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SS. Simon and Jude School
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Terra Nova Results
Week of 3-19-15
Swiss Farms App Info
The Community You Feel.
School Newsletter
The Lessons You Love
Issue #26
SS. Simon and Jude Mission Statement
Through the Immaculate Heart of Mary we at Saints Simon and Jude School, commit ourselves to learning,
proclaiming and living the Good News of Jesus Christ. We strive to educate and develop all for Catholic
leadership in the church and community, enabling one another to serve with
Compassion, Courage and Competence.
Thoughts from Sister Jeannine
The scriptures do not tell us a great deal about Saint Joseph. They do tell us that he was a just man and that he was a
carpenter. Therefore, he was – a builder – a repairer – a hard worker. Today on this feast of Saint Joseph I have
reflected on all those who have been (and still are) the ones who build me up – spiritually, intellectually and
emotionally.
There are those who build/repair my ability to see myself and others more clearly and honestly.
There are those who build/repair my confidence in known skills and those yet to be discovered.
There are those who build/repair my humanity and humility as I acknowledge my incompleteness and insufficiencies.
There are those who build/repair my trust and hope because they forgive and bring me to forgive.
There are those who build/repair my relationship with God because of their example and encouragement.
Many of you are those various builders/repairers. I give thanks for all today and pray that Saint Joseph, patron of all
families, blesses your individual family and our SSJ family.
In this week’s letter you will find information about:
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Terra Nova
Last Visit SSJ Day
Reading Olympics
Response need if attend 3/25/15 – Parenting
with Love and Logic
In this week's folder you will find:
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April Calendar
Box Top Form
WC Junior Tennis Flyer
From the Home & School
Congratulations to the Murphy family (Michael – Room 13) who won $200 at last week’s raffle. If you are still
interested in a raffle ticket, contact Kathi Clapham at kathibella@aol.com. Winners are drawn every Friday until the end
of May!
SSJ FAMILY bingo night is this Friday March 20th. There is no entrance fee, but bingo cards are $1 or $5 for a pack. Come
and enjoy a fun night with lots of prizes! Bingo starts at 6:30, but if you pre-ordered pizza for your family, it will be
served at 6:00. Make sure to get there on time to ensure that it’s hot! (Please RSVP to order your pizza on the form sent
home in the communication folder by this Friday March 13th!!!)
And coming to SSJ on Thursday, March 26th is LADIES Bag Bingo Night. RSVP yes by sending in your form and $25 per
person attending to Colleen Donohue c/o Brian Donohue, Room, 1 by this Friday, March 20th. (Tickets will also be
available at the door.) Cost includes 4 bingo cards for ten games and light snacks. Doors open at 6:15 pm and bingo
starts at 7:00. The event is BYOB, and there will be light snacks served as well.
Note and Save these Dates:
 Family bingo night is Friday, March 20th.
 Ladies Bag Bingo is Thursday, March 26th.
March is the month for Bingo at SSJ!!!
 SSSJ Grandparents day is Monday, April 13th. (More information to follow soon.)
New Requests and Opportunities
1. Terra Nova Testing: Grades 3 to 7 will take the InView section of Terra Nova tomorrow, Friday March 20th. This
test MUST be administered first. The whole next week will be used to administer the academic subtests in Grades 2
to 7. These dates are published on the yearly calendar and so absences – except for illness or emergencies - are not
expected. No homework or other tests are assigned during the testing – but each child is urged to look over any
materials for the next day’s test(s) and then get to bed early enough to have a great rest, eat a good breakfast and
be ready for their best brain power.
2. Tomorrow, Friday, March 20th, is the last formal “Visit SSJ Day” beginning at 8:00 until 10:00. If you know a
neighbor, family member or co-worker who may be considering SSJ, please alert them.
3. We have Reading Olympics teams beginning in grade 4 through grade 8. The 4th and 5th graders are moderated by
Mrs. Mobile and Mrs. Kelly and they will compete on Tuesday, March 24th. The 6th to 8th grade team, moderated by
Mrs. Langdon and Mrs. Battista will participate in their competition on Thursday March 26. We wish them good
luck!
Repeated Requests and Opportunities
1.
If you have not re-registered and have not contacted us, please return the re-registration form indicating your
decision. If there is a circumstance holding you back for the present decision, please let me know.
2.
From the Nurse’s office: If you have received a third and final notice for missing medical requirements per PA
State Law, please hand them in as soon as possible to the school nurse. The deadline of May 1st is fast
approaching. Failure to hand in this required information results in your child not being able to come to school
on Friday, May 1, 2015. If you have any questions, please contact us at 610-692-8464. Thank you. Pam Dutill, RN
and Inez Burg, Rn, CSN.
3.
Life Touch Pictures have been returned. No purchase is required. Please send back either your payment or your
child’s pictures as soon as possible.
4.
Come and help as a Lunch Monitor! You must have all your clearances for this and there is a small stipend. The hours
are from 12-1:30 pm for one to five days a week...Please no small children. Contact Celeste Gerace:
celestegerace@yahoo.com.
5.
On Wednesday, March 25th, Mrs. Coulter has invited Barb Bogel back to SSJ for an evening of more casual
sharing on the topic she so well introduced in September: Disciplining with Love and Logic. This will be held in
the Meehan Center from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (At this time our response is so low that we may cancel. So please
respond to heatherco@cciu.org by 3/20/15 if you wish to attend.
6.
Application for BLOCS tuition assistance will be available on the BLOCS website and on SS Simon and Jude’s
website on February 1st. It should then be submitted no later than March 31. *PLEASE NOTE THEY EXTENDED
THE DEADLINE FRIOM MARCH 15. Please see the site for all needed information. (EVEN IF YOU RECEIVED
ASSISTANCE THIS YEAR, YOU MUST SUBMIT A FORM FOR 15-16.
7.
Special Chick-Fil-A lunch on April 10th to benefit Pedal for Pink. The flyer went home last week. If you need one,
please contact the main office, sdamore@simonandjude.org.
8.
SSJ Parish is participating in Partners in Outreach organization collecting new Easter Outfits. If your family
would like to participate, you can send the “outfit” to school and we will get it to the church.
9.
Orders for SSJ 14-15 Yearbook deadline is March 23rd! The cost of the yearbook is $20. Checks can be made
payable to SS Simon and Jude Home & School or if ordering online go to YBPay.lifetouch.com and use ID code
5214215 with a credit card. When ordering please indicate WHO should receive the yearbook. (i.e. which child)
If you have any questions, please contact Margie Kropiewnicki 610-436-9849 or mskrop@msn.com.
10.
Reminder for the collection of toiletry items to support the sisters at Camilla Hall.
11.
Immaculata University Children’s Theater presents “What’s A Wolf To Do?” on Sunday, 3/29/15 at 2:00 PM.
Adults - $10 and Children - $7. For further questions: 610-6457-4400 X 3731.
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Expressions of Gratitude and Congratulations
1.
We congratulate our Peacemakers for the month of February who consistently faced problems with a sense of
creative hope and faithful determination to find the best solution.
Gr. K Ryan Dooley & Marley LaPella
Gr. 1 Aidan Ross & Caroline Brittingham
Gr.2 Timmy Kirk & Olivia DiFabio
Gr. 3 Rylee Sullivan & Louis Edgcumbe
Gr. 4 Finn Kelly & Gavin Fretz
Gr. 5 Abby Shrikanthan & Olivia Musso
Gr. 6 Anthony Cecco & Katie Steinetz
Gr. 7 Grace Farrell & Andrew Wright
Gr. 8 Michael LaBricciosa & Nicholas Benecke
2.
Thank you to all who participated in the Mathematicians for Missions – those who presented and those who
listened, learned some interesting facts and generously donated to the Rice Bowl. During the day $ 166.00 was
donated and in the evening, 262.00!
3.
Congratulations also to Shane Repp and Ryan Smyth who were JV basketball All -Stars and to Jack Purcell and
Shane Burke who were varsity basketball All-Stars. Thanks to the All-Star coaches too.
4.
Congratulations to the students who were the top two in First in Math for their class and/or the most improved
in gaining points for this trimester compared to last trimester:
K-1:
K-2:
Rm 1:
Rm 11:
Rm 2:
Rm 12:
Rm 3:
Rm 13:
Rm 4:
Rm 14:
Bobby Ross and Brian Wade
Haley An and Casey McConloque
Brian Donohue and Matthew Carpenter
Mackenzie Melcher and Michael Hagerty
Ryan Govatos and Aubrey Maslo
Austin Trout and Eli Ecret
Justin Gaffney and Owen Steinetz
Brianna Reino and Caiden Canale
Marty Steinetz and Rebecca Jackson
Sydney Reinecker and Anna Angelozzi
Most Improved Player - Bobby Ross
Most Improved Player - Madeline Simpson
Most Improved Player - Madeline Hagman
Most Improved Player - Carter Steinetz
Most Improved Player - Ryan Govatos
Most Improved Player - Eli Ecret
Most Improved Player Owen Steinetz
Most Improved Player Matthew McFillin
Most Improved Player Ryan McAveney
Most Improved Player Kevin McConlogue
The top five in Grades K to 4 were:
Ryan Govatos (Gr 2), Marty Steinetz (Gr 4), Austin Trout (Gr 2), Rebecca Jackson (Gr 4)
and Aubrey Maslo (Gr 2)
5.
Thanks to all the Box top clippers! Rooms K1 and 17 will have a class dress down with their totals of 700 and
552 box tops. Rooms 15 and 16 will have an extra gym uniform day because they brought in 450 and 406 tops.
6.
We are grateful to Father Jim who is taking on the altar server training and coordination
From a current SSJ parent
“I put a lot of thought into choosing the “right” school for my son, and visited several schools in the area. After my visit to
SS Simon and Jude, I knew we had found a home. I was extremely impressed with the faculty, the facility and Sister
Jeannine Norton. The deciding factor, though, was the students themselves. I saw numerous smiling, confident faces as I
walked through the halls. I was overwhelmed by the feeling of community and warmth that filled this school. These were
children that were being molded into fine young men and woman; children that I wanted to be role models for my son.
The academic experience has also been an extremely positive one. My son’s teachers have gone above and beyond to
communicate with me about my son’s progress. I could not be happier with his growth.
This growth has also come from the after school programs that he is involved with. The CARES program allows my son to
get guidance with his homework and play with his friends, while still remaining in a safe and caring environment. As a
member of the Track and Field team, he has gained confidence in himself and has learned what it means to be part of a
team.
He is being taught in a Catholic environment that has brought out the best in him, and is instilling qualities such as
compassion and caring that he will carry with him forever.
We definitely made the right choice in choosing SS Simon and Jude as our “HOME”.”
Prayer requests: Please keep the following intentions in your prayers:
1.
For the repose of the soul of Ms. Melanie Hart’s mother. (Melanie is the receptionist in the church office.)
2.
For Aoife Mannion’s (grade 4) grandfather who is ill.
3.
For Sebastian (Gr. 2) and Gabriel (Gr. K) Molavoque’s aunt who is ill
4.
For Mrs. Rose McCormack, long time lunch aide, who is ill
5.
For Mrs. Dryfoos’ mom who is ill.
6.
For Izzy (Gr. 1) and Gena (Gr. 4) Volpe’s grandfather who is recovering from extensive surgery.
7.
We were asked to pray for Conall Harvey, a pre-K student at Cardinal Foley School. He has leukemia and is
hospitalized with an infection.
Glimpse at the Days Ahead
Thurs. 3/19
Fri. 3/20
Mon. 3/23
Tues. 3/24
Wed. 3/25
Thurs. 3/26
Sun. 3/29
7:00 SSJ Parish Penance Service
On this first day of Spring, Grades 3 to 7 will take the InView (cognitive learning) section of the Terra
Nova Tests
Visit SSJ Day - Please alert any friends, neighbors or co-workers who are considering a catholic education
for their child.
Family Bingo - 6:00 PM Pizza and 6:30 Bingo
Mon. 3/23 – Fri. 3/27 Terra Nova Standardized Testing
2:15
Stations of the Cross lead by Grade 8
6:30 PM Teaching the Mass for Grade 2
6:00 PM to 9:00PM
Grades 4-5 Reading Olympics at east High School
7:00 PM
Parenting with Love and Logic
7:00 PM
Designer Bag Bingo
Palm Sunday
10:30 AM Grade 2 will take special part in the palm entrance procession.
Happy Birthday Father Gerlach too
God and Father of us all, in Jesus, your Son and our Savior, you have made us your sons and
daughters in the family of the Church. May your grace and love help our families in every part
of the world be united to one another in fidelity to the Gospel. May the example of the Holy
Family, with the aid of your Holy Spirit, guide all families, especially those most troubled, to be
homes of communion and prayer and to always seek your truth and live in your love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!