October 15, 2024

Weekly Mass Schedule

Optional daily Mass will be tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16. 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. You are also welcome to join us for our All School Mass this Friday, October 18. Students will need to be in full dress uniform. Mass will begin at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive on time. 

Vocations Day

We will celebrate Vocations Day here at StJPII this Friday, October 18. Various religious guests from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will be visiting StJPII. They will speak in the classrooms and assist with Mass.  

Help the Victims of Hurricane Helene

In late September, Hurricane Helene ravaged communities across Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee, leaving behind widespread devastation. Catholic Charities, the official domestic disaster relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, has launched a disaster relief campaign to support those affected. All donations received will go directly to Catholic Charities agencies providing essential relief—such as shelter, food, and other humanitarian aid—to those in need. Please consider offering your support, just as others have generously done for us in our times of need.

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

We were recently blessed to host a beautiful dedication and blessing of the StJPII Garden of the Most Holy Rosary. You may have noticed the enhancements to our Mary Garden near the pavilion—truly a labor of love. This sacred space is now a tranquil, prayerful haven where our community can reflect and draw closer to God while praying the rosary. How fitting it is that we honor Our Lady in such a special way on our campus, as our patron, St. John Paul II, had a deep devotion to her. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the families and the Altar Society for their tireless efforts in cultivating this sacred space for reflection and prayer.

Blue Ribbon Shirts for Students

Surprise! We have a special gift for each student! In celebration of our recent National Blue Ribbon School award, every student will receive a free Blue Ribbon t-shirt. Your child will be bringing theirs home later this week, so please keep an eye out for it.

We ask all students to wear their Blue Ribbon shirts to school on Tuesday, October 22, for our Blue Ribbon assembly. It will be amazing to see a sea of blue as we celebrate this achievement together!

After the assembly, students are welcome to wear their Blue Ribbon shirts on spirit days (Wednesdays) with uniform bottoms.

We hope you enjoy this special gift and wear it proudly with your StJPII spirit!

Blue Ribbon Assembly & Early Dismissal

We are excited about our upcoming Blue Ribbon Assembly and Celebration next week! Please keep the following in mind, as it will also be an early dismissal day:

• The cafeteria will be serving lunch on 10/22. Students who purchase lunch will go through the line as usual, but they will return to their classrooms to eat so we can prepare the GSC for the festivities.
• We kindly ask that you avoid scheduling appointments for your children that afternoon, as it is already an early dismissal day. The front office will be closed from 1:00–2:00 p.m. so our entire staff can join the celebration with the students.
• Parents are welcome to attend the assembly and sit in the back like Mass. Do not park in the carpool line and please plan to exit the building promptly following the assembly. Students will be dismissed normally via carpool and walkers. You may not check students out with you if you attend.
• Pre-K and Kindergarten students will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m.; 1st - 5th graders will be dismissed at 2:15 p.m.; Middle School will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

A big thank you to our PTO Volunteers who decorated our teachers' doors to get us in the Blue Ribbon spirit!

Chick-fil-A Spirit Afternoon

Mark your calendars for a tasty Tuesday, October 22, from 2:00-6:00 p.m., and head over to our favorite neighborhood Chick-fil-A (13412 Briar Forest, right by Eldridge) for Spirit Afternoon! This is not just a meal – it’s a fun way to support StJPII. Grab your friends, grab your nuggets, and remember to mention St. John Paul II Catholic School when ordering. Even better, Chick-fil-A will donate 15% of the proceeds back to our school; please thank them for being such awesome partners!

NEW THIS YEAR, FOR MOBILE ORDERS, use code 'JP2Saints' to show your school spirit.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 25 is Parent/Teacher conference day. This is not a regular school day.

• Prekindergarten Students are not expected to be present for the Parent Teacher Conferences. 
• Elementary and Middle School (Kinder-8th) Students are expected to be present for the Student-Led Parent Teacher Conferences.

Use the signup genius link sent by your student's homeroom teacher to schedule your time slot.

October Newsletter

In this month's newsletter, we are breaking down the science behind gaming addiction and why it’s more important than ever to understand how gaming can affect your child’s brain. Many of the tactics used in gaming are also used in social media (particularly short-form videos) so the effects can be the same. Click on the button below to assess the October Newsletter from Smart Families.

StJPII Embroidery

We are thrilled to announce an opportunity for you to get embroidery done on your own SHIRTS (ex. fishing shirts or a favorite top in your closet! Adult and youth sizes will be accepted.) StJPII is partnering with Project Luong to enhance school spirit and provide you with high-quality, customized apparel. The initial price is $25 per shirt for the school StJPII monogram. Your items will be collected on 10/25 during Parent-Teacher conference day, so stop by St. Jude Hall for details! See the attached flyer to learn more.

Halo News

The latest edition of Halo News is here. Please click on the link below to see our most recent edition. Subscribe to our You tube channel, News2Saints, so you don't miss a thing!

Red Ribbon Week

This year's Red Ribbon Week will take place from October 21-24, 2024. The purpose of Red Ribbon Week is to bring awareness to students about the dangers of drugs and the importance of taking care of ourselves, our friends, and our community. This event is sponsored by the Student Council. We hope the students enjoy our Disney theme this year and learn valuable skills in order to safeguard their bright futures!

Trunk or Treat

Join the StJPII community for our annual Trunk-or-Treat festivities in the StJPII parking lot on Friday evening, October 25 from 5:00-7:00 p.m.  Kids and parents are encouraged to dress in costume for safe trick-or-treating, games, food, photos, and fun! Your participation is key to helping make this event a success...without trunks, there are no treats! If you are interested in reserving a spot in the parking lot to decorate your vehicle, sign up below. 

*We will have pizza being sold by the slice. All the proceeds will go back to the 8th Grade Class. (cash only!)

Grandparents and Special Friends Day is Coming Soon!

November 22 - We are looking forward to celebrating Grandparents & Special Friends Day the Friday before Thanksgiving. Invitations will be mailed SOON!

Steps for Students

It's that time of year again! Time to sign up for Steps for Students. Sign up today to take advantage of early bird pricing for this year's Step for Students 5K Run/Walk Race. The race will take place on the morning of February 8, 2025. Click on the button below to register. Be sure to check out the incentives this year!

Camp Invention 2025

Get ready for a summer packed with creativity, discovery, and unforgettable memories! Introducing the all-new 2025 Camp Invention program: Discover, where kids embark on exciting STEM challenges that spark curiosity, inspire teamwork, and fuel innovative thinking. From optical illusions to penguin-powered eco-missions, this one-of-a-kind camp delivers hands-on fun that turns big ideas into reality!

 Illusion Workshop™ – Step into the world of special effects magic! Campers dive into the science behind visual tricks in art, movies, and theater. They’ll build their very own spinning animation device and create moving props like professional illusionists! Claw Arcade™ – It’s time to build, play, and innovate! Kids design and construct a fully functioning claw machine, learning the secrets of physics while unleashing their creativity. They’ll channel their inner entrepreneur as they pitch their prize-filled arcade experience to friends and “investors!” Penguin Launch™ – Adventure awaits in Antarctica! Campers will explore penguin habitats and invent their own launcher to send plush penguins across the South Pole. With a robotic rover by their side, they'll learn how to make a positive impact on the planet – all while having tons of frosty fun! In Control™ – Hit the road and explore the power of technology! Campers will build custom control panels, use AI like a pro, and navigate maps as they design their own travel experience. Along the way, they’ll gain confidence and learn how to overcome any obstacle life throws their way.

Spaces are limited – Don’t miss out on a summer filled with creativity, exploration, and laughter! Sign your child up today and let them embark on a journey where science and imagination collide. 

Save the date: July 7-11, 2025. Register now to give your child the gift of discovery!

As the first 9 weeks comes to an end, let's chat about our main topics in library lessons. We have been learning about how to use a planner and use our time more wisely. Additionally, we are looking at several different genres of literature (adventure and scifi) to read more of a variety to become stronger readers and build our vocabulary skills. Mrs. Lamb’s hats and costumes always appear in the fall! Older students are learning more about integrity, honor code, and media literacy. These valuable lessons help us to grow to be better researchers and to be prepared for middle school research and for the future in school. Please do look at the helpful link below and bookmark this link. Please take a look often for the added content for students and parents from Ms. Lamb!

The Literati Book Fair is upon us.  The ONLINE component is OPEN and ready for you THROUGH NOV 8. The actual physical fair will open NOVEMBER 1, 2024. The link for the online fair is listed below. Look for more information coming soon for loading your ewallet and other goodies related to the fair! See You At The Fair!  

Turning Disappointing Grades Into A Learning Opportunity

As the first grading period comes to an end, Love and Logic has insight into how to effectively support our children during academic struggles. It highlights the importance of responding with empathy rather than frustration, which can foster a healthier parent-child relationship and promote better communication. Click the button below for further assistance from Love and Logic as they offer practical examples of supportive responses and encouragement during academic struggles.

PTO Monthly Meet-Up

If you missed the PTO meeting, or just want to come out and chat with other parents, please join us for spaghetti lunch at St. Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church beginning at 11:30am this Thursday, October 17! Children are welcome to attend.

PTO DARR Halloween Skate Party

The Annual PTO DARR Halloween Skate Party is next week! Join us on October 24 if you DARR! 

Used Uniform Drop Off Dates and Upcoming Sale

The next used uniform sale will take place Friday, October 25 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in SJH.  Donations of gently used uniforms will be accepted through THIS FRIDAY only. Drop-off boxes will be located in the foyer by the front office.

Volunteers Needed for Used Uniform Sale

PTO is looking for volunteers to help with the used uniform sale. This is a fundraiser for the 8th grade class and the PTO. You can help by preparing the inventory and assisting with the sale. Scan the QR code or click below to sign-up! 

Celebrate October Birthdays with The Birthday Club! 

Celebrate your child's special day in style! Choose from several fun packages that include a special birthday t-shirt, birthday recognition on the marquee, ice cream, and more! Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Gifts will be delivered to your child's homeroom teacher.

Brick Paver Sale - Great Coach Gift!

FALL SPORTS ARE COMING TO A CLOSE

We are blessed beyond measure by the dedication of our school coaches and volunteer parent

coaches. It’s a great time of year to honor your team’s coaches with the gift of an engraved brick

paver! The personalized brick pavers will be placed in pathways around the statue of St. John

Paul II in our Pope Garden. Funds from the sale support our garden.

When purchased, your coaches will receive a certificate that they have been honored by the team

with a brick paver, and then will receive a photograph when the paver is installed.**

Reduced Pricing for Coach Gifts

4”x8”- 2 lines* $50 per brick (reg. $75)

8”x8”- 5 lines* $100 per brick (reg. $150)

*16 character maximum per line of engraving

**production, shipping, and installation of brick pavers can take up to 3 months

Elementary Athletics

WOW our soccer teams are having great success AND gorgeous weather! We are finally expecting some great temperatures for our kiddos to enjoy!

*Elementary team pictures will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 29th. Your coaches will send out information in regards to each sports picture time frame as well as arrival time.

Middle School Athletics

This week ends District play for both VB & Soccer! If soccer continues their winning streak we will head to the Playoffs as the #1 seed next week with HOME FIELD advantage! Our Lady Saints Varsity Volleyball team is on the cusp with a possibility of having the 4th seed spot, it all depends on their games this week as well! Our Cross Country team heads down to Webster for their GHCAA Championship this Thursday, October 17th! We wish them all the very best and hope to bring home a Championship! The Athletic calendar will list all info so please make sure you check it out!

MS Basketball tryout's are around the corner! Don't forget we have Boys Open Gym this Friday from 3:30-5:00 pm, and the girls are Saturday from 9:00-10:30 am ~ just come show up!

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.

2025/2026 New Sibling Application & Current Student Re-enrollment

Applications for the 2025/2026 school year are open! If your family has a NEW sibling applying to attend StJPII, please be sure to complete the online application and submit all required documents by February 5, 2025. For more details on the application process, click the button below.

For all students who are currently attending StJPII, the online re-enrollment contract and forms for the 2025/2026 school year will be emailed to your primary email address in January. Please contact Jessica Ande at jande@j2p.org if you have any questions.

Fifth Grade Camp Allen Meeting for Parents

There will be a parent meeting for fifth grade parents on Thursday, October 24 at 8:15 a.m. in the Library. Please plan on attending to learn more about the November 18-20 trip to Camp Allen. Teachers will speak about the agenda, what to pack, expectations, etc. Paperwork for the trip will be sent home next week, so please be on the lookout.