St. John Paul II Catholic School 
KNIGHT LIFE 
105 St. Paul Street
Sellersburg, IN  47172
September 21, 2016 
Dates to Remember
September  
23 - End of 1st Quarter
27, 28, 29 - Parent Teacher Conferences
28 - Mass 8:30 a.m. (4E)
28 - JPII Parents Lunch for Faculty & Staff
30 - Family Friday (5G)/SpiritWear Day/Early Dismissal 1:40/No Bus Service
30 - Pet Blessing at Family Friday 7:45 a.m. 
October 
2 - Turkey Shoot/Fall Festival at St. Joe Campus
3 through 14 - Fall Break/No School
19 - Mass 8:30 a.m. (5G)
21 - Living Rosary
26 - Mass 8:30 a.m. (KB)
28 - Science Fair
29 - 1st Reconciliation Parents' Meeting (Grade 2)
31 - Halloween Parade & Parties starting at 1:00
November  
1 - Mass 8:30 a.m./All Saints Day/Gr. 3 Grandparents
4 - Family Friday (Gr. 2) /SpiritWear Day/Early Dismissal 1:40/No Bus Service
8 - No Bus Service
9 - Veterans' Mass 8:30 a.m. (2B) 
11 - Adult "Knight" Out
16 - Mass 8:30 a.m. (KK)
23 to 25 - Thanksgiving Break/No School
30 - Mass 8:30 a.m. (3P)
30 - Christmas Program Grades K, 1 & 2    
Catechist Blessing
The teachers at St. John Paul II Catholic School which all serve as catechists, were called forth to be commissioned for their ministry at the September 14th Mass.  This was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel.  The teachers were presented with a certificate to recognize them for their dedication to their important ministry of being a Catholic school teacher. 
   
Grade 1
Mrs. Brock and Mrs. Chrisco's class did a wonderful job at their Mass last Wednesday.  Their teachers were very proud of them!

1BC celebrated reaching their goal in Walk-a-Thon pledges with extra recess and a Popsicle party!!  Sweet!!
Welcome to a New Member of our JPII Family
Nolan is proud to introduce his new baby brother, Hudson.   Congratulations Nolan! 
 
Kroger Rewards - Easy Fundraiser
Kroger Community Rewards School #10598
- Register your Kroger card at:  www.Kroger.com/communityrewards
We have 28 households who are registered and shopped at Kroger between 6-1-2016 and 8-31-2016.  They have contributed to a donation from Kroger in the amount of $208.37!!!

Office Depot - Give Back to Schools
When you make a qualifying purchase at Office Depot or Office Max, provide our school ID at checkout, JPII will receive 5% back in credits for free supplies.
School ID Number is 70037378
For more details and to download even more helpful tools, visit:  www.officedepot.com/givebts.  
 
Kindergarten 
Mrs. Bean's Smarties have been so excited to write daily in writer's workshop.  They have been using the word wall and stretching out sounds to form words.

Mrs. Kist's class read the story of Noah's Ark and water-colored rainbows to remember God's promise.
Athletics
Parent Workers - Grades 1 & 2 Volleyball 
Saturday, September 24, at JPII 
Game Time                     Door Admissions                       Concessions 
 10:00                              Howell                                     Marks/Wright
 11:00                               Ott                                         Foster/Young 
CELEBRATING INDIANA'S BICENTENNIAL:
A 92 COUNTY TORCH RELAY

St. John Paul II Catholic School is very proud of Ms. Marcia Ernstberger who was chosen to be a torch bearer for the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay. Ms. Ernstberger teaches Indiana History to fourth graders, and has been responsible for many students learning about our great state and its many important Hoosiers. She also embodies the traits of a "Hoosier"--smart, hard-working, and faith-filled.
The relay is just one event planned by the state to celebrate the state's 200th birthday. Below are some Torch Relay facts:
  • 3,200 mile journey across the state traveling through 92 counties
  • The Torch Relay will begin in Corydon, the state's first capital, and culminate in Indianapolis on the Statehouse Grounds
  • The relay was designed to inspire Hoosiers and promote unity across the state by connecting people, communities, and regions
  • Starts on September 9, 2016 and ends October 15, 2016
  • The torch will travel 6 days per week (Mondays rest day) for 5 weeks/32 days
  • Walkers, runners and torch bearers employing modes of transportation that are representative of Indiana culture and heritage will move the torch along its route
  • Torch Bearers will be chosen from nominations by each county in the state
  • The Torch Relay will conclude on the Statehouse Grounds with a grand celebration for all Hoosiers
  • The Indiana Bicentennial Experience is a museum on wheels that celebrates the history and culture of the Hoosier State.

Grade 6
Last week our sixth grade class enjoyed one of their "special lunches" with a walk to Arby's.  They had a great time and another customer commented on how well behaved they were.  Way to represent our school, sixth grade! 


 
Indiana Tax Credit Scholarship Program Opened July 1
 
The Indiana Tax Credit Scholarship Program opened July 1st  with $9.5 million in tax credits now available! The Office of Catholic Schools is gratified by the tremendous support of generous donors this past year. Act now, before these tax credits are exhausted, to make your gift and receive the 50% tax credit. As of September 12, 2016 the remaining amount of credits available to be awarded was 5.9 million dollars. Last year the credits ran out on February 6, 2016. This year the tax credits are expected to be exhausted before the end of this calendar year, so please act now.

Donating is easy to do!  Donations must be directed to the Istitute for Quality Education (IQE) in order to receive the tax credit.  To learn more about the tax credit scholarship program and how to donate to the St. John Paul II Catholic School Fund, visit www.i4qed.org/sgo.  Questions should be directed to Karen Haas, Principal at 812-246-3266 or khaas@stjohnpaulschool.org

Karen Haas
Principal

Grade 3
The third grade had a great study trip to Squire Boone Caverns last week.  They even had a visit from the mayor of Corydon while they ate lunch!

 
 
PET BLESSING: FAMILY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30TH
It won't be long now and we'll celebrate Saint Francis with the Blessing of the Animals at September 30th's Family Friday at 7:45 a.m. You are welcome to bring your socially-friendly pet to join us. We anticipate pets of many types to be present, so please consider whether your pet "plays well with others". Students that have pets that would not do well in this environment or cannot attend for any reason are welcome to bring in a photo of their pet to our blessing. The ceremony will take place in the courtyard between the two school buildings unless the weather is uncooperative.
 
We ask you to plan now to get your pets groomed (bathed), brushed, deodorized, and "spiffed" up so that they can look their "Sunday best" and join us in worship. If you have an animal that sheds, be sure to brush your pet thoroughly before coming to the blessing. (We may be inside the gym if it rains.) If your sweet pet makes a deposit or leaves a calling card (and you know what we mean), you are asked to be responsible and clean it up (supplies will be available). Finally, we ask folks to keep their pets on leashes or in cages to help our ceremony run smoothly.

As with every school morning we will ask parents that are staying to park in the non-numbered spaces in the Activity Center parking lot. If this area becomes full, please do not park on the street. Additional parking is located on the side of the church building closest to the ramp entrances to the church. Please do not park in the large church parking lot (playground). Morning drop-off will be taking place there.
   
Room Parents - All Adult Volunteers
Just a reminder - If you work at school with the students you must complete the Safe and Sacred Training which includes a background check. This includes all employees, volunteers and coaches.  If you signed up to be a room parent for a holiday party please be sure to complete the training with the background check.
Please go to the website below:  

    
Bulletin Board of the Week
PreK - Mrs. Shannon Nickles