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Volume 23 * Issue 02 * September 7, 2017
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Stronger together... we lift each other up. We are
SERRASTRONG!
And let us consider how to lift up one another, to love and good works
- Hebrews 10:24
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 A Message from President Trudell
St. Serra Hands Helping Houston
Today, we launch our
St. Serra Hands Helping Houston
project. Although Hurricane Harvey has dissipated, the devastation and destruction it left behind in the Houston area, will be felt for a very long time. Our St. Serra Hands want to help the people of Houston. Every classroom has been given a collection jar and we  are encouraging the students to bring in $1 to put in the jar. Each classroom has also been given a pair of work gloves, that will be signed by the students and which will then be sent with the monies collected, for the people to use as they sift through their belongings. Collections will continue through to Tuesday morning, September 12, at which time the collection jars will be brought up to the Altar as part of our Mass procession.
 Of course, donations of any amount are welcome. Should you wish to make a larger donation, you may do so by check making the check payable to St. Junipero Serra Catholic School. As per our Bishop's request, we will be sending our donations through Catholic Relief Services USA, but checks sent in through St. Serra must be made out to the school for deposit and then one check of all monies collected will be sent to CRS. Please note, St. Serra will be unable to provide any tax deduction substantiation for any donations made to this project.
We appreciate your support and continued prayers for all those affected. Thank you!
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Preschool Christmas Concert - Start Time Change
Same date: Friday, December 15
*NEW* Start Time:
10:00 a.m.
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First Mass of the Year - Tuesday, September 12
We hope you will join us for Mass on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in our Student Activity Center. Our first Mass will be con-celebrated by Father Duy Le of San Francisco Solano Parish and Father Tuan Pham of St. Kilian Parish
. We will come together to rejoice as a community the great sacrifice of Our Lord and to welcome our students to a new school year.
Mass will be for students in Grades One through Eight; however, all students K through Eight are required to wear Formal Uniform. We are aware that some students may not have their vests or sweaters, or may not have had them monogrammed in time for this Mass. We do have permit parking in the neighborhood but NO parking is allowed in the Memorial Care parking lot.
PTO will be hosting a Parent Fellowship Coffee Social following Mass. More information can be found in the PTO section below.
St. Serra Hands Helping Houston Collection at Mass
All proceeds benefit Catholic Relief Services USA.
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Food for Friends Food Drive Reminder
Tomorrow, September 8
"And now abide: faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."1 Corinthians 13:13
Please refer to last week's SerraDIPITY for ideas on what to donate. For your convenience you may use the brown bag that was sent home today.
Contact Louise Valdez l[email protected] with any questions.
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Campus Ministry 2017-2018
"Give your HANDS to SERVE and your HEARTS to LOVE." St. Teresa of Calcutta
We are inviting all 6th - 8th grade students interested in Servant Leadership to attend our first Campus Ministry Meeting on Wednesday, September 13 at 7:00 a.m. in Mrs. Wilkinson's classroom (7C). At this first "get acquainted" meeting we will be discussing our goals and some of the outreach projects we'll be involved in this year. Campus Ministry will meet at 7:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month.
Muffins and juice will be provided.
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Today, your oldest child will be bringing home the *New This Year*
MONTHLY Envelope. For our returning families, this is a change from previous years when we used to have a Weekly Envelope. The new Monthly Envelope will be sent home the first Thursday of every month, September-June. We are hoping this change will be more practical and beneficial for our parents.
The Monthly Envelope....
- contains important information which should be reviewed upon receipt as some may be time sensitive
- will contain a lot of information as it is going home only once a month
- can be used to return payments/items back to the school
- should be returned to the school with your oldest child the next day or soon thereafter so it will be available for the next delivery
If you do not receive your Monthly Envelope today, please email Mrs. Diana Myers
[email protected].
If you wish to have the Monthly Envelope go home with another child other than your oldest, please email Mrs. Diana Myers
[email protected].
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CORRECTION: Last week's SerraDIPITY had an incorrect number to OPT IN t
o receive text messages from the school. The correct number to text Y or Yes to OPT IN is 67587. We apologize for any inconvenience this might have caused.
All notifications from the school will be sent from the user "67587" and will begin with "From Serra".
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 Each day is a gift given to us from God....each sunrise brings us hope...each sunset can bring great peace as we close one day ready to welcome another. A sure key to enjoying each day.
God is Good All the Time...All the Time God is Good.
Mrs. Angeline Trudell
President
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PRINCIPALS' CORNER
Mrs. Carol Reiss, Principal Preschool - Grade 2
Mrs. Julie Tipton, Principal Grades 3 - 8
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We are looking forward to seeing all our parents at Back-to-School Night!
Reminder Grades 3 & 4 back-to-School Night is tonight.
Back to School Night Itinerary
1st and 2nd Grade
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
In order to provide the opportunity for our parents to meet more of their child(ren)'s teachers at Back-to-School Night, we have added presentations for 2nd Grade parents whose students are currently enrolled in the Advanced Plus and Small Group classes for English Language Arts and Math.
Schedule as follows:
6:00 p.m. 2nd Grade Advanced Plus ELA with Mrs. Evans
and 2nd Grade Small Group ELA with Miss Masters
6:15 p.m. 2nd Grade Advanced Plus Math with Mrs. Evans
and 2nd Grade Small Group Math with Miss Masters
6:15 p.m. Homeroom Doors Open
6:30
p.m. All Parents in 1st and 2nd Grade Student's Homeroom
Mrs. Trudell and Mrs. Reiss Welcome Address on Serra Vision
6:40 p.m. Homeroom Teacher Presentations
Back to School Night Itinerary
Preschool, Pre-K, Transitional Kindergarten, and Kindergarten
Thursday, September 14, 2017
Schedule as follows:
6:15 p.m. Classroom Doors Open
6:25 p.m. Parents in Student's Classroom
6:30
p.m Mrs. Trudell and Mrs. Reiss Welcome Address on Serra Vision
6:40 p.m. Classroom Teacher Presentations
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Renaissance STAR Testing
STAR testing will continue through September 15
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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GRADES 5-8 must have earbuds (earphones) for testing.
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Students grades 1-4 will be provided headphones in the technology lab
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The Fall assessment schedule takes into account the Labor Day holiday on Monday, September 4 and our Mass celebrating the new school year on Tuesday, September 12
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All students in Grades 2-8 will take the STAR Reading and STAR Math assessments.
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First Grade students will take the STAR Early Literacy and Math assessment during the fall and transition to the STAR Reading and Math assessments in winter and spring.
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Kindergarten will take the STAR Early Literacy and Math assessments in winter and spring.
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Grades K-4 will take the STAR assessments in the Mac Lab. Grades 5-8 will take the STAR Reading assessment during their ELA class and the STAR Math assessment during their Math class.
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If your child will be absent on the day of the assessment, please notify his/her teacher by email so that your child can be scheduled for a makeup session.
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Please be sure to review your child's January scores between September 16 and January 15. Please keep in mind that these assessments represent one snapshot in time and are only one measure of your student's skills at that time.
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St. Junipero Serra Bear Prayer Partners
What are Bear Prayer Partners? The Bear Prayer Partner Program is a St. Junipero Serra Catholic School "mentor" program based on the belief that community building occurs through strong relationships between upper and lower grade students. This program fosters the spirit of mutual respect, trust and support that is emphasized at St. Junipero Serra.
Pictured at the top of this email are students in 2nd and 6th grade meeting and getting to know their Bear Prayer Partners this week.
READ MORE
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HOMEWORK CLUB
Space is limited. Sign Up Today!
Homework Club starts on
Monday, October 2, 2017.
Applications are due
September 22, 2017
Please note Homework Club is a first-come, first-served wait list program.
- see more information about Homework Club
- see the list of teachers
- print the HW Club forms
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IN-N-OUT LUNCH
Order Now for October!
In-
N-
Out is here again this year with lunches beginning
in October!
In-
N-
Out is served on Thursday of each month by parent volunteers (with the exception of the first Thursday of the month and minimum/non-school days). Please be sure to look at the dates of the
In-
N-
Out lunches carefully and plan accordingly (all dates are listed on the
Lunch and Recess Information web page). The annual form and monthly forms are available NOW!
CLICK HERE to visit the Lunch and Recess page and to order lunches.
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MEMORIAL ORNAMENTS
Please find a copy of this year's memorial ornament order form in today's Monthly Envelope. It's not too late if you would like to have one hung on this year's Tree of Remembrance. Please complete the enclosed form and return it to the Advancement Office by
Friday, September 29
. For a description of our Memorial Ornament program and Memorial Mass, please visit our webpage .
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SEASON'S TUITION ASSISTANCE LUNCHEON VOLUNTEER INTEREST MEETING
This year's tuition assistance luncheon will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
This event is a SIGNATURE EVENT for St. Serra and there are many opportunities to get involved!
Want to learn more? You are invited to our volunteer interest and TAL 2018 kick-off meeting.
Consider serving on the planning committee. If you like to entertain, perhaps, volunteer to be a table hostess and decorate a table. Maybe you want to help serve at the event, or you might be looking for some at-home crafting work. Whatever your talents or time commitment may be, we NEED YOU!
Working on this event is so rewarding! It is a fabulous way to get volunteer hours on a weekend while helping raise funds for students at St. Junipero Serra Catholic School and the four other schools in the Diocese of Orange whose students rely very heavily on financial assistance to attend Catholic school.
Please join us on
Wednesday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the SJSC Library to learn more.
For more information regarding the luncheon, visit
our event webpage. If you have any questions or cannot make the meeting but are interested in participating, please contact Pam Owens at ext. 165 or
[email protected].
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AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES
St. Junipero Serra Catholic School offers numerous after-school classes to our students. Registration for most classes is available on our website.
Classes begin the week of October 2!
CLICK HERE to view and register for the 2017-2018 class lineup
Keep reading the Serra
DIPITY for more information about future classes.
Please note that parents are not permitted in the room during class but are asked to pick up their students in front of the MEC immediately following after school classes, unless otherwise noted on the registration form.
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Thursday, September 28, 2017
Tijeras Creek Golf Course
- GOLFER REGISTRATION is open online. Secure your tee time before we sell out! This year's tournament includes newly enhanced player experience features such as quicker turnaround time, food and beverages across the course, and introducing...the Trudell Cup. Details coming soon!
Don't golf? Join us for our Awards Dinner and Silent Auction following the tournament (purchase a ticket using the above link).
- The Ball Drop is back! Parents and Students...take a chance at winning $3,000. Great incentive prizes each week. CLICK HERE for the Ball Drop details and to download the Golf Ball Purchase Order Form. Turn in your Order Form tomorrow to be included in our first incentive drawing.
- Support the Golf Classic as a SPONSOR! Opportunity levels range from a $5,000 tournament sponsor to a $250 Tee Sign Sponsor.
- Silent Auction needs your help! Please consider donating Amazon, Target or Hyatt gift cards, Sporting Event tickets or wine & spirits. Meet our parent volunteers in the School Lobby who will accept your gifts and provide donor forms for your generosity after drop-off and before pick-up on Wednesday, September 13. Gently used baskets are needed; please drop off at the School Office.
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2017 HARVEST FESTIVAL
Sunday, October 29, 2017
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE is the raffle that rewards you! Your Grand Prize Raffle tickets were sent home in today's Monthly Yellow Envelope. Be sure to buy/sell them to earn some amazing rewards including a NON-UNIFORM DRESS PASS!
HARVEST T-SHIRTS are selling fast! Purchase yours online today. Students can wear them on PE days and Fridays through December!
T-shirts will be delivered to your oldest child's classroom.
Questions? Please contact PTO VP Harvest Festival - Teacia Andrew,
[email protected]
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PTO NEWS
Parent Fellowship & Coffee Social
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in the SJSC Courtyard
Join us on Tuesday, September 12, immediately following St. Serra's first Mass of the school year, for a PTO-hosted parent coffee social. Light hospitality, coffee and water will be served in the SJSC Courtyard. This is a wonderful way to connect with administration as well as with other St. Serra parents. We look forward to seeing you there!
Parent Education Speaker Series
Thursday, September 21, 2017
All St. Serra parents are invited to join us on
Thursday, September 21
, for the first session of our new Parent Education Speaker Series.
Mr. Jim Burns, President of HomeWord and the Executive Director of the HomeWord Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University, will be our first speaker.
Join us from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Student Activity Center (SAC).
Visit the
PARENT EDUCATION
section of the St. Serra Website for more details.
RSVP NOW
!
Questions?
Please contact Alessandra Brus, PTO VP Parent Education, at
[email protected]
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 A Moment in Time for Moms
St. Serra Mom's Group Book Study
It's here! ...The new "A Moment in Time for Moms" book study starts this month! Our first 6-week session will begin on
Tuesday, September 26. Meetings will be held weekly from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Kilian Catholic Church, Room 1. Come join us as we discuss motherhood, God's grace, forgiveness, and more. Cost: $25.00 (includes book). Visit the
OUTREACH MINISTRIES HOMEPAGE for details.
REGISTER online now!
Volunteering at SJSC
Where do I begin to find ways to volunteer? Visit our
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES HOMEPAGE on the St. Serra Website for the latest information on events and programs that need your help. Or, conveniently use the new SJSC App. Select Parents>Volunteer Now!
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STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Enclosed in today's Monthly Envelope, you will find a flyer from our school accident insurance carrier- Myers-Stevens & Toohey & Co., Inc. All students are covered by school time secondary accident insurance. The premium is included in your registration fee. The coverage extends to include travel to and from school one hour before and one hour after school (only if student is directly en route to and from school). The insurance also covers school-sponsored events, directly supervised activities and school-sponsored sports activities.
Please review this information and take special note of the extra 24-hour Accident Plan, Dental Accident Plan, Student Health Care Plan and Pharmacy School SaveRX Prescription Drug Discount Plan.
If you wish to purchase the optional coverage, please complete the application, enclose the appropriate premium amount and mail directly to Myers, Stevens and Toohey & Co., Inc. as soon as possible in order to maximize your benefit from the plan. If you have any questions please contact Mary Hogan in the Health Room
(949) 546-8705.
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JUNIOR THESPIAN TROUPE
Sign up TODAY!
SJSC Junior Thespian Troupe is a group of students interested in theatre. This group is open to all 6th-8th graders. We meet once a month to play games, discuss theatre topics, and learn about drama techniques. There is a fee associated with this group to help cover the festival fee in February. Email Mrs. Sifers at
[email protected] for more information or visit our website at
Campus Life>Theater Arts. The first meeting will be
Wednesday, September 20 from
2:40-3:30 p.m. in the Kindergarten playground.
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WELCOME BACK!
Let's Start Earning Rebates for the Chapel Fund!
In addition to using Scripsense to help you
offset your Financial Participation Fee, SJSC has a Chapel Campaign using Scripsense as well. These rebates go
towards supporting the Chapel Fund in your family's name. Using
one Scripsense account, you can participate in multiple campaigns at once. Once you have accepted the invitation from each campaign, each time you log in to shop on Scripsense, you can CHOOSE which campaign you want your rebate to go to that day - your Financial Participation Fee or the Chapel Fund.
Last week, all new families received an email and an invitation from St. Serra and Scripsense regarding opting in to EACH campaign. You can choose to participate in one or both campaigns.
 Returning families received these same invitations last year. If you missed that opportunity and would like to participate in the Chapel campaign, please send an email to
[email protected] to request a new invitation.
If you have any questions or would like further clarification about the program, please contact
[email protected] or at x239.
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SCRIP NEWS
Scrip Lifts Up SJSC:
Earn rebates and give back to SJSC! You will now be able to purchase scrip cards and donate to our 3 major fundraisers: Golf Classic, Harvest Festival and Anchor Ball. We will provide a special order form for each fundraiser representing a "wish list". Click here to access the Golf Classic Order Form.
Volunteer Opportunity:
Looking for volunteer hours for 2017-18? Join our Scrip Office family and you will have a set schedule in a fun environment and meet other SJSC families. Please email us at
[email protected]
if you are interested.
Vendor Update:
New vendor - UBER,
available as an e-card on both shopwithscrip.com and scripsense.com.
Chevron
is discontinued from our supplier and will no longer be available to order from either our daily or weekly order forms. We have limited stock on hand.
iTunes
will no longer be available to order from our daily form but still available to order from our weekly form.
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ESSENTIAL LEARNING (ELS) PROGRAM
ELS has openings in both after-school sessions!
Younger students who are struggling with letter recognition, letter sound association, decoding skills, reading fluency, reading comprehension, attention and memory may benefit from this program. Older students struggling with these skills or who lack confidence in their academic skills, have difficulty understanding and/or remembering information, take a long time to complete schoolwork and homework, have limited independent learning skills, and/or benefit from additional academic support can also benefit.
ELS is a computerized, multi-sensory, interactive program that improves focus, strengthens information processing skills, and enhances a variety of academic skills (e.g., reading decoding, reading fluency, comprehension, vocabulary development, and spelling). ELS provides a fun environment where students strengthen their skills in a game-like format and earn points and prizes for their efforts. Two after-school classes are available: 1:50-2:35 p.m. (for students in Grades K through Two) and 2:50-3:40 p.m. (for students in Grades Three through Eight). Students attend ELS four days per week (Monday through Thursday) for a minimum of one academic year.
Please e-mail Dr. Lori Quigley at
[email protected] f
or more information or to enroll your child.
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COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
 St. Kilian Octoberfest
Since 1997, St. Kilian's Octoberfest has been a gathering of family, friends and our wider community. Come for a meal - stay for music, dancing, games and fun!
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