SJCS Family Newsletter
August 2022
One of my favorite parts of gearing up for back-to-school is picking a theme for the year. While this is likely a throwback to my English teacher days, I do think that a theme can bring out great unity and cohesion while simultaneously including a clear start and stop much like a chapter in a book.
Thus, our theme for this year is Both/And. Please allow me to explain in a little more detail.
I first encountered the idea of the paradox while reading Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart, a book about emotions and the power that comes from accurately identifying what we feel when we feel it. More specifically, Brown details that the language we use to identify how we feel allows us to communicate better and support one another in a deeper, more meaningful manner.
As I read the book, the emotion Brown defined that caught my attention was the emotion bittersweet. The idea that two seemingly opposite ideas or things could simultaneously coexist was something that ignited my brain and also confused it.
I began to dig into what the idea of the paradox could mean in other arenas. After visiting with Fr. Brian, I quickly came to realize what an important piece of theology this is to our faith. Bishop Robert Barron wrote an entire book about the paradoxes in the Catholic faith! I continued digging and found more examples from parenting and teaching.
The hard part about the idea of the paradox is that our brains usually prefer a solid answer (black or white)...gray is uncomfortable. And, I concur - gray is very uncomfortable for me, too. However, as I keep researching and reflecting, I am finding there is great learning and growth in the gray.
And, sometimes, it's not that the ideas have to be opposite, the key takeaway is recognizing that paradoxical things can coexist to make a new thing that is even more rich, more true, and more relevant to our experience.
So, with the start of a new year with a new theme, I pray that each of us is able to find the power that lies in the combinations, the gray, the both/and.
God bless & Go Eagles!
Mrs. Mishler
Letter from Fr. Brian & Mrs. Mishler regarding Daily Mass Changes
Prayers for a New School Year
Parental Choice for Education in Texas
Fr. Brian Eilers invites you to a discussion about school choice with experts from the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, Jennifer Allmon and Shannon Jaquette. The event takes place on Tuesday, August 23 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church Parish Activity Center. Meet and greet begins at 6:30PM, and the program is from 7:00-8:00PM.
As we emerge from the pandemic, a unique opportunity exists to have greater choice over the direction of your children’s education. Connect with other families and get informed! Click the link to RSVP - https://stjosephbcs.org/rsvp.
Football Field Sponsorships
You can order your sign and make your payment HERE. Please contact Maria Sotolongo at msotolongo@stjosephbcs.org.
We look forward to another great year of Eagle athletics!
SJCS Spirit Store
FAQ: Which of these items are students allowed to wear at school?
Students may wear any SJCS t-shirt (with regular uniform bottoms or jeans) on "spirit dress days." On Mass days and Holy Days of Obligation, students may wear a school embroidered black fleece jacket only with their Mass uniform. On all other days, students may wear a SJCS sweatshirt, hoodie, or jacket with their daily uniform.
Back-to-School Mass & Meet the Teacher
Fall Picture Day
Uniform Charts
New Lunch Company - Wholesome Food Services
- Order daily, weekly, or occasionally
- Meal prices average between $5-8 dollars each
- Lunches are individually prepared and delivered fresh each day
- Gluten-free and vegetarian items available on many menus
- WFS donates a portion of the lunch purchases directly back to our school
- You can place orders up until 1 PM the day before delivery
- You can order up to 60 days in advance
- You can cancel up until 8 AM the day of delivery
Registration is free - sign up today!
- Go to www.wholesomefoodservices.com
- Select Register to create an account
- Set up a profile for each child by selecting Add Profile
- Enter St. Joseph Catholic School and select Elementary or Secondary
- Enter your child's name and upcoming grade level (leave the teacher & lunch period blank)
- Select Order Now to view menus and place orders
- Enter your credit/debit card information to pay securely online
Prayer Request Portal
EIM Training
The Diocese of Austin has reopened the online training portal and it is available in both English and Spanish. The links will close again on January 2, 2023.
If you have never been EIM trained before, you must complete an in-person training first. To do that, log on to https://www.austindiocese.org/eimapplication to create an account. Then, you will be able to see upcoming trainings in our area for which you can register.
School Supply Lists
Students are welcome to bring their personal supplies to Open House on Sunday, August 14th.
School Calendar Change
- Monday, November 28 - Normal School Day
- Monday, January 16 - School Holiday
Upcoming Events
Aug 16 - First Day of School
Aug 22 - Eagle Pride Night, 6:00 PM @ The Complex
Aug 23 - Fall Picture Day (PK-12)
Aug 24 - School Board Meeting, 6:00 PM @ Secondary Library
Sep 5 - No School/Labor Day Holiday
Sep 6 - No School/Staff Development Day
Sep 9 - Grandparents Day Lunch (Elementary)
End of Day Dismissal
Welcome New Teachers
Immunization Reminder
Click HERE for a chart that explains which immunizations are needed at each age to be/stay enrolled at our school. If you have questions about your immunization records, please email Mrs. Tietjen at mtietjen@stjosephbcs.org.
Traffic Flow Changes
High school drivers will park on the back side lot opposite the parent loop.
The front parking lot will be reserved for staff and guests.
Updated Bell Schedule
The biggest change to note is the new school start time of 8:15 AM. This allows for better supervision before school and eases travel conflicts for families that have students at both campuses. This adjustment also aligns better with the Blinn class schedule so our dual credit students are able to continue taking those courses.
We also added a 30-minute block of time called Advocate that will allow for our student organizations to meet, for students to check in with teachers for extra support/tutorials, and for students to connect with each other through digital citizenship lessons, social emotional learning, and team building activities.