NEW THIS WEEK

Important Reminder from our School Nurse

Any child who injures themselves during or after school hours, which results in the child having a cast, sling, crutches, or any other medical devices, a note must accompany them on their return to school. This note must be brought to the Main Office.

Any activity restrictions such as: no gym, recess, or sports must have a doctor’s note stating: the type of injury and any limitations in movement.

Organization & Study Skills Clinic

Mrs. Battista is happy to offer an afterschool Organization & Study Skills Clinic for students in grades 5 to 8. The Clinic will be on four Mondays beginning October 16th. Click here for more details and for a registration form. Class size is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

SSJ School Band October Enrollment

Students interested in joining the school band or orchestra may still enroll throughout the month of October. As a reminder, participation in band instrument and instrumental music is available to students in grades 4-8, and orchestra instrument participation is available for students in grades 3-8. If you are interested in joining this wonderful program, please click here for the Northeastern Music website. Thank you, and I look forward to seeing many of you at concerts this December!

Calling all Musicians

It is now time for choir sign-ups for the 2023/2024 school year! We are an energetic group of singers that meet weekly to grow in our musical talents by singing and learning together. Grades 2-4 meet after school once a week on Mondays until 3:45 and grades 5-8 meet twice a week during recess. 

If your child has an interest in choir, please fill out this google form to sign them up at https://forms.gle/m3cSfwejCkC8euRY8 by Friday October 6th. Or contact Ms. McIntyre for details at jmcintyre@simonandjude.org.

Angel Tree Program 2023

Saints Simon and Jude will once again participate in the Angel Tree program, providing gifts for less fortunate children in the Delaware Valley. Sadly, after 35 years of service to the community, the Delaware Valley Children’s Charity closed its door, but the Angel Tree Program will continue our support through You Give Goods. This year we are sponsoring 170 children from the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County and the Care Center of Chester County. The charity will continue to be a virtual giving event. Just as last year, you will not need to shop at stores, wrap gifts and deliver them to the church. You will be able to shop online, from the comfort of your home, from our special website, yougivegoods.com/saintssimonandjude2023, which is now open through November 30. You will also receive a receipt for tax purposes. I am happy to answer any questions you may have. You can call, text, or email me at 484-995-2319 or cindymoribondo@gmail.com. Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity.

Much love and gratitude, Cindy Moribondo

PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY DRIVE

Just one week left! Please bring in donations of PB&J for those less fortunate. The food drive goes until October 12th. Thank you for your generosity!

We Fill Buckets at SSJ!



Our faculty/staff who will receive their buckets tomorrow are Louisa Ikena (Rm. 8); Sister Regina (Principal); and Kathy Heraghty (Office).

During the week of October 9, students will acknowledge:

Dakota Graham (Rm. 18); Flavia Rezer (Office); and Sister Barbara Jude (Religious Education).

This year we are promoting kindness at SSJ School for our faculty and staff. Every week, three faculty and staff members will have a bucket, and students are invited to fill their buckets. Items that might be good would be thank you notes, candy, class supplies, trinkets, or something you think that person would enjoy.

FROM SSJ'S HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

NEW THIS WEEK

New Walk-a-Thon Details

School families should have received emails on Tuesday, October 3rd. If you didn't, please check your spam follder.

• One from the school with all our Walk-a-Thon details, including what the proceeds will be used for AND for the list of prizes/incentives. Click here to view the information from our event co-chairs.
• Emails with access to your child/ren's Walk-a-Thon pages.

Our Walk-a-Thon co-chairs will need volunteers to help on the day of the event, Friday, October 20th. Please click here to view our SignUpGenius. All volunteers will need to have clearances. Thank you!

Parent Social Following HSA Meeting

Following our first General Home and School Association meeting, join us for a parent social, location TBD! The first meeting will be on Thursday, October 19th. There will be child care provided and every parent who attends will receive a dress down day for their child/ren. In addition there will be a used uniform sale and all attendees will receive an extra raffle entry.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

America's Pie Dine & Donate 10/24

Mark your calendars for another Dine & Donate on Tuesday, October 24th at America's Pie in West Chester, 323 East Gay Street. Mention 'Saints Simon and Jude' when placing your order for delivery, dine-in, or pickup. 10% of the sales will be donated back to SSJ.

Raffle

The SSJ Raffle will have its first drawing on Friday, October 13th. Tickets were sent home with the youngest child of each family on Friday, September 22nd. Please return your completed tickets with cash or check (made payable to SSJ Home and School Assn.) or click here to use the PayPal link.

All proceeds will go to the Home and School Association to help fund field trips, classroom supplies, homeroom holiday parties, teacher gifts and lunches, and much more. This is our largest general fundraiser of the year and provides the money needed for many of our activities. Please feel free to extend the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to extended family! If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Miley at Jennifer2908@gmail.com.  

Save the Date

Trunk or Treat will be Friday, October 27th (rain date will be Saturday, October 28th).

BIG BACK-TO-SCHOOL sweepstakes! BOX TOP$ for Education-benefits SSJ School

Do you have the BOX TOPS for Education APP yet? Get the APP and “give credit” to your student’s grade. Scan your receipts within 14 days of purchase, choose a grade K-8 to give credit (sorry, no preschool choice in the APP). Click here to see eligible products (lists also in the APP).

BIG BACK-TO-SCHOOL sweepstakes! Scan now through 11/30 to be entered for a chance to win $1,000 for YOU and $1,000 for SSJ School! There will be 100 winners. Just scan a receipt with one eligible product within 14 days of purchase, and you’ll be entered.

PRAYER REQUESTS

We are happy to pray for the needs of our school family. If any family has a prayer request please send it to srelinich@simonandjude.org. 

For the repose of the soul of Mrs. Mary Walsh, great- grandmother of Hailey (room 17 ) and Brynn Stanislawczyk (room 13 ), who has died. May God grant her the rewards of eternal life. May Our Mother of Sorrows console and comfort her family and all who mourn her passing. 

For Mr. Leo Stenson, father of Miss Stenson (room 12), who is ill. May Christ’s healing hand grant him a complete and speedy recovery.  

For Mr. Ronald Paiste, grandfather of James Dougherty (room 17), who is ill. May Christ’s healing hand comfort him and grant him a complete recovery.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

West Chester Area School District Transportation Office Note

STUDENTS MAY NOT CHANGE BUSES - If the students DO NOT RIDE THE SAME BUS, parents must arrange for transportation for play dates. This is a District Policy.

Parent Volunteer Required Clearances 

All parent volunteers are required to have Archdiocese of Philadelphia clearances. Please click here for details. It takes approximately three weeks after completion for the clearances to be returned to the parish. If you have any questions, please regarding clearances, contact Candy Savarese at csavarese@simonandjude.org.

A Christmas Carol Crew Grades 6-8

SSJ's Theatre Department is now accepting crew applications for the fall performance of A Christmas Carol. Crew is open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Click here to fill out a Google Form to sign up prior to the deadline of Friday, October 6. After that date, there is no guarantee of a crew t-shirt or definite crew position. If you have questions, email Kathi Clapham at ssjtheatre@simonandjude.org.

Wait Until 8th Campaign

The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade.  By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone. Many SSJ parents have already signed this pledge, and 3rd grade already has an active pledge, meaning a minimum of 10 parents in the grade have signed! To find out more, visit https://www.waituntil8th.org/ or contact Heather Franks (hfranks125@gmail.com) or Jenny Buckley (jenny.franks@gmail.com).  

6th Grade & Kindergarten Buddies Meet

Kindness Rocks

For the second year in a row, our SSJ School Peace Committee did their Kindness Rocks project. The Kindness Rocks were created in art class where students were taught by our Guidance Counselor about the importance of having empathy and being kind, and the importance of spreading kindness into the community. Our students went to Sacred Heart Hill and placed their creations in the rock garden next to the Jesus statue. When members of our community go there to pray, they are welcome to take a rock to help inspire them or leave a rock they have created. Special thanks to Mrs. Coulter and Mrs. Leicht for their hard work on this project.

1st Grade Field Trip to Linvilla Orchards

8th Grade Field Trip to Lincoln Financial Field

6th Grade Science Fun

Mrs. Biddle's 6th grade science students created their own edible soil profiles to demonstrate the different layers of soil.

2nd Grade Spelling Fun

Miss Stenson's second grade students used QTips to make their spelling words look spooky!