6 March Letter from Mr. Kelly
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Dear SJS Catholic School Community,
I should thank you, parents and supporters, more often for all you do for SJS. I know Catholic education can be difficult financially, and thus a sacrifice. But, I also know that what we are doing at SJS is special and essential. We are combining Catholic ideals with high academic expectations. We are creating the future leaders of our Church and community. We can teach the students academic skills and also what God wants us to do. So thank you to all our parents and all supporters of SJS for all you do. We have had several new families sign up for next year. Thanks for your help in spreading the word.
We hope your Lenten journey is one of spiritual renewal. At school, the Church seasons and the opportunities they provide are truly a blessing. The teachers have enjoyed this Lenten season as a way to remind students of their Catholic obligations and history, and what Jesus has done for us all. This encounter with Jesus brings new hope and an invitation to repent. Hope is also one of our blessings.
The 3rd quarter ends on Tuesday. It’s exciting to progress into the last quarter of the year. You can use the 3rd quarter grades as a foundation for some goals for your student. We encourage the students to create academic goals (centered on grades and academic performance), but also goals for behavior, and even spiritual goals. This could be an interesting conversation with your students as you help them create 4th quarter goals in the three areas. And if you have questions or concerns it is always best to communicate first with our fine teachers. They are always interested and willing to help.
Congratulations to our K-2nd grade students on an outstanding Music Program last night. Singing, dancing, and fun! There is so much work that goes into a production like that–so much time and effort. Thank you to our K-2 teachers for their flexibility and support. And a big thanks to Ms. Pohlmann for all the work and coordination. We all appreciate the great pride put into the programs. These programs are evidence that we are providing a well-rounded and balanced education for our students.
Don’t forget to get your school registration materials turned in please. Preschool and Prek in particular are filling up quickly. If you have any issues and would like to visit with me, feel free to call. We are in the process of planning for materials and staffing for next school year. Your registration is an important part—to be honest, the most important part –of that process. So we strongly encourage all registrations to be in as soon as possible.
One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is an understanding of the value of respect. As adults when we look back at our most powerful good role models, those that show respect stand out. Too often we hear stories of people who do not show respect for others. Certainly Jesus provides the most powerful model of respect for us. We can recall countless stories from the Bible of Jesus demonstrating respect both for himself and all others. The sinner, the leper, the poor—all were treated with complete respect by Jesus. The best way to teach a student to respect is by modeling it. Educators are keenly aware that every word and action is observed by your child. So it is important that we objectively view our own behavior to ensure it provides the kind of example we wish to set. Thanks for all you do.
Peace,
William Kelly
Principal
