Dear St. John Paul II Families,
We made it! I can't believe this is our last
Saints Weekly
for the 2016-2017 school year! I must start out by saying that Fun in the Sun was remarkable this year! Thank you for creating such an awesome day for our students. It's always so inspiring to me to see our parents, staff and student community come together as a family and celebrate another great Saints year!
I am looking forward to
honoring the Class of 2017 tomorrow night at graduation. I am so proud of this group of students, many of whom have been at StJPII for 10 years! Each has been a blessing to StJPII and I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for this outstanding group of young people. During their time here at StJPII, they have exceeded our expectations and carried on our tradition of academic excellence. Not only have they brought home recognition in Academics, Arts, Band, Journalism, and Athletics, but this year's 8th grade class again achieved 100% acceptance into the area Catholic High Schools. I would like to recognize the following students for earning 16 scholarships to Catholic High Schools:
- Eli Blasini - Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and St. Thomas High School
- Emily Colgan - St. John XXIII College Preparatory
- Elise DeGeeter - St. John XXIII College Preparatory
- Bridget Dick -Antonian College Preparatory
- Diego Garcia-Nunez - St. Thomas High School
- Robert Garrity - Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
- Caroline Kunkel - Duchesne Academy
- Katherine Kunkel - Duchesne Academy
- Dylan Michaels - St. Thomas High School
- Jonathan Rovall - St. John XXIII College Preparatory
- Andrew Sudkamp - St. Thomas High School
- Andrew Thampoe - St. John XXIII College Preparatory
- Jack Van Ryan - St. Thomas High School
- Thomas Whitson - St. John XXIII College Preparatory and St. Thomas High School
In addition to the scholarships listed above, I am also pleased to announce that TWO StJPII students have been selected by Strake Jesuit College Preparatory as Ignatian Scholars! Every year, Strake bestows these pre
stigious scholarships to their top five registered applicants. Awardees are selected based on their entrance exam scores, academic record, and overall application strength. This year marks the 4th consecutive year that StJPII graduates have achieved this high honor! Double congratulations to Eli Blasini and Robert Garrity for being named Ignatian Scholars for Strake's Class of 2021.
Congratulations to the entire Class of 2017, and to their teachers and families, as we have worked together to prepare them spiritually and academically to succeed in life and to do God’s will! It has been my genuine honor to serve as your Principal this year. I pray that as you begin your summer that you take time to connect as a family and continue to Form Families of Disciples in your homes.
God Bless,
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PS - Make sure you read below about Summer Reading & Math!
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Last Day of School - Thursday, June 1
All-School Mass @ 8:30 a.m. Honoring PTO
Early Dismissal @ 11:00 / 11:15 / 11:30...no BASP
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Summer Reading & Math
Summer reading and math related activities can achieve the vital goal of maintaining student achievement in addition to preparing a child for the new academic year. The summer requirements for each grade level will be available on our website beginning Monday, June 5. Please click on the homepage under "Quick Links" next week for more information.
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Library News
Wherever your summer adventures take you and your family this summer, I encourage you to find the time to explore the adventures within a book! On our library resources page, you will discover lots of information, including a list of websites and writing prompts that will keep kids reading, writing and journaling! If students are interested in finding additional books to read, then the public libraries and Blue Willow Bookshop are great additional resources. Blue Willow Books on Memorial Drive has our summer reading list too. These folks are a great resource and are full of suggestions about great books and games for all members of the family. I hope your summer is filled with fun and relaxation. Happy Reading – Ms. Lamb
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St. John XXIII Honors
Congratulations to the following StJPII former students who received Senior Recognition at St. John XXIII College Preparatory:
- St. Thomas Aquinas Faculty Honor Award: Carly Nichole Turlington
- Lion Spirit of St. John Award: Elena Sophia Irvine
- Msgr. Edward Randall Award: Ryan Joseph Lanier
- Archbishop Fiorenza Campus Ministry Award: Emma Rose Hofbauer
- Valedictorian: Benjamin James Rehfeld
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STUCO Success
This year, Student Council
raised an impressive $5,000, which was donated to Birthright! 90% of their funds came from the Coin Clash, and the remaining were funds raised through STUCO store sales.
Thank you for supporting STUCO throughout the 2016-2017 school year!
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Journalism Recognition
Special thanks to the 7th and 8th grade journalism students who worked tirelessly this year to bring us Halo News, photograph all school events, design the StJPII yearbook and update the StJPII website. They are STILL working up to the last day of school to meet their deadlines! Congratulations to the following students for being named as journalism editors for next year:
- Bella Forkner, Editor in Chief of Halo News
- Meyer Jane Davis, Editor in Chief of The Spirit Yearbook
- Laura Merlina, Editor in Chief of the StJPII Times Online
- Hannah Yohr, Managing Editor
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2017 Fun in the Sun - Thank You
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A HUGE thank you to all of the families who supported Fun in the Sun this year! It was a sweaty good time!
A special thank you to the volunteers who helped to put on this event: Kristen Matthews, Donna Peters, Tonya Watts, Mariam Janda, Gabi De la Rosa, Anne Davis, Andrea Dvorachek, Ramsey Lawless, Emily Irwin, Margarita Pruneda Hernandez, Noha Tuma, Stacie Sudkamp, Linda Whitson, Victoria Forkner, Linda Lindsey and Suzanne Krejci. Also, thank you to those parent volunteers who spent their Friday in the hot sun helping our kids have a great time! We hope you can join us again next year!
As you can see, it takes a team to put on such a large event. If you are interested in helping next year, or have a gre
at idea for a new booth or activity, please contact Kristen Matthews fits@jp2.org.
IMPORTANT: If you have lent us your canopy or a cooler for Fun in the Sun, please remember to come and pick them up. Just come to the front office and they can point you to their location. Thank you for lending them, they kept everyone in the shade and the snow cones icy!
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Committee Chairs Needed for 2017-18 School Year
The PTO is looking for a few volunteers to help chair committees for the upcoming 2017-2018 school year:
Garden Volunteer: Do you love vegetables and being outside? Do you love working directly with the kids? Then we have a great position for you! Next year will have grade coordinators for each planting. The grades that plant are: 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th. So, we are looking for one or two hard-working volunteers from each of these grades to help coordinate the planting. The commitment will be for a short period of time from planting to harvesting. Don’t worry, there will be help and guidance along the way so don’t feel intimidated! We will be there to support you! Please contact Tonya Watts, tonyawatts@me.com if you are interested or have any questions.
Garden Paver Coordinator: Have you ever noticed the personalized Brick Pavers surrounding the Pope Garden? These pavers are a PTO Fundraiser that supports our garden. We are looking for someone to chair this project next year, please contact pto@jp2.org if you are interested or have any questions.
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PTO Reimbursements Reminder If you need reimbursements from the PTO, please turn in receipts by the last day of school. Please submit in an envelope to the front office addressed to "Attn.: PTO Treasurer".
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Ambassador Family Volunteers
• If you have not been assigned a family, there may be new student enrollments during the Summer. Please continue to look for an email through August, (before the Ice Cream Social and Meet and Greet)!
• Don't forget to check in with your new family this Summer as we approach the new school year! Hopefully many of you are (were) able to meet them before school starts.
• Contact ambassadors@jp2.org if you have not been able to reach your new family, or if you need help answering questions from your new family, or anytime you'd like to provide feedback about the program.
Thank you for welcoming new students and their families into the StJPII community!
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Art A La Carte
Art A La Carte would like to thank the third grade for participating in the Art Show a couple of weeks ago. Thank you third grade for showing off all your beautiful art work! We would also like to congratulate the following winners of the art show...
Mrs. Love's class: 1st place- Susana Narzaez and Honorable Mention- Fabiana Montilva Canas and Sophie DaSilva.
Mrs. Byers Class: 1st place- Santi Llano and Honorable Mention- Carolina Barros and Bridget Hughes.
Mrs. Denton's Class: 1st place- Alex Schwartz and Honorable Mention- Aly Peters and Dax Gomez.
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End of Year Collection
As we reach the end of the school year, we give thanks to our teachers and staff. Each year the PTO coordinates, among the families, a monetary gift collection, which is distributed to our dedicated teachers and staff. With 80 teachers and staff, we have historically been able to gift each of them at least $100 cash. For example, a $10 contribution per child's teacher is a typical offering, but any amount is fine. Our children are blessed to have such loyal, patient and dedicated teachers and staff. The teachers and staff are always appreciative and amazed with the generosity from the StJPII families. If you choose to make a voluntary contribution, please send cash or a check payable to StJPII PTO in an envelope addressed to the "PTO Room Parent Coordinator" by Wednesday, May 31. Your gift will be anonymous, so whatever amount you give is much appreciated. Feel free to let your teacher and other staff members know with a card that you contributed to the End of Year collection. This coordinated effort by all the families makes for a big impact on our wonderful teachers and staff!
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Clinic: End of Year Reminders from the Nurse
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If your student has medication in the clinic please stop by and pick it up.
Medication may not be sent home with the students. All left over medications will be discarded on Friday, June 2, 2017.
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If your student receives any immunizations during the summer, then please send a record to the school office so that your child’s records can be updated. Students who need immunizations during the summer for school attendance in the fall will have a notice in their last report card.
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Have a safe summer! Wear sun screen, seat belts and helmets and come back to us in one piece!
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Report Cards will be held for Outstanding Fees
If you have any outstanding fees (Tuition, Family Commitment, Library, BASP, ECI, clubs, etc.) not paid by May 30, then student report cards will not be released until your account is cleared. Please double-check your student's folders and your inbox for any notices. If you have any questions, please contact the Front Office.
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Graduates - Donate Your Uniforms
Attention Graduating 8th Graders! We will all miss you next year as you move on to high school. However, you can leave a legacy at StJPII by donating your uniforms! We will have a donation box available at graduation rehearsal and graduation, so you can easily and ceremoniously, if you wish, donate your current uniforms. Gentlemen, don't forget to donate your school ties, as well. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Mills at amills14@gmail.com. Best wishes to all of you in high school, and thank you for your support!
Boys Ties: Since they will not be required as part of the dress code next year, please consider donating your used school ties! The Class of 2018 will collect them and sell them through a local resale shop to continue to raise funds for their graduation. Thank you so much for your support!
Used Uniform Collection: As you close out the school year, and clean out your closets, please donate your uniforms that are no longer needed. A box will be available in the hallway near the office, so you can drop off your uniforms, including ties. The donation box will be available through June 8th, 2017. Please contact Angie Mills at amills14@gmail.com if you have any questions. Thank you for your help!
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Mills Wear Summer Sale
Mills Uniform Company's 2017 Summer Sale starts in just under a month, June 15-24. They will be offering
10% off everything (all in-store, online and phone orders), 25% off other select in-stock items, and FREE shipping on orders of $100+. See attached flyer for more details and the code.
Mills will also have a Summer Sale IN STORE ONLY on July 7-8. Mark your calendars to get ready for next school year !
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StJPII Conquest Club
Help us help others! As a service project, StJPII's Conquest Club continues to collect slightly used sports equipment, such as soccer balls, soccer cleats, shin guards, basketball shoes, baseball shoes, and running shoes, for both children and adults, golf equipment, and other sports equipment. We also accept uniforms/jerseys, and trophies or medals that are no longer used. On his mission trips, Coach Ade will distribute this equipment to kids in other countries who don't have such items. A collection box is available in the gym through May 31st. Please take a few minutes to clean-out your sports equipment and donate them so a kid can play. With your generosity, Conquest has collected almost 2500 sports items to help less fortunate athletes!. If you have any questions, please contact Angie Mills at amills14@gmail.com. Thank you!
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Advertising Sales / Online Student Directory
For the 2017-2018 school year, our Student Directory will be completely online!
Benefits:
- Free!
- Convenient & Secure! Available on your computer or phone through the secure Parent Portal app.
- Current! If your friends move, you will always have the most up-to-date contact information at your fingertips.
More good news - you may sell advertisements to fulfill your 2017-2018 Family Commitment. Instead of selling printed School Directory ads that have a very limited reach, you may sell online advertising space in Saints Weekly, which has a much wider audience. You will get DOLLAR for DOLLAR credit for whatever you choose to sell. Please be sure to consult the Company List before approaching any businesses because some families have established relationships with many vendors.
Please use the attached form when selling your ads. We hope you find this a welcome change; we are excited about offering you this convenient upgrade.
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Elementary Athletics
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
PRE-K - 6th SOCCER REGISTRATION OPENS
JULY 18.
Register early; some teams will fill up. We do not want
to miss having your child on a team.
VOLUNTEER COACHES NEEDED -
All teams are coached by Volunteer parents. If you are not
StJPII volunteer approved, please start the process now so that
you will be ready for Soccer in August. See attached link for
more information: Volunteer Procedures
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Summer Athletics Camps
Please check our website for some soccer and basketball camps being offered at StJPII this summer:
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Football:
Parents of current 5th, 6th and 7th grade boys, Coach Hertlein needs commitments for all who are interested in playing football this Fall. If you would, please email coach (mhertlein@jp2.org) if you have not already done so with the following info:
1. Name of the Student and grade level for 2017-2018 school year.
2. Mom and Dad or legal guardian preferred email address to get information regarding football.
3. Mom and Dad or legal guardian preferred contact number in case of emergencies.
4. Information regarding our training camp dates and what your son can or cannot attend. (Camp starts Aug. 1st and runs through Aug. 14th, Monday through Friday)
5. Also, if you have not received the information packet and would like an email attachment, please let coach know.
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Sports Physicals
Don't forget that Methodist Hospital will be here Thursday, June 8th from 6-8 pm for our annual Middle School Sports Physical. This is open to our current 5th through 8th graders, as well as siblings or alumni that are entering or currently in High School! You can go to the StJPII website under Athletics, then GHCAA Middle School, and download the StJPII physical form, complete the form and bring $20 for the physical. It's that simple! Any questions please email mhewitt@jp2.org.
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5/31/17 CAFETERIA CLOSED - BRING SACK LUNCH
5/31/17 8th Grade Awards Ceremony, 10:30 a.m., GSC
5/31/17 8th Grade Graduation Mass, 7:00 p.m., GSC
6/1/17 All School Mass and PTO Recognition, 8:30 a.m., GSC
6/1/17 Last Day of School/Early Dismissal 11:00/11:15/11:30 a.m.
6/2/17 Teacher In-Service
6/2/17 Senior Sendoff (for StJPII Class of 2013), 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., GSC
6/2/17 8th Grade Dinner Dance, 7:00 p.m., BAC
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St. John Paul II Catholic School
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1400 Parkway Plaza,
Houston, TX 77077
281-496-1500 •
281-496-2943 (fax)
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St. John Paul II Catholic School prepares all students spiritually
and academically to succeed in life and to do God's will.
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