eGazette - September 24, 2008

Principal's Piece

Dear St. John the Baptist Catholic School families:

Next week, September 29 through October 3, students in grades 2 through 8 will be taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), a standardized measure of academic achievement. You may have read the abundant media coverage on the use of standardized tests in public schools, often referred to as "high stakes testing". In the public system, this type of testing is used as measurement of academic achievement, as well as for accountability and funding.

In the Diocese of Santa Rosa (DSR), standardized testing is used for programmatic evaluation. Through year-to-year analysis of ITBS results, we evaluate curriculum delivery and alignment. The intended outcome is improved service delivery to ensure our students are optimally prepared as they progress through their educational careers.

You can assist your child next week by the following:

- Make sure your child gets a good night sleep prior to and during the assessment days.

- Make sure your child eats a balanced breakfast and protein-based snack for recess that will keep a long-term balanced blood sugar level.

- Try to maintain a consistent daily routine for your child throughout the days of assessment.

- Remind your child that the assessment may be a little difficult and he/she is not expected to know all the answers.

Again, encourage your child to do his/her best, but assure your child this is simply another task to do at school, something that happens every year. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. Your child's results will be shared with you during parent/teacher conferences during the week of November 3.

In Peace,


Nancy Jordan
Principal

Friday, September 26 is FREE DRESS DAY. Please see our Free Dress Guideline in the 2008/2009 Parent/Student Handbook posted on our website.

See October 2008 calendar attached.
October_2008.pdf

Family Club hosted its first meeting on September 9, and would like to thank all that attended! Mark your calendars for the next meeting, October 12th @ 8:30 a.m., upstairs across from the Computer Lab. Please feel free to join us; we'd especially love to see new families! If you signed up to help at Breakfast with St. Nick, believe it or not, it's on the next meeting agenda! Family Club is happy to announce our new BoxTops team, Lee Tatsuguchi and Rebecca Griffin! BoxTops/Campbell's Soup Labels are both wonderful opportunities for the Family Club to raise funds. It simply requires.....every family to save and turn in their BoxTops and labels; easy! Last year alone, we were we able to select a large quantity of P.E. equipment through Campbell's labels, and raised $500 collecting BoxTops! Speaking of fundraising...Filippi's Dine & Donate is coming! Tuesday, October 21st, all day! Dine in or take home all day long; a percentage of every school family's receipt will benefit the Family Club. This year, we have an earmark; Mrs. Evans has chosen a beautiful new library rug for the students to sit on during storytime, and this is a fun and easy way to contribute. Let's all EAT PIZZA FOR OUR SCHOOL LIBRARY! A Filippi's flyer will be included in the next Wednesday Envelope, which you will need to present during your meal. While we are on the topic of fundraising, the Family Club's treasurer, Tina Altamura, has just completed our 2008-2009 budget. Tina, accompanied by Family Club representatives, presented the proposed budget before the School Council, and it was unanimously approved! This year's budget will hopefully give us the oportunity to support a few new activities, including a curriculum-based art program and 8th grade graduation luncheon, while allowing us to contiune our efforts to appreciate our teachers and staff, host hospitality events, and support various programs throughout our school. Family Club has an even bigger job to tackle this year, and the board appreciates the amazing support so many of you have already given us! On the horizon...A HOLIDAY WRAPPING PAPER fundraiser to take off next month; A catalog filled with goodies for every family. We encourage you to visit the Family Club table during Back-to-School Night, Monday, September 29, and let us fill you in on all the happenings, in person!
See you there!
The Family Club

Evening Schedule (Please note revised times)

5:30pm - 6:00pm Classroom Session 1 *
6:00pm - 6:15pm Break
6:15pm - 7:00pm General Meeting in the Hall
7:00pm - 7:15pm Break
7:15pm - 7:45pm Classroom Session 2 *

* Classroom Sessions
During the classroom sessions, you will have opportunity to hear your child(ren's) teacher describe his/her program. We invite you to ask questions, review materials and sign-up for opportunities to participate. It is only necessary to attend one classroom presentation per child.

Parents of students in grades 7 and 8 will meet in the Hall.

For those of you desiring more instruction on accessing "Cafe Revolution" for your child's school lunches, please visit Cafe Revolution anytime between 5:30pm and 8:30pm as they will have an ongoing presention about their lunch program.

UPCOMING DEADLINES

- Wednesday, September 24 - Long Distance Pledge letters turned into school office for mailing

- Friday, September 26 - Cut-off for business sponsor's to have their name or advertising put on back of T-shirts

- Monday, September 29 - Back-to-School night. Last chance to sign up to volunteer at the Jog-A-Thon

KICK-OFF RALLY

- Friday, September 26 at 2pm in the Hall. Families are encouraged to attend

MAIN EVENT

- Thursday, October 9, 2008!

Friday, September 26 - FREE DRESS DAY

Monday, September 29 - BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Monday - Friday, September 29 - October 3 - ITBS TESTING

Thursday, October 2 - BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS - 3:30PM

Wednesday, October 8 - 12:30 DISMISSAL & PROGRESS REPORTS SENT HOME

Thursday, October 9 - JOG-A-THON

Friday, October 10 - NO SCHOOL (staff professional day)

Friday, October 10 - 12 - FAMILY CAMPING TRIP TO SLY PARK

Tuesday, October 21 - DINE & DONATE NIGHT AT FILIPPI'S (more information to come)

Wednesday, October 22 - MAKE-UP PICTURE DAY & 12:30 DISMISSAL

Friday, October 31 - HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL - 12:30 DISMISSAL (more information to come)

See order form attached.
PIZZA_ORDER_FORM.pdf

See Cafe Revolution's October lunch menu on the attached flyer.
october_2008_student_lunch_menu.pdf

We will be having the Blessing of the Animals in honor of St. Francis of Assisi on Thursday, October 2 at 3:30pm by the Respect Life fountain. ALL ANIMALS ARE WELCOME!

NOW IS THE TIME TO SAVE YOUR BOX TOPS AND CAMPBELL'S SOUP LABELS!!

In each of the classrooms there is a collection jar marked with colored bears. This is where you "FEED THE BEAR" your box tops and Campbell's soup labels. Twice a month the jars will be collected and tallied for submission to earn money and points for our school. We challenge each classroom to reach for the stars and collect 1000 box tops over the school year. Each classroom that reaches this goal will be invited to a BOX TOP BBQ at the end of the year. (More details to follow)

So don't forget to "FEED YOUR BEAR".

To see a list of all participating products you can click here or visit www.boxtops4education.com. You can register to find out about special bonus box tops and track our success as we reach for the stars.

Don't forget when clipping out box tops or soup labels we need the UPC code to be readable and included.

We thank you for all your efforts in advance and look forward to collecting well fed bears.

Lee Tatsuguchi
Rebecca Griffin
Box Top Co-Coordinators

If you were absent on picture day or would like retakes, make-up picture day is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22.

If you want retakes, you must bring back your original picture packet. You may keep the class picture.

See flyer attached.

40daysflyerenglishspanishrightsideup.pdf
40_Days_for_Life_signup_form.pdf

See flyer attached.
Cynthia_Lang_business_flyer-2.pdf

See flyer attached.
Water_Polo_Flyer.pdf

See flyer attached.
Facilities_Renovation_Flyer.pdf

In addition to getting fingerprints done and doing the safe environment training, please register on the Diocese website. The Diocese database is the only way we get clearance information.

Thank you,
Stephanie Saunders