Dear Parents-
Tomorrow is
Ash Wednesday
,
and although not a holy day of obligation, please feel welcome to join us at the school Mass tomorrow morning at 9:30. The reception of ashes is a symbol of how very sorry we are for our sins, and how we hope to share in the life of Christ. The ashes are also a public expression of our love for our faith.
The holy season of Lent is a good time to reflect, and discern what is important in our lives, and eliminate what we have allowed to become part of our lives that is simply noise and distractions. Let go of grudges, don’t waste time and energy on things that don’t matter. Focus on the children and help them become faith-filled followers of Christ. ”
Repent and believe in the Gospel
.”
During Lent, please also consider joining us for
Stations of the Cross
on Wednesday afternoons, starting March 4. Meditating on the Stations of the Cross helps us to appreciate the magnitude of Christ’s love for each of us, and reflect on whether we are living the life Christ wants for us. Stations are led by students from SCA and NJHS. Each time I hear these students speak, I am amazed at their poise and confidence, which reflects not only on their dedicated teachers, but also on their loving families.
In keeping with our commitment to our F.A.M.I.L.Y initiative, our
Spirit and Service Tuesday
last week was a huge success. I
n connection with Kindness Week, our students spread kindness to all by working together to create hearts and sharing a special message of kindness for each student. Additionally, we partnered with St. Lucy Project and answered the call to provide jelly to help restock the warehouse. Through the kindness of our families, SJS donated over 450 pounds of jelly! The St. Lucy Project extends its deepest gratitude.
The
Read Aloud Challenge
is in its final week. Families were challenged to read aloud for at least 10 minutes a day for 20 straight days. How are you doing?? Reading aloud is proven to build family bonds, increase emotional awareness, strengthen vocabulary, reading stamina, oral fluency, visual imagery and comprehension. Read together today!!
By contrast, the internet is making us “stupid, distracted, socially disconnected and impatient.” (See
https://daily.jstor.org/whats-bad-instant-gratification/
) Please consider giving up instant gratification for Lent...there is an enormous benefit in helping children learn to control themselves in situations where self-control would be appropriate. Spontaneity can be a wonderful character trait, but there are times when “holding it together” is the difference between success and failure. (Ask the Washington Nationals about “holding it together” in Game 7!)
And speaking of holding it together for success...Congratulations to Miss Denneny and all the girls on the SJS Cheer Squad. Through hard work, dedicated practice and self-control, the Squad won first place at their cheer competition over the weekend,
Number ONE
, out of 7 elementary/middle schools in the diocese. We are so very proud of all of you!
From the “In Case You Aren’t Aware” department, the
FREE TUITION RAFFLE is LIVE!!!
Enter our Tuition Raffle to win a year of free tuition for a returning student. The winner will be announced at the end of the live auction on April 25, however you do not need to be present to win.
Purchase Tuition Raffle Tickets Here
!
Reminder that Friday, February 28 is a DFE half-day. And as has been the plan,
if
the weather is inclement, and FCPS announces a two-hour delay for their students,
St. Joseph Catholic School will close for students.
Please make sure that you access official SJS announcements if there is a weather event affecting February 28. Official announcements are delivered by phone, email, text, App, official Facebook, Twitter and SJS website.
With the mild winter, we will be looking to make some adjustments to the end of year calendar. Stay tuned as we wait out the last few weeks until spring.
Remember to place your March
lunch orders
for your children through our school lunch program, in conjunction with Fairfax Food Service.
Use this link
, to be redirected to our webpage to find the ordering procedures. Remember to place your order no later than February 28!
As always, if you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please let me know.
Welcome one another....as Christ welcomed you!
(Rom 15:7)
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God
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Friday, February 28 is an
11:30am dismissal.
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Spring Fling Dinner & Auction
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Friends & Family Raffle Tickets
at Masses Sign Up
We will have a Spring Fling table outside of Mass during the weekend of
February 29/March 1
to sell Friends & Family Cash Drawing Raffle Tickets to our St. Joseph Parishioners to raise money for Spring Fling. Our church family loves seeing our students, so please have your student come dressed in their formal school uniform. We are looking for student volunteers with smiling faces willing to talk with our parishioners! Sign up to come early or stay after you usually attend Mass.
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SJS Tuition Raffle
Want to win a year of Free Tuition to St. Joseph Catholic School?? Enter our Tuition Raffle!! Purchase tickets to win a year of free tuition for a returning student. Tickets will be sold up until the start of the live auction at Spring Fling. Winner will be announced at the end of the live auction and does not need to be present to win.
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Congratulations to our SJS Cheerleading team on their 1st Place win at Bishop Ireton High School's Winter Blast cheer competition! They took home the 1st Place trophy having competed against 6 other elementary/middle schools in the diocese!
Congrats to the team and Miss Denneny on this well deserved trophy! We are so proud of you! Go Saints!
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Come and run a mile or two,
Develop friendships old and new,
Set some goals and see them through,
We'll work hard and have fun too!
St. Joseph Track & Field Spring 2020 season will begin on Sat, Mar 14
th
. We hope that you will enroll your young athletes for the Spring 2020 season and join our practices and meets as your schedules allow.
Who can participate?
Track & Field training is available for all St. Joseph 2
nd
-8
th
grade parishioners (SJS, CCD or home school). [
NOTE: 2
nd
graders are eligible to practice with the team; but, the Arlington Diocese Spring Track & Field meet is only available to 3
rd
through 8
th
graders.
]
How much does it cost?
: $30 for an individual or $50 max per family covers practice and meet fees
NOTE: Families with athletes who choose to compete in the Arlington Diocese Meet will also be asked to volunteer some time to help monitor and manage events.
Why should we join?
- Be part of our team! As a combination of individual and team events, the Track & Field and Cross Country program offers an opportunity for each person to be part of a group that encourages each other to improve in running, jumping, and throwing. Individual events are offered across several age groups and levels of skill and motivation. The more each athlete wants to train, the faster he or she will improve his/her abilities. Several members join to train to compete in the meet while others join for the great cross-training this offers for other sports. We can all improve individually and as a team!
- Flexible schedules: Teammates and families are encouraged to join as many practices and meets as family schedules can accommodate; but, there are no minimum time commitments. You are also welcome to try out a practice before enrolling.
- Low-cost family fun: $30 per individual or $50 per family provides access to multiple practices/meets per week Aug 26 to Nov 3rd… Parents are also encouraged to join in the running, jumping and throwing with (or helping manage event training, keep scores, ) our student athletes to join us for our practices and meets.
Thank you from your SJS Track & Field Coaching team!
Mike Culligan
Lisa Anderson
Christine LeCloux
Kelly Hartley
Erik Larsen
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February is Kindness Month
The Ambassadors of Peace (AOP), a group of 7th and 8th grade students who lead,
encourage, and promote a positive and caring environment for all students at SJS have designated the month of February as
Kindness Month.
Throughout the month the AOP will be encouraging students to think of others and perform acts of kindness. Next week we will celebrate National Kindness Week and each day an AOP member will be on the news encouraging kindness at home, in the classroom, at recess and lunch, and in the community. We will also be revisiting
The Kindness
Pledge
students took in the fall. Students have the opportunity to record acts of kindness by filling out forms in his/her homeroom. Let us all do our part and continue to spread kindness!
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Golf Program - Grades 4-8
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St. Joseph Catholic School Golf Program
Spring Session for 4
th
-8
th
Graders!
The golf program is back! Starting in mid-March, the second iteration of the golf program will be held for interested 4
th-8
th grade St. Joseph Catholic School students and St. Joseph CCD participants. This program will be held at Herndon Centennial golf course again and will be held once a week through the end of April. The program will be taught by a combination of parent volunteers and golf course staff. Please see below for additional details:
When: Start in mid-March and will run for roughly 6 weeks through the end of April, to be held one night a week (most likely Monday evenings, but could be on Tuesdays as well if a large number of participants sign up). Start time will be around 5:30pm (may vary some early in season due to daylight).
What: Will include basic instruction and practice for the Spring session, including time on the driving range and chipping/putting green, with some play on the course occurring throughout.
Who: Fourth-Eighth grade St. Joseph Catholic School students and St. Joseph Parish CCD participants.
Equipment/Attire: Does your child have clubs already? Great, please bring them. Don’t have golf clubs? No worries, there are additional sets of junior golf clubs that can be used at the course. Sneakers are suitable (golf shoes not required), and dress will be a golf shirt (or similar) and golf shorts (or golf pants when the weather is colder).
Cost: Anticipated costs are ~$50 per child. This will be finalized based on the number of participants.
Please register by Friday, February 28
th
so that we can finalize numbers and plans with the golf course to get us started in mid-March. To register, or for more information or questions, please contact Joel Woodson at
joel_woodson@yahoo.com and Tammy McGowan at
tammy@themcgowans.com.
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Order your SJS 2020 yearbook today! Price for the yearbook is $22 and can be ordered online or via cash or check. To order online, click
HERE
. Enter your school name: Saint Joseph Catholic School. The order forms have gone home with the students.
Make sure to order before March 20, 2020!
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March Madness Referees Needed
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Parent Volunteer Referees Needed for 5th - 8th Grade
In-school Basketball Tournament
March Madness on Peachtree Street!
The dates are:
Starting 2/27 until 4/10. Then the final.
Time Slots slots are:
7th grade - Thursdays - 11:15 - 12:05 , 1:35 - 2:25
8th grade - Thursdays - 12:51 - 1:36 , 2:23 - 3:08
5
th grade - Fridays - 12:51 - 2:22
6th Grade - Fridays - 10:30 - 11:20 , 2:23 - 3:08
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The Yearbook Staff needs your help! If you have any candid pictures from school parties, field trips, community or other events, please send them to your Class Coordinator for submission. Please note, picture inclusion will be at the discretion of the yearbook staff. Thank you!
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Library Helpers!
Consider volunteering your time to help in the library!
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Volunteers are needed to help in the cafeteria and during recess! Get in on the action! Please remember that all volunteers must have completed the Child Protection program. If you have any questions about volunteering for recess/lunch, please contact Laura Stump at
lstump@sjcherndon.org
.
We appreciate your help!
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February 24: Masten, K. and P.
February 25: McFarlane, C. and L.
February 26: McGill, J.
February 27: McGowan, C.
February 28: McGowan, G. and D.
March 2: McGuinn, J. and B.
March 3: McLaughlin, S.
March 4: McMahon, R.
March 5: Mejia, A.
March 6: Merkel, T., A., and A.
Prayer leaders are to report to the library no later than 7:50 AM in order to appear on the morning news show. Parents are welcome to watch the live show.
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February
February 26: Mass
February 26: Ash Wednesday
February 28: 11:30am Dismissal
March
March 2: Read Across America
March 4: Stations of the Cross
March 6: Coffee with the Principal
March 6: Mass
March 11: Stations of the Cross
March 13: 11:30am Dismissal
March 13: Mass
March 13: End of 2nd Trimester
March 16: NO SCHOOL
March 17: Spirit and Service
March 18: Stations of the Cross
March 19: 11:30am Dismissal
March 19: Mass - Feast of St. Joseph
March 20: Report Cards Issued
March 24: 8th Grade Confirmation Breakfast
March 24: 8th Grade Love Mass
March 25: 8th Grade Confessions
March 25: Stations of the Cross
March 27: Mass
March 27: Confirmation Rehearsal
March 28: Confirmation
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Stay Connected - Twitter and Facebook
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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
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750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Tel: 703-880-4350 Fax: 703-880-4320
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