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SGB Week Ahead
October 30, 2023
VALUE of the MONTH: Respect
Principal's Message
Dear SGB Families,
Thank you to Mrs. Space and all the parent volunteers who made the SGB Trunk or Treat a big success! We appreciate the time and support you give to our students to make this a special year for everyone.
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
PLEASE READ:
Last Thursday, I attended a bi-annual meeting for the principals of the Archdiocese of New York. The guest speaker for the day was Bishop Joseph Espillat, who is one of the youngest Bishops in the United States. When he speaks with kids, he is known to wear his Jordan sneakers, his hoodie and even rap. He is adamant that we speak our children's language to connect with them. He was passionate about our work with our students in Catholic Schools.
I want to share a few things that stood out from listening to him.
He said, "People think children are the future of the Church. They are not. They are the NOW."
We are not waiting for our children to grow into being our Church.
We must see them as THE CHURCH NOW.
What a powerful statement.
He then went on to remind us as administrators why Jesus left us with the apostles. The apostles' job as disciples was to share our faith and TESTIFY to it. Many times, we consider our faith a personal matter between us and God (I know I have!). Bishop Joseph was not a fan of that notion. He challenged us to not keep our faith on the down low, but to talk about it. Daily.
Every week, I try to meet with students for at least a half hour. It's my time with them to get to know them better, share or read stories, play games to build resilience, AND help them connect with their faith.
When I returned to SGB last Friday after the meeting, I met with Grades 3-5 and 6-8. We had the opportunity to discuss what Bishop Espillat shared and how we can begin talking more about our faith. In small groups, students were given a chance to reflect on the 6 questions (below)...if they wanted or they could remain reverent and reflect.
It's not easy to speak to a group, even a small one. It can feel uncomfortable. It's hard for adults to do it. It's even harder to be vulnerable and speak about our faith. I encourage families to begin to make speaking about our faith a daily routine and use the questions with your children. Model for them your answers and let them hear from you about your faith.
This is hard.
This becomes easier the more we practice it.
We can do hard things together.
Have a great week!
God bless,
Ms. Clarke
SGB Week Ahead Info
SGB Week Ahead Info
Monday 10/30
Tuesday, 10/31
- Chicken Tenders and Fries - HOT LUNCH
- i9 Sports
- Halloween Dress Down Day - ALL GRADES (Students are encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items for the local food bank. Students in PreK to Grade 5 can change into their costume after lunch.
- Halloween Parade (Grades PreK - Grade 5) at 1:30pm in the front of the school. Parents will line up on the grass as parade goes around the front driveway. Grades 6-8 will cheer on their buddies!
- Class Halloween Parties will take place directly after the parade. Class parents/helpers will assist classroom teacher with needed items, treats, activities. (Classroom teachers should have informed class parents what is needed.)
- UPK will have a Halloween parade in the gym at 11:15am.
Wednesday, 11/1
- All Saints Day
- School Mass at 9am at the church
- All Saints Day Project (Grades 1 & 6) Parents Welcome - GYM at 1:30pm
- FIRST DAY of SGB Winter Uniform
- i9 Sports
- New Value begins for NOVEMBER = FORTITUDE
Thursday, 11/2
- SGB Band
- i9 Sports
Friday, 11/3
- Early Dismissal - No SCHOOL PLUS or WRAP AROUND PROGRAM on an EARLY DISMISSAL DAY
- Grades K-8 dismisses at 11am
- PreK (Sr. Anne's Class) dismisses at 10:45am
- UPK AM = 8:15-10:45am
- UPK PM = 10:45-1:15pm
- UPK Full = 8:15-1:15pm
- School Mass at 10am (Parents are welcome to join us!)
- Staff Faculty Meeting
For more info on upcoming dates, please use our SGB Calendar located on our website. (Located half way down on the home page to the right of our daily online school prayers.)
HOT LUNCH
All orders must be submitted the FRIDAY before a HOT LUNCH.
TO ORDER:
1. Go to the SGB Website and click on the order forms at the middle of the homepage. (Right across from Daily Online Prayers.)
2. Complete the form. Send in your money (One pizza payment, One chicken tenders payment. Must be separate as vendors are different.)
3. Due dates are the FRIDAY the week before.
VOLUNTEERS:
ALL VOLUNTEERS must complete the ADNY Safer Spaces Training online. CLICK HERE FOR THE TRAINING. Fill out the form and send it to the school prior to beginning the online training.
Many of you have already done this in years past for SGBS and if that's the case you don't need to repeat it. If you took the training at another ADNY school you'll need to repeat it for here.
- CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR PIZZA FRIDAYS. 🍕
- *please note that the pizza days for November are on Thursdays due to the calendar
NOTES
1. CHANGES in DISMISSAL or ABSENCES
- Please complete the online form to notify the SGB Staff of any changes in your child's dismissal or if your child will be absent. Any child who is absent for 3 or more days must have a note from a doctor upon return. Thank you!
2. PARKING
- Please avoid parking in the teachers' parking lot. There is available parking in the church parking lot if you should arrive early. Please wait there until your child's drop off time.
3. VISITING SGB & NEW SIGN IN
- In an effort to keep our school safe and know when guests are in the building at all times, ALL adults will sign in when they enter.
For your convenience, you can sign in using:
1. The NEW SGB APP (Click here to download)
2. The QR Code on the front door.
3. The laptop in the lobby.