December 4, 2023
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Advent Week 1 – HOPE
“Be watchful! Be alert!” (Mark 13:33)
For those who believe, the Lord whose coming we prepare to celebrate is no stranger. Our hope is in the thought and promise of heaven. There is no need for stress to constantly be on guard as it might be perceived in Sunday’s Gospel. Waiting for the “Master’s return” is filled with a good anticipation. It is hopeful and joyful.
If we are faithful in this life and love God and our neighbor, then we are doing the right thing as followers of Christ. When the time comes, we will be united with Him for all eternity. How wonderful!
God protects what his hand has planted,
Ms. Danielle Gonzalez
THIS WEEK:
Friday ,December 8
- 9:00 AM Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Saturday, December 9
- 10 AM – 12 PM TREP$ Marketplace in Auditorium
*Shoppers, please bring small change and your own shopping bag 🙂
NEXT WEEK:
* SANTA SALE will be set up for students to go Christmas shopping.
* Special Christmas Theme Day will be held to prepare for Christmas! Read carefully, they are scattered throughout the next two weeks.)
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!
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 🙂
Week of December 18:
Monday, December 18
- Theme Day: Christmas Sweater Day (Ugly or Beautiful)
Tuesday, December 19
- Theme Day: Spirit of Christmas ~ 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.
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 is at 9 AM.)
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- 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
- Early Dismissal
- 9:00 AM Mass for Kindergarten through Grade 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
During Advent, we are inviting students, faculty and staff to participate in the parish Christmas Giving Tree to benefit those in need in our area during the holiday season.
This year, more than ever, our help is needed.
We have two ways to participate this year.
The Online Giving Tree is available, if you would like to make a donation to benefit one of the organizations we are supporting, please read through the giving opportunities, and check off where you would like to contribute from our Parish website by Clicking Here. If you would rather not complete the donation online, call the Molloy Center (973-779-6200) for information on how to complete your donation.
In addition, the In-Person Giving Tree is available. For your convenience, a SignUp Genius was created.
Please click on the link if you would like to participate.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D49AEAF2FA5FB6-46408738-catholic
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.
Whichever way you can, we invite you to take this opportunity to help brighten Christmas a little more for individuals in our area. Even in this challenging year, let us continue to give thanks for our blessings, by sharing them with others.
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.
