October is College Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the importance of higher education and inspire our students to pursue their dreams and academic goals. Here are some ideas to do at home to promote a college-going mindset with your children:

1. College Campus Virtual Tours: Many colleges and universities offer virtual tours on their websites. Explore a few together with your child, discussing the different aspects of each campus and what they find interesting.

2. College Trivia Night: Host a family trivia night with college-related questions. This can be a fun and educational way to learn more about different universities and their history.

3. Research and Present: Encourage your child to pick a college or university they are curious about and ask them to research and prepare a short presentation about it. This can be a great way to improve their research and public speaking skills.

4. Create a College Vision Board: Help your child create a vision board with pictures and words that represent their dreams and goals for the future, including attending college.

Remember that these activities are not just about preparing for college; they're also about encouraging a love of learning and fostering a mindset of ambition and curiosity. By engaging in these activities, you'll be helping your child build a foundation for a successful and fulfilling future.

As we work to make St. John of God even better for our students, we’re starting our accreditation process with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This helps us reflect on our strengths and areas for growth. We need your help by completing the WASC Parent Survey. Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of our school. The survey is available in English and Spanish, and responses are anonymous. Please take a moment to share your thoughts. Your input directly impacts our efforts to provide the best education and experience for our children. Thank you for your support!

This is a friendly reminder that there will be no school on Monday, October 14, in observance of Indigenous People's Day. Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday, October 15. We hope you have a restful and enjoyable long weekend!

We have scheduled a field trip to Mission San Juan Capistrano where the students will not only tour the historic mission grounds but also participate in an engaging educational program called "Journeys to the Past." This program features a Native American storyteller who will share fascinating stories and cultural insights, offering a rich and immersive learning experience.

Here are the details for the trip:

• Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
• Time: Because of the distance and possible traffic, we will need to depart St. John of God no later than 7:45 AM. We will return to school by 2:30 PM.
• Location: Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
• Program: "Journeys to the Past" – Native American Storytelling and a tour of the mission grounds
• Cost: $25 per student and chaperone, which covers bus transportation and fees
• Lunch: Please pack a sack lunch for your child, as we will have lunch on the mission grounds.

This is an incredible opportunity for our students to explore California history firsthand and learn about the important role that Native American culture played in the development of the region. Please complete the permission slip and return it with payment by Wednesday, October 16th. We are looking forward to a memorable and educational day! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

The Jog-A-Thon donation collection will run through to our main event on Friday, November 22nd. The collection envelopes were sent home last week inside the new large, manila Family Envelopes. Please make sure you are returning any donations to the school on FRIDAYS. We encourage all families to get involved and help make this year’s Jog-A-Thon a super success! Details and collection envelopes will go home on Monday, but mark your calendars and get ready to cheer on our little superheroes!

We are excited to invite you to our All Hallows Eve Family Carnival on Tuesday, October 31st! The name "All Hallows Eve" comes from the celebration of the Eve of All Saints' Day, a special time in our Catholic tradition where we honor all the saints, both known and unknown, who have faithfully served God. It’s a time for us to reflect on their holy lives and remember that we are all called to sainthood. In keeping with this spirit, we invite students to dress as a Saint or another religious figure to receive a Free Dress and Homework Pass! This event is a wonderful way for our school to come together and celebrate in a safe, fun, and faith-centered environment. Families are welcome to join in the fun, so bring your Halloween spirit and celebrate with us!

We are excited to announce the introduction of our new School Communication Yellow Envelope! This envelope will be used to send important school information and documents home to families.

Please note the following important details:

• Only one envelope will be sent home per family.
• If you have one child, you will receive one envelope.
• For families with multiple children, the envelope will be sent home with the oldest child enrolled in our school.

We kindly ask that you review all the contents of the envelope each time it is sent home and sign the outside of the envelope to acknowledge receipt of the items included and return as soon as possible.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we implement this new system to ensure that all important communication reaches you effectively.

Thank you for your support!

We are looking for parents to volunteer for yard supervision during lunch. Your help in ensuring our students have a safe and fun environment during these times is greatly appreciated. To volunteer, you must be VIRTUS trained and fingerprinted. If you are available to assist, please sign up for shifts using the sign up link below. Thank you for considering this opportunity to support our students and staff!

October Lunch Supervision Sign-Up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49A5A722A4F9C25-51889342-yard#/

Get ready for some fun with our Boo Grams! Starting October 1st through October 18th, students can purchase Boo Grams to send to friends, teachers, or anyone they'd like to surprise! Here's what we have to offer:

• $1 Boo Grams: Lollipop
• $2 Boo Grams: Mummy Gram Lollipop and Slap Bracelet
• $3 Boo Grams: Lollipop and Halloween Pop-it

All proceeds from the Boo Grams will go towards fundraising for the student Snow Day! Don't miss out on this chance to spread some Halloween cheer while supporting a great cause!

We’re excited to invite you to be a part of our Trunk-or-Treat and All Hallows Eve celebration! This is a wonderful opportunity to create lasting memories for our children and foster a strong sense of community. We would love your support through volunteering or donations to help make this event a spooktacular success! Whether you can decorate a trunk, hand out treats, or contribute goodies, every bit helps! Let’s come together to make this celebration magical for our kids. Thank you for your support!

As we prepare for our upcoming All Hallows' Eve Family Celebration, we want to remind you that families can preorder food in advance for the event. To make things easy, you can simply scan the QR code or use the link provided to place your order. Preordering ensures that your family will have plenty of delicious food to enjoy during the celebration! We look forward to seeing everyone for a fun and festive evening!

Link to Order:

https://formesign.com/public/102567664771184066029/all/form/1FAIpQLSdKe_uT57T_nhKKG1psYLGOaVmq2jvb82tcdCDTGumzKcatMQ

You are warmly invited to join our parish community for a beautiful Candlelight Procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima. This is a special opportunity to come together in prayer and reflection, seeking the intercession of Our Blessed Mother. Families are encouraged to bring candles as we walk in procession and lift up our intentions in a spirit of unity and faith.