May 25, 2021
School Business
Congratulations to our 4th Quarter Saints AND Saint of the Year Winners
A big congratulations to our 4th quarter Saints Award recipients and our Saints of the Year! Please watch the video below from our Administration team which honors your outstanding citizenship this year!
balloons_congrats.jpg
Class of 2021 Scholarships
Our StJPII Class of 2021 graduates have been a blessing to StJPII and we cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for this outstanding group of young people. During their time here at StJPII, they have exceeded our expectations and carried on our tradition of academic excellence. We offer congratulations to the following students who received academic scholarships to the following Catholic High Schools:
  • Jenna Beyer St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • David Calderon Strake Jesuit College Preparatory
  • Averi Garrity St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • Sammy Khoury St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • Rosemary Neslony St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • Peter Rider St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • Julia Rodger St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • Mariana Rondon St. John XXIII College Preparatory
  • Alyssa Zeidan St. John XXIII College Preparatory  
Summer Reading and Math Assignments
Each summer, StJPII students are required to continue to read and practice their math skills, so that knowledge is not lost over the summer. Research has proven that 15-20 minutes of reading each day increases the amount of vocabulary a child learns, which in turn increases comprehension, all resulting in higher academic performance. By reading and reviewing math skills over the summer, students are able to begin the school year better prepared for new content. Click the button below to learn about each grade's assignments.
Student Usernames Changing in June

This was an exciting year of adding many new online resources to our students' digital backpacks! As we continue to add more resources, it is important that our student accounts are secure.

Beginning in June, student usernames will be changing to a more secure format. We will no longer be using the format of first initial, last name, graduation year.

New usernames for students will be formatted as follows:
[first initial + last initial + 2 digit graduation year + the last 4 digits of student's unique ID number]@jp2.org

Example:
John Smith, StJPII graduation year 2025, ID: 24001328 --> js251328@jp2.org

*New usernames will also be mailed with final report cards.*

More information and how to locate a student's unique ID number in Plus Portals can be found here: StJPII Student Google Accounts

As we switch to the new usernames, there may be an interruption in our online services. Please check this page for an update on our services throughout the summer: Status of StJPII Online Resources
Reminders from the Nurse
Please check your student's mailed report card for notice of immunizations needed. If your student has not met all immunization requirements this information will be mailed home with the last report card. These immunization requirements must be made current for the first day of the school year 2021-2022.

Should you decide to immunize your children with the COVID vaccine it would be a good idea to update their records at school with these dates. This could be important information needed for quarantine situations for the next school year. Please note that in no way is this vaccine mandatory for school attendance. All decisions for the 2021-2022 School Year regarding Covid protocols will be announced in the Summer newsletter.

Sports Physicals for middle school sports are required for the first day of try-out in August. Please make these appointments soon so as not to miss school for this physical.

If your student has medication in the clinic it must be picked up in person by a parent. It may not be sent home with the student. Please check in with the front office and it will be returned to you on the last day of school.

Last, but certainly not least, I personally want to thank the parent community for all your support this year. Thank you for submitting the COVID Questionnaire daily. Thank you for keeping students at home when they had symptoms. Thank you for supporting our student's efforts to wear masks. Thank you for your tolerance for quarantine procedures. Your support made this year a success! Thanks!
Last Day of School: Reminders
This Thursday, May 27 will be the last day of school! Here are a few important details to remember:
  • We will have our last All-School Mass. Students should wear their full dress uniforms. It will not be live-streamed.
  • Early dismissal will be at 12:00 (PreK and Kinder) / 12:15 (1st-5th) /12:30 (Middle School).
  • There will not be afternoon BASP, so thank you for making other arrangements.
  • Students do NOT need to bring lunches. (Students in Pre-K may bring a snack.)
St. John Paul II Rosary
If you ordered a StJPII Rosary in the Bidding with Bernie online auction, they will be available for pick-up in July. We will send you an email once they arrive. We are just as excited as you, can't wait to get them blessed so they may further enrich our prayer lives. St John Paul II, pray for us!
Report Cards & Iowa/Cogat Scores
Final report cards will be live in the portal on Monday, May 31 after 4:00 p.m. The final report cards will be mailed home next week along with your child's IOWA and Cogat Scores (for grades 1-8).
Middle School Lost and Found
Mrs. Takagi has taken up the task of reunifying lost clothing to students who have their names written inside the clothing. If you student has perhaps lost a piece of their uniform and you did not receive it back or forgot to place their name inside, please email Mrs. Takagi at takagisarah@gmail.com to see if it may be among the no name items. We are trying to reunite as many uniform pieces as possible to families. Thank you for those parents who placed their name inside. 
BASP Reminder
All students who owe a balance to BASP, the last day to pay is Friday between 8:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. to the front office.
St. John Paul II 1st Grade Pope Play
Please join in watching our annual Pope Play performed by our 1st Grade Classes. Parents if you would like to download the Pope Play, please use this link below.
Parent Teacher Organization
PTO End of the Year Recap
It is an understatement to say that the 2020 - 2021 school year was challenging, but despite these challenges the StJPII PTO was able to accomplish extraordinary things, here are a few:
  • 9 Zoom PTO meetings
  • 2 Boxtop Promotions
  • 4 Book Club Meetings
  • We celebrated 150 children's birthdays through the Birthday Club
  • 9 Monthly Russo Spirit Nights
  • 1st quarter bi-weekly treats
  • 1 Poinsettia sale
  • Deliver Christmas snacks to the children
  • Movie Night Snacks
  • Provide meals safely to families and staff that needed a helping hand over the school year
  • 2 Teacher Appreciation Luncheons
  • 4 First Friday catered lunches
  • 8 Monthly Faculty Snacks for Faculty Meetings
  • We stocked snacks in the Teachers’ Lounge
  • Staff and Teacher Christmas and End of Year gifts
  • Teacher Gift bags full of gifts
  • Spirit Store 
  • Teacher Sonic happy hour and morning Coffee
  • Morning of breakfast tacos for the teachers and staff
  • Fun in the Sun
The PTO is collecting money for the Faculty and Staff End of Year gift. If you are interested in contributing, a suggested amount is $10 per teacher. Please put your gift in an envelope labeled “Faculty & Staff Gift” and bring to the front office by Friday, May 21st. We thank you in advance for your generosity.

If you are looking to give a more personal gift, there is a binder in the front office with teacher ideas.
StJPII PTO
Athletics
Middle School
This summer, we will offer summer camps for athletics. Remember to constantly check the Athletic Calendar for these opportunities.
Cheer Tryouts Rising 5th-8th Graders
Coach Porth Conditioning Camp is back!
For: 5th thru 8th Grade ~ any young man that wants to be a better athlete!
 *Purpose: To train young men to be better athletes and to learn how to put in the work to be a successful athlete.

*Starts Monday, May 3rd 3:45 PM until 4:45 PM.

*Days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
*Duration: Until the end of school. Will Continue during summer.
*Cost:$10 per session payable on Acceptiva on the Middle School Athletic Home page
*Please install the REMIND SMARTPHONE APP and JOIN our CLASS:
SJPII Conditioning Class CODE: @c82gceg

*Basic Format:
Check-in - Temperature check then Wash hands – put on gloves and masks.
Warm-up/Stretch Agility drills

Workouts – Calisthenics to start – light weights (age appropriate later).
Power drills/Plyometrics or throws or heavy carry later as appropriate.
Running – Sprints or Endurance or Shuttle drill.
5-minute skill instruction on something athletic.
Sometimes a quick “fun” game that is also training (heart rate up) on Thursday.
Prayer.
Wash hands and gloves to exit.
Coach Morales's Volleyball is back!
Elementary Athletics
At the end of every season I always try to find the "right" words of appreciation for our Coaches....and again, I cannot find enough words to say thank you to each one of you! In years to come, you will see your kiddos and realize what an incredible impact you made on each and every one of them! We could not do this without you, we are so grateful to all of you and look forward to hopefully a regular school year next year, and each one of you will come back! Feel free to turn in the catcher's equipment to the front black gate, just text me and let me know you dropped it off.

You are all such a blessing, many many thanks!
Coach Hewitt, Athletic Director
This summer, we will offer summer camps for athletics. Remember to constantly check the Athletic Calendar for these opportunities.
Community News
Looking for a summer camp for your kids? SJ23 has got you covered. We are offering summer camps for Middle school and High School ages. From Athletic to Fine Arts, SJ23 has it all. Click the link to see all camps offered, contact information, and how to register for each camp.
Summer Camps (sj23lions.org)

If you have any questions, please contact the director of each camp or admissions@sj23lions.org and we will be happy to assist you in any way we can.

Thank you for your interest in St. John XXIII!
You are invited to attend the 14th Annual Strake Jesuit No Limits Debate Camp. After an outstanding year last summer, we are back, better than ever. We especially encourage our middle school debaters to consider joining us this summer.
We will be an in-person camp this summer. IF there is sufficient interest we will provide some virtual classes as well.
 
 
Dates: June 1st- June 11th at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, Texas, 77036, weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Math+ Program from Strake Jesuit
The Math+ program includes 6 courses. Each Math+ course focuses on 1 major idea based on key concepts included in Stanford University’s introductory math sequence. Due to the current COVID-19 there is a new format last year that uses interactive online tools that engage and challenge students while ensuring a fun and interesting environment.

This Summer, the Math+ course will focus on Number Theory – the study of integers (e.g., -1, 2, 3). Over the six classes, we will explore different aspects of this critical concept and will learn what Number Theory is and how it relates to computer applications and important topics including cryptography. A letter about the course is attached.

The six session course will be taught in-person at Strake Jesuit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-2 pm starting on Tuesday, June 15 and ending on June 24.

Please click on the button below for more information.
Calendars
St. John Paul II Catholic School
1400 Parkway Plaza, Houston, TX 77077
281-496-1500 • 281-496-2943 (fax)
St. John Paul II Catholic School prepares all students spiritually
and academically to succeed in life and to do God's will.