2020 VIRTUAL Back to School Night
St. John Nepomuk Catholic School
BTSN and First Days Information
Thanks for stopping by to take care of important back to school items. On the page below you will see a variety of important back to school items and information. Please read through this information carefully. As you know, most if not all school procedures have been adjusted to maintain safety and keep our physical campus open as much as possible. I sincerely appreciate your cooperation in following the procedures described in this page as well as those for Meet the Teacher Night. Please know that anytime you access the building, a temperature check and mask is required. Once school begins and students are in session, parents/families will not be permitted to access the building until it is safe to do so. The information contained in this page should take care of all required back to school items.
If you utilize the online form to purchase apparel or a nap mat, please be sure to indicate your preferred pick-up time. This will ensure that items purchased are ready for pickup. At a minimum, each family should plan to stop by the school prior to the start of school to pick up a back to school bag containing your handbook, Covid-19 Assumption of Risk Waiver, dismissal tags, Aug/Sep Lunch Menu, Dollar Jeans Pre-Pay form, and Auction Free Dress form. There will also be a return envelope for each family. Please return any purchases or forms back to the office on the first day using this envelope. A checklist was added to help families take care of necessary items. Date and time options to collect information for your family are:
- Meet the Teacher August 5
- Meet the Teacher August 6
- Meet the Teacher August 10
- August 5 Office Hours 8-4
- August 7 Office Hours 8-4
With adjusted procedures, it is even more imperative to be certain you have dismissal tags prior to the first day of school. The format this year includes your family name and a specific family number. PLEASE use the 2020-2021 tag as you go through the dismissal line. It is a different type of tag than those issued in previous years. It should be displayed on your rear-view mirror hanger with the text facing out. Using this format will avoid chaos, confusion and delays to our adjusted dismissal process.
In order to focus our attention on safely reopening our school on August 12, we will not officially begin our Aftercare program until August 19. I know that this delay will be an inconvenience for families, but it is necessary to place priority on effective operations within the entire school first. (please read additional information on Aftercare below.)
Be sure to pack your patience these first few days of school. We fully expect arrival and dismissal to be delayed due to adjusted procedures. Remember SAFETY is our number one focus and goal. Families will not be penalized for tardies due to routine heath screenings.
I will email a Zoom link for the live Back to School Night presentation for new families. Returning families do not have any live presentations to participate in as part of Back to School Night. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
For the Kids,
Natalie Johnson
Principal
Back to School Family Bags
- August and September Lunch Menu
- Dollar Jeans Pre-Pay Form
- Auction Free Dress Form
- Covid-19 Waiver (can be completed online HERE)
- 2020-2021 SJN School Handbook
- (4) Dismissal Tags - UPDATED for 2020 - Please throw your old tags away!
- An envelope to use to return any completed items back to the office once school begins.
First School Mass (K-8) is August 21. We will not have school mass on August 14.
SJN Uniform Helpers by Grade Level & Day of Week:
PK3 & PK4: All days in grey SJN t-shirt with navy uniform bottoms.
Kindergarten-3RD Grade: Mon. & Wed. in PE shirt option with navy uniform bottoms. Tues. & Thurs. in polo shirt with navy uniform bottoms. Friday is Mass uniform unless mass is attended earlier in week.
4TH-5TH Grade: Mon. & Wed. in polo shirt with navy uniform bottoms. Tues. & Thurs. in PE shirt option with navy uniform bottoms. Friday is Mass uniform unless mass is attended earlier in week.
Middle School: Mon. & Wed. in polo shirt with navy uniform bottoms. Tues. is House t-shirt with navy uniform bottoms. Thurs. is PE shirt option with navy uniform bottoms. Friday is Mass uniform unless mass is attended earlier in week. Incoming 6th graders and new middle school students should plan to wear the grey SJN t-shirt on Tuesdays until after the House retreat.
*We will gather on Friday, August 21 for our first school Mass. We will not gather for Mass this Friday, August 14. Dress for K-8 for Friday, August 14 is the polo shirt with navy uniform bottoms.*
Homeroom Parent Sign Up
Before Care Information
Athletics and CGSAA
Summer Reading and Math
Assumption of Risk and Waiver of Liability Relating to COVID-19
We are required to have a waiver on file for each student prior to being physically present in the building. Please complete the waiver through this linked form below or by completing the paper copy given to each family.
The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) has been declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 is extremely contagious and is believed to spread mainly through person-to-person contact.
COVID-19 has sickened thousands and killed hundreds in Oklahoma. There is substantial evidence of community spread of COVID-19 throughout Oklahoma and most other states. St. John Nepomuk Catholic School is following guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and other agencies, and has implemented social distancing measures, increased hand-washing and other hygienic practices, and frequent cleaning of common surfaces. Despite such precautions, the risks associated with transmission of COVID-19 remain high. Individuals travel from all over the community to participate in the activities of the school. In addition, the nature of many activities makes it impossible to observe all of the recommended precautions all of the time; for example, individuals will not always be six feet apart, surfaces will not always be free of viruses and other infectants, etc. As a result of participation in the activities of the school and proximity to other participants, you or your child will be exposed to the risk of infection of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. Symptoms associated with COVID-19 range from mild to severe, and include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, headache, nausea, severe respiratory distress and death.
By signing this form and allowing your child to participate in programs offered by St. John Nepomuk Catholic School, you knowingly and voluntarily assume the risk associated with participation.
Better Together: Back to the Building Plan
Dear St. John Nepomuk Catholic School Faculty, Staff and Families,
It is with great enthusiasm that I share with you our site-based plans to return to in-person learning this fall. This document reflects much prayer, discernment and research with the ultimate goal of minimizing instructional disruptions and remaining in-person and on-site for much of the upcoming school year. The single most important factor in being able to maintain the routines of in-person classes, is the shared commitment of all community members. This will require and necessitate a commitment from all. Everything we do at St. John Nepomuk is rooted in our rich Catholic faith. In preparing to read and apply the protocols and procedures included in this document, I would like to frame our school approach using the seven themes of Catholic Social Teachings. The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society (USCCB).
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred. In the midst of this global pandemic, we can’t be separated by individual views and opinions, but rather we must be guided by research and science that ensures that human life is protected and risks are as minimal as possible. We believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person (USCCB).
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our school community during this global pandemic -- in all aspects -- directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. In order to be Better Together, there must be diligent and dedicated care and concern for each member of our school community to safely move forward. We must examine what is critical for daily life and minimize as much unnecessary risk and exposure as possible.
Rights and Responsibilities
The Catholic tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for safety. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger school community. (USCCB)
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
God's word teaches that our brothers and sisters are the extension of the incarnation for each of us: "As you did it to one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it to me" (Mt 25:40). The way we treat others has lasting consequences and implications. Many of our St. John families are suffering during this unprecedented time. Above everything else, grace and compassion will shape our response to the needs of our community during this time. Care and concern for others must be a top priority for all. The viability of our school is dependent upon serving all and caring for the poor and even the most vulnerable.
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation and building God’s kingdom. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected (USCCB). As we look to resuming in-person classes this fall, we must not neglect the needs of our dedicated St. John Nepomuk Faculty and Staff. Some staff are at an elevated risk due to age or medical conditions. We must be vigilant and dedicated to the dignity and protection of these individuals at all times.
Solidarity
We are one human family whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. We are our brothers and sisters keepers, wherever they may be. Loving our neighbor has global dimensions in a shrinking world. One way that we ensure solidarity as a school family during this time is to be united in our dedication to safety for all. It is only through being united as one school family that we will re-open our physical school building safely.
Care for God's Creation
We show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just a slogan reserved for Earth Day, it is a requirement of our faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation. (USCCB) The daily choices we make have implications for all. We show care for others by implementing safety guidelines and modifying our daily life to be mindful and diligent to best ensure safety for all.
As this global situation continues to evolve, one thing should remain unchanged, we are a hopeful people. We cannot be defined by our fear or the unknown, but rather place our trust in the Holy Spirit to guide our processes and plans. The plans included in this document are a work in progress. The most critical element is establishing updated school procedures and protocols to ensure safety at the campus level. We are also working to refine areas of Academics and Social Emotional needs of faculty, staff and students. Those additions will be included within this document as approved by the Catholic Schools Office. As we look to the 2020-2021 school year, things will look different, but in the words of St. Pope John Paul II, “Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch…. I plead with you--never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.” I am humbled to walk through this evolving situation with our SJN faculty, staff, students and families. We will get through this challenging time, and we will be Better Together because of it.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Natalie Johnson
Principal, St. John Nepomuk Catholic School
Please use your dismissal tag each day to expedite our process!
School Merchandise Order Form
We are not selling the SJN Spirit wear through this form. Please see the Spirit Wear form below for those offerings.
Submitting this form will direct to Paypal where you can pay with your Paypal account or credit/debit card. If you have technical issues, email Mrs. Johnson at njohnson@sjnok.org.
SJN Spirit Wear Ordering
This form linked below will be utilized to order IN-STOCK St. John spirit wear. All grade levels may wear these shirts on once-monthly designated Dollar Jeans Day. Please note, this is a different form than the general merchandise order form above. Only grades K-8 can wear t-shirt options on the designated PE day. All grades may wear the grey or sherpa pullover as part of the uniform for cooler weather. Please note that these shirts are not required. Families may choose between these shirts and the grey SJN PE shirt for the designated PE shirt days. Please remit check or cash to the school office to pay for ordered items no later than August 15. Items not paid for by August 15 will be added back to in-stock status and the order will be considered cancelled. The items on this form are all in-stock and ready for pickup. If you don't see what you need here, please know we will do an all school order for all SJN spirit wear in the coming weeks. Watch the newsletter for more updates.
SJN Cafeteria Information
You should expect to receive an email from sjnkitchen@benchmarkfoodgroup.com prior to school starting with a pin number to create or access each student account. Once you create the account, you will be able to sign in and monitor activity as well as add funds. You can also send lunch money with your student in the form of cash or check. Please label payments.
** Please keep your account in a positive standing. We try extremely hard to keep debts to a minimum, but need your help keeping your accounts current! Lunch accounts will be suspended if a family has a negative balance higher than $75.
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
All accounts are managed via the LUNCHTIME software system. Using the online portal, you can set personal alerts, make payments, view transactions, auto-deduct, and more. Get started by going to www.schoolpaymentportal.com.
1) Create your own account prior to adding your kids.
2) Log back in to account using your newly created account info.
3) Click on "Add Student" and input the school zip code (73099) and select the school.
4) Use the Name as it appears above and the User ID provided above to complete the process.
5) Add additional children as needed.
PAYMENTS
Check payments can be sent to the office or cafeteria. Please make checks payable to the school and note your child's name. Note any allocation instructions in the notes part of the check if using one payment for multiple children. Payments can also be made via the LUNCHTIME website portal as detailed above. Please note that online transactions incur small service fees via our provider and are outlined in the payment process.
EMAIL ALERTS
-- Note that each student has his/her own account, so it is possible for you to receive multiple emails if you have more than one child. All notices you receive will pertain to one specific student.
-- We will push out emails to the email address on your child's account (or any other emails we have in our contacts database for your account) when an account reaches approximately $10 POSITIVE. This should allow you time to replenish your account and avoid service interruption.
-- If you do not receive the Benchmark welcome email, please contact the office.
CONTACT US
If you need anything, please email us sjnkitchen@benchmarkfoodgroup.com. Email is our preferred method of communication!
Thank you!
Benchmark Food Group - SJN Kitchen
sjnkitchen@benchmarkfoodgroup.com
Each Student is Required to Have (2) Clean and Labeled Masks for Each School Day! Please Add This to Your Back to School Prep!
Aftercare Program
In order to focus our attention on safely reopening our school on August 12, we will not officially begin our Aftercare program until August 19. I know that this delay will be an inconvenience for families, but it is necessary to place priority on effective operations within the entire school first.
To appropriately staff our program, Any family wishing to enroll in Aftercare and begin attending on or after August 19, will need to follow the link below to officially enroll in the program no later than August 12. Please know that additional enrollments will be approved on a case by case basis as staffing, safety and distancing allows. I know that many families are continuing to work from home, and Aftercare is not needed until physically returning to work. Please communicate with the school when/if you need to enroll in the program after August 19. We will do everything within our means to honor that enrollment.
We continue to establish adjusted procedures and routines for Aftercare. Please check our Better Together: Back to the Building Plan over the next few days as Aftercare procedures and routines will be outlined for families. We will also share these with enrolled families via email.
If you have questions about our Aftercare Program, please reach out to Darcy Wilson at dwilson@sjnok.org.
Subscribe to SJN Catholic School Calendar
All important school events are added to a Google Calendar that is visible on our school website. Parents and families may also subscribe to this calendar to see school events alongside their own calendar events. To subscribe, please visit this LINK and click the plus sign in the bottom right corner of the page. Once the calendar has opened, please follow the prompts to integrate to your existing calendar.
Vocations Crucifix Program
Please sign up using the link below!
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Heard at dheard@sjnok.org. Thank you!
Meet the Teacher Night Information
We invite our families to return to our physical school building for three scheduled and staggered evenings for Meet the Teacher Night. The schedule for these evenings is below. Please know that Meet the Teacher Night is optional. Much time and effort has been put into staggering access to the building to maintain distancing efforts. Meet the Teacher Night is an informal gathering that is come and go. To minimize individuals in the building, each student may have only 2 parents/guardians attend, and we strongly discourage the attendance of other siblings, friends and family members. During these sessions, parents and students may visit with their teacher and see their classroom. Families are welcome to bring their school supplies to leave at their desk that evening to avoid overstuffed backpacks on the first day of school. We will also put our arrival health screenings in action by performing temperature checks as families arrive. All those attending are required to wear a mask or face covering. Middle school students will also have an opportunity to decorate and organize their lockers during this time.
Meet the Teacher Night Schedule - ONLY the grades listed on the schedule below will be available on the designated dates/times. Other grade level teachers will not be present and classrooms will not be available for drop off of supplies on alternate dates. Thanks for your help in hosting Meet the Teacher Night safely and ensuring that we can adequately distance visitors in the building.
August 5
5:00-6:30 pm
Grades Pre-K 4, 1, 5 & 8 - Family Last Name A-K
August 5
6:30-8:00 pm
Grades Pre-K 4, 1, 5 & 8- Family Last Name L-Z
August 6
5:00-6:30 pm
Grades Pre-K 3 Croom, KND, 3 & 6 - Family Last Name A-K
August 6
6:30-8:00 pm
Grades Pre-K 3 Croom, KND, 3 & 6 - Family Last Name L-Z
August 10
5:00-6:30 pm
Grades Pre-K 3 Curtis, 2, 4, 7 - Family Last Name A-K
August 10
6:30-8:00 pm
Grades Pre-K 3 Curtis, 2, 4, 7 - Family Last Name L-Z
St. John Nepomuk Catholic School
Principal
We're all first-year teachers and principals this year! Thanks for your trust, compassion and grace.
Email: principal@sjnok.org
Website: sjnok.org/school
Phone: 405-354-2509
Facebook: facebook.com/sjnok