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He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!
Welcome to the 2009 - 2010 school year. This year we have chosen as our theme “Connecting People to Jesus”. We pray that with God’s help we can be successful in achieving this goal.
School Calendar Now on Line: In an attempt to keep you as current with all the activities that take place during the school year. The calendar for the school year is now on-line and may be found at the following address: calendar.yahoo.com/stjohnhornets
Opening Day: On Wednesday, August 19, classes will begin at 8:10 A.M. for the 2009 - 10 academic year for students in Kindergarten through grade 8; the day will end at approximately 10:30 A.M. Buses will run. If you are uncertain as to where the nearest bus stop is, SWIBCO Bus Service should be able to give you that information (826-2323).
Opening Service/Open House: The opening service will take place Wednesday morning, August 19, at 8:15 during the regular chapel time. The Open House will take place that evening, August 19, from 6 – 8 pm. We will be grilling hamburgers and hot dogs and providing soda on the school playground beginning around 6. Stop by, pick up something to eat and then visit you child’s classroom or visit the room first and then stop by and pick up something to eat.
Fast Direct Information System: Again this year we will be using the Fast Direct School Information System. With this internet based system parents will be able to stay connected with the classroom progress of their children via a secure, on-line grade book. Also, we are in the process of providing you with the opportunity to view your tuition payments. Please check the first day packet for more information. Contact Lynn in the school office for you activation number.
Annual Fall Harvest Festival and Dinner Auction Number six is not too far away. It is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2009. Tickets will go on sale on August 15. We really hope our parents get behind this auction this year. You can do it by donating an item for the auction and purchasing a ticket to attend. You will be receiving, in the opening day envelope, tickets for our raffle this year. We hope that you will make every possible effort either to sell the tickets or purchase them yourself.
New Notification System: A new feature that we will have in effect shortly is MemberCaller, a voice messaging system to reach our school families in just minutes. This is an efficient way to send voice messages quickly to all families or only a select group such as sports team parents. This will be used for urgent information only such as weather-related early dismissal or school cancellations or last minute game cancellations. You will be learning more about this during the first few days of school.
Thursday’s Note: Once again, notes concerning school activities will be sent home on Thursdays. Please check your child’s book bag. You do not realize how many phone calls can be avoided if you do. Thursday notes can also be found on my website where they will be archived from week to week. (sjshornets.com). If you need notes to go home for an activity or event the deadline is the Wednesday before. Note day is a very hectic day in the office and last minute notes just make it that much more difficult.
Candy Sales: I have decided not to run the candy sale this year. I was disappointed with last year’s merchandise both in terms of amount for your dollar and the quality of the product. We will be doing a fund raiser but at this writing I am unsure of what it will be.
“Acceptable Use” Policy : A letter will be included in your first day packet that explains what we expect from our students in terms of computer/internet use while they are at school. Please make sure you are aware of the consequences that may arise if this policy is violated.
The letter also requests permission for/or the denial of your child’s picture in newsletter articles or website stories. Fill it out and return it as soon as possible.
Self-Administered Asthma Medication: In order for your child to be able to self-administer their asthma medication, they must complete the form included in the Spring packet and return the form to the school office. If you need a form, please contact the office. Both the physician’s section and the “Hold Harmless and Indemnity” must be completed and signed. These forms are effective for the current school year only, hence the need to fill them out again.
After School Care: If you are interested in the “after school care” (3:00 – 5:00 PM) program for your child(ren), please fill out the enclosed form and return it to the school along with $25. The $25 fee will cover the month of August. The cost for this service is $60 per month for students that attend regularly. This is payable at the beginning of each month starting September 1. The cost for children who attend only occasionally is $3.50 per day. This service is provided for students in Kindergarten through grade 6. Our Extended Care program begins on Thursday, August 20. The supervisor will be Mrs. Bobbie Sheffer.
Early Morning Bus Duty: Students are to go to the Parish Hall for bus duty in the early morning. Students who arrive at school before 7:50 A.M. are to be dropped off at the Parish Hall, not the school. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter. After 7:50 A.M. students nay enter the school directly. PLEASE NOTE – THE PARISH HALL WILL NOT BE UNLOCKED UNTIL 7:30 AM
Registration: If you have not registered your child (ren) for school this year, you will need to come into the school office as soon as possible to make sure that we have the necessary books and desks available for all of our students when school begins.
Home Visits: Teachers have been asked to schedule home visits for those families who wish to have them. If your child’s teacher has not made contact with you and you would like a visit please contact them at home or school.
Kindergarten: The first scheduled day of class will also be Wednesday, August 19, beginning at 8:10 A.M. and will dismiss at approximately 10:30 A.M.
Preschool: Preschool will begin on Thursday, August 20. The Three-year old program will begin at 8:15 – 11:15 and the Four-year old program from 11:00-2:45. PLEASE BE PROMPT IN PICKING UP YOUR CHILD. Preschoolers not picked up at dismissal time will be transferred to the early childhood room. Charges for this service will be an additional $5.00. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
School Improvement Early Dismissal Days: The public school system has scheduled 20 early dismissal, school improvement days for the 2009 – 10. Most are scheduled for Fridays at 1:30. However, seven are scheduled on Wednesdays at 12:10.
If we followed this schedule, we would fall short of the number of required school days and/or hours mandated by the state of Illinois for private/parochial schools. After discussions with the board and with Mrs. Robinson at St. Mary’s, we will not be dismissing early on any of the Wednesdays scheduled as school improvement days (12:10 pm) by the Chester school district. We all felt the classroom time was irreplaceable.
On those days, SWIBCO buses will run their normal routes in the morning but THEY WILL NOT PICK UP ST. JOHN STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL. PARENTS WILL HAVE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO PICK THEIR CHILDREN UP.
We will be following the grade school’s schedule for the 1:30 dismissals.
Students dismissing will be in grades Kindergarten through grade 8. Preschool and Extended Care will run their regular schedule.
The Wednesday school improvement days (the days we will have no afternoon bus service) for the 2009 – 2010 school year are: 9/23, 10/28, 11/18, 1/27, 2/24, 3/31, 4/21,
The Friday dates on which we will have bus service are: 9/4, 9/18, 10/16, 11/6, 12/4, 12/18, 1/15, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19, 4/16, 5/7.
PRESCHOOL PARENTS: SHOULD EARLY DISMISSAL BE NECESSARY DUE TO SNOW, PRESCHOOL AND EXTENDED CARE WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL 5:00 P.M. PARENTS HAVE THE OPTION OF PICKING UP THEIR CHILDREN AS EARLY AS THEY WISH.
Early Morning Arrival: Supervision is provided between 7:30 and 7:50 A.M. in the Parish Hall. Occasionally a school bus may arrive slightly before 7:30 A.M., but in general, buses arrive between 7:30 and 8:05 A.M.
IF YOUR CHILD WALKS OR IF YOU DROP YOUR CHILD OFF IN THE MORNING, PLEASE MAKE ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT YOUR CHILD DOES NOT ARRIVE EARLIER THAN 7:30 A.M. THE PARISH HALL DOOR WILL NOT BE UNLOCKED UNTIL 7:30
Absences and Tardies: It is important for us as well as you to know the whereabouts of your children during school time. We would like to request that if your child is not going to be attending school, you can call the office between 8:00 and 9:00 A.M. to inform us of the reason for your child’s absence that day. This is for the safety of your child. If you child is absent, without a phone call to the office, the school secretary will contact you at home or work to verify that your child is ill or absent for another reason. This process assures both the school and the parent that the child is safe. This would also serve to alert the parent quickly if a child did not arrive at school safely.
If it is necessary for your child to arrive at school after 8:10 A.M. your child must report first to the school office to obtain an admit slip for his/her teacher. Should a student have to leave school during the day for a doctor or dentist appointment or due to illness, it is necessary for him/her to check out in the office before leaving. If your child is leaving for a reason other than illness, he/she must have a note for the teacher containing the time and reason for leaving.
Tuition Tracker: In the envelope that you will receive during the first week of school you will find the booklet with envelopes used for paying your tuition. We ask that you use these envelopes when sending in your tuition. We hope that this service we provide will make it more convenient for you. Families that have paid for the full year will NOT receive the booklet.
School Pictures: School pictures have been set for Wednesday, October 7. Lifetouch Studios has assured us that the pictures will arrive for Christmas. Envelopes for ordering pictures and more information will be sent home with the students nearer to the picture date.
Spring Pictures: We will again be offering spring pictures this year. Spring pictures are scheduled for March 16, 2009.
Insurance: Premiums for K – 8 will be $21 for school time coverage. The premium for full time coverage is $105. Information concerning the insurance will be included in the envelope. If you indicated that you would like the coverage, please remit the appropriate premium in the envelope and return to the school office by the end of the second full week of school.
Medications: In your school handbook/calendar is a copy of the school medication policy and form. A record MUST be kept if your child is to receive medication at school. Please have your child turn in the completed form to his/her teacher. The best advice is to arrange medication schedules so that the child receives the medication at home. We realize, however, that this is not always possible and so the forms become a necessity. If you need additional forms, please call Lynn in the school office and she can send a form home. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Eye Exam Forms: Students enrolling in Kindergarten will need to have an eye exam. The form was included in your screening packet. If you do not have one, please call or stop by the school office.
Dental Forms: Students enrolling in grades K, 2, and 6 will need a dental exam on file in the school office by May 15, 2010. A dental exam form was included in your Spring packet. If you need a new dental form, please call the school office.
Physical Forms: Students entering Preschool (for the first time), Kindergarten and Grade 6 will need a physical. The health form was included in your Spring packet. If you need another form, please stop by the school office. If your child will be participating in sports they will need a sports physical. The sports physical does not take the place of the 6th grade physical but the 6th grade physical will take the place of the sports physical.
Copies of the DVD “St. John Lutheran School – Year in Review 2009” are still available from the school office.
My God bless us all and grant us a great year!!!
In His Service,
Mr. Christopher Urquhart, Principal
In His Service,
Mr. Christopher Urquhart, Principal
In His Service,
Christopher Urquhart
Principal
St. John Lutheran School
Chester, Illinois
St. John Lutheran School
