Principal's Peek at the Week

“Hold fast to the hope that lies before us.” – Hebrews 6:18

Joy to the World: This Sunday (Gaudete Sunday), includes lighting a third (pink) candle that is a symbol of joy. This third Sunday of Advent we read, pray, and reflect on the joy that God’s plan gives us and on the promise of Christ’s glory-filled return!

Joy at SJJ: On Wednesday, our students will begin their Christmas break by celebrating with our Polar Express Day. Because of fundraising success during We Give Catholic 2023, students, faculty, and staff will celebrate by wearing pajamas, drinking hot chocolate, and having Christmas cookies. Please remember that Wednesday is an early dismissal day and there is no Viking Cove Aftercare that day.

Enrollment Season: We are nearing the end of our priority enrollment period for our Little Vikings Preschool and PreKindergarten. Current Little Vikings families, parishioners of St. Joseph and St. John Neumann, or those who attended the fall open house are all able to apply at a priority rate until December 31. On January 3, open enrollment for the Little Vikings Program will begin, along with re-enrollment/priority enrollment for grades K-8 for the 2024-2025 school year. More information on K-8 enrollment including the 2024-2025 tuition and fee schedule will be emailed to all families before Christmas break. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admissions.

Be an Angel in 2023: Donations to the Angel Scholarship Fund (ASF) helped make it possible for our parishes and schools to raise more than $4.5 million in 2022, and for a growing number of families to receive tuition assistance for their children to attend a high quality Catholic school, like Saints Joseph and John School.

As we approach the end of the 2023 calendar year, our hope and prayer is for the number of ASF

supporters to grow so that we may achieve even greater success. Please consider making an ASF donation by December 31, 2023 so your donation will be available to award to SJJ students in the 2024-2025 school year. Eligible donors receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit, and SJJ students could then get scholarships toward tuition that EdChoice may not cover.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2024: We are thankful for the upcoming break to enjoy time with our families and friends. It is our hope that our students have time to rest and to rejuvenate after working diligently this first half of the school year.

Peek at the Week will be back on January 9, 2024!

Advent blessings,

Mrs. Schenek

Holiday Eats and Treats! Honey Baked Ham and Coffee Cake Sale

PTU is selling Honey Baked Ham Gift Cards that you can give as gifts or use for your holiday meals! SJJ PTU gets 20% back on any purchases through our fundraising site. Find it here à https://www.honeybaked.com/fundraising/st_joseph_and_john_ptu?fbclid=IwAR3muJNq1ssZlprWFOlx0Qw_QX-s6jZtVuEtfpPozKXbTI3gf9GXmSOghAY

Also for your holiday planning, we have just 5 My Grandma’s Coffee Cakes to sell! Please help us meet our goal! The cakes will be available for pick up at school on December 19th. We have a limited supply so get yours now! https://sjj-ptu-my-grandma-s-coffee-cake-sale-copy.cheddarup.com

PTU EXECUTIVE BOARD:

• Co-Presidents- Natalie Pratt, Roxanne Yurcik
• Treasurer- Tina Dzik
• Secretary- Laura LaNasa
• VP of Operations- Krista Klefos
• VP of Marketing- Julie Lytle
• VP of Fundraising- Kristina Arch

To reach our PTU team please email stsjjptu@gmail.com

Nachos will not be available on Friday. They will return in the New Year.

We also would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from your SJJ Viking Cafe staff.

Children ages 3-7 are invited to Jesus' Birthday Party on Sunday, December 17th from 2:30-4:00pm in the Holy Family Center. We will gather with the teens and adult volunteers for games, songs, snacks, stories, and prayer!

Let us know you are coming by signing up online at www.sjohio.org/clow. Please bring a present for Jesus in the form of a donation (cereal or baby products) for the food bank.

As we prepare for the 3rd week of Advent we realize we are more than halfway to Baby Jesus' Birthday! We are looking forward to lighting the pink candle at Mass this weekend. We had a full week beginning with Ornament Day last Sunday with our families. Library begins with Ll and we had Mr. Protiva from the Strongsville Library come and share some books, songs and jokes with us. He also provided us with info about items that could be checked out and the Library's New Year at Noon celebration that all are invited to for some New Year's celebration fun!

Daisy Girl Scout Troop 70501 made up of our SJJ 1st graders helped make no sew blankets last weekend that will be dropped off at Laura's Home Women's Crisis Center. Congratulations to our Daisy Girl Scout Troop for making a positive difference for those in need!

Sixth-grade Cadette Girl Scouts Lila H. and Ella P. and have been hard at work organizing and then collecting donations for the St. Augustine Food Cupboard. They have collected quite the assortment of items that will surely put to good use for those in need! We are so proud of the kind and giving hearts our students have!

MORNING

7:15 am- Building opens and students may enter the building to report directly to McGraw Hall.

Car drop-offs may not occur prior to 7:15am.

7:45 am- Tardy Bell Rings.
Students not in their seats and ready to learn at 7:45 am are marked tardy.

Dress down days include themed tops or special colors for holidays or other special events, SJJ spirit wear and uniform bottoms and shoes. Occasionally, other school appropriate bottoms (jeans with no rips or tears, athletic pants or leggings) may be permitted, but that will be specifically stated for the specific dress down day.

Shelly Schenek, Principal

sschenek@sjjschool.org

Jennifer Francis, Assistant Principal

jfrancis@sjjschool.org

Angela Bosko, Little Vikings Preschool Director

abosko@sjjschool.org

Patricia Briggs, Business Manager

pbriggs@sjjschool.org

Joe Clark, Admissions and Marketing Coordinator

jclark@sjjschool.org

Fr. Barry Gearing, Treasurer

FrBarry@sjnohio.com

Fr. Joe Mamich, President

jmamich@sjohio.org

Saints Joseph and John School lives the values and teachings of our Catholic faith, serves as Jesus served and encourages lifelong learning.