January 30, 2024

First Friday

This Friday we will continue our tradition of honoring the First Friday devotion with all school Mass. It is often marked by special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus since Jesus died for us and won our salvation on a Friday. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) reported visions of Jesus Christ directing her to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on nine consecutive First Fridays in reparation for sins and in order to show love to Jesus. In return for this act of devotion, which usually includes Mass, Communion, confession and even an hour of Eucharistic Adoration, our blessed Savior reputedly promised St. Margaret Mary the following 12 promises to anyone who would honor Him by this devotion.

First Friday All School Mass Friday

We will have First Friday All School Mass on Friday, February 2. Students should wear their full-dress uniforms. There will be an optional daily Mass before school on Wednesday, January 31, in the Chapel at 7:10 a.m.

Saint Family Picnic

Please provide a disposable sack lunch for your student TOMORROW, Wednesday, January 31, the cafeteria will be closed.

Moms Book Club

Calling All Book-Loving StJPII Moms! You’re invited to our next Moms Book Club Meeting on Monday, February 12. We will be discussing the incredible story of Oanh Ngo Usadi’s journey from Vietnam to Texas. Discuss, connect, unwind!

When: Monday, February 12 at 7-8 pm

Where: StJPII School Cafeteria

Who: Any StJPII mom!

*Click on the button below for more Faith Focus information. You can find the monthly virtue, Saints of the month, and service projects.

The renovation of the Rosary garden, located adjacent to the Pavilion, is currently underway and is anticipated to be finished by the conclusion of the school year. Once completed, it will transform into a picturesque religious educational space, featuring an explanation of the history of the rosary along with engraved stones of all the prayers, and the mysteries.

Cereal Box Challenge

Our school is collecting boxes of cereal for those

in need in our community. However, before we

donate the cereal, we will build a GIANT DOMINO

LINE throughout our school with the boxes. The

more donations, the longer our domino line will be!

Please bring the cereal boxes by the end of January. Drop off boxes are placed by the PreK classrooms.

St. Valentine's Day & Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler

This year, as a campus, we will celebrate Valentine's Day on Tuesday, February 13, to allow us to appropriately participate in the solemnity of Ash Wednesday on February 14. Students can wear a pink or red shirt with their uniform bottoms on Tuesday, the 13. Since it's also Fat Tuesday and our pancake breakfast, some students might be in Mardi Gras colors if they attend the pancake breakfast, which is also allowed.

Nails, Tails, and Tennies - 2/8

Please support our 8th grade fundraiser by purchasing a pass for $6 to wear nail polish, untucked shirts, and any color tennis shoes on February 8. Click the button below to buy your pass.  All proceeds go towards the 8th grade class.

Updated Lunch Menu

The lunch menu has been updated slightly with different offerings for the Lenten season. If you printed out the menu a few weeks ago, it would be a good idea to print yourself a new copy. Click the button below to view the most current menu.

Smart Families

Family values are the guiding principles that inform how you and your family make decisions. Writing down what you believe in and value in life can help your kids in many ways, including providing them with an important framework to help them resist negative peer pressure. Click on the button below to check out the February Smart Guide.

Early Dismissal Process Reminder

If your student(s) will be leaving early, please send a note with them in the morning. Thank you!

Summer Enrichment Program

Start making plans now for the summer. Sign up today for StJPII's Summer Enrichment Program. Students going into PreK-3 through 8th Grade are welcome. Click the button below for more information.

8th Grade Yearbook Recognition Ad

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO ORDER

Want to give your Class of 2024 graduate something to commemorate their time at StJPII? Order an 8th grade Yearbook ad for your graduate. Flyers will be sent home in students’ weekly folders. Payments and ad design will be completed through Jostens's website. You will be able to design your own ad by selecting a template and adding your own pictures and message.



A pdf version of the flyer can also be accessed via the link below. The deadline for orders is Friday, February 2, 2024! Thank you for honoring your 2024 8th grade graduate and supporting The Spirit Yearbook! Questions? Contact Mrs. Abad at kabad@jp2.org.  

A special message from Principal Bogard

Steps for Students

Sign up TODAY! The race will take place on the morning of February 10, 2024. Click on the button below to register. If anyone would be willing to help at our StJPII tent the morning of the race, please email communications@jp2.org.

*Any student who registers gets a free shoe pass and a chance to win P.E. Teacher for the Day!*

Fat Tuesday Sign-Up Party - Pancake Breakfast

Kick off Shrove Tuesday with a belly full of pancakes and a Mardi Gras themed celebration! Allow your kiddos to join our Admin team and teachers for breakfast before school on February 13! We will serve up a pancake bar with lots of toppings (syrup, whipped cream, chocolate chips, cherries, and sprinkles) so you can make them how you like them! Students who purchase this breakfast will also get to wear a purple, green, or gold shirt with their uniform bottoms. Laissez les bons temps rouler! Open to current StJPII students (no parents).

Date: Tuesday, February 13

Time: 7:00 am

Location: StJPII GSC

Sponsored by: Admin and Development

Price: $15

Volunteers Needed!

The 2024 Gala is HERE, and we need parent volunteers! The event is only possible thanks to the efforts of our many volunteers. You are invaluable to the success of this year's gala, so please consider volunteering to help our wonderful school. If you can give an hour while at the gala, it would make all the difference. If you are not attending, but can volunteer*, we would appreciate your assistance. You can volunteer for one shift or for the entire night. We cannot do it without you, and you will have fun too! Thank you for your time, energy, and dedication to StJPII!

*All volunteers should wear Haute in Havana attire, or nice pants with a dressy shirt. Volunteers who are not ticketed guests and who are working before 8PM will be provided with a complimentary meal. 

Thank you to our Haute in Havana Sponsors

Thank you

A HUGE THANK YOU to all our parents who signed up to donate Food and Drinks for the Faculty Meeting held on January 23, 2024. Our teachers and staff deserve ALL of this and more. THANKS to your generosity it was made POSSIBLE.

Thanks so much to:

Analia Gugliotti, Alexandra Riveros, Amber Leech, Ana Maria Esteva Parra, Beverly Alexander, Danille LaLonde, Diane Gonzales, Elizabeth Feldpausch, Erika Baker, Gail Anderson, Hilda Hickman, Jill Cardona, Kathy Forbes, Linda A Shotton, Maria Isabel Chapellin, Payton Donoghue, Rocio Morales, Rose Shelton, Sandra Vreedenburgh, Sarah Moore, Susan Gordillo, Thien Nguyen, Thomas Payne, Tricia Nino.

If you would like to sign up for upcoming Faculty Meetings, please contact Aida Patino at aidilla84@gmail.com and Valentina Lares at valentinalares@yahoo.com. This is an easy way to show appreciation to teachers and staff, and a simple way for working parents to get involved. There are nearly 80 StJPII faculty and staff members who appreciate you for your contributions!

First Friday Lunch

Let's shower our wonderful teachers and staff with a delicious First Friday Lunch on Friday, February 2, 2024. We will serve a baked potato bar with sides and toppings. You can use the link below to sign up to bring various items needed. Thank you so much for your contribution. 

PTO Meeting

Our PTO plays an important role at St. John Paul II Catholic School. We are not merely a fundraising machine; rather, we strive to create a stronger community, an enriched experience for our students as well as a more pleasant environment for our teachers and staff. Attend the next meeting to learn more about what PTO does and hear firsthand what plans are in store for the rest of the year! And remember, all proceeds raised by the PTO benefit the Teacher Wish List fund.

The Birthday Club - Celebrate Your Child’s Special Day!

The Birthday Club is taking orders for February Birthdays or any other month! (T-shirt, Squeezies, Marquee). Place your orders now and let the celebration begin with us! Thanks for supporting the PTO. 

Middle School Athletics

We are officially midway through our basketball season! Our boys and girls teams continue to persevere and do their very best in every game! We hope to see you come out and support our teams and coaches!

*Varsity Baseball tryouts will be held on Monday 2/5 and Tuesday 2/6 at MALL (Memorial Ashford Little League Fields 12900 Westmere Dr. from 4:00-5:30 pm. Please remember all athletes must have a physical on file and have their own equipment. Parents please pick up your son from school at dismissal, and bring them to the MALL fields prepared for tryouts. We also ask parents to remember that all middle school sport tryouts are closed to parent attendance. 

*Track & Field will start on Feb 13! We will have practice from 3:30-5:30 pm. Please continue to read Saints Weekly and look at the Athletic calendar for more information as we get closer to the start of the season. If you do not have a physical on file please get one BEFORE the 1st day of practice!

*Softball tryouts! Thank you for your patience! The MAGSA fields are finally drying out so we will proceed with the girls 2 day tryouts TOMORROW, Wednesday 1/31 and Thursday 2/1 from 4:00-5:30 over at the MAGSA fields. Parents please pick up your daughter from school at dismissal, and bring them to the MAGSA fields prepared for tryouts. Athletes should have their own equipment and of course, have their physical done prior to tryouts. We also ask parents to remember that all middle school sport tryouts are closed to parent attendance. 

*BOYS & GIRLS Lacrosse Tryouts will be as follows:

Boys tryouts ~ Tuesday 2/20 and Wednesday 2/21, here on campus, from 3:45-5:30 pm.  

Girls tryouts ~ Tuesday 2/13 and Thursday 2/ 15, here on campus, from 3:45-5:30 pm

AGAIN!!!! You must have your own equipment, and you must have a physical on file!

Elementary School Athletics

Elementary Spring Sports registration opens this Thursday, Feb 1 and will close on Feb 16. Please look at the Elementary Athletic page on our website for all information.

Share Your Basketball Photos

We love to see your photos of our saints in action! If you get a great shot at practice or a game, please share with StJPII! Your photo(s) may be featured on social media or in The Spirit yearbook. Please upload them directly using the button below.

STH Spring Academic Skills Camp

St. Thomas High School is pleased to announce details for its Spring Academic Skills Camp, Pathways to Independent Learning. In this course, students are given tools and strategies to take charge of the learning process. They will be able to take full responsibility for choosing effective approaches to long-term learning. Students need the skills and strategies of independent learning in order to excel in any learning environment or situation. Research has proven that the facility and practice of executive functioning skills and critical thinking are a greater predictor of student success than IQ. Students who develop independent learning skills are better able to adapt and succeed when they encounter obstacles. Click the button below for more info.

St. John Vianney Men’s ACTS Retreat 2024

Retreat Location:  St Agnes Le Thi Thanh (LTT) Retreat Center, Waller, TX

When: Thursday, February 22nd at 5:30 pm - Sunday, February 25