Get Your Tickets for the SJB Auction and Gala
Order Tickets Here
Like most Catholic schools, tuition alone is not enough to keep SJB running and moving forward. Fundraising is critical to filling the gap. The annual auction and gala make up our school's primary fundraising event.
We are raising money this year to make improvements to the gymnasium, help pay for the new fire alarm, and provide needy students with tuition assistance.
Please support St. John the Baptist by donating an item to the auction, bidding on auction items when the auction goes live on March 14, and buying a ticket to the gala on Saturday, March 28.
To donate to the auction, just complete this form.
Concerns About the Flu
News about the overseas spread of the Coranaravirus has raised fear and anxiety during this already-active flu season.
Here are two reliable sources of information about the Coronavirus:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Seasonal flu activity remains widespread throughout Maryland, and Montgomery County health officials are urging all of us to practice measures to avoid the spread of illness. It is not too late to get the flu shot. Flu season can run through March. Please consult your child’s pediatrician.
SJB students continue to recover from the flu, but daily absences have fallen from their peak.
Our school delegating nurse, Anna Damiano, and I wish to remind parents of ways to help prevent the spread of infection, as recommended by the CDC.
- Please do not send your child to school if your child shows flu-like symptoms: chills, fever, headache, cough, sore throat, body aches, congestion, runny nose, or stomachache.
- Please do not send your child to school until your child has been fever-free for two days (at least 24 hours) without the aid of medication such as Advil, Motrin, Tylenol.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizing liquid.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
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Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and then throw the tissue in the trash, and then wash your hands. If you do not have a tissue, cough into the nook of your arm, the fold inside your elbow.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
At school, we are doing our best to follow the same rules.
We've also had our throats blessed. Seeking the intervention of St. Blaise, Father Cezary blessed the children's throats on Monday.
Thank You for Your Support During Catholic Schools Week
Thank you, parents and relatives, for your support for our school during Catholic Schools Week. We appreciate your visit during the Open House. Thank you for coming to the Family Mass and Family Lunch! You continue to keep this tradition, one of our favorites, strong.
Thank You to the Bingo Volunteers!
Our Bingo coordinator, Holly Hickey (Ryan 3rd), wishes to thank all of the parent-volunteers who made Friday Night Bingo a huge hit with the kids.
Thank You for Food Donations!
We collected more food last week than we did in many other food drives. The poor families who receive food from the St. Camillus Food Pantry will also receive a Valentine Card made by our student-mentor teams. Older students partnered with younger students to work on the cards last week.See the Gold Folder Page for More Info on...
We Pray for the Jansen Family
We are praying for Beatriz Rosario Jansen, who passed away on Friday, Jan. 31.
We pray for her loving and devoted husband, Darren Jansen, and their son, Joshua Jansen, who is in 3rd grade at St. John the Baptist.
Mrs. Jansen faced and fought cancer for more than a year with the support of her family and friends, strong faith in God, and boundless love of Jesus.
We will miss Mrs. Jansen, the generosity of her heart, the inspiration of her faith, the love and concern she showed for Darren and Joshua.
Before Mrs. Jansen became too sick to work, she kept the parish books and led a weekly prayer group at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in NW DC. Mrs. Jansen also served on the H.S.A. of Sacred Heart School. Joshua attended Sacred Heart School until 2nd grade, when he came to SJB, shortly after Mrs. Jansen was diagnosed with cancer. SJB is grateful to Sacred Heart School and Principal Elise Heil for their support for Mrs. Jansen and her family. Sacred Heart and SJB mourn together for Mrs. Jansen.
The SJB children prayed together for Mrs. Jansen by name each morning in school over the past year. They've continued to pray for her this week.
Mrs. Jansen is with God now. We ask God to bless all of Mrs. Jansen's family and friends, especially Darren and Joshua.
Arrangements appear in the invitation below. The family has asked for donations to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in lieu of flowers. 
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!
Opportunity to Hear Expert on Autism
The event is the 9th Annual Parent Empowerment Conference. There is no cost to attend, but parents must register in advance. The keynote speaker is Jed Baker, Ph.D., director of the Social Skills Training Project, who will discuss strategies for handling behavioral challenges of children on the autism spectrum.
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.
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.