A visitor to our 8th grade science classes last week would have seen our students engaged in an inquiry-based science lab that required them to make observations, conduct experiments and draw their own conclusions, while constructing series and parallel circuit boards. While working on his circuit board, eighth grader Andy Scopp commented, "It's fun when it works. Actually, it's fun when it doesn't work, because then I get to experiment." Science projects such as these allow students to explore concepts and principles of science and build their knowledge in a meaningful way which promotes a practical understanding of science in our daily lives. Click here for a link to the curriculum guides that have been developed so schools and parents are able to identify what our students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade.

In upcoming weeks, our middle school students will be participating in a variety of hands-on learning experiences in science. Sixth grade earth science students will be building models of the rock cycle and Earth's structure and designing earthquake resistant buildings. Studying bacteria, viruses and protists, seventh grade life science students will create displays to demonstrate their learning. In later studies of organisms, the students will build models of invertebrates. The students will then host an interactive exhibit to teach students in other grades about invertebrates. Continuing their studies of physical science, eighth grade students will build musical instruments as part of their sound unit and will design models as part of their studies of light and optics.

• Sunday 1/25:  SJV Open House after Mass (12:00-1:30pm)
• Monday 1/26:  Slipper Day- Bring along your comfy slippers to wear in class
• Tuesday 1/27:  All School Rosary with Fr. Schumaker.  Dine out with SJV at Blaze Pizza.  Show the Blaze Pizza Flyer right from your smart phone.
• Wednesday 1/28:  Dress Up Day- Wear your special dress up clothes for Mass with Bishop Sklba.  Faith and Family Presentation by Fr. Schumaker at 6:30pm.
• Thursday 1/29:  Primary students will see a magic show, intermediate students will have fun and movement and 5th-8th grade students will participate in a trivia contest.
• Friday, 1/30:  School Spirit Day- Students should wear their SJV spirit wear or green and white.  The 100th day of school will be celebrated. The 8th grade students will take on the faculty in a volleyball match at 1:00pm.

State of Wisconsin Private School Tuition Tax Deduction

As many of you are aware, private school tuition paid for grades K-12 may qualify for a deduction on Wisconsin state income taxes beginning January 1, 2014. To assist school families in documenting their tuition paid, we are preparing statements of K-8 tuition paid during the calendar year 2014. The statements should be mailed by the end of January.

For information on whether or not your tuition payments qualify for this deduction, please refer to Wisconsin Department of Revenue Schedule PS Instructions or consult your tax advisor. 

• Faith and Family:  A Balancing Act?
• Families at the Heart of the Church
• Family:  Our Source of Dignity and Identity

Please click here to learn more about the Today's Catholic Family sessions. 

Do you have a special talent, hobby, or interest?  We'd love for you to share your passion at this year's High Interest Day.  We are looking for volunteers to teach classes to our students.  Parents, Grandparents and friends are welcome!  High Interest Day will be held on April 24th, from 12:20 until 2:40pm.  If interested, please contact Tina Lindner at 414-793-8513 or [email protected]. 

SCRIP is for anytime, not just for Christmas

Thank you for supporting SJV's SCRIP program for the holidays!  We hope the ordering process was easy and convenient and encourage you to continue using SCRIP for your weekly and monthly spending:  Groceries, hardware stores items, birthday party gifts, morning coffee runs, or gas purchases.  If you are taking a business trip or winter break vacation, plan ahead with restaurant and hotel cards.  Every time you purchase a SCRIP card, you get the face value of the card and you and SJV split the profits.  You can choose to take your half of the profit as cash or donate it back to SJV.  Remember, paper order forms are due in the school office by 8:30 am on Mondays or sign up to order online at www.shopwithscrip.com.  For more information, contact Martha Connelly at 262-717-9389, Amy Lodes at 262-796-9963 or Janet Fisher at 262-784-9673.

Thank You 

Thank you, Catholic Schools Week Committee, for all the hard work and planning for next week's activities!  We can hardly wait to be a part of it! 

If you have any questions regarding Bids for Kids, please contact Kim Tallmadge by email at [email protected] or by phone at 262-789-9392.

Invitations

Schedule of Events:

4:30 pm Mass

5:30 pm Cocktails & Silent Auction

8:00 pm Dinner

9:00 pm Voice Auction

10:30 pm Rockin' the Casbah After-Party

All events, except for Mass, will be held in the Activity Center.  Dress is cocktail attire.

Bids for Kids Facebook Page

• Milwaukee Brewers Club Suite for a game during the 2015 season
• Personal Pilates instruction and a three-month family membership to the Wisconsin Athletic Club
• Summer evening of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres on Lac LaBelle
• Paddle Party for 12 at the Brookfield West Elite Sports Club

To join this page, just click on Join Group and the administrator will approve you, limited to SJV families only. 

• Conveniently use your own smartphone to bid in the silent auction.  No extra gadgets needed! 
• When registering, provide your smartphone number.
• Bring your fully charged smartphone to Bids for Kids.
• Upon check-in at Bids for Kids, you'll receive an automated welcome text message.  Click on the personal bidder link which will allow you to take part in bidding on silent auction items.
• If you don't have a smartphone, let us know when registering.  We will provide you with an alternate means of bidding.

Teen Volunteers  

30 High School Students are needed to assist the caterer, work the coat check and various other jobs the evening of the auction.  Dinner, snacks, and training are provided that evening.  You will receive service hours for your school or Confirmation.  Contact Suzy Windsor at [email protected] to sign up or for more information. 

Pre-Event Item Pick-Up  

If you can give any time over the coming weeks to help with the pick-up of auction items from donors please email Liz Doherty. All assistance offered would be greatly appreciated. 

Display Supplies Needed for Silent Auction 

Display is in need of small to medium boxes to help prop items. The boxes will be covered; they do not need to look nice. They are also in need of large baskets. Please drop them off in the school office. Contact Katie Gilson if you have any questions.

Acquisitions  

This is a final call you you to make a donation to Bids for Kids. You can make your donation right on the Donation Page of the Bids for Kids website or print the form and send to the school office.  Contact Karen Parks by email or call 262-649-3745.  

Cash Purse Raffle 

The Cash Purse Raffle

Masters Golf Raffle

Did you know that the Masters was the first golf tournament to have bleachers, broadcast on the radio and broadcast in high-definition?  Such innovations that we take for granted today!  Experience it all at the Masters if you win the Masters Raffle at Bids for Kids.  Tickets will be sold after all Masses this weekend in the Narthex, in addition to the school and parish offices.  Don't delay! 

One Grand Prize: 2 one-day badges to the 2016 Masters Golf Tournament (April 8-10, 2016).  Full tournament hospitality access with open bar and meals included.  One night hotel accommodations in Augusta, Geogia.

Five - 2nd Prize Winners: $75 gift certificate toward a private golf lesson with Paul Mindel of the National Golf Center

Five - 3rd Prize Winners: $50 Gift Certificate toward a private golf lesson with Paul Mindel of the National Golf Center

The Masters raffle tickets are $100 each with only 150 available.  They are available for purchase during regular business hours at the St. John Vianney School Office (by cash or check), the St. John Vianney Parish Office (by cash, check or charge) and in the Narthex after all masses the weekends of January 24th & 25th and February 7th & 8th.  Any questions, please contact Beth Dobrzynski  or Tracy DiPiazza. 

Sponsorships

Coriander, Paprika, and Saffron Sponsorships from $500 to $2000, include several benefits.  Full details can be found on the donation form.   

Sugar and Spice Sponsorship is for the amount of your choosing.  Financial contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated.  Please consider sponsoring our auction to benefit the long term success of St. John Vianney School.  Contact Amy Lodes at 414-333-9963 with any sponsorship questions.  

Puppy Love

This adorable female cockapoo was born December 5th- she is about four weeks old in this photo. She is buff color with a white diamond on her head. You will be able to bid on her during the live auction.

A cockapoo is a mix of a cocker spaniel and a poodle resulting in a small, low to non-shedding, hypoallergenic puppy that is highly intelligent with an excellent personality. Cockapoos are very mild mannered, easy to train, excellent family pets that love kids and are great for families with allergies!  She will be at a home in Brookfield for three weeks before the auction. We can set up a time for you and your kids to meet her if you'd like. She will be perfect for any loving home!  Contact Angela Niemann at 262-347-7988 or [email protected].  

• Champagne Toast
• Souk Marrakesh Restaurant Gift Cards
• Swag Bags for both adults and children
• Wine Pull
• Henna Artist

Praying the Rosary

Families are welcome to pray the Rosary together on Wednesday, January 21st at 5:15pm in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.  If you have never prayed the Rosary before and would like to learn, this is the perfect opportunity.  What a great way to start off the New Year!  Rosaries are available for you if needed.  Everyone is welcome! 

New Server Training

Any student currently in 5th, 6th or 7th grade or any server who wants a review, is invited to attend one of our upcoming training sessions to be held in the church. If you have any questions, call the Office for Liturgy and Music, 262-796-3946 or the server coordinator, Mr. Bill Beres, 262-349-9152  (email [email protected]). We will be holding additional training sessions in May.  Any student trained at either of the sessions will be able to serve at Mass right away.

Attend one (1) of the following:

Sunday, February 22 after 11 am Mass

Wednesday, February 25, 6 pm

Please RSVP which training session you are planning to attend so that adequate training materials can be available (RSVP to [email protected]).

Waukesha County Tuition Assistance Fund Scholarship Opportunity

The Seton Volleyball Tournament benefits the Waukesha County Catholic Elementary Schools Tuition Assistance Fund, which is used to make Catholic school education a real possibility for those students who may not otherwise be able to afford full tuition.  Assistance will be in the form of $1000 grants.  We are proud to offer this assistance to all families whose children attend a Catholic school in Waukesha County.  Your school does not have to be in the tournament to apply.  Applications for assistance are available on the Seton website.  All applications must be received by February 1, 2015.