Online Safety Presentation & School Report

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Please join us the evening of Tuesday, October 15th as State Police Officer Kate Cummings talks about current social media trends and “challenges” and what we as parents should be aware of as more and more “unrestricted age” offerings hit the Apple/Google Play Store.  Check out the latest list of the Most Dangerous Apps of 2019, some of these might surprise you.

Officer Cummings will present immediately following our 2019 State of the School report, which begins at 6:00pm.

Please note, the HSA will be hosting BINGO in the Cafeteria so parents wishing to attend don’t have to worry about a sitter.

 

Cross Country Update/Saturday’s Meet

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Selected members of the SJS country team will be running in the Wickham Invitational this weekend (selected runners will be notified by Coach O’Neill).  Please arrive at Wickham Park in Manchester for 8am to stretch and walk the course with Coach O’Neill.  Boys race at 9am, girls at 9:25am.  Please note there is a $7.00 (cash) fee to park at Wickham Park on the weekends.

Next week, the team will practice on Tuesday, October 15th and will race at VCMS on Wednesday, October 16th.  The team will also participate in the McGee invitational on Saturday, October 19th.

From the Coach: Boys Basketball Schedule Overview

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Here is a nice recap of all scheduled Boys Basketball dates from Coach Creamer:

Sunday October 13th Open Gym for Boys 6th grade 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Monday October 14th Open Gym for Boys 7 & 8th grade 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Friday October 18th   Registration payment and forms due for all Basketball players

Sunday October 20th Open Gym for Boys 6th grade 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Monday October 21st Open Gym for Boys 7 & 8th grade 5:00 pm to 6:45 pm

Monday October 21st Parents meeting in Cafeteria 7:00 pm

Saturday October 26th Player evaluation/ team Selection 4th & 5th Grade Boys  10 am to noon

Sunday October 27th  Varsity Blue and Gold Team selections Boys 7th & 8th grade 1 pm to 3 pm

Bingo! Fun

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The State of the School address & Internet/Online Safety Presentation is next Tuesday, October 15th and the HSA will keep your kids busy so you can go!!  We will host a fun time in the cafeteria for any SJS student whose parents are at the presentation.  We plan to play BINGO (there will be prizes!), color, and play some fun word games.  A small snack will be served.  Parents can drop children off as early as 5:45 (please sign them in at the cafeteria entrance) and pick them up at the conclusion of the presentation.

Please sign up by this Friday, Oct 11th using the link below so we will have an estimate of how many kids to expect, but drop-ins are also welcome.  Please contact parent volunteer Kristen Miller at kamiller1016@yahoo.com if you have questions.

Reminder: Main Office Voice Mail

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If you are calling in to the school office to CHANGE where your child is going at afternoon dismissal, please make sure you speak to a LIVE person so we can ensure that message gets relayed to the teacher/student.

If you call the SJS Office during school hours and get our voicemail please try back instead of leaving a message if your message is time-sensitive.  Unfortunately we have had instances where messages left on the main office voicemail did not record and, as such, we never received it.

We will be addressing this with the phone company to see if there is an issue with our system, but important messages are always best relayed to a live person.  At least one person is always in the main office to answer calls during school hours.  If you reach our voice mail, it just means our office staff is on another line.

Messages that are not of an urgent nature may be left on voice mail but feel free to follow up with an email to Mrs. Sager at lsager@saintjamesschool.net if you wish.

Thank you.

 

Cross Country Meet Tomorrow

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As a reminder, the Cross Country Team will be racing tomorrow – Wednesday, October 9th – Vernon Center Middle School (this is INSTEAD of Thursday at Elizabeth Park).  Students should please arrive at 3:30pm to walk the course and stretch. Race begins at 4:00pm.

This Saturday, October 12th, is the Wickham Park Invitational.  Participating runners should arrive at 8:00am to stretch and walk the course. Boys’ race at 9:00am, Girls’ race at 9:25am.

Please note there is a CASH charge to park at Wickham Park.

Szopka Club RSVPs Due Tomorrow

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As a reminder, students in grades 4-8 interested in the Szopka Club should have their letter of interest in to their homeroom teacher by tomorrow.

You can read the original post HERE.

Basketball Open Gyms Tomorrow Night

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As a reminder, the following Basketball Open Gyms are scheduled for tomorrow evening.  Students must have their 2019-2020 Athletics Health Permission Form on file with the school by tomorrow morning to participate.

GIRLS in grades 5 – 8: October 8th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm

BOYS in grades 7 & 8: October 8th from 7:00pm – 8:30pm

The SJS Basketball Permission Slip and SJS Athlete Character Contract  are due to the school by October 18th.

Aftercare Statements Ready

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The September Extended Day statements are now available for pick-up from Ms. Jean.  Please be sure to grab yours next time you pick up your child from aftercare.

Important Notice From Mrs. Zorger

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October 4, 2019

Dear Parents and Guardians of Saint James School Students,

This morning, the Manchester Police Department Traffic Supervisor came to school due to a safety concern brought to his attention regarding morning traffic and illegal parking.  He was alerted that many of the drivers coming to school in the morning and afternoon are not obeying the traffic signs posted.  Drivers are parking in “No Parking” areas, idling in crosswalks, and dropping their children off in intersections.

I have been advised by the Police Department and by the Traffic Engineer that our school’s parents need to obey the traffic laws.  Therefore, I am meeting with them next week and creating a plan that they are requiring for me to have all my families sign off on, acknowledging receipt and understanding of the procedures.

Parking and drop-off on Otis Street tends to be an issue with our drivers.  There is no parking on the East side of the street and there are No Parking signs there to remind drivers of this.  Cars cannot be parked or pulled over (this includes “jumping” out of the car to walk your child to the crosswalk or getting your child’s back pack on) from the “No Parking” sign to the intersection.  Drivers are parking there and creating significant safety issues for walkers in the crosswalk and for traffic turning off of Park Street onto Otis Street.

I would like to remind you that your BEST option is parking at St. James Church parking lot and walking your child up to school.  There is plenty of parking there and we have a crossing guard to assist crossing the intersection.

In front of the gym is only for morning drop-off.  We cannot have cars parked there at any time during drop-off or pick-up in the afternoon.

Please know that the safety of all Saint James children is our number one priority.  Your adherence to the posted signs and our communicated procedures is absolutely necessary.  If the person who is dropping off and picking up is a friend, relative, etc.  please make sure you inform them accordingly.

Thank you for your support.

Mrs. Zorger
Principal