Today in Mass, Father Sebastian talked about what we seek in our future.

How we can be ready for our lives to be formed in the image and hands of God.

You can learn more about careers out there that are beyond your personal self.

You can always talk and learn with others to build up your social and education skills.

Victor, 7th grade

“What are you looking for” is what Jesus said to the disciples. They told him they were

Looking for a rabbi or teacher. One of the disciples, Andrew, found his brother and said,

“We have found the Messiah”. What I learned is if you seek you will find, especially if you

are dedicated. We as Christians seek God and a relationship with him. We want to be

dedicated to God and be the very best Christian we can be.

Gaby, 7th grade.

SJCS will have school on Monday, February 20, 2023. This is our Hurricane Make Up Day from the day that we missed for Hurricane Nicole. Students in grades 2-8 will begin standardized testing this day. It’s important ALL students are in school.

It's hard to believe that it is already that time! The Reregistration window for the 2023-2024 school year opens on Monday, January 9th. The deadline to reregister will be at 3pm on Friday, January 27th.

A couple reminders as we approach the reregistration window:

• All financial accounts, including Maschio's (lunch), must be up-to-date. Families with an outstanding balance will not receive the link to reregister.
• To be considered "in good standing," all families must contribute (and log) 20 volunteer hours in Renweb. Only those students whose parents have contributed the full 20 hours will be accepted. Those parents who still need to contribute their hours may be placed on provisional acceptance pending the completion of the 20 volunteer hours. Please remember that volunteer hours are an expectation of all families of students at SJCS.
• The reenrollment fee of $250 will be billed to all current families of students in PreK 3 through Grade 7 in mid-January. If you do not intend to return to SJCS for the coming school year, or you need to create a payment plan for the reregistration fee, please contact Mrs. Brown by email at sbrown@stjosephwhschool.org. Please expect an email reply from her confirming receipt of your email. Without that written confirmation, you will be billed.

All parents are asked to make plans to attend the PTO General Meeting at 6pm on Tuesday, January 17th in the Parish Center. Mrs. Haas will be presenting the tuition and fees for the coming school year, as well as discussing scholarship opportunities. Additionally, our PTO board will be highlighting upcoming events on campus. Remember that attending PTO Meetings counts for service hours for parents. *Children should not attend. The meeting will last less than an hour.

We will begin accepting applications for new students to SJCS beginning on Monday, January 9th. By beginning the application process next week, it will allow families the opportunity to collect and submit all necessary paperwork before the 1st of February, when we will begin accepting new students.

If you know of anyone considering SJCS for their child next year, please encourage them to apply beginning on Monday. Applications will be considered on a first come, first served basis.

As we begin to prepare for the 2023-2024 school year, we have adopted a Mass dress uniform for all students in grades 4-8. This will be effective in the Fall of 2023. Boys in grades 4-8 will wear dress pants, a button down SJCS shirt, and a tie. Girls in grades 4-8 will have a plaid dress skort, a dress shirt and a tie. These uniform pieces will be sold through Sir Walter. Shoe requirement on dress uniform days will be: Girls: all black tennis shoe or a black dress flat. Boys: all black tennis shoe or a boat shoe.

Additionally, we will begin to phase out the red SJCS polo shirt and replace it with a grey SJCS polo for all students in kindergarten through grade 8. The red polo will be acceptable until May of 2024. Grey polo shirts will be sold and acceptable beginning in August of 2023.

As you know, uniforms are a staple of most Catholic schools. They are an outward sign of the discipline and respect we strive to foster in our students. Please prayerfully consider this change, and the uniform policy as a whole, as you make commitments for the next school year.

We are looking forward to our inaugural Nun Run on January 21. Please be sure to use the discount code SJCS20 when registering. We hope you will consider joining us. The class with the highest participation will receive an ice cream party. The deadline to register and be guaranteed a race tshirt is today, Thursday, January 5th.

Mark your calendar and make plans to join us on Friday, January 27th for Family Movie Night. We will be showing Encanto on the soccer field beginning at 6pm. This is always a fun night for the whole family. More information to be coming soon. Hope to see you there.

As is customary, students will read and carry up the gifts at all parish Masses on January 28 and 29th. If your child(ren) is interested in reading at one of the parish Masses that weekend, please email Mrs. Haas at thaas@stjosephwhschool.org.

Parents of students at SJCS are reminded of our policy regarding posting pictures of students and school events on social media.

Families may post pictures of groups of children. However, the children should not be identified by name or grade level. Additionally, we request that you refrain from including any other identifiable information. We thank you for respecting this policy and the privacy of students at SJCS.

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said,
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word,
that I too may go and do him homage.”
After their audience with the king they set out.
And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them,
until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.
They were overjoyed at seeing the star,
and on entering the house
they saw the child with Mary his mother.
They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Then they opened their treasures
and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod,
they departed for their country by another way.

- Mt 2:1-12

This section of the Eagle's Eye will remain in every edition of our newsletter. It will contain links to information that parents may need from time to time. When parents have questions, we urge you to check this section for possible links that could get you the information that you need.

• School Calendar: https://stjosephwhschool.org/wp-content/uploads/calendar-for-parents.pdf
• Parent-Student Handbook: https://stjosephwhschool.org/wp-content/uploads/St.-Joseph-Parent-Student-Handbook-2022-202-Repaired.pdf
• Menus: https://stjosephwhschool.nutrislice.com/
• Registering for a Lunch Account: https://www.payschoolscentral.com/
• PikMyKid User Guide: https://stjosephwhschool.org/wp-content/uploads/1-_Parent-App-User-Guide_English_2021.pdf
• Fingerprinting/Safe Environment Certification Instructions: https://stjosephwhschool.org/wp-content/uploads/SEC-with-Code.pdf
• Fingerprinting/Safe Environment Certification: https://www.orlandodiocese.org/safe-environment/english/
• Uniform Company: https://store.sirwalteruniforms.com/schools/st-josephs-winter-haven.html
• FACTS Family Portal Login: https://logins2.renweb.com/logins/ParentsWeb-Login.aspx
• FACTS Family Portal Instructions: https://stjosephwhschool.org/wp-content/uploads/FACTS_Family_Portal_Parent_Access_Instructions.pdf
• Logging Service Hours: Parents and students can now enter and view their own service hours. You can use your app to view the hours, however, you have to use the web version to enter new hours. go https://logins2.renweb.com/logins/parentsweb-login.aspx The district code is STJC-FL. Once logged in, click on the Family option in the menu on the left side. At the top of the screen, select the family member who will be adding the service hours. Click on the Add option on the right side of the screen in the Service Hours box. Fill out the information and click Save.