March 5, 2024

Dear Saints,

Happy March! I am certain that our students are excited about Spring Break next week. May you all have a wonderful and restful holiday!

This month we are studying and learning more about the cardinal virtue of temperance, which means finding a balance and making good use of the things our bodies and souls need. Temperance is especially appropriate during Lent when we are called to a conversion of heart through sacrifice, moderation, and self-control. Lent is personally my favorite season within the church in part because it is a reminder that true transformation can only take place when we center our lives around God. I pray that during this season of Lent, that you may practice temperance by giving alms, praying, and fasting, all in a balanced way, to prepare your heart for the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. 

Very soon we will send acceptance letters to our new saints families, and our 8th graders will be deciding where they will attend high school. We are blessed by new beginnings and I will be praying for ALL of you over spring break. May we return ready to finish the fourth quarter with enthusiasm! 

Principal

All School Mass Friday

We will have All School Mass on Friday, March 8. Students should wear their full-dress uniforms. There will be an optional daily Mass before school on Wednesday, March 6, in the Chapel at 7:10 a.m.

St. John Paul II Monstrance to Visit StJPII

We have been blessed again with another wonderful opportunity! The Monstrance that our patron, St. John Paul II, used will be here at StJPII on Thursday, March 21. We will get to use the Monstrance during our Adoration time and all of our students will get to participate. The Monstrance will be in the All Saints Chapel from 8:30-2:15pm and parents are welcome to attend. 

Kindergarten Service Project

Kindergarten is collecting items for the Pregnancy Help Center. Please send in diapers, wipes, bottles, formula and baby clothes to be donated. Thank you for participating in the Corporal Works of Mercy. The donations will be accepted from March 5th- March 19th.

Easter Service Project for Saints Family

Our Saints Families will be making Easter Baskets together on Holy Thursday for an all school day of Service and Prayer. Each grade level has been assigned an item that they need to bring to school to use for the project. Please send your child to school with the item and they should give it to their HOMEROOM teacher. Each teacher has a box in their classroom for the donation.

Please click on the button below to see the item your child(ren) has been assigned. The last day for donations is Wednesday, March 27. Thank you for making a child that is less fortunate, smile and be excited on Easter.

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

During the 2022-2023 school year, the Board of Directors established a Facility Committee to assist and advise on all maintenance needs. This committee functions as a resource for assessing and prioritizing facility maintenance and necessary repairs, while also seeking expert advice to ensure efficient and effective enhancements and improvements for long-term sustainability.

Casual Picture Day

Thursday, March 21 will be Casual Picture Day. All students will take casual pictures and can wear free dress in accordance with our dress code guidelines in the Parent/Student Handbook. Click the button below to read the free dress day guidelines and policies.

Ambassador Family Program

Calling all volunteers! StJPII has an Ambassador Program to welcome new families. Ambassadors are current parents who volunteer to welcome an incoming family and be a friendly face and source of information. We try to match families who have children of the same gender, in the same grade(s), and may live close to one another. Please consider volunteering for this important role.

To sign up to be an Ambassador family, click the button below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact ambassadors@jp2.org.

A Heads up Notice to Parents and Caregivers from the Nurse

Head lice is a common problem of school age children. If you notice your child itching and scratching their scalp it is time for a a good head lice check. Please take a look at the hand out from the CDC on the specifics!

Lost and Found

If your child is missing anything, please remind them to look in St. Jude Hall in the lost and found boxes. We currently have a pair of cowboy boots and a cowboy hat left from last Friday, "Go Texan Day."

Outstanding ECI Balance

We continue to have a large number of students who have large overdraft balances in the cafeteria. Please make sure your student has adequate funds in their ECI lunch account. Check your student's ECI balance and add money when needed. You can send a check with your student or click on the button below. When sending a check, please make the check out to ECI. Thank you!

Nails, Tails, and Tennies - 3/20

Please support our 8th grade fundraiser by purchasing a pass for $6 to wear nail polish, untucked shirts, and any color tennis shoes on Wednesday, March 20. Click the button below to buy your pass. All proceeds go towards the 8th grade class.

Smart Families Dinner and Family Night

"Smart Families" cordially invites you to a fun Family Night at StJPII on Friday, March 22, starting at 6:00 PM. Engage in guided family conversation and enjoy a free dinner courtesy of Russo's Pizzeria, graciously sponsored by "Smart Families".

What are your family values? Do you have the written down? Enjoy an evening with dinner, guided conversation, and time to create your own family code. For further details and to secure your spot, kindly click the buttons below. Please RSVP by March 19th so we can get an accurate headcount for the meal. We look forward to sharing this special evening with you!

Crawfish Boil 2024

Plans are already underway for our 8th Annual Saints @ Sunset Crawfish Boil! Mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, April 12, here on campus. We had over 900 people attend last year! Tickets will go on sale after Spring Break!  Laissez le bon temps rouler!

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 first hand what plans are in store for the rest of the year! And remember, all funds gained by PTO events go back to the school in various ways.

Spirit Night at Russo’s

Forgo having to guess what’s for dinner TOMORROW and let Russo’s do all the work. Join us for Spirit Night at Russo’s NY Pizzeria on Wednesday, March 6th at 13346 Briar Forest Drive #100. To-Go orders placed all day also count! Call 281-497-9800 to place your order. Make sure to let them know you are from StJPII so the credit is attributed to the school! Russo’s has a delicious menu with something for the whole family that includes salads, pasta, sandwiches and pizzas. Don’t miss out!

Spaghetti lunch at St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church

Please join members of the PTO on Thursday, March 7 at 11am at St. Basil the Great, 1100 Eldridge Pkwy, for great food and fellowship. Plates are $12 with desserts and extra sauce available for purchase to take home. All major credit cards accepted. Everyone is welcome, so please come out for a little social time while enjoying "the best spaghetti in town"!

Thank You!

A HUGE THANK YOU to all our parents who signed up to donate to the Faculty Meeting Food and Drink for the February 27th, 2024. Our teachers and staff deserve ALL of this and more, THANKS to your generosity it was made POSSIBLE. Thank you:

Alexandra Riveros, Amber Leech, Ana M. Esteva-Parra, Ana Padron, Analia Gugliotti, Danille LaLonde, Diane Gonzales, Erika Baker, Gail Anderson, Hang Tran, Kathy Forbes, Leticia Shirley, Nicole Lambert, Payton Donoghue, Rita Esangbedo, Rocio Morales, Rose Nguyen Shelton, Sandra Vreedenburgh, Thien Nguyen and Valentina Bracho-Rodon.

If you would like to sign up for upcoming Faculty Meetings, please contact Aida Patino aidilla84@gmail.com and Valentina Lares 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 thank you!

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

The Birthday Club is taking orders for March 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. 

Spirit Store

Visit the Spirit Store! There’s something for everyone. Show your school spirit wherever you go. Orders will be sent home with your youngest Saint through their homeroom.

Middle School Athletics

Spring Sports are up & running!

Some of our Middle School teams have had their opening games with great success! Boys Lacrosse defeated Pershing 3-1 last Friday, while our Baseball & Softball teams both had losses in their opening games yesterday. Both teams played great but unfortunately did not get the win. Girls Lacrosse and T&F kick off their 1st games/Meet after Spring Break.  

Elementary Athletics

Elementary Basketball had their final game of the season this past Saturday. Thank you to our incredible coaches and to all of our parents for being great supporters and role models for our little ones! All of you make the program very successful! We now move on to Spring sports! Coaches have received their teams so you should receive more info by the end of this week!

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.

Camp Invention at StJPII

Spark your K-6 grader’s curiosity and confidence at Camp Invention®! The 2024 program,

Illuminate, is coming to St. John Paul II for the very first time! From June 24 to 28, campers will collaborate with friends in hands-on, open-ended STEM adventures designed to inspire creativity, stretch imaginations and provide an awesome summer experience. Visit invent.org/mylocalcamp and use promo code SUM25 by 3/27 to save $25!

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.