SJRCS Wildcat Newsletter
June 6, 2024
Letter from the Principal
Dear SJRCS Families,
It is hard to believe this is the last newsletter as we end the 2023-2024 school year. We have many things to be thankful for.
On Tuesday, we graduated fifty-three 8th-grade students who are now looking forward to their high school experience. The Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation exercises culminated in a week of celebrations for the Class of 2024—their retreat, semi-formal dance, picnic, students vs. teachers/parents kickball game, and receiving their yearbooks. Beautiful sentiments were shared as the students recalled their elementary school days.
The Distinguished Graduate Award was presented to Mr. Michael Gruss, Class of 2010 during the Baccalaureate Mass. Michael excelled in sports and academics, earning Finance and Operational Excellence Management degrees. He works as a Lean Manager at Turner Construction Company and authored a book aimed at empowering young professionals with financial knowledge.
Congratulations also go to Sofia Evan who received the Catholic Girl Award by Mrs. Jeanne Willett from the Catholic Daughters of America. Steven Guilday received the Catholic Boy Award, bestowed by Mr. Lee Ericksen of the Knights of Columbus, and Keira Roberts received the School Spirit Award.
So many wonderful events during the school year were planned by our H.S.A. The executive committee worked tirelessly to benefit our families, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our officers, Zobeida Albano, Kelsey Rauh, Ariana Andrews, Jenny Kline, and Maria Gonzalez for all of their hard work and dedication over the past few years.
We are also bidding farewell to some members of our community. Reflecting on the sentiment echoed by St. Paul, "We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance in hope of our Lord," we express gratitude for the contributions of those moving on to new chapters.
Firstly, we extend our appreciation to Mrs. Weeks and Mrs. Dabulskis for their service to our students, and we extend our wishes for success and fulfillment in their future endeavors.
A bittersweet farewell is also in order for Mr. Randy Lapcevich as he embarks on his new role as Director of Operations at St. Ignatius. We will miss his presence and wish him the best in his new venture.
Additionally, we say farewell to Mrs. Jaqueline Sindall, Ms. Casey Davis, and Mr. Gino Tomasello as they explore new opportunities. Their contributions have enriched our school community, and we thank them for their dedication and service.
As we say goodbye to these team members, we hold them in our thoughts and prayers and remain hopeful for the bright futures that await them.
For our student families who will be relocating out of our region, we want to thank you for being a part of our community and wish you continued academic success.
Last but certainly not least, I would like to thank all of the parent volunteers who have helped to make this such a great year! I also want to thank the faculty and staff for their continued support of our mission.
We hope everyone has a great summer, and we look forward to seeing everyone back at school on August 26th.
Have a safe and refreshing summer!
With Grace and Peace,
Mrs. Kim Hanner
Principal
Reminder About Polo Shirts for '24-'25 School Year
Please note that the white polo shirt will not be part of the SJRCS uniform next school year. Blue will be the only acceptable polo shirt color for the '24-'25 school year. All blue polos must be purchased through FlynnO'Hara and must have the St. John logo embroidered on them. Blue polo shirts without the St. John logo are not permitted.
Summer Reading
Summer Reading is strongly recommended. Summer reading lists and assignments will be posted on the SJRCS website by Friday, June 14th.
During the summer, many students believe learning should come to a halt. However, if they don't read books during this time, they are at risk of losing the progress they made throughout the year. Often referred to as summer reading loss or summer setback, research has indicated that students can lose up to three months’ worth of their reading skills if they don't read over the summer. According to Megan Kuhfeld and Andrew McEachin from NWEA MAP Testing, this loss can accumulate over time and lead to significant deficits by the time a child finishes elementary school.
To prevent this from happening, it is recommended that all students engage in summer reading.
While this year we will not be using the math workbooks we used last year, students are expected to keep up to date with their math skills over the summer. Current students with IXL accounts should log in regularly throughout the summer to practice their skills. Please be sure your student knows his/her username and password. Incoming students who do not have IXL accounts yet are encouraged to continue practicing math skills appropriate to their current grade level. KhanAcademy.org is a great resource for those looking to keep up with their math skills.
**Please keep an eye out for the '24-'25 school year supply list**
'24-'25 Wildcat Aftercare Registration
Summer Office Hours
Athletics Survey & Volunteers for '24-'25 School Year
The SJRCS Athletics Board wants to thank our school community for a successful 2023-2024 school year! As we begin to plan for next year, we are seeking your feedback! Please share your feedback anonymously through THIS GOOGLE FORM. We are also seeking volunteers for the 2024-2025 school year. Please use THIS GOOGLE FORM to share your interest.
We also want to share a new opportunity we will be presenting for our student athletes to get together over the summer. We will be hosting summer pickup games for lacrosse and soccer at the SJRCS field in July and August. Please see the photo above for information. Click on the photo to be taken to the registration form.
Go Wildcats!
Summer Help Wanted
If you know of a recent High School graduate or a College student looking for summer work, seek no further than working with Mr. Burrier and Mr. Leslie during the summer preparing SJRCS for the upcoming school year.
Position: Facilities Summer Assistant
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Starting June 10 - August 23, 2024
Location: St John Regional Catholic School
Job Description:
We are seeking a reliable and proactive Facilities Summer Assistant to join our team. This position offers an opportunity to gain valuable experience in facilities management while contributing to the smooth operation of our organization.
Responsibilities:
Perform basic repairs and maintenance tasks as directed by the Facilities Manager.
Assist with moving furniture and equipment as needed for events, reconfigurations, or office updates.
Conduct facilities cleanup to ensure a safe and organized environment.
Support ongoing maintenance projects to uphold the functionality and appearance of our facilities.
Requirements:
Ability to lift and carry heavy objects.
Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn.
Good communication skills and a positive attitude.
How to Apply:
If you are enthusiastic about contributing to a dynamic team and gaining practical skills in facilities management, we encourage you to apply. Fingerprinting and a background check are required. Please contact Mrs. Albano for the application at 301-662-6722 or zalbano@sjrcs.org.
H.S.A. News & Information
SJRCS Families,
The Spring Fair at Urban Air Frederick was a success! Thank you to all who attended and a special shout out to Urban Air for hosting us.
Thank you so much for an incredible school year. We loved making memories with all of you and can't wait to see you again in the fall!
Have a blessed, safe and fun summer,
The HSA Board
If you have any questions over the summer, feel free to reach out to the HSA Board at hsasjrcs@gmail.com.
Summer Garden Committee Help
If you are interested in helping clean up the SJRCS grounds for the summer, AND getting tuition credits, you are in luck! The Garden Committee will be meeting THIS Saturday, June 8th from 9-11. Please sign up here to volunteer with the Garden Committee in June or for any future dates. Forgot to sign-up using the Sign-Up Genius? No Problem! You can still come out and join us . No green thumbs or tools required, but if you have any general gardening tools or gardening gloves, those are always good supplies to bring with you. Please contact Megan Jones at mevirtue1204@msn.com with any questions about the clean-up dates or in the event of inclement weather.
Financial Aid Deadlines
06/30/2024 - St John Regional Catholic School (SJRCS) - Grant & Aid Application and 2021 Taxes/All Supporting Documents Uploaded
IMPORTANT: You only need to apply once through FACTS Grant & Aid to be considered for tuition assistance through the AOB, FOCE, FCPTAF and St. John Regional Catholic School.
Please Note: There is a FACTS Grant & Aid application fee of $35.00
Notable Dates for the 2024-2025 School Year
Please review PDF below for next year's calendar
Updated Parent/Student Handbook
As we progress through the year, new trends and fads (e.g., Hey Dude Shoes, Stanley Water Bottles, technology usage) have affected our need to update the Parent/Student Handbook. The latest version of the handbook is attached for your review.
Contact Us
Saint John Regional Catholic School
8414 Opposumtown Pike
Frederick, MD 21702
301-662-6722
“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Our Mission: The mission of St. John Regional Catholic School is to provide a Christ-centered environment and an exemplary education to each and every student within the framework of the Gospel and the traditions of the Catholic Church. The goal of our faith community is to develop future leaders for the 21st century through academic excellence, service to others, and a firm foundation of Christian virtues.
Parent Resources
You can find all of these links under the 'Parent' tab on the SJRCS website
Maryland School Safety 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.