Dear Parents-

Last Friday our second graders received the sacrament of Penance for the first time! The children prepared furthering their relationship with Christ, and also came to understand the sacrament as a gift from God to forgive our sins committed after Baptism. We also congratulate our six older students who also received the sacrament. Parents are reminded that regular reception of this sacrament helps to strengthen individual relationships with God. In confession we have the opportunity to repent and recover the grace of friendship with God. It is a holy moment in which we place ourselves in his presence and honestly acknowledge our sins, especially mortal sins (USCCB). Please keep all these amazing boys and girls, and their teachers, in your prayers.

Parents are also reminded that during this holy season of Lent, students in grades 2-8 will attend Stations of the Cross each week on Wednesday afternoons. If parents MUST pick up a child early on a Wednesday in Lent, please plan to arrive no later than 2:00 PM (Grades 2-8 only). After that time, students will be attending Stations of the Cross in the church and will not be available for an early dismissal.

Social media has the potential to be a useful tool that fosters communication, interaction, content-sharing and collaboration. On the positive side, people use social media to stay in touch and interact with friends, family and other social groups. However, group chats and text messaging can be as destructive as any other form of social media. And often, a child who has unsupervised use of a device discovers the negatives of texting. Parents are reminded that the handbook policy is clear on the inappropriate use of technology. If you want to protect your child from receiving inappropriate text messages, take the device away. If you want to protect your child from sending inappropriate text messages, take the device away. Almost 100% of inappropriate communication between students occurs after school hours, on devices and networks not monitored by the school.

Instead of using social media websites and apps, why not explore Hallow and other faith-based apps that may enrich our children in terms of prayer life and relationship with Christ. In addition to Hallow, you may want to look at Virtual Catholic Youth, or other opportunities to live as a child of God.

Parents are invited to join us for Stations of the Cross, Wednesday afternoons during Lent. Please arrive by 2:25 as doors will lock.

As always, if you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please let me know.

Refreshed, revived and renewed by "faith, love and hope." (1Thess. 1:2-3)

Denise Rutledge

Principal

 Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God

No school on March 10 - Teacher Professional Development

St. Joseph Catholic School's annual tuition payments are scheduled for your convenience through FACTS, over ten monthly installments. Starting in 2024-2025, the first payment will be due in July and the final payment due April.

Additionally, the enrollment fee will be $350

Just a reminder of the hair policy in the St. Joseph Catholic School handbook:

Girls:

Hair must be neat and trimmed. Trendy haircuts of any kind (which includes lines or shapes of any kind), including dyed hair and any color extensions are not permitted for either girls or boys. Final decisions regarding haircuts rests with the principal/administration. 

Boys:

Hair must be neatly trimmed, cut above the collar, eyebrows, and top of ears. Boys may not wear ponytails, hair bands, or other hair ties. Trendy haircuts of any kind (which includes lines or shapes of any kind), including dyed hair and any color extensions are not permitted for either girls or boys. Final decisions regarding haircuts rests with the principal/administration

Have your child use their cell phone to make phone calls only - encourage human communication and resist temptations by other apps! Disable all social media apps and text messaging on their cell phones and devices. Let's declutter our minds and hit the reset button for Lent.

Quick peek at some of the items up for bid:

• Alamo Draft House "Date Night" package
• Whitetail Ski lift passes
• Kendra Scott jewelry
• Lots of brewery and winery goodies!

• Trump National Golf Club
• Encore Stage tickets
• Bobby Mckey's Dueling Piano Bar
• Washington Nationals Tickets

.........and so much more!!!

Tickets on Sale NOW!!

**Pleased to announce we have expanded sponsor tables to accommodate more guests! 

Reserve your table today; they are limited!**

Do you own a beach house or business? Are you creative and want to donate a themed basket full of goodies? Love to entertain? You (or a few families) can host a BBQ, Italian dinner, or seafood boil! Consider donating an item, service, experience, or basket to be up for bid at the auction! Donation suggestions include: gift cards, vacation home stays, concert tickets, sports tickets, tours of local landmarks, golf rounds, hotel night stays, the possibilities are endless!

How about giving a 'shout out' to your graduating 8th grader or an ad of encouraging words for your child(ren)? Check out the Program Ad form for details.

Be sure to check out the Sponsor and Underwriter opportunities - lots of great perks at all giving levels!

Visit the Shaken Not Stirred auction fundraising website for forms and information!

Dear Parents/Guardian:

Please be aware that we are seeing a high number of students ill with vomiting and diarrhea as well as some who have tested positive for Strep. If your child is not feeling well or is exhibiting these symptoms please assume they have been exposed to the stomach virus or Streptococcus bacteria. Please keep them home and have them evaluated by their doctor for guidance and treatment. 

In addition, remind your children to practice simple hand hygiene always and good etiquette especially when ill. If your child is sick, keep them home and follow the SJS sick policy below. Your child may not return to school if it has not been at least 24h-48h since their last incident of vomiting, diarrhea or fever. Sending your child to school earlier than they should return exposes their classmates and teachers to these illnesses. 

To read about Norovirus click HERE. 

To read about Strep Infection click HERE.

This is the St. Joseph Catholic School sick policy:

As a reminder, in order to minimize the spread to others, if your child is sick or complaining of not feeling well, please keep them home and monitor for illness and make sure they are feeling well before sending them back to school. Your child must be at least a FULL 24 hours fever/vomit/diarrhea free without taking any over-the-counter medication before they can return to school. And, if their symptoms warrant a doctor's visit, please have them evaluated by a healthcare provider with a note if applicable prior to returning to school. Please keep your child home while you await their test results.

Click HERE for more information on the Child Protection Program. Contact Beth Covert at 703.880.4357 for any questions!

Peace and good! As we gather to celebrate the 40 Hours Devotion here at the parish, “Let us ask ourselves…adoring the Christ truly present in the Eucharist: do I let myself be transformed by Him?” (Pope Francis).

The purpose of Eucharistic Adoration is to deepen our desire to be open to God's love, mercy, and guidance. On behalf of our parishioners who make a holy hour each week, I invite you to join us for our 40 Hours Devotion on March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Please note:

• All are welcome to join us for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Please feel free to sign up for a committed time for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4cafa92ea31-40hours/8213661#/

• Please feel free to contact the SJC Office is you have any Office at 703.880.4302); and
• Please feel free to join us at any time during the 40 Hours Devotion.

As a parish community, let us continue to be transformed by Christ through the gift of the

Eucharist.

Father Tom

Every Friday in Lent at 7:00 pm here at St. Joseph Catholic Church, our faith community gathers together in devotion to The Way of the Cross, also known as the Stations of the Cross. Each week a different Parish Ministry/Organization leads us in prayer. We will meditate on Christ’s sacrifice for us. The Stations of the Cross began on Friday, February 24th . The Stations of the Cross are prayed in Spanish at 8:00 pm.

The 2023 Bishop's Lenten Appeal serves tens of thousands of people!

Please support the mission of Jesus Christ in our diocese.

Our 2023 Bishop's Lenten Appeal (BLA) theme, "My Soul Rejoices in the Lord," honors Our Blessed Mother’s "yes" to God’s call, sharing the theme of our diocesan Jubilee’s second preparatory year. Each of us can seek to imitate the perfect example of Mary by proclaiming the greatness of the Lord each day as we live our faith and share our blessings. In this spirit, please prayerfully consider a donation to the 2023 BLA today!

St. Joseph Catholic School

750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170

Tel: 703-880-4350 Fax: 703-880-4320