Principal's Note 2/26/19

 Open House For School Parents Is Tuesday Morning

Classrooms are open to parents from 8:20 to 10:20 am.

Open House for parents was cancelled by the 2-hour weather delay during Catholic Schools Week in January. We rescheduled the Open House for 8:20 am on Tuesday, March 5. We're starting a little earlier, after the morning prayer, so that parents have a chance to visit classrooms and still make it to work for the day. 

Parents are welcome to come to the school and sit in their child's classroom for one class period (8:20-9:00), two class periods (8:20 to 9:40), or three class periods (8:20 to 10:20). Teachers in PreK through 4th grade will post their schedules for the day. 

There will be opportunities for parents to leave at any time in the morning. Parents are welcome to stay with their lower-grade children (K-3) for snack time and morning recess (10:20 to 10:40 am).

We realize that the weather has complicated work schedules for many of you. That is why we've provided opportunities for parents to leave earlier in the morning... and without feel guilty at all about it. We hope that you can come to visit your children in school for a little bit of time, or for the full two hours, on Open House Tuesday, March 5. 

Support SJB's March Madness Gala 

The gala is our major fundraiser for the school. This year's gala theme is March Madness, so you won't miss any NCAA basketball tournament games by coming to the gala. 

The gala will take place on Saturday, March 23, from 7 to 10 pm at the Knights of Columbus on Rosensteel Avenue. The gala is always a good time, and the money raised goes toward the school. Here's the map. And here's the donor form.

Prayers for Eighth Grade Students

We've been praying for our 8th grade students as they make their final decisions about which high schools to attend. They applied to Catholic, private, and public-magnet high schools before Christmas. Most admissions notices arrived last week. Students were accepted to the following Catholic high schools:

• Elizabeth Seton 
• DeMatha  
• Gonzaga 
• Good Counsel 
• Holy Cross
• Pallotti 
• St. John’s 
• Stone Ridge 

Students were also accepted to public high schools including the magnet program at Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville.

Arts & Academics Judges Needed

One of our great SJB traditions is Arts & Academics. Projects are put on display from grades K-8 for two days in March. Students give oral presentations on art, science, social studies. We ask parents to help by serving as judges of the 6th grade and 7th grade presentations.

Please consider signing up to be a judge. Arts & Academics is a source of pride to the children of SJB. See the flyer for volunteers.

 Enrollment & Registration Questions 

Please try calling the parent support line if you have questions about your TADS account. Phone calls are answered by real TADS representatives, not an automated voice system.

Buy tickets and bid online for auction items here. Gala tickets are $55 each or $100 for a couple. Please buy a ticket or make a donation even if you can't make it on March 23.

The school needs your help. If tuition covered all of the cost of running a school, we wouldn't need to raise money. Tuition doesn't cover all of the cost, so we ask for your help. Gala proceeds go toward tuition assistance, technology, instructional materials including textbooks, and climbing playground equipment.

Auction organizers are seeking items to put up for bid. They are interested in items, activities, services, trips, vacations. If you have something that you are willing to put up for the auction, please contact the organizers right away. Your gift is a donation to SJB.

We welcome parents who want to help with the auction and gala. Emerson Branch (Logan 4th) is chair of the gala committee and can be reached at sjbgalateam@gmail.com. We are looking for a parent or a couple of parents willing to serve as protege to Jeanine and Chris Regan (Madelyn 2nd), the parent-volunteers who manage the auction website.

Thank You, Bingo Volunteers!

Thank you, Mrs. Courtney Gardner (Jillian 7th), for coordinating Bingo. This year, Mrs. Gardner's effort was complicated by a postponement due to snow and an attempt to have Kids' Bingo on a half-day Friday afternoon instead of Friday night. Mrs. Gardner kept her focus on making a fun day for the kids as she kept track of Bingo and Pizza orders, many of them late, and her volunteers.

Here's a note from Mrs. Gardner, who has coordinated Bingo at SJB for many years:

Hi there, thank you to everyone who helped out with our rescheduled Bingo. It turned out to be a great afternoon. We had plenty of volunteers, and the kids were extremely well behaved and seemed to have a great time. A special thanks to the teachers and staff who stayed to help: Ms. Schwab, Ms. K, Mrs. Baugher, Ms. Herritz, Mrs. Irwin. Ms. Wendell, and Mrs. Dodson. I'm really glad that after the snow-out we could make another day work. Sadly, this was my last year chairing Bingo, and I've enjoyed working with Missy Eaton (Sabrina 5th) and Lissa Cunningham (Aidan 7th) the past numerous years, along with the many volunteers who help. If you're interested in taking it over, please let me know, its very fun and manageable and the kids love it! Thanks! 

-- Courtney Gardner (courtneycgardner@gmail.com)

Bowie Baysox "Read and Hit a Homerun" Reading Program 

From Maria Hippchen (Nick 8th), coordinator: The Bowie Baysox are in their 23rd year of this wonderful program to promote reading, and I wanted to give you information about important dates and some exciting changes!  As many of you know, all the students need to do is read 4 books inside or outside the classroom.  Books read in January through  March 22 will count.  Posters should arrive within the next two weeks, and each student will simply check the box next to his/her name after each book is read.  Upon completion of this program, each student will now receive 2 tickets (one can be used by an adult) to the Bowie Baysox baseball game on Saturday, May 18 at 6:35 pm where your child's accomplishments will be celebrated!  Another change is that tickets will be distributed electronically.    

I have been running this fun and worthwhile reading program for many years, and the switch to electronic tickets will make it even easier for everyone.  After 15 years at this wonderful school, my youngest child will soon be graduating. I am hoping someone will be willing to take it over for me.  Please let me know if you are interested.

Thanks so much! 

Maria Hippchen    mbhippchen@gmail.com 

SJB Families Heading to Liberty for Tubing Night

Join us for a fun night of tubing at Liberty Mountain Resort on Thursday, March 7. SJB is closed on Friday, March 8, for faculty professional development, so this is the perfect outing the night before. Bring the coupon sheet with you for all night (4-10 pm) tubing for $25 per person. Come by yourself, bring a friend, or arrange a caravan! There will be plenty of SJB families in attendance to hang out and have some fun!

And here's the bonus: the school receives a percentage of the sales! There is a lodge where parents can watch the kids on the mountain and order food. Of course, some parents enjoy the tubing, too!

 Linda Sigg (Tommy 8th) has provided information, including Liberty coupons. The plan is for parents and kids to meet at Liberty at 4 pm. The ski resort is about 90 minutes away (see the map). 

This is a family event. It isn't sponsored by the school or parish. The school does not provide chaperones, supervision, or transportation.

We are promoting it as a healthy, outdoor opportunity for families from SJB to do something fun together.

Go Here for Spring Play Practice 

There's now a separate webpage for spring play practice schedule and news about the play. You can find it by going to the Gold Folder page on the website and selecting the spring play dropdown. It has the updated schedule.

SJB Summer Camp - Register Now!

SJB is offering a competitively priced childcare option during the first full week after the school year ends, June 17-21 from 8:30am-3pm. SJB camp is directed and staffed by faculty. Your child will get a head start on their summer math and reading work, create some masterpieces in art class, take a theater class, and make new memories with friends in a relaxed and nurturing environment. Registration is now open! See flyer  for details.

Registration Begins for SJB Summer Science Camp 

Camp Sessions at SJB from June 24 until Aug. 2

Here is the website for the SJB Science Camp.

Here is the registration page, and here is information on camp locations. 

Register for Knights of Columbus Summer Camp 

Here is the registration form. 

 First Day of 2019-20 School Year is Tuesday, Aug. 27.