• Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Council members. Thank you to all of the student candidates who took the initiative to be involved in school leadership.  (Please see our Facebook page for pictures of speeches and posters for all candidates).

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Council!

PRESIDENT - Lillian Porambo

VICE PRESIDENT - Aiden Barrett

SECRETARY - Lillian Gallagher

TREASURER - Addison Engleman

5th GRADE HOMEROOM REP - Brynn Hannis-Miskar

6th GRADE BLUE REP- Kameron Kohler

6th GRADE GOLD REP - Amelia Wiscount

7th GRADE REP - Gavin Lutz

8th GRADE REP - Allison Brutto

Student Council Advisor- Mr. Cressley

SJRS Mission Representatives

The following Eighth Graders volunteered to be the school Mission Representatives for the year. They will help encourage our mission work of donations to the local food banks and other causes throughout the year. They will collect and organize donations from all the classrooms. We thank them for volunteering their time and energy to help others in need. Thank you also to Mrs. Dando who is the Mission Coordinator.

Front Row (L to R)- Lillian Porambo, Addison Engleman, Lillyana Zeiders, Shawna Hildebrand, Adalyn Walker, Rocco Mammarella, John Pikitus, Charlie Price, Lainey Fenkner, Kellan Krajcirik



Back Row (L to R)- Luke Young, Alex Cammarota, Allison Brutto, Everett Angelo, Alex Lin, Danny Archer, Michael Fantanarosa, Lillian Gallaher, Gavin Woodring, Avion Graham-Cruz, Isaiah Johnson.

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.

This month’s Preschool Christian of the Month is Nathan Thomas. Nathan has been a part of our preschool program since he was 3 years old. He is a pleasure and a wonderful example to have in class. He always models wonderful behavior and displays good character on a consistent basis. He is a responsible, caring, respectful and trustworthy student. Nathan has grown and matured so much over the last year and is very deserving of this award. During his spare time Nathan enjoys spending time outdoors and loves wildlife. Nathan and his family are very active in their Catholic faith, and he loves asking questions and learning more about his faith. Congratulations, Nathan!

Natalie Dolon is Kindergarten Blue's September Christian of the Month. Natalie comes to school every day with a smile on her face. She keeps her smile all day as she happily participates in all parts of our school day. Natalie takes great care to pay attention during lessons. She puts forth her best effort in everything she does. Although Natalie is one of the youngest students in our class, she is independent and mature. She is friendly and caring but is not afraid to speak up when she needs to. Natalie attends St. Gabriel's Church in Hazleton where she gets very excited to give money for Jesus. At home, Natalie loves to Irish dance and do puzzles. She is quite the 'Puzzle Master'. Natalie is quiet but confident both at home and at school. Way to go, Natalie! 

Aria Gutsie is Kindergarten Gold’s Christian of the month! Aria has started her kindergarten year off on the right foot. She is very kind, helpful, loving and a friend to everyone in our class. I can always count on her to have her hand raised to answer any of our questions in class. She loves to participate! She gives 100% effort into everything she does and does so with a smile. Aria leads by example and is always trying to do the right thing, which encourages others to do the same. She is such a joy to have in class! Outside of school, Aria is a member of the Tamaqua Area Youth Soccer team, loves playing with her big sister, and enjoys her Disney vacations with her family. Congratulations, Aria! You earned it!

The First Grade Blue Christian of the Month is Ayden Ondrus! Ayden is a kind and caring friend who always tries his best in school. He plays tee ball with Anthracite Baseball and loves his pets—Scout, Froggy, and Oreo. Ayden is also a wonderful role model and protector of his younger cousins. We're proud to celebrate his big heart and bright spirit! Congratulations, Ayden!

Julia Thiroway is Christian of the Month for 1st Grade Gold. Julia is a kind friend and respectful student. She comes to school everyday and does her best. She comes in ready to work, is kind to her classmates and respectful to all staff. Julia shows pride in her school work and is always ready to learn new things. Outside of school, Julia participates in cheerleading with the Frackville Mountaineers, where she has received the spirit stick. She is a member of St. Joseph the Worker Parish. Julia has received the Friendship Award at Divine Mercy. At home, Julia helps with the care of her four dogs and one cat. She loves to draw, paint and ride her scooter. Congratulations Julia!

The Second-Grade Gold Christian of the Month for September is Nora O'Grodnick. Nora is a good student and a hard worker who always tries her best. She always lends a hand to help her classmates and with classroom jobs. Nora is kind, respectful and honest. When she is not in school, she is involved in many extra-curricular activities. Nora is participating in her second year for SJR CYO Cross Country. She also has been playing the piano for one and a half years and is in her 5th season of dance with The Dance Factory in Tamaqua. Nora is a kind-hearted girl who loves to help others and make friends. She enjoys serving at church in any way she can. Nora loves Jesus with all her heart. Her family is thankful for her servant’s heart and cheerful personality. Congratulations, Nora!

The Christian of the Month in Grade 2 Blue is Aubrielle Giannelli. She is a great help to classmates in need. Aubrielle assists classmates without them even asking; she just realizes when someone needs help and quietly comes to their aid. She is an excellent student and is always well mannered and well behaved. Outside of school, Aubrielle plays U8 soccer for Shenandoah Youth Soccer Association on team Paniagua. Aubrielle loves to help others. She enjoys doing arts and crafts, playing games, playing soccer, and watching videos on her tablet. She also loves spending time with her brothers and sister. Congratulations, Aubrielle!

The SJRS Christian of the Month in 3rd Grade for the month of September is Bradley Sanzi. Bradley is a dedicated student who is eager to learn. He comes to class prepared, listens diligently, participates during lessons, and respects those around him. Mrs. Gulla can always count on him to follow directions and set a positive example for his peers. Outside of school, Bradley plays the guitar, plays basketball, roller blades, and loves to ride his dirt bike. He especially enjoys quad vacations with his family to West Virginia. Thank you, Bradley, for displaying good character and serving as a role model. We are very proud of you!

The Christian of the Month for 4-Blue for the month of September is Agnes Young. Agnes plays the piano and recently started violin lessons. She also takes ballet, tap, and jazz lessons through Crystal’s School of Dance for the past six years. Agnes is an altar server at St. Ambrose Parish and has participated in piano performances at local nursing homes and community events. She loves to crochet and make bracelets. Agnes is always smiling and tries to lift others up around her. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends and is always helpful at home. She enjoys cooking and doing the dishes. In the classroom, Agnes is always participating and focused and loves to share her artistic talents as well. Congratulations, Agnes!

Congratulations to Kinsley Warden, our 4th Grade Gold Christian of the Month for September! Kinsley is a kind, energetic, and creative student who shows a strong commitment to her faith, family, and community. This fall, she is excited to join the Tamaqua Blue Wave swim team and begin clarinet lessons. She also shines at The Dance Factory as a talented jazz dancer and a valued member of both the "Dynamite" specialty team and the competition team. Kinsley gives back to her community—this summer, she held a lemonade stand to raise money for the Tamaqua Area Hunger Campaign. Her parents describe her as loving, supportive, and always ready to help those around her. In school, Kinsley works hard, completes her tasks, and is a great friend to her classmates. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, building Legos, and being creative.

We’re proud to celebrate Kinsley and all the ways she lets her light shine!

Lana Fenkner is the Christian of the Month for Grade 5. Lana is a kind and caring

student and is always willing to help her teachers and her classmates. She is also a

responsible student, who is consistently prepared for class and completes her

assignments carefully. Outside of school, Lana loves playing outdoors and enjoys

hanging out with her family and friends. Lana loves animals and takes immense joy in

taking care of her barn friends. She is a bright, kind, helpful, and very positive person.

She will go out of her way to lend a helping hand. Congratulations, Lana! We are so

very proud of you!

Sixth Grade Gold's Christian of the Month for September is Racquel Kondertavage. In school, Racquel is attentive, helpful, and always participating in her classes. She is a joy to teach in the classroom. Outside of school, Racquel plays Little League baseball and is on the Tamaqua Legion team. She also plays SJR CYO volleyball and basketball. Racquel has also been taking piano lessons for five years. Racquel is a compassionate and generous girl; she is always looking to help others and animals in need. She has a huge heart. In her spare time, Racquel loves riding her bike, rollerblading, playing baseball, cheering for the Orioles (She is an avid fan who enjoys going to Camden Yards to watch them play!), and playing Taylor Swift songs for her fellow Swifties. Congratulations, Racquel! We are all so proud of you! 

Congratulations to Janna Varner, 6th Grade Blue Christian of the Month for September! Janna stands out for her caring, helpful, and kind nature, always showing empathy towards others. She is an active participant in SJR CYO basketball and volleyball, where she demonstrates true sportsmanship and teamwork. Outside of school, Janna enjoys helping at her family farm market, eagerly lending a hand wherever she can. She also loves spending time with her friends and takes joy in caring for her younger cousins. Janna is a wonderful example of Christian values in action. Congratulations, Jana!

Gavin Lutz is the 7th Grade Christian of the Month. Gavin is a conscientious student whose work is always done neatly, completely, and on time. He loves art and being creative. Gavin is part of the team who does morning/afternoon school announcements. In his community, Gavin helps set up soccer fields. He is a member of Tamaqua Area Youth Soccer, Basketball, and Baseball teams. Gavin is an awesome big brother. He loves spending time with family. He is a great friend, athlete, and student. His family is very proud of all he has accomplished! Congratulations, Gavin!

The 8th Grade Christian of the Month is Lillian Gallagher. At school, Lillian shows Christian values by regularly helping others in class. She's studious, polite, and respectful. Outside of school, Lillian is involved in numerous activities. She plays on Marian High School Jr. High Basketball team and has also participated in SJR CYO Volleyball and CYO spelling. After 11 years of dance, Lillian is currently training to be a dance teacher herself.  Her parents say she is always smiling and has a generous heart. Every year, she organizes a lemonade stand and donates half the money to the Carbon County Environmental Center. Congratulations, Lillian!

Please Help Saint Jerome Regional School Keep Tuition Cost Affordable

Throughout the year you will be receiving information about the various fundraisers through the school and the Home and School Association. The reason we have fundraisers is to keep tuition costs down. The actual cost of education of each child in our school is over $6900.00. As you know, tuition is much less than this. The fundraisers help us make Catholic Education available to more children. 

We do not have mandatory fundraising at Saint Jerome Regional School because it is our hope that every family will do everything possible to support our efforts, not because they must, but because they want to participate and because they care about the future of this school. Thanks for joining the effort for the sake of our children!  

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. There will not be any orders on October 14th

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 Ayden Ondrus in Grade 1Blue. The amount of tuition credit is $205. Thank you to all who took chances. Slips are enclosed for next month’s drawing which will be on October 21st.

School Spirit Dress Down Days

Students are permitted to wear school colors (navy blue, cardinal or gold) on days that are designated as School Spirit Dress Down Days. Other items that are permitted are: school spirit wear, gym clothing or CYO spirit wear. 

Dress Down Days

Students are permitted to wear clothing of their choice that is considered appropriate. They do not have to be school colors. Dress Down Day Passes are not permitted to be used on Mass days.

Absences

Please call us if your child is going to be absent/tardy from school. This will ensure that we know where he/she is and that nothing has happened to him/her on the way to school. If your child is going to be absent or arrive late at school, you are required to call the school by 8:00 AM. Please leave a message if necessary. The number to call to report absences or lateness is 570-668-2757. Your call to let us know your child is not going to be in school does not take the place of an excuse note.  PA State requirements and those of the Diocese of Allentown require that for the student’s return to school, the student must be accompanied by a written note stating the particular reason for the absence and the specific date(s) of the absence(s). This note must be signed by the parent/guardian which will become an official document to be placed into the attendance files. A written excuse must be returned within three days to the student’s homeroom teacher when the child returns to school. If your child’s name appears on an attendance report from the homeroom teacher and you have not phoned to inform the school, please expect a call from the school personnel to verify the absence or check on your child’s whereabouts. Your child’s safety and welfare are of prime importance to us.  

Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on October 9th and 10th.  A letter was sent home regarding in-person and by-phone conferences. Please complete and return that form to your child's teacher as soon as possible. Progress Reports will be sent home on October 8th, and parents will have an opportunity to discuss their child/ children’s progress with the teachers after reviewing the progress reports. Please note that it is not mandatory to schedule a conference, but it is an opportunity for parents with concerns to address them with teachers at that time. If you do not feel that a conference is needed at this time, please return the form checking that option.

We recently mailed out our 2024-2025 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 25-26 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.

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.

2025-2026 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. These apply to all K–8 volunteers and may change from time to time. You can view the most current requirements by clicking the link below.

volunteer.pdf

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!

Halloween Dance for students in Grades Kindergarten-4th Grade

Paper form will be sent home in the family envelope

*We are taking donations of individually wrapped items for treats. We are looking forward to a great night! (No peanuts or treenuts please).

You must sign your child in and out of the dance. 

Please return the dance form and the money by October 17th. 

Thank you

Supplies Needed  

Every year we receive donations of items such as Clorox wipes, hand soap, paper towels and trash bags. We could also always use Band-Aids. If you can donate any of these products or know of a company who would donate these products, it would be greatly appreciated. The PA State Budget for 25-26 has not yet passed, which means that all of our supplies and book orders are on hold. Orders will not go through until they pass the state budget.

REMINDERS : 

-Please check the October calendar for important dates

Here are some of the important dates to look forward to in our very busy month of October:

The Hometown Fire Company plan to be here on October 7th for a Fire Safety Program.

Early Re-Registration begins October 6th 

Progress Reports are issued October 8th

Parent-Teacher Conferences are Oct 9th and 10th

No school for students on Monday- October 13th

Dress down day to benefit CYO on October 14th

Circle of Grace Child Protection Catechesis Classes October 17th for all grades

We celebrate Red Ribbon Week- "Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free" Oct 23-29

Basket Bonanza Donations are due by October 17th in order to receive the free sheet of tickets- Thank you!

K-4 Halloween Dance on October 24th

Halloween Parade and Classroom Parties October 31st

The Halloween Parade 

The Halloween Parade for grades K-8 is scheduled for October 31st 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. (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).

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

Prayer in Difficult Times

Praised be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation,

who comforts us in all our afflictions.

May God, the source of all patience and encouragement,

enable us to live in perfect harmony with one another

according to the spirit of Christ Jesus.

May the Lord make us overflow with love

for one another and for all.

May God strengthen our hearts.

God of all our days:

like a parent you forgive us,

and like a child you love us.

May we love and forgive one another.

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.

Your Tax Dollars Can Help SJRS  

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.