ST. JOHN THE BELOVED SCHOOL€¦ · them back to school with your child. 2020-2021 School Calendar...
Transcript of ST. JOHN THE BELOVED SCHOOL€¦ · them back to school with your child. 2020-2021 School Calendar...
1
ST. JOHN THE BELOVED
SCHOOL
“I can do all things through Christ.” Philippians 4:13
September 11, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
What a great week it has been here at St. John the Beloved! We feel so blessed to have our students
back in the classrooms again. We thank you for your continued support, understanding and patience as
we navigate this very different school year. Things may look a little different, but our mission remains
the same; teach and model the Gospel of Jesus Christ, foster academic excellence, and encourage
service to others.
Called to Serve! Our reflection on Gospel passages allows us to make
both Scriptural and real life connections. This month’s focal passage
on the multiplication of the loaves and fishes calls to mind the Old
Testament reading in the Book of Exodus in which God cares for the
Israelites by providing them daily with manna from heaven on their
forty-year journey to the Promised Land. In the New Testament the
Gospel of Jesus feeding the five thousand, recounted by all four
evangelists, demonstrates once again the Lord’s care for His people on their journey in following Him. In
our lives, the Eucharist provides the spiritual nourishment we require to successfully accomplish our
faith journey to heaven. God’s care for His people is a continual theme reflected throughout Scripture
and present in our lives.
Yours in St. Francis, Mr. Richard D. Hart Principal
2
Getting Ready
Our classrooms, bathrooms, playground area and gym were given a thorough cleaning this past
weekend! We will continue to clean and disinfect on a regular basis.
THANK YOU We want to give a BIG THANK YOU to our awesome Home and School Association! Our teachers and staff were welcomed back to school with a beautiful chalk mural and our students were met with festive balloons! What a nice way to come Back to School. If you are interested in being part of this amazing group of parents, please send an email to: [email protected]
3
WELCOME BACK! Although back to school looked a little different this year, we are so happy to have our students back in the classroom. Please share your first day of school pictures with us at [email protected].
4
Remote Learning
Please be advised that on days when a teacher is absent from school, remote learning will not be
available for any subject that is taught by that teacher.
Special Schedules
For the initial six weeks of this new school year during COVID-19, it was necessary to make some
adjustments to our assignments for specialist teachers (art, music, gym, library and Spanish). There will
be no library classes or band lessons. Music classes will continue for grades pre-K through 5th grade.
Gym and Art classes continue for all students. Students in grades 1 – 5 will not have Spanish classes
during this time in order for Ms. Koval to better assist in the Early Childhood Program. We hope to
return to our normal specialist scheduling as restrictions are adjusted by the State of Delaware.
Arrival and Dismissal
Upon arrival, please remember that no one is to exit their car until the first bell rings at 7:20a.m. The
teachers on duty will signal you when students may begin exiting cars. Students will proceed from their
car directly to their classroom through their designated doors. We ask that you follow the direction of
the teachers on duty and proceed with caution in the parking lot. Please be mindful of our St. John the
Beloved parishioners who attend 8:00 weekday mass. We appreciate your continued cooperation and
patience.
A Message from the Nurse
Please take the time each day to complete the Student Health Assessment Screening found on the
Nurse’s website. This does not need to be submitted to either the nurse or the student’s teacher.
Birthday Treats
Just a reminder that until further notice Birthday Celebration treats or any outside food are not
permitted to be brought into school.
5
Picture Day
Picture Day has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 30 (“B” Day Students and EC3-K) and
Thursday, October 1 (“A” Day Students and First and Second Grade). More information will be sent out
in the next week.
Back to School Nights
All back to school nights will be done through zoom calls with additional information provided by your
child’s homeroom teacher. Zoom Call meeting id and password information will be sent via email. Back
to school nights are tentatively scheduled for the following dates:
Wednesday, September 16 (K, 1 and 2)
Monday, September 21 (Early Education)
Thursday, September 24 (Middle School)
Monday, September 29 (Intermediate)
SJB Spirit Wear Masks
Home and School will be selling SJB Masks! Masks are available in black, gold and pink and are $5 each.
All masks must be purchased through Smart Tuition. As the orders come in, masks will be distributed
through school and sent home with the students. Quantities are limited!
Purchase here:
https://bngn.smarttuition.com/?id=l5j2ljxf2ou#/home/
Sadlier Math Program
We are proud to announce that St. John the Beloved was 10th in the nation during the annual Day of
Giving. Thanks to the generosity of our school community during our Day of Giving, we are happy to
announce a new math series for grades K-8. The students in grades K-6th will be using Sadlier Math;
grades 7-8 will be using Sadlier Oxford, which includes Foundations of Algebra, Fundamentals of Algebra
and Algebra I.
6
A note from the Religious Education office:
Welcome back to the new school year. The Religious Education program is planning to have classes in
the school this year. We are going to ensure a minimal presence in the classroom by moving the chairs
away from the desks so that there will be no touching of the school children’s materials. The cleaning
service will come in after we finish, cleaning the classrooms and public spaces. Our students will wear
masks, as will our staff. We will be very diligent to ensure that nothing is touched in the desks or
classrooms other than the chairs and again, the classrooms will be cleaned thoroughly after use.
Our program is committed to the children’s safety. We will check the students as they enter the
building. We have engaged a nurse to be with us to assess the students as they enter the building. This
situation will be monitored very closely each week to ensure students and staff are healthy and we will
return the classrooms as we find them.
If you have any questions in regard to the above information, please contact Mrs. Ballintyn
via [email protected]. Let us all pray for a good school year ahead and that our loving God guides us
with joy and love in all that we do.
Library Books
If you have come across any SJB library books, we ask that you place them in a plastic bag and send
them back to school with your child.
2020-2021 School Calendar
Please remember to check the school calendar regularly for additional events and more details. Due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, all activities are tentative. We will evaluate our ability to host each event as
we are closer to each date keeping in mind the most current guidelines. The Calendar has been updated
with “A” and “B” Day information until October 16.
Coming Soon
Please keep an eye on your in-box for the following communications:
Picture Day Information
HSA Fundraiser information (Kid Stuff Books)
SJB Takeover Events
7
Getting To Know Our New SJB Teachers
Amand Stinchcombe is coming to St. John the Beloved
School from All Saints Catholic School where she has
taught for the last three years. She graduated from Illinois
State University with her degree in English education in
1999, and received her Masters from Wilmington
University this past January. She's taught all grades from
kindergarten through twelfth grade in her career but feels
middle school is the best fit! Her husband Fred is from
Bristol, England and currently works at Padua Academy.
Amanda has three wonderful children, one of which will be
starting fourth grade here at St. John the Beloved School.
In her free time, Amanda likes to read and play video
games.
My name is Christine Pelillo and I am so excited to join the Kindergarten team this year! I have over 25 years of experience teaching young children in a vast array of settings. I look forward to meeting many school families, in particular, the KC Kindergarten class. I know it will be a busy, fun year of learning and enrichment.
I am passionate about the education of the whole child, including social and emotional development, along with academics and plenty of play. I am certified to teach children’s yoga, and I look forward to incorporating yoga themes into my lessons. I am so blessed to be an SJB Eagle and it will be an honor to teach kindergarten in such a fine, well-respected school. My husband Victor and I have been married for 24 years and have three children. Victor Jr. is a recent University of Delaware graduate, Sophia is a junior at Penn State University’s main campus and Sean is a junior at St. Mark’s High School. It is my pleasure to be a part of the Saint John the Beloved community.
8
I am so excited to join the SJB family this school year! It is my goal for all students in my 6th grade Math and Science classes, as well as in my 7th grade Science classes, to deepen their desire for learning and have an exceptional school year. As an alum of the Diocese of Wilmington, I am grateful to return to Catholic education as a middle school teacher. I attended Our Lady of Fatima School for a total of ten years (pre-school through 8th grade) and then graduated from Padua Academy in Wilmington, DE. Keeping in line with my Catholic educational background, I continued on to graduate from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia with my Bachelor's degree in Middle Grades Education. I have seen first-hand how a Catholic education can positively impact students' lives, and am delighted to join the dedicated team and community here at SJB. I look forward to meeting all of you soon! Miss Snook
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and
Elementary Education from Wilmington University. I
worked with different age groups throughout my 28
years of teaching experience. I have a son Bryce who
will be a sophomore at St. Mark’s High School and
daughter Amanda who is freshman at Millersville
University. I have always had a passion for working
with children. I am thankful for the opportunity to teach
where my children and I went to school. I am excited to
be a part of St. John the Beloved school where there is
such a nurturing and loving environment rooted in faith
and where there is a wonderful sense of community
between families and teachers. I believe that children
develop and learn so much in their early years. I strive
to make their preschool experience a mix of exploring,
learning, and fun. It is also exciting to see the children
build friendships that last for years!
Mrs. Tucci