Principal's Note 5/22/19

Parents Weigh In on Volunteer Requirement, SJB Traditions

Panel To Come Up With Future Volunteering Options 

Many parents participated last month in a survey on our school traditions and on our volunteering program. A report on the results has been prepared by Merianne Spencer (Alicia 2nd, Saria K), chair of the school board's Public Relations and Marketing committee.

Thank you to Mrs. Spencer for writing the survey questions and analyzing the results, and thank you to the parents who took a few minutes to take the survey. The information that we received from you will help us form a sensible volunteering plan responsive to your needs and protective of the positive learning environment and meaningful SJB traditions.

Last week, we created a new committee of school staff members and school parents to research our own school volunteering program (specifically the five-time lunch-duty requirement) as well as volunteering programs in place at other Catholic schools.The new volunteering committee will analyze its data and issue findings along with options for the future. The panel has a schedule of meeting dates, specific areas of inquiry, and a deadline date of Jan. 13, 2020, for its Findings and Options.

It's our expectation that, with the consultation of the School Advisory Board, SJB will select and implement a new plan prior to the registration period for the 2020-21 school year.

Summer Assignments & School Supplies Posted Soon

Website pages with school supply lists and 2019-20 summer-assignment information will be updated soon.

Spring Sing Video Is Up

Last week's Spring Sing concert has been posted on Vimeo. Here is the link. You will need to use the school password to view the video. The link and video (along with the school password) are posted on the Links and Files page of the Parent Portal on Rediker.

Field Day Friday Reminders

Children should come to school ready to play, wearing light shorts and T-shirts in their team color: red, white, or blue.  It's OK if there's some writing on the shirt. They must wear sneakers and keep their shoelaces tied. 

Children should bring water bottles with their names written on them in marker. Please apply sunscreen at home.

Many parents come to watch the final event of the day: the team relay.

Parents start gathering on the hill with a view of the field at about 11:15 am. 

Friday is Half Day

 Dismissal is at noon, right after the sports and games of Field Day.

Lunch Grill Offered Friday

Grilled lunch from the cookout will cost $5. Please park to the side of the main lot if you are going to the Lunch Grill.

Creative Writing Contest Winners

Congratulations to all of the writers who participated in the Creative Writing Contest this year. We are proud that we had 88 entries in this elective writing program. More than a dozen independent judges came to read and assess the entries, and many of them gave our young writers helpful feedback.

All of the 1st-place entries were compiled in an e-book, What Life Really Means, which you can view here. 

Here are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners in each category.

LOWER GRADE POETRY

1ST            Simone Okanla (3)

                  “God’s Blessings for All of Us”

2ND           Adaobi Obikwelu  (4)

                   “Special Blessings”

3RD            Jesse Wright   (4)

                   “Abundant Blessings”

LOWER GRADE PICTURE BOOKS

1ST             Annie Ribas     (4)

                   “Doctors and Nurses Saved My Life”

2ND            Isabel Nebesky    (4)

                    “Blessings”

3RD            Sofia Castillo    (4)

                   “What’s A Blessing”

UPPER GRADE POETRY

1ST             Sophia McElwee    (5)

                   “Everyday is a Blessing”

2ND            Mary Clare Hazleton   (8)

                    “The Thankful Trend”

3RD            Natalie Ionata    (6)

                   “Nature”

UPPER GRADE SHORT STORIES

1ST             Julie Zalalutdinov        (5)

                   “Count Your Blessings”

2ND            Caitlin Ober          (8)

                    “Solstice Sway”

3RD             Adrian Anthony       (8)

                    “The Midnight Curse”

COVER ART

FRONT          Jillian Gardner   (7)

                       “What Life Really Means”

BACK             Aanchal Puri    (6)

                        “Mother Nature’s Blessings”

 Thank you to Mrs. Jenkins, our writing teacher who directs the program, and Mrs. Kristine Ribas (Caitlyn 6th, Anna 4th), who helped coordinate the prizes and judging.

Room Parents Needed in 4th and 5th Grades 

Contact Jeanine Regan at jeanine.regan@sjbsilverspring.org or complete the volunteer form and return it with your Gold Folder.

Tuition Agreement Due By June 1

Complete your agreement by June 1 to avoid the fee. It's the Final Step in Enrollment.

• Log onto your TADS account, select agreement, and click "submit."
• Complete this step before June 1 to avoid a $100 Late Agreement Fee. That late fee climbs to $150 if the agreement is not completed by June 15.
• Please call the TADS parent support line if you have questions about your TADS account. The phone numbers are 612.548.3320 and 800.477.8237.

Exam Schedule Grades 5-7

Summer camp information is here...

This is the sign-up form for the SJB Summer Camp.

Please Return Gold Folders

We Need Them to Send Summer Packets

We plan to have some information to send home over the next two weeks and to have summer-reading and summer-math assignments posted on the website next week.

Remember to Put Aside Items for Ms. Moore's West Virginia Trip

Please remember that Ms. Moore will be making her 21st annual trip to West Virginia in June.  She is happy to pass along to the families in Appalachia gently used baby and children's clothing, all sorts of linens (sheets, towels. blankets, pillows), household items and personal hygiene items (even travel sizes). Place your donated items in the gym stairwell. Please put loose items in a bag and mark the bag "WV."

Mrs. Jenkins - Summer Tutoring and Enrichment

Warmer temps are in the air which signals SUMMER is almost here. One of the considerations for parents over the summer is finding ways to keep the motivation for learning strong thereby not losing ground from what has been mastered over the school year. Sometimes it is tough to find ways to build the bridges between grade levels. One area of utmost importance is reading. It cuts through all areas of the curriculum. Summer reading work is assigned to SJB students to help keep those reading muscles strong. Mrs. Jenkins will be offering tutoring/enrichment sessions in reading and writing this summer. Please reach out to her at the following: judy.jenkins@sjbsilverspring.org if you would like to discuss summer tutoring/enrichment for your son/daughter.

Mrs. Castillo Available to Tutor Over Summer

Mrs. Castillo is available for summer tutoring and can meet with children in Grades 2-8 and focus on Math or Reading.  Please email her at: liz.castillo@sjbsilverspring.org to arrange a tutoring schedule for your child this summer.   She can work around your family's schedule and set up times that are convenient for you and your child.  

First Day of School: Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019

 Here is the direct link to our SJB Google calendar. Sync it to your own Google calendar and our events will show up on your online calendar.