Volume 24 * Issue 20 * February 14, 2019
In This Issue





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






A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT TRUDELL
FEBRUARY SCHOOL-WIDE MASS "GOD IS LOVE"
Wednesday February 20, 2019 at 9:30 in the Student Activity Center 

The book of John reminds us to, "LOVE one Another" and to remember that "We know LOVE because Jesus laid down His life for us".  We are hopeful you will join us next week as we are reminded about God's great love for us. Mass will be celebrated by Father Duy Le of San Francisco Solano Parish. We thank our 4th and 8th-grade classes for preparing this Mass.   Everyone is welcome so we hope to see you there! 

Plan to arrive earlier and join other parents as they pray the Rosary in our Chapel before Mass beginning at 8:30 a.m. For your convenience, we do have parking on the inner road of campus and in the neighborhood on this Mass day, but NO PARKING in the Memorial Health Care parking lot. Please remember to be courteous and respectful of our neighbors when parking in the neighborhood.  

As a reminder, this is a Formal Uniform day for all students Grades 1-8. 

MISSIONARY CHILDHOOD ASSOCIATION COLLECTION AT MASS
At each of our school-wide Masses, the students of St. Junipero Serra support Missionary Childhood Association by making a small donation into our collection baskets. These monies do not go unnoticed as we serve the poorest children around the world. Thank you for remembering to support this ministry as we live "A Catholic, Christ-centered life that Serves God and Others" ,  through service to the poor. 
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR 2019-2020

For your planning purposes, we would like to provide you with these key dates for the upcoming school year:
  • August 27th (Tuesday) - First Day of School TK-8 - Minimum Day (Open House Format)
  • August 28th & 29th (Wednesday, Thursday) - Regular Days of Class
  • August 30th (Friday) - Minimum Day
  • September 2nd (Monday) - No School
  • October 21st (Monday) - No School
  • November 8th (Friday) - Student Holiday (Diocesan Faculty/Teacher In-service Day)
  • November 11th (Monday) - Student Holiday (Staff Accreditation Work Day)
  • November 25th - 29th - Thanksgiving Break (return Dec. 2nd)
  • December 19th (Thursday-Minimum Day) - January 3rd - Christmas Break (return Jan. 6th)
  • January 20th (Monday) - No School
  • February 14th (Friday) - No School
  • February 17th (Monday) - No School
  • March 16th - No School
  • April 9th (Thursday-Minimum Day) - April 17th - Easter Break (return Apr. 20th)
  • May 25th (Monday) - No School
  • June 12th (Friday-Adjusted Minimum Day) - Last Day of School
The Year-at-a-Glance Calendar, with more specific information, will be published towards the end of April. Preschool Parents, we will have more information regarding your orientation and start dates in the very near future.
MEMORIAL CARE HEALTH FACILITIES PARKING LOT
It has been brought to our attention that some of our parents are using the Memorial Care Health Facility parking lot for dropping off and picking up their children before and after school, and having their children walk to/from St. Serra to meet them in that lot. This is a VERY dangerous practice that we would like stopped immediately for the safety of our students. If your child has been approved as a "Walker", we could revoke that approval as the Health Facility's parking lot is not one of the parameters listed for being a walker.

Memorial Care has also requested that our parents NOT use their lot as a social gathering spot. Apparently, "coffee talk" has become common place. Seeing as it is against school policy to be in their parking lot "as a St. Serra parent", we again ask our parents to please respect their request and ours, to NOT drive into their parking lot at all unless doing so as a patient of their facility. Please refer to the Parent Student Handbook, Section 1000 Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures if you need further clarification. 

Memorial Care has been more than gracious in allowing us the use of some of their parking spots for a few of our staff members. They also allow us to use their lot for parking for some of our bigger events but only when their offices are closed. We publish those occasional dates in our SerraDIPITY. We need to respect their requests and continue to keep a mutually respectful relationship with them.

FAMILY PLACARD REMINDER
To help facilitate and speed up the drop-off and pick-up process, please remember to display your Family Placard which was given to you at the beginning of the school year. If you have lost your Family Placard, please contact the School Office (949) 888-1990 for a replacement. There will be a $5 fee for a replacement placard. 
Today on this Valentine's Day, with an abundance of JOY AND LOVE, let's take a moment to THANK GOD for the gift of JESUS, OUR FAMILIES and for ALL THE PEOPLE who help us grow in our LOVE FOR THE LORD and IN OUR FAITH. Help us to never doubt that LOVE is always the answer, as we are so LOVED BY GOD.



God is Good All the Time...
All the Time God is Good.

Mrs. Angeline Trudell
President
PRINCIPALS' CORNER
Mrs. Carol Reiss, Principal Preschool - Grade 4
Mrs. Alison Daley, Principal Grades 5 - 8
4th ANNUAL FAMILY STEAM NIGHT 2019 - SPONSORED BY CREATIVE LEARNING SYSTEMS
Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Thanks to the generosity of Creative Learning Systems, we are once again excited to present our 4th Annual Steam Night! Last year, SJSC partnered with Creative Learning Systems to furnish our new Creativity Labs. These engaging and hands-on learning labs will be on display at Family STEAM Night along with other STEAM related activities located throughout the campus.

This year our theme for STEAM Night is "Environment." Just a few examples of the STEAM activity stations created by St. Junipero Serra Teachers this year: erupting volcanoes, tornado in a bottle, create a wind turbine, and make your own quicksand, and more!

Last year's event brought over 700 participants! This year, we are expecting even more students and families to attend Family STEAM Night. Bring the family and tell your friends to stop by and experience all of the fun and engaging grade-level STEAM activities. Pizza and water will be provided to all who attend.
 
We hope you will join us on Tuesday, March 12 for an evening that is sure to involve, engage, and excite all in attendance!
SEESAW - THE LEARNING JOURNAL
St. Junipero Serra Catholic School is excited to launch an incredible program called Seesaw which allows students to build digital portfolios and document their learning in a safe and engaging way!

Seesaw is an online platform where teachers will create activities for students to post entries that capture the learning process, encou raging students to reflect on their understanding and build 21st century skills.

Every student from Preschool through grade eight will be able to take ownership and pride in their learning, showing what they know, through pictures, video, voice recording, text and more!

If you have not already received an email from your child's ELA, preschool, or TK teacher  inviting you to create an account, please be on the lookout for this email in your  inbox! The email will provide you with a specific class link and directions on how to access your child's digital portfolio journals. Please do not sign up through the website as you will need to do so through this link! Once approved by the teacher, families will be able to connect to their child's journals and see and hear their work! By connecting through the one class, you will have access to all of your child's classes and subject areas.

SJSC is eager to make student thinking visible with Seesaw! Seesaw will be offered as a school-wide program. Some teachers will continue to use ClassDojo in addition to Seesaw.

Feel free to browse the links below for more information.


FELLOWSHIP AFTER MASS - JOIN US!
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. in the SJSC Courtyard

"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do." -1 Thessalonians 5:11

Spread JOY with our St. Serra Community by joining us for a PTO Parent Coffee Social immediately following our St. Serra Mass on Wednesday, February 20. Coffee and light hospitality will be provided by the 8th-grade Room Parent Team in the SJSC Courtyard from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. Please stop by for a quick hello and coffee! See you there!
GRANDPARENTS AND SPECIAL FRIENDS DAY 

Please Note:
RSVP's are due tomorrow, February 15! 
We hope your family & friends will join us this year for...

Grandparents and Special Friends Mass
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Rosary 5:30 p.m. ~ Mass 6:00 p.m.
AND
Grandparents and Special Friends Day
Friday, March 1, 2019
 
For the day's schedule and to RSVP, visit our  GPSF Day webpage.  
ANCHOR BALL
In Honor of Valentine's Day... A Heartfelt Thank You From Your Anchor Ball - "Greatest Show" Team
  • We want to take a quick moment to give a heartfelt thank you to all who have purchased tickets to attend "The Greatest Show" - Anchor Ball 2019, to those who have signed up to volunteer for the event, and to all of our generous underwriters and donors. The Greatest Show wouldn't be possible without all of you!
  • Congratulations to Carmen Ponce! She is the winner of two tickets to Anchor Ball 2019 from the Gift Gathering Incentive Drawing held on Monday, February 4, 2019
  • Pizza Press and Handel's Ice Cream Fundraiser Family & Friends + The Pizza Press + Handel's Ice Cream + School Fundraisers = WINNING.  CLICK HERE for the flyer 
SCRIP REBATE PROGRAM

Grandparents/Special Friends Day March 1, 2019 Checklist:
  • Weekly orders can be placed by 8:30 a.m. on Monday, February 25, available for pick up on March 1.
  • Purchase scrip cards in person on March 1. CLICK HERE for a list of vendors available that day.
  • Payment is by cash or check.
Testimonial:
"I took my daughters to BJ's restaurant before the Father/Daughter Dance, and I printed out my scrip. I was skeptical, but when I presented it, they took it without question. The other dads immediately became curious and when I told them I got 8% rebate, they were shocked. Thank you Rebate Program!"
 
Vendor Update:
See's Candy one-pound scrip card increased in price from $20.50 to $21. Please make sure you are using the most updated weekly order form.
 
Don't forget our Quarterly Double Days Bonus for our local vendors through March 31, 2019! Families earn 100% of the rebates towards educational costs instead of the usual 50/50 split with St. Serra.

For questions on any of the above, or to place a Scrip Order, contact Mrs. Tina Maroutian, Rebate Program Coordinator at [email protected].
FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE 
That's a Wrap!

Over 500 VIP St. Serra girls and their special dates walked the red carpet, posed for paparazzi, and celebrated "Hooray for Hollywood" at our Father Daughter Dance last Saturday. It was a memorable event for all! Thank you to all our amazing volunteers and St. Serra community who helped make this event a success.
 
In addition to our Event Chairs, Mrs. Stacey Herter, Mrs. Corey Lindsay and Mrs. Megan Walters, the PTO and PTO VP - Parent/Child Events Mrs. Shannon Johnson offer generous thanks to Mrs. Jen Caison, Mrs. Kim Covas, Mrs. Joey Faso, Mrs. Sandra Rahnama, and Mrs. Kat Taylor for all their time and dedication to such a special evening.
 
NOTE: The photo company has sent a sincere apology for a spelling mistake on the formal photo and photo booth templates they printed the night of the dance for each of our guests. They are immediately correcting the problem and reprinting ALL purchased formal photos and photo booth photos. The photos will be shipped to the school and then distributed to the families in the March Monthly Envelope. We will post links to digital copies of the formal AND photo booth photos this year with the corrected printing. We thank you for your understanding!

YEARBOOK DEDICATION AND SHOUT-OUT ADS
DEADLINE EXTENDED! 

Ordering closes for Dedication Ads this  Saturday, February 16!  No more online orders will be taken after this date.  CLICK HERE  to create and order your ad. 

Don't forget to purchase your Yearbook.  The price goes up on March 4! 
 
For more information on creating an ad  CLICK HERE or contact Mrs. Cindy Kennedy, Marketing Creative Director at  [email protected]. 
CELEBRATING OUR VOLUNTEERS

Volunteer Award Reception and Prayer Service

On Thursday, June 6, we will celebrate volunteerism with our inaugural Volunteer Award Reception and Prayer Service.   This year we would like to honor our recipients at the new Volunteer Award Reception and Prayer Service.   Mark your calendar for this beautiful celebration recognizing those who give their time and talents to bring JOY to our community.
                                                                                                                 
Log Your Hours!
Parents that log 100 plus hours of service will be invited to attend this first annual event. Please continue to log your hours through the SERVICE HOURS PARENT PORTAL. 
 
Nominate an Outstanding Volunteer!
Consider NOMINATING someone you feel is deserving of our ST. JUNIPERO SERRA OUTSTANDING SERVICE AND CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP AWARD.  This award has been a tradition since our school was founded to recognize incredible parent volunteers. For many years this award presentation has been part of the evening celebration at Anchor Ball. 
 
For Award Guidelines and a list of prior recipients, please visit the  ST. JUNIPERO AWARDS  web-page. Nominations are due by Friday, March 29.

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS OF INTEREST
Holy Trinity Youth Night
Youth Night - Friday, February 22 at 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Holy Trinity Parish Hall.    All 6th - 8th grade students are welcome for an evening of games, snacks, and fellowship. It's a great opportunity to make new friends and also have some fun!    
Mater Dei High School Admissions
Entrance Exams - one more opportunity to take the Mater Dei High School Placement Test. CLICK HERE for more information. 

Applications for 2019-2020 School Year available now. 
St. Kilian Catholic Church Fish Fry
Fish Fry is coming!  S t. Kilian will host their weekly Lenten Fish Fry dinner every Friday beginning March 8 - April 12, 2019 from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.  

This Fish Fry would not be successful without the help of volunteers. If your family would like to volunteer, please CLICK HERE for Volunteer Registration. 

Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions or have trouble volunteering. 
Catholic Night at the Honda Center
Friday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks

This year join our Catholic Trinitiy League schools as they compete in an on-ice skills competition immediately following the Ducks game. Your ticket will include access to this exhibition as well as the Ducks vs. Sharks game. 

Tickets must be purchased HERE. The first 1000 tickets purchased will include a limited edition Anaheim Ducks Catholic Night hat.