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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER                                                              OCTOBER 16, 2017
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THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND EVENTS

BOOK FAIR OPENS TOMORROW!

Support the St. John's library and get started on your holiday shopping! Visit the Book Fair Tuesday, October 17 through Friday, October 20 (conference day), from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, (with extended hours until 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday).

  • Volunteers - Please consider coming out to help. See our SignUpGenius to choose a two-hour shift.
  • Donuts with Dads - On Thursday, October 19 from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m., pre-k through first grade dads (and special friends) are invited to our annual Donuts with Dad! Enjoy breakfast with your little one while browsing our amazing selection of books.
  • Special Opportunity - In May, Lower School classes will host visiting author Aaron Reynolds, author of Creepy Carrots (a Caldecott Honor book) and Creepy Pair of Underwear. Some of his books may be purchased at Book Fair, and students can bring them to school and get his autograph when he visits. 
 
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THANK YOU, CARNIVAL TEAM!

Amazing! Saturday's World of Adventure was a world-class success. The day was full of entertaining activities, delicious barbecue, fun music, sweet petting zoo, carnival mayhem of the best kind and happy, happy kids. (Happy kids make happy parents!) We offer big thanks to all the Carnival sponsors and 2017-18 Community Partners, volunteers, bakers, grillers and attendees. Check out the Parent News section below for the delicious Tailgate results. See photos from World of Adventure.

 

This event would not have been possible without the awesome Carnival committee, masterfully led by (pictured at right) Donna Haglin, Blair Wittneben and Elizabeth Fritz, with support from PA president Christi Stevens. Special recognition goes to (grouped by duties) Chris Bacala, Roshi Muns, Amanda Shultz, Shannon Cahalan, Lauren Garrity, Kelsey McCord, Meagan Skarbek, Donna Aldridge, Don Hill, Stewart Motley, Brian Skarbek, Brian Wittneben, Michael Fritz, Preston Haglin, Matt McCord, John Stevens, Emily Evans, Brook Henry, Dani Bowen, Kerri Johnson, Eve Stephens, Sarah Donahue, Laura and Doug Dunsavage, Kathy Row, Lindsay Loughlin, Becky Clarke, Shannon DeVilbiss, Erika Holland, Jennifer and Chuck Sharpe, Lane Olson, Melissa Eakes and Jason Crispin. Lastly, a big shout out to Burger House for the long-time support of our carnival!

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CONFERENCE DAY

Conference Day will be Friday, October 20. 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 third 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 or cash or billed to your ParentsWeb account. Students may not bring electronic devices to the childcare.

 

POINSETTIAS FOR SALE

NJHS will be selling poinsettias in the Lower School commons all day during Conference Day. Plants are $13 each and will be available in red, pink and white. Credit cards, checks and cash accepted.

iOS 11: PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE

Please continue to refrain from upgrading your child's iPad until you receive an all-clear email from us. Upgrading to iOS 11 before we complete our tests may mean your child will be unable to complete assignments or access school apps. 

 

 

COMING UP


STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM SPEAKER SERIES: SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR SUCCES

Please join us Thursday, October 26, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. to hear Sally Dietz, internationally recognized pediatric physical therapist, sensory integration specialist, author of When Kids Fly. Reserve your seat

  • Ever wonder if your child was right on track? Or if there are ways to set them up for optimal success?
  • Do you want to know what motor skills and meltdowns have in common?
  • In this fast paced world we live in, learn how to bring out the best in your children to set them up for success in learning and behavior.

SAVE THE DATE FOR GRANDPARENTS DAY

We have a great morning planned for our grandparents and special friends Friday, November 17. Invitations will be mailed soon to grandparents. Contact Andrea Tierney if you need to update mailing information for your child's guests. Please note: school will dismiss at 12:00 p.m. on Grandparents Day, and there will be no After School Program. If your child will not leave campus with his or her grandparents that day, please make arrangements for pickup at 12:00 p.m.  

 

STUDENT NEWS 

 

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Eighth grade musical students will perform Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory November 2 through November 5. A limited number of tickets will be available for general admission purchase via a link in the Monday, October 23, weekly newsletter.

 

FOURTH GRADE TRIP

Photos are ready from the fourth grade trip to Sky Ranch earlier in the month. 

FLAT STANLEY'S BIG ADVENTURE

In September, 54 Flat Stanleys began their travels from St. John's third grade classrooms. The project is based on the book Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, depicting a boy who was flattened when a bulletin board accidentally fell on him. He uses his flatness as an advantage because he can easily fit into an envelope and travel the world. Each student created his or her own Stanley, then mailed it to friends and relatives, who will then forward to additional exciting places. The class documents the locations of Stanley's travels. The project helps facilitate geography awareness and presentation skills. This year, St. John's Flat Stanleys have been to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria; seen windmills in Kinderdijk, The Netherlands; cheered on the Dallas Cowboys in Phoenix; co-piloted a plane; auditioned in Hollywood; tried a case at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.; and much more! Follow @sjesFlatStanley on Twitter as we share the many adventures of Flat Stanley around the world.

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PARENT ORGANIZATIONS

 

TAILGATE WINNERS 

Congratulations to the Tailgate winning team, The Pig Lebowski. Competing against seven other teams, (left to right) David Lowe, Will McDaniel, Jeff Lamont and Carter Crume took home the coveted title of masters of the grill - for the third year in a row. Placing second and third were Gettin' Piggy with It and Smokin' B.O.B., respectively. 

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WEEK IN SPORTS

 

>>See full athletics calendar. Contact your child's coach with sports-related questions.

 

CHAPLAIN'S CORNER

 

Samson is often included among the heroes of the faith because of his unique feats of strength. Comic book style bibles love to tell his stories because they are action stories and seem to describe a sort of spiritual super hero. But if you read the actual text (Judges, chapters 13-16), you'll find a very different story, which we will hear this week.

 

Since birth, Samson is destined for a unique life of service to God. His vow should have made him what we would call a hermit, and his hair was never to be cut. Most people who took this vow did so of their own free will. But Samson was given no choice. His vow was God's call to him to have a special relationship with God and serve his people.

 

But Samson doesn't want this calling. His wild, selfish, risk-taking lifestyle breaks most of God's commandments and almost all of the conditions of his vow. He mistakes his hair for a magical talisman, but really it is the last shred of his claim to faithfulness. When it is cut, the last remaining condition of Samson's vow is broken, and his divine strength leaves him. Recognizing that his life has made things worse rather than better, Samson's final act is both revenge and repentance. Turning to God in despair, Samson places himself among the enemies of God's people and dies with them.

 

We've been talking in chapel about how God calls us and we have a chance to respond. The Bible shows what good responses look like, but it also provides negative examples. Samson's story teaches us that God continues to call even when we despise Him, but that the way we choose to respond has its own consequences. And through it all, God always keeps His promises, even if we put ourselves at odds with His faithfulness.

 

Parents, this is a good week for you and your children to wrestle with the complexity of our responses to God. Tell them about a time you responded well to God's call and a time you responded badly. Hearing the consequences of others' bad choices, and seeing that love can triumph even through difficulty, can be a powerful learning tool for children.

 
 
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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

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