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MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents/Guardians: 


First and foremost, THANK YOU so VERY MUCH for the enormous amount of selfless and compassionate support that you have shared with our SPA community since our return to campus after Christmas vacation. Your kindness, generosity and quick responses to assist in any way possible will always be appreciated and will never be forgotten. 


It is my heartfelt hope that this week’s newsletter finds everyone safe and well as we continue our journey recovering from the fires and all of the obstacles that have accompanied this catastrophic event. The tragic loss of lives and homes, and the thousands of forced evacuations, have been unimaginable. The significant impact of this tragedy is being felt by students in all the fire areas: 10 public and 6 private school campuses have been destroyed, leaving more than 5,000 students without schools. Here at St. Paul’s, we are doing what we can to accept students who want to continue their Catholic education. While these evacuated parents focus on the essentials of housing, meals, childcare, clothing and other essentials, we want to assure them that their children will be welcomed and cared for in our “SPA family” of Saints!


As always, we remain grateful for the first responders who are tirelessly working to protect our communities, and all of the generous volunteers who are doing everything possible to care for everyone affected by the fires. Please keep these special people in prayer as they remain focused on ensuring the safety and comfort of everyone in our communities. 


Our school, and many other schools, are closed today because this is a day we have set aside to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As we continue to prepare for our accreditation, I have found myself reflecting on our Schoolwide Learning Expectations these past few weeks, particularly on what it means for “our school to have a strong involvement in service while empowering our students to use their time and talent to help the vulnerable. While pondering that sentence, I was struck by the following words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while reading an article about his life.  


An individual has not started living until he/she can rise above the narrow confines of his/her individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity. 

At the heart of all that civilization has meant and developed is ‘community’ – the mutually cooperative and voluntary venture of a person to assume a semblance of responsibility for his/her brother/sister.”


This is what it means to come together and act for the common good. And this is exactly what so many amazing people in our community are doing right now—reaching out and volunteering to help in any way possible wherever it is needed. Thank you, again, and may you be abundantly blessed! 


Peace and Blessings,


Crystal Pinkofsky

Principal

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANOTHER WEEK OF FREE DRESS!


Given the fact that we still have many SPA families who have been displaced from their homes due to the fires, and the number of new families we have recently welcomed, all of our students, faculty and staff have been given another week of FREE DRESS. While this has relieved a bit of stress for some of our SPA families, it has also added a spirit of positivity to our school campus. The level of cheering and clapping I heard when that announcement was made last Thursday brought forth many smiles from our teachers and students. Thank you for your understanding and support…and don’t worry…school uniforms will be back soon!

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK!


Beginning Sunday, January 26, Catholic schools throughout the nation will celebrate their commitment to faith, academics, and Christian service in honor of Catholic Schools Week! This year’s theme is United in Faith and Community. This will be a time for all schools to refresh ourselves as Catholic school communities, and to give ourselves hope. Here at St. Paul’s, we will use this time to celebrate who we are and where we are at this moment in our history as a Catholic elementary school. We will begin our special CSW celebration on January 26th by coming together at the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The SPA Father’s Club will be hosting a delicious Pancake Breakfast immediately following the 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. Masses! All current school families, parish members, and prospective school families are invited to join us. 


Everyone is also cordially invited to attend our SPA Open House which will be held from 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Please feel free to bring your relatives, friends, neighbors, and any prospective families. Our students are eagerly anticipating having you visit their classrooms to see examples of some of the wonderful work they have completed during the first half of this school year. Refreshments will be served, and tours of the campus will be available. This is a fun event made even more so by the pride our students display in their many accomplishments.

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8TH GRADE GRADUATION PHOTOS


Our 8th grade students will be taking their graduation cap and gown pictures this Thursday, January 23, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Given that the students have “free dress” this week, please note the information below regarding the required dress attire for pictures.

 

  • Girls: They will be photographed wearing a white gown and white cap, which will be provided during the photo session. Their gown has a high white collar so their clothing underneath will not be visible. They can wear a WHITE blouse to school that day. If they do not have a white blouse, it is recommended that they wear their white uniform top. They can change into colorful “free dress” after their photos have been taken. 
  • Boys: They should wear a button-down, collared shirt and a necktie. They will be photographed wearing a green gown and green cap, which will be provided during the photo session. Their graduation gown is V-neck at the top, making their shirt and tie visible. They may bring a “free dress” shirt to school to change into afterwards. 



Please remind your students to bring their BEST smiles! If you have any questions, please refer to the graduation photos in previous school yearbooks. You may also reach out to the 8th grade teachers or the school administration. We are looking forward to seeing some beautiful photos of our SPA 2025 Graduates!

FEAST DAY OF THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE


This Friday, January 24, at 8:30 a.m. our faculty, staff and students will come together

during a special Mass to celebrate the Feast Day of the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. Please make every effort to have your students arrive on time so they are not late for Mass. Parents are very welcome to join us!

2025-2026 DK/KINDERGARTEN ASSESSMENTS


The next round of readiness assessments for children who will be applying for enrollment in DK and Kindergarten next year will be held this Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. If you or anyone you know would like to apply for admission next year to DK or Kindergarten, please contact Mrs. Jill O’Callahan, our Director of Admissions, at jocallahan@sp-apostle.org or (310) 474-1588 x7220 to schedule an appointment.

YUMMY PANCAKE BREAKFAST!!


To help us kickoff Catholic Schools Week, the SPA Father’s Club will be hosting a delicious Pancake Breakfast immediately following the 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Masses next Sunday, January 26, in the JCPC. The cost is only $8 per person, or $25 per family. That’s a truly YUMMY BARGAIN! The breakfast will be served in the JCPC, and there may also be outdoor seating by the Parish Center. Make plans to join us for mass and breakfast, and do not forget to bring your appetite!

SPA DRAMA CLUB


Sign-ups for our SPA Drama Club are live on the Sawyer website(Click Here!). The class is filling up quickly, so if your children would love to participate, please sign up soon. The first practice will be on Thursday, January 23rd. Ms. Mizo and Mr. Alberti have had so much fun directing the students, and they are excited and looking forward to working with the next group of “actors.”


FROM OUTREACH CONCERN: 


During these challenging times, Outreach Concern wanted to provide extra support to all of our SPA families and staff. If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health distress related to wildfires, you can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. This national hotline is available 24/7 to provide crisis counseling for emotional distress related to disasters.


Mental Health Help Line: Call (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741 to find immediate help or access local mental health services 


CalHOPE Warmline: Call 833-317-4673 

FindTreatment.gov: Find treatment near you 

National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for free, confidential treatment referral and information 


Some ways to cope with the psychological effects of a wildfire include: 


  • Adhering to all evacuation warnings
  • Reaching out to family and friends
  • Seeing a therapist or primary care doctor
  • Finding a support group/call hotlines
  • Connecting with a religious leader
  • Spending time with other people
  • Talking to a trusted friend or adviser
  • Participating in enjoyable activities
  • Taking frequent breaks from cleanup efforts
  • Exercising
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Getting enough sleep
  • Writing in a journal


OUTREACH CONCERN CRISIS HOTLINE: 1-800-4-CONCERN (426-6237)

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