Weekly Parent Letter December 11, 2023

December 11, 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Advent Week 2 – PEACE

“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem…” (Isaiah 40:1-2)

The second week of Advent brings with it a theme of peace.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Coming into the world as man, His time in the human form was limited on earth.  However, His message about the coming of His Father’s Kingdom is a permanent and everlasting Kingdom of peace.  This Kingdom we also refer to as heaven.  Although peace on earth may seem impossible, we do have the power to accept peace in our hearts. We have the power to create moments in which we will have a glimpse of heaven on earth. Sewn together each moment at a time, more and more, we become closer to Jesus and closer to heaven.  Keep the hope from week one alive, create moments of peace, and continue your journey to the heavenly Jerusalem – heaven.

Knowing He leads with care,

Ms. Danielle Gonzalez

THIS WEEK:

* SANTA SALE will be set up for students to go Christmas shopping.

* Special Christmas Theme Days will be held to prepare for Christmas! Read carefully, they are scattered throughout the next two weeks.)

* NEW – Students can participate in the Student Council Christmas Fundraiser to help support one of the missions in the Diocese. Bring in $2 Monday through Wednesday (12/11-12/13) and sign the ornament in the hallway.  Feel free to donate more!

Monday, December 11 

• THEME Day: Christmas Warmth ~ Bring in a can of soup that we will donate to a local shelter/food pantry.
• Penance Service for Grades 3-8

Tuesday, December 12 

• THEME Day: Christmas Socks Day ~ Wear festive Christmas socks! 

(Students dress in regular uniforms, even if they wear Christmas socks.)

Friday, December 15 – SPPS Spirit Wear Day

• PS5 Raffle winner will be announced during Morning Assembly! Thank you to all who participated in our 8th grade fundraiser 🙂

NEXT WEEK:

Monday, December 18 

• Theme Day: Christmas Sweater Day (Ugly or Beautiful)

(Students can dress down if they wear a Christmas sweater.)

Tuesday, December 19 

• • Theme Day: Spirit of Christmas ~ wear a Santa Hat
    • Students in Grades PreK3 through Grade 3 should come dressed for the Christmas Show.  Attire for the show is shared by the classroom teacher.

• Students in Grades 4-8 dress in regular uniforms, even if they wear a Santa Hat.

Christmas Show (Full day of school for all grades PreK3 through Grade 8) 

• 9:30 AM PreK3, PreK4 and Kindergarten
• 10:30 AM Grades 1-3
• 7:00 PM Grades 4-8
  •  *Students should arrive at 6:30 & go to their Homeroom classrooms. 
  • 8th Grade will be selling concessions at the evening performance.

* Please note, the first two rows will be reserved and kept empty before the show starts.  Before each class performs, there will be an announcement. ONE family member will be permitted to move to one of these seats in the front rows in order to get close-up pictures!

* No tickets need to be purchased for the show.  Donations will be accepted as participants leave.  All money will go toward supporting the Performing Arts Program at St. Philip Preparatory School

* Should guests need to use a bathroom during the morning shows, they will be directed to the bathroom in the Church lobby.  School is in session and therefore, school bathrooms will not be available to guests.  Thank you for understanding.

NEW

• Doors open…
  • 15 minutes before the morning performances
  • 30 minutes before the night performance (6:30 PM)

Wednesday, December 20

• THEME Day: Grinch Day ~ wear Grinch-themed clothing or green

Thursday, December 21

• THEME Day: Dress DOWN in Christmas colors

Friday, December 22 

• THEME Day: Happy Birthday Jesus (Dress UP in Christmas colors – Mass for Grades K-8 at 9 AM.)

• • 9:00 AM Mass for Kindergarten through Grade 8. 
    • Early Dismissal
      • 11:30 AM PreK3
      • 11:45 AM PreK4
      • 12:00 PM Grades K-8
• Christmas Break starts at Dismissal – NO Aftercare today.

School resumes on Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 

to you and your families!!!

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

The GIVING TREE

If you signed up for the Giving Tree through Sign Up Genius, be sure to bring purchased gifts to the school office labeled with the child’s number (ex. #12Y or #35T) and your name (the name you used to sign up with) no later than Monday, December 11, 2023.

REMINDERS:

VIRTUS – SAFE ENVIRONMENT

This applies to ALL parent and guardian volunteers who have completed the Virtus training!!!

Beginning 1-1-2024, the safe environment policy will now require online retraining every five years. To start, all active VIRTUS accounts who attended their initial training from 2003 to 2019 must complete their retraining online, and all will have until 7-1-2024 to do so.

*******Before 1-1-2024, it will be extremely important that you check all your active accounts and make sure they all have an email address on their account.******

VIRTUS will push out an email notification to all who are required to comply.

Online training is ONLY available for retraining. Online training is not an option for our initial training.

 WINTER WEAR

Please continue to ensure your children come to school with proper winter attire.  Students will go outside for recess and the playground (PreK and Kindergarten) if the “feel like” temperature is 32 degrees or higher.

LUNCH MONEY

A majority of families are using the online payschools system to apply money for lunch and snacks purchased in the cafeteria.  Thank you for your participation in this online system as it limits the cash flow in the school and keeps accounting manageable and easily accessible for documentation purposes.  If you have not already done so, you are encouraged to create an account at payschoolscentral.com.  

We are aware there may be reasons parents prefer to send and pay with cash.  Please note, starting Monday, December 4, 2023, cash will continue to be accepted, but it must be sent in an envelope labeled clearly with your child’s name and “LUNCH MONEY“. This includes students only purchasing snacks.  All envelopes must be submitted to the main office.  Cash will not be accepted at the time of purchase in the cafeteria by the lunch ladies.

Thank you for your cooperation.