What Happens During Catholic Schools Week at SJB?
At SJB, Catholic Schools Week is celebrated when we serve others, help each other, pray the Rosary together, honor our parents and families, attend Mass together, eat lunch together, read together, and play together.
Here's what the students will be doing in school during Catholic Schools Week:
Monday: Older students will visit younger students in lower-grade classrooms and help them make Valentine Cards, which will be handed out to families receiving food from the St. Camillus Food Pantry.
All classes will be collecting food for the pantry to help feed hungry families. See the flyer below to see what food we need.
Friday Night, Jan. 31: Kids' Night Bingo in the SJB Gym
Family Day at SJB
SJB Family Day: Thursday, Jan. 30
Family Open House: 8:30 to 10:30 am
Family Mass: 10:45 am
Family Lunch: After Mass (about 11:45 am)
Order Tickets for Kids' Night Bingo on Friday, Jan. 31
Here's the order form.
Volunteers Needed for Bingo
Please help by filling out the Bingo volunteer sign-up sheet.
Seeking Parents to Judge Arts & Academics
Here is a printable version of the A&A Judging Form.
Order Eighth Grade Valentines
Here is a printable Valentine Order Form.
Yearbook Recognition Ads
Would you like to order a Yearbook Recognition ad for your child or graduate? These ads are placed in the back section of the yearbook and are a great way to acknowledge the hard work and important milestones of your child. Ads can be purchased and designed online through the Jostens website listed on this flyer. All ad orders must be placed by Feb. 16th to make it into the yearbook. Questions? Contact SJB’s Yearbook Advisor at Chrissy.Leishear@sjbsilverspring.org
Visit www.jostensadservice.com
Click “Shop Your School”
Search for “St. John the Baptist Catholic School”
Register for an Account
Select your ad size, upload your photos and begin designing!
Here's the ticket-order form.
Volleyball Registration is Open
Registration is open for SJB Intramural Co-Ed Volleyball for girls and boys in 6th through 8th grades. Sessions will start mid-January and the program runs through March on Sunday evenings from 6 to 7:30 in the SJB gym. Students from all parishes and schools are welcome to join. The cost is $50 and we will be able to accommodate 28 players. Register or learn more at www.sjbathletics.org. We're also looking for a volunteer to help coach. If you have any questions about the program or would like to volunteer, please contact volleyball Commissioner Crystal Vinson cryspyfry@gmail.com.
SJB Spring Auction & Gala Set for March
Like most Catholic schools, tuition is not enough to keep the school running and moving forward. Fundraising is critical to filling the gap. The annual auction and gala make up one fundraising event, and it's our school's primary fundraising event.
We are raising money this year to make improvements to the gymnasium.
Please support St. John the Baptist by donating an item to the auction, bidding on auction items when the auction goes live, and buying a ticket to the gala on Saturday, March 28.
Here's the auction form.
Thank You, Open House Tour Guides
Thank you, Open House tour guides including Colette Akande (Hannah 6th, Kayla 4th), Marycolleen Fry (Patrick 5th, Daniel 4th, Julianne K). Mary Lombardo (Jonathan 5th, Teddy 2nd), Jeanine Regan (Madelyn 3rd), and Merianne Spencer (Alicia 3rd, Saria 1st, Luci PK).
Friday's Open House was a great success.
If you know families who have missed our four open houses, please tell them to come to a Wednesday Walk.
Each Wednesday in February at 8:30 am, the principal will lead a tour of SJB for parents interested in sending their children to the school.
Students To Perform Aladdin for Spring Play
The SJB Spring Play is performed each year by middle-school students. This year's performance of Aladdin will take place in the SJB Theater (AKA the gym) on Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1.
Showtime will be 7 pm. See the Spring Play Page of this school website for information and updates on auditions and rehearsals.
Grandparents/Special Relatives Invited for Donuts with Students
Grandparents or special relatives (or special friends of students) are invited to have donuts with students on Friday, Feb. 21, at 7:45 am in the Lyon Center. Watch this space for more information. We will be asking for a response from those who plan to come so that we order enough donuts.Creative Writing Contest to Kick Off in February
The theme for this year's Creative Writing Contest will be announced on March 2. Creative writing contest entries will be due on March 27. Judging will be on April 1. The Creative Writing Award Ceremony will be at 2 pm on Friday, April 24, in the Lyon Center.
School Directory Accessible on Portal App
The school directory is accessible to families through the password-protected Parent Portal and the Parent Plus app on their phones. School parents may view the directory by staff, student, or parent.
Christmas Program and Nativity Play Videos Are On Portal
Links and password information for the 2019 Christmas Program and Pre-K Nativity Play are on the Parent Portal in School Links and Files.
Thank you, Kevin Trebel (Katelyn 7th), for making the videos.
SJB Website Available in Vietnamese
Trang web SJB có sẵn để đọc bằng tiếng Việt
SJB Website in Vietnamese: Trang web SJB bằng tiếng Việt
Tìm phiên bản tiếng Việt của trang web theo Tin tức học đường.
SJB Website Available in Spanish
El sitio web de SJB está disponible para leer en español
SJB Website in Spanish: Sitio web de SJB en español
Please Drive Carefully in the Neighborhood
What We Do When It Snows
St. John the Baptist follows the decisions of Montgomery County Public Schools regarding school cancellations, delayed openings, and early closings.
If school closes early, After Care and after-school activities will be cancelled. Please arrange for your child to be picked up early from school. I
Communication When School is Closing for Weather
Primary notification will come from Montgomery County Public Schools through the media. Please check a reliable media outlet, such as WTOP closings, for decisions on school closings, or sign up for a weather alert with MCPS.
SJB will notify families of an early school closing decision by text and email. Also, check SJBSilverSpring Twitter.
Communication to parents works only when family contact information is correct. Please update email addressed on your TADS Household page. If you update your email address on TADS, please also notify the school secretary by email (georgine.baugher@sjbsilverspring.org) so that we can update the class email list.
Please Dress Children for Weather
Please send children to school with warm coats, hats, and gloves on cold days. The children will play outside for recess on most cold winter days. If conditions are dangerous or miserable, we will have indoor recess. We do not set a strict temperature point for outdoor recess. We do take seriously the recommendations of our recess monitors. A 24-degree day may be tolerable if it's sunny, and the air is dry and still. A 28-degree day may be intolerable with high winds, cloudy skies, and moisture.
HoopEd Offers Camp During School Vacations
HoopEd is proud to announce it is partnering with St. John the Baptist to provide year-round sports camps for students during off school hours. The 2019-2020 school calendar has several days off including winter and spring breaks where the kids are off but parents still need to work. HoopEd will fill the void by providing safe and fun sports camps for boys and girls of all ages. Why spend this off time at home on the computer or watching TV when you can be exercising, improving skills, and having a great time?
HoopEd 9:00 am to 3:00 pm with after care available until 5:30 pm on the following SJB no-school days:
- January 20
- February 17
- March 13
- April 13-17
Here is the information about the partnership, and here is the flyer with information on registering for the camps.
Box Tops Have Gone Digital
Just a reminder that the Box Tops for Education program is now digital. With the Box Tops app, snap a picture or email the Box Top to give SJB credit and $$$.
To download the mobile app, just search for Box Tops for Education (in the App store).
- Register to support SJB
- In the app, take a picture of your receipt (within 14 days of purchase) and it will automatically add your Box Tops to SJB's earnings
- Or email online receipts to receipts@boxtops4education.com from the linked email address registered to the Box Tops app
SJB Now on Instagram
If you are on Instagram, follow us at sjbsilverspring.
Class Information Posted on Portal
Homework assignments are typically posted each afternoon by 4:00 pm.
To see what's coming up, go to the class summary. Look for your child's name and then look to select the Classroom tab to the right. Select the name of the class from the drop-down list, and then select Class Page. You should see Class Summary, Announcements, Files, and Links.
Home Access to Educational Websites
Parents, did you know that you and your children have subscriptions to several educational websites? The website list and home access information can be found on the Rediker Parent Portal under School Links and Files. Through the SJB Library, the school provides access to BrainPOP, World Book, Scholastic Go!, CultureGrams, SIRS Discoverer, and IXL Math and Language Arts. There are two files -- one for home access and one for school access. World Book is an online encyclopedia for the children, parents, and teachers. SIRS is part of the ProQuest research database, and CultureGrams provides information about the 50 states and places in the world. BrainPOP provides academic enrichment in all subjects.
Parents, are you on Facebook? We are!
Follow our SJB page: https://www.facebook.com/SJBSilverSpring/
Admire the latest and greatest masterpieces in the Art Room: https://www.facebook.com/ArtWithMrs.Leishear
Discover what's happening in the Computer Lab: https://www.facebook.com/sjbtechnology
SJB Athletics is on Facebook. Visit and "like" the SJB Athletics Facebook page to receive more timely information about registration, events and opportunities to participate in SJB Athletics.