Welcome back! I hope that all families had a blessed and restful Easter and break. I'm looking forward to all the Easter celebrations in the classroom this Friday, April 8th! Remember this will be a Noon Dismissal.

Friday will also mark the end of 3rd quarter. Bringing us quickly into the 4th and final quarter of the school year. I cannot believe how fast the year has gone by. Starting next week we will also begin our Faith Knowledge Assessment. You can follow the link HERE to look at when your child will be testing. This test will be completed online. Research shows a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast helps the brain! I'm excited to see how much our students have learned in religion this year!

The word is getting out about St. Joseph's RCS. Thank you to all of our families and teachers for making St. Joseph's RCS such a great place, and sharing your experience with your neighbors and friends. We have a lot of new families interested in enrolling for next year! New families entering K-8th, you may enroll online http://stjosrcs.org/registration/

by clicking on the TADS link. To register for our PRE-K program please download the PRE-K registration form from our website and bring or mail to the school office.

You may now register for our 3rd annual 5k Race and 1 mile Fun Run on May 14th. Follow the link HERE and choose the appropriate link to register as a parent or student. Paper registrations will be coming in a few short weeks.

St. Joseph's RCS will have our 2nd annual Vacation Bible School this summer July 11th-15th. We had a wonderful time last year sharing a faith filled journey with our camp attendees. We look forward to doing the same this summer!

Are you looking for something exciting to do outside this summer? St. Joseph's RCS has set a date for our 2nd annual Golf Tournament. We will have the tournament on August 19th. Mark your calendars, and get ready to play at Cross Creek this summer! More information will be coming in the following weeks.

Mrs. Miller and I ran the Rock n' Roll DC half marathon for a great cause. The next race for me will be the Diamondman Challenge, a half-ironman in September. I'm hoping all the miles I spend training for this 70.3 mile race will result in funds raised towards our Principal's Emergency Tuition Assistance fund. If you would like to donate towards this cause, please visit our school website www.stjosrcs.org and click the DONATE button at the bottom of the page. Under the add instructions link, type RUN. Thank you to all of you who have already helped donate to this cause!

Here are some important events to mark your calendar for.

April 20th- Grandparents Day
May 14th- 3rd Annual 5k
May 18th- Talent Show
May 27th- Field Day
June 2nd- Band Concert
June 9th- 7th and 8th grade Picnic
June 10th- Graduation

Mr. Hooker's Math and Fitness Challenge:

Mr. Hooker biked for 1:10:00 (1 hour 10 minutes). If he biked at a pace of 18.3 mph (miles per hour), how many miles did he bike?

Child Protection Policy- visit www.virtus.org to sign up.
School's Website- www.stjosrcs.org.
Facebook- stjosephbeltsville
Twitter- @StJosephsRCS
Instagram- @stjosephsrcs

"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4

Zach Hooker, Principal

From the Home and School Association

Hello Parents!

The 3rd Annual Pasta Dinner and 5K and One Mile Fun Run are quickly approaching! Save the dates of May 13th and 14th and start your training now! We are looking for chair people to help both Friday night (May 13th) and Saturday morning (May 14th) in the following areas: Pasta Dinner, Race Registration, Course Marshal, and Sponsorship/Marketing. Please note that DOUBLE VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS will be earned for those who are interested in chairing a part of the event. SINGLE VOLUNTEER SERVICE HOURS will be earned for those who are working the weekend of the event. A Sign up Genius and more information will be out before spring break. Please contact
Marianne Schwenz (schwenzm@comcast.net) or
Austin Conaty (Austin.conaty@gmail.com)
as soon as possible if you are interested in becoming a chairperson.

St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School's Student Council invites all Middle School Students to their

Spring Formal Masquerade Dance

Saturday, April 9, 2016

6:30 pm-9:00 pm

In the School Cafeteria/Multipurpose Room

Tickets - $10 in advance $15 at the door

DJ Solozano will be playing all your favorite dance tunes
Pizza and snacks will be served
Games, activities and prizes, including one Grand Prize for the best masquerade mask
St. Joseph's Middle School students only
Dress to impress -
- o Boys - Jacket, dress shirt, tie (optional)
- o Girls - Dresses or skirts (knee length) or dress pants and shirt
- No T shirts or ripped jeans!

Take all Coke Rewards caps to school office.

We will not be participating in the Coke
Rewards program after this school year!

If you would like to earn Volunteer Service Hours by helping to enter Coke cap codes on their website from your own computer please contact the St. Joseph's Coke Rewards Coordinator, Leanne Murray at Lmurray514@msn.com

This is a great way to earn hours if you have not completed the Child Protection Program (Virtus) training!

Record Volunteer Service Hours online using the link in the HSA section of Monday's Enewsletter or by typing the following: https://sites.google.com/site/stjosephregionalhsa/
FINAL REPORTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN APRIL ALL HOURS MUST BE EARNED BY MAY 27, 2016

Come Meet the HSA and join us at our

5K / Pasta Dinner Planning Meeting

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

HSA Meet and Greet and 5K Planning meeting 6:30pm-7pm

Regular HSA Board meeting 7pm-8:30pm

Do you know what the HSA does?
Would you like to learn more and consider volunteering next year?

You are welcome to come check us out. All parents of children in our school are members of the HSA.

There will be several open HSA Board positions for the 2016-17 school year and elections will be held in May 2016. Vice President, Recording Secretary, Hospitality Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator and Family Night Out Coordinator. (More information about these positions will be out next Monday!)

Past Board meeting minutes and other resources are on the HSA website at:

https://sites.google.com/site/stjosephregionalhsa/

If you have general questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact any Board member at any time.

Questions? Contact Michelle Rathbun
at michellerathbun@yahoo.com or 301/996-4864.

Sign Up Genius for 5K/Pasta Dinner will be out this week! Please consider helping out even if you have already earned your volunteer service hours. Please encourage your children to participate with their classmates in this fun family event! (More information will be out next Monday!)

Check your email for more opportunities to get involved!

Thank you!

If you have questions or need more information about any of the volunteer opportunities, please contact Marianne Schwenz, HSA President, at schwenzm@comcast.net

President Marianne Schwenz
301.572.2229 schwenzm@comcast.net

Vice President Alice Szczepanski 301.437.3471 alice.szczepanski@gmail.com

Treasurer Cheryl Thomas

301.572.7028 clthomas09@aol.com

Recording Secretary Michelle Rathbun
301.890.5076 michellerathbun@yahoo.com

Hospitality Chair Katie Vaughn
301.906.9435 amydom21@aol.com

Fundraising Chair Jerri Thaniel
240.568.9295 brdgtf@netscape.net

Volunteer Coordinators Judith Rose-Wilson
301.430.0648 jsallywally@hotmail.com

Marketing Coordinator Natalie Ramos
301.586.8336 ortiZnatalie@hotmail.com

Additional Members
Jennifer McCullough
443.220.3690 mjmmccullough@yahoo.com

Dana Needle
301.806.0478 taz0128@hotmail.com

Home & School Website:

https://sites.google.com/site/stjosephregionalhsa/

Marianne Schwenz

President, Home and School Association

St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School
schwenzm@comcast.net

home 301.572.2229

cell 240.508.9957

fax 301.572.0073

Alumni Section!

There is a Facebook Page especially for the Alumni! Please look under "St. Joseph's Beltsville Catholic School Alumni" Click here to go see!

Child Protection Audit Upcoming

Child Protection Electronic Background screening will now be available for St. Joseph's Parish & St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School in the school office from 8:30 am - 10:00am Wednesdays & Thursdays. Please contact Mrs. Stock in the school office at 301-937-7154 or by e-mail at

schooloffice@stjosrcs.org

to schedule an appointment. You will need to bring your volunteer application, 2 forms of ID and payment of $13.50, checks made out to St. Joseph's or cash.

The annual child protection audit will be taking place this spring. All parents who have not completed all parts of the program will be deactivated and may need to begin again. All training classes must be completed prior to or no more than 60 days after your background check or you will need to redo your background check. Please contact Mrs. Stock in the school office with any questions.

School Facebook Page

If you haven't already "liked" us on Facebook, please take a moment to click this link and "like" our new Saint Joseph's Regional Catholic School Page.

https://www.facebook.com/stjosephbeltsville

or find us by typing SAINT Joseph's Regional Catholic School.
Thank you!

Weekly Family Math Night Activity

Welcome to the last week of third quarter. Sounds like fractions are the name of the game this week. Have fun with Fraction Tic Tac Toe!

Good luck and God Bless!

Always have fun with Math,

Ms. Baade and Ms. Montoya

Math Club Advisors

Click here for the activity!

Rice Bowls for Lent

We will be collecting
your CRS Rice Bowls
Friday, April 8

Thank you for using CRS Rice Bowl with your family this Lent.

Help Needed-Student Council Middle School Dance

Parents-

Please support St. Joseph's RCS's Student Council by helping with a donation of food, money or your time for their upcoming Middle School Spring Formal Masquerade Dance.

Please remember the following when showing your support:

You do not have to have a child in middle school to earn hours for food donations or to make a monetary donation.
Your food donation will count towards your HSA Volunteer Service Hour commitment for this year.
You can earn a maximum of 3 hours by donating food.
Food donations should be dropped off Friday, April 8 during school hours (noon dismissal) or at the school cafeteria between 5:30 and 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 9th.
Cash or checks made payable to St. Joseph's RCS should be sent in an envelope to the school clearly marked "Mr. DiGiovanni".
Monetary donations will be used to help with the cost of pizza, decorations and prizes!

Please use the following link to volunteer to provide food/supply donations or to chaperone:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4da4a828a3fe3-student

Thank you

Read to Succeed!

Just a reminder...this year, St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School is participating in an exciting program that encourages students in grades K through 6 to read for fun. Read to Succeed is a free program sponsored by Six Flags Theme Parks. Every student who completes six hours of recreational reading and turns in the reading log before the deadline is eligible for a free admission ticket valid at Six Flags America in Largo.

Students will develop a greater appreciation for books when they see that you think reading is important too. You are sure to have fun as you investigate the world of reading together!

Here's what you need to know:

 Only students in grades K through 6 are eligible to participate.

Your child should use the log sheet, sent home in a communications envelope, to record what and how long he/she reads.Kindergarten is working on their logs in class.

 Your child must complete 6 hours, or 360 minutes, of recreational reading.

 Please initial each entry and then sign the reading log to verify that the 6 hours of reading has been completed.

 Your child can read books, magazines, newspapers, or comic books (digital or hard copy).

 Students can read silently, aloud, or with an adult-you can read to your child, or your child can read to you.

 Remind your child to return the reading log to his/her teacher by the date on the log.

This Easter break is a great time to complete the 6 hour reading requirement, if your child hasn't already done so.

We hope that you and your child enjoy this free program and spend time reading together.

Happy Reading!

Darlene Finke, Book Fair Coordinator

Please click here for the Student Reading Log

Box Top Totals!

FEBRUARY

1st Place - 4th grade with 19.8 box tops per student

6th grade - 19.8

2nd Place - 8th grade - 13.9

3rd Place - 2nd grade - 11.8

4th Place - 7th grade - 6.7

5th Place - Kindergarten - 5.9

6th Place - 1st grade - 5.7

7th Place - Prek - 4.5

8th Place - 3rd grade - 4.2

5th grade - 4.2

MARCH

1st Place - 8th grade with 27.3 box tops per student

2nd Place - 4th grade - 17.6

3rd Place - 1st grade - 9.2

4th Place - 2nd grade - 8.3

5th Place - 3rd grade - 4.4

6th Place - 6th grade - 4.3

7th Place - 7th grade - 3.5

8th Place - 5th grade - 3.3

9th Place - Prek - 2.6

10th Place - Kindergarten - 0.0

OVERALL TOTAL

1st Place - 6th grade with 95.2 box tops per student

2nd Place - 4th grade - 81.9

3rd Place - 8th grade - 53.4

4th Place - 2nd grade - 51.7

5th Place - 1st grade - 31.0

6th Place - 7th grade - 26.1

7th Place - 5th grade - 24.0

8th Place - 3rd grade - 20.8

9th Place - Prek - 19.3

10th Place - Kindergarten - 17.3

St. Joseph's Community Art Show--April 23 & 24

St. Joseph's Catholic Church will host a Community Art Show
April 23 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM
April 24 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
If you are interested in displaying your art, you must be 16 years of age and older, entry deadline is April 8th.
Contacts:
stjoesartshow@gmail.com or
www.stjos.org/Community_Art_Show to download and entry form.

Volunteer Opportunities

Monday morning envelope stuffers

If a family would like to take the items for the envelopes and the envelopes home on Friday and then collate them and stuff the envelopes, and bring them back for distribution on Monday, they can earn volunteer hours for this!

Health Room--RN or higher

All In-School Projects Require ADW Child Protection Program completion. Please call the office 301-937-7154

Elizabeth House Dates and Grades

May 6th Pre-K

June 3rd Grade 3

Calendar Events

April 4 Annunciation of the Lord

Classes Resume

April 6    Faculty Meeting
              School Mass 8:15 AM
      Hot Lunch--Papa John's Pizza

April 8 Easter Parties 10:30 AM
End of 3rd Quarter

Noon Dismissal

              Teacher In-Service
              Bring CRS Rice Bowls in
April 9    Middle School Dance 6:30 PM
April 12 Grades Due
              Home & School Board Meeting
April 13 Faculty Meeting
              Hot Lunch--Chick Fil-A Nuggets/Sandwich

April 14 Personality Pictures Day (Changed)
              Field Trip to the Zoo--Grades K, 1, & 2
April 15 Report Cards Distributed
April 18 Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle
April 20 Grandparents Day 7:15 AM Breakfast & Lunch Served
              Honors & Awards Assembly 8:15 AM
              Grade Level Team Meeting
              Hot Lunch--Lasagna

April 23-24 St. Joseph's Community Art Show
Multipurpose Room, Sat: 6-9:30 PM Sun: 8:30 AM-2 PM
April 25 Feast of Saint Mark, Evangelist
April 27 Faculty Meeting
Graduation Picture
Hot Lunch--Macaroni & Cheese

April 28 Box Top Tag Day

April 29 Safety Patrol Field Trip to Climb Zone

__________________________________________________________
May 1     Knights of Columbus Oratory
May 6     Elizabeth House by Pre-K
May 14 3rd Annual 5K
May 18   Talent Show
May 27    Field Day
__________________________________________________________
June 2     Band Concert
June 3     Elizabeth House by 3rd Grade
June 9     7th & 8th Grade Picnic
June 10   8th Grade Graduation
June 14 Last Day of School
__________________________________________________________
July 11-15 Vacation Bible School

Phone: 301-937-7154

Fax: 301-937-1467

Email: schooloffice@stjosrcs.org

Email: principal@stjosrcs.org

Website: stjosrcs.org

Archdiocese Band Website:

ADWBAND.com

Sincerely,

St. Joseph's Regional Catholic School

11011 Montgomery Road

Beltsville, MD 20705