January 17, 2024



Come and Play in TK & Kindergarten

Greetings Spartan Families,

Today we welcomed rising TK and Kindergarten students and their families to visit those classrooms and meet the teachers who will assess them in February for enrollment next school year. It is always a pleasure to share the good news about St. Philip Neri School with prospective families, and this particular event allows families to see those programs in action, much like our Rising 6th Grade Shadow Day last week.

I enjoy explaining to visitors that in addition to our Mission of using the Gospel as a guiding document for how and what we teach and our Philosophy of recognizing parents as the primary educators with whom we partner to educate the whole child, we emphasize positive reinforcement, a growth mindset, and restorative practices to address conflict and resolve differences. These practices and values make St. Philip Neri School a loving, learning environment where students can thrive.

We will celebrate our wonderful school community during National Catholic Schools’ Week that begins Sunday, January 28 with Family Mass at 9:00 a.m. followed by Open House (10:00-11:30 a.m.) where all classrooms and teachers will welcome you to view the wonderful work that your students have produced and skills they have learned as well as explore upcoming grade levels your students will move on to in coming years. 

Open House is also a time when prospective families will visit our school, and our impressive Student Leadership Council members will lead tours and provide visitors with information. Additionally, visitors will see our students in action, hearing from them first hand what they love and appreciate about SPN. You as parents and your students provide our best marketing. Thank you for sharing the good news about St. Philip Neri School.

Please read through this Newsletter for important information about events and opportunities you won’t want to miss.

Peace & Blessings,

Julie Thomas

Please help spread the world to prospective families that applications for the 2024-25 school year for new students are now available online, and the deadline to apply for next year is January 31, 2024. Our preschool has limited availability, so register now. TK, and Kindergarten decisions will be mailed out on February 16: grades 1-8 decisions will be mailed out on February 23.

Thank you for helping our school grow.

We have had #1 COVID Exposure since January 11, 2024.

January 2024

Jan 18 - Fall Sports Picture Day, 8:30 a.m.-12 noon

Jan 19 - 8th Grade portraits

Jan 22 - SAB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Jan 23 - Free dress for January birthdays

Jan 24 - Noon Dismissal, Teachers Professional Development

Jan 25 - School Spirit Day - Class theme

Jan 28 - Catholic Schools Week kick-off with All School Mass, 9:00 a.m.

Jan 28 - Open House, immediately following Mass/Science Fair 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Jan 28 - February 2 - Catholic Schools Week

February 2024

Feb 2 - Noon Dismissal, Teacher Appreciation, No Share and Care

Feb 4 - Family Mass Hosted by Grades 3 & 4, 9:00 a.m.

Feb 6 - PTG Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Feb 13 - Burning of the Palms - Morning Assembly

Feb 13 - St. Valentine's Day Free Dress (red, pink, white)

Feb 13 - AB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Feb 14 - Ash Wednesday, Mass 9:30 a.m.

Feb 16 - Noon Dismissal

Feb 19 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day - No Share and Care

Feb 20 - Free Dress for February Birthdays

Feb 24 - Gala Auction

Feb 26 - SAB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

FACE (Family Aid Catholic Education) grant applications are accepted January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024. More information can be found on the Diocese of Oakland's website.  Contact Gina Trujillo for the FACE application timeline and questions. 

Happy New Year SPN Community! The PTG is looking forward to a great 2024! One of most important events is quickly approaching. Catholic Schools Week starts with our Open House on 1/28/24. The PTG is looking for a few volunteers to assist with donuts and/or provide some refreshments. Please sign up here if you are interested in helping. 

Please contact Emily Libby with any questions.

Hello Spartan Sports Fans! 

Sign up to volunteer!

Happy New Year and welcome back to the final stretch of the season. We have our last hosting date set for Sunday January 28th. Please note the timing is different than when we host on Saturdays. We have shifts available from 11am to 6pm, please see the link below. We absolutely can use the help and support and this could also be one of the last sporting opportunities to get those family hours done.

https://volunteersignup.org/DCK79?classic

Fall Sports Picture Day

Friday January 18th will be Fall sports picture day! All students who participated in a fall sport (Cross Country, Boys Basketball and Volleyball) will wear their uniforms to school and have their team photos taken for the yearbook. The Spring Picture day will be later on in the year. Think of it as a school spirit day and wear your uniforms with pride as we smile bright and look our best!

Spring Sports Registration now open! Register your student for Girls Basketball (grades 3-8), Track and Field and Sand Volleyball (grades 5-8)!

https://saintphilipnericyo.sportngin.com/register/form/791506715

Jeff Croft

PE Teacher and Athletic Director

Saint Philip Neri Catholic School

(510) 219-0773

Go Spartans!

Our Auction Ticket Window is now open! Order tickets HERE!

Please contact Monica Burneikis: mburneikis@gmail.com with any questions.

Finding God in All Things

Dear SPN Community,

Rooted in our commitment to our partner schools, we are reaching out to invite SPN families to an important upcoming parent education night. Bishop O'Dowd High School, in partnership with our Dragon Parents and Guardians Group, is pleased to present a documentary film screening of #KidsOnTech. The film will be followed by a discussion with Director Paul Zehrer on Thursday, February 1 from 6:30-8:30pm in the O'Dowd Theater. 

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, when we now rely on technology more than ever before, #KidsOnTech explores the rampant increase of cellphone and digital device use on today’s K-12 kids’ mental health. It tackles the core dilemma: How do we protect and prepare our children for the future? The film follows a diverse array of kids, parents, and educators from around the globe to tell a human story about the long term ramifications of our digital media consumption.

The evening will include a special screening of the 52 minute film followed by a Question & Answer/Discussion with the film's director, Paul Zehrer to follow. This event is open to both O'Dowd parents and students, as well as our partner schools' parents and students.

RSVP for Parent Education Night

Thank you for your partnership and I look forward to seeing members of your community at this important education event.

Sincerely,

Mike Aquino

Associate Principal

Bishop O'Dowd High School

It was a nice way to spend the day and honor the spirit of Dr. King.

Kalia Le Boeuf and Beatrice Suer spent 3 hours out in their community and collected 66 items and $44 dollars for the Alameda Food Bank.

Excellent job, girls!

Photo credits: Catherine Suer

7th and 8th graders and their families are invited to a "Tailgate and Game" event at SJND.

Did you know that you can purchase Scrip online to be picked up in the front office? Enter group ID 510521SPN when you register a new account.

Dear SPN Community,

We are excited to invite you to join Konstella if you haven't already! It is a web-and-mobile-based app service with various tools that help parent organizations streamline communications, centralize information, and build engaging parent communities. You can create sign ups, share photos, post alerts, and see what's happening in our SPN community with a handy red bubble on your phone. Currently, about half of the parents are on the platform and we would love to get more signed up to really start to use it as a centralized system. Please use THIS LINK to sign up and get an introduction. We will then follow up with an invitation link to join.

Sincerely,

The PTA and SAB

Lunch Servers Needed

Help serve lunch. Please contact Janelle Sheets with any questions.

Log your volunteers hours HERE! Please contact Ms. Trujillo for help.

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.

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

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”.