January 24, 2023

Thank you all for your patience and understanding during our unexpected early dismissal today. We lost power (as well as our indoor intercom) due to the inclement weather which made for a challenging rainy day carpool. Thank you to the StJPII staff for their great efforts to dismiss all of our saints safely. We will continue to monitor the weather and will keep you updated.

St. John Paul II, pray for us!

All School Mass Friday

We will have All School Mass Friday, January 27. Students should wear their full-dress uniforms. There will be an optional daily Mass before school on Wednesday, January 25, in the Chapel at 7:10 a.m.

Mom's Club Retreat

February 2, 2023

at StJPII

6:30 -8:30 p.m.

*Click on the button below for more Faith Focus information. You can find the monthly virtue, Saints of the month, and service projects.

Guest Speaker - Jessie Funk

Please join us on February 14 for Jessie Funk. She is a therapeutic coach and the Kindness Crew director for the nonprofit organization, Think Kindness. Jessie will be speaking about emotional well-being and knowing your worth. She will be speaking throughout the day to students as well as a special lunch session cut out for parents. Her parent session will be in Saint Jude Hall from 11:30-12:30 p.m. We hope you can join us!

Extended Absences

The school has been receiving a large number of requests for extended absences for family trips. Some are not following handbook guidelines for pre-approval and are just notifying teachers; please remember that extended absence approval can only be approved by Principal Bogard.

We understand that over the past couple of years, travel was limited to seeing family for special anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, etc. However, as we complete this academic year, families should follow our handbook policy of seeking approval before planning a trip and use the holidays and breaks that are embedded into the academic calendar for these purposes. The calendar is given over a year in advance for this purpose.

Menu Change January 25

There will be a change on the menu for Wednesday, January 25. The chef's entrée option will be chicken tenders and mashed potatoes instead of spaghetti with meat sauce. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Once again, please make sure your student has adequate funds in their lunch account. Check your students ECI balance and add money when needed. You can send a check with your student or click on the button below. When sending a check, please make the check out to ECI. Thank you!

Bidding with Bernie

Bidding with Bernie, StJPII’s Online Auction, is coming soon! Be sure to visit 

www.jp2.org/Giving/Auction 

to preview all of the packages! Available for purchase now: Mardi Gras Pancake breakfast! 

Looking for something fun and creative to do as a family? Try the StJPII monthly Family STREAM Challenge! On early dismissal Tuesdays or the last Tuesday of the month, look for a STREAM Challenge in Saints Weekly to complete with your family. The challenges will use easy-to-find materials around the house and follow the engineering design process to complete. 

How do you participate in the STREAM Challenge? Click on the button below to go to this month’s challenge. Complete the challenge and share what you’ve done on social media using the hashtag #StJP2STREAM  

This month’s challenge is to create a rolling shoebox Mardi Gras float. To kick off the StJPII STREAM Challenges, this month there are TWO options for sharing:

1) share what you’ve created on social media with #StJP2STREAM;

2) bring your family’s rolling shoebox float to your homeroom teacher by Thursday, February 16 to have it be part of a StJPII Mardi Gras parade on Fat Tuesday through the hallways of the school.

Questions? Email Dr. Hiltbrand at [email protected]  

Congratulations to those students selected to participate in the 2023 showcase of Talent on the Plaza! We look forward to seeing you with your costume and props at our first dress rehearsal on Thursday, Jan. 26 beginning at 3:45 pm. Parents, please check this tentative schedule of the acts so that you can estimate when to pick up your student. You may wait in your car in the front and we will make sure your student gets out to you as soon as possible. 

The second dress rehearsal will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 31st beginning at 3:45pm and will follow the same schedule. Students should plan to have costumes and props for this dress rehearsal as well. If needed, costumes and props can be left with Ms. Fama on Jan. 31st until show day on Thursday, Feb. 2nd. 

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Fama at [email protected]. 

Happy January to everyone! The chilly days are here. I hope you are enjoying hot cocoa while reading great books. Keep reading plenty of just right books while sprinkling in a few easy and hard books to build your skills. This is true for all of us, no matter, students or adults.   

 Just a reminder, we are charging fines for overdue books. The fine is 10 cents per day per book. Please remember to turn in books on the day they are due. If you are absent, return books the day you return to school. We will only 1 day of grace for absent students. At the end of the 9 weeks, we will be holding report cards for books and fines.  Let’s get back into our good habits and return on time each week. Write down your library day on your planner and mark the day before library day as a day to make sure that the books are at school to send back to the library. Remember, if you are returning fines, do not tape them to a book, put them in an envelope or baggie and send them with your child’s name on it. Thank you so much for making sure that library books are not damaged with tape or adhesives.  Take Care, Ms. Lamb

8th Grade Yearbook Recognition Ad

Want to give your Class of 2023 graduate something to commemorate their time at StJPII? Order an 8th-grade Yearbook ad for your graduate. Flyers were sent home earlier this month. Payments and ad design will be completed through Jostens's website. You will be able to design your own ad by selecting a template and adding your own pictures and message.

A pdf version of the flyer can also be accessed via the link below.  The deadline for orders is Friday, February 3, 2023! Thank you for honoring your 2023 8th grade Graduate and supporting The Spirit Yearbook! Questions? Contact Mrs. Abad at [email protected].  

We are looking forward to celebrating our great Catholic school community next week. Included below is the overall schedule of events for our students.

Parents are invited to join us for Talent on the Plaza and All School Mass with the NJHS Induction Ceremony.

International Festival 2023

Thank you to all the families who helped with the StJPII International Festival this year. You all did an AMAZING job!! Thank you to everyone who attended as well. It was a wonderful evening filled with culture, food, and fun! Please click the button below to view and/or upload your photos.

Steps for Students

Come out and support StJPII on February 11, 2023 in downtown Houston at the Steps for Students 5K. This run/walking event is to raise awareness and support for Catholic Education. Click below to register.

*Any student who registers gets a free shoe pass and a chance to win P.E. Teacher for the Day! Also the price will go up after January 31st so register TODAY!*

Thank You Kroger

We want to extend a BIG thank you to the Kroger grocery store on Eldridge and Briar Forest for their generous donations. They graciously helped make our class Christmas parties a huge success! Thank you, Kroger!

Join the Birthday Club

Click on the button below to order your birthday package, t-shirts, water bottle, or name on the marquee. Birthday t-shirts can be worn on the actual birthday, except if it falls on Full Dress day.

Volunteer with PTO

Interested in being more involved at StJPII? Scan the various QR codes above to find the perfect fit for you. Feel free to email [email protected] with any questions.

Elementary Athletics

Elementary athletic spring sports open February 1. Please save the date.

Middle School Athletics

We are keeping busy in Middle School Athletics! Our Basketball teams have had an incredible seasons - please refer to the Athletic calendar as the schedule becomes available. Plan on supporting our Saints at home next week during Basketball Playoffs!

Baseball & Softball tryouts will be cancelled for TODAY and Wednesday due to the weather.

Baseball Tryouts

Day 2: will be held at MALL (Memorial Ashford Little League 12900 Westmere Dr.) on the Majors Field.

Softball Tryouts

Both days of Softball will be held over at MAGSA, 4:00-5:30 pm.

More detailed information is on the athletic calendar so please take a look at it so you are aware of the expectations. Current Basketball athletes will have tryout's once their season is over.

Lacrosse is back!!

Boys lacrosse tryout's will be held Jan 30th & 31st from 4:00-5:30pm here on campus. We are opening Boys Lacrosse up to 5th graders in addition to 6th-8th grade.

Girls Lacrosse will tryout on Feb 1st & 2nd from 4:00-5:30 here on campus as well. 

A few important reminders:

*You must have your own equipment for all sport tryouts.

*You must attend both days of tryouts

*You must have a physical on file with Mrs. Aertker

*We kindly ask parents to remember that for ALL MS sports, tryouts are closed to parents attending

Spring Chapelwood Volleyball is open for registration!!!!

We are hoping to see interest from 4th through 8th grade girls to play in the league! It is run in the same format as WHCSA sports, practices are 1-2 days a week, games are on Saturdays, coaches are volunteer parents! 

Share Your Basketball Photos

We love to see your photos of our saints in action! If you get a great shot at practice or a game, please share with StJPII! Your photo(s) may be featured on social media or in The Spirit yearbook. Please upload them directly using the button below.

After School Activities

Check the school calendar for the spring semester schedule.

Click on the various links to see club flyers, contact information, and online registration.

•  Robotics  (K-5th) - register online with American Robotics Academy
•  Chess Club – register online with Think Chess
• Art Club & Mini Art Club – Registration will be available next month