eGazette - September 9, 2009

Principal's Piece

Pack away the flip-flops, cover the BBQ and harvest the remaining tomatoes!

Labor Day traditionally marks the end of summer and this past weekend proved no different. We are officially in full-swing at St. John the Baptist Catholic School. As parents, it's easy to slip into the crazed, daily schedules of the packed routine: work, school, dinner, chores, sports practice, music lessons and home work... ahhhh!!!! Wake up and repeat! But where's the peace that God brings? How do we find quiet in the chaos?

Last Friday, our staff had the opportunity to re-charge our spirit during "Catholic Identity Day" sponsored by the Department of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Lee Nagel, member of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders and former Superintendent of Schools of the Diocese of Green Bay enthusiastically inspired us as Catholic Educators.

Among the many spiritual nuggets Mr. Nagel presented, he gave reminder of our need to connect with God through all times - the good and the bad. He offered this poignant advice:

In the happy moments, praise God.
In the difficult moments, seek God.
In the quiet moments, worship God.
In the painful moments, trust God.
In every moment, thank God.

No doubt we're running at super-sonic speed but let's remind ourselves, our children and each other that, without calm, we will burn out. Without God, we will become lost.

Have a peace-filled and faith-filled September.

With one voice... we'll pass the word along.

In Peace,
Nancy Jordan,
Principal

Welcome back! The 1st Family Club meeting of the school year is THIS FRIDAY, Sept. 11 @ 8:30am in the upstairs Art Room. As school parents, you are all members of our Family Club! All are welcome! Join other school parents for morning coffee, meet your Classroom Coordinators, and find out about upcoming school activities.

We hope everyone enjoyed the "Last Hurrah" of summer with the Labor Day holiday weekend. Before we move into Fall, we want to thank everyone who helped throughout the summer to contact and welcome New Families to our school, culminating with the Used Uniform Sale. Many thanks to Holly Clark and Jody Bolen, and their team of amazing volunteers. Lee Tatsuguchi and Rebecca Griffin, your Boxtops/Campbell's Soup Labels team, were also busy over the summer! Thanks to their hard work and your participation, our school has a shiny, new PE equipment cart!

We were happy to greet both new and familiar faces at the Family Club table at Back-to-School Night. Thank you to the many families that participated in the Teacher Wish List Program; every donation, big and small, is appreciated and makes a difference. Many thanks to Jody Bolen, Kristy Reynoso, Angie Troppy, and Lola and Salvador Espinoza for providing those refreshments to keep us all energized for this important and informative evening!

So as we say "so long" to summer and greet fall...we've got Christmas in September! The FC`s Holiday Catalog Fundraiser is in full swing. Shop your catalog but also visit www.gafundraising.com for many additional items that aren't pictured in your catalog. The website also makes it easy for family and friends to find holiday gift items they'll love, as well as helping our school. All orders must be turned in by September 22.

We are keeping our newest FC Board members, Claudia and Marissa, busy and invite you to come by and check out their handiwork on our bright and beautiful FC Bulletin Board. Here you will find the FC Calendar for the year, FC Meeting Minutes, Boxtops/Campbell's Soup updates and much more.

Again we extend and invitation to ALL parents, not just our great Room Coordinators, to our FC Meeting this Friday. Hope to see you there!

We are blessed to welcome Steve Angrisano, nationally renowned Catholic recording artists and composer of many songs we see at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and School.

Steve's unique blend of prayer, song, story and hilarious audience interaction has made him one of the most sought after contemporary musicians in the country. A veteran of many world youth days, he has also emceed the National Catholic Youth conference. A road warrior, he tours often, giving concerts and workshops at parishes around the U.S. and beyond.

A parish musician, music director and youth minister for 11 years, Steve's focus is, and has always been, one of honest ministry. What he shares, both in story and song, is a witness of the love and life of Jesus.

You'll recognize Steve's songs from our parish liturgies: "Go, Make a Difference!" and "Emmanuel". Gather the family and take advantage of this faith formation opportunity!

Where and when?

Thursday, September 10th at 4:00pm at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church!

This Friday, September 11th, is our first Friday Pizza Fundraiser Day. Students will enjoy two slices of FILIPPI'S cheese pizza, carrot sticks with ranch dip, and a treat. The cost is $5.00.

An order form went home in the last Wednesday Envelope and is attached. You may order for the whole year, monthly, weekly, or the Friday morning of the pizza lunch.

First up, or 8th grade class will be sponsoring this week's pizza lunch.
PIZZA_ORDER_FORM.pdf

2009 Jog-A-Thon
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Justin-Siena High School
4026 Maher St. Napa
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM

IT'S BIGGER! IT'S BETTER! IT'S GOING TO BE THE BOMB AND TOTALLY AWESOME! St. John the Baptist Catholic School is going FOOTLOOSE at Justin-Siena High School this year! So pencil the date in your calendar! You don't want to be an airhead and miss it. This JOG-A-THON will be choice with new and exciting happenings.

Here are a few friendly reminders:

- Friday, September 18th 2:00 PM = Kick-off Rally in Parish Hall
Pledge Envelopes handed out - Everybody welcome!

- Calling all aunts, uncles, grandparents and long lost cousins!
Long Distance Pledge Letters are enclosed in your Wednesday Envelope. Make bunches of copies and send it out to EVERYONE you know! All they can do is say "no", but then again, they might say "yes" After all it is for a good cause -- OUR SCHOOL!!!!!

- SPONSOR, SPONSOR, SPONSOR !!!
How cool would it be to have your company name on the back of over 200 T-shirts all around Napa? Don't personally own a company, then maybe you work for one? You just never know unless you ask... Please help us reach our goal!

- Did you say volunteers?
Yes, we did! Helping hands are always welcome! We need help with photocopying, data entry, counting, and lots of other stuff.

- It's going to be thirsty out there...
We will need several cases of 16 oz. bottled water for the actual day of the Jog-A-Thon. Know anyone who can donate a few cases?


PLEASE CONTACT - Katie Batt at ktbatt@yahoo.com or Mary Beth Bemis at mbbemis@stjohnscatholic.org for volunteer opportunities, questions or just to say "I HEAR THE JOG-A-THON IS GOING TO BE RADICALLY COOL!"

GET READY FOR A GNARLY - FOOTLOOSE EVENT!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT FER SHUR!

END OF SUMMER WITH A SPLASH OF PAINT

Join us for Art Camp on Wedesday, September 23 from 12:30 - 2:30pm
as we paint on stretched canvases using acrylic paints.
Summer is the theme so bring your best summer memories as we
capture the fun on canvas.
Class open from 1st - 8th grade. Class cost $25. To register contact
Sandra Moore at sandrapaints@comcast.net or 258-9258.

All St John's parishioners in grades 4 through 8 are invited to praise God by joining the choir.

Membership is free. Prior experience is not necessary.

Practice time is Thursday, 3:00p-4:00p, in the church.

Please see Mrs Giaquinto in the front office for signup form.

Anthony J Carlin
Music Director
St John the Baptist Catholic Church
Phone: (707) 224-8388 x 122
Fax: (707) 254-9262

WE DID IT!!

We made our box top Goal last year!! Thank you to all the St. John's Families for Feeding the Box Top Bear...with your support we were able to have a School BBQ and purchase a much need BALL CART for PE.

WIN $50,000 for our School: Go on to www.thebigclip.com to enter in the sweepstakes!

Goal this year is 1000 box tops per Class Room
This works out to be approx. 3 box-tops per weekly trip to the grocery store per family during the school year.

Recipe for 3 box-tops is below: Cost approx $1.70 per serving times 8 servings:
Chicken Pot Pie
App. 2.5 cups cooked leftover chicken and/or canned chicken. (Left over rotisserie chicken is nice)
One can of Campbell's Cream of Chicken soup
One can of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup (or any creamed soup of your choice)
One small onion
One bag frozen stew vegetables (may substitute fresh or canned veggies that are suitable for casseroles)
Water/milk/broth to thin filling to taste
Salt and pepper to taste
One package Pillsbury refrigerator biscuits

Dice onion and saute in pot until tender. Add chicken and warm through. Add cream of chicken and cream of mushroom soup. Thin with water/milk/broth till consistency of your liking for pot pie. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add frozen stew vegetables (may substitute with fresh or canned) and heat through. Pour into casserole dish and place refrigerator biscuits to cover top of casserole. Bake in oven per refrigerator biscuit instructions till biscuits golden brown. Remove from oven and let sit for five minutes. Serve warm. Reheats well. 6-8 servings

Our Goal is to have a new recipe in each eGazette to make it more FUN to collect box tops. If you have a great recipe to share please email it to Tina Altamura at shop2udrop24_7@att.net

Your Box-Top Coordinators,
Lee Tatsuguchi
Rebecca Griffen

All are welcome to Scripture class with Fr. Gordon beginning, Thursday, September 10 in the Narthex @ 8:30 am. They will be studying the Gospel of St. Luke. There will be coffee & goodies @ 8am. Bring a bible.

Please remember that parking in the playground is not allowed during morning drop-off. The South-Western gate is open for students and parents to walk into the yard. To have cars entering and parking on the yard creates a safety hazzard for them as well as for the students lining up for assembly.

We continue to invite all families to morning assembly, but ask that you use parking available on the surrounding streets. Also, students may not be dropped off on Napa Street to enter the front door of the school.

The School Council met for a prayerful retreat conducted by Father Gordon in the lovely Prittie home on August 22nd. The purpose of the retreat was to allow members to get to know each other better and to reflect on the special gifts and perspectives that each member can share to further the ministry of the school as part of our parish mission. Members for the 2009-2010 School term are: Fr. Gordon Kalil, Nancy Jordan, Katie Batt, Jake Arcanin, Lisa Paul, Bob Zeller, Maureen Bose, Felicia Rundquist, Phyllis and Howard Haupt, Kellie Pritte and Kyle Shuh. The purpose of the School Council is to act in an Advisory capacity to the school administration and Father Gordon while striving to carry out the ministry of the school as one of the many ministries of St. John the Baptist Catholic Parish. Some of the important agenda items for the 2009-2010 school year include School Development, Recruitment, Continuation of WASC mission and plan, Emergency Preparedness including pandemic threat preparedness, strategic planning and long term facility assessments and funding.

Napa Parks & Recreation Department
Walking Club

Come and join the Napa Senior Center Walking Club every Monday and Friday morning at 8:30am for a walk around the neighborhood. Please bring walking shoes, water and sunscreen. Class held rain or shine. No class 12/25 & 1/1. No fee.

Location: Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson Street.

To Register: go to www.naparec.com or call 257-9532.

- Submitted by Melanie Oberting

The Church Women United Clothing Center on Second Stree, is in desparate nee of help in order to continue operating five mornings a week and helping the needy of Napa Valley. The need is immediate and urgent for Monday and Thursday mornings.

If you can spare 3 1/2 hours a week, enjoy good camaraderie, and would like the satisfaction from being of service and helping others, then they need you. Please call Glenna at 224-5577.

- Submitted by Melanie Oberting