Volume 24 * Issue 14 * December 13,  2018
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
Christmas Nativity and Concerts - Our Students Gift to You
It is my prayer that you enjoyed the special Christmas performances that have taken place so far by students in Grades Two through Eight. We would like to share with you the highlight videos and photos from these two performances, which can be found on our website by CLICKING HERE.  
 
I am looking forward to our TK - Grade One performance tomorrow morning and the Preschool performance next Wednesday morning. Details about both of these concerts can be found in the Principal's section below. Please look for  highlight videos from both of these Christmas performances in the first SerraDIPITY after the Christmas break on Thursday, January 10. 
 
I would  like to publicly thank Mrs. Janess Sifers and Ms. Peggy Armenta for their dedication and hard work with our Preschool through Eighth-Grade students, which was evident in the amazing performances they gave over the past two weeks. The reverence and love for the birth of our Lord Jesus, portrayed through the beautiful Nativities, was enacted by Eighth-Grade students coordinated by Mrs. Maureen Tilton and Ms. Christina Tsichlis, and our Fourth-Grade students coordinated by Ms. Armenta. 

It takes a lot of commitment, time, and devotion, which was exemplified by these staff members and our students, to present these concerts for your enjoyment. I am sure you will agree with me that they all succeeded in making these remarkable performances ones to remember in our hearts throughout this blessed Christmas Season and the coming new year!

Please look for a special Christmas email message from me next week.

Household Goods Drive - Tomorrow!
Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow, Friday, December 14, we will be collecting Household Goods as our Food for Friends drive this month. Your donations of everyday cleaning supplies along with personal hygiene items such as shampoo and toilet paper are greatly appreciated. CLICK HERE for a list of items to donate. 

Thank you to our SJSC Scouts for assisting with our Food for Friends outreach.
God bless you all for your generosity!

"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me". John 12:26

 "Heartprint" in the Chapel
Don't miss your chance to commemorate someone special, remember a loved one or honor your family with a personalized brass plaque on one of our chairs in the St. Junipero Serra Chapel. The deadline of December 31 is approaching fast. CLICK HERE to reserve your "Heartprint" chapel chair today. 
Summer School at St. Serra is BACK!
St. Junipero Serra Catholic  School  will be offering s ummer  school once again this upcoming 2019 summer. Hold off on making any summer plans, as we are excited to share what we have to offer! Please look for more information, including dates and programs, to come mid-January.                                   
Intent to Return and Sibling Survey
I hope you received our Intent to Return and Sibling Survey emailed on Tuesday. If you need to access the letter again CLICK HERE
"Give the gift of HOPE to all"
This Sunday we celebrate the beginning of the third week in Advent, also known as Gaudette Sunday where we light the rose candle of JOY. The faithful rejoice as together we have arrived at the midpoint of Advent with Christmas just around the corner. The progressive candle lighting on our Advent wreath symbolize; hope, peace and now JOY so we pray:

"As we draw near to you, Lord God, keep us aware of your presence in all we do. Come with power to enlighten us by your grace, that we may live in praise and peace all our days". AMEN 
When PEACE is present in our lives, Christ is living in our hearts and we shine his light brightly.



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

Mrs. Angeline Trudell
President
PRINCIPALS' CORNER
Mrs. Carol Reiss, Principal Preschool - Grade 4
Mrs. Alison Daley, Principal Grades 5 - 8
Student Learning Assessments  (Kindergarten - Grade 8 ONLY)

Student Learning Assessments - SLA's/Report Cards are posted on Sycamore (under Documents). Please log into Sycamore and digitally sign your student's SLA.

If you have lost or misplaced your password, please email your family name, student name, and grade to  passwords@serraschool.org

To access the SLA (report card), please log into  https://appsycamoreeducation.com  
  • Click on My Family
  • Click on My Students
  • Click on the Student Code
  • Click on the Documents and select 2018-2019 Grade Card S1 and open
  • Please sign digitally and SAVE
Pre-K and TK SLAs (report cards) will be sent home with your child on December 14. SLA's for  3-year-old and young 4-year-old preschool students will be sent home with your child on either December 13 or 14 depending on your child's attendance schedule.
Renaissance STAR Testing

The testing window for January is:
  • January 7 - January 18
Please see our website at  Academics>Renaissance STAR Testing for testing schedules and to read more about STARâ„¢ Assessments in the   Parent's Guide to STAR Assessments.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
  • All students in Grades 1-8 will take the STAR Reading and STAR Math assessments
  • GRADES 3-8 must have earbuds (earphones) for testing
  • Kindergarten will take the STAR Early Literacy and Math assessments in January and in the spring. 
  • Students will take the STAR Reading assessment during their ELA class and the STAR Math assessment during their Math class
  • If your child will be absent on the day of the assessment, please notify his/her teacher by email so that your child can be scheduled for a makeup session.
  • Please be sure to review your child's January scores after January 15th. Please keep in mind that these assessments represent one snapshot in time and are only one measure of your student's skills at that time
HELPFUL TEST-TAKING NOTES
  • Make sure your child has eaten well on test days. Studies suggest that good nutrition is related to improved attention and concentration.
  • Help your child by encouraging a good night's rest.
  • Ensure that your child makes it to school on time so that they do not miss any instructions and are allowed ample time to settle in and relax before the test begins.
  • Please do not schedule dental or doctor appointments on testing days.
  • Although it is important to let students know the tests should be taken seriously, it is also important not to increase any test-taking anxiety.
Renaissance Technical Issue
NOTE: The technical issue that Renaissance was experiencing with Accelerated Reader has been corrected. 
TK - 1st Grade & Preschool Christmas Concerts 
Please join us tomorrow, Friday, December 14 at 10:00 a.m., as our students in TK - 1st Grade tell the story of the beautiful Nativity, and celebrate the Christmas Season with song. Our youngest Serra Bears in Preschool and PreK will have their concert next Wednesday, December 19 at 10:00 a.m. Both  performances will be held in the Student Activity Center.

All students should wear their Christmas best!  We ask that you please abide by the SJSC uniform dress code.   
  • Nice dresses, skirts, or dress pants for girls
  • Nice pants and dress shirts for boys; ties are optional
  • Christmas accessories should be kept to a minimum
  • No shorts, jeans, leggings, or open-toe shoes
For information regarding parking, arrival times and dismissal procedures, please see the article in the  SerraDIPITY sent on November 29.
Lunch Containers, Lost & Found, and Food Delivery Services
If your TK - 8 child has lost his/her lunch container such as a bag, box or liquid container, please be sure to tell them to look for it in the Lost & Found, located in the hallway near the TK and Extended Care room. 

Please be sure to label all of your child's belongings as this will assist in returning it to them. Because some of the lunch items have leftover food in them, we cannot keep them for long periods of time. As a health and safety precaution, the lunch containers will be disposed of each Friday after school. 

Please do not use food delivery services such as DoorDash, UberEats etc. to deliver lunches to your child. Our school office is not staffed to handle this and it presents safety issues. If your child forgets their lunch, you may bring it before 11:00 a.m., labeled with your child's name, and place it on the cart in the main lobby. The lunch will be delivered to your child by our yard staff. Preschool parents should sign in to the School Office and walk the lunch over to your child's classroom.
FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE - SAVE THE DATE! 
Saturday, February 9, 2019, 6:00-9:30 p.m.

The PTO is excited to announce the Event Chairs for the 2019 Father Daughter Dance (FDD) - Mrs. Stacey Herter, Mrs. Corey Lindsay and Mrs. Megan Walters, along with PTO VP Parent Child Events, Mrs. Shannon Johnson. 

The Father Daughter Dance Event Committee is excited to roll out the red carpet and introduce this year's theme,  " HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD !" Get ready to pose for the paparazzi! We invite all Dads and SJSC daughters to celebrate a night of glamour and VIP treatment with lots of dancing, Opportunity Raffle surprises, and fun treats. Look for more details and invitations next month.

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact the Event Chairs at father-daughter@serraschool.org .
SCRIP REBATE PROGRAM
   
Maximize your rebates even while school is not in session! Enroll in our online programs and earn real money towards your educational costs. There are still a few days of holiday shopping left, and New Year's Eve is right around the corner. Need to keep the kids busy? Traveling this holiday season? Maximize your rebate while you spend money during the holidays. 

Gaming enthusiasts : Xbox (6%), iTunes (5%), Gamestop (3%), Sony Playstation (4%)
 
Fashionistas : Gap/Banana Republic (14%), Forever 21-ecard only (5%), Nordstrom (6%), Macys (10%), TJMaxx (7%), Ross/Burlington (8%), Bloomingdales (12%), Kohls ( 4%)
 
Weekend Warriors : Home Depot/Homegoods (7%), Lowe's/ Wayfair (6%)
 
Hosting this Year? Mother's Market/Sprouts (5%), Safeway/Albertsons/Pavilions (4%), Whole Foods (3%)
 
Most Wanted : No Fee Visa (1.25%), Amazon (2.25%), Target/Walmart (2.5%), Starbucks (7%)

For questions on any of the above, or to place a Scrip Order, contact Tina Maroutian, Rebate Program Coordinator at tmaroutian@serraschool.org.
THE GREATEST GIFT IS YOU! 

The season of giving is upon us. The greatest gift you can give to SJSC is your valuable time and amazing talent.
GIVE THE GIFT OF BOX TOPS TODAY
This Christmas, give the gift that keeps on giving - box tops! Simply place clipped box tops in a baggie or envelope and submit them to your child's homeroom teacher. Don't forget to ALWAYS label the bag or envelope with your child's homeroom and first and last name. Visit the   BOX TOPS HOMEPAGE   for more details.
ANNUAL FUND
We would like to thank the  families who have already generously given to this year's  Annual Fund and encourage those who haven't made their gift yet to do so before the holidays are upon us! As you know, this year's Annual Fund is specifically earmarked to support the cost of the Creativity Labs.
 
Let's finish December strong and take advantage of the tax deduction available to us before the year is up! Won't you please consider joining those who have already donated, including most of our staff, by making your donation today? Your donation will also help your child win an ice cream social with Mrs. Trudell at the end of the year. The class with the highest percentage of donations will be the winner!
Here are the top three classes to date:
1st Place: 5th grade with 29.66%
2nd Place: 2nd grade with 28.40%
3rd Place: 4th grade with 26.36%

YEARBOOK DEDICATION AND SHOUT OUT ADS
Take advantage of the discounted price by submitting your ad by Sunday, January 6, 2019! This date will be here before you know it!  CLICK HERE to create and order your ad. 
 
For more information on creating an ad  CLICK HERE or contact Cindy Kennedy, Marketing Creative Director at  ckennedy@serraschool.org
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR IS COMING!
On behalf of the PTO Board and PTO VP Book Fair, Mrs. Courtnay Flick, we are pleased to announce the 2019 Book Fair Event Chairs: Mrs. Ginaea Bauer, Mrs. Deeanne Ferletic, and Angie Miller.   
  • The 2019 Book Fair, themed "Dino Mite Book Fair- Stomp, Chomp, and Read," encourages student reading while benefiting our St. Serra School Library.  The Fair will be open in the St. Serra Library January 24-31.  Students will have the opportunity to shop during their classroom's assigned time.

  • The Book Fair Flyer, Schedule and Payment Envelope will be in the January 10th Monthly Envelope. Parents, guests, and Preschool families are welcome to shop during school hours and on Sunday, January 27, at St. Serra's Open House.
     
  • Volunteers Needed! Room Parents will be looking for your help with the class shopping trips.  Additional volunteer signups will be available on our Sign Up Genius (coming soon).
     
  • Questions? Please e-mail the Book Fair Chairs at BookFair@serraschool.org or visit the BOOK FAIR webpage.
AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES UPDATE
  • Unfortunately, due to low enrollment, Paul Effman Music classes will not be available this winter  
     
  • Mr. Ho's Piano/Keyboard classes for winter session begins the week of January 7, 2019. CLICK HERE for more information or to enroll
     
  • Super Soccer Stars winter session begins Thursday, January 10. CLICK HERE for more information or to sign up. 
     
  • Young Rembrandts Art Classes winter session will begin on Monday, January 7. CLICK HERE for more information or to enroll
SEASONS TUITION ASSISTANCE LUNCHEON
                                    
Tuition Assistance affects us all ...YOU can make a difference!

Did you know that 11% of students at St. Serra receive some type of tuition assistance? That's an average of 2 or 3 students out of every single homeroom. Most often it's just for a short period of time, but sometimes for longer, while the family handles bigger, life-changing issues. Tuition assistance allows these families to remain at St. Serra until that season of difficulty passes.
 
While we cannot always make those situations better, we can all help our fellow parents and children by supporting the Seasons Tuition Assistance Luncheon. This beautiful afternoon in January is one of fellowship and community that raises funds to help these families while kicking off our celebration of Catholic Schools Week.

You can help by attending the Luncheon or volunteering to help with the luncheon as a server, cashier, or set-up and tear-down crews. Double Service hours are offered for servers and tear-down on Sunday. 

Your gifts of time, talent and treasure all add up and make a difference right in our own school community.
EXTENDED CARE REMINDER
Afternoon Extended Care for Preschool- Grade 8 will not be available on Wednesday , December 19 . This is a minimum day and the last day of school before Christmas Break. Extended Care will be open the morning of  December 19 . Please plan accordingly!
ESSENTIAL LEARNING SYSTEMS (ELS) PROGRAM
ELS is a program offered at St. Junipero Serra for students who learn differently. ELS is a computerized, multi-sensory, interactive program that improves focus, strengthens information  processing skills, and enhances a variety of academic skills (e.g., reading decoding, reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development, and spelling).
 
Please e-mail Dr. Quigley at  lquigley@serraschool.org or call ext. 243 or visit our  ELS webpage if you would like more information.

UNIFORMS & SPIRIT STORE
  • Coming soon! The launch of our NEW St. Serra Spirit Wear! Lots of options to show your Serra Pride will be available to order starting in January!
     
  • Volunteers needed! We have lots of opportunities to help with our Spirit Store. E-mail Mrs. Tirado, SJSC Merchandise Coordinator, if you are interested at studentstore@serraschool.org
     
  • Please be advised that the Spirit Store is now closed until we return from Christmas Break
     
  • Questions? Please e-mail Mrs. Catherine Tirado, SJSC Merchandise Coordinator, at studentstore@serraschool.org
LOST & FOUND
  • Please be advised that there are several uniform items, in the LOST & FOUND AREA, that do not have family names on them. If these items are not claimed before Christmas Break, they will be donated
     
  • Questions? Please email Mrs. Catherine Tirado, SJSC Merchandise Coordinator at studentstore@serraschool.org
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
Holy Trinity Youth Night
TOMORROW - Friday, December 14, 2018 

Once a month, Holy Trinity Youth Ministry welcomes all 6-8th graders for an evening of games, snacks, and fellowship. It's a great opportunity to make new friends and also have some fun! The next Youth Night will be tomorrow, December 14, 2018 from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. CLICK HERE for the flyer.
San Francisco Solano Church

Altar Servers   
Is your Serra Bear ready to be an altar server? We will be training a new class of Novices to begin serving in January. Altar Servers must be at least 10-years- old, have had their First Communion, and be able to serve at least once a year at the 7:00 a.m. Mass. You may select your regular serving times the rest of the year. One parent needs to attend the training to get acquainted with the parish's ministry software. Training is this Sunday, December 16  at 1:00 p.m. in the church. 
Questions or RSVP to Karin Hendrick at  KHendrick.SFSServers@outlook.com
Mater Dei High School Admissions Information

Early-Qualification Process
Become Accepted to Mater Dei NOW!
Visit www.materdei.org/admissions

Entrance Exam
Saturday, January 26, 2019. 7:45 a.m. Register today at www.materdei.org/entranceexam