SAINT JOHN THE EVANGELIST

Communities of Faith, Knowledge, and Service

Sacred Scripture: Psalm 32

"I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation."

Principal's Message

Dear Saint John School families,

Ash Wednesday begins an important time in the Catholic Church year. Our students will have an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, continue their Faith in Action outreach, lead Stations of the Cross, and participate in Holy Week prayer services.

The season of Lent offers all of us a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God and to deepen our commitment to a way of life, rooted in our baptism. In our busy world, the Lenten season provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns and behaviors, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.

Peace and blessings.

Dan Schuh, Principal

OUR FAITH

Mass Schedule

Weekend Mass schedule: Saturday 5:00 pm; Sunday 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 am, 12:00 and 5:00 pm

Weekday Mass schedule February 16 - 20: Ash Wednesday, February 18 grades K-3 at 8:00 am, grades 4 -8 at 10:30 am

Weekday Mass schedule February 23 - 27: Parish Mass at 8:00 am: grades K -2 on Tuesday, grades 6 - 8 on Wednesday, grades 3 - 5 on Thursday

Stations of the Cross at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 20

2nd grade students will celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday, February 26 at 6:30 pm

8th grade students will host a Faith in Action retreat for students from St. Michael's and Nativity on Wednesday, February 25

Faith in Action:

Our middle schools students recently shared some of their thoughts about the Faith in Action class. Below are some comments from a few of our students:

Faith in Action is a class that I largely recommend to others for future references. This class has given me a new aspect on life which is mostly helpful. Personally, I reel this class should take the place of religion class and that other students should be able to take it. At younger ages, I think kids should take this class because we are never to you to learn about helping each other. The lessons I have learned are useful and are influential. I hope I can take this class next year and other students can experience this class too.

Cole Hume, 7th grade

During this class, I learned that I need to put other people's needs before my own and I realized that more people need help than I thought. I would recommend this class to other people because it would open their eyes to needs around them. FIA helped me realize that to be a Catholic means to think about how you can leave your mark on the world by helping other people. Even though this class is long, it was fun to participate in the service projects. I think the next classes will like this because this class is very hands on. They will also like it because they know it will make them a better person. Overall this class will teach people to open their eyes and be more thoughtful which what a lot of people in this grade need.

Lauren Boyer, 8th grade

A recommendation for Faith in Action - YES! I think it is a great class that really guides students. Although it may not have been the most interesting class, it was highly important. It allows students to exit their comfort zones and explore some of God's other children. While one may feel sad when witnessing the homeless, they should also feel joy knowing that they can single handedly help that person. I do think that all the charities we take part in is great, but overwhelming to some parents. Overall, A+ for FIA!

Cassidy Tibbitts, 8th grade

February 12, 2015

Table of Contents

Important Reminders

02/17/15: Eagle Group Meeting, Parish Hall at 8:00am

02/18/15: Ash Wednesday, Mass Schedule grades K-3 at 8:00am, grades 4-8 at 10:30am

02/19/15: School Board Meeting, school library at 6:30pm

02/20/15: Stations of the Cross at 2:00 pm

02/26/15: 2nd grade students-Sacrament of Reconciliation at 6:30pm

02/25/15:8th grade FIA retreat for St. Michael's and Nativity

02/27/15: Second Trimester of school ends

03/14/15: Track Meet at Cathedral Catholic High School at 8:00am

03/21/15: Save the Date! Roaring 20's Gala

OUR FAMILY

Please keep in our thoughts and prayers...

Monsignor Harnett and all who are suffering from poor health

Congratulations to ...

The following students whose Respect Cards were recently drawn in the morning assembly:

Morgan Fischer 3H Ethan Lagasse 7M

Andrew Putnam 4M Nina LeVeille 8S

Jack Tibbitts 4M Nico Forester 7M

Bailea Wilson 2LP Aleks Poledica 7H

Special congratulations to all the students who participated in the Science Olympiad on Saturday at Rancho Bernardo High School

Thank you to....

Jianie Bernard and the volunteers for the successful Mother/Son Bowling outing

The 8th grade parent volunteers for the CandyGram sales

All who donated to the 6th grade Faith in Action toy drive

Alumni News......

Owen Duvall, a graduate of Saint John School in 2012 has recently been featured in a KUSI news program and feature story in the Seaside Courier. Owen has been selected to represent the United States on the High School All-American Rugby Under 17 team. The team will tour France and Belgium this spring. In addition to playing for Cathedral Catholic, Owen is also a longtime member of the Coastal Dragons Rugby Club in Encinitas. You can read his full story in the February edition of the Seaside Courier or watch his interview at the KUSI link:

http://www.kusi.com/Clip/11091364/rugby#.VNKa7e8yrJk.

OUR SCHOOL

Annual Fund Update: Tomorrow is Built Today

Thank you again to everyone for their participation in our first Annual Fund campaign. We truly value your opinion, so in order to guide future campaigns, please take a moment to complete the Annual Fund survey. It can be accessed through the link below.

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07eahf869mi5ig7rej/start

Your support is vital in helping Saint John School develop the young Catholic leaders of tomorrow!

Strategic Plan:

We have recently added our Saint John School Strategic Plan to School Speak. It will also be on the school website. Please skim or read it when you have an opportunity. It provides a self-assessment and evaluation of the school's strategic areas. It also provides an outline of goals and action plans to meet the three to five year benchmarks. The Annual Fund and Project Domino are part of the Strategic Plan. We invite your comments and suggestions and will survey your ideas more in-depth in the New Year.

GREEN MY LIFE

by Mikaela Adams

Calling all dog lovers:

Sitting at home, wondering what to do over the weekend? Well, do we have an event for you!

On February 21st, the annual "5K Paw Walk in the Garden" happens in one of the most beautiful gardens of the southwestern United States. The renowned San Diego Botanical Gardens features a tropical rainforest, rare bamboo groves, and a humongous interactive treehouse for the little ones to play in. The Paw Walk not only benefits all parts of the Rancho Coastal Humane Society, like Pet Assisted Therapy, Kamp Kanine, but also the semi-annual Spring and Fall Animal Camps. It also encourages your family and your dog to get up and get active together. You don't even have to bring a dog to participate!

Help out your local animal shelter by registering here: at www.rchumanesociety.org

EAGLE PARENT GROUP

Park-n-Pray meets on Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30. Evening meetings are held on early dismissal Wednesdays. Look out for prayer cards and bookmarks that have been given to your children from this wonderful ministry. For questions please contact Mary Goulet at [email protected].

Spirit Store

Looking for easy gift ideas for kids, parents, or grandparents? Why not check out the Spirit Store? There are many items to choose from. Look for the Spirit Store link on School Speak to order.

Used Uniforms

If you are needing gently used uniforms, you may go to Platypus Kids in Encinitas to purchase. You may also drop off your used uniforms at Platypus Kids. We are no longer accepting old logo PE shirts, sweatshirts, and Spirit Shirts. All items need to be free of stains and holes.

ESCRIP/Target Card

Don't forget to sign your credit cards up on Escrip.com AND your Target Red Card on target.com/tcoe. This is easy money for our school!

Roaring Twenties Auction

Volunteers needed for Auction day/night! Please sign up on iVolunteer if interested in any of the following positions. Remember this counts toward your fundraising volunteer hours!

Clean up / tear down (10 spots)
Check out (1 more spot)
Kids Photo Table (2 spots per shift) 6:00 - 6:30 pm; 6:30 - 7:00 pm, 7:00 - 7:30 pm
Wine Runners (2-3 spots at 7:15 pm)
Drivers to help us get baskets/center pieces to the event on Saturday morning (3 spots)

The auction committee is in need of baskets and 15 new bulletin boards for the silent auction. We are also looking for white Christmas lights that will be used as decorations. If you can donate any of these items, it would be very much appreciated! Please leave these at the table outside of the school office to the attention of Jill Cole or Melissa Harrington.

The auction committee is working hard to obtain donations for both the silent and live auctions but we can't do it without your help! If you are able to donate any goods, services, gift cards, airline miles, travel vouchers, etc., to the school auction, it would be greatly appreciated! All donations are tax deductible and will be used to create both silent and live auction baskets. Please leave all donations in the school office to the attention of Jill Cole or Melissa Harrington. We are so grateful for your generosity!

Eagle Group Meeting

Eagle Group meeting will be on Tuesday, February 17 at 8:00 am in the Parish Hall.

The School Board meets Thursday, February 19, at 6:30 pm in the library.

ATHLETICS CORNER

Join the track team! The K-4 North County Parochial League Track Meet will be held on Saturday, March 14 at Cathedral High School. Practices will be every Tuesday beginning on February 17 from 2:35 - 3:35 pm. Registration information can be downloaded from School Speak. All forms must be returned to the office no later than February 24.

As always, athletic game schedules can be found here.

Please consider supporting our teams at home games whether or not your child is playing. Our teams love to have your support!

Good luck Eagles!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Save the Date! The Saint John Annual Auction is coming soon. Saturday, March 21 is the big day. Catch a glimpse of the Roaring 20's festivities at https://vimeo.com/116477513

CRS Rice Bowl Project

Forty years ago, Catholics in the United States wanted to respond to the famine in Africa. They asked themselves if they could feed the hungry through Lenten prayers, fasting, and almsgiving. The answer was yes and it came in the form of a small cardboard box. Forty years later, the Rice Bowl Project continues to bring help to those in need. It is sponsored by Catholic Relief Services. Many of you may remember the program from your Catholic school days.

Each student will be given a special cardboard box that will be used to hold money. We ask that your family thoughtfully consider how you can put donations in the box. For example, you may choose to "give up" something (a common Lenten tradition). You could give up going to Starbuck's one day and put the money you would have spent on a latte in the Rice Bowl box instead. Perhaps students can give for their time by completing extra chores and putting any money earned in the Rice Bowl. Get the whole family involved in deciding what works best for your family. The project runs through the Lenten season.

If you are a more modern, tech savvy type of family, you may want to consider downloading the CRS Rice Bowl app from Google Play or the App Store. You can make donations directly from your mobile device. Otherwise, we suggest you put the collection box in a special place in your home, for example, your kitchen or dining room table. That way, you can continue to reflect and prepare for your Lenten journey on a daily basis while serving our brothers and sisters in need.

REMINDERS

Important Reminders:

There is no school on Friday, February 13 and Monday, February 16 in recognition of Presidents' Day.
Students wear full dress uniform on Ash Wednesday, February 18. They will receive ashes at Mass.
Stations of the Cross are on Friday, February 20 and Friday, February 27 at 2:00 pm
Pep assembly is on Tuesday, February 24 in the Parish Hall
2nd trimester of school ends on Friday, February 27

MISSION STATEMENT

Saint John School, a Christ-centered environment, empowers our children to gain a thorough understanding of the Catholic faith, achieve their highest academic potential, and share Christ's love through Christian action.