SJRS Monthly Newsletter -November 2026

Saint Jerome Regional School

"Living Fearlessly Through Faith..."

Message From the Principal


Dear Saint Jerome Regional School Family,

October was another busy and exciting month at Saint Jerome Regional School! We were fortunate to have beautiful weather, allowing our students to enjoy plenty of time outdoors. Thank you for being such an important part of the SJRS Family and for the many sacrifices you make to provide your children with a Catholic education.

Here are some of the highlights from the month of October:


  • Fire Prevention Program: On October 6, the Hometown Volunteer Fire Department visited SJRS to present a Fire Prevention Program for all of our students. We are grateful to the Hometown Fire Company for taking the time to visit our school and teach our students about fire safety!


  • Emergency Drills: We continued practicing our emergency procedures throughout the month, including fire, lockdown, and weather drills. Our school also participated in The Great Northeast ShakeOut to practice earthquake safety.


  • SJR CYO Donation: Our October 8-9 dress-down day raised $318 for SJR CYO! Thank you to everyone who participated and generously donated.


  • Progress Reports & Parent-Teacher Conferences: Progress reports were issued on October 7, and Parent-Teacher Conferences were held on October 8 and 9. Thank you to our families and teachers for working together to support our students.


  • 2027–2028 Re-Registration: Re-registration for the 2027–2028 school year opened on October 5. Thank you to all of the families who have already completed their re-registration! We are grateful for your continued commitment to Saint Jerome Regional School. 91% of our families have re-registered for next school year!


  • Halloween Dance: Our Halloween Dance was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who helped make the evening so much fun for our students. Be sure to visit our Facebook page to see lots of pictures from the event!


  • Red Ribbon Week: During the week of October 26, our students participated in Red Ribbon Week. Informative posters were displayed throughout the school to help raise awareness about the dangers of drugs. This year’s theme was “Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.”


Thank you, as always, for your continued support of Saint Jerome Regional School. We are blessed to have such a wonderful school family!

Mrs. Amy M. Hannis-Miskar, Principal

Looking ahead:


  • The Nothing Bundt Cakes Pickup is from 3:00-5:00 on Wednesday, October 28th.



  • Halloween Parade and Classroom Parties are October 30th. The Halloween Parade for grades K-8 is scheduled for October 30th at 10:00am and will take place in the large bus loop. Parents may park in the parking lot and stand on the sidewalk of the school to view the parade. Please be mindful of the neighbors' driveways and mailboxes. (If it is raining, or there is inclement weather, the parade will be cancelled- and an OptionC message will be sent out). Classroom parties will take place after the parade. Students may wear their Halloween costumes that day, or they can dress in Black and Orange Dress Down Clothing. No weapons of any kind are permitted. Please be sure that the costumes are school appropriate.  (We will do our best to try and record the parade and post it to our Facebook page for those that cannot attend).It is also a 12:00 Early Dismissal on Friday. The Coffee and Donut Sale has been cancelled.


  • Our Annual Basket Bonanza is quickly approaching. Thank you so much for your generous donations! We hope to see everyone there on November 6th and 7th. If you would like to help at the event, please sign up on the sign-up genius at this link:


SJRS: SJRS Basket Auction Donation and Volunteers

All volunteers must have their clearances on file. For every three hours you volunteer at any of our

SJRS events, your name will be entered into a $250 tuition drawing in May. You must sign in and

out at each event that you volunteer at. Thank you for supporting SJRS! We appreciate all

donations and all volunteers to help make this successful! If you cannot volunteer at the event,

please consider donating an item to the event.


  • Winter Uniform starts on November 2nd.


  • Student Council Feather Wars begins on November 2nd.  Student Council is sponsoring Feather Wars this month. Feather Wars is a contest between classes. Each class will have a turkey and are competing for the most feathers. The feathers cost $0.50 cents per feather. The contest will run from November 2nd -November 23rd. The prize for the most feathers will be a class dress down day. The money collected will go to the Student Council Projects this year.


  • There is an early dismissal (12:00) on November 6th and 24th. Dress down day to benefit CYO on November 6th.


  • We had many requests for another SJRS spirit wear sale before the holidays! (This sale includes Spread the Spirit Seasonal Items also!)  Check out the link to the online sale from Valley Athletic. Ordering closes on 11/8 at 11:59 p.m. https://vas.chipply.com/sjrs/ Thank you for supporting SJRS!


  • The First Trimester Ends November 19th. Report Cards are issued November 24th


  • Thanksgiving Break is November 25th-November 30th. Happy Thanksgiving November 26th! There is no school on November 25th, 26th, 27th, and November 30th. We hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the extra time with your families! School reopens on Tuesday, December 1st.



Christian of the Month

The Christian of the Month Award recognizes students who display good character on a consistent basis and serve as student role models throughout the month. Students are nominated by their teachers based on the six pillars of character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Students chosen to receive this award will be acknowledged for their accomplishment in the monthly newsletter. Students will receive a dress down pass, Christian of the Month Certificate and Applebee's certificate. The students will be recognized in the monthly newsletter.


The Christian of the month for October is John Malafarina (Aka Jack Jack by many). John is a kind and caring student. He is very respectful responsible and extremely trustworthy. He always completes his work and tries to motivate his fellow peers. Although he is not currently in any sports, he will be starting wrestling in November and T-ball in the spring. During his spare time he enjoys exploring the outdoors and collecting bugs. 

John enjoys making new friends and helping out in any way possible. He is very deserving of this award and we are extremely proud of him. Congratulations Jack Jack!


Walker Reed is Kindergarten's October Christian of the Month. Walker is a respectful and trustworthy student in our classroom. He is polite and kind with both his actions and his words. Walker always thinks before he acts and can be trusted to make good choices. He is an eager student who participates and tries his best every day. He is also a great friend who is nice, helpful, and friendly to all. Walker is very busy when he is not in school. He plays soccer for the Tamaqua Youth Soccer Association and is also a huge help at home. He enjoys helping to cook, hunt, and fix equipment with his dad. He also helps out at the family farm market. Along with all of that he is a great little brother to Lillyanna and a great big brother to Simon. Walker's family is so proud of the kind and thoughtful boy that he is.Way to go, Walker! 


The Christian of the Month for First Grade Blue is Marc Teprovich! Marc is always happy and respectful, strives to do his best, and is a wonderful friend to his classmates. He brings a positive attitude to our classroom and is a great example of kindness. Outside of school, Marc plays T-ball for the McAdoo Lions and loves spending time with his family. He is also an amazing big brother! Marc enjoys playing army and dreams of becoming a U.S. soldier one day. We are so proud of you, Marc! Your cheerful spirit, caring heart, and determination make our classroom a better place each day. Congratulations on being our October Christian of the Month!


The Christian of the Month for First Grade Gold is Addison Sinton. Addison is a kind and generous friend and classmate. She is quick with help and a kind smile for her friends in and out of our classroom. She is a tremendous help to her teacher as well as other teachers in the school. When she is out of school Addison participates in Creative Art Lessons.She loves swimming and to do any outdoor activities with her little sister and the rest of her family. 


The Second Grade Blue Christian of the Month is Ayden Ondrus. Ayden is a member of the Anthracite Baseball team and plays in the outfield. He is very caring and an excellent role model for his younger cousins. He loves all animals including his dog, Scout. He enjoys fixing things, nature, and geography. In school, Ayden is very kind to all. He is a hard-worker and volunteers often. You will always see him smiling as he is always asking how he can help. Congratulations Ayden! Keep up the good work!


Joy Gaines is 2nd Grade Gold Christian of the Month. Joy is a very kind and helpful student in the classroom. She is very thoughtful and generous. She is great at telling “Dad jokes”. She took first place in the ½ mile Healthy Kids Run and she also enjoys playing baseball. She is part of the children’s choir at St. Joseph of the Panther Valley. Joy loves to bike, swim and be outside. She is a wonderful big sister to her brother Quinn. Congratulations Joy!


The SJRS Christian of the Month in 3rd Grade for the Month of October is Yadiel Solis.

Yadiel is responsible, dependable, follows instructions, and is honest. He strives to do

his best while learning new things and asks questions to better understand. Because of

his outstanding work habits as a student, he perseveres through struggles and never

gives up! Outside of the classroom, Yadi is a member of the SJRS Cross Country team.

He is also a member of Zion’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Weatherly, where he

participates in Sunday School, Kids Club, and youth plays. Yadi is such a fun kid. He

loves to play and learn. His family reports that he has the best imagination and makes

everything they do an even better time! Thank you, Yadiel, for displaying good character

and serving as a role model. We are very proud of you!


Kiera Kelly is the 4th Grade Christian of the Month. At school, Kiera demonstrates responsibility and respect toward both her teachers and peers. She is recognized for making positive choices and putting forth her best effort in her daily work. Kiera participates in a wide variety of extracurricular and community activities.

She is a member of the SJRS CYO Volleyball and Basketball teams, and the previous year's winner of the Elk’s Hoop Shoot in Mahanoy City. This school year, she will participate in the CYO Spelling Bee, the CYO Art Competition, and school flute lessons. Outside of school, you can see Kiera on stage performing with Center Stage Theater at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center. Kiera is a two time hair donor to "Wigs for Kids." Kiera and her family are parishioners at St. Teresa of Calcutta in Mahanoy City. In addition to her activities, Kiera is a helpful big sister who enjoys swimming and playing outside during her free time. Congratulations, Kiera! We are proud of you!


Ulysses Fitzpatrick is the Christian of the Month for Grade 5 Gold. In school, Ulysses is

a polite and respectful student who consistently demonstrates kindness and consideration toward others. He is always willing to lend a helping hand in the classroom without even being asked and gets along well with his classmates. He actively participates in class and always does his best. At home, Ulysses exhibits many Christian virtues. He practices the virtue of charity when he helps around the house with chores. He practices the virtue of patience by helping his sister whenever she needs help. He practices the virtue of joy throughout the day and always brightens up the room. He is very active in our parish community at Saints Peter And Paul and helps out at numerous events including the church picnic. He is also an altar server. Ulysses plays the piano and enjoys playing sports. He especially enjoys playing baseball. Most of all, Ulysses cherishes time with his family- his two older brothers and his younger sister! Congratulations, Ulysses! We are proud of you!


The Christian of the Month for 5-Blue for the Month of October is Bear Stetz. Bear is very kind-hearted, energetic and has an eagerness to learn and help others. He is a defenseman for the Dragons Hazleton Area Street Hockey team and plays defense for the Bombers GHYSA Soccer Team. Bear is an avid military history buff and loves anything history-related. He enjoys being outside and spending time with his family and friends. He has care and concern for all living things and an understanding of how to treat nature. He has a dog, Nancy, who he really enjoys playing with. In the classroom, we love Bear’s unique personality and when he shares his knowledge of history with us. He is always respectful, kind, and hard-working. Congratulations Bear! 


Sixth Grade's Christian of the Month for October is Alexandra Lutz. Alex, as she is lovingly called in our class, is a star student, a brilliant helper, and a kind-hearted individual. She is always willing to step up and offer a hand whenever needed. Her friends know they can count on her. Outside of school, Alex participates in dance at the Anne Marie School of Dance, where she has received multiple ribbons for her solo dances and group dances. She also competes in gymnastics with Skye High Gym, where she has earned medals for her gymnastics competitions. Congratulations, Alex! We are all so proud of you! 


Jackson Nothstein is the 7th Grade Gold Christian of the Month. Jackson is a conscientious student who always has his work done in a timely manner. He readily volunteers in class discussions and displays Pre-Algebra work on the chalkboard. Jackson is part of the team that makes daily announcements. Jackson is a member of the SJRS Blue and Gold Band as well as the Marian Catholic High School Marching Band. Jackson is very polite and considerate of his fellow classmates. Congratulations, Jackson!


The Christian of the Month in 7Blue is Luke Stoves. In school, Luke exhibits numerous Christian virtues including prudence, charity, and faith. Luke exhibits prudence by following classroom rules. He exhibits charity when he offers to help others. He exhibits the virtue of faith when he prays and how he carries himself throughout the day. 

Luke is involved in the band and plays the flute and the drums. His family tells us that he is extremely kind, compassionate and caring. He loves to do things for others to see a smile on their face. He likes to cook for his mom when she comes home from work and often makes homemade cards and gifts on special occasions such as Father’s or Mother’s day. He enjoys helping his mom out around the house and loves spending time with the entire family doing things such as bike riding or going out to eat.


Congratulations to Rebecca Wippel, Eighth Grade’s Christian of the Month! Rebecca is a hardworking, conscientious student with a big heart who always volunteers and is ready to learn. She enjoys art, sewing, creative writing, dancing, music, the outdoors, and time with her dog, Kona. She competed on Marian’s JV Track and Field team and looks forward to returning this spring. Rebecca’s caring spirit shines through her actions, including designing a personalized support T-shirt for her grandmother during breast cancer treatment. 

SJRS hosted the CYO District 5 Spelling Bee on Wednesday, October 21st.

Our SJRS students did a great job.


6th Grade

1st place- Caden Engleman


7th Grade

1st Place-Hana Ferry

2nd Place- Wyatt Morris


The winners in each grade will move on to the Diocesan spelling bee

on November 15th.

Congratulations and good luck!

Gift Certificates and Scrip Certificates           

These are great ways to help with tuition costs. If you have any questions, please call the office. Many people are saving hundreds of dollars in tuition by purchasing certificates. Certificates are sold from the school office daily during school hours and scrip orders are taken on Tuesdays. Please note there are no orders on December 8th. Last order before Christmas is December 15th.


Tuition Chance

This year we will again sell tuition chances to help you win money toward your tuition bill. The chances are $1 each, and paper slips are in the family envelope. If you want to purchase the chance, fill out the slip and enclose money in an envelope marked tuition chance. This is not a fundraiser. All money collected will be awarded to the winning student’s tuition account. If your tuition is fully paid, credit will be applied to next year’s bill. The winner for September is Madelin Dyer in Kindergarten. The amount of tuition credit is $180. Thank you to all who took chances. Slips are enclosed for next month’s drawing which will be on November 23rd.

Home and School News


We encourage all parents to get involved with Home and School. We will need much help with our fundraising efforts. We encourage everyone to share ideas and to volunteer throughout the year with HSA.


2026-2027 Home and School Officers 


President~Kathy Reaman

Vice President~Maria McGinley

Secretary~Megan DeAngelo

Treasurer~Billie Jo Wetterau

Coordinator of Fundraising Activities~ Karen Weicker

Community Outreach- Holly Bones and Emily Hadesty


Email: hsa@sjrschool.com


Interested in Volunteering or Chaperoning?


We are always looking for parent volunteers to support our school events and field trips through the Home and School Association (HSA)! We will need a lot of help at our Annual Basket Bonanza which is coming up very soon. We will also need volunteers for events such as Santa's Shop, Dances, Field Trips and Spirit Day.


To volunteer or chaperone, you must complete the Diocesan “Protecting God’s Children” Workshop, along with several other Diocesan requirements. You can find the requirements for K-8 volunteers by clicking on this link. This changes from time to time with Diocesan updates. Please note that you may be asked to complete additional requirements each year.


Please keep in mind that Diocesan guidelines are updated periodically, and additional steps may be required even if you've volunteered in the past. If you're thinking about chaperoning a field trip this year, we recommend starting the clearance process early. This helps ensure everything is completed in time, as chaperone spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis from those who already have their clearances in place. Each class has a set number of chaperones, and those spots need to be confirmed before tickets can be purchased. Getting started early is the best way to avoid any last-minute issues!


Please note: All approved volunteers will be given badges that must be worn at events. You will receive the badges at the event and then return it to be kept in the school office for future events.


Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community!

The faculty, staff and administration ask for your continued prayers, support, cooperation and dedication to Catholic education. If you have any questions or concerns, you can call the school office at 570-668-2757. We will be happy to help you! Thank you for being part of the SJRS Family! Thank you for all the sacrifices you make to send your child to this school! In order to save time and money, we will continue to use email to communicate with you. If you have an email address, please check it and look for our messages. If you are not receiving our e-newsletters, please send a note to the office to be added to the email list. 




Let Us Pray


Almighty God,


We give you our school.


We give you all the teachers and staff who work here.


We give you all the children who study here.


We pray our school would be a place of great discovery, adventure and creativity.


May it be a place where we love to learn and where we learn to love.


A place where everyone is respected and all are deeply valued.


We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord


Amen   



Let us pray for: 

Our school family

a Special Intention

Our Nation

Your continued prayers, support, cooperation and dedication to Catholic education.

Your continued kind words toward each other.


 

Email your prayer requests to altssj@ptd.net or send a note to the office.


We recently mailed out our 2025-2026 Annual Fund Report to all of our donors. Thank you to everyone for supporting Saint Jerome Regional School. The annual fund report is also located on our website at THIS LINK. If you would like to make a donation to the 26-27 SJRS Annual Fund you can visit our DONATE page at any time or use the QR Code to take you to the page. Every contribution, regardless of the amount, has a profound impact on our students and their future. Thank you for supporting SJRS.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more pictures and happenings in our school!

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Christmas Show Save the Date


The Christmas Program is the same program for each date.

If you have children in multiple grades, you can choose one of the dates to attend.

Children should dress in (dress-up or holiday clothes or dress uniform) for the program that their parents are attending. They can dress up for each program or choose to wear the regular or dress school uniform for the other two shows.