Dear St. John Paul II Families,
Last week was a very busy week at StJPII. We had our annual Staff Service Awards Dinner, where several of our faculty and staff were honored for reaching milestone anniversaries. Please join me in congratulating and thanking the following individuals for their service and dedication to St. John Paul II Catholic School:
Retiring: Deanne Gordon
50 years in education: Kenneth Griffin
25 years of service: Jeanne Aertker, Sherry Lamb
20 years of service: Martha Hanessian, Karen Love
15 years of service: Molly Richard
10 years of service: Yolanda Cavazos, Nancy Valencia
5 years of service: Piri Campo, Betty Costantini, Magda Fasci, Sarah Lowen
On Friday, we celebrated our blessed Mother Mary with May Crowning. It was so wonderful to see the children bring many beautiful flowers in honor of the mother of our church.
The week ended with our first All School Reunion that brought alumni, alumni parents, and former faculty and staff back to our campus. It was truly amazing to see how many past StJPII families came to celebrate Mass and honor our Distinguished Alumni. Fr. Eamonn said it best,
“We may go off into different directions in life, but our roots are what grounds us. The StJPII community is your roots and we’re so glad that you came home.”
We have a lot of great events planned on campus in the coming weeks as we approach the end of this school year. I hope to see you soon!
In Him,
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Business Office
Tuition and Family Commitment were due on May 1. Please note that past due Tuition and Family Commitment invoices will be charged late fees as follows:
- $100 per week - Tuition late payment
- $50 per week - Family Commitment late payment
If you need a replacement Tuition and/or Family Commitment invoice(s), then please contact the
Business Office
. Thank you for your prompt attention.
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Middle School: Final Exam Schedule
Please mark your calendar for the upcoming Middle School Final Exam Schedule:
Monday, May 21
- Language Arts (7th)- a.m.
- Algebra (8th)- a.m.
- Math (6th)- p.m.
- Literature (8th)- p.m.
Tuesday, May 22
- Language (8th)- a.m.
- Language (6th)- p.m.
- Pre-Algebra (7th)- p.m.
- History (8th)- p.m.
Wednesday, May 23
- TX History (7th)- AM, Theology (8th)- a.m.
- IPC (8th)- p.m.
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Counselor's Corner
Over the course of the year, the diocese organizes quarterly meetings for all the school counselors to meet so we can collaborate on issues related to our students and their well being. Recently, we have been hearing a lot of concerns regarding two issues with middle school students:
the effects of social media on preteens
and the
new vaping trend
. It is so important that parents are up to speed on what is going on in the lives of "kids these days", so I have attached two recent articles I feel do a good job summing up the concerns voiced among our counselors. Please know I am available to talk about any questions or concerns that you have in any area related to the well being of our students. We are truly a team working together during this difficult but also wonderful time in your child's life.
In Christ's Love,
Betty Costantini
StJPII Middle School Counselor
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Last Day to Register for Fun in the Sun (FITS)
Today, May 8 is the last day to register for 2018 FITS. Remember, it is easier than ever to
register online
and every child must be registered. Simply click on the button below to register today!
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Missing Fun in the Sun?
We don’t want anyone left out, so we make sure all students are accounted for with lunch or tickets. If your student is going to be absent for Fun in the Sun day please email us by clicking the e-mail button below with the student name, grade, and homeroom teacher.
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Contribute to Fun in the Sun!
Did you know that Fun in the Sun (FITS) is the largest PTO fundraiser? Your contributions to FITS help offset the cost of the event, which in turn allows more money to be donated to the school.
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Last year, the money raised by the PTO allowed the school to purchase new outdoor signage and MANY items for classroom wish lists which allowed teachers to experiment with flexible learning spaces. Wobble chairs, rocker chairs, targeted small group tables, standing desks, whiteboard tables for solving math problems, and an entire wall of whiteboard space to write and edit as a group are just a few examples of what was purchased with PTO funds.
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The Thursday morning 7th Grade Stretch group is passionate about saving endangered species! The group is sponsoring a coin drive
May 7-10
to help save endangered species by making donations on behalf of the animals to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF). WWF is an organization devoted to educating people about endangered animals in order to help save them from extinction. A specific endangered animal was selected for each grade level. Presentations and activities about each grade level's animal has have been presented to each class as follows:
- PreK: Blue Whale
- Kinder: Red panda
- 1st: Chameleon
- 2nd: Tigers
- 3rd: Sumatran Elephant
- 4th: Polar Bears
- 5th: Hawksbill turtles
- 6th: Galapagos Penguins
- 7th: Saola
- 8th: African Wild Dog
Please support these Stretch students in their passion to make a difference for endangered species. The winning homeroom will get to wear free dress socks and shoes on a day to be determined before the end of the year. Thanks in advance for your help and support!
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Students Attend Mass at St. Mary's Seminary
The 3rd graders' seminarian, Chris Meyer, invited StJPII students to Mass at St. Mary's. When StJPII students enter 3rd grade, they are introduced to a seminarian on their field trip to the seminary. This seminarian stays connected with that particular class during their time at StJPII. Thanks to Mrs. Denton for fostering these relationships and supporting vocations. Thank you to the families for bringing their students to this special Mass.
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Congratulations to StJPII Artists
On Sunday, April 29, The Society for the Performing Arts held their
20th Annual Wells Fargo Student Art Contest and Awards Ceremony
at Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, Downtown. With 720 entries across six divisions and open to the Greater Houston Area, we are proud to announce that StJPII has been honored with winning artworks for the 13th consecutive year!
Congratulations to
Emma Welsch
(8
th
grade) and
Hannah Dvorachek
(7
th
grade) for placing “Honorable Mention” in this most prestigious Art Contest for the combined Middle School Category! Both girls' artwork was featured on the cover of the
Award Ceremony Brochure.
They also received four tickets to a show of choice at Jones Hall and a goody bag of art supplies from the StJPII Art Department. Emma and Hannah’s artwork will be displayed at Jones Hall and will then go on tour over the summer at various locations in Houston.
Additionally, StJPII had two students who placed in the top 15 -
Laura Labordor
(8
th
Grade) and
Clara Forbes
(7
th
Grade). Congratulations to our Talented Artists! All Artisan and Art 1 artwork is currently on display between the computer labs for 2 weeks and then will be sent home with students.
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All School Reunion
The Development Team would like to thank all the alumni, alumni parents, and former faculty and staff who attended the All School Reunion on Sunday. We hosted over 140 individuals with a Mass in the Chapel, reception, and campus tours. We would like to especially thank everyone who made this event possible by volunteering your time and talent: Fr. Eamonn Shelly, members of the 7th and 8th Grade Choir, the StJPII Cheerleaders, the Mass participants: Julie Jewett (Board Member), Nadia Lara (Alum), William Colgan (Alum), Madeline Bogard (Alum), Hannah Yohr (8th Grader) , and over 20 current faculty and staff members who made this event a huge success!
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS HONOREES
- Joe Aertker, Class of 1997
- Catherine Guedry, Class of 2001
- Nadia Lara, Class of 2004
- Laura Guedry Lamers, Class of 2005
- Erin Sutton, Class of 2011
- Christopher Zeidan, Class of 2017
Below is a list of all the Distinguished Alumni that were nominated for this award.
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD NOMINEES
- Dr. Ben Aertker
- Dr. Robert Aertker
- Joe Aertker
- Anthony Ashley
- Andrew Blick
- Tommy Bramanti
- Katie Chang
- Liam Chang
- Molly Chang
- Catherine Guedry
- Amanda Habib
- Laura Guedry Lamers
- Nadia Lara
- Tracy Lee Court
- Keegan O’Connor
- David Roy
- Nick Solis
- Elyse’ Jean Stieber
- Erin Sutton
- David Thompson
- Christopher Zeidan
To read all about the Distinguished Alumni Award Honorees
click here
.
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Thank You
The PTO would like to thank the following parents for providing food for April's faculty meeting: Danille LaLonde, Sandra Vreedenburgh, Diane Bramanti, Alicia Rehfeld, Adriana Cayama, Lizette Maya, Ana Parra-Esteva, Gail Anderson, Hazel Mohan, Tina Schroeder, Analia Gugliotti, Machi Valcarcel, Anne Davis, Joy Ramsaran, Martha Rupay, Rocio Morales, Beverly Alexander, and Gwen Montesino. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
We thank everyone who provided food throughout this school year, helping to make our faculty meetings special for our fabulous teachers and staff!
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Summer Enrichment Program
Children 3 years old through 8th grade are invited to the StJPII Summer Enrichment Program (SEP),
June 11-29,
where we emphasize hands-on exploration in a fun, stimulating and supportive environment. The program features small class sizes, is taught by highly qualified teachers and is designed to: Provide academic and social enrichment; prepare students for their upcoming school year; build upon Reading, Math & Study Skills, and help new students make friends, while introducing them to the StJPII campus, curriculum and culture.
The registration deadline is May 18.
For more information, contact SEP Coordinator
Kim McCurry
.
Additional information can also be found on our website, including the
SEP Brochure
and
Registration
.
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8th Grade Fundraiser: Nails, Tails & Tennies
Please support the 8
th
Grade fundraiser! Students may buy a pass for only $5 to wear nail polish, untucked shirts, and any color tennis shoes! The pass will be valid on May 10. Please download the
flyer
and turn it in to your homeroom teacher or the front office. There must be ONE form per student.
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Winnie the Pooh Musical
Mrs. Dao's Choir and Theatre classes will present "Winnie the Pooh" the Musical on
May 15 at 7:00 p.m
. This musical is based on the stories of A.A. Milne and the 2011 Disney animated feature film. Mark your calendars and see the
flyer
for more details.
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Mother Daughter Fitness Classes
Spend some quality time with your daughter and get fit at the same time! Sample four different classes at Lifetime Fitness CityCentre. Post workout, enjoy healthy snacks provided by Lifetime Fitness Cafe, as well as the opportunity to speak with a nutritionist. Participants' names will be put into a drawing, and 2 lucky winners will receive a free spa service at the Lifetime Spa. Open to 1st - 8th grade.
May 20, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
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This is a gala Great Gathering event, hosted by: Michelle Perez
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Summer Physicals
The specialists at Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine will be providing the pre-participation physicals on
Wednesday, June 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
For
more details, please click on the
flyer
. Remember to download the
2018 Methodist Physical Consent form
.
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End of the Year Volleyball Clinic
These clinics are for current 5th-8th Grade Girls interested in improving their volleyball skills. These skills include: Serving, Passing, Setting, Hitting, Game Play & Techniques. For more information, please see the
flyer
.
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Varsity Football 2018-2019 "Meet the Coaches Information Night"
Parents of a current 5th, 6th and 7th grade boys are invited to attend an informational meeting regarding playing football in the fall of 2018 on
Wednesday,
May 16 at 6:00 p.m.
in the GSC. This meeting will introduce the coaches, provide dates and information for the upcoming season, and answer any questions you may have.
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5th Grade Parent Meeting
Parents of 5th grade athletes are invited to attend an informative meeting about the Middle School Athletic program. The transition from elementary to middle school athletics can be overwhelming for parents and students. The meeting will be held on
Wednesday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m.
in the
GSC
. Some of our middle school coaches will be there. We will cover information regarding protocols, tryouts, communication with parents, obligations and responsibilities of the athlete and the parent, as well as commitments and team sportsmanship. We welcome you to bring your upcoming middle school child.
I hope you can make it, I promise it will be very informative, helpful, and will not take too long!
GO SAINTS!
Coach Hewitt
Middle School Athletic Director
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Upcoming ACTS retreats at St. John Vianney Catholic Church
The 3-day, 3-night ACTS Retreat is presented by SJV parishioners. The goal of this retreat is to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, renew ourselves spiritually, give new meaning to our prayer life and Sunday Liturgy and build lasting friendships with members of our parish and faith community. The retreat begins on a Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. and ends Sunday with a reception at St. John Vianney following the 11:00 a.m. Mass.
Register online
today!
Below are the dates for the ACTS retreats:
- Women's ACTS Retreat in Spanish - June 7-10 at Holy Name Retreat Center
- Men’s ACTS Retreat in English- June 14-17 at Holy Name Retreat Center (Early Bird Discount ends May 1)
- Women's ACTS Retreat in English - July 26-29 at Holy Name Retreat Center
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Come Join the fun with Coach ADE
StJPII Soccer Coach Ade is hosting his annual soccer summer camps! Summer Soccer Camp locations are throughout Houston. For more information and all the details, please see the attached
flyer.
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Art Cellar Houston - Mindful Movement Summer Camp
Keep your children engaged in a variety of fun activities during the long summer days at The Art Cellar of Houston’s Mindful Movement Camp. This summer camp in the Energy Corridor features step-by-step instruction to help children ages 4 and up create different pieces of artwork through the summer months of June, July, and August. For more information, visit
artcellarhouston.com
or call 832-596-7983
.
The Art Cellar of Houston
is located at
1460 Eldridge Parkway, #120
.
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5/9 7:10 Daily Mass, All Saints Chapel
5/9 & 5/10 6th Grade bake sale
5/9 Dad's Basketball, 8:00 p.m., BAC
5/10 Nails, Tails, and Tennies Fundraiser
5/11 All School Mass, 8:30 a.m., BAC/GSC
5/11 Art a la Carte (Prek-3rd Grade)
5/14 Board Meeting, 7:00 p.m., SJH
5/15 Winnie the Pooh Performance, 7:00 p.m. GSC
5/16 Football Meet the Coaches Night, 6:00 p.m., GSC
5/16 Dad's Basketball, 8:00 p.m., BAC
5/17 Band Spring Concert, 7:00 p.m., GSC
5/18 Summer Enrichment Registration Ends & Payment Due
5/18 Used Uniform Sale, 7:00 a.m., SJH
5/18 All School Mass, 8:30 a.m., BAC/GSC
5/21-5/23 Middle School Exams
5/23 StJPII Spirit Night at Russo's
5/23 5th Grade Athletic Meeting, 6:00 p.m., GSC
5/23 Dad's Basketball, 8:00 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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