eGazette - February 25, 2009

March 2009 Calendar

See attached.

March_2009_Calendar.pdf

The Lenten Journey Begins...

This past Sunday, our parish enthusiastically launched an exciting new religious education program. During "Generations of Faith", over 100 adults, children and teens gathered to socialize, enjoy a meal and grow in knowledge on the upcoming Holy Season of Lent. Through formal teachings and shared personal experiences, we were reminded of the significance of these 40 days. Lent begins today and leads us to Passion (Palm) Sunday and ultimately to the sacred observances of Christ's death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter. During Lent, we consider these traditional disciplines: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lent calls us to journey with Jesus - to close the gap between who we are and where Jesus calls us to be. At St. John the Baptist Catholic School, here are the ways we are preparing for our Lenten journey:

~ Fat Tuesday Celebration: Ask your child these questions about their Faith Family gathering yesterday!

1. What happened differently during morning assembly? (Hint - It involved fire.)
2. What did you create in your Faith Family?
3. What did you eat in your Faith Family?
4. Why did we eat "treats" on this day?
5. Who got the "baby"?
6. Where did the "Alleluia" banners go? Why?

~ Ash Wednesday: This morning at Mass, we recognized our journey from the earth back to the earth. Ashes were crossed onto our foreheads and we were reminded to "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." (Mark 1:15) The ashes came from the Palms that were blessed on Palm Sunday last year and burned during our morning assembly yesterday.

~ Lenten Symbols: During Faith Families, your child created a "Lenten Symbol". Using purple, paper footprints, they identified how they will "walk with Jesus" during these 40 days. You'll find these footprints and footprints from our "Generations of Faith" event lining the walls of our school and church.

~ Lenten Boxes: In unity with our parish, our school community is organizing Lenten sharing boxes. In the parish and in the classrooms, families are asked to take in a simple meal during the week and donate the money saved to these sharing boxes. Monies collected will go to support Puertos Abiertos (many of our kids will be familiar with this local organization from CSW Vocations Day) and the Diocese of Jamaica.

~ Pennies for Patients: We will have a duel coin collection this Lent. We will also be participating in the "Pennies for Patients" program to benefit The Leukemia Society. Madison and Jacque's cousin, Natalie is a featured in the Leukemia Society marketing materials for this year. There will be a "penny box" for each classroom and the Paul girls will encourage us all during am assembly to share their pennies.

~ Environment Change: In observance of the season, you will see traces of purple in and around our school. Look at: the Classroom prayer tables, our doorways, our church, the Priest's vestments and altar.

~ Lenten Prayer: Students: Each classroom has received a Lenten prayer card which will be prayed once per day during Lent.

~ Lenten Prayer: Staff: As with our students, we as a staff recognize our need to nurture our spirituality during this Lenten season. Our staff will gather each morning from 8:00am - 8:05am to reflect and pray.

~ Generations of Faith: Stay posted on our next parish GOF event! It will occur after the 10 mass on Sunday, 3/22, include lunch and guide us on the experience of "Holy Week". The time frame is 11:15am - 1:15pm.

Finally, I realize that this is the 20th, 30th, 40th or 50th Lent for many of us. How can we bring freshness to it that will capture the interest and commitment of our children? How can we not focus on the simplistic idea of "giving up" and expand our Lenten journey to "take it on"? What can we do to bring us closer to God? Our children bring us a natural, innocent enthusiasm that we can learn from. Take the time to grasp it and grow it during this prayerful time.

Have a Faith-Filled Lent.

In Peace,

Nancy Jordan
Principal

We are pleased to announce that Eco-Lunch of Napa Valley will start serving healthy, organic school lunch choices to our students in March! Eco-Lunch serves healthy lunches and after-school snacks.

All lunch orders will continue to be processed using orderlunches.com, a secure, fast and easy to use, online ordering system that allows parents to view the school lunch menu, order, prepay, and manage your child's lunches on the web.

See flyer attached and included in your Wednesday Envelope.

Eco-Lunch_of_Napa_Valley.pdf

Valentine's Day came a day early here at our school with over 700 Candy-Grams delivered to students, teachers, and staff members on February 13th. We were especially thankful for the following volunteers: Claudia Kalten, Jeff Mitchell, Josephina Adriance and Margarita Casas, who bagged and tagged all 700 with us!

Sharing their love for cooking and baking, Angie Troppy and Angela Imrie created an amazing and festive February luncheon for the staff.

Read Across America is next week, Monday, March 2! We will celebrate by reading throughout the day, and with this event coinciding with the birthday of Dr. Seuss, you can be assured, lots of activities are being planned.

If that's not enough, back by popular demand, PAJAMA DAY! Students may wear pajamas or sweatpants, but must follow uniform guidelines for free dress. Don't let them forget - a book or two!

Reminder: A Family Club Meeting will be held Friday, March 6th at 8:30; join us!

The Family Club Board

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Read Across America is Monday, March 2

Bring your favorite book, a cozy pillow and wear your PJ's or comfortable clothes.

Please follow free dress day guidelines in our Parent/Student Handbook.

Thank you to all of the families who have returned the registration packet!

A reminder to everyone that open registration for new students will begin March 2, 2009.

We are pleased to have so many families interested in enrolling their children in our school!

To confirm your child(ren)'s placement for Fall 2009, please return your registration packet and fees.

If you have any questions or if I can be of assistance, please stop by my office or call me, 224-8388 x101.

Thank you
Stephanie Saunders

Dear Families,

Over the next few weeks, your child will be participating in the Pennies for Patients program. Pennies for Patients is a service learning project during which students collect spare change in their classrooms to support The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This is an opportunity for students to learn about blood cancers, while empowering them with an avenue to help find a cure.

Our participation in Pennies for Patients is extra special to the students and staff at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, as we will be running our campaign in honor of a Napa resident Natalie. Natalie is in the first grade at a local Napa school, and is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia. Natalie is also the niece of Marvin and Lisa and cousin to Madison and Jacqueline, both St. John students. Each time we make a donation to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, we will be thinking about these families.

Thank you for helping us make a difference!

See informational letter in your Wednesday Envelope.

Click here to learn about the studio recording project our students are participating in at the Napa School of Music.

Student_Recording_Letter_-_Napa_School_of_Music.pdf
Music_Lesson_Offer.pdf
NSM_Promotional_Letter.pdf

Good Sports! St. John the Baptist's 2008-2009 Academic Decathlon students have participated in many athletic events, but on March 7th they will represent St. John the Baptist as they participate in the Santa Rosa Dioceses Academic Decathlon at Cardinal Newman High School.

Sarah B., Katarina G., Kelasea M., Liam V., Ryley D., Brandon L., Justin M., Tanja J., Shannon M., and Meghan M. will participate in two team competitions: Logic Quiz and Super Quiz. This year's Super Quiz Topics are Muscles of the Body; American Civil Rights Movement; Life and Work of Claude Monet; Gospel of John; and the book Bud, Not Buddy.

Eight students will also participate in Individual Exams:
- English: Justin M.
- Math: Sarah B.
- Anatomy (Bones of the Body): Brandon L.
- Civil War: Liam V.
- Vatican II: Ryley D.
- American Art and Nat King Cole: Tanja J.
- Current Events: Katarina G.
- Literature (Elijah of Buxton): Kelsea M.

The Team thanks Fr. Gordon for his assistance and inspiration in learning the Gospel of John, Raymond Mendieta for creating the team logo and shirts, and Eric Ewig, physical therapist, for his help in learning about muscles. We also thank the faculty for supporting the students and providing opportunities for them to present their topics.

Here's to teamwork, dedication and red vines!

Ms. Berube, Ms Lee and Mrs. Wooly, Mrs. McClure and Mrs. Vlaming

If anyone is interested in learning more about our new Art Progam or volunteering in the art classroom, please contact Suzanne Gibbs at suzgibbs@aol.com.

Track and Field Day is Sunday, May 17th, after the yearbook printing deadline. In order to be included in the 2008-2009 Yearbook, we would like to gather all students who will be participating in Track & Field Day for a Team Photo on Friday, March 13th. We will take the photo in the School yard at 3:10 Please bring your 2008 Track & Field T-shirt, St. John's Athletics T-shirt or Jog-a-thon T-shirt to wear for the photo. Track & Field Day Registration forms will be distributed then they are available from the Dioceses.

For more information, please contact Paula Vlaming at 363-1046 or paula@focus501.com.

February Spanish vocabulary for grades 1 through 6 is attached to help you study with your child at home.

Spanish_Vocabulary_-_My_Face.pdf

Please join the children of St. John the Baptist Catholic School for the annual Celebration of The Feast of St. Joseph, hosted by 5th grade.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

The St. Joseph's Day Table is a centuries-old tradition which began in Sicily in the middle ages. It is to honor St. Joseph as the father of Jesus here on Earth, and as the patron saint of fathers and all those who labor. It is a celebration of gratitude for answered prayers and an offering to share our many blessings with those around us.

We will serve the traditional St. Joseph's Day meal of pasta, bread, frittatas, and pastries during lunch.

All Parents are invited to join us for lunch.

There is no cost. This is not a fundraiser.

Please help continue the tradition. Volunteers are needed to set up, serve, and clean up.

Set-up: 10:00 - 11:30
Serve: 11:15 - 12:30
Clean-up: 12:30 - 1:30

See flyer attached and included in your Wednesday Envelope.

St__Joseph_2009.pdf

Sponsorship Deadline: Monday, March 2nd

Please turn in your Sponsorship Forms! Many school families and businesses have expressed an interest in being a Gala Sponsor and we want to recognize you as we print this year's One Heart at a Time invitations.

Sponsorship opportunities range from $300 - $2,000 and include promotional opportunities, tickets and table purchases. In order to be included as a sponsor on the Gala invitations, please submit your sponsorship form to the School Office by Monday, March 2, 2009. Forms are available on the Gala Bulletin Board, or contact Elise Negueloua through the school office at 224-8388, ext 0.

Thank you for participating in our largest fundraiser to support student programs.

We had a great turn out for our first gathering last Sunday-despite the rain and the proverbial parking lot jams! More than 120 persons were present for our session in English and nearly 300 for our session in Spanish. Our topic was the Season of Lent.

We are grateful for our two coordinators: Bob Theisen and Jean Cederquist, along with our leadership teams that included Martha Pedroza Ramos, and Jake Arcanin, Wayne Beasley, and presenters: Nancy Jordan and Rocio Ayvar, along with the members of our Parish Pastoral Council, Buen Pastor, Jesed, Choir-Spanish, Movimiento Familia Cristiano; St. Vincent de Paul, Children's Liturgy of the Word, Spanish CCD catechists and coordinators Eustolia Velazquez and Teresa Olguin, EMC's English and Spanish; and many other volunteers that helped with set-up, home kits, program components, food preparation and service, clean up, and all in the great spirit of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish.

Our next gathering of Generations of Faith will be Sunday, March 22 after the 10:00am Mass-English and after the Noon Mass-Spanish. The focus will be Holy Week.

All are welcome to attend-bring family members and friends-all ages welcome and childcare and food are provided.

If you would like to help at the session, please contact Bob Theisen, Jean Cederquist, or Rocio Ayvar (Spanish) by leaving a message and contact information for them with Gloria or Luis at our rectory office-707-226-9379 ext. 10.

Blessings for Lent, Fr. Gordon

While we are blessed to have a very active youth ministry for Spanish-speaking youth, coordinated by Luis Juarez, we are additionally blessed to announce that we will begin youth ministry for English-speaking youth later this spring.

The coordinators for our new youth programs for Junior High and High School youth are Michele DiMarco and Milton Gallegos - both are faculty members of our St. John the Baptist Catholic School-what a great blessing. Michele and Milton (I call them M&M) will start the programs with an event they are planning around April or so-details to follow. They will include summer events as well.

Please join me in congratulating Michele and Milton as they bless us in ministry and service to our youth and all of us in our parish!

Thanks be to God, Fr. Gordon

Attached is a flyer for a Master Catechist/Adult Enrichment class being offered on March 14 by the Diocese of Santa Rosa.

Life_In_Christ.pdf

See flyer attached.

Jan_2009_Org-Stud_Skills_Workshop_Parks_and_REc_Version.pdf

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(707) 224-8388 - www.stjohnscatholic.org
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