The Morning Star Weekly Newsletter Vol 6, Edition 1 8/9/2021
Morning Star School Mission Statement

Rooted in the Gospel and strengthened by the sacraments, the mission of Morning Star School is to provide a unique, inspiring education empowering students with learning differences to achieve their full potential.
Dear Morning Star Families and Friends,

Welcome to the 2021/2022 school year! We hope everyone has had a great summer break and is ready for a new school year. We are very excited to see everyone on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 11th. Please check your email every Tuesday this school year for our weekly newsletter. Important dates, upcoming events and school policy information are communicated within our weekly newsletter. You can also access our school calendar on our website at www.morningstar-jax.org/calendar

Starting a new school year is a very exciting time, but it can also stir up some nervousness and stress in both students and families. Here are some ideas to help your child prepare for the first day of school.

●    Encourage your child to share his or her feelings about starting school
●    For young children, read a story or two about school
●  Create a “school time” daily routine include bedtime, wake up time, and homework time
●  Include your child in the preparations such as school shopping, making lunch, packing his or her backpack, etc.

Our MSS teachers and staff have been hard at work preparing for the start of school. Our teachers have been setting up their classroom, preparing materials and learning new strategies to ensure the very best start to this new school year. I would like to introduce our new staff for the 2021/2022 school year. Mrs. Abbie Johnson is our new development director. Ms. Jennifer Capri is our new front office assistant. Ms. Negron is our new P1 teacher and Ms. Brown our new P2 teacher. Sonya Yates and Alayna Cann are our two paraprofessionals working in the Primary Department.
Elaine Shott, Principal
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
High School Orientation
Monday, August 9th is Orientation for High School parents from 6:00-8:00pm in the Delores Barr Weaver Media Room. Attendance is mandatory. We ask that only one parent attends (no students) for social distancing purposes. Please wear a mask.
Office Hours & Contact Information
Wednesday, August 11th is the first day of school. We can't wait to see our students! To view the information emailed home regarding start of school click HERE.

The front office is open every school day from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. To contact the front office call (904) 721-2144 or email our new front office receptionist, Jennifer Capri at jcapri@morningstar-jax.org.
School Picture Day "Say Cheese" 
Thursday, August 18th is picture day!

Students MUST wear their regular school uniform for picture day. No P.E. uniforms or dress down clothes on picture day. Thank you.
Open House K-8th
Tuesday, August 24th is Open House for Primary, Intermediate and Junior High parents from 6:30-8:00pm in the gym.
Fall Campus Clean Up 
Saturday, September 25th is our Fall Campus Clean Up Day!

Please come out and help us spruce up our campus. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Please bring your own tools and gloves if possible.

To sign up click HERE.
Morning Star School Family Fun Day
On Saturday, August 28th at 10:00 MSS will hold a Family Fun Day at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church (2400 Mayport Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32233). Join us for a fun day for the whole family. Please RSVP to Mrs. Binder at ap@morningstar-jax.org

Click HERE to view flyer
REMINDERS
School Supplies
If you purchased school supplies for your student from Education Products, Inc., at the end of the last school year, they will be in their classroom on the first day of school. Included in their school supply pack are name labels to label supplies.

If you purchased your student’s supplies on your own, please label them with his or her name.

To view the 2021-2022 school supply list, click HERE
Traffic Pattern/Drop Off and Pick Up Safety
  • There is one single lane of traffic both morning & afternoon. Please do not attempt to ‘squeeze through or go around’ other cars in the line!
  • Students may NOT be dropped off before 7:15 am (there is no supervision before that time).
  • Students should be in their seats at 7:40 am. The tardy bell rings at 7:45. If your child arrives to school after the bell rings you MUST park and sign your child in at the office
  • PLEASE do NOT block resident’s driveways on Mickler Road.
Afternoon pick-up starts at 2:35 pm. Car rider tags will be given out on Wednesday. Please make sure your car rider name tag is displayed in your windshield. You MUST go through the carpool line. No child will be allowed to walk to a waiting car even when accompanied by a parent. This is a serious safety issue which is addressed annually in our safety audit. Please help us keep your children safe by following this very important safety procedure.
RC Uniforms
To view and print the RC Uniform order form click HERE.
Medical Authorization Form
Please return the Diocesan Medical Authorization form signed by a doctor if your child will need any prescription or non-prescription medicine at school.

To view and print the medical authorization form click HERE.
How to Volunteer at MSS
At the time, we are still limiting visitors/volunteers but if you would like to volunteer, please call the front office to learn about opportunities. Also, look for future volunteer opportunities in our weekly newsletter.

How to register to volunteer at Morning Star:

Studies show that children of parents who are involved in school activities are more likely to be successful. It also models Christian service and teaches children the value of giving back.

Each Morning Star family is required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of service to Morning Star School during the school year. Hours must be completed by the end of the school year. Voluntary participation beyond the 15 hours is greatly appreciated. Parents/families not serving fifteen hours will be required to pay $5 per missing hour. Invoices will be sent home in May. Please keep track of your hours.

Please know that everything you do makes a difference, and we are grateful to have your help. Parent participation is crucial to our school.

To be able to volunteer in the school you must attend the “Protecting God’s Children Class and undergo a Background Screening and Live Scan Fingerprinting. Until this screening process is complete you will not be allowed to volunteer in the school. Sign up for your Protecting God's Children class soon, they fill up very quickly.
PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN & FINGERPRINTING INSTRUCTIONS

Follow the links below to complete your screening process: 

1. Complete a Background Screening Form: Click   HERE

2. For Live Scan fingerprinting instructions click HERE

3. Sign up for and attend a Protecting God’s Children Class: Click  HERE and select St. Augustine, FL (Diocese)

For help with the Volunteer Screening Process, please contact the front office - (904) 721-1040
Weather Alerts
Superintendent Deacon Scott will inform all Catholic Schools of school closures due to severe weather.
Box Tops & Amazon Smile
Help us fund raise for our school by signing up on Amazon Smile and downloading the Box Tops app! See the information below to find full instructions and links for both.
HELP US RAISE MONEY FOR MSS!
WHEN SHOPPING ON AMAZON SHOP ON AMAZONSMILE INSTEAD!
SELECT MORNING STAR SCHOOL AS YOUR FAVORITE CHARITY AND
A PORTION OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE DONATED TO OUR SCHOOL!
If you shop on Amazon, make sure you shop on AmazonSmile. It's exactly the same Amazon you love but a portion of your purchase price will be donated to our school each time you shop!

1. Visit AmazonSmile
2. Select Morning Star School of Jacksonville as your charity of choice and start shopping! 
3. Bookmark the AmazonSmile link and use it each time you shop with Amazon!  (Proceeds will only be donated if you are logged into AmazonSmile).
Download the Box Tops App Today!
Box Tops is a great way to earn fundraising dollars! And now there is a new phone app which makes it easier to earn points for our school! Shop as you normally would, then simply scan your store receipts to find participating products. The app will automatically credit your school's Box Tops earnings online. It's a much easier way to help us earn dollars.

Download the new Box Tops App HERE.
Watch a video about the new process HERE

You may still clip Box Tops and send them to school. Physical Box Tops clips are being phased out of production but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER...
  • Turn in your box tops weekly. They do expire.
  • Be sure to NOT cut the code off. We cannot use it if the code is missing even one of the digits.
  • Place them in a zip lock bag and send them in with your student.

Thank you for supporting our fundraising efforts! Questions? Please reach out to Jackie Rodriguez, our Home & School Box Tops Coordinator at jaco_rodriguez@yahoo.com
SUBMIT A STORY
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