Dear Saints families,
Happy November! It once again amazes me that we are beginning the holiday season and getting even closer to completing the first semester of our 21-22 school year! Yesterday we celebrated All Saints Day and our kindergartners blessed us as they paraded into Mass dressed as many Saints. During Father’s homily, we were reminded that we too are all Saints in the making! We are so blessed to be part of a Catholic school community where we learn and practice how to become a Saint each and every day. I look forward to another great month filled with celebrations such as StJPII Kindness Day, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, Thanksgiving, and many more classroom events.
Today is All Souls Day! What a beautiful opportunity to be prayerful for those who have gone before us, and who need our prayers as they reach their final purification to meet our Lord. Here is a beautiful prayer that you can use with your family that I read in my daily reflection, “Today, I pray for that soul in purgatory most in need of your Mercy. May Your mercy, O Lord rest upon them! Jesus, have mercy on us and on the whole world”
At this time, I must share my gratitude for you and our amazing faculty...thank you for your support in partnering with us to grow your children. We truly appreciate the opportunity to have met with you during Parent/Teacher conferences and are so appreciative for your prayers and support thus far this school year.
In Him,
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Daily Masses Wednesday and Friday
Optional daily Mass will be on Wednesday November 3rd and Friday November 5th this week due to our Holy Day of Obligation Mass on Monday. Mass starts at 7:10 and ends at 7:40 in the All Saints Chapel. Please enter the building through St. Jude Hall.
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Focus for November
This month we will focus on the Communion of Saints, All Souls, and being grateful and thankful for the grace, gifts, and blessings we receive from the Lord.
Book of Remembrance
Please send in names of any friends or family who have passed away in the last year to your homeroom teacher. We will add them to our Book of Remembrance and pray for them in a special way this month.
Virtue of the Month
Stewardship-Returning to God the first fruits of your time, talent and treasure.
Saints of the Month
PreK-2nd- St. Elizabeth of Hungary: spent her money to feed the poor
3rd-5th- Blessed Fra. Angelico: famous painter
MS- St. Joseph Moscati: doctor with miraculous cures attributed to him
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November Service Projects
Middle School
6th grade will be assembling “Thank You” baskets for local nurses and doctors. Collections will take place from students in the Middle School only. See below for each grade level’s responsibility:
- 6th grade: candy & gum
- 7th grade: mini hand lotion and mini hand sanitizer
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8th grade: coffee pods and Chapstick
There is a box in Mr. Olson's room for you to drop your donation in. Please keep in mind that it is ideal for each student to bring in 1-2 items, not a bulk quantity. However, any and all donations will make their way to someone in need.
Elementary
The fourth grade will be collecting items to give to the homeless to keep them warm in the winter. Donations that are needed are: sleeping bags, blankets, hand warmers, gloves, hats, underwear (sizes medium and large), undershirts (medium and large), adult coats, travel size hygiene items (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, mouthwash, mini sanitizer etc.)
There are boxes in the hallways to hold donations. Thank you for your gift to those in need.
*Collections will run through November 19th
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Houston Astros Shirts
Students are welcome to wear ASTROS shirts with uniform bottoms tomorrow, Wednesday, November 3rd if the Astros in tonight!
Go Astros! #ForTheH
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Optional Casual Uniforms-Update
Due to the manufacturers supply shortages, casual uniform orders have been backordered. Our uniform orders will be in stock in December, expected delivery in January. We apologize for the delay. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
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Trunk or Treat Thank You
Thank you so much to all of our Trunk or Treaters! Thank you to those who decorated cars and to all the families who came out. We could not have done it without you! Trunk or Treat 2021 was a successful event because of all of you. Thank you for giving your time and generosity. We greatly appreciate you!
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Amorosa Family
Bello Family
Berman Family
Cardenas Family
Casson-Deweese Family
Cline Family
Fielder Family
Gama Family
Gonzales Family
Hengst Family
Hickman Family
LeBas Family
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Medoza Family
Momeni Family
Montano Family
Moreno Family
Nguyen Family
Nino Family
Peraza Family
Puente Family
Salvatierra Family
Mr. Schwab
Taunton Family
Vasquez Family
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Congratulations Dr. Hiltbrand
Journalism and SOAR teacher, Shari Hiltbrand, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, "An Exploratory Study to Develop a Framework of Science Giftedness in the NGSS Era," to earn her Ph.D. in Global STEM Education-Science focus from Texas Tech University. In early December, Dr. Hiltbrand will travel to Lubbock to receive her diploma in recognition of the completion of her work. She has already presented her research at a regional Association for Science Teacher Education conference and is working with her doctoral advisor to publish her research in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Hiltbrand is very thankful for the prayers and support of the StJPII community over the course of the past 4-1/2 years as she has worked toward accomplishing this long-time goal.
Way to go!!! We are blessed to have you at StJPII!!
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Open House
If you know anyone who is interested in joining the St. John Paul II Family, please let them know that we are having an Open House next Thursday, November 4th at 9:30 a.m. They may register online via our website here: www.jp2.org/openhouse
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Parking Lot Reminder
Please remember that the parking lot is reserved for the staff of StJPII. Notice the diagram below that shows where visitors are allotted to park. The red spaces are designated for staff; we have just enough spots for the amount of employees we have on campus each day. Visitors have reserved spaces which are located in the green spots on the diagram Thank you for your cooperation each day.
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Parent Study Skills Class
The Study Skills parent workshop will take place on Tuesday, November 9th right after carpool drop-off in the Library. Parents will learn more about the study skills we teach across the campus, including: organization, time management, listening and taking notes, strategies for taking tests, and much more! Please click on the Study Skills flyer button for more details. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Ms. Lamb. |
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Save the Date
Our annual one-day giving event is coming soon! Please save the date, spread the word, and join us on SaintsGiving to raise money for our school and help us reach our Annual Fund goal! Stay tuned for more details!
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Red Ribbon Week
What a fun Red Ribbon Week we had at StJPII. Not only did we have some fun dress up days, but the students also learned the importance of living drug-free. On Friday, Mr. Ernesto Reyes, an Education Specialist with Crime Stoppers of Houston, joined us after Mass for student presentations. Our middle school students learned details about why using drugs and drinking alcohol as an adolescent will critically affect brain development through the “Substance Abuse Prevention” presentation. Our upper elementary students (3rd-5th grade) were presented with a presentation about the importance of being an upstander versus a bystander, as well as defining bullying, conflict, consequences, and providing action steps for resolution through the “Bullying Prevention” presentation. Our youngest students in PreK-2nd grade learned about being N.I.C.E. Students were taught a four-part action plan to Notice those around them, Invite change, Challenge themselves and others to be kind, and to be Empowered to take action. In addition to the four-part action plan, our students learned how to be inclusive, accept their peers and themselves while practicing and reinforcing mental health best practices through the “Be Nice (Mental Health)” presentation. Thank you to our STUCO and Mr. Ernesto Reyes from Crime Stoppers for a fabulous week!
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St. Joseph Scholarship for StJPII Students Attending SPX
On Friday November 5, the 8th graders will enjoy another high school visit, this time to St. Pius X High School. We are thrilled to announce a new scholarship that is available exclusively to StJPII graduates who attend St. Pius. This scholarship is generously funded by a StJPII alumni who wants to support future generations of students attending St. Pius. Named after St. Joseph, this scholarship is intended to nurture the development of the gifts God has given to St. John Paul II students attending St. Pius X High School, so that they will be best prepared to do the Lord's work upon graduation, as workers, providers, and caregivers. Based on the strength of the application, one St. John Paul II student who applies to, is accepted and enrolls at St. Pius X High School for the 2022-2023 school year will be awarded a $2500 scholarship (renewed annually) to be used toward tuition. Please visit www.stpiusx.org/admissions/tuition-financial-aid and click the button below for more information.
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Faith & Ale - Save the Date
Join the StJPII Dads Club for Faith & Ale tonight, Tuesday, November 2nd from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Watson’s House of Ales. The StJPII Dads Club is designed to focus on strengthening the fathers of our students in faith and love, to help them bring the Catholic faith home to their families and support the mission of the school. As a Father of a child(ren) at the school, you are taking part in this Ministry.
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Mom's Club - Meet and Mingle
First Meeting - Friday, Nov. 5th at 9:45 a.m.
In St. Jude Hall
(Formerly known as St. Katharine Drexel Society)
Join our chaplain, Fr. Eamonn Shelly, and Charlene Alexander, a consecrated woman, from Regnum Christi, for an uplifting spiritually awakening retreat.
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Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) |
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Poinsettia Fundraiser
Please join the StJPII PTO for the 2nd Annual Poinsettia Fundraiser
We are partnering with the Brookwood Community this year!
* Grown in a 6" pot
* Average 14" to 16" in height
* Have 5-7 blooms each
* Only RED poinsettias are available.
Your purchase benefits the PTO and enhances the educational programs for the adults with disabilities at Brookwood. Thank you for your support!
Poinsettias will be available for pick up December 8th/9th. (Pick up details to follow)
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PTO Meeting
Please join us for our next PTO meeting scheduled tomorrow, Wednesday, November 3rd @8:30 am in St. Jude Hall. All are welcome! Please contact Nicole Lambert at pto@jp2.org if you have any questions. Go Saints!
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THANK YOU
Thank you to the following people who organized and provided snacks for the October 26th Faculty and Staff Meeting:
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Beverly Alexander
Gail Anderson
Hana Byun
Maria Chapellin
Ana M. Esteva-Parra
Elizabeth Feldpausch
Kathy Forbes
Victoria Forkner
Susan Gordillo
Analia Gugliotti
Maria Alecia Klemprer-Bello
Danille LaLonde
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Lizette Maya
Rocio Morales
Bea Moreno
Thien Nguyen
Donna Peters
Alexandra Riveros Balta
Khristine Salvatierra
Chiara Salvetti
Rose Shelton
Sandra Vreedenburgh
Kate Yuan
Claudia Vanegas
Amber Leech
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Snacks with Santa
Save the Date for Snacks with Santa ~ December 4th from 9-12 in the Gutierrez Student Center. Pre-Sale Tickets can be purchased now for a discount of $10 per child ~ includes photos with Santa, carnival style games and lots of fun! Siblings and friends are welcome to attend.
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Gala: Fashion & Sign Up Party Reminder |
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X Game Challenge
(5th and 6th Graders)
5th & 6th Graders!! Do you have what it takes? Prepare for an epic battle with Camp La Llanada! Your hosts will provide your fuel in the form of hot dogs and cotton candy. Children will be grouped into teams of 10. (This is a drop-off party on Sunday, November 7th from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. at Cinco Ranch South Lake Park 3206 South Lake Village Dr., Katy TX 77450. This event is sponsored by Leticia Shirley and Alexandra Riveros and costs $25 per warrior. The last day to sign up for this party is TODAY, so don't delay!
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GHCAA Middle School Athletics
What a weekend for our SAINTS! Our Varsity Volleyball team started the day with a terrific win over St. Helen’s to take the Championship title for the 1st time in 17 years! Then Soccer took the field and are now back to back Champions defeating St. Cecilia by a score of 3-1! Varsity football put up a tremendous fight against St Thomas More but just couldn’t finish with a win thus taking 2nd place in their Championship game. We are BEYOND proud of our SAINTS and their Coaches!
Day 2 of Middle School Basketball tryouts is today, we had a great turnout for both the boys and the girls! Please watch the Athletic website and athletic calendar to see our new teams and their schedules!
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WHCSA Elementary Athletics
Elementary soccer has just a few weeks left and wow we have had a great season! Our kiddos and Coaches have been working hard and having A LOT of fun! Pictures for the teams will be on Friday November 12th. Your Coach will let you know what your time slot is so please parents, do your best to be on time for the pictures!
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Share Your Championship Photos
We love to see your photos of our saints in action during our amazing Championship weekend! If you get a great shot please share with StJPII! Your photo(s) may be featured on social media or in The Spirit yearbook. You may email your pictures to: communications@jp2.org or upload them directly using the button below.
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Conquest
Conquest is Catholic Youth Ministry program for boys 3 rd – 8 th grade to grow in knowledge of their Catholic faith, friendship with Christ, and make a difference and positive impact on their families, friends and in the world around them. St.JPII Conquest Club meets biweekly on Tuesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. The teams are guided by high school boys with adult chaperones. If you are interested click below.
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Interested in visiting the Holy Land? You’re invited to join StJPII Chaplain, Fr. Eamonn Shelly, along with Fr. Nathaniel Haslam, LC and Charlene Alexander, Consecrated Woman of Regnum Christi, on pilgrimage next summer! For more information, click below to see the brochure or contact eshelly@legionaries.org.
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St. John Paul II Catholic School |
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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