Blue Jay Flyer
March 29, 2023
From the Principal's Desk...
Parents and Guardians,
Thank you to everyone who came out to support our second annual Fine Arts Night at St. John’s. The students worked so hard to prepare and did an amazing job! A huge thank you goes out to Mrs. Ossenschmidt and Mrs. Wernicke for putting the night together and preparing our young students over the last few months.
Today in the Blue Jay Folder, students brought home a letter about tuition for next year. This letter explains how there will be a change in how we structure our tuition for the upcoming school year. I know that it looks like there is a large increase to our tuition, but that is not the case. The tuition will only increase $100 per student for next year as long as you fill out the application for The Family of the Blessed Trinity Tuition Grant. All families who fill out the application will receive the tuition grant. Please read through the letter and reach out to me by phone at 513-385-7970 with any questions.
Last call for the Book Fair orders! The last classes are scheduled to visit the Book Fair on Friday. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who have spent time helping with the Book Fair this week. It is great to see so many students excited about purchasing books for their personal libraries.
Have a great rest of your week.
Sincerely,
Courtney Weinheimer
School Calendar 📅
Cafeteria 🍽️
School News
Opening Day Spirit Wear
Let's show our Cincinnati Reds some hometown spirit on Thursday March 30! Students may wear a Cincinnati Reds (or any red shirt) with their regular uniform bottoms.
Out of Uniform Incentive For Friday March 31
For any Shopping Cent$ order turned in this Thursday, 3/30, OR any donations made for Create the Good, all children in your family will be out of uniform on Friday, 3/31! There is no minimum purchase or donation amount requirement.
- Shopping Cents: We have gift cards starting at $5 (limited supply) and lots of options, from gas stations to restaurants to grocery stores. This fundraiser costs you nothing more than you would normally spend at these locations. We all get gas, groceries and eat out - purchase a gift card from us and use that instead! All profits go back to the school to help cover operating costs.
- Create the Good: We need donations to fill Easter baskets for the children of Bethany House, which provides homeless and at-risk women and children with shelter, compassion and a pathway to self-sufficiency.
Specifically, they are looking for the following items to fill baskets:
Easter Baskets and Grass
Girl and Boy Toys (Under $5)
Coloring Books
Bubbles
Crafts
Playdoh
Puzzles
Beach Towels
Water Bottles
Gift Cards for Teens
Pre-Wrapped Easter Candy
***Sidewalk chalk was already donated***
Please send in donations to your child's classroom by Thursday to be included in the out of uniform.
Double Donation Opportunity
Since Create the Good is asking for gift cards for teens, you can buy a gift card from Shopping Cent$ and donate it for the baskets! We have a limited supply of $5 Starbucks and Panera cards,as well as $10 cards for teen favorites including Buffalo Wild Wings, Bath & Body Works, Chipotle, McDonald's, Skyline, Dunkin' and Taco Bell. If you'd like to purchase a card for donation, make a note of it on your order form and it will be sent directly to the coordinators.
Any online orders placed before midnight Wednesday, 3/29 will count towards the incentive. Go to raiseright.com and enter our school code to create an account. A small fee for credit cards or bank account transactions does apply.
Order gift cards online here.
Thank you for your support!
Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is in full swing! If your student has not yet made their purchases please be sure to check your student's wish lists and choose which books they may purchase. The book fair accepts cash, checks, and eWallet. Be sure to send enough money to cover the price of the books plus 7.8% sales tax.
• Every book purchased earns rewards for our school.
• This year, you may set up an eWallet for your child to make worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute!
• Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy.
• If you can’t make it to the Book Fair, you can shop at our school’s Online Book Fair. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Your online orders will also benefit our school.
Tuition Rates for 2023-24
Win a $500 Tuition Credit
Please help spread the word about St. John's to family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Refer any new family to St. John's for the 2023-24 school year and upon their official registration, your name will be entered to win a $500 tuition credit!
Ed Choice Scholarships
The enrollment period for both Traditional and Expansion Ed Choice Scholarships is open. Please click here to visit our school website for more information.
Join Our Team
Our Before and After Care program is seeking someone to work a few shifts per week. If you would be interested in working one Before Care and one to two After Care shifts per week, please contact our After Care Director, Ms. Cheryl McKeever at cmckeever@stjohnsdrschool.org.
Blue Jay Gallery 📸
Bye Bye Butterflies
Fine Arts Night
Congratulations to our students in grades 1-3 for their concert performance and artwork featured at the Fine Arts Night on Tuesday! The evening kicked off with a western music concert featuring songs celebrating cowboys, cowgirls, farmers and American folk music. Following the concert, families were able to view some artwork from our very talented Blue Jays.
A big thank you to our music teacher, Mrs. Jennifer Ossenschmidt, and our art teacher, Mrs. Lori Ann Wernicke, for all their time and dedication devoted to planning this special event.
***A video of the concert can be viewed below.
PTO Place
Mother-Son Luau Dance
A great time was had by all at our PTO Mother-Son Luau Dance on Saturday night! Thank you to the dance committee for planning this fun event for our school families.
Donuts with Dad ~ Friday, March 31
Athletic Boosters
Panther Football Sign-Ups
Football signups are now open through St. James. Football is open for grades K-8. See attached flyer for more information and to register.
Golf Program
St. John’s started a golf program 4 years ago and we have played in the WAC Golf League, https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=WACGOLF&s=htosports&p=home, which consist of most the West side Catholic schools that we compete against in other sports. We have had 10-15 participants each year, from grades 5-8, with a lot of positive feedback from those who have participated. Matches run from end of July to end September and are generally in the afternoon during the summer and then on the weekends once school starts.
The previous coordinator is stepping aside as his children have moved on to high school. We are looking for a new coordinator to continue on with the program. The time commitment is fairly minimal to coordinate. Responsibilities include: handling registration/signups on our website (April-May timeframe), ordering golf shirts for the participants, communication with the league on number of teams and schedule, setting up a Sign-Up genius for the golf matches, coordinating parent volunteers to attend the matches, arranging 1-2 practice sessions at the driving range, and attending the occasional league meeting.
If you have interest and would like more information please reach out to me. The prior coordinator has also offered to help transition and assist as needed.
Thanks for your consideration,
Brock Wilt
St. John’s Athletic Boosters
Parish News
Join Us For Our Last Fish Fry Of The Season
Fish Fry
March 31
Dine-in/Carry-Out
4:30-7:30 pm
Drive-Thru 4:30-7:00 pm
Proceeds will go to St. John's Help-A-Student Fund.
Would you like to meet some new people at our parish? If so, we would love to have you come and help out! To volunteer, please contact Jeana Wiesman at jdwiesman@gmail.com or 513-382-1260.
Create the Good Easter Project
St. John the Baptist Parish will be holding a Create the Good event on Tuesday, April 4 at 6:30 pm in the gym.
All are invited to join us to help fill 100+ personalized Easter Baskets for the children of Bethany House, which provides homeless and at-risk women and children with shelter, compassion and a pathway to self-sufficiency.
We are in need of the following items to fill the Easter baskets:
Easter Baskets, Buckets, & Grass
Girl & Boy Toys (under $5)
Coloring Books
Bubbles
Crafts
Playdoh
Puzzles
Beach Towels
Water Bottles
Gift Cards for Teens (ex: Target, Starbucks, Dicks, Game Stop, Dunkin, Walmart etc.)
Pre-wrapped Easter Candy only
*Side Walk Chalk was Already Donated*
Recipient breakdown for shoppers:
15 children ages 0-1 (5 girls, 10 boys)
25 children ages 2-5 (11 girls, 14 boys)
28 children ages 6-9 (19 girls, 9 boys)
19 children ages 10-13 (9 girls, 10 boys)
20 children ages 14-17 (15 girls, 5 boys)
Please bring donation items to the school office or the church gathering space and place them in the bins marked Create the Good. Thank you so much for your generosity!
Create the Good exists to reach out to our greater community by collaborating with local charities who are already responding to those in need, and supporting them with our time and goods.
Parish-Wide Lenten Almsgiving Project
Parish Survey
We want to hear from you!
To build a stronger, faith-filled community at each parish within our family, we are hoping to learn more about you, our parishioners, and your experience with the liturgy! We appreciate your honest & charitable feedback.
Please take 5-10 minutes to complete this survey by following the link below. Paper copies are available in the bulletin and Gathering Space. Multiple family members may participate.
Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/PmfkqZo963m7A4a9A
Tyler Castrucci
Family Faith Formation Pastoral Associate
St. John the Baptist, Corpus Christi, St. John Neumann
513-385-8010 (ext. 119)
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School returns this summer! Mark your calendars for July 10-14, 2023 at St. John the Baptist Parish. VBS is open to all children 4 years old to 4th grade within our family of parishes.
Volunteers are needed! In addition to parent volunteers, VBS is a great opportunity for older kids needing service hours. Please contact Tyler Castrucci (tcastrucci@stjohnsdr.org) or Cathy Hale (cathyknueven@hotmail.com) if you have any questions or are interested in becoming a volunteer.
2023 St. John's Festival
Our St. John the Baptist Festival is being moved up a week this year. Mark your calendars for some great family fun and some amazing music from the Naked Karate Girls, Gen X and The Whammies!
Community Connection
Northside K of C Sand Volleyball
Join a sand volleyball team this summer at Northside Knights of Columbus! Please see flyer below for more details.
Mercy McAuley Euchre Night on April 1
Grade school parents are invited to Mercy McAuley High School’s Euchre Night on Saturday, April 1 in Mercy McAuley’s cafeteria! Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and games begin at 7:15 p.m. Hosted by Mercy McAuley’s Parent Pack, this event is a great way to meet other parents and friends, as new teams will be formed after every round - all while supporting Mercy McAuley! The cost is $25 per person, which includes beer, seltzers, drinks, snacks and prizes. There will also be split-the-pot and 10X! Register online at www.mercymcauley.org/euchre.
La Salle Grade School Volleyball Night
Grade school students, K-8, are invited to enjoy free admission to watch the Division 1 Lancer volleyball team on Monday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. Please contact Shannon Memory at smemory@lasallehs.net with any questions.
Elder Spring Sport Grade School Nights
Free admission for all grade school students at these select sporting events!
Friday, April 14 – Volleyball Grade School Night | 7:00pm | Elder Volleyball Gym
Tuesday, April 18 – Tennis Grade School Night | 4:30pm | Panther Athletic Complex
Wednesday, April 19 – Baseball Grade School Night | 5:00pm | Panther Athletic Complex
Monday, April 24 – Lacrosse Grade School Night | 7:30pm | Elder -The Pit
Find more information at ehsports.com.
Elder Spring Fine Art Events
Wednesday, April 19 – Backstage Pass | 5:30pm | Seton Auditorium
Join the Seton & Elder Performing Arts Series for their performance of Mary Poppins.
For $10 receive dinner, a backstage tour, and a ticket to the show! Available to current 5th, 6th
& 7th Grade Students! Register at www.elderhs.org/backstagepass.
Sunday, April 30 – Art Show | 1:00pm | Elder High School
Check out the annual Elder Art Show! Open to the public, this is a great way to visit our
campus and view the artistic creations of our students!
Ursuline Spring Events
Spring Open House
Sunday, April 23, 2023, 1:00-3:00 pm
Join us this spring for a new, individualized open house experience! Take a mini class, participate in student life, hear from current families, and more! The Spring Open House is for all prospective families - whether your daughter is a 5th, 6th, or 7th grader starting to explore high school options, an 8th grader who has not yet made a high school decision, or a potential transfer student, you are welcome!
Registration opens on April 1st at www.ursulineacademy.org/admissions/open-house
Mother and Daughter Paint Night
Thursday, May 11 from 5:45 to 8:00 pm
All 6th and 7th grade girls and their Moms (or Mother figures) are invited to join us at Ursuline for a painting night just in time for Mother's Day! One of our beloved Art Teachers, Ms. Kara Sheldon will be teaching you how to paint your own flowers in a vase using painting techniques and paper collages.
Join us for snacks before and come prepared to paint! One canvas for each student, as this will be a project Mom and Daughter work on together!
Register at www.ursulineacademy.org/admissions/admissions-events
Summer Camps
Mercy McAuley
Registration for Mercy McAuley High School’s Summer Sports and Enrichment Camps is now open!
Please visit www.mercymcauley.org/camps for camp details and to register. Space is limited, so register today!
La Salle
La Salle is excited to welcome back our Summer Camp opportunities for local grade school and incoming high school students. Below is a list of camps offered this year as well as a description of each. To register, please click here. All camps are for boys unless otherwise indicated. We look forward to having your son on campus this summer!
For general questions, contact Nathan Gullette at ngullette@lasallehs.net. For specific camp questions, contact the camp leader listed in the camp description.
Seton
Find Your Light at Seton Summer Camps! With a wide variety of special interest and athletic camps, there is sure to be something for everyone! Camps are available for incoming 1st-9th graders and registration is open online at setoncincinnati.org. Space is limited in some camps, so get your friends together and sign up today!
Elder
Elder High School Placement Test (HSPT) Prep Camp
Looking to improve your score on the upcoming HSPT? The Elder HSPT Prep Camp offers rising 8th grade students an opportunity to learn test taking strategies and prepare for the HSPT. A better score can help you earn a merit-based scholarship!
Session 1 - July 10 - 13, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Session 2 - July 24 - 27, 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Register at www.elderhs.org/hsptcamp
Elder Fun Camp
The Elder Fun Camp is a great opportunity for your son to have a fun summer experience. Led by Elder students, your son will participate in a wide range of activities and meet new friends!
Two sessions are available and are based on the age of your son:
Dates: July 6th & 7th
Morning session for boys in Grades 3, 4 & 5: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Afternoon session for boys in Grades 6, 7 & 8: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Register at www.elderhs.org/funcamp
Elder Summer Camps
Check out and sign up for the many summer camps offered by Elder High School at www.elderhs.org/summercamps
St. Xavier
This summer St. Xavier is excited to offer a variety of summer camps where current and prospective students, as well as boys and girls in grade school, will meet new friends, explore the St. Xavier campus, and experience the core tenets of a Jesuit education. Through hands-on, community-based activities, St. Xavier’s teachers and coaches promote fun summer experiences filled with learning opportunities. Minecraft, filmmaking, guitar, acting, makers space, and a variety of sports camps are offered.
Class of 2028: St. Xavier is offering the first-ever Summer Enrichment Program! Through a mix of academic, cultural, social, and athletic activities, the SEP provides an excellent opportunity for students to become acquainted with life at St. X. Students will make a film, break out of an escape room, and build and race a soap box derby car. Register your son today for a fun-filled summer of meeting future classmates and having fun! This program is offered to rising 8th-grade boys only.
Camps will sell out early so register today! Click here to register.
Moeller
Hosted by Moeller faculty, coaches, and current students, Moeller youth camps offer age-appropriate activities for boys and girls grades K-12 that encourage skill development, teamwork, curiosity, positive attitudes, and a lot of fun – taught the Moeller Way! Our popular camps sell out fast, so be sure to register today at www.MoellerCamps.org! Questions? Please contact Kate George at MoellerCamps@Moeller.org or call (513) 618-9614.
St. Ursula
There is something for everyone this summer at Saint Ursula Academy! Registration is now open for Saint Ursula Summer Academy and Athletic Camps. Does your daughter dream of baking and decorating cookies? Is she a natural-born leader, driven to make the world a better place? Would she prefer to be tossing a ball or playing a guitar? Does she dream of being on stage? Or would she rather spend the day "Writing Away?" Does she look to her future and know that she will be a famous researcher, scientist, or computer programmer? Whatever topics captivate 2nd-8th grade girls, they are sure to be a part of one of our Summer Academy or Athletic Camps! To see full descriptions, or to register, please click here.
Ursuline
Special Interest Camps
Week of June 5 - 9
- Exploring Fairytales Camp (rising 1st - 3rd grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Creative Writing Camp (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Camp CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Step into STEM Camp (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 1:00 - 3:00 pm
- Camp Escape Room (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Week of June 12 - 16
- Laurel Lego Camp (rising 1st - 3rd grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Photography Camp (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Robotics Camp (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Week of June 19 - 23
- Future Lions Camp (rising 1st - 5th grade girls) - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm - Only a few spots left
- Vocal Vacation Camp (vocal music) (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
- Instrumental Immersion Camp (instrumental music) (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Week of June 26 - 30
- Go Go Lions Camp (rising 1st - 3rd grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am
- Lion's Paw Productions (theatre) - (rising 6th - 8th grade girls and boys) - 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Updated Show to "Annie Kids"
- Taste of France: French Cooking and Language (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 9:00 - 11:00 am or 1:00 - 3:00 pm (same program for morning and afternoon session)
- Craft your heART out! (rising 6th - 8th grade girls) - 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Athletic Camps
- Basketball Camp (rising) 4th-6th graders - June 5-8, 11:00-1:00
- Basketball Camp (rising) 7th-9th graders - June 12-15, 11:00-1:00
- Dance Camp (rising) 4th-9th graders - July 24-27, 12:00-3:00pm
- Field Hockey Camp (rising) 6th-9th graders - June 19-22, 8:00-10:00
- Soccer Camp (rising) 6th-9th graders - June 5-8, 9:00-11:30
- Tennis Camp (rising) 7th-9th graders - June 12-15, 9:00-11:00
- Volleyball - Little Lions - 1st-4th graders - Wednesdays in April, 5:00-7:00 pm
- Volleyball (rising) 5th-6th graders - June 5-8, 4:00-6:30 pm
- Volleyball (rising) 7th-8th graders - June 19-22, 4:00-6:30 pm
- Volleyball (rising) 5th-8th graders - July 17-20, 4:00-6:30 pm
For more information contact Athletic Director Colleen O'Brien '93 at cobrien@ursulineacademy.org.
**Campers attending a morning and afternoon camp may bring a packed lunch and stay between the camp times for supervised free time in Ursuline's cafeteria (no charge).
**Campers can 'extend their day' for early drop off or late pick up (depending on camp time) for supervised free time at UA with provided games, crafts, and activities.
Morning extend your day:
- For 8:30am start time camps - drop off beginning at 7:30am ($10 per day)
- For 9:00am start time camps - drop off beginning at 7:30am ($15 per day)
Afternoon extend your day:
- For 3:00pm end time camps - pick up no later than 5:00pm ($20 per day)
For more information contact Assistant Admissions Director Mary Claire Simpson at msimpson@ursulineacademy.org
HSPT Prep Course
Ursuline will offer two full practice test options for students enrolled in any of the test prep courses on Saturday, July 29 and Saturday, October 28. You are welcome to participate in one or both, regardless of which prep class you are taking. The full practice test offers students the opportunity to take the practice test in an authentic, timed, school environment, very similar to what you would experience on the actual testing day. Students who are not able to attend either of the full practice tests can complete a full practice test at home from the provided workbook.
Please see attached fliers for High School Placement Test prep and summer camp opportunities.
Alumni News
Sharing News
We love to share exciting news about our St. John's alumni with our school community! If you have an older child or know anyone who graduated from St. John's who has an achievement to share, please send information and any photos to Laura Heidorn at lheidorn@stjohnsdrschool.org.