Thursday, January 10, 2020
|
|
Friday, January 10th - Grades 3 & 4 Visit to Our Lady of the Angels
Friday, January 10th - Out-of-Uniform Day, Sweatshirts
Monday, January 13th - Yearbook Activity Pictures
Wednesday, January 15th - Gaia Salon Night
Tuesday, January 21st - First Reconciliation and Communion Parent Meeting, 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 23rd - 11:00 Dismissal, Parent/ Teacher/Student Conferences
Thursday, January 23rd - Cousins Subs Day
Friday, January 24th - No School
|
|
Family Prayer
Baptism of the Lord
I, the Lord, have called you.
- A chosen servant is singled out in Isaiah’s so-called Servant Song.
- God’s presence is again associated with light. God’s servant is a light to the nations.
- The first reading describes the messiah as God’s servant; God’s chosen one, who will bring forth justice to all the earth.
God anointed Christ with the Holy Spirit.
- The basis for Peter’s speech comes from the Old Testament: “God shows no partiality” (Deut 10:17).
- Luke applies this statement to God’s accepting not only Jews but also Gentiles who act rightly.
- Today’s second reading summarizes Christian preaching about Christ to Gentiles.
We must do what God wants.
- In the Gospel, Jesus went to John to be baptized in the River Jordan.
- Jesus’ baptism is a prophetic action, a sign for us that God’s Kingdom is in our midst.
- Participating in the rituals of his time, Jesus received through the tradition, a confirmation of his calling as God’s Chosen One.
|
|
A Message from
Mrs. Laidlaw Otto
Dear SJE Families;
Welcome to 2020! Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Epiphany, the celebration of the revelation that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World. Today we shared the blessing of our classroom doors with our students. The information below explains this custom. At the conclusion of this, you will find a blessing to use in your own home. We are sending home a piece of chalk, blessed by Fr. Michael at our children’s liturgy on December 18th, with our students today. We hope that you will take the time to complete this tradition in your home.
Epiphany Blessing
20 + C + M + B + 20
(20 + Caspar + Melchior + Balthazar + 20)
The Church has a custom of blessing homes on the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th until January 13th. Family and friends gather to ask God’s blessing on their homes and those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows.
One way of doing this is to use blessed chalk to write above the home’s entryway, 20 + C + M + B + 20. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus Mansionem Benedicat, “May Christ Bless the House.” The “+” signs represent the cross, and the 2020 the year.
Marking the doorway to one’s home is rooted in the Old Testament, Holy Scripture reminds us that God has at times commanded his people to mark their doors. The Israelites marked their doors with the lamb’s blood on the night of the Passover (Exodus 12:7).
“Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and physically mark the occasion of the Epiphany of God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time, the chalk will fade. It is a reminder to let the meaning of the written symbols sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions.
Instructions for Blessing the Home by the Head of the House
Using the blessed chalk write 20 + C + M + B + 20 over the entry doors to your house.
Pray the following while chalking the doors:
The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and twenty years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the New Year.
Then offer the following prayer:
Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen
Warm Regards in the New Year,
Mary Laidlaw Otto
|
|
Catholic Schools Week
Open House
All students and families are invited to join us on Saturday afternoon, January 25th, from 2:00 – 4:30 PM. Our classrooms will be open, and our teachers and students will be on hand to share their learning with you. What a great opportunity to grab a glimpse into your child’s school day. Following the Open House, families are invited to stay for 4:30 mass, followed by a spaghetti dinner hosted by our Home and School Committee.
You won’t want to miss this opportunity for fellowship with our other school families (not to mention an amazing meal!) Our Home and School is funding this event. All you need to do is complete and return the flier enclosed in this week’s paper envelope so that we can get a count of guests.
We will begin to enroll families for the 2020-2021 school year during Catholic Schools Week. Our current parents are the best advocates for our school. This year, each family is invited to bring a guest family to our Open House, and to our spaghetti dinner. Please consider inviting your friends to find out about our exemplary school.
Our school has so much to offer, however we are only as strong as our families. I am asking that each of our current families join us for both of our two upcoming events, and that you share the good news with friends and relatives. Your support is crucial to our success.
|
|
Our Book Fair is Coming!
Our second annual Rainbow Children’s Books fair will offer a wide selection of books to meet the growing interests of our students. Our extremely successful "book only” event, will have something to pique the interest of all of our readers - fiction, non-fiction, and even a few adult selections.
Students will have the opportunity to visit the book fair at school on Tuesday, January 21st. They will create a “wish list” of books, which they will bring home to you. Opportunities to actually purchase books will be available on Thursday morning, January 23rd. Simply send cash or a check made out to St. John the Evangelist, along with the wish list to school with your child on Thursday morning. Classroom teachers will bring students to the book fair to make their purchases.
In addition, the book fair will be open throughout parent teacher conferences on Thursday. Please consider stopping by before or after your conferences to check out our amazing selection. We will accept cash, checks, or credit card payments during conferences.
One last opportunity to purchase from our book fair will be available on Saturday, January 25th, during our Open House.
Do you have a special book that you are dying to read? Don’t see what you are looking for at the book fair? Special orders of both children’s and adult books will be available. All we need is a title and the name of the author.
|
|
Small Plates, Big Hearts!
A Night at St. John's
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Food stations from a variety of local restaurants!
Come and enjoy the food, drinks, music, raffles, and an online silent auction. Click
here
for more information.
Tickets are now available. The presale ticket price is $25.
On the day of the event, the price will be $35
To purchase tickets online, click
here!
We are in the process of securing the restaurants for the event
so check back often.
We are now accepting auction donations for our event! As you are shopping the great after Christmas sales, look for the following items that make for a successful auction: electronics, jewelry, sports/outdoor equipment, household items, gift cards, timeshares, sporting event tickets, sports memorabilia, spa items, etc.
|
|
Each family has been asked to donate $10.00 per child for the purpose of putting together class baskets for the Small Plates Big Hearts event. Thank you to all who have sent in their donation. If you have not already done so, please send your donation to the school office as soon as possible. Checks can be made payable to St. John the Evangelist School. Items for baskets will be purchased soon, so we need your donations to be sent promptly. Thank you!
|
|
Thank you to all who supported our third annual Home and School Cookie Walk on December 14
th
and 15
th
. We sold about 125 lbs. of cookies and raised more than $1,000. Whether you donated cookies or stopped by to purchase a pound or two, we are grateful to you.
|
|
Conferences Are Coming
Our mid-trimester conferences are quickly approaching. in today's paper envelope, you are receiving a slip requesting times you are available.
All families are required to complete and return the conference slip by Monday, January 13
th
.
We will then schedule our conferences, and inform you of your time next week.
Conferences are mandatory for all students, including K4 and K5.
Please note that students will be dismissed on Thursday, January 23rd at 11 AM, and that there will be no school on Friday, January 24th.
|
|
In today's Thursday folder are bowling passes for each SJE student. These passes are good for 1 free game EVERY DAY OF THIS YEAR! The pass does not include bowling shoe rental. A wonderful opportunity for a family outing and for students to practice what they have learned in PE this week and next. Thank-you to the local bowling lanes for supporting Bowling in the Schools!
|
|
Home & School's Pizza Sale is now underway. Order forms were sent home in December, and are due tomorrow. Don't miss out on this fundraiser. See the flyer
here
for more information.
|
|
St. John the Evangelist School
414-321-8540
Fax: 414-321-4450
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
