Dear Parents-
Yesterday, we celebrated Columbus Day, nationally, and in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In a proclamation issued by Gov. Northam, Indigenous Peoples’ Day pays tribute to the “11 state-recognized tribes, which include the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Tribe, Chickahominy Tribe, Chickahominy Eastern Division, Mattaponi Tribe, Monacan Nation, Nansemond Tribe, Nottoway Tribe of Virginia, Pamunkey Tribe, Patawomeck Tribe of Virginia, Rappahannock Tribe, and the Upper Mattaponi Tribe.” The Governor further noted that “Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the resilience of our tribal communities and promotes reconciliation, healing, and continued friendship with Virginia’s tribes. In making this proclamation, we pay tribute to the culture, history, and many contributions of..” these local tribes.
Sadly, I share with you the news of the passing of Mrs. Joan Cargill, former principal of our great school, serving as principal for more than 30 years, retiring from SJS in 2015. To those of you who knew Mrs. Cargill, and worked with her, I am very sorry for your loss. As they become available, I will share additional details.
Please see the save the date, found below, for Saturday, December 4! The PTO is hosting a Night of Hope, Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 5pm-10pm. The evening begins with all parents invited to celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent at the 5:00PM Mass, followed by dinner and dancing! This fund-raising event includes lighting up the walkways with trees for each grade level and encore classes filled with "Angel Ornaments" that carry donation requests for items needed for classrooms. I am so very excited that the PTO added this event to the calendar! Stay tuned for more details.
We take note of the worsening supply-chain disruptions and the impact that is having on Flynn and O’Hara, particularly with respect to SJS neckties. Boys, grades 5-8 are required to wear a necktie with the winter uniform now in effect. Boys are encouraged to wear the necktie if they have one, otherwise, wear the button-down oxford cloth shirt without the tie. Sweaters, for all students, are optional, and are not required on hot days. Flynn and O’Hara expects ties by the end of October.
In this week’s COVID update VDH reports that over the last 7 days, Fairfax County has a total case rate of 93 cases per 100,000, and NAAT (PCR) test positivity down to 3.2%. The rate of transmission has dropped to the level of substantial transmission. Nearby Loudoun County has a current case rate of 112 per 100,000 and the COVID-19 positivity rate in Loudoun is down to 3.9%. The Fairfax County adult vaccination rate for fully vaccinated individuals has reached 74.2%. Mask up, Vax up and Please stay vigilant!
At some point as parents, we realize that our children are capable of making big mistakes, mistakes that could alter their entire future. Social media in all its forms presents the greatest threat to our children, not just in terms of victimization, but also in terms of our child being the cyber-bully or cyber-harasser. “Today, 72% of Americans (and 97% of teens) use social media, according to the Pew Research Center, and the most popular social media platforms can also be the most dangerous to kids. Potential threats to children on social media include age-inappropriate content, sexual exploitation, scams and cyberbullying.” (See experian.com/blogs) Please consider “social media free” days or other ways to eliminate social media from the lives of your children.
As always, if I can be of assistance, or you have any questions, please let me know.
Pray to St. Joseph for all your needs! (St. Teresa of Avila)
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God
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Please note the following correction for the Winter uniform:
- Boys in Grades 1-4 Winter Uniform
- Khaki twill pants (MUST have Flynn and O'Hara tag)
- White short or long sleeve knit polo
- Green V-neck sweater vest with school crest OR green V-neck pullover sweater with school crest
- Shoes must be SOLID BLACK OR BROWN leather shoes with rubber soles
- Belt must be SOLID BLACK OR BROWN
- Solid black or solid green crew socks
- Boys in Grades 5-8 Winter Uniform
- Khaki twill pants (MUST have Flynn and O'Hara tag)
- White short or long sleeve white oxford (Grades 5 and 6)
- Blue short or long sleeve oxford (Grades 7 and 8)
- Green V-neck sweater vest with school crest OR green V-neck pullover sweater with school crest (Grades 5 and 6)
- Black V-neck sweater vest with school crest OR black V-neck pullover with school crest (Grades 7 and 8)
- Shoes must be SOLID BLACK OR BROWN leather with rubber soles
- Belt must be SOLID BLACK OR BROWN
- Solid black or solid green crew socks
- Uniform green, black, and white striped tie
**The uniform tie is required for Grades 5th-8th and worn with the oxford button down shirt.
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Get Ready for Picture Day!!
Tuesday, November 2
Retake - November 16
Students may wear their school uniform or dress in clothes that are equal to or better than the school uniform. Please see the SJS Handbook for dress out guidelines.
Click HERE for more information and how to order!
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Night of Hope
Save the Date!
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Night of Hope
Saturday, December 4, 2021
5pm-10pm
Let's join together as a parent community to celebrate the 2nd Sunday in Advent with attending 5pm Mass as a community, followed by an evening of hope, food, drink, and dancing! We will be lighting up the Parish Hall walkway and hall with lite trees for each grade level and Encore classes filled with "Angel Ornaments" with the teachers and schools hopes and material needs. Our goal is to fill the halls with HOPE and fill our PTO operating budget to meet the needs of the school.
More details and ticket prices to follow.
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October
Saints for Service Project
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Community service is an integral part of education at St. Joseph Catholic School. Our service to the community teaches students the importance of making service a lifelong practice, to become better citizens and to live out their faith. St. Joseph Catholic School has partnered with Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project to conduct service projects throughout the year and assist families experiencing food insecurity.
The October "Stack the Mac (and cheese)" collection will start on October 5 and end on October 20.
Thank you for your support!
All Grades = Boxed Macaroni and Cheese
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National Medication Take Back Day
October 23, 2021
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The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.
DEA will hold our National Prescription Drug Take Back (NTBI 21) on Saturday, October 23, 2021 – 10AM to 2PM Click HERE to locate a collection site near you.
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What is Trunk or Treat?
Adults decorate cars and hand out treats from their trunks. Children dress in their Halloween costumes and go from car to car collecting candy. Register by Oct. 22!!
How do I decorate my trunk?
Please have your trunk and costumes reflect our shared Catholic values and avoid devils, witches & ghosts etc. You can go with fall/harvest, sports, Biblical, animals, legos, etc. Please keep in mind our Catholic ideals when selecting your decorations. This can be as elaborate or simple as you wish. Not creative? Pop open your trunk, bring a lawn chair and hand out a treat.
When & Where?
Thursday, October 28th
St. Joseph's Parking Lot
Parking Lot opens at 5:00pm for set up and decoration.
All participating cars must be in place by 6:00pm. Trick or Treating starts at 6:15pm.
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Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day
A healthy eating routine is important at every stage of life and can have positive effects that add up over time. It’s important to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy or fortified soy alternatives, and
protein foods. When deciding what to eat or drink, choose options that are full of nutrients. Make every bite count, Dietary guidelines 2020-2025. An article from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine
states that diets abundant in fruits and vegetables are associated with a reduced risk for chronic disease. The current 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that people needing 2,000 calories per day include 2 cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables in their daily diets. This recommendation varies with age, sex, caloric needs etc. More information is available at MyPlate.gov.
Why should kids eat more fruits and vegetables?
- Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and a good source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber
- Optimizes healthy growth and development
- Fruits and vegetables provide important vitamins and minerals to help support growth and development and strengthen our immune system to help fight off infections; vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups: dark green; red and orange; beans, peas, and lentils; starchy; and other vegetables
- Prevents chronic disease
- Prevents tooth decay
- Displaces eating of less nutritious foods that contribute to unhealthy weight gain
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Please click on the link above to read the flyer with information about 20 ways to enjoy fruits and vegetables.
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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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