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“Worthy are the ones who believe
To receive the goodness of God.” Ricky Manalo, CSP
Dear SPN Families and Friends
Happy Catholic Schools Week! Many thanks to everyone who joined us to begin our week-long celebration at 9:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday followed by our Open House. We are grateful to our PTG and parent volunteers who provided hospitality. Our wonderful Student Leadership Council led the Mass as well as Tours of the school for prospective families. The quote above is from the Communion song led by our Student Choir, echoing our school chant of Believe and Receive.
As our Student Leadership Council President, Alyssa, highlighted in her opening remarks at Mass, “ Here at St. Philip Neri, the community is a place where students are valued. The wonderful staff who work hard each day help shape us to be Respectful, Responsible, Reverent, and Lifelong Learners. They provide and care for all of us and are the main foundation of our SPN community.”
Today we acknowledged our students with Student Appreciation Free Dress and a Movie & Treats in the classrooms. Friday is Teacher and Staff Appreciation that will be provided by PTG and parent volunteers with a special brunch.
Wednesday and Thursday also include special events for our community members. On Wednesday, all classes will learn more about one another’s families through a Family Culture project that will be presented in class. Additionally on Wednesday, we will have student (grades 5-8), faculty and parent assemblies with a special guest speaker, Paul Sanfrancesco, on Digital Citizenship. In this digital age where our students are exposed to social media, we all need to be on alert for how to protect our children and ourselves from some of the dangers it presents. While students in grades 5-8 will attend an assembly during the day, we open the Parent Meeting to all families interested in this important topic. Parents who attend the Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in O’Brien Hall will earn 2 volunteer hours for taking the time to join the community regarding this timely topic. We hope you can join us.
Thursday celebrates Academic Excellence with the Oratorical Fest at 1:00 p.m. in the Church – all are welcome. Students from grades TK through 8 will recite memorized poems or speeches that will entertain and impress.
Each and every member of our community – parent, student, teacher, staff– is a vital part of St. Philip Neri School. Thank you for contributing to our successes and achievements as a school.
Please read through this Newsletter for important information that you don’t want to miss.
Peace & Blessings,
Ms. Thomas
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Christian Digital Citizenship - Parent Meeting Presentation | |
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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.
Families earn two volunteer hours for attending.
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.
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We have had 0 COVID cases since January 12, 2024. | |
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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 7 - Wild, Wild West Themed Free Dress
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.
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Family Appreciation Referral Promotion | |
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This year for Catholic Schools Week we are including a "Family Appreciation Referral Promotion." Families will receive $1000 off their first month's tuition for 2024-25 when a family they refer to our school enrolls for the 2024-25 school year.
Contact Ms. Trujillo or Ms. Andie in the front office with questions.
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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.
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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.
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Belonging and Inclusion Logo Design Contest Results | |
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A big CONGRATULATIONS to Shalom Taye in 8th grade. Her design -please see opening image- was chosen for the Belonging and Inclusion Committee logo. Shalom will receive a Books Inc. gift card, an hour of free MakerSpace time with friends, a Tuckers Ice Cream cone, and a tote bag.
Thank you to students who submitted a design:
Kalina Praud (2nd)
Edie Kennedy (3rd)
Elizabeth Tran (3rd)
Naomi Watters (3rd)
Sammy Balster (4th)
Mariela Pastran (4th)
Hannah Sebastian (4th)
Sammy Baugh (5th)
Emily Tran (6th)
Ina Tejada (7th)
All of these students will receive a Tuckers token and a tote bag with their design! All of the submitted artwork will be displayed at the Celebration of the Arts on Saturday, April 20.
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January Enrichment Newsletter | |
Please read the rest of Ms. Smeal's wonderful Enrichment Newsletter here! | |
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Hello Spartan Sports Fans!
Our teams are really working hard and coming down the final stretch of the season.
We have added one more opportunity for families to get their hours done. We have an extra bonus hosting day at Alameda Point Gym this Saturday 2/3. This is a shared date with St. Joseph's and our last and final one for the year. Sign up link is below.
https://volunteersignup.org/XWWFM?classic
Spring Sports Registration now open! Register your student for Girls Basketball (grades 3-8), Track and Field and Sand Volleyball (grades 5-8)! Registration will close on Friday 2/2.
https://saintphilipnericyo.sportngin.com/register/form/791506715
Spartan Spirit Store!
Get all of your Spartan sporting needs at our online shop. The online shop is open 24/7 and part of proceeds go back to the school. This is the only place you can get official SPN gear and show your Spartan Pride!
https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/california/alameda/st-philip-neri
Jeff Croft
PE Teacher and Athletic Director
Saint Philip Neri Catholic School
(510) 219-0773
Go Spartans!
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Auction Ticket Sales are OPEN! | |
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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.
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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.
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At St. Philip Neri School, Black History Month is celebrated as an opportunity to focus on the contributions and achievement of Black Americans throughout history. Each grade level will use curriculum to enhance understanding and appreciation of our American Black History. Our students will read literature by black authors about diverse themes and topics ( Bud Not Buddy, The Birminghams Go to Washington, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry), will learn about historical figures and scientists who have contributed to our society and communities (including Gordon Parks, George Washington Carver, Katherine Johnson), and will do research and projects on various Black Americans who we should all know and know about.
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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.
Each family is required to purchase $2,000 in Scrip by March 30th.
Order yours today!
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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
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Earn Volunteer Hours & Link to Log Hours | |
Don't forget to complete your volunteer hours! 20 hours/family (if participating in sports, 5 additional hours in the sports program) required. $50 per unfulfilled hour will be charged prior to registration for the new school year. | |
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Join the Welcome the Strangers Dine & Donate fundraising event sponsored by Tomatina in Alameda on Monday February 12th 2024.
1338 Park Street, Alameda, (510) 521-1000
Tomatina will generously donate 15% of food and beverage sales from lunch, dinner and takeout on the above date to Welcome the Strangers from any customer that presents the flyer below. Copies are available at the school office upon request.
Spread the word! Invite your family and friends to join you.
Please present this flyer to your server with your payment for Welcome the Strangers to receive credit.
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Bay Area Community Event
Dear Scholar families,
You’re invited! Join A Better Chance staff and community for a meet and greet + information session at College of Alameda on Saturday, February 3, 10 AM - 2 PM. Build community with fellow Scholar families and speak with prospective applicants about the A Better Chance process. Get real, laugh together, and eat some delicious snacks!
Prospective applicant families will hear an information session from A Better Chance staff and will have access to a computer lab where they can submit their application onsite.
Check out our flyer and register here!
abetterchance.org | (646) 346-1310 | recruitment@abetterchance.org
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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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