April 24 Letter from Mr. Kelly
Dear SJS Catholic School Community,
We have made it past Easter break and are on our way to May! Even in these strange days it’s still exciting to make such progress. This is the time of year when students and teachers (and principals) get excited for summer, thus attention and effort can be a challenge. But, we continue to learn new concepts and skills so we can prepare for next school year. Some schools and districts have decided to cut the school year short, that will not be the case at SJS. Class time is important, we want to cover as much as possible, our teachers want to continue to instruct and review. And this current schooling situation has made time focused on school even more important. We thank you for all that you are doing to help the students to be successful. We know this situation is a challenge for parents and families. I encourage you to keep up the positivity and energy. We all know this is far from ideal, so a positive approach helps all involved. Perhaps at the end of this school closure one bright side will be that teachers will have a renewed respect for the work of our parents, and our parents will have a deeper appreciation for the hard work of our teachers.
We know this 4th quarter has been particularly challenging for the 8th graders. The 4th quarter of 8th grade should be a time of memory making and fun with friends. And this is a great group of students– hard-working and fun. Their last quarter should have been more enjoyable than this. Our intention is to have an in-person graduation and Confirmation as soon as the regulations grant us the ability to do so. In the meantime we will post an awards ceremony online as well as a teacher message video out in May. We are investigating other options for commemorating the end of the year. But, to this nice group of kids, we sincerely wish this quarter was different, but are confident you will make us proud as you move on to high school.
In May we will arrange for a time for parents to come in and pick up the student belongings after the staff has bagged them up. More on that to come. But, we really do not want parents walking through the building to gather items from desks or lockers. We still have staff working and want to keep the school as clean and safe as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
We celebrated Administrative Professionals Day on April 22nd. Every day I feel fortunate to work with our outstanding school secretaries, Ruth Franson and Sue Doll. Their enthusiasm, organization, compassion, and kindness make our school a welcoming place. There is much that they do everyday that is vital for our school to run smoothly. To put all that Ruth and Sue do for the school on a job description would be nearly impossible–there is simply so much. They help everyone here at SJS–coaches, parents, students, and teachers—and all with a smile. If you get a chance please thank Ruth and Sue for her hard work with a call, note, or email.
Just a reminder to get your registration materials turned in. If you have any issues and would like to visit, feel free to contact me. You can also email your parent participation hours to, parentparticipation@
Peace,
