Dear Parents-
This week we celebrate the feasts of St. Monica (Aug. 27) and St. Augustine (Aug.28), mother and son. We look particularly to St. Monica for understanding the importance of persistence as well as the importance of prayer in our daily lives, as she spent 17 years in prayer for the conversion of her son. St. Augustine, the benefactor of his mother’s prayers, is regarded as one of the greatest saints. After his conversion he devoted his life to serving those in poverty, and is said to have lamented to God,
"Too late have I loved You!" That might be the saddest lesson of all!
The
2019-2020 school year
is up and running, and it is so exciting to see all the students! Thank you to all who were able to attend the Meet and Greet last Sunday morning. We have such a welcoming community and it’s really great to be together again. We have some wonderful new faculty members and I know they are excited for the start of the year.
I am happy to announce that
Mr. William Burford
has joined the faculty as our jr. high math teacher.
Mr. Burford is a former software developer, now working on his teacher certification in Math. During the past two years, Mr. Burford has taught Math 8, Algebra 1, Geometry, Honors Geometry, Geometry ESOL, and Algebra 2, in long-term sub capacities for Fairfax County Public Schools, specifically Westfields High School and Langston Hughes Middle School. Please keep Mr. Burford in your prayers as he takes on his new ministry.
I want to
thank everyone
for your cooperation with the drop-off process. Please continue to follow the drop-off and pick-up procedures currently in place. As we evaluate need, we will adjust as circumstances dictate. Last year, we made several adjustments at the start of the school year, and once everyone got the hang of the process, carpool was over long before the start of the school day. As happens every year in every school, we have many new families, and it takes a day or two to acclimate, so patience and flexibility are definitely needed!
We have made some
safety modifications
with respect to the fire/evacuation drill so that we can better account for all students and adults in the building, including visitors. Additionally, we purchased magnetic strips for each classroom door frame so that the doors can remain locked throughout the day, the strips prevent the locks from catching, so that students can move freely throughout the day, but in the event of a situation, the strips are quickly removed allowing doors to lock. Safety is a primary concern, we continue to make enhancements and we will update you as appropriate.
Don't forget that you can
order lunch
for your children through our school lunch program, in conjunction with Fairfax Food Service.
Use this link to access updated directions
from Fairfax Food Service. Remember to place your order no later than the 28th of each month! (Yikes, that’s tomorrow!!)
There is a new look to Back to School Night! This year
grades 2-6 will have Back to School Night
on Wednesday, August 28
. Doors will open at 6:30 for refreshments and volunteer sign up.
Click here to find the timeline
for that Back to School evening.
Grades 7 and 8 will have Back to School Night on Thursday, August 29.
Doors open at 6:30 and sign ups will be in the cafeteria, Hall C. Parents will rotate through their student’s class schedule and live the Jr. High experience! I will look for feedback from everyone affected by the new format, as we try to make Back to School night easier for parents to visit in many classrooms.
We will conduct a
test of our School Messenger emergency broadcast system
on Thursday, Aug. 29. We will use the contact information available to us on PowerSchool. For this reason, it is very important that you log onto the PowerSchool Parent Portal to update your emergency information. After the test, please
notify Hayleigh Roldan
at h.roldan@sjschoolva.org if there were any problems with the test, or if you did not receive the test communication.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions.
Welcome one another....as Christ welcomed you!
(Rom 15:7)
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God
|
|
- School day starts at 8:00am
- Drop off begins at 7:45am (Doors are unlocked and carpool begins)
**Cars that arrive earlier than 7:45am should follow the Early Arrival procedures found on the
Carpool Procedures page.
|
|
|
Apple Watch - Please Read
|
|
We are reaching out to ask for your support in
not allowing your child to wear an Apple Watch
to school. According to Apple, Inc., with an Apple Watch you can talk to other compatible Watch users with the Walkie-Talkie app, make and receive phone calls and texts, use Siri and stream from Apple Music and Apple Podcasts
.
Students are not permitted to access phones and computers during the day without adult supervision, and an Apple Watch circumvents this policy.
|
|
We are so excited to see you for Back to School Night!
Wednesday, August 28: 2nd through 6th Grades
7:00pm in Parish Hall A
Doors will open at 6:30pm for opportunities to sign up for various activities and sports
Thursday, August 29: 7th and 8th Grades
7:00pm in classrooms
Doors will open at 6:30pm for opportunities to sign up for various
activities and sports in Parish Hall C
This is an opportunity to meet your child’s teacher(s), to visit the classrooms, and to connect with friends. Kindly reach out to our new families and welcome them as they begin their journey with us. We appreciate your support and we look
forward to seeing you there!
|
|
 |
Friday, August 30 is an 11:30am dismissal!
|
|
|
|
No school
, Monday,
September 2
|
|
|
|
The Class of 2020 will be selling SJS Spirit Wear at:
2nd-8th grade Back To School Night!
Show your school spirit and help support the Class of 2020 in fundraising
for their graduation activities.
ONLINE STORE IS NOW OPEN!!
|
|
Become a Class Coordinator
|
|
Please consider volunteering to become your child's Classroom Coordinator! Classroom Coordinators are an integral part in making the teacher's year run smoothly! .
|
|
St. Joseph Catholic School Extended Day program is looking to hire responsible, understanding, nurturing, and caring individuals to join our wonderful team.
Positions are part-time, Monday through Friday, 6:45 am to 8:00 am and/or 3pm to 6pm with an occasional 11:30am-6:00 pm on scheduled early dismissals.
Please contact Nancy Lisk at n.lisk@sjschoolva.org
further information.
|
|
Monday, August 26:
NO morning and
NO afternoon Extended Day
Tuesday, August 27: Extended Day is available both morning and afternoon
Wednesday, August 28:
Extended Day is available both morning and afternoon
Thursday, August 29
: Extended Day is available both morning and afternoon
Friday, August 30
: Morning care is available -
NO afternoon
Extended Day
Questions? Email extended_day@sjschoolva.org
|
|
Show your St. Joseph Catholic School pride with a car magnet!
Magnets were given out in morning carpool yesterday to each family.
If you didn't get one, stop by the office!
Have a second car or need a second magnet?
Magnets can be purchased from the office for $5!
Come and get them - while supplies last!
|
|
Book Fair - Save the Date
|
|
Want to get involved? We need YOU!
We are looking for volunteers during student lunch time!
Please consider donating the gift of your time!
It is required that all volunteers have completed the
Child Protection Certification program.
|
|
Are you looking for a part-time, paid position at St. Joseph Catholic School? We have openings for
lunch monitors during the school lunch period, Monday-Friday. It is a great opportunity to meet the students and work with your fellow parents. The shift is only two hours so you will have plenty of time left in your busy day! You can also work as many or as few days per week, depending on your availability.
Please note that you must be compliant in the Arlington Diocese Child Protection Program, or in the process of becoming compliant.
Monday- Friday
11:30a-1:30p
If you would like to inquire about this position, please contact:
Laura Stump
Kitchen & Event Manager
571-512-0551
lstump@sjcherndon.org
|
|
|
|
August 29: Fentress, B., A.
August 30: Fierro, S
September 2: NO SCHOOL
September 3: Fiorito, G.
September 4: Fischer, A.
September 5: Fitzpatrick, E., M., D.
September 6: Flusche, 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
|
|
|
August
August 27: Full Day of School (8:00am - 3:15pm) (AM and PM Extended Day open)
August 28: Early Dismissal (11:30am) (AM and PM Extended Day open)
August 28: Back to School Night Grades 2-6
August 29: Full Day of School (8:00am-3:15pm) (AM and PM Extended Day open)
August 29: Back to School Night Grades 7 and 8
August 30: Early Dismissal (11:30am) (AM Extended Day open - NO AFTERNOON EXTENDED DAY)
August 30: Mass
September
September 2: NO SCHOOL
September 6: Mass
September 7: St. Joseph Catholic Church BBQ
September 9: Scantron Week
September 11: Band Parent Meeting and Sign Up
September 13: Mass
September 13: 11:30am Dismissal
September 16: Scantron Week
September 20: Mass
September 23: Scantron Week
September 27: Mass
September 27: 11:30am Dismissal
|
|
750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Tel: 703-880-4350 Fax: 703-880-4320
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
