- STAR ASSESSMENT WINDOW ONE - OCT. 7 - OCT. 25
- SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 - FOSHS COUNTRY LINE DANCE
- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 - FITNESS FRIDAY
- FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 - FALL FEST/TRUNK OF TREAT
- WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30 - SCHOOL PICTURE DAY - WEAR DRESS UNIFORM
- THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31 - HALLOWEEN / HALF DAY 12: 15 DISMISSAL
- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1 - ALL SAINTS DAY MASS - WEAR DRESS UNIFORM
- SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 - PTA CASH BINGO
- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 - VETERANS' DAY SERVICE & 1/2 DAY
- THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 & FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8 - CONFERENCES
- WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13 - 1ST RECONCILIATION/COMMUNION PARENT MEETING
- FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15 - END OF 1ST TRIMESTER
Dear SHS Parents and Guardians,
I would like to begin this week's letter by expressing my sincere gratitude for your generous donations to the Diocese of Trenton Hurricane Relief Fund. Sacred Heart School successfully raised $425 to support Catholic schools in the Diocese of Venice, Florida, which were severely impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Many of the students in this diocese lost everything during the storms. Our support will make a meaningful difference in their lives.
Now, let's shift gears and explore the exciting fall events coming up at Sacred Heart School!
Upcoming Fall Events:
Country Line Dancing: 10/19 (Adults only)
Fitness Friday 10/25
Trunk or Treat: 10/25
Halloween Parade: 10/31
Cash Bingo: 10/2 (Adults only)
As the fall foliage reaches its peak, , I encourage you to mark your calendars for these exciting events and join us for a fun-filled time of community and celebration. Thank you again for your support of our school and the Diocese of Trenton Hurricane Relief Fund.
Many Blessings,
Mrs. Joanna Barlow
Principal
Halloween is almost here. Below are some important reminders for Thursday, October 31st. Please remember all changes in transportation must be received by the main office no later than 9:00a.m.
Our Halloween Parade starts promptly at 11a.m. We invite you to come watch our students.
You can watch us exit the parking lot and then wait for our return in front of the Parish House on High Street. This is a parade for you to enjoy. Please be sure to stay at those locations.
All students must report to their homeroom after the parade.
* If your child is wearing a costume that will not allow them to sit or participate in academics, please send them dressed down and they will be able to put their costume on over their clothing for classroom festivities and the parade.
Dismissal this day is at 12:15 p.m.
Pre K - Kindergarten students will be allowed to wear their costumes to school on Tuesday, October 31. (*see above) Students are not permitted to wear costumes that are in any way violent or gory. Weapons should not be sent in with the costume. For the children’s safety, they may not wear masks and must wear sneakers.
Grades 1-5 Students will be allowed to wear their costumes to school on Tuesday, October 31. If your child is wearing a costume that will not allow them to sit or participate in academics, please send them dressed down and they will be able to put their costume on over their clothing for classroom festivities and the parade. Students are not permitted to wear costumes that are in any way violent or gory. Weapons are not allowed. For the children’s safety, if they wear a mask they must be able to see through it clearly. Students must wear sneakers or well-fitting shoes.
Grades 6-8 Middle School Students will be allowed to wear their costumes to school on Tuesday, October 31. If your child is wearing a costume that will not allow them to sit or participate in academics, please send them dressed down and they will be able to put their costume on over their clothing for classroom festivities and the parade. As always, costumes should not be violent in any way, no gore. Weapons are not allowed. They should not be overly scary. We have young children in our school and we want the day to be fun for all students. If students are wearing masks, they must be able to see through them and can only be worn during the parade. Students must wear sneakers or well-fitting shoes. For the safety of your child, if the shoes worn are not deemed appropriate by their teacher or a member of the SHS Faculty you will be asked to send in a replacement pair. Additionally, costumes must be appropriate for middle school aged children. Please avoid adult versions of character costumes.
Any questions please contact the main office.
In this, the Year of Charity, SHS will again be donating candy to Treats for Troops. Soldiers’ Angels, Treats for Troops, a Halloween Candy collection program where local businesses and organizations register to collect excess Halloween candy for our Troops. Once the Trick or Treating is over, we will be collecting excess Halloween candy. Our collection will run from November 1 - November 11. If your child would like to donate some of their candy, they can bring it to their homeroom for collection. On November 12, we will combine all of our candy and ship it off to the Troops.
Mark your calendars:
Parent teacher conferences are being held on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8. Thursday the 7th will be a ½ day for students and conferences will be held in the evening from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Friday conferences will be held throughout the day from 8:20 a.m. - 2:40 p.m. Please use the following link(s) to sign up for a conference with your child’s teacher. Elementary School is for K through 5th grade and Middle School is grades 6-8. Pre K - 3 and Pre K - 4 teachers will be reaching out directly to parents to schedule conferences. If you would like to speak with a special area teacher, you will need to contact them via email to set up an appointment.
Elementary School Parent Teacher Conferences K-5th
Calling All Singers! Sacred Heart School students in grades 4-8 are invited to join our choir. Rehearsals begin this Wednesday, October 23rd, from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM and will be held each Wednesday after school. For more information and to obtain a registration/permission slip, please click here. Paper copies are also available in the main office. Please return completed permission slips and club registration fee to Mrs. Sheaffer.
Mark your calendar! Friday, October 25th is Fitness Friday. During the months of September, October, November, March, April, and May, Fitness Fridays gives participating students the opportunity to walk one mile to school. Classes compete to have the most student participation. The class with the most students who walk to school wins the "Golden Sneaker" trophy. The trophy is displayed in their class until the next " Fitness Friday" when a new winner is selected.
Participating students in grades K-8 should meet at 7:25 a.m. at the Fairgrounds Plaza in Mount Holly near the Santander Bank. We will begin our walk down High Street at 7:30 a.m. Parents are invited to join us. If your child should miss the start of our walk, please do not drop them off on High Street, instead, follow the regular morning drop off procedures.
***Our next Fitness Friday has been moved to November 22, 2024***
November 1st is The Feast of All Saints' Day and a holy day of obligation. We will be attending the 8:30 a.m. mass as a school to celebrate all faithful followers of Jesus throughout church history. The day is celebrated in honor of church saints, whether known or unknown and pays a tribute to all those who have passed on to the Kingdom of Heaven. Students are asked to wear their dress uniforms to school this day.
On November 7th, Sacred Heart School will host our first annual Veterans Day Celebration to honor those who have served in the U.S. Military.
On this special day, your child may invite a veteran to accompany them to our Veterans Day service and celebration. This veteran could be a parent, grandparent, uncle, aunt, cousin, or another adult. The veterans will be recognized, honored, and enjoy refreshments with their students. Due to limited space, please invite only one veteran per family. We look forward to honoring and celebrating with our veterans!
School picture day is October 30, 2024 Students should come to school in their Dress Uniform for Picture Day. You can place your order on mylifetouch.com using your Picture Day ID: EVT33RSTS. Order before midnight on Picture Day to get FREE shipping! Your child can also bring their completed flyer with cash or check on Picture Day.
As this is the Year of Charity, the SHS Service Committee decided to begin our holiday service drives sooner rather than later. With that said, SHS will again be participating in the Samaritan’s Purse Shoebox Gift Drive. Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child delivers great joy and the Good News of Jesus Christ to children in need around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes. Each shoebox is packed full of quality toys, craft activity, school supplies, personal care items and a personalized note from the class. The gift becomes a tangible expression of God's immense love for the child. For many, it is their first gift ever! We hope to fill at least one shoebox per homeroom.
The classes should fill a shoebox for:
Pre-K 3 - Boy 2-4 years old
Pre-K 4 - Girl 2-4 years old
Kindergarten - Boy 5-9 years old
1st grade - Girl 5-9 years old
2nd grade - Boy 5-9 years old
3rd grade - Girl 5-9 years old
4th grade - Boy 5-9 years old
5th grade - Girl 10-14 years old
6th grade - Boy 10-14 years old
7th grade - Girl 10-14 years old
8th grade - Boy 10-14 years old
The shoe boxes should be filled and ready to be shipped by November 18. Additionally, It costs $10 to ship each box so monetary donations are also welcomed.
Each year, the elementary schools of the Diocese of Trenton administer the Renaissance Star Assessments in mathematics and reading during three assessment windows. The assessments, which last less than 40 minutes each, are given in the fall, in the winter, and in the spring. The assessments from Renaissance, like many other standardized assessments, measure academic proficiency. In addition to proficiency, however, these assessments also track the academic growth of a student during the course of one school year as well as over the period of a student’s career from grade two through grade eight.
Star assessment window 1 is October 7, 2024 through October 25, 2024. Specific assessment dates will be communicated by the classroom teachers. Results are sent home to parents after each testing window.
Students interested in joining the school band or orchestra may still enroll throughout the month of October. Students in grades 4-8 may choose flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, drum, bells, or violin. For more more information check out the music program website www.nemusicprograms.com or email Mrs. Jennifer Blair at jblair@nemusicprograms.com.
Get ready for some Halloween Fun! What is Trunk or Treat? It’s Halloween Trick or Treating from car to car in our parking lot. Trunks are open and decorated with fun themes. Prepackaged treats are handed out at each car. This year our PTA has expanded our Trunk or Treat into the auditorium to include a haunted house, pumpkin display/contest, and Halloween themed games. There will be food, music and fall fun. For more information and to register click below
On Saturday, November 2nd, the PTA is hosting CASH BINGO in the SHS Auditorium. Doors open at 6pm, calling begins at 7pm. Attendees must be 21 or older to participate. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Come on out, try your luck, and support the SHS PTA! Registration form is available below:
Join us in earning money for Sacred Heart School by using the Box Tops app. It’s an easy way to make a difference. All you have to do is buy Box Tops participating products (like Cheerios!) and scan your grocery receipt. Box Tops are worth $.10 each and they add up fast! Twice a year, our school receives a check to help pay for whatever we need - equipment, supplies or experiences the kids love! Use the link below to download the Box Tops app: https://btfe.smart.link/c2jjdifkw?referral_code=MU6O53C4
Thank you for supporting SHS!
The Friends of Sacred Heart memorial bricks offer a wonderful way to remember our loved ones, while also benefitting our school. To order online, please click here. All orders must be placed by November 29th.
Consider contributing to the SHS Annual Campaign, Gifts from the Heart. This carefully planned campaign offers donors the opportunity to directly support our beloved school. One of our key projects is the transformation of our school library into a state-of-the-art learning hub. This innovative space will feature:
Flexible seating arrangements to accommodate various learning styles.
Advanced technology to foster digital literacy and prepare students for the future.
Collaborative learning pods to encourage teamwork and independent study.
This reimagined library will not only be a center for academic growth but also a space for students to connect, reflect, and develop spiritually.
In addition to supporting specific projects, donors can choose to contribute to our unrestricted fund. This fund allows us to allocate resources where they are most needed, ensuring that we can address immediate priorities and unexpected challenges throughout the year.
If you or someone you know would like to make a gift, please click on the link below:
Gifts from the Heart - Sacred Heart School - Mount Holly, NJ (sacred-heart-school.org)
***Applications will be available online November 1***
General Information - For Families with Children Attending Catholic Schools in The Diocese of Trenton. Tuition assistance is awarded each year to families with children in our Catholic schools in grades K-8. Awards are made based on financial need.
How is the determination made? Information contained in the application along with the supporting materials is used to determine financial need. The formula utilized has been especially designed for families with children attending Catholic school. This calculation is based on a moderate standard of living for the geographic area of the applicant, further ensuring a realistic result. This formula determines the ability of a family to pay for private education. FACTS includes a comprehensive review and verification process ensuring the accuracy of the data.
Award Amount - Families who apply can receive up to one-half of the school’s in-parish tuition
Rate. Click here to learn how to apply.
The Diocesan Genesis Manager has sent, via email, credentials to all users PreK3-8th grade. Everyone is required to change their password upon first login. Existing users can change their password back to one they have been using before. Once you are in, you will be prompted to acknowledge and sign the:
Sacred Heart School 2024-25 Photo Release Form
Sacred Heart School 2024-25 Student/Parent Handbook & Acceptable Use Policy
Accounts are disabled (for security reasons) after 5 unsuccessful login attempts. Once an account is disabled, it cannot be accessed until it is re-enabled. If a parent account is disabled, please call the school office and we will do our best to re-enable you quickly.
If you do not think you received credentials, please check your SPAM before posting a Parent Access Support Request to the main office.
Let's begin by making sure everyone arrives to school safely.
CAR LINE TIPS ON ARRIVAL
Drop-off begins at 7:30am. Please form 2 lanes. The right lane is for grades K-8, the left lane is for our Pre-K students. Families with students in both PreK and K-8 should stay in the right lane.
When arriving you will be greeted by Father John and myself. Please wait your turn in the car lanes. Once in the drop off area, have your child exit the car. K-8 students will be dropped off in front of the main gym doors. Pre-K will circle around and be dropped off in front of the church. Pre-K Parents please make sure to pull up to the Student Drop Off Ends Here sign so other cars can move in behind you. Our staff on duty will assist in making sure your children arrive safely to their classrooms.
Once you have dropped off your child/children please do not cut out of lane instead wait until the car in front of you moves to exit the campus. When exiting please be mindful that cars may turn in front of you to drop off at preschool or to exit the campus.
CAR LINE TIPS FOR PICK-UP
Form 2 lanes. In the interest of safety for your child/children and others:
Children will not be permitted to enter a car until the car is in front of the auditorium. Please remain in your car, have your family name placard visible, and pull all the way up to the "Drop off ends here" sign even if your child is standing in another place. If one of the car lanes is moving, children must wait until the cars stop moving before going to their car. If you must exit your car to buckle seat belts, we ask that you use the lane closest to the auditorium. Please pick up your child as quickly as possible, being mindful of the extremely long line behind you. We are discouraged from blocking Clifton Avenue.
