Tomorrow (Wednesday, April 22nd) we are hosting a Distance Learning Dress Down Day and asking students to wear a sweatshirt, t-shirt, or hat showing off their favorite sports team! Parents, we would love to see pictures of your students at their “work station” with their Sports team gear. Please send pictures to Amy Guenther at aguenther@saintjamesschool.net by 1:00pm tomorrow and we will post them for everyone to enjoy.
We recently received an update from our Box Tops coordinator that we wanted to pass along. Box tops income for our school is on the decline since they have started using the Scan and Submit process, in place of physical box tops (Read More HERE). From our last contest and Box Tops submission, our school is receiving $205.90. We also received a check in December for $1286.90 bringing the total amount of Box Tops for the school year to $1492.80. (The total amount of submissions from physical box tops for this year is $1221.50; the total amount from scans via the app is $271.30).
Please continue to collect physical box tops for when we return and use the App to scan digital Box Tops if you can. We count on these funds for our school and appreciate your participation.
Welcome back from April Break. I hope everyone had a Blessed Easter with their family and your students were able to relax and enjoy some time reading and being outside during this past week.
As noted before break, the Governor announced distance learning has been extended until May 20th. We all realize this is not ideal and everyone is dealing with this pandemic in different ways, but we appreciate your patience as we move forward as best we can. Even before anyone heard of Covid-19, the safety of our students, staff, and parents was our number one priority here at SJS and that is still the case today. I pray everyday that our families are safe during this unprecedented time. Please continue to take care of yourself and your family and when we are safely able to to be back in our classrooms, I have no doubt that our community will be stronger than ever.
This video was originally sent from Father Lerner (SJS graduate and Mrs. Rafferty’s twin brother) and it really inspires me to feel more at peace each time I watch it. I share it with you today in hopes that it brings you the same feeling of calm as we remind ourselves that we are in God’s hands and we can have faith that He is watching over us during this time: https://youtu.be/4rlSvRSS2kY
Finally, please remember to communicate with your child’s teachers and be understanding that this is unprecedented for them as well. We all look forward to being back with your children as soon as we can.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Zorger
While we cannot be together with our extended family and church communities during this most Holy weekend, we remain united in prayer and comforted in our faith that a shining light awaits us at the end of our darkest of times.
On behalf of all of us at Saint James School and Saint James Parish, we wish you a most happy and holy Easter weekend. May the Lord bless you and your family.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3
Holy Weekend Activities, Online Masses, and Resources
Please be advised that Governor Ned Lamont just announced a short time ago that schools are to remain closed through at least May 20th. More information is expected at his 4pm news conference today.
Saint James School will continue to follow civil mandates and recommendations. Therefore, upon the return from our April break, we will pick back up with distance learning until May 20th or until the state reopens schools.
Please continue to stay safe and vigilant and keep our front line workers (many of whom are a part of this school community) in your prayers.
As a reminder, Saint James School will be observing our April Break: Friday, April 10th (Good Friday) through Friday, April 17th. We will resume with Distance Learning on Monday, April 20th.
If you are looking for some fun activities to try at home with your kids next week, here are some Easter-themed STREAM activities that Mrs. Poth put together:
And, Mrs. Carpenter is challenging her family to participate in this reading BINGO challenge and thought you may wish to challenge your family too:
Lastly, please note that Mr. Corcoran WILL be teaching lessons for instrumental music students next week. If anyone has questions, he can be reached at jcorcoran@snet.
Please read the attached letter from Mrs. Jennings, our social worker here at SJS.
Today marks the mid-term for our third trimester. Grades 4 – 8 teachers will be sending out progress notes for students who are currently at a grade of D or lower by Tuesday, April 14th at noon. This will give teachers time over the next few days to update their grade books. Receiving this information by Tuesday, will give students time next week to submit missing assignments or make up work for which a teacher has offered an extension. It would be helpful if all students are caught up on all outstanding work so when school resumes, students can concentrate on the current assignments and assessments.
While Easter festivities may look a little different this year, the reason for celebrating is, of course, the same. Here are a few ideas that you can do together at home as a family during this Holy weekend:
Watch live-streamed Masses celebrated by SJS graduate (and Mrs. Rafferty’s twin brother) Father Lerner https://stm.yale.edu/
Holy Saturday – 8pm
Easter Sunday – 10am
Watch Live-streamed Masses celebrated by Pope Francis on Vatican News:
Good Friday – 11am
Holy Saturday – 2:30pm
Easter Sunday –
Watch Live-streamed Masses on the Archdiocese of Hartford’s own ORTV:
Holy Thursday – 7pm; The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated by Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair. It will be live-streamed on ORTV.org and the Office of Radio & Television’s Facebook page.
Good Friday –
Holy Saturday –
Easter Sunday –
Activities:
Pray the Divine Mercy Novena: The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday and ends on Divine Mercy Sunday. The daily intentions can be found HERE.
Make pretzels together. The word pretzel comes from a Latin word meaning “little reward.” Legend says that a 7th century monk baked left-over strips of bread twisted into the shape of arms folded in prayer as rewards for children who learned their prayers. For an easy recipe, Click here.
Try making a palm cross: Click Here
Make Empty Tomb Rolls: For an easy recipe, click here. While they bake, read or tell the story of Mary finding the empty tomb. When rolls are cool enough, countdown, have everyone break open their “tombs” and sing your favorite Alleluia song together!
Pray the Stations of the Cross aloud together, taking turns reading. Use pictures or symbols to mark each station and place around your home or yard. Sing “Were You There” as you process from station to station. Print and video resources are available online, or write your own.
Video Resource: Stations of the Cross for Children
Print Resource: Stations of the Cross for Young Children
Watch the sunset together; process outside after dark; light a candle or bonfire and talk about the significance of the Paschal candle. Talk about how Jesus is light and hope for people, even when they feel alone, or lost or surrounded by darkness.
However you choose to celebrate, Saint James School wishes you a wonderful, blessed Easter with your family.
Refund checks for the Munson’s fundraiser, spring soccer season, basketball banquet, Soiree RSVPs, and STEM Club were sent out in the postal mail yesterday. If you do not receive your check in the next few days please let Mrs. Sager know at lsager@saintjamesschool.net.