Please join us for the first HSA (Home & School Association) Meeting of the 2014-2015 school year tonight at 6:30pm in the Pre-Kindergarten building.  The HSA – which is similar to a PTA or PTO – is open to all Saint James School parents/grandparents/guardians.  Unlike many PTAs there is no fee to join and no minimum time commitment required.

At Saint James School, the HSA is comprised of volunteers who organize and support our school’s events and fundraisers.  A list of the proposed events for this year – as well as detailed information about the HSA – was sent home in your child’s folder, as well as via e-mail, on Friday.

We are always looking for new ideas and suggestions on how to improve the HSA and our school events. It is a great opportunity to meet new people and help make our children’s years at Saint James the best that they can be.  Tonight’s meeting will be brief and informational.  If you can’t make it this time, our meetings are always open to everyone and will typically occur the first Tuesday of every month. We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please let us know: Diane Parsons (diane@parsonsphoto.org), Linda Carpenter (tcarpenter2005@cox.net), Darcy Donnelly (ddonnell@travelers.com).

Starting on Tuesday, students will enter the school in the morning through the breezeway door.  As a reminder for new parents, beginning Tuesday, you may pull up in front of the breezeway and drop your student off OR park in the church parking lot and walk them up (please do NOT park in front of the breezeway on Tuesday morning).  If you are dropping in front of the breezeway, your child needs to be ready with their backpack when you pull up.  Parents are asked to not exit their car if using drop-off.  Mrs. Kanute will be out there to help direct students where to go.  Students not using the before-care program may arrive between 7:30am and 7:50am.  Please leave plenty of time to account for morning traffic.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend – we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday morning!

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ

Social and fundraising events are a great way to get our school community together, have fun and raise money to better our children’s educations. We also strive to support our local community and give back to those in need.

Money raised leads to an improved school and learning environment for our children. Social events provide life long lasting memories of their years at Saint James School.

Did you know?  Saint James School has a Home & School Association (HSA) that is responsible for running a majority of our school events. Unfortunately, only a very small percentage of parents volunteer to run these events.

WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Please consider volunteering at an event to help our school!!! 

If 1 parent from every SJS family volunteered for just 1 event, we would have a very fun and successful year.

**Events that do not have a Chair Person(s) and/or do not have an adequate number of volunteers are in danger of being cancelled.  Each event requires a minimum number of parent volunteers to make it successful. Your help is needed and greatly appreciated.

(Virtus training is NOT required to volunteer for many of these events because parents stay with their children. **Exception – Christmas Movie Day and Middle School Dances )

Fresh ideas for existing events and/or suggestions for new events are always welcome!  Please share your ideas at an HSA Meeting (held the first Tuesday of each month- 1^st meeting is 9/2/14), or email them to school.

Please complete and return the attached form to school by 9/5/14.

SJS Event Sign Up Form

There is also a nomination form attached if you are interested in holding a position within the HSA.  ALL POSITIONS ARE OPEN.

Saint James School HSA Executive Board Form

Welcome to another great year at Saint James School! We hope everyone had a great first day!  Just a reminder that tomorrow is a full day of school.  Dismissal is at 2:05pm.  We will meet in the parking lot between the Pre-Kindergarten and main school again tomorrow morning – same places as today.

Starting on Tuesday, students will enter the school in the morning through the breezeway.  As a reminder for new parents, beginning Tuesday, you may pull up in front of the breezeway and drop your student off OR park in the church parking lot and walk them up.  If you are dropping in front of the breezeway, your child needs to be ready with their backpack when you pull up.  Mrs. Kanute will be out there to help direct students where to go.

Below are a few pictures from this morning:

The Hot Lunch Calendar for August/September is posted on our school’s homepage.  Please note, 1st – 5th grade Hot Lunch is now priced at $1.95, grades 6th – 8th is $2.20.

Just a reminder that you can send in a check to start a Hot Lunch account for your child(ren).  That way, when they purchase Hot Lunch the money will be deducted from their account.  Please make checks out to “Manchester Hot Lunch Program.”  You may pre-pay for as many lunches as you wish.  At the end of the month, a statement will be sent home so you will know when you will need to send in more money.

If your child is purchasing milk only, they will need to bring in their milk money in a baggie each day they wish to purchase milk.

We are continuing to work with the town of Manchester in an effort to implement an on-line system.