SJRCS Wildcat News

Dear SJRCS Families,

I hope you had a peaceful holiday break; and that everyone is recharged for the new year.

On Monday, January 6th, we mark the official 12th day of Christmas. As a part of their Spanish class, students have been learning about the Feast of Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day. This is a Christian celebration that commemorates the story of the three kings, who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the baby Jesus. We encourage you to ask your child about what they have learned about this important celebration.

Starting on Tuesday, January 7th, Wednesday, January 8th, and Thursday, January 9th, students in Grades 2 through 8 will be taking MAP Winter tests. If necessary, make-up tests will be scheduled. Students can wear PE or regular uniforms to ensure their comfort during the three testing days.

Ensuring that your child is properly dressed for the weather before sending them to school is crucial. It's worth noting that students do go outdoors for recess every day, except when the temperature drops below 32 degrees. Therefore, it's important for your child to have heavy coats, hats, and gloves on them each day to stay warm and protected from the cold weather. This will help them to stay comfortable, healthy, and able to actively participate in outdoor activities with their classmates.

We appreciate your continued support in helping your child succeed during this busy time of year. Please ensure they get plenty of rest and eat a healthy breakfast, especially on testing days. If you have any questions or concerns about the upcoming events, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or the front office.

Wishing you all a joyful and prosperous start to 2025!

With a grateful heart,

Mrs. Kim Hanner

Principal

With the possibility of inclement weather this weekend into Monday, please click here to review SJRCS's Inclement Weather Policy.

MAP Growth Testing for grades 2 - 8 will occur next week from Tuesday, January 7th to Thursday, January 9th.

Students may wear their gym uniform Tuesday through Thursday. Make-up testing will begin on Friday, January 10th.

Dan Whelan will be here on Monday, January 13th for 8th Grade Cap and Gown photos. Please keep an eye out for the order form which will be sent home with your student and added to the school website soon. **Boys will need to wear a collared shirt and tie for the day of the photos. They may wear the shirt and tie for the entirety of the day**

As we navigate the busy drop-off and pick-up times, we kindly ask for your cooperation in creating a safe and respectful environment for everyone.

• Please do not arrive on campus until after 2 PM. Saint Katharine Drexel has asked that we respect their use of their parking lot during school hours.
• Be Courteous: Please be mindful of others and give each other space in the parking lot and on the curbs. A little patience goes a long way in keeping things smooth for all.
• Stay Focused: Ensure your full attention is on the road and your surroundings while driving. Avoid distractions like phones to prioritize safety.
• Keep the Flow Moving: Follow traffic patterns and instructions from staff or signs to help everyone get in and out efficiently.
• Children Should Be Supervised by an Adult at All Times and Should Not Be Permitted to Play/Run Throughout the Parking Lot. For safety purposes, dismissal will not begin until everyone is safely inside of their cars.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and welcoming environment for our community. Your attention and kindness make a big difference!

Children's Bingo is on Jan. 24! Tickets on sale now!

SJRCS students and their siblings are invited to escape the cold and join us at McElroy Hall on Friday, January 24 for Children's Bingo! Doors will open at 6pm, and games will start promptly at 6:30pm. Each ticket includes 10 Bingo games along with 1 slice of pizza, a bag of chips and a drink. Additional food will be available for purchase (cash ONLY). Children must be accompanied by an adult. Feel free to email hsasjrcs@gmail.com with any questions.

Purchase your tickets today on MySchoolBucks!

We kindly remind you that nail polish and makeup are not permitted as part of our school dress code. Additionally, boys’ haircuts should align with the school’s grooming standards to maintain a neat and respectful appearance. Please ensure that all students are wearing proper socks that meet our uniform guidelines. Please refer to page 75 in the Family Handbook for further details.

As a reminder, three uniform infractions will result in a detention. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us uphold our school standards. Your support fosters a positive and disciplined learning environment for everyone.

Each year, our 6th grade students take a field trip to NorthBay in North East, Maryland. The trip is a week-long, overnight excursion. This year, our students will be heading to North Bay from Monday, March 10th to Friday, March 14th. Information about NorthBay can be found here.

Parents, please be sure to attend the mandatory Zoom meeting on Monday, January 6th. All parents must attend this meeting in order for their child to participate in the field trip.

An "Intent to Participate" form was sent home before the break. Please be sure to have the form returned to school no later than Friday, January 10th. If you are interested in being considered as a chaperone, please be sure to indicate so on this form.

Please be sure to check this section of the Wildcat Newsletter each week for updates.

Re-enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year for all current SJRCS students has begun. The re-enrollment fee schedule for the 2025-2026 school year is:

● $350 (first student) and $275 (each additional student) if paid on or before January 12th

● $400 per student if paid after January 12th

We will begin pulling from our waitlist on March 1st, so please complete your re-enrollment by February 28th.

Please contact cbean@sjrcs.org with any questions or concerns.

January 3, 2025

Happy New Year from the Home and School Association! We hope everyone had an amazing Christmas Break.

Upcoming HSA Events:

Save the date for the following events. More details and information to come.

• Wednesday January 22, 2025 - Home and School Association General Meeting
• Friday January 24, 2025 – Join the Home and School Association for Children’s Bingo

• Saturday February 22, 2025 – Father Daughter Dance (Take me to Rio)

Member Sign Up:

If you’d like to join the HSA as a member, please click here

Please click here for the December H.S.A. Newsletter

You may click on the picture to open calendar view

January 2025:

7 (Tue) - 9 (Thu) MAP Growth Testing, Grades 2-8, Students may wear their gym uniform Tuesday through Thursday for MAP Testing

10 (Fri) Makeup MAP Growth Testing Begins

13 (Mon) Enrollment Opens to the Public

15 (Wed) Full Day of School; Wildcat Care Open

16 (Thu) Mass 10:00 AM

17 (Fri) Trimester 2 Interims

20 (Mon) Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No School, No Wildcat Aftercare

24 (Fri) Spiritwear Day, H.S.A. Bingo Night

27 (Mon) - 31 (Fri) Catholic Schools Week

31 (Fri) Noon Dismiss - No Wildcat Aftercare

Monday through Thursday, meals are available for purchase through LunchBox. If you would like to order lunch for your child, please be sure to create an account with LunchBox by clicking here.

Pizza is available for purchase each week via MySchoolBucks. If you would like to order pizza for your student, please be sure you are logged into MSB to order.

Please click here for the January Recess Volunteer Sign-Up.

Please click here for the January Pizza Friday Volunteer Sign-Up.

The weather outside is getting colder; this is just a reminder that the Admin office will call for indoor recess if the temperature feels like or is 32 degrees or below. As a reminder, the weather can be chilly and it is important to send students to school with appropriate outerwear in preparation for outdoor activities. However, please note that for safety reasons, all outdoor activities such as breaks, recess, walks, and other activities are not allowed if the weather is inclement. AOB defines inclement weather as a temperature of 32° degrees Fahrenheit or lower, or if it feels like it including the wind chill.

The most up to date version of the Family Handbook can be found by clicking here.

Our 8th Grade Newsletter is where parents can keep up-to-date on the latest information for our soon-to-be graduates. You can access it anytime by clicking here! Our new 8th Grade Newsletter will be updated as needed and will be full of information about high school testing, shadow days, important dates and deadlines, as well as other pertinent information for both local private and public high schools.

If your child will be absent, or your child has an appointment and will need to be picked up early from school, please fill out the absentee form by clicking here. In doing so, the front office will be notified and can mark your child's attendance report accurately, as well as, have your child ready for you when you arrive to pick them up for the appointment.

Please note - per AOB regulations, early dismissal ends at 2:20 PM. Parents arriving after that time will be instructed to wait in the parking lot for regular dismissal.

Please click here to learn more about Google Classroom, including how to sign in and monitor your student's account.

It is important for parents to follow the designated drop-off and pick-up times for their children at school. The school cannot take responsibility for any supervision or accidents that occur before 7:50 a.m. or after 3:15 p.m. If a parent is unable to pick up their child on time, enrolling in the school's aftercare program is a helpful option. However, instances of tardiness will result in an additional late pick-up fee. If the student is participating in a supervised activity outside of school hours, specific arrangements must be made for drop-off and/or pick-up at the designated times. Please value and respect the school staff, teachers, and administration by being punctual and adhering to the designated drop-off and pick-up times. See page 32 of the handbook for more information.

In the event of a school closure (as announced by FCPS) due to inclement weather:

We typically abide by the decisions made by Frederick County Public School Maryland when it comes to school closings and delays. Regrettably, this means we are unable to notify our parents until a decision has been reached by the district. It is an Archdiocesan policy that Catholic schools follow the school districts in their respective areas with regard to closures and delays.

When FCPS calls for a two-hour delay, SJRCS expects students to arrive at school between 9:50 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. Prayers begin at 10:20 a.m. Students who arrive after 10:20 a.m. will be marked “tardy.” Pre-K students who attend a half-day program will have the option to attend school on a two-hour delay from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

School closing: FCPS (make sure it’s Frederick County, Maryland, NOT Frederick County, Virginia) usually makes a closing decision by 5:30 a.m. As soon as a decision has been made, we will send out an email and a text alert to our families. All closing updates will also be posted on our school website and social media pages.

If we have a noon dismissal already scheduled and FCPS calls a 2-hour delay, WE WILL have a 2-hour delay with a full regular day of school. We will notify you with an email and a text alert.

If FCPS already has a half day scheduled and they announce that schools are closed, we may choose to only have a delayed arrival. We will notify you with an email and text alert.

Early dismissal: We will notify you by email and text in the event that an early dismissal is necessary. The county will usually make a decision by 11 a.m. for a 1 or 2-hour early dismissal. If meteorologists are calling for a situation where there is a possibility of an early closing, please be alert to notices from the school. If you cannot arrive on time to pick up early, have a friend or family member on standby to pick up your children. Please send a note or call the office to let us know who will pick your child up.

Students in Grades 3 - 8 who are designated as walkers or bike riders should live within a two-mile distance of the school. They will require the written permission of a parent or guardian and the school administration to be released with these groups. Please click here to register your child as a walker or bike rider.

If you are visiting the school during the school day or for evening school events, we ask that you park in the Pk-3rd grade parking lot. Please do not park in any of the numbered spots as those are reserved for teachers and staff. We also ask that you not park in the spots on the side of the school reserved for the Parish Offices.

This tip line is offered to expand the means for students, staff, and the community to come forward if they are aware of threats, possible self-harm by a student or other behavior that could adversely impact a particular school community. The tip line is administered through a partnership of the Maryland Center for School Safety and the Maryland Department of Emergency Management.

Report a Tip

8414 Opossumtown Pike Frederick, MD 21702

Phone: 301-662-6722

www.sjrcs.org