December 3, 2024



United in Hope

Dear St. Philip Neri School Families and Friends,

Happy Advent! "When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for the Savior's second coming." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 524)

This first week of Advent is focused on the virtue of hope in God’s love. Mary provides a perfect example of this kind of hope, accepting the Angel Gabriel’s message that the Christ child would be born to her. Mary’s hope in God’s love gave her the strength and courage to face the challenges she would have as the mother of the Messiah. Hope assured Mary that God would not abandon her, and indeed through Joseph and her cousin Elizabeth, Mary felt God’s love and support.

During this first week of Advent, reflect on your hope in God’s love, acknowledging how He will not abandon you and recognizing how you will represent God’s love to others this season. Here at SPN School we will experience many activities to help us prepare for Christmas: 

• Advent Prayer Services at Morning Assembly each Wednesday;
• St. Nicholas’ Feast Day, December 6;
• Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 8 (have you bought your tickets?); 
• All school Mass on Monday, December 9 to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8:30 a.m., all are welcome, hosted by 6th grade);
• Adopt-a-Family donations to Alameda Warming Shelter and Welcome the Stranger (Thank you all for your support!);
• The Annual SPN Christmas Concert, Thursday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Church – our students’ gift to their families (all students required to attend).

Wishing you all a meaningful and fulfilling Advent Season.

Please read through this Newsletter thoroughly so you don’t miss any important information.

Peace & Blessings,

Ms. Thomas

This is a reminder to stay vigilant in keeping sick students home and informing the Office of symptoms so we can guide a safe return to school. We have had 0 cases of COVID since September 4, 2024.

December 2024

Dec 2-6 Book Fair, O'Brien Hall, 3:30-6:00 p.m.

Dec 6  NO CHOICE LUNCH -- Athletics Pizza Lunch (see flyer below for details)

Dec 6 St. Nicholas' Feast Day

Dec 8 Breakfast with Santa, 10 a.m. -12 noon, O'Brien Hall (reserve your tickets today) 

Dec 9 All School Mass, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8:30 a.m. 6th Grade to host: All Are Welcome!

Dec 10 Free Dress for December B-days

Dec 19 Christmas Concert, 7:00 p.m. Students' Attendance Required

Dec 20 Noon Dismissal/ Share & Care Closed after school - Christmas Free Dress

Dec 21 - Jan 3 Christmas Break: NO SCHOOL / No Share and Care

January 2025

Jan 6 Classes Resume

Jan 13 PTG Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Jan 14 T2 Progress Reports

Jan 17 NO SCHOOL: Elementary Staff Day - No Share and Care

Jan 20 NO SCHOOL: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No Share and Care

Jan 21 Free Dress for January B-days

Jan 22 Noon Dismissal/ Teacher Professional Development

Jan 23 8th Grade Graduation Picture Day

Jan 26 Kick-off Catholic Schools Week with All School Mass, 9:00 a.m.

Jan 26 Open House, immediately following Mass, 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Jan 27 Celebrate Community

Jan 27 School Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Jan 28 Student Appreciation Day

Jan 29 SPN Family Culture Day

Jan 30 Oratorical Fest

Jan 31 Noon Dismissal, No Share and Care - Teacher Appreciation

Don't miss out on the events of the season! Join us for a Magical Polar Express Party where holiday cheer, cozy vibes, and festive fun await.

 📅  Date: Sunday, December 8th, 2024

 🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

 📍 Location: O’Brien Hall

🎟️ Act Now!

Advance tickets are still available, but hurry! Walk-in tickets are limited. Grab yours now to save and secure your spot at https://bit.ly/3yZXbJI 🌟

A professional photographer will be available in the rectory basement on Dec 8th, to take photos from 9AM to 4PM. For just $50, get a beautiful, keepsake portrait to remember this festive occasion. Perfect for holiday cards or family memories! Please sign up here: https://giovanahurst.mypixieset.com

St. Philip Neri Catholic School 

Advent Outreach 2024

Monday, November 18-Friday, December 13, 2024

Adopt-a-Family/Welcome the Stranger and Alameda Warming Shelter

Each Advent St. Philip Neri Catholic School partners with local organizations to support charitable work in our community. This year we will continue to support the Adopt-a-Family program, part of the Alameda Deanery’s Welcome the Stranger, in addition to the Alameda Warming Shelter, located at The Christ Episcopal Church. Eighth Grade students and their families traditionally give to the Adopt-a-Family by purchasing wish list items for a family recently relocated here from a war torn country. Students and families in Preschool through Seventh Grade are asked to contribute to the Wish List for the Alameda Warming Shelter that opens on December 1, 2024: these items will provide clean clothing to #15-20 unhoused guests per week in addition to a warm shower.

Preschool through Grade 7, please select an item to donate from this list (i.e. you will purchase directly and your gift will be sent to Alameda Warming Shelter):  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2HP0YVC6GJIFE/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2 

Grade 8: Please use this list to purchase items or gift cards for this year’s family (suggestion: have a few students contribute to each item). Please wrap and label the gift accordingly for Guster, Berliane, or Ruth.

• Father, “Guster:”
• Rain slicker (size M)
• Rain boots (Men’s size 9 ½)
• Work Tools
• Hammer
• Screwdrivers (2 different types)
• Wrenches (2 different types)
• Mother, “Berliane:”
• Rain slicker (size XL)
• Rain boots (Women’s size 8 ½)
• Kohl’s Gift card
• Daughter, “Ruth,” nearly 3 years of age:
• Rain slicker (size 3)
• Rain boots (Child’s size 7)
• No toys except LeapFrog learning devices (she has the dictionary already): Target Gift Card

Here's a link to the October/November Enrichment Newsletter 

We are excited to announce that starting December 1, we will begin using Brightwheel to check your children in and out of our Share & Care program. This quick and easy system uses a QR code and your cell phone to accurately track your child's attendance. Please click here if you would like to watch a demonstration video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3yD7FXguIs

Brightwheel will also be used for tuition billing and payments. It gives you the ability to set up autopay, designate payers, make partial and prepayments and more.  

You should have received an email or text message inviting you to sign up for Brightwheel. Please download the Brightwheel app today. 

Please contact Gina Trujillo with any questions. 

Please continue to follow parking and traffic rules– NO PARKING IN RED ZONES, NO JAYWALKING, NO DOUBLE-PARKING– during morning drop off and afternoon pick up to maintain safety for our students as well as to not be cited by law enforcement.

PT https://bit.ly/3MTGSlg

The SPN PTG is selling delicious See's candies as an on-going fundraiser. To help support the PTG, simply visit one of our two virtual stores, make your purchases, and your orders will be shipped directly to you. It’s that easy! Our main store is open for orders now, and will remain open until the end of the year.

See's Candies Yum-Raising - Saint Philip Neri School - St. Philip Neri PTG

yumraising.com

This year, we will also feature a Winter Store. This storefront will feature some additional items to choose from. Items from this store can be purchased now and will be available to ship from 11/11/2024 to 12/06/2024. Items will be sent directly to the customer. Please use this link for the Winter Store. 

See's Candies Yum-Raising - Saint Philip Neri School - St. Philip Neri PTG Winter

yumraising.com

The PTG thanks you in advance for your support! If you have any questions, please reach out to spn.ptg@csdo.org

Athletics Pizza Lunch Fundraiser

Support Athletics by purchasing a Pizza Lunch on Friday, December 6th.  Pizza lunch is available by Pre Order Only and your order must be in by Thursday, December 5th (see flyer below).  

There will be no Choice Lunch available. 

Contact Mr. Croft with any questions. 

Mr. Croft 

jcroft@csdo.org 

Saint Philip Neri Athletics and Crab Feed!

Feb. 1 is the SPN Crab Feed! Save the date and purchase your tickets now, flier is attached. Link to purchase tickets is below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1bm3wSIQqpZR4CG1P3BF91FKKwGz1DLwIyrpbNEhgaT4/edit

Earn Volunteer Hours & Link to Log Hours

Families can now get volunteer hours for buying items from Grade Level and Department Amazon Wishlists. You will get 1 volunteer hour for every $20 spent. If the class does not have any items available on their list, Amazon gift cards are welcome, too!

Please include a gift receipt so we know who to thank!

Please contact Ms. Trujillo with any questions.

Log your Volunteer hours Here

https://forms.gle/3VhHDCEhxiPa5YXg9

Preschool

TK

Kindergarten 

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

6th Grade

7th Grade

8th Grade

Art/Spanish

Library

MakerSpace

Music

Office/Shared Areas

PE

Resource

Share & Care

Garden

Science

Choice Lunch Calendar for Volunteer

Thank you so much to Needlyn D'Mello for creating the calendar this year.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O9RBOBiRFZ-ngev5lHPL0nL718i0_IakbZwIL0t2i4w/edit?usp=sharing

A Christmas Carol

Annual Auction + Gala

Math Kangaroo Competition 2025

A Better Way to Buy Scrip

Do you want to get a head start on your Scrip purchases for the 2024-2025 school year? We now have an easier way to start earning!  Order your gift cards to be delivered to the school or your home. Raise Right also features an app that allows you to purchase egift cards delivered to your ewallet within seconds. There are hundreds of stores available including gas stations, grocery stores, clothing & shoe stores, hotels and more. Check it out today!

Enter enrollment code 432BQIZ543ML at RaiseRight.com/Enroll 

Saint Philip Neri Social Media

Have you joined SPN on social media? 

We would love to have you as a part of our social media community.

It only takes a few seconds to join.

Check us out on Instagram at “spnalameda”.