Principals' Peek at the Week

As the Lenten Season is underway, we know that we are called as Catholics to begin acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. As a school community this year, we will fill this holy season with many different types of prayer opportunities. One way is our Lenten Prayer Cross which has been placed in the main lobby. If you visit us over these next weeks, please stop and write an intention on one of the small green pieces of paper and drop it in the basket at the foot of the cross. We will pray together throughout the season of Lent for all of the intentions that have been left for God to hear.

We are looking forward to this Holy season together. May this time bring a new awareness of God’s call to each one of us!

In Christ,

Mrs. Schenek and Mrs. Francis

Be sure to check out "The Church at Home" quick guides for the upcoming Lenten season. The guides include worship, prayer, and faith-based activities that are easy to do with your family from the comfort of your home.

Lenten Devotions for the Home

Don't forget that tomorrow is Spirit Wear Day! Students are welcome to wear their SJJ Spirit Wear tops with uniform bottoms and shoes. It’s always a fun way to show school pride while staying within dress code.

Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to participate in the Padua Art Show.

K - Vinny M.

1 - Nicholas F. & Hattie G.

2 - Caleb S. & Reina S.

3 - Madisyn S.

4 - Lily S.

5 - Lillian W. & Drew L.

6 - Elle S.

7 - Madison N. & Drew B.

8 - Maeve G. & Sophia N.

Join us this Sunday at St. John Neumann Church as our kindergarteners and first graders are featured in celebrating Family Mass at 11:00 AM. This special Mass is a wonderful way to bring the school and parish together, strengthening our shared faith and community.

As this will be our final Family Mass of the year, we encourage all families to join us in support of our young students and to celebrate the connection between the SJJ and the parish communities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

First graders did an “eggs-periment ” on how sugary sodas affect your teeth. They sorted pictures of healthy options for our teeth. Then, students took turns brushing our eggs clean!

Our fourth graders completed an excavation site and then dug into it to find artifacts!

Our fifth graders spent time in the Science Lab building with wooden planks creating contraptions. The fifth grade Kindness Club had a great tiume playing BINGO with residents at Generations Senior Center!

The sixth graders had a fabulous time last Thursday on their field trip to the Cleveland Museum of Art! The kids had a chance to explore the galleries, check out interactive exhibits, learn from a tour guide, and participate in various activities. Thanks so much to the chaperones for helping out.

Our Chess Club finished up their season with their chess tournament. Congratulations to the winners!

Rory M.
George D.
Christina K.
Benjamin P.
Owen H.

The Experienced Sewing Club members made additional bandanas for ARF. Some of the girls have been sewing for 6 years!

Preschool celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss with some silly reading, rhymes and dress up this week!

Our P4/PreK also celebrated the beginning of Lent with a visit from Fr. Andy to receive ashes. We will spend the season of Advent preparing our hearts for Holy Week and trying to live each day as Jesus taught us.

Please consider donating teacher snacks for upcoming Conferences - Link:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508084DA5AB22A7FA7-55429490-snacks

Thank you to everyone that came out and supported our Culver’s Restaurant Night last week! We also appreciate the students and parents that worked the event. The PTU profited $515! A big THANKS to Jenny Horval for organizing and staffing this event!

February 20-March 20 our Malley’s Easter Candy and Chocolate Sale is now LIVE! Check out the attached flyer for more details! Our unique link will automatically track sales so SJJ receives credit. Ordering link for SJJ families: https://app.fundraiseit.org/shop.php?code=2656FE

We’re looking forward to our 2025 Vacation Bible School (VBS), which will take place the week of June 16! VBS is a fun and faith-filled experience for students entering grades K-4. At VBS children learn more about their faith and meet new friends. We need adult volunteers to run the games, crafts, science, and Bible stories stations. Please consider joining our adult team as a VBS coordinator, teacher, or activities leader, and email Linda Zvoncheck at lzvoncheck@sjohio.org if you are interested. Adults are needed to make this event a success! Thank you!

We have received many inquiries about the Angel Fund. This is a direct, dollar for dollar tax credit against your state tax liability.

For individual returns, your maximum credit is $750 and for couples filing jointly, your maximum credit is $1,500.

Simply put, if you are going to owe the state taxes, please contribute to the Angel Fund. You have until April 15th, 2025 to contribute to the Angel Fund in order to receive the credit against your 2024 tax return.

Would you rather your tax money go to the state or to our school?

It’s that simple. Below are the steps:

1. Click here: Donate to Angel Scholarship Fund | Catholic Community Foundation | Cleveland, OH
2. Be sure to designate Ss. Joseph & John School for the "Gift Designation" on the drop down menu. This step ensures the donations to go to directly to our students.
3. Fill in the following (if your Parish is St. Joseph, select: St. Joseph – Strongsville - #289 or St. John Neumann- Strongsville- #354)
4. Fill out payment information and submit.
5. Print/Save your receipt.

Please see below regarding the proper names, colors, font, and logos for Saints Joseph and John School. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Cimino at vcimino@sjjschool.org.

The Saint Ignatius Harlequins present Shrek the Musical

April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12

in the Hummer Theater of the Breen Center for the Performing Arts

at Saint Ignatius High School

This production's cast, crew, and pit are made up of very talented, hard working, fun, and imaginative students from Saint Ignatius High School, Beaumont School, Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, Lakewood Catholic Academy, Magnificat High School, Padua Franciscan High School, Saint Joseph Academy, Walsh Jesuit High School, and The Welsh Academy. Our students are supported by director Amanda Martin, music director David Croglio, and a gifted team of technical theater mentors.

We hope that our creative arts friends from area grade schools will come to see the show and that your current students will one day be performing, designing, stage managing, playing in the pit, and constructing with the Harlequins.

Tickets can be reserved and purchased at https://www.ignatius.edu/shrek. Grade school and middle school students may receive a one-dollar discount with the promotional code (not passcode) gradeschool at checkout. Our event website has a note to parents and guardians about some crude humor in the show.

There is a special ticket package that can be purchased for April 6. Purchase tickets with + ICE CREAM SOCIAL IN THE SWAMP to meet your favorite characters from Shrek following the 1pm performance.

Messages of support and ads to be published in the playbill can be purchased here for the next couple of weeks.

We hope to see you in April!

Shelly Schenek, Principal~ Lower School

sschenek@sjjschool.org

Jennifer Francis, Principal~ Upper School

jfrancis@sjjschool.org

Angela Bosko, Little Vikings Preschool Director

abosko@sjjschool.org

Patty Briggs, Business Manager

pbriggs@sjjschool.org

Victoria Cimino, Director of Marketing and Enrollment

vcimino@sjjschool.org

Fr. Barry Gearing, President

FrBarry@sjnohio.com

Fr. Andy Gonzalez, Treasurer

agonzalez@sjohio.org