Volume 23 * Issue 08 * October 19,  2017
In This Issue





Stronger together... we lift each other up. We are SERRASTRONG! 
And let us consider how to lift up one another, to love and good works
- Hebrews 10:24



A Message From President Trudell
 
Courage. Integrity. Leadership. Service.
Our student Council was invited to participate in the Travis Manion Foundation Leadership Academy on October 14. Lead by military veterans, students learned about the four pillars of character; courage, integrity, leadership & service, and participated in leadership activities aboard the USS Midway in San Diego. The Travis Manion Foundation empowers veterans and families of fallen heroes to develop character in future generations through their mantra "If Not Me, Then Who"... a reminder for us to live with character and to put other people's interests before our own.
" Pennies  from  Heaven " - Our Students in Action
One of our new SJSC sixth-grade students, Jordan F., held a lemonade stand last weekend and earned $171 for her "Pennies from Heaven" baby bottle.  Jordan  is also a member of Campus Ministry, and helped prepare and deliver the baby bottles to all of the homerooms. Way to go Jordan!
2017-2018 Annual Fund
The 2017-2018 Annual Fund Appeal launched yesterday via an email entitled "Our Students Are Worth It."  I pray each of you will watch this important video about this year's appeal and what the Annual Fund will support.  This year we look forward to reaching our family participation goal of 100%. That means we are asking EVERY family to make a donation, even if nominal...EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!  If you would prefer to write a check, please make your check payable to SJSC, reference Annual Fund and deliver or mail to the School Office, ATTENTION: Advancement Office. Annual Fund Envelopes are available in the School Office for your convenience. Thank you in advance for your donation!
Addendum To Halloween Accessories Day
In addition to Halloween accessories, students will also be able to wear friendly Halloween-themed t-shirts and sweatshirts on Tuesday, October 31, as well as Harvest Festival t-shirts. Scary or violence-themed Halloween t-shirts and sweatshirts,  which includes ghosts, witches, goblins, skeletons, vampires, and blood and gore will NOT be allowed. CLICK HERE to review the Halloween Accessories guidelines previously published in SerraDIPITY.  
Parking in Construction Area
Parking within the fenced off construction area in the main parking lot is prohibited at ALL times! 

This quote reminds us that on our faith journey we are asked to "plant" special blessings which positively impact the lives of others.  Today as we pray in thanksgiving for all that we are blessed with, perhaps we can make a special effort to find a way to plant a blessing for someone else.


God is Good All the Time...All the Time God is Good.


Mrs. Angeline Trudell
President
2017 HARVEST FESTIVAL
Sunday, October 29, 2017
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • *NEW-GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE INCENTIVE*... For every 12 tickets ($60) you buy/sell by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, you will also receive one (1) entry into a special raffle for $1,000 cash!  Have you turned in your tickets yet?  Everyone's participation counts and is greatly appreciated!
     
  • Save time and pre-purchase your GAME/FOOD TICKETS AND FUN ZONE WRISTBANDS today!  You also save $5 per wristband when you pre-purchase your Fun Zone wristband! Our delicious MENU is here, and NEW this year, for FOOD PURCHASES ONLY, we will be offering the option to pay with a Debit/Credit Card. We will still accept tickets as payment as well, but we are excited to offer this new convenience to you!  Game booths and rides will accept tickets only.  Fun Zone wristbands allow for unlimited rides on our 9 Fun Zone Attractions.  NEW this year - Bungee and Surfrider Challenge, along with old favorites Giant Slide, Water Wars, Petting Zoo, and much more!
     
  • *NEW* Check out our awesome OPPORTUNITY DRAWING BASKETS.  Take a $5 chance on one or all of them today! Rules to the drawing can be found by CLICKING HERE 
     
  • Support Harvest Festival by participating in our last Restaurant fundraiser at Panera Bread in RSM next Thursday, October 26! Breakfast, Lunch, After School Snack, Dinner or all of the above! Download the PANERA FLYER for complete details.
     
  • We would love to have a few more acts for our SERRA'S GOT TALENT show!  We are now accepting online video submissions!  Please e-mail or send a YouTube link of your audition to Kerry Bernhardt at [email protected] by Monday, October 23.  Don't forget to tell us your name and grade level please!
     
  • We have two more lunchtime mob dance sessions left - Monday, October 23 and Thursday October 26, where we will be teaching a special mob dance to this year's theme song. Want to practice at home? Watch this VIDEO  and dance along!
     
  • Time is running out...SIGN UP now for a volunteer shift to work at the festival!  It's a great way to knock a few hours out while you are here.
     
  • It's not too late to ORDER your Harvest Festival t-shirts!  And they're not just for kids!  Adults...show your Harvest pride, too!  
     
  • Questions? Reach out to the Harvest Leadership Team at [email protected] or check out the HARVEST FESTIVAL HOMEPAGE.
RED RIBBON/SPIRIT WEEK
Starts Next Week, Monday, October 23

Reminder: Red Ribbon/Spirit Week begins next week. We kick-off on Monday with Pink-Out Day to support Breast Cancer Awareness.  CLICK HERE  for a full descrip tion of the activities and spirit attire for each day. 
MEMORIAL ORNAMENT AND MASS

If you haven't already done so, please return your Mass Intention card for the Memorial Mass by Friday, October 27. Help us honor your loved ones by including a card as part of our mass remembrance.
 
Memorial Mass
Please join us for our Annual Memorial Mass on Wednesday, November 1 at 9:30 a.m. As in previous years, Memorial Ornaments will be displayed on the Tree of Remembrance in our lobby from November 1 until November 28.    
 
Procedures for Ornament Hanging: 
  • Newly Purchased Ornaments: If you purchased a 2017 Memorial Ornament, it will be hung on the Tree of Remembrance by the Advancement Office. The ornaments will be blessed at the Memorial Mass and returned to you in the Monthly Envelope on Thursday, December 7 in order for you to hang it on your Christmas Tree at home.      
  • Previous Year's Ornaments: If you have ornaments from previous years and wish to have them included on the Tree of Remembrance and blessed by Father at the Memorial Mass, you may hang them on the tree as a family, on either October 26 or 27 or on the morning of the Mass, prior to 9:00 a.m. We ask that you personally REMOVE those ornaments no later than November 30.
Should you have any questions, please contact Cindy Carpino in the Advancement Office at ext. 239.
SCRIP NEWS
Save Money on Tuition!

You can earn credit towards your tuition by participating in our Scrip program!  When you fulfill the Financial Participation Fee (FPF) of $275 (in rebates), any overage is split 50/50 between your family and St. Serra: 50% is credited towards your tuition for the following school year, and 50% is a tax deductible charitable contribution to St. Serra.  If you have a child in 8th grade without siblings, the credit is applied to your last month's tuition at St. Serra. 
 
How much can you raise per year?  An average family spending $600 per month on groceries at an average 4% rebate will earn $288 in rebates per year.  They now will have settled their FPF, spending zero extra money and even earned a few extra dollars.  With the convenience of our online programs, you can build on your earnings year round, just by spending what you would normally spend. The only difference is that you will use scrip cards to pay for your purchases. The possibilities are endless! CLICK HERE and then click on the Spending Model tab to view a sample spending model. 

Afternoon Sales Shift - Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Effective the first week of November, we will sell scrip on Thursday afternoons from 1:00-2:00 p.m., beginning on November 2, 2017. 
 
Ralph's Rebate Reporting Now Due For Quarter Ending August 31, 2017
FINAL NOTICE - All rebate information must be emailed to the Scrip Coordinator by Friday, October 27, 2017.  NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE FOR LATE REPORTS DUE TO RESTRICTIONS FROM RALPH'S. CLICK HERE  for St. Serra's procedures to obtain your family's Ralphs rebate information.
 
For questions on any of the above or to place a Scrip Order, contact Tina Maroutian, Scrip Coordinator at [email protected] .
SCRIPSENSE


SJSC  Chapel Fundraising Campaign

 Thank you for supporting the Chapel Fund
Campaign Gross Rebates
$3,200.00
 
Thank you to our Top Earners this Month! 

1. Katie Minardi  2. Rebecca Knapp 3. Deanna Chang

 
In addition to using  scripsense  to meet your financial participation fee, many of you have already taken advantage of participating in the Chapel Fundraising Campaign through scripsense  as well. Not only is  scripsense  an easy way to raise money for our Chapel, but you can do it 24/7-365 days a year when you shop online or purchase eGift Cards.
 
If you haven't done so already, now is the perfect time to start building your family's Chapel Fund. With fall comes home improvement time, candles, Halloween costumes, and the beginning of the holiday shopping season, all of which can be done via  scripsense  while giving back.
 
If you haven't signed up yet, e-mail   [email protected]  and request a registration link.
 
Don't forget our Local Merchant program when dining at Hanna's. With your scripsense  local merchant icon, 10% of anything you eat or drink at Hanna's supports the Chapel Fund. No hard card necessary - be spontaneous! All you need to do is present your mobile device with the  scripsense  Local Merchant icon to your server to scan upon paying your bill. 
LOOKING FOR GOOD LAWYERS!
Selected students from our 7th and 8th grade will be participating in JSerra's Inaugural Mock Trial.  Students will meet 1-2 times per week during 8th period. The Mock Trial Tournament will be held on a  Thursday  in March 2018 at JSerra High School. Our team coach will be Mrs. Benudiz.

We are looking for parents to help advise and attend meetings when able.   Service hours will apply.  If you are interested, please email  [email protected] . 
PTO HAPPENINGS

SJSC Community Events
The PTO invites all St. Serra families to join us for some exciting exclusive community events. Purchase your tickets soon - limited number available!
  • The Nutcracker
    Join fellow St. Serra families and create new holiday memories together through the magic of The Nutcracker.  We have a limited number of tickets available to attend The Nutcracker at Irvine Barclay Theater on Sunday, December 10, at 1:00 p.m. An exciting pre-show Nutcracker Tea Party is also being offered. Visit thePTO COMMUNITY EVENTS  webpage of the St. Serra website for all the details and to purchase your tickets!
  • STAR WARS Movie Premiere
    We invite you to join the rebellion and your fellow St. Serra families for a private screening of STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI at Kaleidoscope Stadium 10 on OPENING DAY, Friday, December 15, at 3:00 p.m. Visit the PTO COMMUNITY EVENTS webpage of the St. Serra website for all the details and to order your tickets!  We will sell out, so don't wait! 
Outreach Ministries: Parent Rosary - Friday Mornings, 7:50 a.m.
  • The Rosary - Crown of Roses, is intended to help us grow in our faith.  Please join us on Friday mornings to pray for the intentions of our SerraStrong families.  We will meet on Fridays at the Blessed Virgin Mary statue in the middle school courtyard at 7:50 a.m. (or 8:30 a.m. on school Mass days).  Please contact Veronica Thompson at [email protected] with any questions or to be added to the Parent Rosary e-mail list.  For more information, please visit our OUTREACH MINISTRIES webpage.
St. Junipero Serra Award: *NEW* Nominations Open All Year!
  • Since 1997, SJSC has honored parent volunteers with the 
    ST. JUNIPERO SERRA OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AWARD.  Potential recipients are nominated by SJSC parents, faculty and staff.  Winners will be presented with the award at our annual Anchor Ball event in the Spring.
  • CALL TO ACTION: *NEW this Year* Nominations are open for a majority of the school year!  As events and volunteering take place (around campus, on the field, in the classroom) and you notice a "stand out" volunteer, please take a few minutes to complete the online NOMINATION FORM.
  • For Award Guidelines and a list of Prior Recipients, please visit the ST. JUNIPERO AWARDS webpage in the PTO section of the St. Serra website.  Questions?  Contact PTO Past President Cristen Lebsack at [email protected].
SECOND GRADE SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION
Registration Reminder

If your second-grade child is going to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist this spring, you must contact your parish to register them for Sacramental Preparation.  Information from your parish Faith Formation Director was given out at Back-to-School Night. If you have not already done so, please register as soon as possible. 

Click the appropriate link below for registration information from each parish. 

IN-N-OUT 
Order Now for November!

In-N-Out ordering for November is now open. In-N-Out will only be served two Thursdays in November, which will be on the 9th & 16th.  Ordering for November will close on October 31. No walk up orders will be accepted. All orders must be placed online. 

CLICK HERE  to visit the In-N-Out page on our website to place your order for November.
CLICK HERE to view October orders in the Parent Protected section of our website. You will need your passkey to enter this section. The passkey information was sent home with your oldest student on the first day of school.
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
St. Kilian All Saints' Day Vigil Mass & Trunks or Treats 
Halloween, 4:00 to 5:50 p.m.

St. Kilian Church will be celebrating a special All Saint's Day Vigil Mass on Halloween, Tuesday, October 31. Following Mass, children and families are invited to go "trick or treating" from the parishioner's trunks! CLICK HERE to read more.  
Santa Margarita Catholic High School Open House
Monday, October 23
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Experience firsthand why Santa Margarita Catholic High School is the school of choice among families seeking a Catholic college preparatory education. 

CLICK HERE for more information
JSerra High School
JSerra High School Pride Receptions For Prospective Families
Sixth, seventh and eighth-grade families are invited to attend a personal reception with current  JSerra  families, students, faculty and administration.  Come and meet the heart of Lion Nation and get answers to your questions in a casual relaxed environment. 

JSerra Catholic High School Pride Reception
At the home of: Tony & Renee Guinane
Tuesday, November 14, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
 
Hosted by the Griffith, Guinane, Hendrick & Manning Families
Please RSVP to  jserra.org/visit

City of Rancho Santa Margarita
Art Contest ~ New Year's Eve Event

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita is enthusiastically preparing for their "Celebrating Family & Friends" New Year's Eve event, which will take place on Sunday, December 31 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. at Central Park. One of the highlights of the event is the Children's Art Contest - which will be displayed in the Bell Tower Community Center.  CLICK HERE for more information on both the Art Contest guidelines and the New Year's Eve event. Flyers are also available in the School Office.