The Morning Star Weekly Newsletter Vol 6, Edition 9 10/5/2021
Morning Star School Mission Statement

Rooted in the Gospel and strengthened by the sacraments, the mission of Morning Star School is to provide a unique, inspiring education empowering students with learning differences to achieve their full potential.
Dear Morning Star Families and Friends,
Morning Star was founded in 1956 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, they left a mark that can never be erased in our school history. So, when the opportunity to assist them came up Bishop Estevez, along with Morning Star School, happily obliged. Morning Star purchased a house adjacent to our property several years ago that is to be the future home of the Life Skills Center. Due to the COVID19 pandemic those plans were temporarily put on hold. Our dedicated Sister Elise and her fellow Sister’s, Rita and Rea, are losing their current place of residence in town and are in need of a place to stay for a short time until their retire. While we work on raising the funds to complete the Life Skills Center the Sisters will be living in the home. This will allow them the ability to easily walk to our school while continuing their ministry to our staff, students, and families. 
 
Morning Star High school students, along with Bishop Snyder students, will have the opportunity to obtain service hours on Saturday, October 23 by helping to clean up the yard and foliage of the home. Watch for more information to come!


God Bless,
Elaine Shott, Principal
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Picture Retake Day
Thursday, October 7th, is picture retake day. Anyone who was absent for picture day last month will have their picture taken.

If you were not happy with the pictures you received, you MUST return the package of pictures you purchased with the word RETAKE on the envelope to the office as soon as possible. But, please keep the card in your student's school picture envelope and return all of the photos.

If you would like to purchase your student's pictures click HERE and enter the portrait ID and access code you received on the card in your student's school picture envelope.
No School October 8th & 11th
Friday, October 8th and Monday October 11th there will be no school.
Report Cards Emailed Home
Tuesday, October 12th report cards will be emailed home.
October Mass
mass
Thursday, October 14th,Tuesday at 10:00 am our school Mass will be held at Christ the King Church. All are welcome  
Fall Festival
Friday, October 29th, we will have Fall Festival. Please help by signing up to donate trinkets and candy.

Click HERE to sign up to donate! Due dates for items donated on the Sign Up Genius. Please mark the donation with your child's first and last name so you may receive credit.
  • All students may wear a costume to school. Costumes must be school appropriate-no gory, scary, or inappropriate costumes will be permitted. If your child prefers not to wear a costume, he or she may dress in orange and black.

  • Our everyday health and safety guidelines will be followed during this event. Any snacks or drinks provided will be store-bought and individually pre-packaged. Students will collect candy and trinkets throughout the day. Teachers typically allow students to eat a few pieces of candy, and the rest is sent home. If you would prefer your child not partake in the snacks provided, please email your child's teacher and send in separate snacks for your child for this day. 
REMINDERS
October is Respect Life Month
Below are some events happening in our diocese this month:
  • Respecting Life Begins With Me Program Oct. 1-31 – Developmental respect life program for youth in the Diocese of St. Augustine at elementary schools, religious education and homeschool programs throughout the month of October.
  • Respect Life Weekend Oct. 2-3 Be aware of your parish’s recognition and attention to Life issues.
  • Life Chain Sunday Oct. 3 – Life Chains are taking place throughout the diocese! Contact your parish if they are holding a Life Chain event or participate at a parish near you. For information about Life Chain Sunday visit www.lifechain.org
  • National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day Oct. 15.
  • Masses for the Precious Ones – Mass on Oct. 24, at 11:30 a.m. at the Sante Fe Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, High Springs, and on Nov. 7, at 1:00 p.m. at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios in St. Augustine.
  • Congreso Pro Vida Oct. 29-30 – State Respect Life Conference, Miami. For more information visit www.congresoprovida.com.

For more information on respect life month go to www.respectlife.org. 
MSS Clothes Closet
If you have clean, gently used, uniforms you would like to donate please send them in to the school at any time. These uniforms will be donated to those who need them. There will be no money exchanged.

If you need any uniforms, email Amy Martinenza at amyccrrmm@yahoo.com or send a note to your child’s teacher. Include the item, size and quantity you need.

To view types of uniform items available, click HERE
Get Ready for Cooler Weather
Please remember to put names on sweaters, coats and jackets. Also, don't forget that students must wear proper MSS logoed sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, and sweatpants.
To purchase new uniform items, click HERE
EVENTS
Coach Whitson, Coach Bryan, Mrs. Koci, Mrs. Carter & Bri all went to see one of our awesome Morning Star Alumni at her college softball game against Jacksonville University. Jodasea Peterson, part of our second graduating class, received a full ride scholarship to Central Florida University in Ocala where she is majoring in Computer Science and specializing in Cyber Security.
PRIMARY NEWS
With the start of Fall, our primary classes have been discussing seasons and how they change from one to another. They created this seasonal collage showing the changes of a tree from one season to the next.
Primary students have been enjoying pirate week! They have been creating pirate artwork, Mrs. Amodeo dressed up as a pirate, and some Junior High students (Kolbe B., K'Lon L., Colton M., Harrison S., Jacob S., and Akol T.) even built them a cardboard pirate ship.
HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
Will Donovan, one of our Morning Star high school students, participated in an event at Jacksonville Sporting Clays this past weekend. A hobby he does with his dad, board member Brian Donovan, he shot a 74% - which is GREAT! Skeet shooting dates back to the 1800's and provides several benefits to its participants. Not only is it relaxing but it can help with hand-eye coordination, mental processing and focus, building a courageous and confident mindset, and discipline.
HELP US RAISE MONEY FOR MSS!
WHEN SHOPPING ON AMAZON SHOP ON AMAZONSMILE INSTEAD!
SELECT MORNING STAR SCHOOL AS YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY AND
A PORTION OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE DONATED TO OUR SCHOOL!
If you shop on Amazon, make sure you shop on AmazonSmile. It's exactly the same Amazon you love but a portion of your purchase price will be donated to our school each time you shop!

1. Visit AmazonSmile
2. Select Morning Star School of Jacksonville as your charity of choice and start shopping! 
3. Bookmark the AmazonSmile link and use it each time you shop with Amazon!  (Proceeds will only be donated if you are logged into AmazonSmile).
Download the Box Tops App Today!
Box Tops is a great way to earn fundraising dollars! And now there is a new phone app which makes it easier to earn points for our school! Shop as you normally would, then simply scan your store receipts to find participating products. The app will automatically credit your school's Box Tops earnings online. It's a much easier way to help us earn dollars.

Download the new Box Tops App HERE.
Watch a video about the new process HERE

You may still clip Box Tops and send them to school. Physical Box Tops clips are being phased out of production but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER...
  • Turn in your box tops weekly. They do expire.
  • Be sure to NOT cut the code off. We cannot use it if the code is missing even one of the digits.
  • Place them in a zip lock bag and send them in with your student.
SUBMIT A STORY
If you have a great story, please share it with us. We love showcasing the many talents of our students and their families. To submit a story, click the button below.
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