August 28, 2014


Class of 2015 Motto
 
    
"Living our FAITH as Children of God." 
Galatians 3:26 
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Principal's Letter

 

Dear Families, 

 

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! It was so great to see so many happy faces this morning. We are ready for a successful year. Over the past few days of inservice, the enthusiasm and eagerness among the teachers was palpable. They spent many weeks during the summer break attending workshops and classes on the teaching of math, English language arts, diverse learners, religion, teaching strategies, teacher formation, Spanish, and we all updated our CPR and first aid certification. Let us pray that we won't need to use the latter training, but we are looking forward to sharing our professional development and growth with the students.

 

This year's theme is Living our Faith as Children of God. Mrs. Tsagalakis and Mrs. Kelly have already written a song based on the theme and we sang it at our opening liturgy. The children may come home humming the chorus! Our Habits of Mind program will be 'upgraded' - we are practicing Virtues, very good habits or strengths, this year. Each month we will highlight a virtue and learn about a saint who demonstrated that virtue. This month we focus on Faith.  You will receive information on the program from your children's teachers.

 

The Jog-a-Thon, the Welcome Back Party and the Endowment Dinner are coming up very quickly. Be sure to get your Jog-a-Thon sponsors and spread the word. You can donate online! The Jog-a-Thon is the first big fund-raiser of the year and it is expedient to get a powerful head start for the budget so that we can continue to provide strong programs. The Purple and Gold generates funding for our endowment, which will become a source of scholarship and financial assistance in the future. Look out for information online and around the school for both of these events.

 

As you see, September is a busy month! You will also be here for curriculum night. This time, we decided to have the events on two separate weeks to make it easier for families with children in multiple grades. It is important that you attend this meeting as you will learn about the grade level standards, the curriculum, and the expectations for your child.   Curriculum Night for grades 6, 7 and 8 will take place on September 4th and for grades K - 5 on September 9th. Both events will begin in Egan Hall.

 

Work done over the summer includes sealing and striping the playground, upgrades in the XDC kitchen, and beautiful new windows - thank you! 

 

I am enjoying the sounds of happy chatter as I type this message. It is so lovely to have the children back!    

 

Beannacht,   

 

Bernadette O'Leary  
Principal  
JOG-A-THON

The St. John School Jog-a-Thon is
RIGHT around the corner
on
Friday, September 12.
 Your students will bring home their pledge packets tomorrow, but you can start
collecting pledges NOW!
This is a fun event for the students,  

and adults are welcome!  

We will be running all day!

 

 

 

Important dates to remember:

  • Wednesday, September 3 is FREE DRESS day for those students who have secured 5 or more pledges by this date. Please sign their coupon and send it to school with them on this day (they can arrive in free dress).
  • Monday, September 8 we will begin collecting raffle cards for those families who have secured more than $150 in pledges. One student per day will be drawn out of the raffle to receive a $10 scrip card of their choice. Please sign and send a raffle card with your student(s).
  • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 - Jog-a-Thon! Come dressed in your craziest running gear, rain or shine, ready to run!
  • Tuesday, September 30 - all pledge money due

 

Thanks for supporting the St. John School Jog-a-Thon!
Jog-a-Thon Pledge Form/Information
Food Truck Menu - Back To School Party!
Donate Now!  

 

Dates To Note/Action Items  
JOG-A-THON KICK OFF! 
Friday, August 29, 2014
Egan Hall, 1:45pm

Green Banner

  • Friday, August 29 - Uniform Exchange, lower East hallway
  • Monday, September 1 - Labor Day - School not in session
  • Tuesday, September 2 - Hot Lunch Service begins
  • Thursday, September 4 - Curriculum Night, Grs. 6/7/8, 6:45pm, Egan Hall
  • Friday, September 12 - Jog-a-Thon/Welcome Back Party!

 

School Theme 2014/2015

Prayer of Faith 2014/2015
School Theme Song 14/15
Living Our Faith as Children of God

Galatians 3:26  

St. John School Theme Song 2014-2015

by Pat Tsagalakis & Becky Kelly

 

Chorus:
Living Our Faith as children of God.

Living Our Faith as children of God.

 

Clothe yourselves in Christ (Alleluia)

Witness to all His mercy and grace

 

Living our Faith - children of God

Living our Faith - children of God

 

We are stewards of His truth

Called to live with zeal

Giving thanks to God above with generosity

 

We are honest, just and fair

Trustworthy and kind

Giving thanks to God above, with a reverent spirit.

 

Chorus:

 

Bridge: Alleluia... Alleluia... Alleluia...

Living Our Faith - Children of God

Living Our Faith - Children of God

NoJunk
NoJunk
WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL
This year we have two services.

Hot lunch - http://nojunk.h1.hotlunchonline.net, where you place your hot lunch order.

The newest addition under the No Junk umbrella is called Eat School Bag Lunches by NO JUNK at http://www.nojunk-goodfood.com. Here you will be able to put together your own bag lunch for your child. There is a variety of freshly made sandwiches, salads, wraps, spring rolls, snacks, fruits, vegetables and drinks. Each lunch is made fresh daily. The bags will be delivered to the school. Each bag will be labeled with the name of the school, student's first and last name, and grade. The bags will be ready to be picked up in the cafeteria at lunch time.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
We have switched to a new pre order system for the HOT LUNCH program. If you have not registered yet please go to http://nojunk.h1.hotlunchonline.net.
***IMPORTANT***
Once you have registered, please email us at [email protected] and let us know you are in the system and ready for your credit to be transferred
Scrip
  Scrip 3
Part of your Fair Share pledge commitment to St. John School is to use Scrip,
the EASIEST
 fundraising you will EVER do!

Use the attached order form, return to the school office with your payment and receive your scrip through your student.  Or, use escrip!  If you prefer to pick it up just let the scrip team know!   

Questions? Contact Karen Bombino, [email protected]
Calendar 2014/2015

The St. John School calendar is updated regularly,
through the school website.

For a full 'year at a glance' print the attached.
Student Enrichment Opportunities






Registration for Cantionis is open on the school web site -
Register Here

There is no fee for Cantionis.











*********************************************************************

"Living Our Faith As Children of God!"

  Sing Alleluia!

Join St. John School SCHOLA CHOIR

   

Schola Choir is open to all 7th and 8th grade singers. We gather together to rehearse on Mondays from 2:55 - 3:30 p.m. We lead music for school liturgies and special assemblies. Schola Choir is a great opportunity to share your musical gifts! Our first rehearsal will be Monday, September 8th. Auditioning is easy! You will be asked to sing a song we practice together (in groups of three). No preparation is needed. Just show up and SING! Our first school liturgy is Wednesday, September 17th.  There is no fee for Schola Choir. Questions - Mrs. Tsagalakis, [email protected] 

   

**********************************************************************  
Registration for the following Fall Clubs (this excludes Science Club) will take place on Wednesday, September 10, through the school website.  Online registrations will open beginning at 7pm. 
Registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis.  Once the open enrollment period concludes an email confirmation will be sent to registered participants.


Kay's Art Club
Kay Yang, instructor, has a Masters Degree in Art Education, many years of teaching experience, and a passion for teaching children of all ages. Art classes are small in size, providing an environment to work with each child, answer questions, demonstrate techniques and encourage exploration. Kay's art classes are designed for children of all abilities. Children paint, draw, sculpt, collage, design, imagine, sketch and explore using a wide variety of artist materials and techniques, all in an atmosphere of fun and success!  12 Thursday sessions beginning September 18, 3:05-4:35pm.  The Club will end with an evening Art Showcase! 

Coding With Kids - A (Grs. 2/3) & B (Grs. 4/5) 

Want to become a coding ace and write your own computer games? Join Coding with Kids' computer programming class! Students learn and practice key programming concepts (variables, functions, conditionals, etc.) and create games and interactive stories. Lessons include short lectures and lots of practice. Students also learn how to debug their code and later how to properly architect their programs. The programming environment used is Scratch, developed by MIT (http://scratch.mit.edu). All participants and their parents will be able to access class projects online. Laptops will be provided. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15pm beginning September 23 for 13 weeks (no class 11/11, 12/23, 12/30).  Cost $247.00.  Watch for notification of the registration portal opening.   

  

 

 

Two opportunities available from Play-Well Teknologies: 

 

LEGO Pre-Engineering (Grs. K/1) Maximum enrollment 16 

Let your imagination run wild with tens of thousands of LEGO�! Build engineer-designed projects such as boats, bridges, mazes and motorized cars, and use special pieces to create your own unique design! Explore the endless creative possibilities of the LEGO� building system with the guidance of an experienced Play-Well instructor. This is an ideal way to prepare young builders for the challenge of Engineering FUNdamentals. Cost $150.00     

 

LEGO Robotics (Grs. 3-5) Maximum enrollment 14 

Build and program robots using the new LEGO� Mindstorms EV3 system! Learn about mechanical and software design, loops, conditional statements, problem solving, and teamwork skills. Work in small groups, program and build your robot, and rise to the challenge. Control the robot to avoid obstacles, pick up and carry objects, and play sounds. Projects are structured so that students work in an open-ended, investigative environment while having fun. Cost $230.00    

Blessing of the Back Packs Mass
Celebrate the beginning of the new school year by bringing your backpack, book bag or tote to be blessed by Fr. Crispin at the 2nd Annual Blessing of the Backpacks Mass.

 

To help our neighbors and be more of a presence in our community, we invite you to fill your child's backpack with non-perishable food items in support of Broadview-Thomson K-8 (BTK8) Food Program. The children will be invited to leave the food on the altar during Mass.

 

Suggested donations 

  • Canned food of tuna, condensed soups, baked beans, chili Chef Boy-R-D and spaghetti sauce. (Since kids carry food home we kindly request no glass containers)
  • Dried food such as tuna helper, mac & cheese, beans and rice, raisins, cup-o-noodle and "just add water" muffin mix.
  • Plastic jars of 12oz peanut butter

Questions? Mary Wiseman, 206-782-2810 x355 or [email protected].

 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
DahlgrenDo you enjoy being outside? Watching your child play with others? Are you available during the middle of the day, or can parlay for a long lunch break? The playground needs your help!!

I am looking for several volunteers to help monitor lunch recesses on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays through the school year. Duty begins at 11:15 and ends at 12:45. Your younger children are welcome providing they will not detract from your attention to the school children. If you are interested, please contact Catherine Dahlgren at [email protected] or 782-4823. 
Mrs. Catherine Dahlgren, Our Lady of Perpetual Asphalt



 
A volunteer is needed to manage the Labels for Education program, processing the collected labels and promoting family participation in the program. 2-3 hours a month on average. Redemption of these labels directly effects the acquisition of playground equipment. 
 
Contact Catherine Dahlgren for more information, floribunda51@ yahoo.com or 782-4823.
 

 

CYO Soccer/Cross Country 14/15 Registration Open
Sign up now to play CYO Soccer and run Cross Country for St. John!
Soccer season runs through late October or early November. Cross Country practices start in early September; the season concludes in October
Please contact Tom Brush ([email protected]) or Pat Daly ([email protected]) about CYO Soccer, and Mike Spear ([email protected]) or Pat Daly ([email protected]) about CYO Cross Country.

********
 
Fall Sports (Soccer/Cross Country) Registration 
Attached Registration form
Return your form to the school office.
Federal AHERA Management Plan
August 2014

Dear Parent, Teacher and Employee,

This letter is notification that your sch
ool is in compliance with the Federal Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA).  The AHERA-required Management Plan is on file at our school's administration office.

AHERA requires all schools, kindergarten through twelfth grade, to be inspected to identify any Asbestos-Containing Building Materials (ACBMs).  The law further requires the development of a Management Plan based on the findings of t he inspection, which outlines our intent in controlling the potential for exposure to asbestos fibers in our schools.  In the past, asbestos was used in building materials because of its insulating and fire retarding capabilities.  Virtually any building built before the late 1970s contains some ACBMs.  The materials are distributed in various locations and may include floor tiles, pipe insulation and mechanical areas not readily accessible to building occupants or students.

Our Management Plan has been in place since 1989.  It outlines in detail the methods used to maintain the materials in a safe manner.  It also contains a schedule for the phased removal of these materials as applicable.

The Archdiocese of Seattle's plan is on file for your review at the Archdiocesan Office of Property and Construction Services located at 710 Ninth Ave., Seattle, WA 98104.  Each school's building inspection reports are on file in their respective administrative offices.

The Archdiocese of Seattle's schools are taking the necessary steps to ensure that the school's buildings are safe for the students, employees, and volunteers.  We share with you the desire to have a safe and healthy learning environment for our children and employees.

Please be assured th at our schools have completed the necessary steps to be in compliance with the law.

Bernadette O'Leary 
Principal  
Thank You Corner
Thank you to Christine Craig and her wonderful Parent Association crew, for providing a wonderful back to school luncheon for faculty and staff yesterday!  What a great way to start off!



Thank you to Kelvin & Catherine Dahlgren (Anchor Bay Charters) for taking faculty on a fabulous cruise Monday!  Faculty boarded The Seeker for a beautiful day on Lake Washington!  Thank you!!

 

 

 

Want to thank someone publicly?  Send your "thanks" to Diane Crockett at  [email protected] for publication in NewsViews.



Children are not things to be moulded,
but people to be unfolded.
Jess Lair