THANKSGIVING BLESSINGS

Dear Saint John’s School Families,

As we close school today to celebrate the beautiful holiday of Thanksgiving, I want to take time to thank each of you for the blessing you are to Saint John’s School.  There is no way to adequately communicate my sincere appreciation for sharing your children with us.  We truly have so many, many reasons to thank the Lord for the blessings bestowed upon us as a school.   

The latest “good news” I wish to share with you is the honor that our 5^th/6^th Robotics Team received, Saturday. They, too, brought home a trophy from the  Preston Middle School competition for 2^nd overall in the Project Research Category, Research and Innovation.  They were one of the 6 highest scoring teams across all categories.  This allows them to advance to the State Tournament which will be held on Saturday, December 14.  How excited the team was , along with Coaches Crane, Rottinghaus and Miller. 

Enjoy your break and have a BLESSED THANKSGIVING.

Shalom,

Mrs. Schmitt

SAINT JOHNS COMPETES IN LEGO ROBOTIC TOURNAMENTS

  SAINT JOHNS COMPETES IN LEGO ROBOTIC TOURNAMENTS

Dear Saint John’s Families,

Competition---“A contest between rivals”.    Like any card or board game, competition can be a great motivator to learn to do one’s best.  It gives our students opportunities to give their experience the best effort they have to give.  So much is learned from competition, i.e. team work, determination, and most of all, “How to win, and how to lose.”

Among the many extracurricular offerings and opportunities to learn and compete here at school is that of our LEGO ROBOTICS.  This year we have two teams competing.  One team for 5/6^th grades and another for 7^th/8^th grades.  We are so grateful to Barrett Crane, Mike Rottinghaus and Michelle Miller who lead these teams.  The teams meet after school Friday afternoons.

Last Saturday Saint John’s 7^th and 8^th grade Robotics Team competed at Poudre High School in Fort Collins against 47 schools.  They received an Exemplary Score in the areas of GRACIOUS PROFESSIONALISM, TEAMWORK, INSPIRATION, PRESENTATION, INNOVATIVE SOLUTION and MECHANICAL DESIGN of their robot.  Cheers were heard when our team was called down from the bleachers to receive the TROPHY for STRATEGY AND INNOVATION.  Judges were impressed with their implementation of rack and pinion steering on a Lego robot, coupled with a steering calibration algorithm program the team downloaded into the robot, stating that it was very innovative and very well documented design. 

Saint John’s Lego Robotic Record: 

2011/2012 1^st Place overall—Poudre Tournament                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

2009/2010 1^st Place Teamwork—Poudre Tournament                                             

          1^st Place Teamwork-State of Colorado

2008/2009 4^TH Thompson Tournament

2004/2005 8th in the State of Colorado

Rookie team of the year

1^st in technical interview (State)

Tomorrow, Saturday, at Preston Middle School in Fort Collins our 5^th and 6^th graders will have their tournament.  Presently, this team and their coaches are working hard and long in preparation for tomorrow’s long day of competition.  Please join me in cheering them on.

Shalom,

Mrs. Schmitt

A+ FIRST TRIMESTER ENDS

      

Dear Saints John’s School Families,

It is hard to believe that today, Friday, November 8^th, is the end of our first trimester of this school year.  You can guess that the teachers will be spending their weekend working on assessments/grades which are due to Mrs. Sweeney on Monday.      Report cards and grades i.e. academic achievement is a high priority here at Saint Johns.  Since parents receive snapshots each Wednesday and since we recently held student, parent, teacher conferences, hopefully, there will be few surprises when your child(ren) brings home her/his report card next Friday.  Close communication between parents and teachers as to how a student is progressing is of great         importance.  Whether B’s, A’s or C’s, it isn’t a matter of how your child compares to others, is he/she working up to his/her potential?  Is there growth and             advancement?  Striving for excellence in everything we do must be our motto.

That being said, our highly respected Archdiocese of Denver Superintendent of  Catholic Schools, Mr. Richard Thompson, reminds us at our principals’ meetings, of our highest priority  that being our Catholic Identity and leading children to Christ.  The focus this year is CATHOLIC SCHOOLS:  HELPING TO          REBUILD CATHOLIC CULTURE. 

We must be committed to living out our Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School Mission Statement: 

In communion with our families, Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School provides a respectful Catholic environment  dedicated to developing the whole child through academic achievement, personal responsibility, and the          formation of faith-filled citizens in a place where Christ is ever present.

Shalom,

Mrs. Schmitt

SAINT JOHN’S FACULTY GOES TO SCHOOL

                  

Dear Saint John’s School Families,

What, no school tomorrow??  Not so!  No school for Saint John’s students that is. Yes, teachers must go to school tomorrow.  What?  When?  Where?  Why?   

Saint John’s Faculty  members are enrolled in an all day Catechetical  Class.  We will travel to Greeley to join Saint Mary’s  Catholic School Staff for a Pillars I Course.  This will be taught by an instructor from the Archdiocese of Denver Catechetical School .

Teachers in Catholic Schools  in the Archdiocese must become certified in the 4 Pillars:  A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  The Catechism is an invaluable resource for learning the Catholic Faith .  In his document declaring the Year of Faith, Porta Fidei, Pope Benedict XVI highlighted that it is in the Catechism that “we see the wealth of teaching that the Church has received, safeguarded and proposed in her two thousand years of history.  From Sacred Scripture to the Fathers of the Church, from theological masters to the saints across the centuries, the Catechism provides a permanent record of the many ways in which the Church has meditated on the faith and made progress in doctrine so as to offer certitude to believers of faith”  (Porta Fidei, 11)

The Catechism is divided into 4 sections, or pillars, upon which the Church’s teaching is based:  the Creed, the Sacraments, the Moral Life in Christ, and Prayer.  These 4 pillars come from Scripture when we are given a look into the life of the early Church:  “ And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (creed)  and fellowship (moral life), to the breaking of bread (sacraments) and the prayers (prayer)”  (Acts 2:42)  Tomorrow, we will be taking the Creed pillar which is an excellent summation of how God has revealed Himself in human history and how we respond to Him in the relationship of faith The word “Creed” comes from the Latin word, “credo” which means “I believe.” 

It is important for us here at Saint John’s School to keep current and knowledgeable in our own Catholic Faith in order for us to model and teach our students. 

Have an enjoyable long weekend.  Hopefully, we will see many of you at the Gala Saturday night.

Shalom,

Mrs. Schmitt

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE TOMORROW

                                 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE TOMORROW

Dear Saint John’s School Families,

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21.  The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.  The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. 

“On this International Day of Peace, let us pledge to teach our children the value of tolerance and mutual respect.  Let us invest in the schools and teachers that will build a fair and inclusive world that embraces diversity. Let us fight for peace and defend it with all our might.”   UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started in 2005, by two Art teachers as a way for students to express their feelings about what is going on in the world and in their lives.  Last year, 2012, over 4 million pinwheels were spinning in over 3,500 locations throughout the world.

Here at Saint John’s School Mrs. Brown makes this a part of her art program .  She teaches her students that peace isn’t only to be associated with the conflict of war, but how it relates to violence/intolerance in our daily lives, freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups, a state of mind and serenity, with no anxiety. 

In her classroom our students, too, create pinwheels, pinwheels of all shapes and sizes.  As part of the creation process, the students write on one side their thoughts about tolerance and living in harmony with others, on the other side they will draw, paint, collage etc. to visually express their feelings.  Today, the day before the International Day of Peace tomorrow, they “planted” their pinwheels here on campus as a public statement and art exhibit.  This followed Father Frank’s homily in today’s  Friday Mass, where he talked to the children about getting along with each other and living in peace.

Please observe and enjoy the pinwheels on Saint John’s campus. Ask your child(ren) about their Pinwheel for Peace.  When they bring it home let them tell you about what they learned and why. The spinning of the pinwheels in the wind will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world.  IMAGINE…”Whirled Peace”!!

Peace be with you,

GENEROUS GIVING OF TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE

Dear Saint John’s Families,

Parents of students here at Saint John the Evangelist School for sure understand  the meaning of stewardship, i.e. the giving of time, talent and treasure.  When the decision is made to enroll one’s child(ren) in a private Catholic School, there are many sacrifices that will be made.  Yes, tuition must be paid, uniforms purchased, school supplies, school pictures, transportation (gas) must be arranged, and participation in and support of a number of fundraisers, example,  Walk-A-Thon to name only a few examples of the giving of treasure.                                                                                                                                                                                         

The giving of time and talent is a huge area of sacrifice. While I know I run the risk of not being able to recognize and express my gratitude to so many of you parents who give your ongoing time and talent, I would like  to take this opportunity to give a most sincere “thank you” to  just some of  you. 

To those of you families and our National Honor Society Students who returned to Saint John’s on that hot August Saturday for School Clean-up day,  you were very much appreciated.  A special thank you to Rob Carr who sacrificed time, talent and treasure and rented a bobcat to move the mountain of woodchips in our playground.  Our school campus looked the best ever this year. 

Parents who volunteer in our kitchen making it possible to have excellent, home cooked food for our children, our gratitude.  Our  PTO  and SAC committees will meet this coming week.   We could not do without you. Our PTO Board is needing  members.  Ella Kaiser, Tara Kirkpatrick, Patty Nichols, can you count the number of years you have served on PTO?   

 And, of course, our BOOSTER CLUB,  behind our Athletics your quiet humble support does not go unnoticed.  Unfortunately, some of our parents have given their time and talent in this arena year after year.  Soon, we will schedule a BOOSTER CLUB meeting.  Please give consideration and call Mr. Sobraski to tell him you would be willing to step up and relieve some generous souls like Bethany Anderson who have given so much. Our volunteer coaches must be given a huge “pat on the back” for their time and expertise delivered in the hottest of season.

Last but not least,  Sara Smith,  who works each year to make the Golf Tourney  happen,  you deserve our sincere “thank you”  and yes,  many more individuals  to play,  support and sign up for next Saturday’s event. 

Thanks for all you school families do individually and collectively.  What a special community we have here at Saint  Johns.

Shalom,

Mrs. Schmitt

WHAT IS A SOAR STORE?

Dear Saint John’s School Families,
Yes, it is the latest “tongue twister” that you are hearing from your child(ren). Our students here at Saint John the Evangelist School are excited for the “Grand Opening next Wednesday of a new store here on campus.
At our “Back-to-School -Sunday a brief description was given of our the PBIS Program that is being implemented for students, faculty/staff and parents. Pamphlets sharing this good news were handed out to each family. A Positive Behavior Intervention System you may find in other schools throughout the nation and in schools in Loveland. However, each is unique to the specific school. Last year, with the assistance professional coaches, our faculty and staff laid the foundation and designed a PBIS Program to meet our needs at Saint Johns. A core team of faculty worked during the summer to finalize the details in order that we could “kick off” the program when school opened this fall.
Common expectations and vocabulary as to the expectations of students and staff is just one of the benefits of this program. What a way to learn/teach life skills that will develop the “whole child”! Now the exciting part…..Wednesday, students may shop at the SOAR STORE using the soar bucks they have earned.
Please thank our PTO for helping us to afford the items in the store. Without their support we couldn’t have opened our store. Several organizations have promised to help provide “treasures” for purchase. The cost of the purchase will, of course, depend on its value. Students may save their soar bucks if they would like to buy something of greater value, like Lunch with Fr. Sam??
Parents, when you are buying Scrip maybe you would like to donate a gift card of $1, $5, $10 dollars to place in our SOAR STORE. Are there new but unused or interesting “somethings” around your home that would be something fun for a child to buy? Perhaps you may know of a business, or organization that would be willing to support this program with small but meaningful items.
Thanks for backing our latest new program at Saint Johns.
Shalom,
Mrs. Schmitt