Weekly Newsletter
February 18, 2016,
St. Joseph School: Summit, Illinois 708.458.2927
Website: www.stjosephsummit.com
School Blog: www.stjosephschoolonline.blogspot.com
Building Our Faith and Our Future
Soul-nourishing Practices for Lent
Fast from busyness - Take a slow walk around a neighborhood park or other natural place.
Listen to the sounds around you–of nature, of people, of silence–and let your soul find rest in
the moment.
Fast from emotional exhaustion - When feeling a soul-draining emotion, such as resentment,
hurt, anger, or fear, give yourself time and space to let it rise and then subside. Don’t judge,
bury, or ignore it, but let it play itself out before choosing a way to respond.
Fast from negativity - Pay attention to times when you find yourself indulging in skepticism or
sarcasm, cynicism or contempt. Make a conscious effort to turn your thoughts around to
something positive, hopeful, and life-enhancing.
Fast from verbal violence - Look for ways to replace hurtful words with healing ones. Be mindful
of abstaining from television shows, films, books, articles, and other forms of media that are
filled with hateful, judgemental, or cruel words, images, and actions.
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the
yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not
turning your back on your own.” –Isaiah 58: 6–7
For Your Information...
Be Sure Presentations
The Saint Joseph Parent Club is sponsoring two events designed to help parents learn about and
keep their children safe on the internet.
Tomorrow, Friday, February 19th our 5 – 8th graders will participate in a special presentation
by Rich Wistocki. Mr. Wistocki is a graduate of St. Joseph, a detective with the Naperville
Police Department, and an internet safety consultant. With changes in technology and the
number of applications on the market, it is important that our children have an understanding
of how they work and the dangers. The program will discuss internet safety, dangers of
applications on their cell phones, social networking, and cyber-bullying.
We are in the process of scheduling Staley the Bear to speak with our lower grade children.
Mr. Wostocki will be back next Thursday, February 25th for a special parent presentation. The
presentation Parents Be Sure will be presented on Thursday evening, February 25th at 7:00 p.m.
in the school hall.
This is an important presentation for parents. It will help you keep your children safe when
they enter cyberspace and teach you skills necessary to monitor their use of technology. Topics
for discussion will include popular applications that contain GPS, social media, gaming sites, and
much more.
End of the Trimester
The second Trimester ends Friday, February 26th. Second trimester report cards will be sent
home on Thursday, March 3rd.
We will be having Parent-Teacher Conferences on Friday, March 11th. The second conference
will be optional. However, teachers may request to see parents or parents may request to see
teachers.
Operation Rice Bowl
All children in grades K – 8 received a Rice Bowl last week. As we talk with children in school we
ask that they remember those less fortunate by placing a donation in their bank. One
suggestion has been for children who purchase ice cream at lunchtime to forgo ice cream one
day during the week and place that in their bank.
St. Joseph's Mother and Son Dinner Dance
Dust off those boots and put on your cowboy hats and do=si-do on over to Centennial Hall
Ranch on Saturday, March 5th. Invitations were sent home to every cowboy. Please RSVP by
Thursday, February 25th. Also, please submit a current 5x7 school photo of your son (ASAP) to
the school office if you plan on attending the dance. All original photos will be returned to you.
(All details are attached to the newsletter.
Reconciliation
Our First Communion Class will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation next Saturday, February
27th at 11:00 a.m. in the Church. We congratulate them and their families as our children take
this important step in their spiritual development.
Please keep them in your prayers as they make the journey to First Communion.
Organization Activities...
Athletic Board/Club News
ATHLETIC CLUB MEETING - Our February meeting will be this evening at 7:00 p.m. in the school
hall. All are invited to attend.
The Athletic Board will be planning a hot dog lunch for Thursday, March 17 th.
Games for the Week! COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAMS.
Soccer Playoffs
Kindergarten Soccer – Saturday, 2/20 @ 9:20 a.m.
1&2 Soccer – Saturday, 2/20 @ 11:00 a.m.
3&4 Soccer – Saturday, 2/20 @ 4:00 p.m.
BasketBall
3&4 Basketball – Saturday, 2/20 @ 12:40 p.m.
5&6 Basketball – Friday, 2/19 @ 7:30 p.m.
Varsity Basketball – Saturday, 2/20 @ 9:15 a.m.
Volleyball
Varsity Volleyball – Playoffs
Junior Varsity – Monday, 2/22 @ 6:20 p.m. (Wentworth)
School Board News
52 Pick Up Raffle – The Week 6 winner of the 52 Pick-up Raffle for 2016 is Kim Hollkamp ticket
number 0660.
Knights’ Ball – This year’s Spring Event has been named the Knights’ Ball. The date
is Saturday, March 12th. It will be held at Royalty West Banquets, 8675 S. Archer
Avenue, Willow Springs.
The cost is $40.00 per person or a table of ten for $350.00. There are a limited
number of tickets available, (120), so get your tickets today. One of the highlights of the
evening is our Classroom Projects Silent Auction. Tickets are going fast, so get yours today.
Corned-Beef and Cabbage dinner – Tickets are available for our Corned Beef and Cabbage
Dinner scheduled for Saturday, February 27th from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. Cost is $10.00 per ticket
and may be purchased from the school or rectory office.
Chester/Orsi’s Pizza – Take a night off from cooking and join us at Chester’s Tavern/Orsi’s Pizza
this Tuesday, February 23rd. 25% of the proceeds between the hours of 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
will be donated back to St. Joseph School. (Flyer Attached)
Parent Club News
Box Tops – This week’s standings:
8th Grade (341), 7th Grade (26), 6th Grade (284), 5th Grade (100), 4th Grade (100), 3rd Grade
(680), 2nd Grade (168), 1st Grade (1088), Kindergarten, (479), Pre-4 (75), Pre-3 (124).
The contest continues! One classroom from each floor will win a prize. Second Trimester Prize
will be an Out-Of-Uniform Pass to be used as a group.
Keep submitting Boxtops. The next major submission date is March 1, 2015. EXPIRED BOXTOPS
CANNOT BE SUBMITTED.
Painting Party – We are all set to have a great time on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. Painting
starts promptly at 6:45 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Maria Guisto @ (708) 704-3810 or via e-mail at
[email protected]
Yearbook
Order A Yearbook!!!
Tomorrow is the deadline to receive your yearbook at the discounted price of
$16.00. After tomorrow the price of the yearbook will be $21.00. An order form is attached.
You may also place a “sponsor ad” for your child or a “business ad” for an additional cost.
(Please see the Newsletter attachment.)
Complete the yearbook order form and return to your child’s teacher. Thank you!
Principally Speaking
Registration 2016 – 2017 – Our returning family registration materials will be coming home
next week. There are some new procedures for families requesting tuition assistance. That
information will be included in registration material.
The Archdiocese has made arrangements with the FACTS Company to handle financial
applications for tuition assistance including Caritas Scholars. FACTS does not have paper
applications but requires an on-line application. If you have difficulties, you may use a
computer in the school.
***With the number of children that have been reported ill to the office as well as the number
of children we have sent home due to illness, attached is an article that talks about when a
child should be kept home from school due to illness. I hope you find it helpful.
When to keep kids home from
school or daycare
It never fails. One of your children gets sick when your spouse is away on business and you
have a full schedule. The domino effect for a family with a sick child is enormous – home,
work and school lives are all impacted and often at the least convenient times! To
complicate matters, it can be difficult deciding when to keep a child home and when to forge
ahead business as usual.
Sickness is a part of childhood, whether it’s a fever, sore throat, cough or just not feeling
well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the typical child has 6 to
12 illnesses a year ranging from mild to severe. Illness can occur throughout the year, but
tends to cluster in the winter due to flu season. These illnesses can seem to spread like wild
fire affecting other students, teachers, and family members. Families and schools need to
balance the child’s school attendance with the risk of spreading the illness to others in the
school. Sometimes even minor illnesses require the child to stay home just to prevent the
further spread of a contagious disease.
In addition to consulting your pediatrician and school nurse, these tips can help you decide
whether to keep your child at home:
1. If your child complains of not feeling well but otherwise has no definite symptoms, your
child can likely attend school. The school nurse will typically call you if something more
develops. Be sure to contact your pediatrician if the complaints persist or other more
definite sick symptoms develop.
2. Fever is a symptom of illness and not an actual diagnosis. Fever usually indicates that
the body is battling an infection. A child with a fever greater than 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit
needs to stay home from school until the fever is gone for at least 24 hours. If the fever
does not resolve in 2 to 3 days, or if your child appears sick with any fever, call your doctor
to have your child evaluated.
3. Many rashes will resolve spontaneously and are not reason alone to keep a child home
from school. Any rash associated with symptoms such as trouble breathing or swallowing,
fever, or ill appearance, should be evaluated by your physician. Rashes that are itchy or
scaly may be contagious and should be evaluated before sending a child back to school.
4. Cough alone may not prevent your child from attending school unless it is interfering with
a child’s sleep or ability to participate in school activities. If the cough is productive and has
phlegm or is associated with fever or trouble breathing, keep your child home from school
and arrange to have the child seen by their pediatrician.
5. Stool problems do sometimes require a child to stay home from school. This is especially
true with diarrhea where the stool frequency is often many times an hour. Diarrhea that is
bloody or associated with fever, abdominal pain, or vomiting should be evaluated by your
doctor.
6. A child with vomiting, with or without diarrhea, needs to stay home from school. Your
child can return to school when the symptoms have stopped and the child can tolerate a
regular diet.
7. Children can attend school with mild sore throats if no other symptoms are occurring. Any
child with a sore throat associated with fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, or difficulty
swallowing should be evaluated by a doctor before returning to school. Call your child’s
school and ask if strep throat is going around; if so, have your child tested. A child with a
diagnosis of strep throat needs to stay out of school until on antibiotics for 24 hours.
8. If your child appears really sick, keep your child home and arrange an evaluation by your
doctor that day. If you can’t get through to your doctor and you are really concerned, either
call 911 or bring your child to the nearest emergency room for evaluation.
9. Call your doctor’s office for advice if you are not sure about your child’s condition or have
questions about whether your child should stay home from school. Most physicians have an
answering service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So, even after hours, you will be able to
reach someone for assistance.
Many illnesses can be stopped before they spread by reminding everyone to practice
frequent handwashing, blowing noses into tissues, covering mouths when coughing or
sneezing, and asking other parents about sick symptoms in their kids before arranging
playdates and carpools. If only it were so simple – even the best hygiene practices can’t
avoid the spread of all winter illnesses. Sometimes staying home is the only way to benefit
our kids, ourselves and our communities.