Catholic Schools Week at SJB -- We are excited about Catholic Schools Week at SJB, especially our Family Mass and Family Lunch on Thursday. The day begins with an Open House for all of our school parents from 8:30 to 10:30 am. Parents who come to the school after the morning prayer at 8:15 am will be treated to juice, coffee and a few pastries in the main hallway by the school office. At 8:30 am, parents will be sent to the children's classrooms.
The Family Mass & Lunch is one of our most popular traditions. In fact, if you have a child in pre-K to 4th grade, let your child's teacher know if you will not be here so that your child's teacher can make arrangements for your child during Mass and lunch.
At 10:45 am, we attend Family Mass together (hosted by 2nd grade) and then walk over to the Gymnasium after Mass for our Family Lunch.
The children worked today with their pals in their Buddy Classes on the creating the table decorations for the Family Lunch, and the teachers have something cooking for dessert.
Roll Out of Bed & Read -- Friday is Roll Out of Bed & Read Day, which means students may come to school wearing their pajamas. Of course, we will have reading time in the morning.
Foul Shot Contest is Friday -- Our annual Basketball Foul Shot Contest takes place at 10:45 am in the gym. Parents are welcome to come out and cheer on the kids.
Noon Dismissal on Friday -- Just a reminder that school ends at 12 noon on Friday.
Registration is now open for the 2018-19 school year. You should have received an email notice from TADS with instructions on registering your children (or child) for the next school year. The registration period lasts until March 2. It is our hope that your family – and all of our wonderful families -- will return to SJB.
By registering before March 2, you will ensure a spot in the class for your child and you will strengthen our enrollment by allowing us to plan for the 2018-19 school year. Please contact me before March 2 if you cannot make the $500 registration payment by the March 2 deadline and still want to reserve a place for your child.
Remember -- your registration payment counts toward next year’s tuition.
There are a few minor changes in store for 2018-19, including a $7 per-family-fee for the school directory. The fee is set at the cost of printing a directory for each family in the school. In past years, the H.S.A. sold each directory for $25, which included membership in the Home and School Association and a $10 Giant Gift Card. For $7 paid on TADS, all parents will have automatic membership in the H.S.A. as well as a new directory on Back to School Night.
The $30 After Care registration fee will, from now on, be paid by family. It no longer will be $30 per student. We hope this change will help families with multiple children. Hourly After Care rates remain unchanged for the third straight year: $8 for the first child, $6 for the second child, free for the third child, prorated to the minute and billed monthly to families.
Finally, we want you to know our plan ahead. It is our intention to start sending tuition agreements to families in April with the aim of completing agreements in May.
It is our belief that if we complete registration and tuition agreements before the start of summer, families will be able to add installments and lower their monthly school payments. This small structural change will make SJB more affordable to many families.
We recognize that paying for a private Catholic-school education is a sacrifice for you, our parents. We hope that you consider your sacrifice to be worthwhile.
Our commitment at SJB remains as strong as ever to high-quality instruction, education of the whole child, parent partnerships, the placement of God at the center of our lives, and the protection of our supportive SJB school community.
We want your children to continue to feel that they belong here.
Third Grade Music Class
Help Needed for Valentine Hot Lunch -- We need 12 families to bring 24 nut-free valentine decorated cupcakes. This would enable us to distribute one to every student and staff at hot lunch on Thursday, Feb. 15. If you can bring cupcakes, assist with simple decorations prior to hot lunch, and/or help hand out cupcakes at hot lunch, contact Kim Trebel (Katelyn 5th) at kim5408@msn.com.
Bingo Starts at 6:30 on Friday -- Kids Nite Bingo is Friday night at 6:30. Tickets are in this week's gold folder. If you didn't receive your ticket, we didn't receive your order. If you still need a ticket, please send in your order form by Wednesday - food, drinks and prizes need to be purchased and we need an accurate headcount in advance. It's $7 to attend - this includes one game pack and snacks all evening, additional game packs can be purchased for $5 each (for a max of 3 game packs). New this year, if you'd like to have pizza, it's $2 a slice, please indicate plain or pepperoni on the order form and you can also purchase water for $1/bottle. Kids (and adults) who purchased pizza can come as early as 6 for dinner. Questions? Email: courtneycgardner@gmail.com
Science Club -- After-School Science Club started today at SJB. Unfortunately, coding club had to be cancelled due to lack of participation.
Summer Camp at SJB -- If your kids have enjoyed the after-school STEM clubs, they'll love the summer camps planned for SJB this summer from June 25 to the start of August. To find out more, go to this website.
The traditional one-week SJB Summer Camp is still on. It will take place from June 18 to June 22. Camp information will go home in the Gold Folder later in the spring.
Spring Play Schedule
Rehearsals Take Place in Lyon Center
Jan. 29 to Feb. 2
Wednesday, 3-5 pm – performance cast only
Friday – no rehearsal
Feb. 5-9
Monday, 3-5 pm – performance cast only
Wednesday, 3-5 pm – performance cast only
Friday, 3-5 pm – performance cast and stage crew
SJB Spirit T-Shirt Contest! - We are kicking off Spirit Week with the 2018 SJB T-shirt Contest! Your design could be featured on this year's T-shirt! The theme is: What's So Great About SJB? Design must be a clever hashtag OR a message in emojis. One entry per student. Winning design will be selected by Mrs. Leishear (entries will be numbered for judging) and announced on Valentine's Day. Winning design will be featured on the front of the T-shirt. Winner will select the T-shirt color. Winner will receive a free T-shirt. Winner's name will be highlighted on the back of the T-shirt. All SJB students' names will be printed on the back of the T-shirt! Entry forms were passed out in class and can be printed from the Gold folder. Get going with your creative entries! T-shirts will be available for $10 (child and adult sizes) when printed. Proceeds will help pay for 8th grade end-of-year activities.
Order Father-Daughter Dance Tickets Tickets Now -- Tickets and corsages are now on sale for the Father-Daughter Dance on February 24 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the SJB Gym. Join us for this special night to celebrate our girls! There will be excellent music provided by our DJ, delectable desserts, and photos to keep. Plus: Every daughter in attendance will receive a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to True Nail Spa (thank you Holly Nguyen!). Corsages may be picked up 2/23 at dismissal or at the dance. Father stand-ins are welcome: Brothers, Cousins, Grandfathers, Godfathers, Uncles, or even Moms! This is a school/parish/SJB alum event so please help us spread the word - all ages and friends welcome! This is not a fundraiser - ticket costs cover the event expenses. Planning is underway and we'd love more help. Please contact Kathleen Langan if you can help out with this event at kathleenschooley@yahoo.com. Tickets can be purchased online at Father Daughter Dance 2018 or use the order form in the Gold folder and submit to the SJB school office.
Support the Class of 2019 with Valentines -- It is a longtime tradition for SJB 8th graders to make Valentines for students in lower grades. The lower-grade students order the Valentines by Feb. 2, receive them by Feb. 7, personalize them and return them to the 8th grade by Feb. 9. Then, on SJB Valentine's Day (Tuesday, Feb. 13), 8th grade students distribute the Valentines to students all over the school. The 8th grade students pool their money for their end-of-year trip to Hershey Park. Valentines have been done this way at SJB for more than 20 years. Here is your Valentine Order Form.
Upcoming Service Projects
Bake Sale for Puerto Rico Relief -- The SJB Student Council is planning a Valentine Day Bake Sale on Feb. 12 for the Solar Grid Project in Puerto Rico.
Lenten Project for Martha's Table -- Students and teachers will make sandwiches again this year for Martha's Table on March 23 before we go up to the church for Stations of the Cross.
Arts & Academics Judges Are Needed
Here is a printable form for judges.
SJB Intramural Volleyball is open... for boys and girls in grades 6-8. This is a relaxed atmosphere where we work on basic skills for the first part of the season and then some game situations towards the end of the season. Our goal is for the kids to have the skills to be able to try out for their JV Volleyball teams in high school. Come out and practice with us on Sunday nights from 6-7:30, it's a fun time with your friends before the start of the week! Here is the volleyball flyer.