Dear SJB Families,

We saw our first snow of the year! It was exciting for all the students (even our very suave 8th graders). It was heartwarming to see some of our students experience snow for the first time. Ivan (1st grade) was so excited to tell me all about it. Since he is still learning English, his friend Sammy came along to make sure I understood just how excited he was! It was wonder and awe personified in Ivan's little face. The days when we get to experience the pure joy of our students' are truly life-giving. We are grateful for the gift of your children!

See you at Mass!

Maggie Javins



Prayerfulness is related to the cardinal virtue of Justice.

Definition: The habit of being in the presence of God, taking time to

be with Him, talk with Him, and seek communion with Him.

Prayerfulness in Practice:

• I spend time with God daily in prayer.
• I talk to God throughout my day.
• I entrust my needs and those of others to God in prayer.
• I thank God for His blessings.
• I ask God what His will for me is in matters great and small.

Saintly Example- St. Catherine of Siena

Even as a little girl, Catherine had a deep love for God and wanted to give her whole life to Him. She would often go to her room and spend a long time in prayer. Her mother didn’t understand this and made her do the servant’s work so she would not have time to pray. Catherine did this cheerfully and was able to pray in her heart while doing the chores. Because of her constant union with Him, God was able to use her to teach others, even the Pope. St. Catherine is a doctor of the

Church.

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Please help me think of You throughout the day as I go about my activities. I desire to turn to You in both the challenges and successes of life. Show Yourself to me in a deeper way; reveal Your love to me. Speak to my heart as I pour my heart out to You.



Amen.

Looking Ahead - Next Week's Virtue: Hope

Any 8th Grade Student Planning to Attend Bishop Luers needs to take the Henry-Keefer Scholarship and Placement Exam.

All interested current 8th graders are invited to take our scholarship exam/placement test on ONE of the two dates. Students with an ISP/IEP should test on the first date in November and a copy of current documentation must be provided ahead of time.

• Saturday, November 9th from 8am – 11:30am
• Saturday, December 7th from 8am – 11:30am

For more information, please contact the Admissions Office at 260-456-1261 ext. 3051

There will be no aftercare available on Tuesday 11/26 as begin our celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday!

All students should be picked up from school at 3:00.

Throughout the week teachers in middle school collect names of students going above and beyond, whether it is helping a classmate, participating in class, answering hard questions, volunteering at Mass, etc. Then once a week each middle school teacher draws out a name from their collection to get a small prize. All names eligible for the drawing are placed on a bulletin board in the middle school hallway for all to see.

November 18:

Mrs. Henry - June Handel

Mrs. Lehner - Becca Pleus

Mrs. Newberg - David Archbold

Mrs. Sturm - Analia Reyes

Mrs. Welling - Cortes Mata

Mrs. Zimmerman - Maria Farias

As the cold weather approaches, please keep the following in mind for School Closing and Delays

• School Delays will be posted on local TV stations (WANE & WPTA)
• They will also be posted on ClassDojo, Eventlink and Social Media.
• 2 Hr Delay Schedule for Half- Day Preschool will be 10AM - 12PM (3 yr old) and 1PM - 3PM (4 yr old) regardless of the day of the week.
• Full Day Preschool will run 10AM - 3PM.
• There is no before school care on 2 hour delay days.
• Aftercare is available.

Info Coming Home with Students Today!

• The envelopes for Santa’s Workshop are going home today.
• Dates of the shop are Dec 12/2-12/6th as well as Sunday the 8th during Santa’s breakfast. 
• Students can shop during their recess all week.
• The envelope has a wish list, and they can write down items they want to share with parents so they know how much money they need.
• The items range in price form $1-$25.
• This is an opportunity for students to purchase gifts for family members or themselves.
• This is a fundraiser that will support HASA. 

We will have a school wide celebration after the All School Mass on December 12th in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Gym. Can you donate or volunteer? Contact Gaby Lemus at 260.443.8490.

Thank you HASA for another wonderful Grandparent and Grandfriend Day!

Not sure what yo get your favorite teachers? HASA has provided a list of their favorite things.

Snacks and Coffee for Teachers

Each year HASA organizes parents to bring snacks and coffee for the teachers. It is so very appreciated! If you would be willing to volunteer for a week, please see the signup link below.

You may bring the snacks any day during the week you have signed up. If you are wanting to bring in coffee for the teachers, the coffee maker uses both ground coffee and nespresso pods. We have currently been purchasing ground coffee solely from a Catholic-owned coffee company named Guadalupe Roastery. If you are able, we would love to continue to support them by buying ground coffee directly from them. To help make purchasing easier, link to Guadalupe Roastery's website (Use code StJohn for 12% of Nicaraguan coffee) and a link for where to buy the nespresso pods are linked below. This is just an example of the nespresso pods - any brand of these type will work with the machine.

Thank you! 

Signup Genius

Guadalupe Roastery Website

Nespresso Pods Example

HASA Events - Save the Date!

Popcorn Day/Dress Down Day 12/6

Popcorn Day/Dress Down Day 1/10

Trivia Night 1/25

Popcorn Day/Dress Down Day 2/7

Father Daughter Dance 2/8

Mother Son Bowling 3/2 MVP Lanes

Popcorn Day/Dress Down Day 3/7

Popcorn Day/Dress Down Day 4/11

Sign up to help serve Popcorn

HASA is bringing back popcorn day the 1st Friday of each month. Popcorn is $1/bag. Popcorn will be delivered to the homeroom by the end of the day. We need volunteers to help pop popcorn to make this possible. The popcorn machine is easy to use and ingredients are pre-measured. 

Popcorn Signup

Pay HASA Fees

If you have not done so already, please pay your HASA family fees.

• $10 for one child
• $20 for two children.
• $30 for three or more children.
• You may pay by credit card on Eventlink.
• You may send cash or check payments to the school office. Please note your last name and your children's names on all monies sent to the school office.

There are some changes to aftercare this year

• Aftercare will take place in the PreSchool Room and Pick up will be in the cul-de-sac at Door #9. There will be a doorbell for you to ring.
• Miss Sydney Strack will be our Aftercare Teacher.
• All families must complete a registration form on Eventlink. This form provides information to the Aftercare teacher and only needs to be completed once.
• Parents will be sent a statement each week. They can pay by check, cash, or credit card. If paying by credit card, please use Eventlink. They payment is due by the following Friday.
• You can change the payment amount on Eventlink to match what your statement says.
• Aftercare costs $11 per student per day.
• Aftercare hours are until 5:30 PM each day.
• There are semester and quarterly options available for a reduced daily fee.

Bishop Luers Performing Arts Theater presents… Newsies JR! 

Christmas Musical Showtimes: December 12, 13, and 14 at 7:00pm in the BLHS Cafe. Tickets are $10 each, visit www.bishopluers.org to purchase today!

Bishop Luers HS Lessons and Carols Concert – Sunday, December 8 at 3pm in Bishop Luers’ Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi. Attendees will hear Bible passages read that foretell the Birth of Christ, accompanied by sacred music provided by the Bishop Luers Choir. All are invited, this is a free concert.

Bishop Luers Christmas Concert – Sunday, December 15 at 3pm in the BLHS gymnasium. Enjoy Christmas carols performed by the Bishop Luers choirs and band.

What is an SGO?

SGO stands for "Scholarship Granting Organization" which provides scholarship awards to qualifying families to help them afford the school of their choice.  

What is the difference between an SGO and a School Choice Scholarship (Voucher)?

SGO scholarships are funded by charitable corporate or individual private donations, not by the state. A qualifying family can receive both an SGO and a School Choice Scholarship (Voucher). If a family qualifies for a School Choice Scholarship, then they qualify for an SGO.

So if we have the School Choice Scholarship - why do we need an SGO?

• SGO's can be applied to 4 year old preschool tuition. (Age restrictions apply)
• As tuition continues to increase to meet school overhead needs (paying teachers appropriately, staffing to meet the needs of diverse learners, having updated technology available to students, ensuring students have updated curriculum and materials, offering a foreign language program, and much more), the SGO can be used to cover the difference between tuition and the School Choice Scholarship.

Why would I donate to an SGO instead of just giving to the school?

The SGO offers its donors a significant tax credit. Individuals, corporations, partnerships, LLCs, PCs, and self-employed are all eligible for the tax credit; in fact, any entity with a state tax liability can receive the benefit from a donation to the SGO.

Example of Tax Benefits (please see your tax professional to verify your particular situation).

Depending on your tax bracket, a donation of $1000 to the SGO could result in:       

Donation to SGO                  $1000.00

50% state tax rebate           (-$500.00)

25% federal deduction        ($500.00 x 25%=-$125.00)

Net cost to you                     $375.00

How are SGO funds applied?

Our pastor and administration award SGO grants to an individual family, following income guidelines from the State. (We do ask families to complete a FACTS grant application in order to receive the funds).

If you would like to donate, please make sure you designate Saint John the Baptist, Fort Wayne on the donation form. That ensures the funds come directly to our school. St. John the Baptist Catholic School is especially grateful to our donors who fund the SGO's for us. Without their help and support, this source of aid would not exist for our school.

As a Family of SJB, you have full access to our virtue program

Disciple of Christ, Education in Virtue is more than a curriculum; it’s a way of life – the means to a happy life and a healthy mind. Our school has purchased an institutional membership, and we invite you to sign up – for free.

There are videos and resources for the entire family – parents, educators, teen and young adult and children as young as 4 years old.

Simply use the following link and then type in the zip code of our school. When you see our school name, click on it and that’s it! You now have access to 100 % of the Openlight Media website.

Virtue Program Family Link

Hiring Classroom Aide

Our Title funding was amended and we are able to hire an additional classroom aide. The position would be under the supervision of the Resource Room and work with students who qualify for extra support.

The pay is $14 - $15 per hour (depending on education and experience) and we need 28-29 hours per week. We do require our classroom aides to pursue a substitute teacher license. If you know anyone interested, please have them apply!

• We try to get the students outside everyday for recess. It is so good for them!
• Please dress your children appropriately for cold weather by sending hats, gloves, and coats.
• Hoodie sweatshirts are not winter coats - contrary to what our junior high students tend to think. They go under winter coats.

Spirit and Uniform Store Available

Our new uniform store is available.

• The site is broken into different categories: Uniform, Fridays Spirit Wear, etc.
• When order there is an option to add a comment. It is very helpful to add your children's name to the comment so we can deliver uniforms in a timely manner.
• Uniform Store

Do you know someone who would like to receive our weekly newsletter?

Our weekly newsletter is a great way for grandparents, alumni, and friends to stay connected to our school. Have them complete the following information to receive our newsletter updates.

Sign Up Here

Do you know someone that wants to be a Substitute Teacher at SJB?

We are in need of substitute teachers. In order to be a substitute, you must apply with the diocese and hold a valid substitute license from the state.

• Diocesan information located here.
• Valid Substitute Permit application from State found here.
•  Licensed or Retired Teachers - $125 per Day/ $75 Half Day
• High School Diploma and Valid Substitute Permit - $100 per day/ $60 Half Day
• Please email jhohenstein@stjohnsfw.org once you are on the sub list so that she can be sure to call!