SJES Weekly Newsletter- October 27, 2017

Volume 9| October 27, 2017

St. Joseph Weekly

October 27, 2017

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Weekly SLE (Student Learning Expectation) :

St. Joseph students are capable of self assessment.

Principal's Letter

Dear Families of St. Joseph,

Father George asked me to share a message with the parish about myself and our school. I would like to share with you what I wrote:

As a former Sister of the order of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, as a third grade teacher, and as a Catholic school principal, I never CEASE to be amazed at the dedication and commitment that I witness in Catholic school communities. Saint Joseph Elementary School has more than met my expectation of Community.

Prior to coming to Saint Joseph School, I thoroughly enjoyed being the principal of Sacred Heart Parish School in Hollister, California. While serving at Sacred Heart School, I thrived under the very capable leadership of Kathleen Radecke, who was superintendent of schools of the Diocese of Monterey, and is now the school superintendent of the Diocese of Oakland. I chose to retire after guiding Sacred Heart Parish School for four years. However, when Kathleen Radecke asked me to take the position as principal of Saint Joseph School, I felt that I still had gifts to offer to Catholic education, and so here I am.

What can I say about my first six weeks?

LOVE LIVES HERE!!! I work with dedicated and conscientious teachers and staff! each day, I witness the love our students have for one another, especially when we gather together as Faith Families. Our love flows out to the needy as we reach out to our global community through student council fundraisers and Goodies for Good.

SCHOLARS LIVE HERE!!! Each day I witness students and teachers embracing rigorous standards based learning. As students work toward competency and mastery of their learning, they are supported by a caring, nurturing, safe environment.

TALENT LIVES HERE!!! I see it every day in Spanish, STEM, Art, Music, Motor Fitness, as well as all of the other extra-curricular activities, including a Drama Production. Field Trips allow us to take part in many of the Arts offerings in the area.

DIVERSITY LIVES HERE!!! I am most proud of the fact that our students comes from all over the Bay Area. Our community truly exemplifies a diverse population reflecting ethnic, faith, education and socio-economic diversities. We are a melting pot, and stronger because of it!

Saint Joseph School is more than a place. It is a fabric of love, celebrating our successes and consoling each other’s disappointments. We listen, we share, we collaborate, we empower one another, and we laugh and we cry together. Students and families create lifelong relationships. Once a Royal, always a Royal.

So many stories began here at Saint Joseph’s, and they continue to grow here.

"God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. For in Him we live and move and have our being.'

ACTS 17:27-28

God's Blessing on Each of Us,

Dr. Marquita Yriarte

Principal

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, Oct. 31- HALLOWEEN Parade at 10:30am Class parties at 11:00. Dismissal at 12:00pm. NO EXTENDED CARE.
Wednesday, Nov. 1- All Souls Day Joint Liturgy 9:45 am
Friday, Nov. 3- Minimum Day

What's Happening at SJES?

Super Kids

Congratulations to this weeks Super Kids!

We are so proud of you!

Kindergarten: Andee Mendoza

1st Grade: Isaac Awayan

2nd Grade: Abeam Obolu

3rd Grade: Cordy Finney

4th Grade: Emiliano Ceron

5th Grade: Miranda Morais

7th Grade: Alana D'Cruz

Halloween

As you begin creating or shopping for your child’s Halloween costume, please be mindful of our “no weapons” policy with costumes. Students may wear costumes to school on Halloween, but may not bring anything that might be construed as a weapon. Also, for safety purposes, students are not allowed to wear masks or any other objects that will impede their vision. Lastly, please be mindful that costumes should not be too scary. Please use your good judgement to determine if a costume is school appropriate. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to check with your child’s teacher.

Service Learning at SJES

In just two and a half months of school our country has seen devastating natural disasters. We have had horrific hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico. Right in our own backyard we have had the Northern California Wildfires.

We are so proud that our SJES students immediately wanted to know what they could do to help.

In September SJES contacted a school in Pasadena, Texas where the flood of Hurricane Harvey damaged the school. The student council set up a fundraising event: $5.00 Free Dress. The second grade class also had a Goodies for Good sale on behalf of St. Pius V Catholic Schools. In total, the children raised $2911.00!! St. Pius was extremely thankful!

The Northern California fires hit home for many within our SJES community. Even our students felt an impact in their lives with the change in their schedules due to poor air quality.

As a student body that realizes they are the future leaders of our Catholic Community, a supplies drive was organized for the shelters in Northern California. The students gathered supplies like diapers, paper products, food, and water for the Norther California fire victims. The supplies were gathered and delivered to shelters in the devastated fire areas with partnership from the Elks Lodge 1051.

SJES students are living God's word when they help others!

M.U.S.E Band Update

Dear Administrators,

Our M.U.S.E. Instrumental Program , now in our 31st year, is up and going strong in the bay area. I started M.U.S.E. in 1986 with 2 schools, St. Jerome and St. John the Baptist in El Cerrito. Today, M.U.S.E is in over 20 schools in the bay area and 23 schools in Portland, Oregon where I reside. M.U.S.E. will continue to stay strong and give students the opportunity to explore the world of instrumental music for years to come. I want to thank all of you for your support of this program.

Upcoming Band Workshops Nov. 4th and 5th

I will be coming down to the bay area to conduct several Band Workshops on Nov. 4th and 5th. These workshops are free and open to ALL band students. I will be at Bishop O'Dowd High on Nov. 4 from 11:00-1:30pm for east bay students and Sunday, Nov. 5th at Good Shepherd school in Pacifica from 1:00-3:30pm for our San Francisco and South bay students. This is a part of our overall programs offerings. We like parents to let parents know that M.U.S.E. is more than weekly lessons. These workshops are an important part of our program. Students from your school will be participating. I'm really looking forward to this. Parents are encouraged to stay and observe.

Honor Band

The instructors have nominated students from their schools for our M.U.S.E. Honor Band. The M.U.S.E. Honor Band meets every month for rehearsals at either Bishop O'Dowd or Moreau High school. Our first performances of the year will be in December at Bishop O'Dowd for our annual Christmas Concert (Wed. Dec. 13 at 7pm) and at Ghirardelli Square (Sunday, Dec. 10). Again, another offering that we feel is important. There is no cost to parents for having their child participate in Honor Band. Here is a link to the list of nominees if you would like to share with your parents. Honor Band Nominees.

Upcoming Events

Nov. 4th & 5th- Band Workshops

December 13- Christmas Concert at Bishop O'Dowd 7pm (Students from all east bay schools are invited). The concert will be held in the Bishop O'Dowd Theater. Refreshments afterwards.

Bryant Allard

M.U.S.E. Instrumental Programs

PTG NEWS

News on the Block

Family Mass

Everyone is invited to St. Joseph Basilica’s next Family Mass, Sunday November 5 at 9:30am. Since it’s just a few days after All Saints Day, children are encouraged to dress as their favorite saint. Every Mass that weekend will start with a candlelit procession of remembrance. Candles are available for $5 at the Parish Office, on which your family can write the name of a loved one and carry during the opening procession (and take home with you after Mass).

Help with future Family Masses is welcome. Learn more at http://sjbalameda.org/blog/family-mass-ministry/ or contact Kitchie Tanaka or Theresa Massie, and sign up to volunteer at https://goo.gl/forms/wOfZCyXeIBCYkJbC2 . Adults interested in serving on the planning team are invited to a Family Mass Planning Meeting in the Learning Center Sunday November 5 at 10:50am.

Parent To Do List:

Buy your Yearbook
Order your Scrip Gift Cards
Collect and turn in BoxTops
Order your Royal Wear

Frequently Used Links:

St. Joseph Elementary School

510 522 4456

www.stjosephalameda.org

St. Joseph Elementary School Mission Statement

Serving Alameda and neighboring cities since 1881, St. Joseph Elementary School embraces the principles of learning, loving and living God's word as Jesus taught us. We are dedicated to educating and nurturing the whole child by offering a time-honored and challenging Catholic education. Inspired by the teachings of the Catholic Church and driven by the spirit of effective collaboration, we join together as a diverse community to know Jesus and to make Him known.