March 5, 2024



Academic Decathlon

One of the great joys of working in a school is getting to see young people striving towards excellence. Even as adults it's not a level of effort we reach often, but it is a beautiful thing to see in our students.  

As many of you have heard, this Saturday, March 2, we had ten middle school students representing St. Philip Neri in the Junior High Academic Decathlon. Over two hundred fifty schools across the nation were participating in two dozen regionals. This was the third year SPN has fielded a team but was the first year that Oakland was hosting its own regional. Associate Superintendent Karen Goodshaw spearheaded the effort to organize Oakland's first regional and Moreau High School hosted the competition. Nine schools participated in the two team and eight individual academic events. 

The first round was the team logic test, a twenty question written test including sudoku style puzzles, math puzzles, riddles, etc. After completing the logic test, eight students from each team took on the individual subject tests in English Grammar, Literature, Mathematics, Religion, Science, History, Fine Arts, and Current Events. The final round was the team Super Quiz, covering five subjects similar to the individual test subjects. Our team finished second overall, and six out of eight students placed in their individual tests. The overall score included both team rounds plus all individual scores, so the silver medal was truly a team effort.

It was a blessing to be able to work with these students, and I'm very proud of their achievements. This was a particularly visible and exciting example of young people striving towards excellence, but it's something we teachers get to see every day.

Congratulations to Elena Svec* (6th), Gertie Kennedy* (7th), Chiara Losk* (7th), Harper Manning (7th), Vincent McKay* (7th), Colton Meyers (7th), Kieren Sutherland (7th), Sebastian Valenzuela (7th), Conrad Spaudie* (8th), and Ronan Sturlini* (8th). *Also placed in their individual events. 

A special congratulations to Conrad who will advance to the national competition next week with his 1st place in Mathematics.

English: Elena Svec, 2nd place

Fine Art: Vincent McKay, 2nd place

Literature: Madeleine Kennedy, 2nd place

Math: Conrad Spaudie, 1st place

Religion: Chiara Losk, 3rd place

Social Studies: Ronan Sturlini, 2nd place

In Christ,

James Toner

Vice Principal and Academic Decathlon Coach

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

March 2024

Mar 6 - Middle School Info Night, 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Zoom

Mar 7 - T2 Drama Performance, 1:45 p.m.

Mar 8 - Report Card Day

Mar 12- AB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Mar 15 - Noon Dismissal

Mar 18 - SAB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Mar 19 - Free Dress for March Birthdays

Mar 22 - School Spirit Day - Disney Day

Mar 25 - Stations of the Cross

Mar 26 - Tenebrae, 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Mar 27 - Seder Meal, 11:00 a.m., Noon dismissal

Mar 28 - NO SCHOOL: Holy Thursday, No Share and Care (Cesar Chavez Day Observed)

Mar 29 - NO SCHOOL: Good Friday, No Share and Care

April 2024

Apr 1 - 5 - NO SCHOOL - Easter Break, No Share and Care

Apr 8 - Classes Resume

Apr 9 - PTG meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Apr 16 - AB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Apr 15 - 17 - Nature Bridge Overnight Trip for 6th Grade

Apr 20 - Celebration of the Arts, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Apr 22 SAB Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Apr 23 - Free Dress for April Birthdays

Apr 24 - Noon Dismissal / Professional Development Day

Apr 26 - School Spirit Day - Sports Day

Apr 27 - First Communion Retreat, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Apr 30 - 8th Grade Retreat

Parent Volunteer Hours Available!

Hello Spartan Sports Fans!

Our 8th grade sand volleyball team is looking for a coach. We have enough players for a team but, unfortunately, do not have a coach. We do have one parent who can help but we need a head coach to lead the team. If you or anyone you know is interested please reach out to me directly so we can get the ball rolling. This is a fabulous way to get your hours done as well as help out our interested students.

Our Spring Sports picture day will be held on March 15, like last time the athletes who play a sport in the spring can wear their sports uniforms to school and will be taken out of classes for pictures. If you have any questions please let me know.

Go Spartans!

Jeff Croft

PE Teacher and Athletic Director

Saint Philip Neri Catholic School

(510) 219-0773

Go Spartans!

Please contact Emily Libby with any questions.

Hello SPN Community!

At our January SAB meeting, the Board unanimously approved a new committee, set to start next year: The Climate Consciousness Committee (working title, actual name TBD). The goal of this committee is to continue to develop and foster SPN’s commitment to the environment and social justice, as well as to sustainability. Pope Francis has called on Catholic schools to take a major lead in helping equip our students to prepare for the ever growing climate crisis. He outlined this need in his encyclical, Laudato Si’. The simplest way to distill what the Pope’s message is: Catholic educators need to equip the students with the skills and knowledge to effectively fight the climate change fight. 

This spring, we would like to hold two meetings: one virtual and one in person. The goal of these two meetings is to establish a community of parents interested in this aspect of Catholic education, as well as develop a three-year strategic plan towards the committee’s first major goal: to become a Green Ribbon School by Fall of 2027. If you are interested, please fill out this FORM. Thank you for your consideration.

Thank you, 

SPN SAB

Please contact Carlos Trujillo, Board President with any questions.

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.  

Chess at St. Philip Neri

Dates: Thursdays, April 11 - May 30, 2024

Location: Science Room

Time: 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.

Grades: 1- 5

Tuition: $128 for the 8-week session

Enroll online at www.berkeleychessschool.org (under after school classes)

Immerse yourself in the exciting world of chess! Chess is fun and can be learned quickly and easily! Studies have found that chess helps improve test results in reading, science, and math, and produces growth in critical cognitive skills. Beyond academia, chess influences social behavior including self esteem, respect for others, patience, and good sportsmanship. And did we mention: it's FUN!

• Chess boards and sets are provided.
• The minimum class size is 10 and the maximum is 20.
• Enrollments are accepted in the order received.
• For siblings, the first child is full price, additional siblings are half price.
• Some reduced fees are available to low-income families upon request.

The Berkeley Chess School is a nonprofit organization offering chess instruction from kindergarten through high school since 1982. Over the years our students have won many state championships and several have gone on to become National Masters, FIDE Masters, International Masters, and International Grandmasters.

Please contact:

Program Coordinator

The Berkeley Chess School

programs@berkeleychessschool.org

Phone: (510) 843-0150 Fax: (510) 843-0140

www.berkeleychessschool.org

Tax ID: 94-3225242

Google, in collaboration with RECF, PwC US, India Community Center and Team 315 Paradigm is hosting two in-person Girl Powered Robotics Workshops at the ICC (India Community Center) in Milpitas, CA. 

The workshops are for girls in Grades 3 to 5 on July 27-28, 2024 and Grades 6 to 12 on August 3-4, 2024. The workshops are geared towards girls and offers the students an opportunity to design and build a robot from scratch and experience first hand the joys of solving real world engineering challenges through friendly competition.

Click on the image below for more information!

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 May 1^st. 

Order yours today!

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.

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. 

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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