Some of the highlights during the month of April are listed below:

• Many of our 8th grade students received or will receive the sacrament of Confirmation and many of our 2nd and 3rd grade students received or will receive the sacrament of First Holy Communion. Congratulations!

• Students in grades 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 took the IOWA tests.

• We had our last HSA Meeting of the year on April 24th. Thank you to Mrs. Wetterau and Msgr. Baker for being our guest speakers. Thank you to everyone who came to the HSA meetings and for all of your input this school year. We appreciate your time and participation.

• Preparations have begun for the end of the year activities, graduations, closing ceremonies, etc.

• Mid-Trimester Progress Reports will be distributed tomorrow, Wednesday, April 26th. 

Looking ahead:

• Race for Education – May 4th (Rain date May 11th)
• This is a major fundraiser for SJRS. Many people do not mind sending a donation to the school. It is a wonderful way to ask people outside the area to support the school. For your convenience, here is the RACE FOR EDUCATION link that you can share with friends and family who want to donate online. We are asking for donations of small bottles of water for this event. If you would like to donate, please drop it off in the office before May 1st. Thank you!

• Please check the May/June Calendar for important dates.

• May Procession-Our school May procession will be on Friday, May 5th at 9:30. Parents and Families may attend the outdoor procession that will begin at 9:30. This year, the students will process around the large bus loop and will stop in the small bus loop for the crowning of Mary. Those attending should park in the parking lot. Please do not park in the large or small loop. Staff will be parking behind the school. All parents/family/friends should stand on the sidewalk in the small loop behind the students.  Students and staff will proceed back into the school for Mass immediately after the crowning.  Students should wear dress uniforms. 2nd and 3rd graders who received 1st Communion this year and 8th grade graduates were instructed on what to wear by their teachers. We are looking forward to this tradition and hope the weather cooperates. Thank you.

• Please also check the 2023-2024 yearly calendar.

• The last day for the hot lunch program is Wednesday, May 24th.

• Thank you to our HSA officers for all of the hard work and dedication throughout the school year. Together as a school family we have made our fundraisers a great success.

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE

starting May 1!

Saint Jerome Regional School needs your help! Visit www.weloveourcatholicschools.com to see Saint Jerome Regional School and other schools from around the Diocese celebrate the spirit and joy of Catholic education. The website is NOT live yet (so we know the QR code doesn’t work)…it will go live sometime over the weekend.

The Office of Education and the Office of Stewardship & Development have teamed up to create a new, online platform to help raise funds for our school and for Catholic Education. Get ready for MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE! It is modelled after Cooks with Collars. Here’s how it’s going to work: Videos will be featured on the new MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE website where individuals can vote – via online donations – for their favorite JOYFUL NOISE. We need your help! Please like and share our video and ask everyone you know to vote for SJRS! We encourage our school family, parish families, and alumni to like, share and vote! Information will be posted on our school Facebook page and website to visit our MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE giving page where they can vote early and vote often. All voting dollars (excluding the credit card transaction fees) go directly to our school.

Retirement Announcements and New Position Appointments

As most of you are aware, Mrs. Leslie Confer, our 8th grade teacher, Missions Advisor and Student Council Advisor, will be retiring at the end of this school year. She has been teaching for 37 years and 35 of those years have been at SJRS. We will miss Mrs. Confer very much but are so happy for her and wish her well in her retirement. 

We also have another retirement announcement. Mrs. Kathy Carnish will be retiring at the end of this year. Kathy has been working at SJRS for 18 years in the cafeteria. We will also miss Mrs. Carnish very much and wish her a very happy retirement.  

With Mrs. Confer's retirement, that leaves a few positions to fill. Mr. Cressley has agreed to be our Student Council Advisor beginning next school year. Mrs. Dando has agreed to be our Missions Advisor. 

Mrs. Howay will be stepping into Mrs. Carnish's position. We are still searching for another cafeteria worker.   

I would also like to share with you the exciting news of our new hire for next year.  

Mr. Terry Cavenas will be our 8^th grade homeroom teacher next school year. He will teach 7^th and 8^th grade classes. Mr. Cavenas graduated from Kutztown University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He has worked with children and families for over 25 years. He has held positions with the Hazleton YMCA, Freeland YMCA, Boy Scouts of America and with The ARC of Pennsylvania. His classroom teaching experience ranges from Pre-school to High School and in a variety of settings. He has taught regular education, special education, crisis counseling and alternative education. All of these experiences bring a wealth of knowledge working with diverse groups of students and families. His philosophy on education is “All my students have a place in this world to be successful, it is my job as an educator to find that place and provide them with the knowledge and skills to become the best version of themselves.” Mr. Cavenas currently lives in Mahanoy City with his wife Melissa, and they have three adult children Tyler, Madison, and McKenna. We are very excited to welcome him to the Saint Jerome Regional School Family.

Congratulations to Mrs. Confer and Mrs. Carnish! We will miss you.

Thank you to Mr. Cressley, Mrs. Dando and Mrs Howay for taking on these new responsibilities!

Congratulations to Mr. Cavenas! Welcome to the SJRS Family!

Christian of the Month

The Christian of the Month Award recognizes students who display good character on a consistent basis and serve as student role models throughout the month. Students are nominated by their teachers based on the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Students chosen to receive this award will be acknowledged for their accomplishment in the monthly newsletter. Students will receive a dress down pass, Christian of the Month Certificate, and an Applebee's certificate. The students will be recognized in the monthly newsletter.

This month's Preschool Christian of the Month is Luke Price. Luke is an excellent student and very deserving of this award. He has been nominated for this award based on his character, respect and fairness which he has demonstrated throughout the year. Luke is caring and compassionate with his fellow classmates. He also always looks to help and assist in any way he can. Luke enjoys reading books, going to the beach with his family, swimming and playing with bubbles. He enjoys playing with his cat(Fat Kitty) and dog (Daisy) during his freetime. Luke loves everything about school (especially math). He is looking forward to days ahead and can't wait to start kindergarten in the fall.  Luke is also the youngest of two children in his family. He currently has an older brother in 5th grade who also attends SJRS. Great job Luke! Congratulations!

Carter Freil-Majetsky is Kindergarten Blue's April Christian of the Month. Carter comes to school every day with a happy attitude that lasts all day long. Carter is always ready and willing to do whatever is asked of him during the school day. Carter cares about learning and always tries his best at everything he does. His hard work, excellent imagination, creativity, and willingness to try help him to be an exceptional student and role model in our classroom. Carter shows respect to his teachers, his friends, and the school rules. When he is not in school, Carter enjoys playing tee ball and soccer. He is a Cub Scout with the Barnesville Troop 725. Carter attends St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Mahanoy City. Way to go Carter! 

Kindergarten Gold's Christian of the Month is Radly Ahearn. Radly is always smiling and is a very happy and polite student. He is a friend to all and is very patient. Radly is also a very good helper. At home, Radly loves to play outside and is a very caring and loving boy.  

The Christian of the Month for First Grade Blue is Lacey Dever. Lacey is a hard worker and always tries her best. She is kind and caring with all of her friends and is always respectful in class. Lacey’s laugh can be contagious and quickly cheer up all those around her. Lacey enjoys playing basketball with Shooting Stars in Conygham, and she also takes tap, ballet, and gymnastics classes at Performing Arts Center. Congratulations, Lacey! Never let anyone dull your sparkle!

Julia DiLisio is the Christian of the Month for First Grade Gold. Julia is very kind and respectful to her classmates and teachers and works very hard in the classroom. Outside of school, Julia participates in Girl Scouts and has earned her Daisy badge. She also participates in dance and plays the piano. Julia is always willing to help others, especially her little sister Gia. She is full of love and compassion for everyone who knows her. Julia loves dinosaurs and hopes to be a paleontologist when she grows up. Congratulations, Julia!

The Christian of the Month for Grade 2 Blue is Amelia Kromer. Amelia works very hard on all her schoolwork. She is very responsible and can be counted on to take on extra tasks in the classroom. She is kind and respectful to others. Amelia completes all of her work on time and is an excellent student. Outside of school, Amelia is a Girl Scout for troop 32725 in New Ringgold. Amelia also plays soccer for Tamaqua Area Youth Soccer. This year, Amelia will be in Marian Catholic High School's play The Wizard of Oz, playing the part of a munchkin and a flying monkey! Look out!!! Congratulations, Amelia!

The second-grade gold Christian of the Month for April is Nico Rojas. Nico is a good student. He is dedicated, works hard, and always does his best. Nico is kind and respectful to his classmates and the adults with whom he interacts. Outside of school, Nico is on Lehigh Tire baseball team in the Valley East Minor League. He also takes part in SJR CYO Biddy Basketball. Nico takes swimming classes at the Berwick YMCA. He loves to swim and just recently learned to dive.

The Christian of the Month for third grade Gold for the month of April is Carlos Martinez. Carlos enjoys swimming, playing outside, traveling and drawing. He also plays the guitar and loves to read books about nature. Carlos can give you facts on any animal you ask of him! He is a member of Divine Mercy Parish in Shenandoah, and he is an amazing brother to his two older sisters, as well as a wonderful son. In the classroom, Carlos is an excellent student who always wants to make sure he is doing everything correctly. He is respectful and kind and is always positive and cheerful! He is a joy to have in the classroom. Congratulations, Carlos!

Gabriel Van Norman is the Christian of the Month for Grade 3 Blue. Gabriel is a very helpful student who always volunteers to assist his teachers and his classmates. He is thoughtful and often gives encouragement to other students. Outside of school, Gabriel participates in both soccer and basketball. He does community service at Kellner’s Dam where he is a junior member. He also enjoys spending time outside, fishing, and spending time with his family and friends. Gabriel’s family is very proud of him for being kind and courteous and for his desire to help others in any way that he can. Congratulations, Gabriel!

Fourth Grade's Christian of the Month for April is Avery Fuhs. Avery is a very kind and helpful student who has a perpetual smile on her face. She is always a willing participant in class, and she is willing to try, even when something seems hard. Avery also takes flute lessons with Mr. Cressley. Outside of school, Avery plays biddy basketball with SJR CYO. She loves animals and cares for her dogs, chinchilla, and bearded dragon, whom she has a replica of on her desk. Avery enjoys drawing and playing outside, making time to go roller skating, riding her bike,and jumping on her trampoline. Congratulations, Avery! We are all so proud of you!

Aiden Gilbert is fifth grade's Christian of the Month for April. Aiden is a great addition to our class this year and was the missing piece of our fifth-grade family. Aiden is a conscientious student, always taking his time when completing his work, making sure it is done to the best of his ability. Because of this, he was on the honor roll the first two trimesters. When not in school, Aiden is very busy participating in activities; he has been playing soccer for three years, baseball for two years and basketball for three years. He has just started playing the drums and has earned his green belt in karate. Aiden has also been taking Spanish lessons for the past three years. Other activities Aiden enjoys are bowling, all sports, fishing and swimming. Congratulations, Aiden!

The Christian of the Month for Grade 6 is Conner Giannelli. Conner is a conscientious student who works hard and has attained Distinguished Honors. He will do anything he can to help others, often without being asked. He is attentive, responsible, and considerate. Conner loves football and attended a camp last summer at Marian Catholic High School. He also loves to play chess and is looking forward to participating in the CYO tournament. Conner is a member of St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish. He is a great help to his siblings, parents, and grandparents. Congratulations, Conner!

Isabella Martinez is the 7th Grade Christian of the Month. Isabella is a conscientious student who completes her work neatly and in a timely manner. She has played the flute for three years. She is a member of Elite Dance Company. Isabella is member of Divine Mercy Parish in Shenandoah. Isabella enjoys swimming, reading, and baking. She is an amazing daughter and sister. Congratulations, Isabella!

Steven Richardson is the 8th Grade Christian of the Month. Steven is kind and courteous and uses manners on a daily basis. His schoolwork is detailed and is completed on time; he consistently makes the honor roll. Steven enjoys learning about world history, and he has a strong interest in WW II. In his free time, Steven enjoys bike riding, chess, drawing, and video games. He also likes spending time with his 2 cats, Angel and Lilly. Steven is a member of St. John XXIII Parish, and he will attend Marian Catholic High School. Congratulations, Steven!

2023 BISHOP'S CATHOLIC SCHOLAR AWARD WINNERS

We are very pleased to share our SJRS 8th grade students who have been selected to receive 2023 Bishop’s Catholic Scholar Awards. Each of these students will receive a $1,000 scholarship as they continue their education at one of our Diocesan Catholic High Schools next Fall. The following SJRS students have been selected as the Bishop's Catholic Scholar recipients:

Achilles Fitzpatrick-Marian

James Gelatko-Marian

Leah Grabosky-Marian

Esme` Petschauer-Marian

Maisie Petschauer-Marian

Steven Richardson-Marian

Emily Upanavage-Marian

Bishop Schlert will host this year’s Bishop's Catholic Scholar Awards Ceremony on Saturday, April 29 at Notre Dame High School.

Congratulations!

Registration for the 2023-2024 School Year

Our open enrollment period began in December. At this time, due to our enrollment growth, we have begun waitlists in most of our classes. Current Registration Fee (to be added to the waitlist): $150.00 per child. We encourage anyone who is not registered to join the waitlist.

***Please note: If you have not registered already, to officially be placed on the waitlist, both the form and fee per child needs to be handed into the office**



Thank you to all the families who have already registered!

• The Board of Pastors have approved the tuition rates for the 23-24 school year. To view the 2023-2024 Tuition & Fee Schedule please click K-8 Tuition Rates or Preschool Tuition Rates.

• Financial Aid for 2023-2024 School Year opened in January. It closes April 30th. Please be sure to apply before it closes through your STS account.

Please Help Saint Jerome Regional School Keep Tuition Cost Affordable

Throughout the year you will be receiving information about the various fundraisers through the school and the Home and School Association. The reason we have fundraisers is to keep tuition costs down. The actual cost of education of each child in our school is well over $6500.00. As you know, tuition is much less than this. The fundraisers help us make Catholic Education available to more children. 

We do not have mandatory fundraising at Saint Jerome Regional School because it is our hope that every family will do everything possible to support our efforts, not because they must, but because they want to participate and because they care about the future of this school. Thanks for joining the effort for the sake of our children!  

Gift Certificates and Scrip Certificates           

These are great ways to help with tuition costs. If you have any questions, please call the office. Many people are saving hundreds of dollars in tuition by purchasing certificates. Certificates are sold from the school office daily during school hours and scrip orders are taken on Tuesdays. Our last scrip order will be May 30th. There will be no scrip orders or gift card sales during the summer break.

Tuition Chance

This year we will again sell tuition chances to help you win money toward your tuition bill. The chances are $1 each, and paper slips are in the family envelope. If you want to purchase the chance, fill out the slip and enclose money in an envelope marked tuition chance. This is not a fundraiser. All money collected will be awarded to the winning student’s tuition account. If your tuition is fully paid, credit will be applied to next year’s bill. The winner for April is Charlotte Harvey in Grade K Blue. The amount of tuition credit is $75. Thank you to all who took chances. This was the last drawing for this school year. We will continue with the drawings next school year.



Home and School News

We would like to thank our supporting Pastors (Father Finlan, Father George, Father Zelonis, Father Minner, Msgr. Chizmar and Msgr. Baker), all of the Parents, Grandparents, Teachers, and Staff for all the hard work and dedication throughout this school year. Together we have made our fundraisers a great success. The children enjoyed the many activities we were able to provide. Have a great summer! We are looking forward to a great new 2023-2024 school year.

We encourage all parents to get involved with Home and School. We will need much help again next year with our fundraising efforts. We encourage everyone to share their ideas. If you would like to get involved, please attend the next meeting or email HSA at the email below. Thank you for considering!

Click here to view the SJRS HSA Resources on our SJRS Website.

2023-2024 Home and School Officers 

President- Kathy Reaman

Vice-President- Kelly Kisenwether

Secretary- Megan DeAngelo

Treasurer- Billie Jo Wetterau

Coordinator of Fundraising Activities- Karen Weicker

Coordinator of Outreach- Maria McGinley

Email: sjrs.hsa@gmail.com

Know that we thank God for you and your continued cooperation and support of Catholic education. The faculty, staff and administration ask for your continued prayers, support, cooperation and dedication to Catholic education. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call the school office at 570-668-2757. We will be happy to help you! Thank you for being part of the SJRS Family! Thank you for all the sacrifices you make to send your child to this school! In order to save time and money, we will continue to use email to communicate with you. If you have an email address, please check it and look for our messages. If you are not receiving our e-newsletters, please send a note to the office to be added to the email list. 

Let Us Pray

Thank you, Lord,

for the gift of time

for growing and learning,

and for the gift of Catholic education.

We thank you for our school family.

AMEN  

Let us pray for:

Our school family

a Special Intention

All Mothers and Grandmothers

An SJRS family who needs your prayers.

Jean Paslawsky

The Didgen and McGuire Families

Your continued prayers, support, cooperation and dedication to Catholic education.

Your continued kind words toward each other.

Our community and neighbors.

Our SJRS Faculty and Staff, our Home & School Association officers and members, our lunch aides, those who work at our fundraisers, the cooks and bakers and those who support our school in any way. Your dedication and sacrifices, commitment and sharing of your time, talent and resources is a source of inspiration to us. We thank God for the gift of each one of you and we ask Him to continue to bless you and your efforts as you help to make SJRS – simply the best. This is a special place because you are special people. 

Email your prayer requests to altssj@ptd.net or send a note to the office.

We will list the names that you would like us to pray for in our monthly newsletters.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more pictures and happenings in our school!

Race for Education – May 4th (Rain date May 11th)

This is a major fundraiser for SJRS. Many people do not mind sending a donation to the school. It is a wonderful way to ask people outside the area to support the school. For your convenience, here is the RACE FOR EDUCATION link that you can share with friends and family who want to donate online.

Your Tax Dollars can help SJRS  

Everyone has to pay taxes and typically your tax dollar’s fall into four main buckets; Welfare, Infrastructure (roads), Prison Systems, or Public Schools. The great thing about joining our program is it allows you to direct your tax dollars to St. Jerome Regional School. Donors are able to make a direct impact to their community through their tax dollars; they can come into your school any day and see the people they are impacting.

To learn more, please click here to watch a short video.

EPSF Brochure 

St. Jerome Regional School Tax Credit Program Power Point

SPE Donor Letter for St. Jerome Regional School

For additional help, please contact:

Amy Impellizzeri

Director of Scholarships

Eastern Pennsylvania Scholarship Foundation

aimpellizzeri@allentowndiocese.org

Office: 610-866-0581, ext. 2344

or contact principal- Amy Hannis-Miskar, who will be able to put you in touch with the Director of Scholarships in the Diocese of Allentown.