Principal's Newsletter

                                                                                                                                   September 2008

Dear Parents,

 What an exciting time of the year!  Pictures are online if you would like to view the many faces of the first day of school.  I visited the children in the classrooms, and had the pleasure to meet many of you opening day.  Preschool and Kindergarten children had an opportunity to explore their classrooms at their Open House before beginning regular classes.   The children took their parents by the hand and investigated the new surroundings.  The first week ended with an All School Liturgy.  Our new Music teacher, Miss Margaret Brumann, led students with song, and the Fine Arts Department did a wonderful job planning the liturgy. 

The staff met for a week of in-service before the children came back to school.   These meetings allow us to renew our ministry in Catholic education and its direction at SJC.  I am impressed with the dedicated staff and their ongoing work to provide a Catholic education for our children. We discussed many of the things that work at SJC.  As educators, we like to be able to utilize every minute available to us for educating the children.  We also believe in the importance of practicing our faith on a daily basis.  As a school community, we begin the day at 8:55 with a prayer.  We want the children in their seats to participate, so we suggest having the children here between 8:40 and 8:50.  The children are tardy if they are not in their seats at 8:55.  Thank you for your efforts to assure that we can readily provide our children with the faith formation.

September proves to be a very busy month.  Already, our Band for Today instructor has been in the classroom demonstrating the different instruments and allowing the students to play them.   If your child is interested in pursuing band lessons, the band instructor will be present here at SJC on Tuesday, September 2^nd from 6:30-7:30 PM in the lobby for parents to come and sign up their children.

Two parent nights are scheduled on September 3^rd and 4^th.  The schedule is as follows:

                September 3^rd                  7:00-8:00 PM                     Grades EC and K

                                                                7:30-8:30 PM                     Grades 1-3

                September 4^th                  7:00-8:00 PM                     Grades 4-6

                                                                7:30-8:30 PM                     Grades 7-8

I will meet with parents in the Multi-Purpose Room for 20 minutes at the beginning of each session, and then the parents will be free to go to their children’s classroom.  At that time, your children’s teacher will explain the year’s plan with you, along with classroom procedures.  I am looking forward to meeting with you and working with you this school year.   

A 7^th and 8^th grade parent meeting will take place in the Parish Center on September 23^rd from 7:00-8:00 PM to discuss the students’ events and activities during this school year.

We celebrate Mass with Grades 5-8 on September 8^th, and Grades 1-4 on September 22^nd.  Parents are welcome to attend the children’s Masses.  We will begin at 9:05.  Grades 3 and 4 celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation on September 29^th.  Our second grade will be celebrating two very important Sacraments this year, Reconciliation and First Communion.  A Sacramental Formation Meeting for parents takes place on Tuesday, September 30^th, in the Parish Center to prepare for these beautiful sacraments.

Other September dates to remember:

 As in the past, teachers’ newsletters are posted on-line.  The calendar of monthly events is available for you to check at any time.  Although the website is an important tool of communication, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher by voicemail or by e-mail.  He/she will return your call and respond to your e-mail within 24 hours.  The Friday folder serves as a home/school communication vehicle as well.  It contains written work, announcements, the reading log, and other information as it arises.  It also contains a weekly sign off sheet for you.

I look forward to working with the families here at SJC this school year.  Have a good month.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Gorman,

Principal