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November 13, 2022

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PTO CALENDAR

A MESSAGE FROM SR. PRINCIPAL, MR. TOLZDA

Dear St. Serra Parents,


I am extremely pleased to share with you that St. Serra’s Annual Giving Week campaign, which ran from November 6 through 10, was enormously successful! In just five days, our generous community of families, staff and alumni managed to raise more than $100,000 toward our Annual Giving goal. All of us at St. Serra wish to express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the many families who responded positively to our school’s needs, and generously donated to The Bear Fund. Your support helps to ensure that all of our students continue to benefit from the high quality school experience that St. Serra strives to provide each and every day.  


This week, November 13-19, St. Serra will celebrate Discover Catholic Schools Week, a special event designated to help us connect with prospective families for the current school year and the upcoming 2023-24 school year. On Tuesday, November 15, at 6:00 pm, we will host  our “Discover Serra Open House” event for families who are interested in exploring St. Serra as an option for their student(s). Those in attendance will have an opportunity to experience our campus, see classrooms and meet teachers - all of which showcase why St. Serra is so very special. Please share this event with anyone who may be interested. They can RSVP on our website.


From January 29 to February 4, 2023, we will host the traditional  Celebrate Catholic Schools Week.   This annual week-long event is to celebrate Catholic education in the United States. St. Serra will observe this special week with a Mass and other traditional St. Serra activities for students, families, and community members, all of which celebrate the great work and good news of Catholic schools.


There are so many families who love and support what we do on a daily basis here at St. Serra. We return that love and support with a commitment to give 100% of our efforts everyday, be good stewards of your financial investment, care for your child(ren) as though our own, and provide them with an excellent, traditional Catholic education.


Always striving,


Tim Tolzda

Sr. Principal

WEEK AT-A-GLANCE

MONDAY,

November 14


Parenting in the Digital World Presentation

6:00-8:00 p.m., Santa Margarita Catholic HS in the Moiso Family Pavilion - RSVP

TUESDAY,

November 15


Discover Serra Open House (Prospective Families)

6:00-7:00 p.m.


Non-uniform Dress for Students Whose Families Made a Donation to the Bear Fund (11/6-11/10) Please adhere to the non-uniform dress guidelines in our Parent-Student Handbook.

WEDNESDAY,

November 16


Preschool/TK Prayer Service

10:30 a.m. in the St. Serra Chapel

Formal uniform required for TK


Minimum Day Dismissal

Preschool-2nd at 11:30 a.m. 3rd-8th at 12:10 p.m.


Family FUNraiser

Baskin Robbins in Ladera Ranch

FLYER

THURSDAY,

November 17


1st Grade Mass

10:30 a.m. in the St. Serra Chapel

Formal uniform required


Sip and Shop (and Eat) Event

6:00-8:00 p.m. at BELLE Boutique in RSM, and

4:30-8:30 p.m. at Todos Santos Mexican Restaurant in RSM

FRIDAY,

November 18


END OF TRIMESTER 1


Spirit Friday

Wear 22-23 Spirit Shirt with uniform bottoms

NEXT WEEK, November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL

WEEKLY UPDATES BY GRADE LEVEL

ST. SERRA NEWS

Introducing 'Serra Sundays'


St. Serra is partnering with our four parishes to ‘Show our Serra Support’ at their Parish. The following grade levels are being asked the attend the 10:30 a.m. masses with their families on Sunday, December 11:


  • Solano Catholic (10:30 a.m. Mass) – Preschool, 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th Grades
  • Holy Trinity (10:30 a.m. Mass) – TK/K, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th Grades


Click "Read More" below for additional details, including information on student participation incentives!

Read More

Adopt-a-Family 2022


We are joyfully partnering once again with Catholic Charities to bring Christmas to 45 families in need. Please look for a Constant Contact later this week with each classroom's Sign-Up Genius. We encourage you to shop for your adopted family over the Thanksgiving break. Students who bring in their contribution by Friday, December 2, will receive a non-uniform dress pass for Tuesday, December 6. Thank you in advance for your support of this wonderful program!

Non-Uniform Dress for Bear Fund Families Who Participated


Students whose families made a donation to The Bear Fund during Giving Week (11/6-11/10) may wear non-uniform dress on Tuesday, November 15. Please review and adhere to the non-uniform dress guidelines in our Parent-Student Handbook.

ALL NEW Spirit Store Launches!


Looking for some St. Serra spirit wear? Check out our NEW St. Serra Spirit Store! Students can find new sweatshirts and parents can find sweatshirts, polos, t-shirts, hats, and more! New items are being added as inventory becomes available. Uniforms4U also has a storefront in San Juan Capistrano where you can pick up your St. Serra Spirit Wear! Shipping is also available! 

Shop Now

Important Morning Traffic Reminder


The PEB lanes off of Avenida de las Banderas close at or shortly after 7:40 a.m. Once the lanes are closed, no more cars will be granted access to these drop-off lanes. Please DO NOT drop your student(s) off on the street at this time while our traffic staff is closing up the gates. Once you see that the "closed" signs are out, you must go around to the main parking lot to drop-off. This is the safest option for dropping your students off after 7:40 a.m. Thank you in advance for your partnership and cooperation!

Yearbook Dedication Ads and Shout-Outs Now On Sale


Dedication ads are the perfect way to commemorate your 8th Grader's journey to graduation with photos, messages and quotes. Shout-outs are great for congratulating your St. Serra student on an outstanding achievement or milestone. "Early Bird" pricing is available until December 31, 2022. Ad pricing increases after this date. Don't delay - visit the Jostens website to get started! See FLYER for pricing.

Shop Now

10th Annual Seasons Tuition Assistance Luncheon


SAVE THE DATE! This year's event will take place on Sunday, January 22, 2023.


*Correction to previous announcement* General registration will open on Sunday, November 20.


The Seasons Team is still in need of committee members. See our Volunteer Opportunities page for more details, or send an email to: seasons@serraschool.org.

Volunteer Corner


Did you know?

You can now view sign-ups for Grade Level Opportunities on our St. Serra website. If you missed a sign-up in the St. Serra Sunday News or simply want to look up one you've seen before, this offers a convenient way to find it. Simply use your FACTS ID and password to login to view the page.


General volunteer opportunities can be found by clicking on the link below:

View Opportunities

Rebate (SCRIP) News


Reminder: The last physical card order before Thanksgiving break is due by 7:30 a.m. tomorrow, Monday, November 14.


Earn more rebates! 'Raise Days' are coming! On Thursday and Friday, November 17-18, bonuses are available for eGift cards and reloads. Make sure to check the RaiseRight app on November 16 for a sneak peak of all brands on bonus. Also, get ready for Black Friday shopping! Check out the Raise Right Holiday guide for gift ideas: HOLIDAY GUIDE


Questions? Email rebate@serraschool.org.

Yearbook Purchase Opt-out


This year, families will be automatically billed $55 per STUDENT through FACTS (meaning, each student will receive their own yearbook). If you would like to "opt-out" of purchasing one or more yearbooks for your student(s) please click on the link below. "Opt-out" requests must be received by December 31, 2022.


Questions? Please email Mrs. Janess Sifers:  jsifers@serraschool.org

Opt-out Now

FREE CA State Park Adventure Passes for 4th Grade


Fourth graders and their families can get into 19 state parks for FREE. A California State Park Adventure Pass helps them do just that. Parents of fourth grade students can sign up for the pass on behalf of their student. How? Have your parent or guardian go to ReserveCalifornia.com or call (800) 444-7275 and set up a profile by providing their name, address, phone number and email address. Your free California State Park Adventure Pass will be sent by email right away! For more information, click on the link below.

More Info

We Need Your Costume Donations!


Do you have costumes you aren't going to use again? Your costumes could be used in our next Spring musical! Mrs. Sifers is collecting costumes for all ages and sizes to be utilized by our theatre students. Clean costumes may be sent in to school; please mark them "Attention: Mrs. Sifers. Questions? Please send  an email to: jsifers@serraschool.org.

First Grade Chapel Mass


On Thursday, November 17, Fr. Charles will celebrate Mass with our first grade students in our beautiful St. Serra Chapel. We are excited to invite our first grade parents to join this Mass, which will start at 10:30 a.m. If you are attending, please enter campus through the School Office. As a reminder, all first grade students are to be in formal uniform.

Preschool and TK Prayer Service


This Wednesday, November 16, Preschool and TK students will be attending a Prayer Service in the Chapel starting at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude approximately 11:00 a.m. Parents/grandparents are welcome to attend. Attendees must enter/exit through the School Office. A table will be located in the School Office for check-in. Parents are welcome to take their preschool or TK child(ren) home at the conclusion of the Prayer Service. Remaining students will be dismissed using the regular dismissal pattern. TK students must wear their formal uniform but is not required for preschool students unless they have one. If your child does not attend Preschool on Wednesdays they are still invited to join us. Parents must stay with these students during the service.

Christmas Concert Attire


As our Christmas performances approach, we wanted to send a note about what to wear to the concerts. All students in grades Preschool through Eight should wear their "Christmas Best" to their concert. This means that boys should wear pants and a nice shirt or sweater. Girls should wear pants plus a nice shirt or a nice dress. We ask all students to abide by the St. Serra Free Dress Guidelines. No blue jeans please.

PTO SPOTLIGHT

Family FUNraiser at Baskin Robbins!

This Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Baskin Robbins in Ladera Ranch - come on out and have some great ice cream, while chillin' with friends and supporting our awesome school! Be sure to present the flyer, and 25% will be donated back to St. Serra.

Get Flyer

St. Serra Sip and Shop (and Eat) Event

Join us this Thursday, November 17, for some holiday sipping and shopping at BELLE Boutique in Rancho Santa Margarita. Also, grab a bite at Todos Santos around the corner - both businesses will donate a portion of the proceeds from this day to St. Serra. Click below for the flyer with full details.

Event Flyer

TK Burgers FUNlunch in December

Save the date! TK Burgers will be on campus Friday, December 9. Online ordering will open via the Sunday News on November 27. Please note, there will be no Choicelunch available on December 9.

The Book Fair Wants Your Candy!

Did your kids collect too much candy this Halloween? We can help! Donate your nut-free candy to St. Serra's Book Fair! You can drop off your nut free candy in a designated box by the School Office stairs when you enter the school. Thank you for helping us sweeten-up our event!


Save the date! The Book Fair will run January 23 - February 3, 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Mater Dei Early-Qualification Deadline: December 9, 2022

Early-Qualification is a conditional acceptance to Mater Dei High School. The advantages of a student being Early-Qualified is finding out about admission earlier than the general admission period, not being subject to a possible waitlist for our freshman class, and finding out about financial aid (if applicable) at the earliest possibility in February. Click below for more information.

More Information

SMCHS Presents "A 1940s Christmas Homecoming"


Santa Margarita Catholic High School’s Performing Arts department proudly presents “A 1940s Christmas Homecoming”. The production features all performing arts students. Performances are on Thursday, December 1, at 5:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Arts Alliance Annual Christmas Bake Sale will also be held in the Grotto. Tickets are available now. VIEW FLYER

Buy Tickets

Rosary Academy Athletic Info Night


Reminder - future Royals in grades 6th, 7th, and 8th are invited to join us at Rosary Academy's Athletic Info Night on Tuesday, November 15, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.


VIEW FLYER

Register

SM Youth Holiday Basketball Camps


Santa Margarita Catholic High School co-ed youth holiday basketball camps, for grades 3 through 8, are coming up soon. Be sure to register early!


Thanksgiving Break: November 21-23

Christmas Break: December 22-23


VIEW FLYER

Register
CLICK HERE for 8th Grade Graduation and High School Admissions Information
DIOCESAN AND LOCAL PARISH NEWS

National Eucharistic Revival

The Bishops of the United States are calling for a three-year grassroots revival of devotion and belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival aims to be a movement that renews the Church by enkindling a living relationship with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. READ MORE

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