January 23, 2024



Principal's Message


“There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens”

Ecclesiastes 3:1


Dear St. Philip Neri Family and Friends,


It is a time to celebrate as we approach National Catholic Schools Week that begins this Sunday, January 28. Catholic Schools Week is a special time set aside to acknowledge the growth and achievement of our students and what our Catholic school means to us.


On Sunday, January 28, we will begin our week with a Family Mass and Eucharistic Celebration* at 9:00 a.m.  prepared by our Student Leadership Council  (SLC) and featuring our wonderful Student Choir. From 10:00-11:30 a.m. we will open the classrooms for our Annual Open House. Please plan to come and visit your students’ classrooms to see their work and accomplishments as well as visit other classrooms, perhaps for upcoming grades. The Middle School Science Fair will be displayed in O’Brien Hall at this time, and we almost always have one or two projects place in the Diocesan Science Faire competition, so this is not to be missed. The SLC will also be leading tours of the school for visiting families who are considering application for the 2024-25 school year. This is also a hosting date for SPN at Alameda Point: many of our teams will be playing throughout the afternoon, so you can also show your Spartan Pride by cheering on our teams.

*Note: All students participating in Mass will wear school uniforms: by checking in with classroom teachers during Open House, ANY students in uniform may enjoy Free Dress on Monday.


On Tuesday, January 30 we will celebrate our students with Student Appreciation Day. This day will include student Free Dress and a movie and treats hosted by our PTG.


Wednesday, January 31 is SPN Family Culture Day, and each grade level is being assigned a mini-project that will be shared in class so that students can learn more about one another’s families. Additionally, we will have a special Parent Meeting in the evening. In the Fall we had an evening meeting for families and teachers of grades Kindergarten through 5th to discuss and share strategies for setting up students for success in school. 


On Wednesday, January 31st, we will host another Parent Meeting focused on middle school concerns for students, the topic being Christian Digital Citizenship, and the presenter is Paul Sanfrancesco. While this meeting is designed for our middle school students and families, the evening meeting will be open to all of our families due to the importance of the topic that affects all of us. More information on this meeting and our presenter are detailed below. Parents attending this meeting will earn 2 volunteer hours. We hope you’ll join us.


Thursday, February 1 will have us Celebrating Academic Excellence with our Oratorical Fest at 1:00 p.m. in the Church. All are welcome to attend this entertaining and impressive presentation by our students TK- Grade 8.


Finally, February 2 is Teacher and Staff Appreciation Day. It is a minimum day with No Share & Care/Preschool in the afternoon. Our wonderful PTG is hosting a brunch that our entire staff will be able to enjoy together because of volunteer parents who will supervise classes.


We have much to celebrate and much to be thankful for here at St. Philip Neri School. We look forward to celebrating with you all throughout the week.


Please read through this Newsletter for important information and details you need to know.


Peace & Blessings,

Ms. Thomas

Christian Digital Citizenship - Parent Meeting Presentation

Wednesday, January 31

6:30-8:00 p.m.

O’Brien Hall


Have you ever said- Should my child be on Social Media?  What do I need to know when I give my child a phone/device? What apps are out there that I should know?  Unlike our parents we have tools and resources available to us, but how many of those are valuable and how many of them are scare tactics?  How do we make sure they keep our catholic values intact when online? In this entertaining session we'll find answers that Siri ®and Alexa® can’t.

Particularly pertinent for middle school, however, ALL ARE WELCOME to attend.

Sign up HERE!


For over 28 years, Paul Sanfrancesco has worked in Catholic, private, and public education, including as a teacher, Assistant Principal and in collegiate teaching at Saint Joseph’s University and Neumann University.  The National School Boards Association named him one of the “20 to Watch” Educators for his work in Instructional Technology and the  Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications and Technology named him CTO of the year for the state of Pennsylvania in 2018.  Mr. Sanfrancesco has been featured in Tech & Learning, Schools CIO, EdTech Mag, and Catechetical Leader and presents at local, regional, and international convocations.

SIGN UP HERE!

Covid Update

We have had 0 COVID cases since January 12, 2024.

Important Note about February 14 - Ash Wednesdays and St Valentine's Day

We will celebrate Valentine's Day on Mardi Gras, Tuesday, February 13 with free dress (red, white, pink) and classroom celebrations.

On Ash Wednesday, February 14, we will wear school uniforms to attend Mass and begin Lent with reverence. We will give all students and staff a heart sticker to wear on February 14.

Calendar

January 2024

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.

Calling All Siblings and Friends

Please help spread the word 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.

Financial Aid

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.


The BASIC Fund is now accepting applications through March 29, 2024.  

Catholic Schools Week

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.

On Friday, 2/2/24, we celebrate our amazing teachers, by asking for classroom volunteers, so that the faculty will have some time to enjoy brunch together. Volunteers during this time, will stay with their class either at recess or in the classroom, and the teachers will leave students with an activity to work on. All volunteers will be provided with a more detailed itinerary closer to the event. Sign up here!

Please contact Emily Libby with any questions.

I want to help with Teachers Appreciation

Sports Update

Hello Spartan Sports Fans! 


Our teams are really working hard and coming down 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. 11am-6pm shifts can now be signed up for using 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


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!

Auction Ticket Sales are OPEN!

Our Auction Ticket Window is now open! Order tickets HERE or scan the QR code.

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

Faith Families

Black History Month

Parent Education Night

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


Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month (February),  St. Benedict Church in Oakland presents Revival Nights featuring Rev. Anthony Bozeman. You can find more details on this event here.

Scrip Online

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.

Order Scrip Here!

Konstella

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

Earn Volunteer Hours & Link to Log Hours

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.


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