Dear Parents-
This week we celebrate the feasts of St. Monica (Aug. 27) and St. Augustine (Aug.28), mother and son. We look particularly to St. Monica for understanding the importance of persistence as well as the importance of prayer in our daily lives, as she spent 17 years in prayer for the conversion of her son. St. Augustine, the benefactor of his mother’s prayers, is regarded as one of the greatest saints. After his conversion he devoted his life to serving those in poverty, and is said to have lamented to God, "Too late have I loved You!" We offer our prayers this week to Sts. Monica and Augustine as we ask for patience as we start our school year!
The coronavirus weighs on us as we welcome students back to school this week. The numbers are trending down very significantly, and as of this writing , the positivity rate in Virginia is 5.4% with an infection rate of 0.92, and specifically, an infection rate in Fairfax County of 1.06. Websites that track the virus indicate COVID in Fairfax County is spreading in a slow and controlled fashion. Again, I remind our families to wear masks, wash hands, keep distance and avoid crowds.
Tomorrow we welcome to school students in grades 2, 5 and 8. Thursday, we welcome students from grades 1, 4 and 7 and Friday we welcome Kindergarten, grade 3 and 6. Each grade attends school only one day this week, so that we can get everyone acclimated to the new layout in the school. School starts at 8:00AM and dismissal each day is at 11:30AM. Distance Learners will meet in the afternoon each day to get acquainted with their teachers and get comfortable with the technology. Starting Monday, Aug. 31, all students will be in class, either in person, or accessing the live stream lesson. Kindergarten parents are reminded that your children will attend school half-day, in an A Day/B Day rotation starting Friday, Aug 28, through Friday, Sept 4.
Please review the arrival and dismissal carpool procedure, available here, and please be patient and flexible. All students must have a waiver, and hand the waiver to the adult at carpool BEFORE entering the school building. There are no exceptions to the waiver requirement. The waiver requirement has been mentioned in the last three Barks, so there should be no confusion. All students must wear a mask, and should arrive at school with the mask on, and students should not remove the mask without permission.
Back to School Nights for in-person and distance learners are all virtual. Parents will be provided with the links to the appropriate Back to School Night presentation. Remember that Back to School Night is an opportunity to become acquainted with your child’s teacher, learn about the curriculum, meet the other parents, and it lets your child know how important school is! We look forward to seeing you!!
Extended Day is scheduled to begin on Monday, Aug. 31, AM and PM sessions. Phase Three guidance for Extended Day programs allows for only 22 individuals (including adults) in each “location.” Due to CDC cleaning protocols, there are only two available locations at SJS, and that limits the number of spaces available for Extended Day students. Available slots will go first to families that rely on Extended Day five days per week. Mrs. Lisk will reach out to families and questions should be directed to her as well.
Father Tom and I are very excited about the return of the students. Everyone at SJS has worked very hard to get ready for this day, and we want to give a huge shout out to our IT and Facility team (Mr. Dean, Mrs. Hatley and Mr. Rucker) who have worked tirelessly to help SJS get up and running, the ongoing efforts of Mrs. Ezenwa to understand the daily changes in COVID-19 prevention protocols, the teachers who recognize that this year is not like anything they have ever seen before and yet they carry on because they love their kids, and the amazing admin staff who work to keep it all running.....the list of people to whom we owe enormous thanks is pretty much endless!
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Go to Joseph
(Gen 41:55)
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God
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REMINDER: As you prepare for school lunches and snacks to send in for your child, please refer to the Allergy Plan. Our classrooms are nut free zones. No nuts of any kind nor any item that has been produced or processed in a facility where nuts are processed are allowed. We appreciate your attention and cooperation at this time. This is a temporary measure in effect for the safety of our children with severe allergies while our children are required to eat in the classroom.
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*August 26 - First Day of School Grades 2, 5, and 8
*August 27 - First Day of School Grades 1, 4, and 7
*August 28 - First Day of School K (A group), 3, and 6
August 26, 27, and 28 are 11:30am dismissal days for In-person students. Distance learners will start their day at 12:30 until 3:00pm for August 26, 27, and 28.
*The plexiglass shields needed for kindergarten have not yet been delivered, and without those the kindergarten start date has been staggered. Kindergarten parents are reminded that your children will attend school half-day, in an A Day/B Day rotation starting Friday, Aug 28, through Friday, Sept 4.
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SJS Parent/Student Handbook
*Update*
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Action Items!!
You will be notified when the Parent PowerSchool Portal is open via an email from the Arlington Diocese. The subject of the email says 'Enrollment' - please be assured that your child is enrolled in school. This is the new portal to review your demographic information and submit any required updates. If you need assistance logging into your account after you receive the PowerSchool enrollment email, please email Lisa Pearce (l.pearce@sjschoolva.org).
Please read the 2020-2021 SJS Parent/Student Handbook. We ask that you read it in its entirety as there have been changes in several areas. One important change is the early release requirements for students and doctor appointments.
- Log into PowerSchool to acknowledge that you have read and understood the 2020-2021 SJS Parent/Student Handbook.
- Confirm that all of your information in PowerSchool is correct! The information in PowerSchool is how we will contact you so it is imperative that the information is correct! Check phone numbers, email addresses, home addresses, etc.
- It is mandatory that you provide 2 reliable emergency contacts who could pick up your child in the event of illness if you could not be contacted.
- Make sure to fill out the Media Release form.
Thank you!!
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Kindergarten Back to School Night |
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Tuesday, Aug. 25 Kindergarten Orientation - details provided at Back to School Night (details were provided)
Tuesday, Aug. 25 Kindergarten Back to School Night (parents of distance learners) Link to be provided
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1st Grade Back to School Night |
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Tuesday, August 25 Virtual Back to School Night for 1st Grade parents of distance learners 7:00pm Link to be provided.
Wednesday, August 26 Virtual Back to School Night for 1st Grade parents of in-person learners 7:00pm Link to be provided.
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Grades 2-6 Back to School Night |
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Monday August 31 Virtual Back to School Night Grades 2-6 Parents of in-person learners 7:00pm presentation repeated at 7:30pm. Encore teachers, Resource teachers, and Counselor available 8:00-8:30pm Link to be provided.
Tuesday, September 1 Virtual Back to School Night Grades 2-6 Parents of distance learners 7:00pm presentation repeated at 7:30pm. Encore teachers, Resource teachers, and Counselor available 8:00-8:30pm Link to be provided.
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Grade 7 Back to School Night |
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Wednesday, September 2 Virtual Back to School Night Grade 7 All parents of distance and in-person learners. 7:00pm Encore teachers, Resource teachers, Counselor, and Distance Support available 8:00-8:30pm. Link to be provided. |
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Grade 8 Back to School Night |
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Thursday, September 3 Virtual Back to School Night Grade 8 All parents of distance and in-person learners. 7:00pm Encore teachers, Resource teachers, Counselor, and Distance Support available 8:00-8:30pm Link to be provided.
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Catholic Sports/NVJCYO
Fall 2020 – As we find ourselves facing the challenges of a pandemic and the
reintegration/reopening of the Church and school, we will not have parish sports this fall. As you may know, the Diocese of Arlington has decided not to have certain sports in the fall as of this date. We thank you for your respect and understanding of this decision.
Peace and good!
Father Tom and Mrs. Rutledge
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SIGN-UP NIGHT! – Virtual ZOOM Session Sept 9th 7PM
For boys in grades K-5: learn about the adventure of Cub Scouts and be part of our St. Joseph Pack 913! Cub Scouts is a year-round family program with siblings very welcomed. Our Pack has exciting events with activities that are fun for kids and the entire family. Our Cubs learn about important life skills, personal safety, and environmental stewardship. They take part in fun outdoor activities, get involved in their community, and learn to be part of a team. Safe social distancing guidelines are observed at all times.
Date: Wednesday, September 9th Time: 7:00pm
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St. Joseph Parish Pack 913 Kick-Off Pack Meeting – Water Rockets and more!
Welcome to the first Pack meeting of our 2020-21 Cub Scout year! Our St Joseph Parish Cub Scouts will be meeting on Friday, August 28th, 5-7pm @ Grand Hamptons County Park located at 1081 Safa Street Herndon, VA 20170. Scouts will be building and launching WATER BOTTLE ROCKETS with their Dens. Other activities will include no contact laser maze, soccer-golf, water balloon range, and Corporate Works of Mercy religious patch activity. Scout should wear their Class “B” scouting activity shirt or any other scouting, school spirit, or patriotic t-shirt. Pack Social Distancing Guidelines will be observed.
New potential Cub Scouts in Kindergarten through 5th grade are welcome to join. Students in any of these grades may join the pack any time throughout the school year. New families wishing to attend this event should contact Steve Bailey at chairperson@pack913.com to review social distancing guidelines prior to the event. |
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Have you been considering joining a Bible Study?
St. Joseph is hosting a Bible Study via Zoom! WALKING WITH PURPOSE BIBLE STUDY IS BACK!
Life today is unsettled and unsettling. We see and feel a deep need for someone more powerful than we are to be our heart-friend and personal guide through these turbulent times. That Someone is Jesus! We need him in every part of our lives, every day. But we wonder how to find and understand Him and to have the joy-filled life that He promises. The Bible is the book that tells us. It is Jesus’ love letter to us, filled with messages of love, hope, joy, guidance, and prayers.
If you’d like to learn how to open His love letter, understand it more deeply than ever, and use it to develop a personal, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, and meet new friends, come join us in the Walking With Purpose Bible study for women. We would love to share this journey with you.
Opening Your Heart will be offered this year via Zoom beginning in the Fall. (Time, date TBD by individual group). If you are interested, please download registration form from our website or contact sgeurin63@gmail.com /703-338-7077 for more information and schedule a date, time, session that works for you!
Please visit our website at http://www.tinyurl.com/wwpstjoes where you can download the registration form and find link to order your book from WalkingWithPurpose.com. Please order your book soon! Scholarships available.
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August
August 25: Kindergarten Orientation (details provided directly to families)
August 25: Kindergarten Back to School Night (parents of distance learners) 7:00pm Link to be provided
August 25: Back to School Night for 1st Grade parents of distance learners - 7:00pm (Link to be provided)
August 26: Back to School Night for 1st Grade parents of in-person learners 7:00pm (Link to be provided)
*August 26: First Day of School Grades 2, 5, and 8 (11:30am dismissal for In-person students. Distance Learners will start their day at 12:30 until 3:00pm.)
*August 27: First Day of School Grades 1, 4, and 7 (11:30am dismissal for In-person students. Distance Learners will start their day at 12:30 until 3:00pm.)
*August 28: First Day of School K, 3, and 6 (11:30am dismissal for In-person students. Distance Learners will start their day at 12:30 until 3:00pm.)
August 29: First Holy Communion (rescheduled from May due to COVID-19; In-person and Distance Learners)
August 31: Virtual Back to School Night Grades 2-6 Parents of In-person Learners 7:00pm. Presentation repeated at 7:30pm. Encore Teachers, Resource Teachers and Counselor available 8:00-8:30pm. Link to be provided.
August 31-Setember 4: SCANTRON Week 1
September
September 1: Virtual Back to School Night Grades 2-6 Parents of Distance Learners 7:00pm Presentation repeated at 7:30pm. Encore Teachers, Resource Teachers, Counselor and Distance Support available 8:00-8:30pm Link to be provided
September 2: Virtual Back to School Night Grade 7 All Parents - Distance and In-person. 7:00pm. Encore Teachers, Resource Teachers, Counselor and Distance Support available 8:00-8:30pm Link to be provided
September 3: Virtual Back to School Night Grade 8 All Parents - Distance and In-person. 7:00pm. Encore Teachers, Resource Teachers, Counselor and Distance Support available 8:00-8:30pm Link to be provided
September 4: 11:30am Dismissal for In-person and Distance Learners
September 7: NO SCHOOL (Labor Day Holiday)
*The plexiglass shields needed for kindergarten have not yet been delivered, and without those the kindergarten start date may be delayed.
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Stay Connected!
SJS Mobile App, Twitter and Facebook
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Don't forget to follow the official St. Joseph Catholic School Facebook page (sjschoolva), Twitter account (@sjschoolva), and download the mobile app from the App Store (St. Joseph Catholic School, VA)
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750 Peachtree Street, Herndon, VA 20170
Tel: 703-880-4350 Fax: 703-880-4320
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