WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 5, 2018
Mr. Crotty reads to kindergarten students to promote the love of reading during reading week.
THIS WEEK'S NEWS AND EVENTS
HAVANA NIGHTS FUND-A-NEED
The extraordinary generosity of St. John's parents at the HAVANA NIGHTS auction was overwhelming! See the auction email from earlier today. Between parent donations and the Board commitment, a total of $56,815 has been raised thus far to fund the new outdoor classroom. We are so very close to meeting the Fund-a-Need goal of raising $60,000. Every dollar counts, so please consider making a contribution--the PA has extended the donation window through Friday, March 16. See the video (starring our students) for more information and donate now.
BOX TOPS
The March Box Tops collection will take place tomorrow, March 6. Students in the homeroom or advisory collecting the most Box Tops each month will win a free-dress day. Please submit Box Tops to your child's homeroom teacher or advisor.
CULTURE FEST 2018 TABLE HOSTS
St. John's is recruiting families to share their heritage with the school community. Host a table at Culture Fest 2018 on Friday, April 6, 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.
MARCH BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS AND MENU
You may find the list of March birthday blessings in RenWeb. The March lunch menu is now posted in RenWeb and on the Current Families page of our website.
COMMON SENSE TIP OF THE WEEK
We are always on the lookout for the best new media for our kids that won't do them harm and might even teach them something. It's a worthy goal and one that definitely makes an impact on kids, but there's a factor we sometimes don't consider: us. As parents, we ultimately have the most impact on our kids, not only through our media choices and limits, but also through shared viewing and playing with our kids.
So when we find or approve those titles for kids to watch, read, and play, what can we do to squeeze the most benefit from that media? First, when we sit down for family movie night or to read before bedtime, we're creating a connection with our kids -- no surprise there. And when edgy or upsetting moments come up, we can use them to convey our values and share information. Most important, when we co-view and co-play with our kids, and laugh, cry, discuss, and debate, we're using media to deepen relationships, and that is time well-spent indeed.
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COMING UP
SPRING BREAK
Spring break begins next Monday, March 12 and school will be will be closed through March 18. Classes will resume Monday, March 19. Enjoy the break!
LENTEN FRIDAYS AT ST. JOHN'S CHURCH
Your family is invited to attend the continuation of Lenten Fridays with St. John's Church. The evenings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a Lenten meal, followed by Stations of the Cross and guest speakers for adults and youth (sixth grade and above). Kindergarten through fifth grade children will meet in the Undercroft for Bible stories and crafts. Below find the remaining schedule of speakers:
--March 9: Fr. Ryan Pollock, Curate at St. Matthew's Cathedral
--March 16: Fr. Perry Mullins, Rector of St. Peter's, McKinney
--March 23: Fr. Bob Corley, Rector of St. Mark's, Irving
CONFERENCE DAY
Conference Day will be Friday, March 23. 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 check or cash or billed to your ParentsWeb account. Students may not bring iPads or other electronic devices to the childcare.
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STUDENT NEWS
MATH COUNTS
St. John's recently sent nine talented sixth and eighth grade math students to the regional MathCounts competition held at SMU. They competed against 11 other private schools in different rounds as individuals and team members. They were tested on problem-solving, speed, accuracy, mathematical reasoning and collaboration. Leading up to the completion, the team practiced with Mr. Laffiteau once a week during their recess for two months. He praised them for their attitude, effort and enthusiasm.
ST. JOHN'S TEACHERS PRESENT TO OTHER EDUCATORS
Five St. John's teachers presented at the LLI Southwest Conference last week. On group spoke on project-based learning (PBL) and how to incorporate it for early childhood. The other group shared their insight and lesson plans on the eighth grade My Party Election PBL for other schools to adopt and roll out. The attendees at both sessions were amazed at the quality and depth work. We are very proud of our teachers and their commitment to project-based learning.
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PARENT ORGANIZATIONS
PA ANNOUNCES 2018-2019 SLATE
Thank you to the PA's nominating committee for presenting an energetic and committed slate of volunteers to lead the Parents Association next year. The slate was approved at the PA meeting last week by a verbal vote. See the 2018-2019 PA Council.
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SPORTS
See this week's spring sports schedule.
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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER
Christmas decorations go on sale in October. If you're like me, this is always somewhat jarring. Not that we dislike Christmas by any means, but we experience the holiday so firmly within a specific season of the year that to see its festive trappings too soon seems, well, sacrilegious. But we recognize the need to plan ahead, and we know the realities of our retail economy, and we let it slide.
This is a big week at St. John's. It's the week before spring break, which always brings excitement. The eighth grade is away on its class trip in Washington, D.C., and we will be celebrating Penguin Awards for fifth and sixth grade. As if we needed one more reason to add excitement to this week, in chapel we will begin the great story of Jesus' passion – his last supper, arrest, trial, and death on the cross – all leading up to the glorious message of Easter. "Isn't this kind of early to be talking about Easter, Fr. Thorpe?" Well, yes, it is – but consider that it is the central story of Christianity, contained in all four Gospels. Its events have become a focus of Christian pilgrimages and fasting and feasting all around the globe. In chapel, we normally only have one or two days to focus on this most crucial story. But this year, as part of the preparation of our hearts during the season of Lent, we'll take three weeks to study Christ's passion in more depth. My hope is that it will make the celebration of Easter that much more meaningful for our students. And after all, chocolate eggs and bunnies have already been on sale for weeks.
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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