their 4 children settled into their new normal, they decided they would like to pay it forward by continuing the tournament. Together with the help from the original tournament committee, they have officially become a 501(c)3 non-profit. Tony’s Fight Foundation was started to help families from west side catholic parishes who have children in area catholic schools with a family member fighting a life threatening illness.

If your student is interested in playing in the tournament, please see attached registration form and link to the eventbrite registration site…

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tonys-fight-on-the-court-2022-registration-423800969107?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Students and families of all grade levels are invited to see all that Mercy McAuley has to

offer at the Open House on Sunday, October 30, from 1 – 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is

strongly encouraged to save time at check-in. Pre-register at

www.mercymcauley.org./OpenHouse.

Future Wolves are invited to experience the excitement of Mercy McAuley's award-winning theatre program at its Grade School Theatre Day on Sunday, November 13. The event begins at 1 p.m. and includes a pizza lunch, followed by a backstage tour and a meet and greet with the theatre director, cast and crew of the fall play, "Peter & the Starcatcher." Then, future Wolves will receive free admission to the 2 p.m. play. Registration is required at www.mercymcauley.org/peter.

Shadow at Seton and be a Saint for a Day! Future Saints in the 8th grade will be paired with a current student and learn about Seton’s academics and innovative schedule, the many extra-curricular clubs and activities offered, and all the different ways to Find Your Light at Seton! Spots are filling quickly, so register today at https://www.setoncincinnati.org/admissions/plan-your-shadow-visit/.

Upcoming Events for Grade School Girls - Saint Ursula Academy

7th and 8th-grade girls are invited to attend Saint Ursula Academy's Open House on Sunday, October 23 from 1:00 until 4:00. In order to space out tours to allow for individual questions and interactions, we are requesting that you register to attend by selecting an arrival time HERE.

Additionally, registration is now open for the following events:

Now through December - Shadow Days

November 2 - Walkabout Wednesday

November 3 - Showcase Night

November 5 - HSPT Preparation - Review and Strategies Course

November 9 - Walkabout Wednesday

November 9 - Theatre Preview Night (Little Women)

November 19 - High School Placement Test (required if applying to a Diocesan High School)

December 1 - Showcase Night

December 6 - Grade School Basketball Night

Additional information and registration links for all events can be found at www.saintursula.org/visit.aspx

8th grade students are invited to spend the day shadowing a current UA student to find out what life as an Ursuline Lion is all about. Shadow days will be from 7:45 a.m. - 2:45 a.m. Parents are invited to stay for a parent meeting from 7:45-8:30 a.m. followed by a tour of the school from 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Register for a shadow day here: ursulineacademy.org/admissions/shadow

Elder Shadow Days

Current 8th grade students are invited to visit Elder and shadow a current Panther! Shadowing is the best way for a prospective student to experience a day at Elder! There are 13 preferred dates to schedule a shadow day, to schedule your visit go to www.elderhs.org/shadow.

Elder Open House

Join us for the annual Elder Open House on Thursday, November 10th . Take a tour with a

student ambassador, meet our dedicated Faculty & Staff, and learn about everything about Elder High School! Reserve a time for your family to take a tour at

www.elderhs.org/openhouse.

High School Placement Test (HSPT) Elder Prep Bootcamp

The official High School Placement Test (HSPT) testing day is Saturday, November 19th . If you are currently in 8th grade, then make sure to schedule your test at your desired location.

In order to help 8th grade boys prepare for the High School Placement Test (HSPT), Elder will

host a HSPT Bootcamp on Saturday, November 5th from 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM. Cost of the

bootcamp is $40. Space is limited, so be sure to secure your spot! Find information on the HSPT and the Elder Bootcamp at www.elderhs.org/hspt.

Xperience Nights

St. Xavier High School hosts an Xperience Night on October 26th. Your school and all 7th & 8th grade families will receive an invitation to attend. The evening begins in our Chapel of the Holy Companions at 6:30 p.m. and concludes at 8 p.m. Parents will hear a presentation about the mission of St. Xavier from a current student, the parent of a current student, faculty member, and an admissions representative – with ample time for questions and answers afterward. Students will learn about St. X by engaging in experiential learning opportunities that will be directed by current St. X students. Your students will also have the chance to have their questions answered. Families have found these nights to be an opportunity to receive in-depth information and hear different perspectives. Parents and faculty often can give a more “on the ground” view of the school. We ask that families register in advance.

Open House

On Sunday, November 13 from 1 to 4 p.m. prospective students and families are invited to attend our annual Open House. Tours are given by current students, allowing families time to speak with teachers, co-curricular moderators, and students about their experiences.

Shadowing

Shadowing is an integral role in a student’s decision making process. The shadowing program runs from September through December and provides interested eighth grade students with a firsthand experience on campus. Prospective students will be hosted by an Ambassador of Excellence, a freshmen or sophomore qualified to speak on the various aspects of St. Xavier High School. On these days at 8:30 a.m., parents have the opportunity to tour the school and hear a presentation from a St. Xavier representative about programs, tuition assistance, scholarships, and the admissions process. Families may register for shadowing on our website at https://www.stxavier.org/admissions/visit.

HSPT Prep Course at St. Xavier High School

This HSPT course covers all 5 sections of the test: Verbal Skills, Reading, Mathematics, Quantitative Skills and Language. The course begins with a comprehensive assessment exam, and the rest of the course focuses on learning content. By program’s end, students know how to tackle every type of problem on the HSPT – and effectively manage their time and the test.

The course will be taught on October 29th and November 5th at St. Xavier High School from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm or 12:30 to 4:30 pm.

Attached below is a one-page program overview for families who may be interested. Parents can sign-up at www.RedwoodPrep.com by clicking on the 'Sign Up' button on the website.

Benny the Bomber's Entrepreneurship Boot Camp

Please see flyer below.