WEEKLY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 3, 2018
Culmination of second grade holiday PBL unit
THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND EVENTS
THANK YOU, PARENTS!
Thank you for your contributions to the Faculty Christmas Gift Fund. Your generous donations enabled each faculty and staff member to receive a cash gift before the holidays. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and the many ways in which you give to St. John's.
NEW SPEED BUMPS
Notice anything new during today's carpool line? In our continued commitment to keep our campus as safe as possible, new speed bumps have been installed and the crosswalk was redefined to be more prominent for pedestrians and drivers. Please be mindful of your speed and foot traffic as you drive on campus.
JANUARY BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS + MENU
See the January lunch menu. The menu and January birthday blessings (and July half-birthdays) may also be found in RenWeb under Resource Documents.
| |
COMING UP
CHILDREN AND TECHNOLOGY: WHAT MAKES SENSE
Head of Lower School Jayme Johnson and Director of Technology Aaron Wallace invite Lower School parents for a discussion about providing guidance and appropriate parameters for your child's use of technology. Join them in the Lower School science lab Thursday, January 11, 8:00 a.m. While this morning is targeted toward second and third grade parents, we encourage any Lower School parent who is struggling with these topics to attend.
UNIFORM RESALE
Save the date for Thursday, January 11, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. in Parish Hall. Stock up on gently used school items during Uniform Resale. Additionally, the PA needs help with this all-volunteer effort and asks for parents to volunteer for a shift. Uniform donations in good condition may be dropped off in the baskets by the front reception desk.
PARENT EDUCATION SERIES
Join us to hear education consultant Debra Moore January 25 and January 26. She will be offering two sessions for parents with students in the third through eighth grades. We encourage parents to attend one or both sessions. Get all the details and register.
- Session 1: Clutter and Clocks: Strategies for Success - will focus on organization and time management strategies for children. Thursday, January 25, 6:00 p.m.
- Session 2: Get Smart! Study Skills to Improve Performance - will focus on study skills and learning styles. Friday, January 26, noon
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - OPTIONAL CLASSES
As part of the After School Program, we offer a variety of optional after school classes for an additional fee. Spring classes will begin the week of January 29. View the ASP page for details, or contact ASP director Lani Jones. See below in Student News for new class addition for after school choir.
| |
STUDENT NEWS
MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY OF SERVICE
Middle School students spent their last day before the holiday break serving the community. Student Council members staffed stations at which rotating teams of fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth graders and their teachers completed projects. From baking dog biscuits and making treats for lower school students to creating manna bags, sewing and stuffing stockings, and delivering holiday cheer to neighbors, students learned new skills and gave to others. Through their efforts, they created:
- Manna bags for clients served by the Stewpot
- Handmade and stuffed stockings for children served by Family Gateway
- Homemade dog biscuits for foster dogs in the care of Tzu Zoo Rescue
- Take-home treats for Lower School students
- Holiday door hangers for the school's Old East Dallas neighbors
To end the day, seventh graders led a Lessons and Carols chapel service. This was St. John's second year to channel middle students' energy into service projects on the last day before Christmas break.
KINDERGARTEN EXHIBIT AT LUCKY DOG
Last year, our talented kindergarten students (now first graders) created lovely dog paintings, which are now on display at Lucky Dog bookstore in Casa Linda. After studying dog images in famous works of art, the students visited the Dallas Museum of Art. They were amazed how many dogs were represented in prominent paintings and sculptures.
Following the museum visit, students researched dogs on iPads and selected a dog to portray. Using pencil and watercolor, they created their masterpieces. Curated by Art Integration Specialist Donna Knox, the paintings will be on display at Lucky Dog through mid-March. At right, painting by first grader Matilda Miller.
SECOND GRADE COLLABORATION WITH SANTA
Second graders had a most unique opportunity this holiday season when classroom elves brought word from Santa that he was seeking holiday assistance at the North Pole. Students filled out elf applications and were able to put their newfound paragraph writing skills to the test (uncanny that Santa knew the students had been working on this) when completing the essay portion of the applications. Santa was so impressed that he immediately sent elves from his human resources department to fly in for one-on-one interviews. The elves had honed their speaking skills and were ready to go! They even threw in some additional tests such as wrapping gifts in blizzard conditions and candy cane quality control taste testers. In the end, all were chosen to represent Santa as special "Elves of Dallas" by spreading love and Christmas cheer throughout the community.
STUCO BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Student Council invites Middle School students to participate in a three-on-three basketball tournament Friday, January 19, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. See StuCo reps at lunches to register teams. Cost to participate is $3 per player; deadline to register is Friday, January 12.
AFTER SCHOOL CHOIR
Lower School music teacher Megan Nasser is forming a small, after-school choir as part of the After School Program on Tuesdays from 3:45 - 4:30 p.m., beginning January 16. If your second through fourth grade child is interested in joining, please sign up through the ASP program and Lani Jones. Space in this ensemble is available on a first come, first serve basis. The choir will present a few anthems in a chapel service on Wednesday, March 21.
| |
AUCTION 2018
Mark your calendar for the St. John's social event of the year: Havana Nights. Your "cover charge" for this incredible evening is $125 and sponsorships begin at $500. See sponsorship options and purchase tickets. All proceeds benefit our children.
Cha-Cha-Ching! Ticket prices increase to $150 on February 14, so be sure to get yours early.
| |
| |
 |
 |
 |
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