SPN Weekly Newsletter #30

April 5, 2022

The Power

of Prayer

Principal's Message

Hello SPN families,

Prayer is our conversation with God, a combination of speaking to and listening to God. We ask for help with our concerns, and we are grateful for our blessings. Our faith tells us that God hears our prayers. Research has proven that patients recovering from illness or surgery who have a strong faith and pray for their health and well being are more likely to see positive results than those patients without faith and who do not pray. Prayer is powerful.

So, too, are our thoughts. Ideas and images, hopes and fears that fill our minds daily make up our thoughts. Thoughts become words, words become actions, and actions demonstrate who we are in the world. Are our thoughts bringing us peace and peace to others? Are we full of worry? The result of worrying is only that you become really good at worrying!

Fortunately, we can combat worry with prayer. This is why prayers of gratitude are always appropriate, focusing on the positive and being hopeful. This is also why a community, praying together is even more powerful, because prayer promotes positive thinking and positive thinking promotes positive behavior and outcomes.

Next week is Holy Week, and our teachers and students have prepared three special events for us to gather and pray together:

First, on Tuesday, April 12, the Fifth Grade is hosting a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross outside, around the block of the church and school. You are welcome to join us at one of the presentations at 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., or 1:00 p.m.
On Wednesday, April 13, the Eighth Grade has prepared a Tenebrae for grades 5 through 8 at 1:00 p.m. in the Church: Tenebrae is the church service observed during the final part of Holy Week to commemorate Christ’s suffering and death.
Finally on Holy Thursday, April 14, all grades will watch a video about the story of Moses and the connection between the Passover meal and the Liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass, followed by some Seder meal traditions (Matzoh and grape juice).

We look forward to these special events when we have the opportunity to remember all that Christ did and sacrificed for us and how we can be Christ in the world.

Warmly,

Julie Thomas

Interim Principal

Updates and Information

COVID Update: We have had 1 school case since March 30th. We ask that you continue to follow the Daily Health Screening DHS and contact the office to report symptoms and/or exposure outside of school.
Reminder to Provide Test Results: Please be sure to send a photo of Covid test results to Mr. Carter at mcarter@csdo.org when you are required to test your child. Anytime there are symptoms from our health screening list, a negative Covid test result is required to return to school. Thanks!
Rice Bowls: Remember to turn in your rice bowls to the office between April 8th and 13th!
2022 Best Of - Vote Now! SPN is nominated in Alameda Magazine, Oakland Magazine, AND Parents' Press for "2022 Best Of" schools. Since 2017 we have either been voted as #1, or been in the top 5 in our categories. If you would like to take a few minutes to vote for SPN that would be great! Alameda Magazine and Oakland Magazine: We are listed under "kids" in three categories: Best Private Elementary School, Best Private Middle School, and Best Preschool. Parents Press: We are listed as best Faith Based Preschool, Elementary and Middle School. Preschool is located in the early education section
2022-23 Student Registration opens April 11th: All new and returning families will receive links to register their children for the 2022-23 school year on April 11th. The registration deadline is April 29th. If you do not receive a link, please contact Mr. Carter (mcarter@csdo.org). Thank you!
Middle School Info Night: Electives! Lockers! Moving classrooms! Oh my! All incoming 6th grade families, please Zoom in on Monday, May 2nd at 6:30p.m. with our middle school staff and Principal Thomas to hear the ins and outs of middle school at SPN.
STEAM Fair: Coming up on Tuesday, April 26th in O'Brien Hall. Preschool-3rd grade will attend from 5p.m.-6p.m. and 4-8th grades will attend from 6p.m.-7p.m. To sign up to volunteer, use this sheet. A box is set up in the office lobby for small donated toys and any donated purchases from this Amazon wishlist.
Need to fulfill your volunteer hours? Look for open slots on this sign up sheet for Choice Lunch servers. Mon. - Fri. slots, 11:30a.m. - 12:30p.m.
Record your SPN volunteer hours: SPN Volunteer Hours Form. Need your total? Just contact our friendly office staff to inquire.

RSVP for Sports Awards Night

Hello SPN Families! It’s been an interesting year of athletics with the ups and downs of the pandemic. Nevertheless, it’s been a successful year and our student athletes have taken advantage of this opportunity to have new experiences, bond with friends, and build confidence. As the athletic season draws to a close, we want to invite you to the Sports Awards Night on Friday, May 20th, from 5:45p.m. - 8:00p.m. here on the SPN yard to celebrate our student athletes. Please use this link to RSVP so that we can plan accordingly. RSVP deadline is Friday, May 6th.

School Happenings

Did you get a glimpse of decades day last week?

1st graders reading with 4th grade buddies and on their own!

Community Happenings

M.U.S.E. Band Students 1st Place!

Just wanted to let you know that the band students received 1st place in this year's St. Patricks Day Parade in San Francisco. This is a real honor for the students and the program! ~ Bryant Allard, Director of M.U.S.E.

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7th grade students are welcome to join SJND for a Practice High School Placement Test (HSPT) held on our campus on Saturday, May 7th from 8:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

The Practice HSPT is a testing opportunity designed to give 7th grade students experience taking the test and to familiarize them with the format and focus of the HSPT. In 8th grade, students take the HSPT, and their scores place them in consideration for high school classes, as well as scholarships. Parents/Guardians are invited to stay for the morning to meet SJND teachers and students. Student-led tours are available for parents interested in seeing the SJND campus. The day concludes with a pizza lunch for students!

The cost of this Practice HSPT is $50 and the link to submit payment will be included in the confirmation email you receive after registering for the event. To register for this event, use this SJND Practice HSPT Registration Link to navigate to the SchoolAdmin calendar, use the buttons above the calendar to navigate to the appropriate month and date of the event you would like to attend, click on the blue box on that date, and submit the event registration form. Both the event registration form and the fee submission are required to complete registration for the Practice HSPT.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to the SJND Admission Team! We hope you will join us!

Thank you, and Go Pilots!

SJND Admission Team

admissions@sjnd.org

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At SPN this summer: