November 19, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Break begins this Friday, November 22 with an early dismissal and NO After Care. (12:00/12:15) Students need to wear full dress uniform. Classes will resume on December 2. Have a blessed holiday!

Grandparents and Special Friends' Day

We are looking forward to our 29th Annual Grandparents and Special Friends Day this Friday, November 22 from 9:30-11:30 AM, beginning in the GSC/BAC. The program will feature the 7th and 8th grade Advanced Band, Middle School Chorale, the 6th Grade Wheel, and all of our Elementary students (grades Pre-K through 5th). Students should wear their full-dress uniforms this Friday.

A few things to note:

• The entire parking lot will be reserved for our special guests.
• Doors will open at 8:15 a.m.
• The program and performances will take place from 9:30-10:30. At the conclusion, guests will leave the GSC and meet their student(s) in the classroom(s).
• We will have a photographer, David Benedict, in the Randall-Crosswait Pope Garden for professional pictures.
• The Spirit Store and poinsettia sales will be set up in St. Jude Hall.
• Students may be signed out with the teachers. We will ask all guests to exit the building by 11:30.
• Our neighborhood Chick-fil-A on Eldridge will donate a portion of their November 22 proceeds to StJPII whenever customers mention “St. John Paul II Catholic School”.
• Tag us on Social Media if you post your grandparents and special friends' photos.
• School will be dismissed at 12:00/12:15 p.m.
• There will be no lunch service and no BASP after early dismissal.

Thank you in advance to Mrs. Dao, Mr. Griffin, Mrs. McCurry, Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Garcia, and our staff for helping us continue this beloved tradition. A special thanks to our PTO Volunteers for their service as well.

Dismissal: Grandparents may check children out from their homerooms before 11:30. We will have early release dismissal at 12:00 (pre-k/kinder), 12:15 (1st-middle school). BASP will be closed in the afternoon.

*This beloved event is always so well attended and our halls buzz with activity and excitement. We just do not have enough room on campus to safely accommodate extra visitors, so we kindly ask parents to respect that the event is dedicated exclusively to Grandparents and Special Friends only. 

NO Mass This Friday due to our Grandparents & Special Friends' Day Celebration

Weekly Mass

Optional daily Mass will be tomorrow, Wednesday, November 20. All are welcome! Mass starts at 7:10 a.m. and ends at 7:40 a.m. It’s in the All Saints Chapel every Wednesday before school. 

Service Project Corporal Work of Mercy

Our saints' families will participate in a Corporal Work of Mercy. Each grade level is assigned an item to bring to make a Thanksgiving box for those less fortunate. Please see the attached flyer to know what item your child is assigned. Thank you for helping those less fortunate have a good Thanksgiving dinner. God bless you!

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

On November 9th, the StJPII Band auditioned for the ATSS Region Band and earned their spot among the best!  On November 16th, they showcased their hard work at Royal High School in Brookshire, TX, during rehearsals that ended with a stunning concert performance. Mr. Kenneth Griffin, director of the StJPII band, is gearing up to compete for his 14th consecutive Sweepstakes win. Here's to continuing the streak of excellence!

SaintsGiving

Be on the lookout over Thanksgiving break for our countdown to SaintsGiving! We’re looking forward to this BIG giving day to help us reach our Annual Fund goal!

StJPII Seeking Substitute Teachers

Are you passionate about education and looking for a rewarding way to contribute to our school community? StJPII is seeking substitute teachers to support our dedicated staff throughout the year. We’re looking for individuals with teaching experience who have already been volunteer approved. Substitute teachers play a crucial role in maintaining the continuity of learning, ensuring that our students thrive even when their regular teacher is away. If you’re interested or would like more information, please visit our website:www.jp2.org/about/employment

Cafeteria Balance 

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. Thank you!

Chick-fil-A Spirit Afternoon

Families are invited to patronize our neighborhood Chick-fil-A on the early dismissal day, Friday, November 22 from 11:00 am - 3:00 p.m. Once a month we partner with the 13412 Briar Forest location (around the corner at Eldridge) and they have graciously offered to donate 10% of the dine-in and drive-thru proceeds back to StJPII. (Orders through their APP qualify for 15% back!) Please thank them for this wonderful partnership! NEW THIS YEAR, FOR MOBILE ORDERS, use code 'JP2Saints' to show your school spirit.



Nails, Tails, and Tennies

Support the eighth grade by participating in the Nails, Tails, and Tennies fundraiser. Students may buy a pass for only $6 to wear nail polish, untucked shirts, and any color tennis shoes. The pass will be valid on Thursday, November 21, 2024.  Click the button below to purchase.

Online Spirit Store

The PTO online spiritwear Holiday Sale has begun! Get 25% off all merchandise and free shipping on orders over $75 now until December 10th. Apparel and gifts for parents, students and grandparents are available and new designs have been added. Guaranteed delivery by December 23rd if ordered by December 10th.

Only a Two More Weeks to Order Poinsettias! 

Get ready for the Christmas season with our poinsettia sale benefiting the PTO Teacher Wish List! These beautiful plants will add a festive touch to your home or office while supporting a great cause. The delivery dates are set for December 4th and 5th, so you'll have your poinsettias just in time to decorate. Don't miss out on this chance to spread holiday cheer and support our amazing teachers!

Support Small Businesses at St. Nick’s Feast & Fest

Get ready to shop til you drop! We have an amazing lineup of vendors participating in the market at this year's St. Nick's Feast & Fest. Come out to support these small businesses as they support our school! Make sure to get your tickets today!

5th-8th Grade Gingerbread House Competition

As part of the new St. Nick’s Feast & Fest, there will be a Gingerbread House Competition for Middle Schoolers. Middle School students will be asked to sign up in teams of two. There will be 4 categories for judging: 

• Traditional - Using various candy or crafts for decoration. 
• Arts - Using any art media preferred by the students (ex: paints, pens, chalk, markers, and any style: i.e. Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Gaudi, Warhol or a style your very own)
• Grinch - Be inspired by The Grinch and all things Woo-ville
• Current Events/Pop Culture - Consider the world around you - from Swifties, favorite sports teams, AI, robotics, and anything in between.

A cardboard house and base will be provided along with glue sticks and tape. All other decoration materials must be brought by the team. All of the decorating will be done on location from 4-6pm The houses will then be set up for judging.

We Need Your Help! 

We need your help to make St. Nick's Feast and Fest a magical and memorable event! Parents, we invite you to get involved in a few special ways: consider volunteering for one of the available shifts to assist with the festivities, donate your favorite Christmas treats for the bake sale to spread some holiday cheer, or lend your light-up inflatable Christmas decorations and strings of lights to transform our space into a festive wonderland. Your participation will make this event a great success! 

Donate Toys at St. Nick’s Feast & Fest for an Extra Raffle Entry! 

Help us help others by donating a new, unwrapped toy to St. Nick’s Feast and Fest from 4-8pm, and receive an extra raffle ticket. Donated toys will be distributed at Texas Children’s Hospital, Driscoll’s Hospital, Santa Maria Hostel, and Kidz Harbor Foster Village by Toys Fore Kids. 

Faculty & Staff Christmas Gifts

Dear StJPII Families, 

The holidays are fast approaching, and as we reflect on this past year, it is abundantly clear how appreciative the StJPII community is for the dedication of the staff and teachers. In appreciation for their hard work, the PTO is collecting money for the faculty and staff Christmas gift. If you are interested in contributing, a suggested amount is $10 per teacher. Please put your gift in an envelope labeled “Faculty & Staff Christmas Gift” and drop it off at the  front office by December 18. If you would like to make a donation via credit card, please click on the link below. We thank you in advance for your generosity. 

If you are looking to give a more personal gift, there is a binder in the front office with teacher ideas. Thank you!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Doucette

StJPII, PTO President

Elementary Athletics

Elementary Basketball teams are being formed. Thank you to all of the parents who have signed up to Coach, you are such a blessing! Once teams and coaches are finalized, you will receive your team information from your coach. Please be patient as this takes about a week or so to get everything put together.

Middle School

Basketball is in full swing! Please continue to check the athletics calendar for up to date information. Coach Jones Conditioning Camp has started. It will continue till January 17. Join Today!! Conditioning Camp is held on Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Please contact Coach Jones directly to register! laverne_j@sbcglobal.net

Share Your Fall Sports Photos

We love to see your photos of our saints in action! If you get a great shot at any fall sports function, practice or game, please share with StJPII! Your photo(s) may be featured on social media, Halo News, or in The Spirit yearbook. Please upload them directly using the button below. All grade-level sports pictures are needed and appreciated.

Strake Jesuit Open House - December 5

At Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, we go beyond preparing students for college — we prepare them for life as men of God and Men for Others. Don’t miss your chance to tour our beautiful 52-acre campus, hear from school leaders, learn about life at Jesuit from the student perspective, ask questions about your favorite subjects or extra-curricular activities, and more! Join us for our Open House on Thursday, December 5 at 7:00pm. To register or to learn more, visit www.strakejesuit.org/openhouse. See you there!