Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity at Christmas. The faculty and I appreciated the prayers, gifts and kind thoughts you bestowed upon us.

The children must have made resolutions around being focused learners - they have settled in well. These long dark evenings are great for curling up with good books and reading with your children.   Talk about key details in the stories, discuss connections between key characters, events or ideas in the stories, compare and contrast stories on a similar topic or theme, explore new vocabulary, have fun with books.   By having conversations with your children around what you all read either in the newspapers, magazines or in books or watch on television, you are diving into some of the Core Standards and supporting their learning in school and for life!

I am looking forward to hearing Liliana Lengua's presentation next week at our PA meeting.   Her topic, Nature and Nurturing: Parenting With Your Child's Temperament in Mind will be meaningful and helpful for me both as parent/grandparent and as an educator. The presentation takes place in Egan Hall at 7pm on Tuesday, January 13.

On Wednesday, January 14 we will have the Pre-K and K Open House at 7pm. That meeting will begin on the Mezzanine. If you know of friends or acquaintances who have young children and are interested in learning about St. John School, please advise them about this opportunity to learn about our programs.

Remember that Catholic Schools Week opens with 10:30 am Mass on January 25. We ask that all parish families attend that mass, so I am letting you know now to mark it on your calendar! Mass will be followed by the Cultural Fair in Egan Hall. Children are asked to wear formal school uniform or their ethnic dress to Mass.

See you at the Auction Underwriting Event on January 31, where you can purchase wine with the classiest label in town (see below)! And all for a great cause!