WEEKLY NEWSLETTER MARCH 4, 2019 Final fall harvest from the garden.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND EVENTS AUCTION THANK YOU The extraordinary generosity of St. John's parents at the CLUE: MORE THAN JUST A GAME auction was overwhelming! We would also like to express our gratitude auction co-chairs Emily Cassady and Julie Halverson for their hard work and dedication. Thank you to all those who made generous donations, volunteered their time, and to the 350 St. John's friends who came out and made the night such a success. The Parents Association raised a total of $62,915 thus far to fund the new makerspace. We are so very close to meeting the Fund-a-Need goal of raising $65,000. Every dollar counts, so please consider making a contribution--the PA has extended the donation window through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 8. See the video (starring our students) for more information and donate now. AUCTION FLASH SALE ASH WEDNESDAY Dress uniforms are required for all students Wednesday, March 6 in celebration of Eucharist. For Lower School students, please see below for the fun dress-up themes. First through eighth graders will receive the imposition of ashes. Your preference for whether your child will receive ashes or a blessing during the service was part of our annual online enrollment process. Your child's homeroom teacher/advisor will have that information. CELEBRATE READING WEEK March 4-8 is Celebrate Reading Week. Lower School will celebrate reading with fun dress-up days. Please see the schedule below:
If a child chooses not to participate in any of the dress-up day activities, he or she must wear a regular school uniform.
Father Houk will host a discussion for St. John's dads on Thursday, March 7 in the Parish Hall from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Beer will be served.
MARCH BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS + LUNCH MENU The birthday blessing schedule is posted on ParentsWeb (School / Resources). You will also find the monthly lunch menu in ParentsWeb (School / Resources), as well as under the Current Families page of the website. See the March menu.
TIP OF THE WEEK We want youth to grow up feeling comfortable talking with people—whether that's a cashier at the grocery store or someone on a tram in the airport. Encourage children to ask questions, make comments, ask directions, make requests, give compliments, and order food from people in the world that are new to them (in safe settings, of course). This not only builds confidence but these simple acts have been scientifically proven to evoke happiness.
COMING UP SPRING BREAK Spring Break is the week of March 11-15. Classes will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, March 18. Have a safe and fun Spring Break. PARENT EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES: THE BIRDS & BEES Register for Tuesday, March 19 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. for Megan Michelson to speak with parents of pre-k through fourth grade about the birds and bees. Megan will encourage and equip parents to have age-appropriate conversations with their young children about sex when they are faced with questions such as, "Where do babies come from?" or "How is that baby going to get out of there?"
Conference Day will be Wednesday, March 27. Please note that fourth through eighth grade students attend the conference with their parents. There will be no classes on Conference Day; however, After School Program staff will provide childcare for children four years old through fourth grade in Owen Gym for the duration of your child's conference. Childcare is available between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The cost is $5 per child and can be paid by check, cash or may be billed to your ParentsWeb account. Students may not bring iPads or other electronic devices to the childcare.
PRESIDENT'S PARTY All donors who have contributed a cumulative total of $1,000 or more to St. John's this year should have received an invitation to join us for a wonderful evening Friday, March 29 at the home of Kerri and Byron Johnson. Festivities include buffet dinner and entertainment provided by Alpha Dogs, featuring alumni parent Jack Reed. It's not too late to be included; increase your gift or make a pledge to the St. John's Fund. Contact Carol Graham via email or 214-328-9131 x124 for additional details. CULTURE FEST 2019 TABLE HOSTS St. John's is recruiting families to share their heritage with the school community. Host a table at Culture Fest 2019 on Friday, April 12, 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to explore and discover Culture Fest with their grade level. Please visit the Sign-Up Genius to learn ways you can be involved. If you have any questions about Culture Fest, please contact Ms. Breeding. We will be sorry to miss the seventh grade during Culture Fest, but we know that they will have a great time on their overnight trip.
STUDENT AND FACULTY NEWS KIDS HEART CHALLENGE RALLY SIXTH GRADE SERVICE TRIP SEVENTH GRADE WORLD RELIGIONS FIELD TRIP
PARENT ORGANIZATIONS BOX TOP WINNERS PA ANNOUNCES 2019-2020 SLATE
WEEK IN SPORTS View the athletics schedule for the week of March 4 - March 8. Tuesday, March 5 - practice 3:45-5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 7 - practice 3:45-5:00 p.m. GOLF Tuesday, March 5 - practice at Tenison 3:45-5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 - practice at Tenison 3:45-5:30 p.m. TENNIS The tennis season will start on Tuesday, March 19, contact Mr. Herrin for details. TRACK
CHURCH NEWS MARDI GRAS AND PANCAKE SUPPER TIDYING UP IN LENT 6:30 p.m. Dinner prepared by a different ministry team each week. 7:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross followed by our Tidying Up guest speakers. Children ages 4-11 meet in the undercroft for their own Tidying Up lessons, along with Bible stories and crafts.
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER This time of year, with Mardi Gras coming up, it's traditional to enjoy pancakes or good Creole cooking. St. John's Church has its Fat Tuesday celebration right here on campus this Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Enjoy delicious gumbo, rice, sausage and pancakes, plus crafts and activities for the kids.
Of course, the big party stands back-to-back with Ash Wednesday, an extreme juxtaposition between fun and fasting, joy and sorrow, life and mortality. However strange it may seem to us to stand such different occasions next to each other, the message is clear: whether we celebrate or mourn, God loves us enough to become human and share the ups and downs of our life. Jesus' death and resurrection redeem our lives from sin and conquer death so that our eternity can look much more like a party than a fast.
Ash Wednesday comes in the middle of the week, and we will be offering the imposition of ashes to any student who desires (it's not obligatory). Ashes are a symbol of our human mortality and our sorrow for our failures. Parents, this would be a good week to talk with your children about the sign of ashes on the forehead, so you and they are on the same page. Ash Wednesday can sometimes create intense feelings in students: be ready to guide them through what they've experienced and what it means.
St. John's Episcopal School is dedicated to a program of academic excellence designed to train the mind, strengthen the character and enrich the spirit of each student in a Christian environment.
St. John's Episcopal School | 214-328-9131 stjohnsschool.org |