Events & News

Dear SJCS Families, 

With a little summer planning, a lot of God’s grace, and some extra cleaning throughout the school each day, we made it to the last week of the trimester with in-person instruction! I can’t thank you all enough for continuing to monitor your children and your families and not sending them to school when they have symptoms.  We’ve made it through an entire trimester (we hope!).   This week will be filled with tests for the upper grades and finishing up projects in the lower grades so make sure your child is getting plenty of rest and a good breakfast each morning. 

Due to the rising number of cases of COVID-19 in the State of Maine, the Midcoast Tree Festival Committee has made the difficult decision to cancel the event for this year.  We do have another event that we’ll be announcing later this week – so stay tuned!  You can follow us on Facebook for updates by clicking this link: Midcoast Tree Festival.

The Diocese of Portland has sent out their travel guidelines for families who are choosing to travel for Thanksgiving, you can also find them attached to this email. Note that the only states that are permissible to return from without a negative COVID test in the State of Maine are New Hampshire and Vermont. Massachusetts was eliminated from the travel list last Friday and this is NOT reflected in the attached document.  We ask that you be safe with your families and if you are concerned with your child attending the week after Thanksgiving for any reason, please let us know.  

Should any updates arise regarding the need for remote learning state-wide, we will keep you updated.   Unfortunately, our Chromebooks are still on back order and the most recent check with our vendor resulted in a date that could be as late as January.  We apologize for this delay – the Chromebook purchase agreements for schools world-wide exploded during the pandemic and factories just haven’t been able to keep up with the demand across the globe.  

The read-a-thon will start November 30, please return your child’s permission slip by tomorrow if you intend for your child to participate.   We do not have school next week, but you can expect a short newsletter to keep you updated with any new information in regard to the school and the pandemic. Have a blessed week. 

Peace in Christ, 

Shelly Wheeler

Principal 

---

Monday, November 16

Read-a-Thon papers due 

Tuesday, November 17

Mass Uniform for ALL 

SJCS School Mass  – 8am (No guests, only students and faculty)

Lectors – Mrs. Zinni’s Class

Cantors – Grades 6/7

Livestream Available on Facebook: @SJCSBME 

Grades 5-8 attend via livestream

Grades 1-4 attend in person  

Wednesday, November 18

Pie order pick up day! 

Please plan to pick up all pies either in car line or at Learning Center on this day.  We cannot hold pies overnight! 

Thursday, November 19

Friday, November 20

Dress down day! $2/child or $5/family – proceeds go to fund new gym equipment 

Hoodies are allowed! (No ripped jeans, no leggings without a dress over them)

Pizza Friday – sign up in ParentWeb

End of Trimester 1 – Report cards will go out next week

Coming Up:

Nov. 21-22 – Midcoast Tree Festival (SJCC) – CANCELLED

Nov. 23-27: NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK 

Nov. 24 – First Trimester Report Cards (emailed home) 

Nov. 27-28  – Midcoast Tree Festival  –  CANCELLED

Nov. 30 –  Read-a-Thon starts! 

Dec. 22 – Early Release, 11:30am, NO LEARNING CENTER AVAILABLE

Dec. 23 – Jan 3: NO SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS BREAK 

Dear SJCS Families, 

The weather this weekend was glorious! I hope you were all able to get out and enjoy the sun for a few more days as we know what’s headed our way over the next few months. We continue to be vigilant with our COVID protocols, including the daily screenings, hand hygiene, sanitizing the bathrooms, and taking other various measures each day for school safety. Please make sure your child’s mask is clean each day. We’ve been open for 50 days this year and continue to pray for low numbers around our specific school community so that we can continue in-person instruction. We believe there is no substitute for being in-person with our students, but we know the possibility is still very likely that we’ll have to operate remotely in the near future. We pray daily for the health of our families, our community and for those world-wide who have been affected by this virus. 

It has been increasingly common over the past few weeks for some of our students and families to arrive after 7:45am.   The second bell rings at 7:45am and morning prayer starts shortly thereafter. Every time Mrs. Snow has to let in a student child after 7:45am, the morning prayer is interrupted. This can be very distressing to the students as they try to unpack while listening to the prayer, and knowing that they’re walking into their classroom late. In order to avoid interrupting the school’s prayer each day, we will be asking students who arrive AFTER 7:45am to remain outside until the prayer is finished. Mornings can be hard, as a mother of 3 children, I understand! We ask that you do your best to get your children there before 7:45am, but if you don’t, please understand that they will be asked to wait before marching into their classrooms during the morning prayer. It usually takes 2 minutes or less for us to complete the morning prayer routine. Thank you for your understanding. 

Unfortunately, we will be cutting our Mass numbers back to 50 this week. This means that our first-grade class will not be able to attend Mass until the group gatherings within a building move back up to 100 per the Governor’s orders. Grades 5-8 will attend Mass in person this week, and Grades 2-4 will attend Mass in person next week. 

Here are a few highlights of things to remember: 

• Despite this week’s expected nice weather, we know that it can be very cold during the month of November and our students should be prepared. We are outside for morning care, morning recess, lunch recess, and learning center each day when the temperature and/or wind chill is above 15ºF. Please make sure your child has a warm coat, hat, and mittens or gloves.
• Even though this week will be warm, shorts are no longer acceptable for daily wear.  Students legs must be covered from November 1 – March 31.  This means our young ladies should have tights or leggings on underneath their skirts and jumpers. We understand that it may be warm this week but dealing with exceptions is so much more challenging than staying the course. Thank you in advance for your attention to this. 
• If you ordered pies from our fundraiser, the pies will be delivered on Wednesday, November 18.  You can pick them up in car line or at learning center – but you must bring them home that evening.

God Bless,

Shelly Wheeler

Principal 

---

Monday, November 9

Tuesday, November 10

Mass Uniform for ALL 

SJCS School Mass  – 8am (No guests, only students and faculty)

Lectors – Grade 8

Cantors – Grade 5

Livestream Available on Facebook: @SJCSBME 

Grades 5-8 attend in person

Grades 1-4 attend via livestream 

Photo Retake Day –

If you intend on having your child’s photo retaken, please send your package back in to school. If you have not had your photo taken yet, please plan to do so on Tuesday even if you are not ordering a package. All students need to have their photo taken for our school yearbook. Please order online at MyLifetouch using Picture ID EVTVPVWCD

Wednesday, November 11

No School – Veteran’s Day

Thank you to all of our Veterans within the SJCS family! We appreciate your service to protect our country! 

Thursday, November 12

PTA Meeting, 6pm – Virtual – Link will be sent via email on Thursday afternoon. 

Friday, November 13

Pizza Friday – sign up in ParentWeb

Coming Up:

Nov. 18 – Pie order pickup 

Nov. 20 – End of First Trimester 

Nov. 21-22 – Midcoast Tree Festival (SJCC) – Status TBD

Nov. 23-27: NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK 

Nov. 24 – First Trimester Report Cards (emailed home) 

Nov. 27-28  – Midcoast Tree Festival  –  Status TBD

Nov. 30 –  Read-a-thon starts! 

Dec. 22 – Early Release, 11:30am, NO LEARNING CENTER AVAILABLE

Dec. 23 – Jan 3: NO SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS BREAK 

Dear SJCS Families, 

November is here! That means that winter is almost here as well…a few reminders as we enter the coldest season of the year:

• We are outside for morning care, morning recess, lunch recess, and learning center each day when the temperature and/or wind chill is above 15ºF. Please make sure your child has a warm coat, hat, and mittens or gloves. Friday’s weather took us by surprise, and we had many children who didn’t have some of these items. Additionally, physical education will continue to take place outside as long as the snow isn’t covering the field. Students need to be prepared to be outside for phys ed class each week. 
• Shorts are no longer acceptable for daily wear.   Students legs must be covered from November 1 – March 31.  This also means our young ladies should have tights or leggings on underneath their skirts and jumpers. 
• Our virtual Scholastic Book Fair ends today – if you want to order please get your orders in tonight. 
• November Fridays will include bacon pizza as an option – please make sure you’re ordering pizza on ParentWeb each week. 
• If you ordered pies from our fundraiser, the pies will be delivered on Wednesday, November 18.  You can pick them up in car line or at learning center – but you must bring them home that evening .

Today we observe All Saints’ Day, where we honor the saints that have come before us and have attained heaven. Tomorrow, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day), we remember the faithfully departed and pray for the souls in purgatory. Both of these days in the Catholic church are a reminder that we are here to know, love, and serve God, and to prepare for everlasting life with Him in heaven. In this time of political unrest, may we remember the small acts each day that show God’s love is very much present in our daily lives. My time of prayer each day includes praying for our St. John’s community, that we may rise to new challenges each day and that our school may assist our families in building a solid foundation in faith (with excellent academics) for our students. I pray that God continues to have His hand in our lives and on our school community.

God Bless,

Shelly Wheeler

Principal 

---

Monday, November 2

Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed 

(All Souls’ Day)

Tuesday, November 3

Election Day – don’t forget to vote if you haven’t already!

Mass Uniform for ALL 

SJCS School Mass – 8am (No guests, only students and faculty)

Lectors – Grade 4

Cantors – Grade 5

Livestream Available on Facebook: @SJCSBME 

Grades 1-8 attend in person

Wednesday, November 4

Protecting God’s Children Class – 6pm; Sign up with Mrs. Snow in the office (9 spaces left) 

Thursday, November 5

Friday, November 6

Pizza Friday – sign up in ParentWeb

Coming Up:

Nov. 10 – Lifetouch Picture Retakes (Bring back the other photos you ordered) 

Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – No School

Nov. 12 – PTA Meeting, 6pm, Virtual

Nov. 20 – End of First Trimester 

Nov. 21-22 – Midcoast Tree Festival (SJCC)

Nov. 23-27: NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK 

Nov. 24 – First Trimester Report Cards (emailed home) 

Nov. 27-28  – Midcoast Tree Festival 

Dec. 22 – Early Release, 11:30am, NO LEARNING CENTER AVAILABLE

Dec. 23 – Jan 3: NO SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS BREAK

Dear SJCS Families, 

The weeks keep on passing and I’m so thankful for all of our families who continue to support our efforts to keep our school and students safe.  We have been blessed to complete 40 days of in-person learning! The next several weeks will be very interesting as new outbreaks develop, and we’ll monitor closely.  Due to our new protocols for student and staff safety, we will not be able to celebrate Halloween as we have in the past.   Things will likely be very different for the Christmas season as well.  We will keep you updated on developments as they arise. 

Your child should have received a “Halloween Costume” guideline for you to review.  We are allowing Halloween costumes to be worn to school on Friday, October 30 – but please read through the guide so you are aware of the expectations. 

Our virtual book fair is still running, every purchase helps our teachers purchase books for their classroom libraries! As the weeks continue to pass, I continue to be amazed at how our students and faculty have adjusted to the “new normal” within our classrooms.   It almost feels as though things are back to normal – students are happy and they’re learning, teachers are working diligently to reach each child’s needs, and God is providing us with His grace each day.  Thank you for choosing St. John’s, and thank you for allowing us to be on this journey with your family.  We are thankful for each and every one of our students as they bring so much life to our classrooms each day! 

Thank you to all of you who sold pies this year – we sold 250 pies! 

God Bless,

Shelly Wheeler

Principal 

---

Monday, October 26

Tuesday, October 27

Mass Uniform for ALL 

SJCS School Mass – 8am (No guests, only students and faculty)

Lectors – Grade 5

Cantors – Grade 5

Livestream Available on Facebook: @SJCSBME 

Grades 1-8 attend in person

Wednesday, October 28

Thursday, October 29

Friday, October 30

Pizza Friday – sign up in ParentWeb

Halloween Costumes or Uniform Holiday – 

Please refer to guidelines for what is acceptable on this day. 

Last day to wear shorts and/or bare legs under a jumper/skirt for the winter! 

Coming Up:

Nov. 4 – Protecting God’s Children, 6pm (virtual) – please sign up with Mrs. Snow

Nov. 10 – Lifetouch Picture Retakes (Bring back the other photos you ordered) 

Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – No School

Nov. 12 – PTA Meeting, 6pm, Virtual

Nov. 20 – End of First Trimester 

Nov. 21-22 – Midcoast Tree Festival (SJCC)

Nov. 24 – First Trimester Report Cards (emailed home) 

Nov. 27-28  – Midcoast Tree Festival 

Nov. 23-27: NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK 

Dec. 22 – Early Release, 11:30am, NO LEARNING CENTER AVAILABLE

Dec. 23 – Jan 3: NO SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS BREAK 

MTF Ad.pdf

Dear SJCS Families, 

This week we have our parent conferences for the fall trimester.  If you haven’t signed up for a slot yet, and would like to, please visit this link to reserve your time: Fall Conference Signup.  We are dismissing students at 11:30am.  We do have Learning Center open, but spots are limited so if you have not signed up and intend to use this service, please sign up here:   October 21 Learning Center Signup.  Learning Center will still close at 5:30pm on Wednesday evening. We ask that all parents adhere to their scheduled time. Our teachers have several conferences back to back and will need to move to the next conference when your scheduled time has completed. Thank you for understanding. 

Our Virtual Book Fair starts this week and will run for 2 weeks.  We usually have the Scholastic Book Fair during the week of conferences, but due to limiting visitors and mixing of students, we have opted to operate our book fair online only.  You can shop by visiting this link: St. John's Virtual Book Fair.  We are having a Read-a-Thon in November, so this is a good way to stock up on books for your children before they start reading for the contest!  St. John’s also earns rewards with each purchase, and our teachers use these rewards for their classroom libraries.  Thank you in advance for your support!

The threat of remote learning still exists and increases daily with cases of COVID-19 rising nationwide.  You can find our Plan for Remote Learning and our Weekly Schedule for Remote Learning by visiting the Parent Links 20-21 folder here: SJCS Parent Links 2020-2021.  This folder also has our school handbook and the opening presentations from August that we previously shared with you.  If you have any questions regarding our remote learning plan or the schedule, please let us know.  This was not an easy schedule to formulate due to a variety of factors, including teachers with multiple children at home and trying to decrease the number of virtual meetings in one household at any one time.  I assure you we have gone over this many times to try to make it as convenient as possible, but unfortunately with so many moving parts there are several families who may have more than one meeting taking place at one time.   In some situations, my own family has three meetings simultaneously.  It’s not ideal, but it’s the best we could do with our current situation.

Another factor that will greatly impact remote learning is our ability to secure devices for our students.   Currently our students in grades 5-8 have an old Chromebook we can send home for remote learning, but we do not have enough for students in PK-4 until our new order arrives.  We continue to press for a delivery date for our new Chromebooks, but the global demand is very high and supply is limited due to many factors associated with the pandemic.  We will keep you updated.  If you absolutely have no device for your child in grades PK-4 to login to a remote class, please let your teacher know as soon as possible so we can try to devise a solution.  Thank you for your patience and flexibility. Again, I’m hoping we will NOT have to use this schedule, but we must be prepared on a moment’s notice.  

Another question that has been asked numerous times is whether we will have remote learning on a snow day rather than having the “day off”.  Remote learning must be planned, and by this I mean, if we can’t send home materials and Chromebooks in advance – or have a scheduled time for pickup – remote learning will not work.  This means that if we have a random snowstorm, or ice that we weren’t expecting to give us hazardous travel, our students will not be prepared for a “remote learning” day.   Additionally, many of our families often lose power during winter storms due to high winds and heavy snow, which would make it challenging for students to logon to their scheduled classes.  The teachers and I are working on a solution so that we can have a “blizzard bag” or something similar so that we can count some of our snow days as instructional days, but the idea of just popping this remote schedule in “just for the day” is not likely. Because we have been operating in-person, 5 days per week, since August 26, we are already ahead of most public schools in instructional days, and I suspect the State of Maine will continue to provide waivers to the 175 school day minimum (meaning we may not have to make up all of our snow days anyway). 

Finally, the ConvenientMD link has been updated and will look a little different tomorrow morning. It was designed to be more convenient, so just be aware that it will have a different look in the morning. 

Pie sales are due on Thursday of this week.  If you have any questions, please let us know! Have a wonderful week! 

God Bless,

Shelly Wheeler

Principal 

---

Monday, October 19

Tuesday, October 20

Mass Uniform for ALL 

SJCS School Mass – 8am (No guests, only students and faculty)

Lectors – Grade 6 

Cantors – Grade 5

Livestream Available on Facebook: @SJCSBME 

Grades 1-8 attend in person

Progress notes will go home electronically, please review before your conference on Wednesday.

NWEA scores will go home on paper

Wednesday, October 21

Early Release – 11:30am

Learning Center available, please sign up here: October 21 Learning Center Signup.

Parent Conferences 12:30pm – 7:00pm (Virtual meetings – links will be sent home by each individual teacher)

Thursday, October 22

Pie Sales Orders Due! 

Friday, October 23

Pizza Friday – sign up in ParentWeb

Coming Up:

Oct. 19-Oct. 30 – : St. John’s Virtual Book Fair

Oct. 30 – Last day to wear shorts/knee high socks for the fall season

     November 1 – March 31 requires pants for boys and tights/leggings under skirts & jumpers for girls 

Nov. 10 – Lifetouch Picture Retakes (Bring back the other photos you ordered) 

Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – No School

Nov. 12 – PTA Meeting, 6pm – Virtual 

Nov. 20 – End of First Trimester 

Nov. 23-27: NO SCHOOL – THANKSGIVING BREAK 

Nov. 20-Nov. 29: Midcoast Tree Festival Fundraiser (SJCS/All Saints Parish, SMCC, Spectrum Generations)

Dec. 22 – Early Release, 11:30am, NO LEARNING CENTER AVAILABLE

Dec. 23 – Jan 3: NO SCHOOL – CHRISTMAS BREAK