Dear Saint families,
As we enter our third week of distance learning, we are in full swing! I am so proud of how well our students and families are adjusting to this big change. We have implemented our streamlined lesson plan format, so it is easy to understand and follow in your homeschool environment.
I want to say a big THANK YOU for your support with packet pick-up and distribution this past Friday and also with logging in attendance. Everyone is doing a great job checking-in daily and this allows us to track information as accurately as possible in one central location.
Our saint community as a whole is truly doing amazing things! I am seeing and hearing students praying, singing, participating in Art and Spanish, fantastic teacher videos, at home work spaces organized, and students working hard to continue their learning! Thank you for the love you are sharing! We are planning on providing some “saint spirit” virtual opportunities so our families and students still feel connected as we continue with distance learning, so stay tuned!
I want to share some updates regarding this 4th quarter of the school year:
Following guidance from the TEA and the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, StJPII has cancelled our standardized testing due to our current situation. We will still provide teaching and learning of key objectives within our curriculum.
Our main focus is to provide continual learning and student progress as best we can through this new format. It will be a challenge for us all; however, we will monitor and track student progress through feedback gathered from assignments, level of engagement, and completion of work.
All grades earned will reflect student progress. For grades 1 through 8, we will not weigh the grades with different percentages for classwork, homework, or major; we will only average all grades to indicate cumulative progress and understanding of content. For PreK and Kindergarten, we will continue to use developmental indicators to assess progress based on effort and completion of work.
Currently, we are hopeful that we will be able to open our doors on May 4th. You may know that May is a month filled with many activities and events to celebrate our students. While we are not making final decisions for graduation at this time, some events that we have chosen to cancel or postpone until we can be together again as a whole saint community include: Crawfish Boil, First Communion celebration, Mother/Son Bowling, 7th/8th Grade Leadership Ceremony, and Fun in The Sun.
Certainly our saints are missing each other! We are striving to provide as much as we can virtually in order to stay connected! Thank you for your continued support, your prayers, and patience through this time. Again, I am reminded of a beautiful bible scripture from Isaiah 43:1-3 of our motto “Be not afraid…”
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Distance Learning Plan
Lesson Plans Uniform Template
: These plans will be sent each Sunday for the week ahead, so that parents are able to see a week in advance, which will begin for the week of April 6th. All lesson plans will be sent by email for Elementary & via parent portal for Middle School.
Daily Attendance Requirement: It is required for our school to account for the students’ daily attendance. See “how-to” video below for more information.
Teacher Office Hours
: Each teacher shared specific office hours when they would be available. (Teachers are still able to answer questions outside those hours.)
Contact list, should you need further support:
Course, assignment, resource: Grade level teacher
Social/Emotional concerns: Elementary Counselor, Jennifer Quinlan
jquinlan@jp2.org
Middle School Counselor, Betty Costantini
bcostantini@jp2.org
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Required: Logging Your Attendance
It is required for our school to account for the students’ daily attendance. We have created a form that will be emailed to parents and used for all families to submit. While we understand this is another task, it is simple and will be consistent for all grade levels.
We have worked hard to make this as simple as possible for families with multiple children.
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StJPII Coronavirus Resources (COVID-19)
StJPII will continue to update all parents regarding Coronavirus and how it impacts our school community. Please make sure you check your emails regularly and visit the StJPII Coronavirus webpages below. These webpages will house all communications and resources from StJPII, Catholic Schools Office as well as Federal, State and Local government entities.
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Virtual "Christ's Love is the Key"
As you know, our school theme this year is "Christ's Love is the Key". When we were together as a student body, we took this idea to heart, and learned about ways that we can show Christ's love to others. We have an oversized key that visited many homerooms that provided a daily reminder about the importance of showing Christ's love through compassion, courage, service and faith - which also happen to be the cornerstone virtues of our House System. The good news is, even though we are at home, there are still many opportunities to show Christ's love for each other! Many of our students and families are doing amazing things within their homes and to serve others. Help us grow our "virtual bulletin board" by adding more hearts to our wall so you can be an inspiration to our community. Please submit how you are sharing Christ's love to:
communications@jp2.org.
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Tuition for 2020-2021
Please note that in acknowledging all the changes our families are experiencing, tuition for the 2020-21 school year will be due May 1, 2020, however no late fees will be applied until after May 31st.
Families interested in applying for a tuition loan for the 2020-2021 school year through Allegiance Bank may do so online using the bank's standard loan application form. Please remember to start this process at least three weeks before the due date, and note that the bank will need an authorization form and a tuition invoice from our Business Office to process your application. To obtain these, you may email your request to the Business Manager at
businessoffice@jp2.org. Please note at this time, the lobby at Allegiance Bank is closed. You must use the drive-through to submit your paperwork, or you may leave your documents in the night drop box after business hours. For more information, visit:
https://jp2.org/tuition-loans
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Summer Enrichment Program
Children 3 years old through 8th grade are invited to the StJPII Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), June 1-19 from 9:30-2:30, where we emphasize hands-on exploration in a fun, stimulating and supportive environment. The program
features small class sizes and is taught by highly-qualified teachers. (Before and after care is available too.)
While we are continuing to offer our summer program at this time, we are making a few changes to due dates and payment. Registrations will be accepted through May 8th. The early registration fee will also be offered through May 8th. Please hold payments until further notice. Send your registration forms directly to
Mrs. McCurry's email. Once we are back at school Mrs. McCurry will reach out to all registrants. If the dates or how we will offer our summer program changes we will contact you as soon as possible.
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Greetings,
I hope this email finds you and your family well. Over the last week, our team has cleaned out the refrigerators to assure no food spoilage. While we pray that this pandemic will allow us to return sometime in the near future, please email
StJPII's Communications office if there is a need during this shutdown including a food shortage for anyone or any entity in the StJPII community. Hopefully we all can make the best of the situation and spend quality time with our families.
Blessings,
Frank J. Ricupati
President
ECI Management Group
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Class of 2020- High School Acceptances
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StJPII's Celebrating Class of 2020 Virtually
It's hard to imagine, but regardless of what happens with the corona virus situation, in two short months you will be high school students! I know - so hard to believe!
We're all anxious to hear about your plans for the future. It keeps us looking forward and solidifies in our minds and heart that our current situation is not forever.
Please send us a picture of yourself holding a sign, wearing a t-shirt, or somehow identifying where you're going to high school. The development office wants to celebrate you and highlight all of your futures on the school social media pages.
We can't wait to see what you've decided!
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Parents and Students in "Mini-Art Club" (3rd & 4th grades) and "Art Club" (5th & middle school)
I hope you all are healthy and doing well during this most challenging time. With the current issues at hand, we have missed our club meetings with the required school closure. Please know that we will pick up where we left off with the two projects in "both clubs" as soon as we return to school. We will make up all missed classes and our parties on our usual days and times. If for future reasons this becomes impossible, then I will communicate with you regarding. In that case I would keep all projects in the art room and will honor all club members as we begin fall. We would meet on the same days and times right after Labor Day once clubs are allowed to begin. All missed classes would be made-up along with our parties so all projects may be completed as planned. The Fall Art Clubs would begin after this with separate enrollment as usual and information regarding in August. We will have to take this day by day for now and I will stay in touch via the "Art Corner" with any updates. Sincerely, Mrs. Stieber
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Attention Elementary "Go Texan Winners" and Parents
Mrs. Stieber will keep all of your artwork until we return to school as per Mrs. Bogard. I know many Elementary parents picked-up packets on Friday however Mrs. Bogard wanted core classes to be the focus. I have your artworks save and covered on the art shelves.
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Dear Parents,
As we continue our days of quarantine, social distance learning, and general uncertainty with when we will be able to get back to a sense of normal - we are all feeling a certain amount of stress. Our children pick up on this and they have their own stresses to manage as well. Attached is an article we found may be helpful to parents addressing how to recognize stress at different developmental ages and how to support your child if they are feeling stressed. As always, you can reach out to your child's counselor via email and we can always schedule a time to talk, if needed. References are also available for those who are interested in 1:1 outside counseling.
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-topics/ug1832
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Last week StJPII's Middle School Counselor attended a webinar called QuaranTEENS. The speaker addressed some of the struggles parents are facing for parents and young people with the quarantine. Please check out the attached notes that list some struggles and some specific solutions for addressing them.
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Story time with Principal Bogard
Join Mrs. Bogard in Story time as she reads
Easter as we continue our Lenten journey during Holy Week and the celebration of Easter on Sunday.
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Be not afraid...to Showcase your Saints
We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to send us pictures or videos of your saints in action at home! Studying, playing their instruments, praying, helping around the house - whatever you think might brighten someone's day! Your submission may be included on the school's social media. If you do not follow the school's social media accounts, please click on the links below.
In keeping with our daily routine, you can start your day by saying the Saint Family Prayer. It is listed below. We would also like to feature our students praying the Angelus each day at noon - so send us those videos too! All submissions can be sent to:
communications@jp2.org.
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6th Annual Crawfish Boil- Cancelled
Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets to
the 6th annual Saints at Sunset Crawfish Boil. At this time we have decided to cancel the crawfish boil. For our families and community supporters who have purchased tickets we ask that you graciously consider donating your ticket sales to StJPII. If you are a sponsor and would like to carry over your sponsorship to another event please let us know. If at this time, you want a refund for your tickets/sponsorships, please email our Communications and Events Officer Kaela Lewis at
Communications@jp2.org
to begin processing your refund.
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Birthday Club
Please join us and wishing our Saints a very Happy Birthday 🎁🎂🎉🎉💙🥳! Saints family, please enjoy our virtual marquee to wish our students a very Happy Birthday while we are participating in
#distancelearning
.
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Box Tops- Online Shopping
To earn for StJPII make sure you have a Box Tops for Education account (you can create one via the Box Tops app or website). Forward your email receipt to
receipts@boxtops4education.com using the email that's associated with your Box Tops for Education account.
The following email receipts are currently eligible- H-E-B, Instacart, Jet.com, SamsClub.com, Sam's Club Scan & Go, Shipt, Target.com, Target Pick-Up/Drive-Up, Walmart Grocery, Walmart Pay and Walmart.com
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Ambassador Families- Sign up link now live!
A wonderful tradition we have at StJPII is our Ambassador Family program, welcoming new students and their families into our Saints community. Every incoming family is assigned an “Ambassador Family” to help guide them during their first year at StJPII. Volunteers are needed from all grades, and we need LOTS of volunteers in order to find a match for each of our new families.
Families with PreK and K students will comprise more than 60% of our volunteer needs!
Families with elementary students in grades 1-5 comprise almost 30% of our volunteer needs!
Families with middle school students in grades 6-8 comprise more than 10% of our volunteer needs! If you are willing to assist, please sign up -- we need you! Go to the button below for more information and to sign up today!
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Elementary and Middle School
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In regards to WHCSA Elementary spring sports the league has officially decided that we will not have any spring sports at all. StJPII would like to offer 2 options to our families, the first would be if you would like to donate your registration fee to Athletics, and the 2nd would be if you would like me to refund the fee on Acceptiva. I would ask if you would like to receive a refund to please email me at
mhewitt@jp2.org
and I kindly ask for your patience and support as this will take a bit of time to complete! If you would like to donate your registration fee I will send an acknowledgement via email after I complete the refunding process. Lastly, I would like to thank each and every one of you for your dedication, passion, and generosity of time and money to make all of our WHCSA sports programs such a huge success, I pray we never have to go through something like this again.
In regards to GHCAA Middle School spring sports we still have not received any confirmation from the CSO that we will or will not continue athletic events based on a tentative return date of May 4th. I again ask for your patience and pray we can have some form of closure to our various sports. I am thankful that we got through half of the season!
Please continue to read SW for updates!
Check out a video message from the PE Team below.
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With the kids home all day, now might be a good time to take a tip from the best teachers.
I have been working with teachers for over 65 years. I've learned from them, I've supervised them, I've observed them as a consultant, and I've noticed that they all have one thing in common.
What is that? It's routines.
The best run classrooms depend on routines. These teachers start the year establishing routines that include how we greet each other in the morning, where we put our stuff, how we move from one place to the other, how we take out our books and materials, how we put them away and clean up, how we line up, how we ask questions, etc. They lock these routines in with practice.
These teachers know that the more routines the class has, the fewer discipline problems they will have to deal with. Kids feel safer, calmer and are more focused, and as a result there is more time spent on learning and less time spent dealing with problems.
Do yourself a favor during these trying times. Establish and maintain routines for the home. Set time schedules regarding getting up, dressing, eating, learning time, snack time, TV and screen time, chores, fun, play, and exercise. And, of course, bedtime. Be sure to include age-appropriate breaks from online learning and plenty of family relaxing. These are tough times.
You'll be surprised. Your kids can handle this. They will thrive on it. Many parents discover that they tend to expect much less of kids than what they can really handle. But, expect that they may rebel for a short time. That will go away if you consistently hold them to the routines and schedules.
It's important to remember that this works best when we involve the kids in setting these schedules. Sit with them, plan it out, and negotiate this together.
This usually fails and households become war zones when the parents simply announce, "There are going to be some new rules around here." I know it's tempting, but don't fall into that trap.
It's very possible that you may all look back on these times as something that tightened the love and bonding in your family.
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Prayer Requests
Our community is a united family of believers and we want to pray for you, your family, and friends during this difficult time. Please keep the following people in your prayers:
- Ron Abraham
- Geri Atwood
- Keshia Barnett
- Charles V. Cusimano
- Vic Hughes
- Phillip Langer
- Shirley Levy
- Mary Pat Phillips
- Anne Pierce
- Denise Richards
- Bobby Scelfo
- Terri Wyker
Though we cannot be together physically, our faith binds us together in Christ. If you would like to add a name to this list, visit
jp2.org/pray
. Please list anyone for whom we can pray. These intentions will be listed in
Saints Weekly
until school resumes. For questions or to remove someone from the list, please contact
jcook@jp2.org
.
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To view events related to StJPII, please click on the school calendars below.
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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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