Principal's Note 4/17/18

Mrs. Capo will be retiring in June, 2018.  She has spent the last 18 years of her 45-year career teaching the first grade at St. John the Baptist.  Prior to that, she taught in other primary grades in Buffalo, NY, and Auburn, AL.  Mrs. Capo said her biggest thrills at SJB were seeing her first graders become better readers and hearing them recite their math facts. But the highlight of her week was the celebration of Special Friend of the Week, which took place Thursday afternoons in recent years. Parents and relatives always came to support their children for "special friend" events, and Mrs. Capo said she always learned something unique about the student who was being celebrated. She enjoyed meeting their families, including pets. Mrs. Capo also enjoyed judging the Creative Writing Contest each year.

Mrs. Capo gratefully appreciates the support and cooperation of the first grade parents.  For her retirement, she is looking forward to spending more time with her husband (who is NOT retiring, Mrs. Capo pointed out) and her siblings and their children.  She will enjoy having more time to read, cook, refurbish her home, and travel.  

It is no understatement to say that hundreds of current and former SJB students learned to read from Mrs. Capo. That alone is a wonderful legacy to leave.  And yet, Mrs. Capo did much, much more. Mrs. Capo's students left her class prepared for the challenges they would face in higher grades.

We wish Mrs. Capo all the best in her retirement and thank her for her years of service to children.

Tuition Rates for 2018-19

Tuition rates, fees, and discounts for the 2018-19 school year:

$8,150    Catholic Tuition   

$9,250    Non-Catholic Tuition

$8,400    Catholic Preschool Tuition

$9,500    Non-Catholic Preschool Tuition

Multi-Child Discounts

Two Children             $600 discount for each child 

Three Children          $1,000 discount for each child

Four Children             $1,200 discount for each child

Fees

$150    Book & Technology Fee (per student)

$175    Activity Fee (per family)

$50      Capital Fund

$150    Lunch Duty Buyout

$250    8th Grade Graduation Fee

$70      7th Grade Field Trip Fee

$165    6th Grade Outdoor Education Fee

Last Chance -- Get Your Spring Gala Tickets

The Spring Gala, our school’s primary fundraiser, is just a few days away, but there is still time to click here to buy a ticket or make a contribution. Please help support in some way, if it's simply by purchasing one of the items, events or services on the auction shopping and bidding page.

Support for this event is essential to upholding SJB’s affordability pillar, the commitment to low tuition to make good Catholic education accessible to many families. 

To keep tuition low, we must raise money to enrich our curriculum, add dynamic features such as new playground equipment to our school, and to help support families in need. We can’t do it all with tuition money alone.   

Here’s what we plan to do with the money that you raise: 

SJB’s parent leaders have planned a fun, Bond-themed Vegas night at the Rosensteel Knights of Columbus from 7 to 10 pm on Saturday, April 21.  

SJB has the greatest parents anywhere, so I say “thank you” in advance for your support. Thank you!  You are putting our common Catholic ideals into practice, and we are going to have fun getting together on Saturday night… even without the kids.   

I will see you at our gala this Saturday. I know that I wouldn’t miss it for anything. 

 ...Come to the Casino Royale 

Creative Writing Contest Winners

Congratulations to all of the students who wrote stories and poems and submitted them for the Creative Writing Contest. Their hard work at editing, revising, and rewriting their poems and stories is evident to readers. To read the online book of SJB creative writing entries, go here.

Thank you, as well, to the teachers and parent volunteers who judged the entries, especially parent coordinator, Kristine Ribas (Anna 3rd, Caitlyn 5th) and faculty coordinator and writing director, Mrs. Judy Jenkins, who launched and promoted the contest and encouraged the children to write. 

Here are the winners. They were announced at the awards ceremony last week, and all participants received a certificate and a creative writing notebook and pencil.

PICTURE BOOKS (LOWER GRADES) 

1st PLACE – JESSE WRIGHT  3   THE GATHERING 

2ND PLACE – DARYA ZALALUTDINOV   4  A CAKE SHAPED DESIRE 

3RD PLACE – ISABEL NEBESKY   3 THE MYSTERY OF THE TALKING TABLE 

POETRY (LOWER GRADES) 

1st PLACE – SOPHIA MCELWEE  4 COME TO THE TABLE 

2ND PLACE – BELLA CALIS  4 THE THANKSGIVING TABLE 

3RD PLACE – SIMONE OKANLA 2 WE ALL COME TO THE TABLE 

SHORT STORIES (UPPER GRADES) 

1st PLACE – CAITLIN OBER  7  WELCOME :)                                    

2ND PLACE – NICK HIPPCHEN  7   THE TABLE 

3RD PLACE – ADRIAN ANTHONY  7  THE DISCOVERY 

POETRY (UPPER GRADES) 

1st PLACE – RILEY LANGAN  8  STRENGTH OF A TREE  TOUCH OF A TABLE 

2ND PLACE – CHRISTINE SLAUGHTER  8 COME TO THE TABLE 

3RD PLACE – ABBY NENE 5 THE PERIODIC TABLE 

COVER ART 

FRONT – THERESA NGUYEN  8  DEAR FARIS 

BACK – NWANDO NWOSU 3 GOD’S ENDLESS LOVE 

Congratulations, Essay Winner Riley Langan

in this prestigious competition of more than 400 eighth grade students, Riley won 1st place for her essay about Jesus's message that the way to oppose hatred is through love. Riley earned a $2,500 scholarship toward St. John's College High School. Her parents and teacher, Mrs. Morris, joined her for the awards breakfast hosted by the Catholic Business Network.

Needed: Parents for Lunch Duty 

We have had  a shortage of parents for lunch duty over the past two weeks, and we have openings for lunch duty in the next few weeks. Please sign up. 

SJB Band in Festival 

The SJB band performs on Sunday, April 22, at the archdiocesan band festival at St. John's College High School. Band members are meeting there at 3:30 pm. Cheer on our outstanding band and band director Jennifer Tifford. We are happy to have Mrs. Tifford back from maternity leave.

Spring Sing 

Spring Sing is May 2 at 1:30 pm in the Gym

Students in grades 2-4 are asked to bring the following with them to school for the day of the play:

·      Black/navy shirts (long or short sleeve) 

·      Black/navy pants or leggings (no skirts or dresses please) 

Along with their black/navy attire, each student may bring costume accessories in the theme of the animal the student is playing. For example, if a child is depicting a rabbit, he may bring bunny ears. Or, if a child is portraying a frog, she could wear a green baseball hat with googly eyes on the top and a green t-shirt. 

                                                                   

Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade don't need to bring the black/navy costumes. Please feel free to e-mail  sarah.franz@sjbsilverspring.org with questions.

The state of Maryland offers financial tuition assistance for private education through the BOOST program. Here is the link to the application, which is open until May 21. Please apply if your children would be eligible for free or reduced lunch, according to the income guidelines below.

Request Parish Tuition Assistance and Verification

To receive the Catholic rate, this form must be completed and returned annually.

Tuition agreements have been sent to many families.

Mrs. Kuzemka, director of parish finances, says tuition assistance credits will be added to agreements soon.

Timeline for 2018-19 Registration & Tuition Agreements 

Jan. 28 to March 19           Registration Period 

March 30                            School Budget & Tuition Set for 2018-19 

April 13                              Tuition Agreements Sent to Registered Families  

May 11                               Agreements Accepted by School Families 

May 21-29                          Late Agreement Fee $100 

May 29 to June 15             Late Agreement Fee $250 

June 15                               All financial accounts must be paid in full 

July 1                                  First payments for those with 12-month plans 

Jaguar Spirit Day is April 20 

April 20th is Jaguar Spirit Day- and half- day grill lunch!  Wear your new 2018 SJB T-shirt (will be distributed before) with uniform.  The 8th grade grill lunch will be fired up for noon dismissal- $5 meal deals with hot dogs, burgers, chips, water and dessert!

Mulan Jr., the SJB Spring Play, Is Next Week

7:30 pm Thursday, April 26

7:30 pm Friday, April 27

Dress-Rehearsal Matinee is 1 pm Wednesday, April 25

Tickets will be sold at the door.

We are seeking volunteers to sell tickets and the door and to hang black plastic sheeting over the windows before the show. If you are able to help, please email sarah.franz@sjbsilverspring.org.

It's the Last Week of Rehearsals for Cast

Chess Club Has Started

Chess club started last week and will continue each Monday from 3 to 4 pm.

SJB Summer Camps

To Join Science Club, Register Here by April 20

SJB Summer Camp -- SJB is hosting a one-week summer camp from June 18-22, led by some of the teachers. Camp is open to current students entering grades 1-8. The week includes time to start on the summer Reading and Math work, as well as several other fun activities like Art, Theater, Science and outdoor play. See flyer  for details and registration information. Only 50 spots available. First come, first served! Questions? Contact Mrs. Morris at Kathleen.Morris@sjbsilverspring.org

Class Photos Are Available Online -- Go to Freed Spirit  to order.