The Morning Star Weekly Newsletter Vol 5, Edition 14 11/10/2020
Dear Morning Star Families and Friends,

We want to honor all members of the United States Armed Services on Veterans Day. In celebration, students may wear red, white, and blue on Wednesday. Morning Star continues our Veterans Day tradition with the San Juan Del Rio Knights of Columbus with an essay and poster contest. The themes this year are signs of freedom, characteristics of a hero, and the different military services. The student’s creativity never ceases to amaze me with their heartfelt drawings and essays. Winners will be selected from each grade level and presented with an award on Wednesday.

Morning Star is going through our sixth year of the Accreditation process. All diocesan schools go through Accreditation every seven years. Because of this, we emailed a survey out last week for all parents to complete and submit. If you have already completed and submitted the survey, thank you. If not, please complete the survey as soon as possible. It is extremely important to have 100% participation. As always thank you for your continued support. Please click on the link below if you have not completed the parent survey.

 

Thanksgiving is almost upon us. We are having a food drive for Catholic Charities November 9 to November 20. Please help us give to those that are in need. Morning Star students learn so much by giving and not always receiving. They learn compassion, a feeling of purpose, contributing to society, and many times it will boost one’s self-esteem by giving back to the community.

Many Blessings,
Elaine Shott, Principal
REMINDERS
Dress Down Day Tomorrow!
Wednesday, November 11th is a patriotic dress down day. Students and teachers are encouraged to dress in red, white and blue. There is no cost. If a student chooses not to dress in red, white, and blue, he or she should wear their school uniform (regular or PE uniform depending on their class schedule).
November Mass
mass
Thursday, November 12th, 10:00 am our school Mass will be held at Christ the King Church. It is a uniform day for all students. 
Mass will be live streamed and distance learning students are required to attend virtually. Attendance will be counted towards their religion grade. Parents and families are also welcome to view virtually.

CLICK to access our Mass Link HERE at 10:00 am.
Thanksgiving Food Drive
November 9th-20th, Morning Star School will host its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. Please bring in boxes, cans, bottles and jars of non-perishable food for your student's class collection. No glass please. There are more people than ever who need food now and we want to help be the hands of mercy for God's people.

Matthew 25:35 I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.  
P.E. Uniform for Cool Weather
On cold PE days, students may wear solid navy blue sweatpants (no words or designs) with their MSS PE shirts. It is not mandatory, but students may choose to wear their MSS PE shorts under their navy blue sweatpants. This is helpful on days it is cool in the morning but warms up in the afternoon. Plain navy blue sweatpants can be purchased at RC Uniforms but they do not have to be purchased there.
Some students choose to wear leggings or compression leggings under their MSS PE shorts on cool days. In this case, students may wear solid black leggings/compression leggings under their regular MSS PE shorts. No other colors are permitted.

Students may wear a MSS sweater or fleece jacket over their MSS PE shirt. Non school uniform jackets/sweatshirts may be worn into the school building, but they must be taken off once inside.  

For more information about cold weather uniform rules click HERE.
Thanksgiving Holiday
November 25th - November 29th is Morning Star's Thanksgiving holiday. Classes resume on Monday, November 30th.

FROM YOUR DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Our Annual Fund Drive has begun! Due to unexpected COVID expenses, reduced funding and the cancelation of our largest fundraiser, our annual Gala & Auction, our need this year is much more than previous years. Our goal is to raise $180,000. So far we have raised $27,000. If you donated last year, you will receive a donation letter in the mail. Please consider supporting our school. No amount is too small.
GIVINGTUESDAY is a global day of generosity. GIVINGTUESDAY is held annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year, GIVINGTUESDAY is on December 1st, 2020. Our goal? To raise $27,000 that day, which is a portion of the $180,000 required fundraising goal needed for the 2020-2021 school year. Help us spread the word on Facebook! Share our post on your personal page with everyone you know. Family members and friends can now donate right on our Facebook page. It's quick and easy.
Why is Morning Star School special? We need testimonials, short videos and photos from our parents, students and family members! As we face a challenging year we want to make certain we share great success stories and fun videos and photos of our students. You can help by sending in your Morning Star story to Maria Johnson at development@morningstar-jax.org
ON CAMPUS
Extended Day Students Enjoy Our New Outdoor Field Area!
PRIMARY NEWS
Intermediate-Prep students worked on their entries for the Veterans Day poster contest sponsored by our wonderful Knights of Columbus.
Learning games and puzzles helped students in reading class.
INTERMEDIATE NEWS
Our amazing music teacher, Mrs. Militante, taught intermediate students songs with sign language for our monthly Mass. Click on the photo below to watch a video and hear the angels sing.
Students took a break between classes to visit with Boo and Buttercup.
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
Thank you to the Cummer Museum for supporting Morning Star School through their Museum Access for Kids program. A program which provides opportunities to high school students with learning differences to visit art museums and participate in discussions around art as well as art making. Just look at the wonderful art work that was created from this extraordinary opportunity!
HELP US RAISE MONEY!
WHEN SHOPPING ON AMAZON SUPPORT MORNING STAR SCHOOL BY SHOPPING ON AMAZONSMILE INSTEAD! YTD We've raised $1,500.00
It's exactly like Amazon but you'll make a difference!
If you shop on Amazon, make sure you shop on AmazonSmile. It's exactly the same Amazon you love but a portion of your purchase price will be donated to our school each time you shop!

1. Visit AmazonSmile
2. Select Morning Star School of Jacksonville as your charity of choice and start shopping! 
3. Bookmark the AmazonSmile link and use it each time you shop with Amazon!  (Proceeds will only be donated if you are logged into AmazonSmile).
Download the NEW Box Tops App Today!
Box Tops is a great way to earn fundraising dollars! And now there is a new phone app which makes it easier to earn points for our school! Shop as you normally would, then simply scan your store receipts to find participating products. The app will automatically credit your school's Box Tops earnings online. It's a much easier way to help us earn dollars.

Download the new Box Tops App HERE.
Watch a video about the new process HERE

You may still clip Box Tops and send them to school. Physical Box Tops clips are being phased out of production but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER...
  • Turn in your box tops weekly. They do expire.
  • Be sure to NOT cut the code off. We cannot use it if the code is missing even one of the digits
  • Place them in a zip lock bag and send them in with your student.

Thank you for supporting our fundraising efforts! Questions? Please reach out to Jackie Rodriguez, our Home & School Box Tops Coordinator at jaco_rodriguez@yahoo.com
SUBMIT A STORY
If you have a great story, please share it with us. We love showcasing the many talents of our students and their families. To submit a story, click the button below.
Our School Mission Statement
Rooted in the Gospel and strengthened by the sacraments, the mission of Morning Star School is to provide a unique, inspiring education empowering students with learning differences to achieve their full potential.
Copyright © 2019 Morning Star School, all rights reserved. You are receiving this email because your student is/was enrolled at Morning Star School.