December 10, 2024



Principal's Message


United in Song


Dear St. Philip Neri School Families and Friends,


Many thanks and congratulations to all of our parent volunteers who were responsible for making Breakfast with Santa such a successful event on Sunday. First, our PTG leads, Emily Libby and Helen Wang, for their guidance and coordination of the various volunteer committees; Jamie Cheng and Justina Iglesia for leading the decoration efforts, supported by the 6th Grade class’s Christmas tree centerpieces led by Art Docent, Caroline Corriveau; all of the festive servers including the Greenspans, Olga Rodriguez, Margot Kemp, Liz Scrivens, Wing Ho Lee, Traci Yee, and the Svecs; our rockstar cooks, former parents and SPN staff – Peter Ohno, Tracy & Tim Wilhelm, Carlos & Desiree Olson, Pat & Kelly Russi; Francesco Mini supported clean up efforts, and finally our student volunteers Christine LeGaux, Gregory Corriveau, Roisin Lynch and Caroline Libby from 6th Grade helped with crafts and meeting Santa (another special volunteer!). (My apologies if I missed someone!) Thank you to those who could attend for your presence and your enthusiasm.


A special shout out to Benjamin Yee for leading our Annual Scholastic Book Fair last week, and to our librarian, Rachele Latham, for the storytime and cookies she provided to visitors.


In addition to Breakfast with Santa, one of our Advent traditions here at St. Philip Neri School is the Annual Christmas Concert. The students have been preparing with Miss Lydia for weeks to present this gift to you, “The Joy of Christmas Through Song.” All students in grades TK through 8 will perform: please have them to their classrooms between 6:30-6:40 p.m. on Thursday, December 19. Church doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the performance begins promptly at 7:00 p.m.: all students are required to attend the concert’s entirety. There will be a Concert Rehearsal on Thursday, December 19 at 1:00 p.m. in the Church: if you have little ones or you don’t know if you can attend the performance in the evening, parents are invited to attend this Rehearsal. The show will run less than an hour in total. We look forward to this special concert.


Thank you all for your generosity to our Adopt-a-Family project. The deadline is this Friday for online purchases for The Warming Shelter or gifts for the family from Welcome the Stranger. 

As always, please read through this Newsletter for important information and dates that you won’t want to miss.


Peace & Blessings,

Ms. Thomas


Health and Wellness Updates

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.

Calendar

December 2024

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

Adopt-a-Family

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

Christmas Eve Mass

4th Grade Service

The 4th graders made holiday cards in Maker Space for recipients of Meals on Wheels. The cards will accompany a gift given by community members in Alameda.


Save the date!

Ahoy, Me Hearties!


The 2025 SPN Auction committee has had all hands on deck making sure everything is shipshape in preparation for the upcoming Spartans of the Caribbean bash on March 15, 2025. One of our first orders of business was to secure a vessel for our evening voyage into the dark sea (i.e., a location for the party), and we are pleased to announce we have succeeded in our task.


Never fear, the SPN Auction Committee has locked down a gorgeous new location. This year’s Spartans of the Caribbean Auction will be held at . . . drumroll please . . . Fairview Events at METROPOLITAN GOLF LINKS. Yo Ho Ho! 


This year’s Spartan of the Caribbean Auction will be more fun than ever before! We will have new and exciting experiences to bid on at our live auction, a bucket raffle during our cocktail hour, photo booth, a DJ to keep us moving and shaking well into the evening, and an OPEN BAR for the entire event, from the cocktail hour to last call! 


Get out your spyglass and be on the lookout for more information on tickets, reserving tables and sponsorships. 


Avast ye! Leave your lads and lassies at home, bring your loot and get your sea legs ready. This ship sails on March 15, 2025, and you do not want to be marooned at home! Are you ready to voyage? We will see you on deck! 


Your Auction Chairs,

Monica and Zane


Brightwheel to Replace Curacubby on December 1 

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. 

PARKING & TRAFFIC SAFETY

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.

PTG - Sign Up Form

PT https://bit.ly/3MTGSlg

PTG- Fundraiser

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


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

SPN Athletics Hosting December 14, 2024

“We have another wonderful opportunity to earn parent hours this weekend at our hosting day at Alameda Point Gym! Shifts are being signed up for quickly so don’t want to sign up and help out our athletics program. We have games running all day from 9-4 this Saturday 12/14. Families that participate in Athletics need an additional FIVE hours and things a great way to earn them.

As always, any questions please reach out.”


SPN Athletics Hosting Dec 14th, 2024

volunteersignup.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

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”.

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