Principal's Peek at the Week

Sunday, May 12 will be our fourth and final SJJ Mass takeover of the year. It takes place at Saint John Neumann Church at 11 am Mass. Many of the roles of lay people at the Mass will be assumed by SJJ's 1st and 2nd grade students along with some help from their family members.

Our hope is that this year's Mass Takeovers have been a way to enhance your family’s regular Sunday Mass experience by having a unique role and reflecting the discipleship of our school community to others!

We hope to see you there!

Thank you to our PTU and SJJ school families for providing teachers and staff with such a fun appreciation week! The PTU Hospitality committee has done a wonderful job honoring and spoiling our SJJ staff all week. A BIG thanks to Keri Kraemer and Mary Garritano for all of their hard work!

Tomorrow (Friday, May 10) is the LAST day of celebrating our staff. Feel free to send in a sweet treat tomorrow or have your student color a picture for their teacher or write them a thoughtful note.

As a reminder, student tuition and fee accounts must be paid up to date for students to attend upcoming field trips.

Education fees for the 2024-2025 school year will be debited to your account on June 1.

Please contact the Business Office with questions.

Mr. Vadini is planning a fun-filled Field Day for our SJJ Students. The Field Day festivities begin after Mass at approximately 9:30am for students in Grades K-7. Our Field Day stations will be run by our 8th grade students!

Students will be provided lunch this day from the PTU!

Cheese pizza from Antonio's

Baked Lays

Sliced Apples

Bottled Water

Below is the link for the sign-up genius for the Student Appreciation Lunch.

The PTU is looking for volunteers that are VIRTUS trained to help out during this time.

Please click the Link below to sign up! Thank you for your help!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44A9AD2BA7F49-49602100-ptustudent

Following lunch, we will have an exciting and interactive PEP RALLY hosted by the Cleveland Cavaliers' CAVS ACADEMY in the gym! Cavs Academy is the official youth basketball program of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Academy coaches will be leading students through skills and drills that teach the "FUNdamentals" of basketball with lots of cheering and fun. Please scan the QR code below to fill out the safety waiver.

For this day, students are welcome to wear CAVS shirts or Cavs colors and school appropriate dress down bottoms and tennis shoes. Students are also welcome to wear their school gym uniform or SJJ spirit wear tops on this day if they choose not to dress in Cavs colors.

The final votes are in and we have a winner! Our school is planning a "big reveal" by the end of the school year. Stay tuned for more!

Hello SJJ Families! Certainly hope everyone is enjoying the nicer weather and looking forward to summer! As much as we all love our summer, it's time to start looking ahead to fall sports!

First I want to again thank and congratulate our 8th grade CYO Student Athletes. As they prepare to head off to high school, we wish them all the best and prayers along the way! It has been an extreme honor and privilege to see each one of you grow and mature into outstanding student athletes! You will be missed but remember, once a Viking, always a Viking!

Registration for fall sports is now open! Please go to www.sjjathletics.com for all registration information and to register for a fall sport. A couple of quick things to note for this coming fall season:

• 4th Grade flag football will be offered as Padded Flag this year and players will wear helmets and shoulder pads but NO TACKLING.
• Rookie Tackle for grades 5&6 and Tackle Football for grades 7&8 have an accelerated registration period. Due to the need to weigh in players, registrations will close earlier for these sports. So please sign up early! We will not be able to accept late registrations.

Registrations will close for all sports on July 7, 2024, so please register as soon as possible and before summer vacations as late registrations cannot be guaranteed.

In addition to fall sports registration, we will also be hosting a summer Volleyball Camp at SJJ!! The camp will be led by CYO Hall of Fame coach Karol Coundourides and her team of outstanding instructors. The camp will be held June 10th through June 12th.

• 9:00am - 11:00am for grades 2 through 4
• 11:30am - 1:30pm for grades 5 and 6
• 2:00pm - 4:00pm for grades 7 and 8

Please see the attached flyers for registration forms and medical release forms. Please print and complete the registration form and mail directly to Coach Karol. We can assist with any basic questions about the camp but all specific questions will be sent to coach Karol for reply.

Wishing you all a fantastic end to the school year and a blessed and safe summer!

~Craig Behm

Athletic Director

DARE will be providing our students and teachers in 5th and 8th grade with a Pizza Party on Monday, May 13 as an end-of-the-year celebration.

Students may also pack additional items to eat for lunch if desired. All 5th and 8th grade students wear their DARE shirt with uniform bottoms and shoes.

Friday, May 17 will be the last day of orchestra for this school year.

The Grade 4-8 grade orchestra concert takes place at Padua High School on Monday, May 13 at 7pm.

The young musicians sound amazing!

Next year we will be bringing back Saints Joseph and John's Student Council!

Saints Joseph and John’s Student Council consists of dedicated and enthusiastic students who work together to represent their peers, organize events, and promote a sense of belonging within our school. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop leadership skills, learn about responsibility, and have a voice in shaping our school's culture. Our Student Council takes on various responsibilities, including:

• Planning and organizing school events like spirit days, fundraisers, and dances.

• Initiating community service projects to give back to those in need.

• Representing the student body during meetings with school staff and administration

• Encouraging school spirit and unity among students.

Our supportive advisors, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Puliafico and Mr. Beck , will be there to guide and mentor the students throughout their Student Council journey. They provide valuable insights, encouragement, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to shine.

Elections for the executive board, consisting of incoming seventh and eighth-grade candidates, will take place on May 28. The candidates will give a short speech to the student body. After, grades 3 - 7 will elect the Executive Board. In the fall we will have elections for class representatives for grades 4 - 8.

For more information on Student Council, please contact our Student Council Advisors

6th Grade: Mars Colony STEAM Project

Our 6th graders have been tasked with designing a human habitat on Mars that prioritizes both physical health and emotional well-being of the community, by focusing on major components such as food, energy, transportation, entertainment, and government. Students are collaborating in groups and developing critical thinking skills to address the challenges of creating a sustainable living environment on Mars.

7th Grade: Solar Cooker STEAM Project

Students in 7th grade are exploring solar energy by designing and constructing efficient solar cookers capable of melting chocolate to make s'mores. Through hands-on experimentation and problem-solving, students are learning to harness the power of the sun, demonstrating how renewable energy can be utilized in everyday life. Needless to say, students are very much looking forward to testing their projects and eating a delicious s’more treat!

8th Grade: Bee Pollinator Hotel STEAM Project

The 8th graders were challenged to design and build a small-scale bee pollinator hotel that effectively supports local bee populations. Students researched bee needs, behavior, and the pollination process in order to create a functioning habitat. Throughout this project, students gained a deeper understanding of how to contribute positively to local ecosystems while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.

We will say goodbye to Ms. Jane Kopy (6-8 grade STEAM teacher) at the end of the school year. Ms. Kopy is leaving SJJ to pursue another opportunity.

We will also bid farewell to Mr. Joe Clark, marketing and enrollment coordinator. Mr. Clark will also be embarking upon new paths at the end of the current school year.

We are grateful for their dedication, work and service to SJJ. May God Bless Ms. Kopy and Mr. Clark with much success and happiness in the future!

Just like a blink, the Little Vikings have come to the end of their school year. Today, our P3 finished the year with a class beach party. Too bad, Mother Nature let us down. We took advantage of the warm, dry weather in McGraw Hall and made the best of it. Enjoy your summer P3's. We look forward to welcoming you back as 4's in September!

Tomorrow our P4's will graduate from Little Vikings Preschool. They have been practicing for graduation since we returned from Spring Break. Graduation is so bittersweet. We are so proud of how much the 4's have learned and how much they have grown while in their P4 classes. They will be missed dearly by all their teachers. Be proud, brave, prayerful, and hopeful, Little Vikings, as your adventures continue!

The last day to purchase birthday tickets for Snack Bar is Monday, May 13! In an effort to minimize waste, we will also use our remaining stock for Snack Bar for the last three weeks of the school year.

Please note that some items may not be available during this time. We appreciate your understanding as we prepare for summer break!

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Mrs. Gyruko at sgyurko@sjjschool.org.

St. John Neumann Vacation Bible School 2024 | July 22-26 | 9am to noon!

VBS is for children entering Preschool through 6th grade.

Our summer program, held in the mornings for one week, invites students entering Preschool through 6th grade (Fall 2024) to a fun, faith-filled, and lively experience. Join us for engaging faith lessons, high energy games, Bible stories, fun crafts, lively music, yummy snacks, and so much more!

For more details and to register, see https://sjnohio.com/vacation-bible-school/

**REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2024,BUT ACT NOW – WE MAXED OUT MANY GRADES LAST YEAR!**

7th and 8th graders (and up) : You can volunteer for VBS!

We need dedicated young people to help the younger grades with crafts, outdoor activities, and more.

Students may use service hours for any club/school/sacrament prep requirements: Minimum of 20 hours!

See below for the link to sign up to help us bring our young people closer to Christ.

All volunteers aged 18 and older must be Virtus-trained.

https://sjnohio.com/vbsvolunteer/

Questions? Please email Kelly Sheredy at kelly@sjnohio.com.

See below for details about the special programming offered during VBS for Preschoolers and for 5th & 6th graders to meet them where they are!

For Preschoolers: CGS @ VBS

We’re so happy to offer VBS to a younger set of children! They will participate in the same Games, Crafts, Music, and Snacks as the older grades, but will be welcomed into our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Atrium for faith formation instead of the regular VBS classes. Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a hands-on faith formation experience like none other, and we know your children will love entering the Atrium room for some very special prayer work. Preschool ages are 3-5, not yet entering Kindergarten (Kindergarteners join regular VBS!). Must be potty-trained, or parents must be on site.

For 5th & 6th Graders: VBS with a Twist

We always want to offer content that engages our youth at their level, so our older children in this transitional stage between elementary and middle grades will experience an amped up version of VBS made just for them! They will have more in-depth Bible study during their faith lessons, a service project or two (including helping some of our younger VBSers one-on-one with their crafts!), opportunity for deeper prayer, plus fun team building and leadership activities – all fitting neatly within the VBS framework.

Get ready to explore God’s Kingdom with your friends at St. Joseph Church and Mrs. Debbie Kazimir during our VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL on June 25-June 27.

Children entering grades K-6 are invited to register for VBS at www.sjohio.org/rock.

Register early to avoid the waiting list!

With God as our anchor, our three-day adventure begins at 9:00am with

prayer, Bible activities, games, crafts, gym time and snack. Parents are asked to join us at noon

for closing activities.

Students entering grades 7-12 may assist as group leaders.

Email lzvoncheck@sjohio.org for more information.

According to the school handbook, the optional school uniform consists of the following:

Girls K-4

Navy (flat, pleated, plain shorts) Walking Shorts with the SB label must be purchased through SchoolBelles and worn with a black, brown, or navy leather belt. Students may wear tennis shoes with walking shorts. *Kindergarten students are exempt from wearing belts.

Boys K-4

Navy (flat, pleated, plain shorts) Walking Shorts with the SB label must be purchased through SchoolBelles and worn with a black, brown, or navy leather belt. Students may wear tennis shoes with walking shorts. *Kindergarten students are exempt from wearing belts.

Girls 5-8

Shorts Khaki (flat, pleated, plain shorts) Walking Shorts with the SB label must be purchased through SchoolBelles and worn with a black, brown, or navy leather belt. Students may wear tennis shoes with walking shorts.

Boys 5-8

Shorts Khaki (flat, pleated, plain shorts) Walking Shorts with the SB label must be purchased through SchoolBelles and worn with a black, brown, or navy leather belt. Students may wear tennis shoes with walking shorts

**Girl's shorts must be an appropriate length and they are not to be tight fitting. Boy’s shorts must not be longer than the knees.

**Girl's skirts must land at the knee. Skirts not at the knee must be paired with black leggings or tights.

***The administration reserves the right to deem what is inappropriate

As always, thank you for your cooperation!

MORNING

7:15 am- Building opens and students may enter the building to report directly to McGraw Hall.

Car drop-offs may not occur prior to 7:15 am.

7:45 am- Tardy Bell Rings.
Students not in their seats and ready to learn at 7:45 am are marked tardy.

Please do not drop children off at the Main Entrance during morning drop off. All cars must go through the car line for everyone's safety, as there is heavy bus traffic along the drive between the church and school.

Shelly Schenek, Principal

sschenek@sjjschool.org

Jennifer Francis, Assistant Principal

jfrancis@sjjschool.org

Angela Bosko, Little Vikings Preschool Director

abosko@sjjschool.org

Patricia Briggs, Business Manager

pbriggs@sjjschool.org

Joe Clark, Admissions and Marketing Coordinator

jclark@sjjschool.org

Fr. Barry Gearing, President

FrBarry@sjnohio.com

Fr. Andy Gonzalez, Treasurer

agonzalez@sjohio.org

Saints Joseph and John School lives the values and teachings of our Catholic faith, serves as Jesus served and encourages lifelong learning.