Week of September 6, 2010
This Week…
Monday – NO SCHOOL – Labor day
Tuesday – Student Individual Picture Day – Students may wear casual dress. Please follow the casual dress policy posted in the Family Handbook located on the website at Current Families, then Handbook.
Wednesday – Back to School Night – begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Childcare is available. Please contact Mrs. Giovanna Coughlin for details.
Friday – Spartan Spirit Day with uniform bottoms.
Carlines and Assembly
Thank you to all of our families who are following the carline line and morning assembly policies. You are making a great difference in ensuring that our school arrivals and departures are efficient and pleasant. The faculty and I thank you for working with us during this transition times!
What are these Brown Envelopes?
Two communications come with you each week. First is the News Blast which is posted by Monday on the website. The second is the brown envelope. The brown envelopes contain the paper items of importance that you need to see. The brown envelope will go home with the youngest child in the family on Wednesday each week. Please empty the envelope and return it to school by Friday so we can refill it with more excellent information!
Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest, our first major fundraiser for the year is ready to kick-off! Thank you to Mrs. Lepley and Mrs. Cardona for chairing this year’s event. Mrs. Diana Walsh worked very hard chairing this event for the past several years and we are grateful for her hard work streamlining this event.
In next week’s brown envelopes, you will receive your families Oktoberfest ticket. The ticket is yours. It is not necessary for you to send any money to the office, unless you would like to purchase additional tickets!
Mark your calendar for FRIDAY OCTOBER 22, 2010. Oktoberfest doors open at 7:00 p.m. and are located in the Monsignor Trainor Parish hall. You can earn your five Fundraiser Share hours at this event. Please contact Heidi Lepley or Yamira Cardona if you would like to volunteer for this fun time!
Volunteering with the School Children
Reminder! If you would like to chaperone or work in the school A Safe Environments Training session needs to be completed. The next session will be held on Thursday, September 16th at 9:00 a.m. here at St. John Vianney in the Parish Hall.
Participants are asked to arrive by 8:50 AM. Please call 360-1113 x 0 to reserve your place in the class. A meeting SHARE hour can be earned by attending this, or any of the Safe Environments classes. (If you read this News Blast, email Dr. Swol at kswol@sjvcc.org and write Spartan News is Great in the subject line and you will be entered into a drawing for a Philips MP3 player).
NOW AVAILABLE IN THE PARISH OFFICE
Entertainment books are now available in the Parish Office. This year the price is $25. This book will give you coupons for Dining Out, Casual Dining, Travel & Hotels, Entertainment & Sports, and Retail & Services.
Proceeds from each coupon book help support Safe Environment training and screening for parish volunteers.
What is P.I.E.?
The PIE is St. John’s PTA, made up of interested parents, teachers, the principal and the pastor. The PIE organizes our school’s fundraisers, special activities and events throughout the year. This year’s PIE members would like to thank all the parents who have already come forth to act as a support team. Everyone’s involvement will really make this school year the best one yet!
Your P.I.E. executive board is:
PRESIDENT JanaLee Klimek
VICE PRESIDENT Lisa Bryson
SECRETARY Karen Wilson
TREASURER Amy Smith
Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 14 at 8:10 in the Cafeteria. EVERYONE is welcome to attend!
PIE = Partners Involved in Excellence
School Advisory Council (SAC)
The School Advisory Council [SAC] mission and its primary concern is the ministry of Catholic school education: the spiritual, intellectual, physical, emotional and social development of the students. SAC assist the Pastor and the Principal in governance of St. John Vianney Catholic School particularly in the following areas:
1. Strategic Planning
2. Policy Formulation
3. Evaluation of Policies, Plans, Mission, Effectiveness and Committee Self-evaluation
4. Intuitional Advancement/Development
5. Financial Planning and Financial Management
6. Communication
7. Maintain confidentiality with all sensitive matters and issues to come before the committee'
This is an advisory group that makes and has no authority to formulate policies separate from the Pastor and Principal.
Your board is:
Tim Barber
Dave Zavac
Bill Coughlin
Curtis Ames
Cathy Sykes
Spartan Travel
DEAR SJVCS SUPPORTERS
Again, we would like to start by welcoming everyone back for another great year at St John's.
Last week, we introduced ourselves to all of our new families and reminded our returning supporters of everything we have to offer here at Spartan Travel.
In this week's edition we would like to spotlight one of the best vacation values on the market today...
CRUISING
I know summer vacation just ended, but it is not too early to start planning for a great family cruise vacation.
Cruising is the perfect vacation choice for families of any size. There is something for everyone both on the ship and at any of the beautiful ports the cruise lines visit. One of the best features of a cruise is that it is all-inclusive. Your cruise price covers all meals, activities, and entertainment.
Whether you are looking for a 3 or 4 day getaway, a fun-in-the-sun week in the Caribbean, a relaxing cruise thru the inside passage of Alaska, or an around-the-world luxury voyage, we can handle all of your cruising needs.
We have 5 day Caribbean cruises out of Tampa starting at less than $50 pp per day from cruise lines such as Carnival, Princess, Disney, Holland America, and more. Log onto www.spartantravel.org or click the Spartan Travel link on the SJVCS web site and click the "cruises" link to see some of the fantastic cruises available to you.
We are in the process of putting together a "St John's Graduation Fundraising Cruise". More details will be coming soon.
We look forward to helping you plan your perfect vacation cruise.
Thank You again for helping support St John Vianney School.
Week of August 30, 2010
CHANGE IN DATE
Back-to-School Night
The Back-to- School Night date has changed due to the inaugural meeting of “That Man Is You”. We apologize for the change and appreciate your understanding as we support our church and this wonderful program, as our parish has done SO MUCH for our school.
Please mark your calendars for:
Back-to- School Night
Wednesday, September 8
At 6:30 P.M.
Parish Hall
Carline Reminder!
Morning Carline: All cars should be entering the morning carline ONLY by way of Gulf Boulevard.
Afternoon Carline – Carpool: All cars should be entering the carpool carline ONLY by way of Gulf Boulevard.
Afternoon Carline – Singles: All cars should be entering AND exiting the singles carline ONLY by way of Gulf Boulevard.
The carlines have been approved by the St. Pete Beach Police Department to ensure the safe entry and exit vehicles to the property while ensuring a smooth flow of traffic for the neighborhood. The police department will be monitoring the parking lots. Please follow the carline policy to avoid a traffic citation.
Lunch Time Visitations
There are times when you may wish to visit your child for lunch. Please be sure to notify your homeroom teacher prior to each visit!
1st P.I.E. Meeting
ALL ARE WELCOME!
Tuesday, August 31st 8:15
Partners Involved in Excellence: P.I.E
Join your parent board for the first P.I.E. meeting of the year.
8:15 a.m. in the cafeteria after flagpole.
Don’t Forget…
Friday September 3, Spartan Spirit Day.
Wear your spirit t-shirt or P.E. T-shirt with uniform bottoms
3rd Year of the Spartan Band
We are looking forward continuation of the Spartan Band program through the Paul Effman Music Company. Even though the program is extracurricular, like our sports and art clubs, we have opted to provide our students the opportunity to learn an instrument during the school day. This will be achieved through a pull-out program. The program will allow students to take instrument classes on Monday’s. The session times will alternate to ensure that your child does not get pulled from the same class every week. Many Catholic schools use this program and are very happy with the results, as we have been for the last two years!
Children in grades 3 - 8 brought home a flyer/sign-up sheet today. The form provides the details regarding the band program. Please complete the form and return it to your homeroom teacher by Wednesday, September 1st, if your child wishes to participate. Thank you.
Volunteering with the School Children
Would you like to volunteer and work with the school’s children, be a chaperone, or coach a sport? The training you have been waiting for is here! A Safe Environments Training session will be held on Thursday, September 16th at 9:00 a.m. here at St. John Vianney in the Parish Hall. Participants are asked to arrive by 8:50 AM. Please call 360-1113 x 0 to reserve your place in the class. A meeting SHARE hour can be earned by attending this, or any of the Safe Environments classes.
Spartan Travel
DEAR SJVCS SUPPORTERS,
We would like to welcome everyone back for what surely will be another fantastic year at St John's.
For all of our new families, I would like to personally welcome you and introduce who we are.
Spartan Travel is a full service online travel agency dedicated to serving all of your travel needs while helping St John's raise money for their school. Whether you are planning a cruise, vacation, business trip, or just a weekend getaway, you can book it all thru Spartan Travel.
Powered by Travelocity, our website has everything you need to book a beautiful vacation, and the best part is SJVCS receives a royalty on every purchase made on our site.
Visit www.spartantravel.org to see what travel plans we can help you with, and be sure to check your news blast every week as we will be highlighting a different feature of our fantastic site.
Again, welcome and thank you for supporting Spartan Travel and St John Vianney.
Week of August 23, 2010
Principal’s Corner
Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year! It is hard to believe that the summer is over and it is time to begin another great year of learning. The faculty and I are excited about what this year will hold for all.
This year is also very special as we are Celebrating our 60th Anniversary. A planning committee has been meeting to develop some wonderful activities throughout the year. Keep your ear open for upcoming events.
Please remember, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your teacher or the school office!
Setting a routine
These first weeks of school are VERY important to setting a routine for the students. The faculty and I are asking for your assistance in the following areas:
· Have your children to school no later than 7:55.
· Make sure your child is prepared for each day with books and homework assignments.
· Make sure your child has their complete uniform. This includes:
o White socks
o Belts for pants and shorts (neutral or dark colors only)
o Appropriate shoes (securable with laces or Velcro and in neutral or dark colors only)
· Hair is cut according to handbook policy and is well groomed and out of the face.
· Transition from flag to the parking lot quickly as school is in session.
Thank you for partnering with us to ensure your child has the best educational experience.
This Week
Monday – First Day of School and 12:15 Dismissal.
Wednesday – 8:15 A.M – First Mass of the Year.
Friday – Spartan Spirit Day – Casual Bottoms. Students may wear a school shirt, P.E. Shirt, or Spartan Spirit Shirt with Casual Bottoms for a $1.
Band Assembly for students only in Grades 3 – 8
Family Splash Bash at the St. Pete Beach Recreation Swimming Pool. All families are welcome!
The full school calendar can be found on the website under Current Families, then School Calendar, then 10-11 School Calendar or click this link>> School Calendar.
Every week our school community works together to show PRIDE in our school by celebrating Spartan Spirit Day. To help you know what to wear, the school calendar denotes two types of Spartan Spirit Days. These are Spartan Spirit Day and Spartan Spirit Day – Casual Bottoms $1.
On Spartan Sprit Days, students may wear their P.E. shirt, Spartan Spirit Shirt (orders will be available in the near future), their Spartan Sports Jersey, or any Shirt provided to them by the school’s clubs. Students must wear their uniform bottoms on these days with their shirts tucked in.
On Spartan Spirit Days Casual $1, students may wear their P.E. shirt, Spartan Spirit Shirt, their Spartan Sports Jersey, or any Shirt provided to them by the school’s clubs. Students may wear casual bottoms which include shorts of Bermuda length or longer, capri’s, long pants, or uniform length skirts with a $1 donation to the service project of the month. Students who do not wish to participate in the service project may wear their Spartan Spirit Shirt with their uniform bottoms. This special Spartan Spirit Day is held on the LAST Friday of every month.
This month, Spartans will show their Spirit by donating their Casual $1 to St. Peter Claver Catholic School in Tampa, Florida. St. Peter Claver is a very small community school that supports the homeless children of Tampa. The money donated will help the school to purchase much needed school supplies.
Please be sure to review the Family Handbook located on the website under Current Families and then Family Handbook for the full policy regarding uniforms and grooming. Of particular note, student should:
· Wear WHITE socks only.
· Have neutral colored securable shoes - ties or Velcro are acceptable.
· Have neutral colored belts on at all times if wearing shorts or pants.
· Have hair cut to an appropriate length
Please remember to park only in designated areas to pick-up or drop-off your child. For morning drop-off, the parking areas include the grassy area outside of the field, the parking lot next to the hall, and the north east parking lot of our church. For afternoon pick-up, the parking area is ONLY the north east parking lot. The designation of parking areas is to ensure that our families remain safe, as well as to ensure other members of our community that are doing business with church can park as well. Thank you for your courtesy!
The morning assembly is a part of our homeroom experience. We are happy to share this with our parents. However, in order to maximize our instruction time and to build necessary routine in our day, the parents are asked to give their morning kisses and hugs, PRIOR to assembly. At the end of assembly the children will be dismissed to their rooms and parents may get to their cars by way of the Locker room gate. Parents who have business at the school may reenter through the office and sign in for the meeting or activity. Mrs. Rios and Dr. Swol will be available in the back hallway to assist you.
A second change that will be occurring is that the PK – 3 classrooms will be locked in the mornings. Students will simply drop off their backpacks outside their doors and proceed to the field. This will help significantly with students who may be late to school and “hide” unsupervised in the classrooms until the class returns. This policy is to ensure the safety of all our students.
Our final morning reminder is to be sure that your child arrives at school no later than 7:55 a.m. This ensures that they have time to drop their belongings to their classroom and to have plenty of time to arrive at the field. Students arriving at 8:00 a.m. or later will receive a tardy slip. After four tardies to school, the student may receive a detention. Please help ensure they are on time.
Thank you for your cooperation in all of our school procedures as these are put in place to ensure everyone’s safety and to maximize the students learning time.
Remember, School Masses are held on Wednesdays. The students will lead and participate in the Mass as usual, including a normal closing of the Mass celebration. At the end of the closing song, Father will process back into the sanctuary to begin adoration. This will allow our students and their families the opportunity to participate in the exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We look forward to time with our Lord and Savior and hope you can join us in prayer!
Join your parent board Tuesday Aug 31st for the first PIE - Partners Involved in Excellence - meeting of the year at 8:15 am after flag pole in cafeteria. This is your Home School Association. Please be sure to follow school policy and enter through the School Office after flag. The visitor sign-in log will be available to you.
The Spartan Band is getting ready to begin its third year with the Paul Effman Music Company. Students in grades 3 – 8 will attend a 20 minute assembly on Friday. Students will be bringing home information on how to sign up for this great extracurricular program (offered during the school day for the convenience of our parents and students).
Hurricane season is truly underway. Hurricane Danielle is approaching the Bahamas’ and is expected to track north through the Atlantic. Should Pinellas County be placed under a Tropic Storm Warning or a Hurricane Warning, the following policy will apply.
From the Handbook
At times the school community is threatened by impending weather. As such, the school may have unscheduled closures or openings. If a Tropical Storm Warning or a Hurricane Warning is issued, the school will close for the duration of the warning. A warning is when a tropical storm or a hurricane is expected.
To determine if the school is open or closed:
· Call the school and listen to the school’s phone greeting.
· Check the website located at www.sjvcs.org.
· The Honeywell Instant Alert System will supply an automated message to your home via the phone and/or email.
All volunteers who work with the children of the school or parish, such as a chaperone, classroom helper, or office assistant, must complete a level II background screening and a Safe Environments Training. A SET training is scheduled for our school and parish next month.
When: September 16, 2010 at 9:00 A.M.
Where: The Monsignor Patrick Trainor Parish Hall
RSVP: 727-360-1113 x. 0
Other training locations and times are available for your convenience. To review the full schedule of offerings, go to http://cal.catholicweb.com:8086/dosp/safeenvironment.
For parents whose Safe Environment Trainings have expired, you may renew your training online. For directions on how to complete the online course, go to http://www.shieldthevulnerable.org/download/stpete_instruction.pdf.
To schedule your background screening, go to http://dosp.sofn.net.
All St. John’s students and families are invited to a fun-filled evening of swimming, hosted by the St. Pete Beach Recreation Center and the P.I.E. Board of St. John Vianney Catholic School. Please bring your own snacks, dinner, and drinks (no alcohol or glass please) and join us for a casual evening picnic and swim party! All children will need to meet with a life guard before entering the pool.
When: Friday, August 27th from 6:30 until 8:30 P.M.
Where: St. Pete Beach Recreation Center