SJRCS Wildcat News
August 30, 2024
Letter from the Principal
Dear SJRCS Families:
We hope you had a fantastic start to the school year! We trust that your child is enjoying their new grade and teachers. Thank you for your patience during arrival and dismissal while we improve our procedures.
We also sincerely thank and appreciate all of the hard work Mrs. Sievers and the used uniform committee put into our used uniform sale.
Thank you to Mrs. Galvas and Mrs. Bean for hosting Fun in the Field. The evening was fun and well attended. Thank you, parents, for taking time out of your busy summer to attend.
Thank you to Mrs. Megan Jones and the Garden Committee for all their hard work beautifying the school grounds in preparation for the new school year!
A heartfelt thank you to Mrs. Galvas, LDD Sports, and the Teeter family for their incredible dedication and coordination on the playground project. Thanks to their hard work, our playground has been transformed into a vibrant and engaging space for our students. The newly installed gaga ball pit promises many years of fun and active play. This addition enhances our playground and provides a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their physical skills and enjoy friendly competition. Above all, I would like to thank our generous parents, without whom the playground project would never have been possible. Your generosity will live on for years to come as the students of SJRCS enjoy their new, amazing playground.
Just a few reminders here are a few reminders:
Please refrain from parking on the St. Katharine Drexel side of the building at any time of day, as these spots are reserved for parish pastors, staff, and visitors. The parish does host meetings in the late evening hours. Also, please do not park in the numbered spaces around the school as those are reserved for teachers and staff.
Please follow the staff's directions and pull all the way up in the lanes to allow multiple cars to unload.
When arriving or leaving, it is important to ensure that you are driving at a safe speed.
To ensure safety and efficiency during arrival and dismissal, kindly avoid using your cell phones.
To ensure the safety of every student, no dogs are permitted on school grounds or inside the premises. In case you have a dog with you while dropping your child off, you must park your car in the designated lot and accompany your child to the arrival area.
These measures have been put in place solely for the protection of our students.
The back-to-school nights were a remarkable success, with an abundance of parental support. Thank you to all of the parents who attended.
This week, our students returned enthusiastically, and it brings us joy to see them fill our hallways with laughter and smiles. We are grateful for all our volunteers and committees working so hard to help us operate our building, especially during this time of growth. We hope your child's year ahead is filled with lots of fun and memorable experiences!
Celebrate and find strength in the joy you experience from your relationship with God.
Thank you for choosing Catholic education and raising such amazing students.
With a grateful heart,
Mrs. Hanner
Principal
School Calendar
You may click on the picture to open calendar view
September:
2 (Mon) No School - Labor Day
3 (Tues) First Day of Wildcat Care (Aftercare Program)
6 (Fri) Mass (10:00 AM)
6 (Fri) H.S.A. Movie Night
9 (Mon) Story Time Tots (8:30 AM)
13 (Fri) Spirit Wear Day - Students may wear (approved) SJRCS Spirit Wear with gym or uniform pants
16 (Mon) MapGrowth Testing Begins - Students in Grades 2-8 may wear their gym uniform
17 (Tues) MapGrowth Testing - Students in Grades 2-8 may wear their gym uniform
18 (Wed) MapGrowth Testing - Students in Grades 2-8 may wear their gym uniform
18 (Wed) H.S.A. General Meeting - No Homework
19 (Thur) Mass (10:00 AM)
20 (Fri) Noon Dismissal; No Wildcat Care; Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day
Lunch Menu
Wildcat Aftercare Begins Tuesday, September 3rd
Please be sure to review the pickup procedure. Parents should park in the numbered spaces in the parking lot on the SKD entrance side of the school. Please do not park in the spaces with a reserved for SKD sign.
H.S.A. Movie Night
Friday, September 6th at 6:45 PM the H.S.A. will be hosting Movie Night with a showing of Pixar's Elemental on the SJRCS field. Tickets are $20. Please click on the picture to be taken to MySchoolBucks to register for the event, or you can download the attached PDF, fill it out, and send it into school along with a check by Thursday, September 5th.
Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day
Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day is quickly approaching. Please be sure to click here to register your Grandparent of Special Friend. Please note that students will not be permitted to leave with a visitor without the permission form found in the link above. All visitors who will be taking students with them MUST present a valid picture ID.
Volunteers are needed to help make Grandparents' Day a success! Please click here to sign up.
Homeroom Parent Sign-Up
If you’re interested in being more involved in the classroom and enjoy planning class parties and helping out, please sign-up to be a homeroom parent. We need 2 homeroom parents per homeroom, as well as for the specials’ classrooms: Music/Art, Library/Technology, and PE/Spanish. Homeroom parents earn 30 hours of tuition credit. VIRTUS certification is required.
Please click here to complete the google form to sign up. Please sign up by September 13th. Notifications about homeroom parent placement will be sent out sometime during the last week of September via email. If you have any questions about being a homeroom parent, please contact Molly Gilbreth at mollygilbreth@gmail.com.
Please note that completing the google form to be a homeroom parent indicates interest only and does not guarantee you will be selected as a homeroom parent. We try to accommodate everyone’s preferences, but overall interest by parents and the need to ensure all homerooms have two homeroom parents sometimes results in parents not receiving their first choice of homeroom or being able to serve as homeroom parent this year if we have more parents than necessary signup. Homeroom parents always request 2 extra volunteers per party, so parents who are not selected will still have the opportunity to help out in the classroom in that capacity. Homeroom parent placements will be emailed sometime the last week of September
School Photos
Individual photos will be September 23, 24, and 25th. Order forms will be sent home soon!
Walker & Bike Rider Registration
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.
Golf Tournament
The St. John Regional Catholic School Annual Golf Tournament is always a fun time! Golfers of all skill levels are invited to play. Single players and foursomes are welcome! Please click here to register today!
Golf Tournament
26th Annual MSGR. Echle Memorial Golf Tournament at the Musket Ridge Golf Club
REGISTRATION FEE: $150/person
FOURSOME FEE: $550 before Oct. 18th - $600/day of tournament
Click here to register!
Friday, Oct 18, 2024, 08:00 AM
3555 Brethren Church Road, Myersville, MD, USA
Uniform Reminders
With the beginning of the school year upon us, here are a few reminders about the SJRCS uniform policy.
Gym Shorts:
- Gym Shorts, Shorts, and Skirt Length must be 2 inches above the middle of the knee
Shoes:
- Shoes should be white or LIGHT gray with minimal color accent
Boys' Hair:
- Must be cut above the eyebrows, ears, and collar
- Must remain its natural color
Girls' Hair:
- Must remain its natural color.
- No dyed hair, "fairy hair," tinsel hair, or any fad hairstyles are permitted.
- No makeup is allowed for students.
- Students must have natural nails with no nail polish.
These guidelines help ensure a uniform appearance and maintain the school's standards. Please refer to the Family Handbook for additional details.
Academic Integrity Form
Academic Dishonesty
St. John Regional Catholic School strives to promote students of integrity in their academic pursuits. Students commit academic dishonesty in the following ways:
Directly copying answers or materials from another student or students.
Directly copying answers or materials from a literary or online source, including generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and asserting it as one’s own work.
Using information, answers, or materials during a test or quiz session that are not explicitly allowed.
Acquiring and/or using test materials from the instructor or from a previous student to prepare or take an exam or assessment.
Improper citation of source material in a research report
Providing information about the questions and/or answers of an assessment to another student prior to that student taking the assessment.
Academic dishonesty offenses will result in a zero for the assignment and an after-school detention for their first infraction. Further offenses will result in a zero for the assignment, a parent conference, and additional consequences including but not limited to detention, suspension, behavioral contract, and loss of eligibility for extracurricular activities.
Students in Grades PreK through 8th are not permitted to use Generative Artificial Intelligence. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) describes algorithms (such as ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, Midj Journey, etc) that can be used to create new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos.
Students in Grades 4-8 and their parents will sign an Academic Integrity Acknowledgement at the beginning of each school year. Please download the attached Academic Integrity form and discuss it with your child. Both parent and student should sign the form and return it to your child's homeroom teacher by Friday, September 13th.
Dismissal Locations for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades
We have relocated the dismissal areas closer to Opossumtown Pike, away from the parked cars. Please note that teachers must walk the entire class to the assigned grade level location before dismissing each student. Please refrain from taking your child out of line while the class is walking to their designated dismissal location.
Reminders:
Please keep off the sidewalk.
Wait patiently in the parking area, not the grass
Teachers must dismiss the students.
We thank you in advance for your patience and cooperation.
Late Pick Up & Late Pick Up Fee
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 7:55 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.
Family Survey
We need your help! Every year our school has an opportunity to participate in federal and state programs that benefit our students with a variety of materials and services. Some examples of available opportunities are:
The Maryland Textbook & Technology Funding Program
The Nonpublic Aging School Program
Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV services under the Every Child Succeeds Act
Discounted rates on high speed internet services and infrastructure through the School and Libraries Universal Service Program or E-Rate Program
In order to determine the funding available for these programs, we must have an accurate record of family income information. To obtain this information, we are asking each family to complete our 2024-2025 Income Survey. Ten minutes of your time, can translate to large benefits for our school community.
This year we have provided two ways for you to complete the income survey.
2) Paper- Please complete the enclosed survey and return it to your school office
Please be assured that the information you provide is held in strict confidence. The information provided is maintained securely by our school and the information is used ONLY for the purposes described above.
As always, thank you for your support and cooperation, we ask that you please complete the survey by THURSDAY, September 19, 2024.
3rd Grade Recorders - A Letter from Our Music Teacher, Mrs. Frazier
I am excited to announce that your child will be learning to play the recorder for music class. As
mentioned on the supply list, please follow the directions below to pay the $7.00 for the
recorder that is being supplied by the school. There are great variations in recorders made by
different companies, so it is important that all students use the same brand and model recorder
in class so they are in tune with each other. If your child is getting a sibling’s recorder from a
previous year or have their own already, please make sure it is this model: Yamaha Soprano
Baroque YRS-24B (cream colored). You will not need to purchase another one if they already
have one of this type.
Please see the attached letter for complete information and click here to be taken to the MySchoolBucks store to purchase your 3rd grader's recorder.
Chess Club
Back by popular demand! Fall chess club registration is now open! All students in grades K-8 are welcome. Please click here to register.
Athletics at SJRCS - Parent Volunteers Needed!
**Dear SJRCS Community,**
Last year, SJRCS offered girls in grades 3-6 the opportunity to participate in Girls on the Run—a physical activity-based positive youth development (PA-PYD)program. This program is designed to enhance girls’ social, emotional, and physical skills to help them successfully navigate life experiences. Through lessons incorporating running and other physical activities, the curriculum emphasizes developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls.
Based on the positive feedback we received from students, faculty, and parents, we would like to offer this opportunity again this fall.
Additionally, we would like to introduce a similar program for boys in grades 3-6, Let Me Run. This wellness program inspires boys to be themselves, stay active, and foster a sense of belonging. Using the power of running, the program encourages boys to develop their psychological, emotional, and social health, alongside their physical health.
Both programs are scheduled to begin in October and will run through December, culminating in a 5K running event. The individual clubs will meet twice a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes per session.
To make these opportunities possible, we are seeking parent volunteers to serve as coaches and assistant coaches. By volunteering, you’ll have the chance to engage, inspire, and support the development of SJRCS students. As a token of our appreciation, each volunteer will receive a $300 tuition credit. Please note that all volunteers must be VIRTUS certified.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email athletics@sjrcs.org and indicate which program you are interested in.
Thank you for your continued support of our students!
Growing with God Parent Letter
It is important to educate children and youth on expressing their emotions effectively and understanding that abuse is never their fault. The Department of Catholic Schools and the Institute for Evangelization, in collaboration with the Office of Child and Youth Protection, have authorized the use of Loyola Press' Growing with God: Safe and Sacred as the new Family Life Curriculum. This curriculum focuses on social-emotional learning, child protection, human development and reproduction, as well as morality. See the attached letter from the AOB Department of Catholic Schools Archdiocese for more information.
8th Grade High School Information
Every year, the Archdiocese of Baltimore releases a guide to the Catholic High Schools within the Archdiocese. This year's guide can be found here.
High School Fairs
This fall, the Archdiocese will offer in-person fairs as a “fair only” format for middle school families who want to learn more about our Catholic high schools. These will take place from 6:00pm to 7:30pm according to the following schedule. Registration is not required.
Monday, September 16: St. Mark in Catonsville
Tuesday, September 17: St. Margaret Middle School in Bel Air
Wednesday, September 18: Resurrection – St. Paul in Ellicott City
Thursday, September 19: Immaculate Conception in Towson
Monday, September 23: St. Joseph Fullerton in Perry Hall
Tuesday, September 24: School of the Incarnation in Gambrills
Wednesday, September 25: St. Ursula in Parkville
Thursday, September 26: Sacred Heart in Glyndon
Monday, September 30: Mother Mary Lange in Baltimore City
Thursday, October 3: Monsignor Slade in Glen Burnie
Join the Scouts!
Come check out the Scouts! Open to students grades Kindergarten - 5th Grade. We hope to see you there!
Harlem Wizards vs. Team Frederick at FCC
Mark your calendar for the Harlem Wizards vs Team Frederick Game at FCC on Saturday, November 9th. Mrs. Hanner will be playing and St. John gets $3 per ticket donated back to the school to be used towards the Garden Committee
This is FUN for the whole family. The tickets will go on sale Friday 8/30/24, and can be purchased here. Get your tickets early before they sell out
Congratulations!
7th grade student, Annalese Lyon, qualified for team USA in baton twirling. Next summer she will be going to Italy to compete for the gold. Exciting for Annalese to be representing the USA!
Absentee & Early Dismissal Form
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.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom is an important tool used at SJRCS. Teachers post homework daily and give assignments using Google Classroom. It is important that parents become familiar with Google Classroom to support their students. It is very helpful to use your child’s log in information so that you can see everything your child sees. We encourage parents to view a short video on how Google Classroom works. Please reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions regarding Google Classroom.
Parking at SJRCS
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.
Tip Line
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.