June 7. 2010
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
The school
year, 2009-2010 has ended. And what a year it has
been!, a year filled with joy for some, tinged with
sadness and loss for others, and, yet, for all of us it
has been a year touched by God’s love and grace!
What could
be better than God blessing us? His blessing is the
lift to our steps, the smile to our faces, and the song
to our hearts. How blessed we are to be blessed of Him!
God has
blessed you to make you a blessing. This year God has
given through your hands the talents you share in making
all things beautiful, through the Auction, through
delicious food, through lifting boxes as we vacated our
building, and through donations of your hard earned
money. God has given through care from your hearts,
through words of support, comfort, and compassion, and
through the smiles and care in your eyes.
God has
truly blessed the lives of so many in our parish and
school communities and beyond because His blessings are
upon you. You and your children have made a Difference
because you walk humbly and lovingly with our God.
I want you
to know that St. John Vianney Catholic School is blessed
because you are here. Your presence influences our day
to day living. Because of your partnership with us our
school is an outstanding institute of learning, a loving
nurturing environment, a stronger place to work and a
safer place to play.
Thank you
for your overwhelming support, your outstanding
partnership, and your abiding trust in all of us who
love, respect, and work with your children. Each minute
of every day we try to help your child/children to
become all that God wants them to become. Thank you for
allowing us to journey with you.
News in Review
Faculty and
Staff
·
Sara Riney will retire after 24 years of
teaching 4th grade.
·
Mrs. Riney committed herself to preparing
our students to fully participate in our Liturgies each
week.
·
She also scripted and choreographed our
outstanding Christmas Program, “Gift to our Parents.”
·
Mrs. Riney also was the author of the
play, “Florida History,” which was performed every year
by the two 4th grades.
·
Mrs. Riney will be missed.
·
Mrs. Vanessa Mayorquin, Kindergarten
teacher and Mrs. Amanda Roberts, 2nd grade
teacher, will not return due to pregnancies and the wish
to become full-time Mothers.
Enrollment
·
The enrollment for 2010-2011 remains
steady.
Finances
·
To date we continue to maintain an
excellent working budget.
·
The Annual Fund continues to grow and
allows us to keep our curriculum on the cutting edge.
·
Our Annual Auction held on April 17, 2010
was an outstanding success.
·
The income, approx, $100,000 plus other
fundraisers will help the PTO to meet their assessment,
$125,000 +, toward the operational budget of the
school.
Outreach
This year
our students and families exceeded expectations for
their Outreach to Parish and Global needs.
-
Haiti: $3,000
-
Thanksgiving: $2,500 plus food to St. Vincent de Paul
-
Christmas: Farmworker toy drive: $1200
-
Lent: Food and $1,000 – PreK-3rd grade
$1,500 in food –
6th grade
$1,100 in food – 5th
grade
-
Students shopped at Aldi’s – classes went on the bus
-
Dominican Republic – will send in excess of $1,500 to
Fr. Fred for their school.
Academics
Science: Outstanding
Science Fair
20 students received
32 Awards at the County Fair.
12 Place Awards with 2
firsts
20 Special Awards
2 students – Emily
Conte and Adrianna Cusco went to the State Fair.
Duke Talent
Search
33 students out of 68
seventh graders qualified to take SAT’s.
24 took the test and
10 have qualified to go to UF in Gainesville for special
recognition.
Math Counts
Our students did very
well. Justin Baush received the highest individual
score in our school.
Graduates
The class
of 2010 graduated with great pomp and circumstance on
June 2, 2010. Sixty-six well-prepared young students
will begin the next phase of their education and become
the class of 2014. These students were noted for their
outreach and warm hospitality. Their service to others
was outstanding and will be long remembered.
We send
them off with love and best wishes as they pursue their
life’s dreams.
Catholic
Identity
Integral
to the life and vitality of St. John Vianney School is
its Catholic Identity. Each day Faculty, Staff, and
students concentrate on living out our Mission as a
Ministry of St. John Vianney Parish. We challenge
ourselves on a daily basis to be a community that
reaches out in kindness and compassion to one another
and to all whom we meet. We constantly remind each
other that Christ is the Center and the reason for our
school.
I wish you
a blessed summer, one filled with peace, joy, and
relaxation.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth Murphy
April 12, 2010
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
I hope
that you enjoyed a blessed Easter and a few days of down
time with your children.
This is
the week for which we have been waiting – it is just 5
days until the Auction! This is our Gala Night –
our night of camaraderie, our night to support
our school, our night to delight in our accomplishments,
and our night to Celebrate who we ARE.
Come and
see! Come because there is No Place
like Home. SJV is Home!! You will meet
the Great Oz; who is He?!! You will meet Dorothy and
her friends – Tin Man, Scare Crow, and Lion. Yes, you
will meet Toto. Who will be the lucky ones to take
him/her home??!!
I look
forward to seeing and being with you in the Emerald
City.
With love and
Blessings
Sr. Elizabeth
March 31, 2010
Dear Parents, 
Peace and all good!
As we enter more fully
into the holiest week of the year, may you be filled
with peace.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus
calls us to a more intimate relationship with Him in the
washing of the feet and the breaking of the Bread.
On Good Friday Jesus
reveals God’s passionate love for us in His Crucifixion,
the most humiliating death. God loved us so much that
He gave His only Son to die for us. Let us give God
thanks for such an awesome love.
As light scatters the
darkness at the Easter Vigil, let us be aware of the
transforming peace of God witnessed in Jesus’
resurrection. New life comes to us on this holiest of
nights. Rejoice in the Risen Lord.
As Easter morning dawns
may you and your loved ones go out to the entire world
to bring the love and peace of the Risen Jesus.
Happy Easter! May peace
and joy be yours in abundance. Enjoy these
beautiful Easter days with your family.
With love in Christ,
Sr.
Elizabeth
February 23, 2010
Dear Parents,
It is Lent, the 40-day
season of preparation for the Paschal Triduum, the three
holiest days of the Church year. These days are counted
from sunset to sunset. The first day of the Triduum
begins on Holy Thursday evening and includes Good
Friday. The second day runs from Good Friday evening
through Holy Saturday, and the third day runs from Holy
Saturday evening through Easter Sunday evening.
The days of Lent are
often compared to a journey. How will you and your
family journey together during this special time? Every
Lent we come back to our baptism. We struggle with the
hard questions we’re asked:
Do you reject Satan?
Do you believe in God? Do you believe in the Church?
Coming to know our
God more intimately through Jesus Christ is the work of
our lives. Life so easily carries us away! We get
distracted from our relationship with Jesus; we turn
away from God’s love and do wrong. Lent gives us time
to try with all our hearts to repent and turn back to
God. During Lent we are called to pray more with our
family, to fast – maybe to live life more simply, and to
give to the poor. Let us live these 40 days in a closer
relationship with God and one another.
The past eight weeks
in and around St. John Vianney Catholic School have been
busy and exciting.
Our Student Council
organized two successful fundraising events for the
Haitian Relief effort. They raised $4,242.50 and
collected medical supplies, hygiene products, and
shirts. They have plans for several future events. Our
thanks go to the Student Council and to our entire
student body, as well as to parents, faculty, and staff.
Congratulations, 8th
graders, for completing your Confirmation preparation
and for receiving the Sacrament on February 9th.
Our 2nd
graders have completed their preparation for
Reconciliation and they will receive the Sacrament on
Saturday, February 27th. This is a very
exciting time for these little ones. Very soon they
will begin their preparation to receive the Holy
Eucharist
On February 15th,
eighteen of our Jr. High students participated in the
Orange County Dr. Ying Science Exposition. The
experience for these young people was outstanding. They
represented our school with excellent presentations,
great confidence, and a wealth of expertise. On
Thursday, February 18th St. John Vianney
students received 32 awards, 20 of these were Special
Awards. Two were First Place awards and ten were 2nd,
3rd, or 4th place awards.
Congratulations for a job well done to Mrs. Truluck,
their teacher, and to the students for their hard work.
On Saturday, February
20th a team of 8th graders and
alternate 7th graders participated in the
Orange County Engineering Math Contest. These students
work for months with Mrs. Funston to compete at this
high level.
St. John Vianney
Players participated in the State-wide Drama contest in
Plantation, Florida during the weekend of February 11-13th.
The technical Crew received a Superior rating and the
cast of “The Yellow Boat” did extraordinarily well.
Several students received Superior and Excellent ratings
for monologues, duet acting, and singing.
Congratulations to Mr.
Yogi Mueller, the director, and to the cast, crew, and
individual participants.
Our students are
Amazing!!
Besides participating
in all of the foregoing, our students, choir and chorus,
performed on Saturday, February 20th at
Epcot.
Many students serve
at the six week Fish Fry, at Give Kids the World,
Westminister Nursing Home and as Lectors, Cantors and
Altar Servers. They are involved in so many service
areas that they touch the lives and hearts of so many.
I am so proud of every student from our 3 year olds to
our 14 year olds. Each brings joy and shares time,
talent, and treasure. This is their response to their
faith and their prayer life.
I have not forgotten
academics. Of course, our students work each day to
reach their potential and to excel in each academic
area. For the most part they have an excellent work
ethic.
Athletics are
generating tremendous excitement as we end boys’
basketball and girls’ soccer. This is tournament time
and we have teams going for the championship in
basketball. How exciting is that!!
The PTO has provided
outstanding school community builders
·
Movie Night – the “Wizard of OZ”
·
Volleyball challenge – Wow –
Congratulations, Parents, for the win!
·
Winter Festival – What a success!
·
Open House – A great event!
·
Grandparents’ Day - Overwhelming!
And now!!! The
Auction
Preparation is
reaching fever pitch. What a Night it will be! Mark
your calendars for April 17th.
Please visit our web
site (www.sjvs.org)
for more information.
Parents, thank you for
all you do for St. John Vianney School. Students,
Faculty, Staff, Parents, and Parish create a magnificent
Kaleidoscope. We work in sync to make the most vibrant
School Community, called St. John Vianney Catholic
School
May the Christ in you reach out to
touch the Christ in all you meet. May God bless you and
keep you in His care.
Blessings and peace,
Sr. Elizabeth
December 1, 2009
Peace and all good!
It is
Advent! This is our time of waiting in joyful
anticipation for the feast of Christmas,
the birth of Jesus, our
Savior. What joy, what grace awaits us as we prepare
for His coming in
history and His second
coming in time!
In this
Advent season, let our waking, working, eating,
sleeping, and being breathe Christ into our World. It
appears that now more than ever our World needs the love
and tenderness of Christ. Only you and your family can
bring that Hope and that Love to everyone you meet.
Throughout
the four weeks of Advent, we read Scripture verses that
are filled with the
imagery of
preparation. These hopeful images encourage us in our
own preparation to welcome
Jesus at Christmas. God
loves it when we come to Him, ready to straighten our
crooked paths,
smooth out our bumpy
roads! And, what better way to get ready than to
celebrate the
Sacrament of
Reconciliation.
This Advent,
in the midst of the busyness, I encourage you to set
aside a few minutes
each evening to gather
with your child/ren around the Advent wreath to pray and
to await
the joy of Christmas.
Pray, “Come, Lord Jesus and live in us.”
May you and
your family be signs of hope and to those who have no
hope.
May you live in
expectation as together you await the birth of Jesus in
your heart and in our World.
Rachel’s Challenge:
Each day we continue to
learn about and to work on the five components of
Rachel’s Challenge:
1.
Eliminate
prejudice so that we can find the best in others.
2.
Dare to
dream and set goals.
3.
Choose
positive influences.
4.
Use kind
words.
5.
Start a
chain reaction of kindness and compassion.
Parents
please help us to make a difference at home and in
school.
Volunteers:
A heartfelt thanks to
parents and grandparents who volunteer for so many hours
of service
in classrooms, library,
lunchroom, and playground. Beginning November 30th
through
December 11th parents
from Grade 1 are asked to volunteer for lunch and
playground..
From December 14 to the
17th parents of children in Grade 2 are
asked to volunteer.
Some days we are very
shorthanded. I am asking for extra help from December 1st
to December 17th.
Our children need recess
and without parent help we cannot have a safe recess.
Please help!
You will enjoy the
children.
Christmas Program:
This is to remind you
that our Christmas Program has 2 scheduled showings on
Thursday, December 17th.
The First Show will feature Pre K thru 8th
grades at 1:15 p.m.
All
Grandparents and “others” are invited. 850
seats only.
The Evening Show will
feature K-8th grades at 7:00 p.m. Due to
fire regulations
only 850
seats will be provided. This show is for
parents/guardians only. Parking is limited!!
Due to exorbitant cost,
security will not be provided.
Please Note: All students in K-8th grades must be present for the
evening show.
Please do not bring
babies or small children to the night show. They are
welcome
for the afternoon show.
Please understand that we can no longer have an audience
larger than 850 in our
community Center. It is against our fire code.
Parents,
thank you for the trust you put in us. We are partners
in education with you.
Your children are your
special gift to us. We treasure them and love them.
May the
Christ in you reach out to touch the Christ in all you
meet.
May God bless you and
keep you in His care.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth
December 1, 2009
Peace and all good!
It is Advent! This is our time of waiting
in joyful anticipation for the feast of Christmas, the
birth of Jesus, our Savior. What joy, what grace awaits
us as we prepare for His coming in history and His
second coming in time!
In this
Advent season, let our waking, working, eating,
sleeping, and being breathe Christ into our World. It
appears that now more than ever our World needs the love
and tenderness of Christ. Only you and your family can
bring that Hope and that Love to everyone you meet.
Throughout the four weeks of Advent, we read
Scripture verses that are filled with the imagery of
preparation. These hopeful images encourage us in our
own preparation to welcome Jesus at Christmas. God
loves it when we come to Him, ready to straighten our
crooked paths, smooth out our bumpy roads! And, what
better way to get ready than to celebrate the Sacrament
of Reconciliation.
This Advent, in the midst of the busyness, I
encourage you to set aside a few minutes each evening to
gather with your child/ren around the Advent wreath to
pray and to await the joy of Christmas. Pray, “Come,
Lord Jesus and live in us.”
May you and your family be signs of hope and
to those who have no hope. May you live in expectation
as together you await the birth of Jesus in your heart
and in our World.
Rachel’s Challenge:
Each day we continue to learn about and to work on the
five components of Rachel’s Challenge:
1.
Eliminate prejudice so that we can
find the best in others.
2.
Dare to dream and set goals.
3.
Choose positive influences.
4.
Use kind words.
5.
Start a chain reaction of kindness and
compassion.
Parents please help us to make a difference
at home and in school.
Volunteers:
A heartfelt thanks to parents and grandparents who
volunteer for so many hours of service in classrooms,
library, lunchroom, and playground. Beginning November
30th through December 11th parents from
Grade 1 are asked to volunteer for lunch and
playground.. From December 14 to the 17th
parents of children in Grade 2 are asked to volunteer.
Some days we are very shorthanded. I am asking for
extra help from December 1st to December 17th.
Our children need recess and without parent help we
cannot have a safe recess. Please help! You will enjoy
the children.
Christmas Program:
This is to remind you that our Christmas Program has 2
scheduled showings on Thursday, December 17th.
The First Show will feature Pre K thru 8th
grades at 1:15 p.m. All Grandparents and
“others” are invited. 850 seats
only.
The Evening Show will feature K-8th grades at
7:00 p.m. Due to fire regulations only 850 seats
will be provided. This show is for parents/guardians
only. Parking is limited!! Due to exorbitant cost,
security will not be provided.
Please Note: All students in K-8th
grades must be present for the evening show.
Please do not bring babies or small children to the
night show. They are welcome for the afternoon show.
Please understand that we can no longer have an audience
larger than 850 in our community Center. It is against
our fire code.
Parents, thank you for the trust you put in
us. We are partners in education with you. Your
children are your special gift to us. We treasure them
and love them.
May the Christ in you reach out to touch the
Christ in all you meet. May God bless you and keep you
in His care.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth
November 10, 2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
Thank you
so much for all you have done to bring comfort and peace
to the Frank Family as they mourn the loss of a beloved
husband and Dad, Jeff.
Mrs. Frank
and her daughters, Jaime and Jacque are deeply grateful
for your kindness and compassion in their time of
sorrow. So many of you helped in so many ways with the
reception, sent condolences, or prayed. Know that the
family is truly overwhelmed by your outreach.
It is
during times like these that the Best in us
shines forth. I know that yesterday you were
inconvenienced at dismissal, and again you rose to the
occasion. You are so kind and giving and I am very
appreciative.
May God
bless you always and in all ways.
Gratefully,
Sr. Elizabeth
October
16, 2009
Dear Parents,
Parents,
you are Wonderful! Maybe you haven’t heard this lately
so I want you to know that you are thoughtfully
remembered each day and supported in prayer each day.
Swine Flu:
Well, the
bug has bitten and is causing population depletion in
some grades. Our faculty and staff are also feeling the
bite. Be assured, though, that we will manage and we
will continue to have school.
Things to remember:
·
Stay at home if you feel these symptoms:
Sore throat, fever, nausea, and
achiness
·
Get lots of rest.
·
Keep hydrated
·
Wash hands frequently.
School Cleanliness:
·
Extra cleaning and sanitizing of
bathrooms, water fountains, lunch tables, computers,
doorknobs, and even library books is done daily.
·
Sanitizers are placed in strategic places
throughout the school
·
Classroom desks and furniture are cleaned
with Clorox every day.
·
Classrooms are sprayed with Lysol when
students leave for recess, specials, and lunch.
·
At this time we are doing everything
necessary to prevent the spread of this Flu.
Rachel’s Challenge:
Monday,
October 12th was a memorable day for all of
us. We assembled for the official beginning of
“Rachel’s Challenge”. Our entire student body, as well
as faculty and staff, have been challenged and have
signed a commitment to start a chain reaction of
Kindness and Compassion.
Rachel’s Theory:
- “I have this theory that if one person can go out of
their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain
reaction of the same. People will never know how far a
little kindness can go.”
Five Challenges:
- 1.- Eliminate prejudice and look for the best in
others; 2 - Dare to dream and set goals; 3 – Choose
positive influences; 4 – Use kind words and show little
acts of kindness; 5 – Start a chain reaction.
Annual Fund:
October 17th
officially begins our Annual Fund Drive. Please take
time to read all about it in your invitation to
participate. We need you desperately to help us realize
our goal. Don’t let Commitment Tuesday slip by.
Please, please drop your envelope in the baskets and
join us for Coffee and Conversation in the Social Hall.
Socials:
I am so
proud of our PTO Board for all of the Social Events they
plan. I am also ecstatic when I see all of you make the
events successful through your attendance and
volunteering. Wasn’t Mustang Spirit Night a tremendous
community builder? It has been the talk of the Athletic
Department. Will there be another Spirit Night? Be
watchful!!
What’s Ahead:
·
Golf Tournament - What an event!!!
November 6th.
·
Brain Show – Don’t miss it. November 13th
Student Corner:
Our
students are the Best. The Student Council is
busy creating excitement for our Outreach. These
students are creative and are driven to make this year
successful.
Report Cards:
Grades
close on Friday, October 23rd and report
cards are due on November 4th. Parent
conferences will be scheduled accordingly. You will
receive notice when the conferences will occur.
Parents,
thank you for your continued support.
May God
bless you always and in all ways.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth
September 29, 2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
Days and
weeks seem to roll along so quickly. Events that
appeared to be in the distant future are now in the
present.
Florida Catholic
Conference:
From
September 30th – October 2nd I will be away
with Principals from the 7 Dioceses of Florida and
Savannah, Georgia. During this conference we will study
new educational trends and examine pertinent data
regarding student performance.
Mrs.
Kuethe will be assisted by Mr. Hjortsberg in my
absence.
Harvest Sunday:
October 4th
is Harvest Sunday. It is a celebration of Ministry and
also an invitation to share our gifts and talents.
Visit the exhibits in the Social Hall after Mass and
also come to the School’s Open House. We are the
largest ministry in our parish and we want to showcase
our school. Please say a “Big Thank
You” to Fr. Paul and our parishioners for their
outstanding support.
Feast of St.
Francis:
This
Sunday, October 4th is also the feast of St.
Francis of Assisi, the patron of the Sisters of St.
Francis who serve you. Keep Sr. Maria and me in
prayer. Presently we are selling chances to support our
ministries. If you can help in some small way we would
appreciate it. The cost is $2 for 1 chance or $10 for
six. The grand prize is $7500, 2nd, $2,000
and the 3rd prize is $1,000. The drawing is
November 24, 2009. Thank you to all who have supported
us.
On
Sunday, the 4th, the blessing of pets will
take place at 3:30 p.m. in the courtyard. Pets of all
sizes and shapes are welcome.
Testing:
October
5-9 is ITBS Week for grades 3-8. This is a very
important week for all students, but most especially for
6,7, and 8th grade students. Please read the
letter that will be sent home. Follow the tips that
will enable your student/s to do well.
Rachel’s Challenge:
Rachel’s
Challenge exists to inspire, equip, and empower every
person – adult and child – to create a permanent
positive culture change in their school, business, and
community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and
compassion. The objectives of the program are to:
·
Create a safe and productive learning,
working or community environment by delivering proactive
antidotes to violence and bullying.
·
Create positive bottom-line results by
actively involving the entire “community” in the
kindness process.
·
Provide leadership development and
individual growth through culturally relevant
social/emotional training.
·
Improve retention and achievement by
engaging the participants’ heart, head, and hands in the
learning process.
As
students learn about the program they will have the
power to make Permanent, Positive, and Cultural Change
in school as well as in the community.
To ensure
that this program will be successful, I am asking that
one parent, Mom or Dad (both would be terrific) to
attend. You will not regret that you came. Rachel’s
Challenge is about creating a chain reaction for doing
good. This begins in school, at home, and on the
playing field. Really we can and must
make a Difference wherever we are.
Parents, I
am not telling you to come – I am interceding with you
to come. This program has the Power to Change
us and to help us make a Difference. All grades,
Pre K-3 to 8th grades will be involved with
the program. Please come!!! You are key to the success
of this program.
Swine
Flu:
Please
continue to follow the Health Department’s guidelines
regarding the flu. Continue to instruct your children
about hand washing, resting, eating properly, and
hydrating. Please insist on “No sharing of food or
drinks.”
Prayers
Requested:
Please
keep the McMahon Family in your prayers. At this time
they need our support. Bree, their oldest child, was in
an accident and remains in serious condition.
Thank you,
parents for your continuous support. May God bless you
always and in all ways.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth
September 21,2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
I am
hopeful that your four day weekend was relaxing and
afforded you some good family time.
On
Thursday, September 17th, almost 1,000
teachers from the Diocesan schools gathered for talks on
the importance of a team approach to educating our
students. The facilitator was very informative and
engaging.
At the
in-service the following teachers were honored for their
years of service in Diocesan Schools: Congratulations!
Ms. Dorrie
Baker 10 years
Mr. Ken
Hjortsberg 10 years
Mrs. Susie
Philpot 25 years
Mrs. Kathy
Foster 30+ years
On Friday,
September 18th, St. John Vianney School
hosted the In-service for teachers from:
Holy
Family
Holy
Redeemer
St.
Thomas Aquinas
Mrs.
Kuethe organized the day and several of our teachers
were presenters. Our topic centered on the integration
of technology across the curriculum. Teachers from the
above schools could not believe how technologically well
equipped St. John Vianney School is.
Parents,
did you feel your ears burning? Well, you should have
because it is your support and belief in us that we have
so much. Thank you for every thing.
Thanks to
our faculty and staff for making our school look
beautiful. Your children’s work received outstanding
comments. I know you are proud as we are.
Comments:
1.
Arrival and Dismissal seem to be going well.
Please note that when every parent who drives complies
with the directions every thing works for the safety of
our children
2.
There are still some parents who continue to:
·
Use cell phones.
·
Get out of the car to help your child.
·
Refuse to move down the parking lot at
dismissal, thus causing a back-up on the Trail.
Please let
us work on those points.
Uniform:
·
There are several students not wearing the
proper uniform shirt with the appropriate logo. The
logo is the Shield.
·
The uniform skirt, skort, and shorts must
be knee length. Attention Parents of 5th,
6th, 7th, and 8th grade girls!!!
Please check the length of your daughters’ skirt, skort,
or shorts.
Enjoy
these days of school. Let us keep well. Thank you for
you and for all you do.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth
September 14, 2009
Dear Parents
Peace and
all good!
Thank you
for your attendance at the PTO Meeting. I have received
very positive feedback and appreciation for a great
evening. It was so wonderful to see so many families
represented and to see the interaction at the tables.
This excitement and energy from you, the parents,
creates an awesome environment for new ideas to be
generated and great things to happen for our children.
Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Weren’t
our speakers great? Special thanks to Dr. Mike DiMauro
for his “State of the School Address.” Thanks to him
and to the entire Advisory Board for their tireless
commitment to keeping our school a top rate Catholic
school offering a Quality Affordable
education.
Mr. Ed
Moffitt has spent countless hours with Law Enforcement
and community entities to make sure that our campus is
secure and safe for our children, our parents, and our
staff. Ed reminded us to be Aware of our
surroundings, to be Alert and to
communicate Anything you see that could be an
endangerment to safety. Parents, always know that the
safety of your child/ren is our first priority here at
SJV Catholic School. Thank you, Mr. Moffitt.
Mrs.
Nowakowski could take her Swine Flu presentation on the
road!! Our nurse certainly gave us very timely
information on how we must take precautionary steps to
curb the spread of this pandemic among us.
·
Wash! Wash! Wash
your hands
·
Get rest.
·
Keep hydrated.
·
Stay at home if you are sick.
·
Visit your doctor if symptoms persist.
·
Get the flu shot.
·
Educate yourself – visit the sites that
were sent home.
Thank you
so much, Mrs. Nowakowski.
Mrs.
McCabe, the President of the PTO supplied us with
invaluable information about how the PTO works for the
students, teachers, and you, the parents. The PTO is
integral to the daily operation of the school and to the
yearly fundraising required to keep our school programs
up-to-date. The “fun things” that build community and
bring families together come from the PTO. So you see,
without our PTO we would be “de-energized” and without
that “up-beat” feeling we enjoy. My deepest thanks to
our PTO, the dynamo, that keeps us in constant motion.
Our theme
for the Auction was announced by Laura Machi and her
dynamic duo, Joanne Morrison and Melissa Quinn – and it
is!! St. John Vianney, “A Home Away From Home,” is the
auction theme. So, join us on the “Yellow Brick Road”
on April 17, 2010.
What a
great night with great food and camaraderie! Special
thanks to Evelyn Mavrofrides and her Mom and Dad for
making it all possible. You outdid yourselves.
Dismissal
is going much more smoothly and safely with our new plan
in place. My deepest thanks to all the parents who
comply with the following:
·
A to M drivers from 2:50 – 3:05 p.m.
·
N to Z drivers from 3:05 – 3:20 p.m.
·
Come through the Front Door
with Family Name. Exit through closest door.
·
Do Not stop to chat in hallways –
Move quickly to allow other parents to have your parking
space.
·
N.B. This is not a time for
a parent/teacher conference.
·
Keep the car lines moving to prevent
back-ups on the Trail.
This week
our week will be short because of the two-day Diocesan
Teacher In-service. Enjoy some down time with your
children. Our next time off will be Nov. 25-27 for
Thanksgiving.
Thank you
for the privilege of serving you and your child/ren. We
count our blessings and they are many because of you.
Blessings!
Sr. Elizabeth
September 8. 2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
Welcome to
our 4th week of school. The days and weeks
seem to go by very quickly and now all that was new is
becoming routine. Your children have settled in and
they are working diligently. I have reviewed several
sets of wonderful papers and I am pleased with the
progress. With home and school working together we can
make great things happen. Thank you for your support
and cooperation.
·
This past week new officers for Student
Council were elected and they will be inducted on
Wednesday, September 16 at the 8:30 Mass.
Congratulations to the following students;
Co-
presidents: Erin Johnson
Shaayann Khalid
Secretary: Ariel Tang
Treasurer:
Gianna Ippolito
Public
Relations:Maddie Dolengowski
·
Our boys’ soccer and girls’ basketball
teams are busy practicing for the 1st game
coming up this week. Good luck, everyone.
·
The St. John Vianney Players (Drama) have
begun practice for the fall play – The Yellow Boat.
Mr. Yogi Mueller plans to take it to competition in
November. Good Luck.
·
The Cady Fundraiser concludes this week.
Have you purchased your items yet? I have! Please help
us make this fundraiser a success. There are many great
gift items from which to choose.
·
Our PTO Dinner/Meeting on Tuesday will be
a great event. Come and join your friends and meet new
ones – this will be a great community builder –
and will set the tone for the year.
·
Will you and your family be present for
the Parish dinner on Friday, September 11th?
This is to celebrate our 50th Anniversary as
a Parish. Let us join together to say thank you to Fr.
Paul and the Parish for always supporting our school.
Let’s give back!!
·
Please keep the following people in
prayer. The power of prayer is phenomenal!:
Mrs. Foster’s
mother, Virginia Ward. (Mrs. Foster is an 8th
grade teacher).
Mrs. Armstrong who
is recuperating from knee surgery.- (8th
grade teacher).
Mr. Chris Brant who
is recuperating from major surgery.-(Mrs... Brant – KC
teacher).
Mr. Jeff Frank
-(Mrs. Frank – Clinic Nurse).
·
Dismissal: I am aware that
dismissal is not going smoothly. Mrs. Kuethe and
I have discussed it repeatedly. I have asked and asked
that not everyone should come at once. A staggered
system has always been successful prior to this
year. Parents are now parked before 2:00 p.m.
(Unbelievable)! The following system will go into place
beginning immediately:
1.
Students from A to M will be dismissed beginning
at 2:50 p.m. until 3:05 p.m.
2.
Students from N to Z will be dismissed beginning
at 3:05 – 3:20 p.m.
3.
All parents without exception
must show their family name.
4.
Please, please, No loitering in the
school hallways or in the parking lot. This is
imperative to the traffic flow and for the safety
of our students.
5.
All parents must come in
through the front door. You may exit through the
closest door.
6.
E-pass will remain the same.
Parents,
please help us with dismissal. Roofing of the
Ministries Building begins this week. Please be
Alert. If all goes well we will be back to
normal in 60 days.
Thank you
for your understanding & cooperation.
May God
bless you abundantly.
Blessings,
Sr. Elizabeth
August 24, 2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
Hurrah!
Our first week is complete. It was good but we need to
get better. Thank you for your patience and your
cooperation. My apologies to parents, and especially to
our new parents who may have felt frustrated with
morning arrival, dismissal, uniform issues, etc.
Believe me, everything will be better this week and
all will be well as procedures and routines become
more familiar to you. Remember, you are new and
everything around you and everything you are asked to do
is New. Also, know that many of our volunteers
are new and don’t realize that you also are new
at St. John Vianney School So, please let them know and
they will understand.
The
following are some tips and updates to alleviate some
stress:
-
Morning Arrival:
·
Please follow the directives of the
Traffic Control Parents. By now our students should
know where to go to their classrooms so there is no need
to park. Student ambassadors, as well as 7th
and 8th graders will continue to escort
Kindergarten and 1st grade children to the
classrooms.
·
Students arriving before 7:30 a.m. will go
to the Social Hall. From there they will be escorted to
the classrooms. This is a convenience for parents who
must go to work early. Mrs. Lomas and Mrs. Ruecker are
the directors.
-
Lunch:
·
Please note that Yellow Tickets
are for emergency only. Students who do Not
have a lunch will call home.
-
Uniform:
·
All students in K-8 will be in uniform.
Please note that shirts with the Shield Logo are
the only shirts to be worn this year.
·
Girls’ jumpers, skorts, skirts, and shorts
must be to the top of the knees.
·
Shoes are black leather only
tennis shoes. Maryjanes may be worn by children in
grades 1-3, but not on P.E. days
·
All uniforms must be purchased at
Educational Outfitters Only.
·
P.E. uniforms must be purchased from the
P.T.O.
Please
read pages 21-25 of the Parent/Student Handbook. ALL
students K through 8th grade must be
in compliance with these guidelines.
-
Dismissal:
Due to a roofing project on the
Ministries building, parents/carpools will pick up
students from the classrooms. This will ensure the
absolute safety of your child/ren. Please know that
dismissal will begin at 2:55 p.m. until 3:15 p.m. After
3:15 p.m. students who are not picked up will go
to Alpha.
N.B. Please
read pages 9-10 of the Handbook regarding Alpha.
Thank you
for your understanding and your cooperation. We are
here to serve your child/ren and you. If you have any
questions, concerns or suggestions, please call or
e-mail us.
Sr. Elizabeth – 407 855-4660
- 
Mrs. Kuethe – 407 855-4660 -
Sr. Elizabeth Murphy
Principal
August 20, 2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
Thank you
for a wonderful first week of school. Our students,
including our new ones, are settling into their
routines. It is Amazing and they are Amazing.
Parents,
you are the key to everything we do. Please know that
we depend on you to help us to keep everything running
smoothly, beginning with morning arrival and ending with
afternoon dismissal. We need your help with lunch,
recess, Accelerated Reader, and a myriad of other
activities. Please help whenever and wherever you are
able. You are our voice because you help tell the good
news about St. John Vianney School. Let us together
have a wonderful year. Let us keep a positive attitude
throughout the year. Attitude always matters!!
The
following are some tips to keep everything running
smoothly:
·
Morning Arrival: Beginning on
Monday, August 24th the Ministries Building
will undergo reroofing. Periodically there may be
changes to the traffic flow. Please be alert and follow
the directives that will be given by our Parent Traffic
Directors. Safety is our priority.
·
Afternoon Dismissal: Until further
notice afternoon dismissal will be from the classrooms –
(Rainy Day Dismissal). Parents or carpools will go to
the classroom and present the Family Name Tag to
the teacher for the student to be dismissed. Parents,
please notify us when someone new is designated to pick
up your child/children. Again, safety is our priority.
·
Uniform: All students must be in
our prescribed uniform purchased from Educational
Outfitters.
1.
Shirts must have the proper logo,
which is the shield.
2.
Shoes are black leather tennis shoes.
Please
read our Parent/Student Handbook for further details.
Let us
have a great year filled with peace and joy. May God’s
blessings be yours in abundance.
In Christ,
Sr. Elizabeth Murphy
Principal
August 17,2009
Dear Parents,
Peace and
all good!
Welcome to
our new school year, 2009-2010! Cead Mile Failte, a
hundred thousand welcomes to every family and most,
especially, to new families joining our school
community for the first time. All families
are special to us and so we reach out with open hearts
and arms to warmly and lovingly welcome you.
This will
be a blessed year, a year filled with new heights to
soar, new ideas to explore, and new ventures to pursue.
Are you ready for the Challenges? The end results are
destined by our attitude. So, let’s roll up the sleeves
and tackle the challenges Together: because
Alone I’m good and Alone you’re good, but
Together we’re Better. Let’s strive to work
Together for the entire year. Those who are
happiest are those who do the most for others. Our
school community is as good as the sum of its parts. Be
a Good Part – be the families that plant
the seeds of peace, joy, laughter, love, kindness,
compassion, friendship, loyalty, and honesty. Be the
families that radiate God’s love wherever you go. Then
you will make a Difference because you dared
to be different.
Happy New
Year, 2009-2010!
Always
remember that we, Faculty, Staff, and Administration are
here for you. We thank you for entrusting your
child/children to us. This is a “Child’s Place” where
every child is loved, kept safe, nurtured, and treated
with deep respect and reverence. Let us work together
in partnership. May God bless you always and in all
ways.
In Christ,
Sr. Elizabeth Murphy
Principal
August 17, 2009
Dear Parents,
As you may know, flu
can be easily spread from person to person. Therefore,
we are taking steps to reduce the spread of flu in St.
John Vianney School. We want to keep the school open to
students and functioning in a normal manner during this
flu season. But, we need your help to do this.
We are working closely
with the Orange County Health Department and the School
District to monitor flu conditions and make decisions
about the best steps to take concerning our school. We
will keep you updated with new information as it becomes
available.
If the flu becomes
more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent
the spread such as:
·
Conducting active fever and flu symptom
screening of students and staff as they arrive at
school,
·
Making changes to increase the space
between people such as moving desks farther apart and
postponing class trips, and
·
Dismissing student from school for at
least 7 days if they become sick.
For now we are doing
everything we can to keep our school functioning as
usual. Here are a few things you can do to help.
·
Teach your children to wash their hands
often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
·
Teach your children not to share
personal items like drinks, food or unwashed
utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with
tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the
elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand when a tissue
is unavailable.
·
Know the signs and symptoms of the flu.
Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees
Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), cough,
sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches,
headache, and feeling very tired. Some people may also
vomit or have diarrhea.
·
Keep sick children at home for at
least 24 hours after they no longer have fever or do not
have signs of fever, without using fever reducing
drugs. Keeping children with a fever at home will
reduce the number of people who may get infected.
·
Do not send children to school if they
are sick. Any children who are determined to be
sick while at school will be sent home.
For more information
visit
www.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO for
the most current information about the flu. For more
information about flu in our community visit [health
department website] We will notify you of any additional
changes to our school’s strategy to prevent the spread
of flu.
Sincerely,
Sr Elizabeth Murphy
Principal
