Bernie's Bark
2.19.2019
Dear Parents-
 
What an amazing talent show , directed by our very own amazing Miss Denneny, and performed by amazing students from grades K through 8! If you were not able to join us, you missed a potpourri of musical acts that showcased a variety of developing talents. What was even more noticeable was the support given by the student-body audience, who cheered for and encouraged each performer. Everyone is commended for the part they played in the success of the show.
 
Scantron score reports went home last Friday, February 15. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher. The second trimester ends on Friday, March 8. Please log on to the PowerSchool parent portal and check your child’s current grades. With three weeks to go, there is still time to make changes if improvement is needed. Again, please reach out to your child’s teachers if you have concerns about achievement.
 
Provine Pictures will be at school on Wednesday, February 20 to take club pictures . SJS team sports pictures are scheduled for February 26.
 
The J r. High Science Fair is scheduled for Thursday, February 21. Judges should arrive by 5:30 and students should arrive by 5:45. Judging is from 6:00-8:00. If you are interested in judging, and have not yet volunteered, please contact Mrs. Longuillo at joette_longuillo@hotmail.com or Miss Jennison at l.jennison@sjschoolva.org . Your help is greatly appreciated, and a science background is not required. Students have worked very hard on their projects and this is a great opportunity for you to see innovation and creativity.
 
Please consider joining me, Father Tom, and Mrs. Farrell, at our Friday, March 1, Coffee with the Principal, as we discuss conflict and bullying . Our goal is to establish a meaningful dialog between home and school to address important school climate issues and develop a plan to identify concerns and affect change. Research shows that a strong, collaborative relationship between parents and schools is the most effective way to change school climate.
 
Oftentime, a component of bullying and conflict is the use of social media . I encourage parents to monitor children’s use of social media, and if you do not already have a parental control app to help you supervise social media, I share this link https://bit.ly/2Ne4p0m , which will take you to a review of the best parental control apps for 2019. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of you taking control.
 
Don't forget to place the lunch order for your children through our school lunch program, in conjunction with Fairfax Food Service. Use this link, https://sjschoolva.org/hot-lunch-program, to be re-directed to our webpage to find the ordering procedures. Remember to place your order no later than the 28 th of each month!
 
Parents of 6-8 grade students should have received an electronic communication from me detailing the upcoming presentation on the Gift of Human Sexuality . In accordance with diocesan policy, this program is designed as an opt-in opportunity for parents and students. We recognize parents as the primary educators of children and we are privileged to work with you. With that idea, I invite parents of students in grades 6-8 to a presentation for parents to be held on Thursday March 14th at 7:00 p.m. in Hall A for you to receive the information that will be presented to the students in class.
 
As always, if you have any questions, please let me know.
 
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Coffee with the Principal
Please join us on Friday,  March 1st at 8:30am  for coffee with the principal! Mrs. Rutledge, Father Tom, and Mrs. Farrell, our school counselor, will be joining us!  Our goal is to have productive sharing sessions that address some of the concerns that affect school climate.

Mrs. Farrell will facilitate conversations that focus on such topics as bullying, conflict, girl drama, stress and anxiety, among others. Topic includes   Bullying and Conflict---What’s the Difference?  Sharing session will take place in the upstairs meeting rooms above the front office.
Saints Cheerleading
Congratulations to the Saints cheerleaders who participated in the Bishop Ireton High School Annual Winter Blast Cheerleading Competition! They competed against 7 other diocesan middle schools and brought home a trophy! We are so proud of their positive attitude, grace, and hard work! Special "thanks" to Miss Denneny for her commitment and support of these awesome girls!
Intent to Return
Please remember to return the Intent to Return forms for the 2019-2020 school year to the Finance Office by Friday, February 15th! They can be mailed, brought to the school office or emailed to dmillon@sjcherndon.org .
Tuition Assistance
The deadline to apply for tuition assistance for the
2019-2020 school year is
March 15, 2019. All applications are made through our FACTS Management online account. To apply, please go to  https://online.factsmgt.com/signin.aspx .

If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Westhues at twesthues@sjcherndon.org .  
Science Fair - Judges Needed
We need YOU!

Please consider volunteering for this awesome event! No science experience is needed - just parents willing to help! You will be amazed at the projects our students create!

February 21, 2019, 6-8pm

Please click on the following link to sign up on our 
Science Fair Judges Registration page. 

One More Volunteer Needed!
We need one volunteer for Club Picture Day, held in SJS Parish Hall on Wednesday, February 20. 12:15-2:15pm

Please contact Lisa Pearce - l.pearce@sjschoolva.org
if you are able to help!
Thank you!  
Annual Dinner and Auction - April 6
Yearbook Photos - Submit by March 1!
Get your pictures in the yearbook! You are invited to submit photos for the yearbook. If you've got great photos of school and community events, we'd like to see them. Help us get as many photos as possible to create a terrific book everyone will want to have.

Here is how you can submit photos online:
  • If it does not automatically log you into the site, enter username: 412373674
  • Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload.
  • Enter information about the photo and provide contact information in case the staff needs additional information. Please include class or grade
  • Click "Upload Chosen Images".

It's that easy! Submit your photos today! The last day to submit photos is 03/01/2019.

Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the school year!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Hatley and Staff

The Yearbook Staff will review all photos and determine final yearbook content. We cannot guarantee that all submissions can be used in the book.
Volunteer Opportunities
Please consider giving the gift of your time to help out in the library! See SignUp Genius link below for more information! Sign up times and dates will be sent out monthly starting in January.
Thank you for your support!



Want to volunteer? Help make lunch and recess fun and safe for our children. Click the link below to learn more and sign up.


Alumni News
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The Youth Apostle Institute awarded Bridget Lisk (Class of 2017) third place, out of 531 entries, in it’s 20th annual pro-life poster contest! The theme was "Pro-life Is a Way of Life. ” Way to go Bridget! Thank you for your creativity and artistic talent in showing your appreciation of pro-life values.
Bridget is currently in 10th grade and attending
St. Paul VI High School.

Go, Saints! Go, Panthers!

We love to hear from our alumni!
Share the word and share your story!

Visit the  Alumni page   to stay connected! Go, Saints!
Youth Ministry
Morning Prayers
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Each week the SJS News crew have helpers lead the school in morning prayers. Parents are welcome to watch the morning news show after carpool on days that their child is our prayerful leader. Siblings say prayers together on their designated day. The following are students for the upcoming weeks:

February 18: No School
February 19: Bredehoft A and E
February 20: Breen P
February 21: Breland R
February 22: Brennan E

February 25: Brenner H and A
February 26: Bride B
February 27: Brinson A
February 28: Broussard L
March 1: Brown W
Stay Connected - Twitter and Facebook
Don't forget to follow SJS
on Twitter and Facebook!
A lot is happening at SJS and you don't want to miss out!

Twitter: @sjschoolva
Facebook: sjschoolva
Upcoming Events
February
February 20 - SJS Club Pictures
February 20 - Morning Rehearsal for Advanced Band
February 20 - Band Practice - Beginner and Advanced
February 21 - Science Fair
February 22 - Mass
February 22 - Science Fair
February 22 - 5th grade STREAM Lab
February 26 - SJS Team Sport Pictures taken
February 27 - Morning Rehearsal for Advanced Band
February 27 - Band Practice - Beginner and Advanced

March
March 1 - Coffee with the Principal
March 1 - Mass
March 2 - Read Across America Day
March 6 - Morning Rehearsal for Advanced Band
March 6 - Band Practice - Beginner and Advanced
March 6 - Mass Ash Wednesday
March 8 - End of Trimester 2
March 8 - 11:30am Dismissal (Teacher Workday)
March 11 - No School
March 12 - 8th Grade Love Mass
March 12 - 8th Grade Breakfast
March 13 - Morning Rehearsal for Advanced Band
March 13 - Band Practice - Beginner and Advanced
March 15 - Report cards issued
March 15 - Stations of the Cross
March 15 - 8th Grade Confirmation Rehearsals
March 15 - Mass
March 16 - 8th Grade Confirmation
March 19 - Mass - St. Joseph Feast Day
March 20 - Morning Rehearsal for Advanced Band
March 20 - Band Practice - Beginner and Advanced
March 22 - Kindergarten Noah's Ark Program
March 22 - Stations of the Cross
Weekly Saints Quote
750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Tel: 703-880-4350 Fax: 703-880-4320