Everything You Want to Know
Week of December 6, 2021
FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Welcome to the second week of Advent! This week’s theme is “faith” and I find the theme very fitting as we kick off putting our faith in action with our annual St. Vincent de Paul food drive this week! Although all non-perishable food and toiletries are accepted, St. Vincent de Paul has provided the following guidance per grade to help target their greatest item needs:
Kindergarten and 5th: Pasta, toothpaste and toothbrushes
1st and 6th: Brown and white rice and toilet paper
2nd and 7th: Canned meat and tuna and shampoo
3rd and 8th: Canned vegetables and fruit and deodorant
4th and Faculty: Canned soup and chili and toilet paper
Our food collection is complete on Thursday, Dec 16th and students may bring their items directly to their classroom. Should you be interested in assisting with the box preparation, that will occur on Friday, Dec 17th at 6:30pm and the food box distribution will be on Saturday, Dec 18th at 9:45am. Both events will be held in the school extended care space (old cafeteria).
Next Wednesday, 12/15 we have our Kindergarten - 4th grade Christmas program in our church. Guests are welcome and we encourage you to maintain 4 guests per family to help with social distancing protocols. The performance times are:
Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th with Glee choir: 5:00pm
1st, 3rd and 4th with band: 6:15pm
Students are welcome to wear their “Sunday best” with Christmas accessories or their uniform.
In closing, just in case you missed our Parent Information Night last week, Deacon Scott shared some great insight for us regarding how we can help instill morality for our children and for each other. Here is a link to his presentation and his slides from the evening are attached to the SAM as well. Thanks Deacon Scott for a fantastic presentation and to our PTC for providing this opportunity for our parish and school families.
CALENDAR REMINDERS:
Dec. 6 - 16: SVDP Christmas Food Drive
Wednesday 12/8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 7:30am Glee Club in church, 1pm School Mass (3rd Gr), 2pm Dismissal, 2pm Chess Wizards, 2:30pm Faculty meeting
Thursday 12/9: Report Cards Distributed, 7:30am Glee Club in gym, 3-3:45pm Gr 6-8 study hall, 6pm SAC/PTC meeting
Friday 12/10: 10:30-12:45 6th Gr to Portland Art Museum
Saturday 12/11: 10:15am 2nd Gr First Reconciliation
Monday 12/13: Bring your lunch from home--no hot lunch on Mondays
Tuesday 12/14: 3-3:45pm Gr 6-8 study hall
Wednesday 12/15: Happy Birthday to Mr. Campagna! 1pm School Mass (2nd Gr), 2pm Dismissal, 2pm Chess Wizards (last day of the fall session), 5:00pm Christmas Pageant w/ K/2nd/4th/Glee Club, 6:15pm Christmas Pageant w/ 1st/3rd/4th/Band
Thursday 12/16: 3-3:45pm Gr 6-8 study hall
Friday 12/17: Christmas Themed Free Dress - (Santa hats, ugly Christmas sweaters, red & green, etc.) 2pm Classroom Christmas parties, 6:30pm SVDP Christmas food box packaging in old cafe
Saturday 12/18: SVDP food box blessing and delivery at 9:45am
PLAYGROUND DUTY SCHEDULE
Tuesday 12/7: Skarbonkiewicz
Wednesday 12/8: Hagerman
Thursday 12/9: NEED COVERAGE
Friday 12/10: Barton
Monday 12/13: Shavers
Tuesday 12/14: McClenathan
Wednesday 12/15: Ortiz
Thursday 12/16: Richmond
Friday 12/17: Hager
Playground duty is from 11:25-1:00. Check in at the school office and then head to the Corrado Family Center! If you have a conflict with your scheduled duty date, or you are able to help out on a date that needs coverage, please contact our playground duty coordinator, Holly Hunt, at mailto:[email protected]. Thank you for helping our students in the lunchroom and on the playground.
DECEMBER FAMILY FAITH EXERCISES
As a family, read the Nativity story from the Bible (Matthew 1:18-2:23 and/or Luke 1:5-2:40) in front of your own Nativity scene. What characters in the story do you most relate to?
There are themes for each week of the Advent wreath. The first week is all about Hope. Read Lamentations 3: 21-24. Pray for hope. The second week is about Peace. Read John 14:27. Pray for peace.
SVDP CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE
The parish and school holiday food drive with St. Vincent de Paul is underway! Take a look at the attached flyer to see what your student’s grade is asked to bring. This flyer is also posted on the Resource Documents tab of your Family Portal on FACTS.
YEAR-END GIVING - AN INVESTMENT IN SJF!
Considering a year end charitable gift? Consider making a pre-commitment for our paddle raise at our action in February! Or a sponsorship! Contribute in this calendar year and you will be recognized at the auction February 26th.
Please reach out to Maddie Andrews if you are interested. Maddie.o.andrews@
SJF LIVE CHILDREN’S NATIVITY PROGRAM
St. John Fisher will have a live children’s nativity program during the Family Mass at 4:00pm on Christmas Eve, 12/24. Children ages preschool through 1st grade are invited to participate. Costumes will be provided. Interested parents please contact Erica Benthin at (503) 435-8005 or [email protected]. Please contact by Monday December 13th, 2021 at the latest.
AUCTION NEWS-CHOMPING AT THE BID
Only a few days left to sell those raffle tickets! Please contact us if you need more tickets, and don't forget we have the online option. All information on sjfauction.org!!
The auction needs you!! We still need volunteers for the following positions:
Coordinator: You will be responsible for coordinating bags with themed lists (already created) to send home with families who volunteer to create a themed basket for the silent auction. You will ensure all bags are returned completed and are ready for the silent auction two weeks prior to the silent auction going live.
*Class Art Representative (one per class): You will be responsible for completing the class art project for the classroom and making arrangements with the classroom teacher. NEED GRADES: 1, 3, 6
*Class package representatives: (two per class). You will choose a theme for the class package, and ensure a complete package is submitted two weeks prior to the auction.
NEED 1: K
NEED 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Please contact me at [email protected] if you are interested in any of the above positions!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT FUNDRAISER AT ST. MARY’S ACADEMY
St. Mary’s Academy is hosting their annual Food for Thought financial aid fundraiser on December 8, noon – 1 pm. The virtual event is FREE this year and open to all. The event will feature Lisa Leslie, a WNBA superstar and four time gold medalist. Lisa inspires audiences with her experience in goal setting, leadership, and raising self- esteem. www.smapdx.org/
MATHFEST 2021
The MathFest competition for 7th and 8th grade students is returning to Central Catholic High School on Saturday, Dec. 11. New this year, students will register individually and then be teamed with students from both their school and other schools. There is additional information, along with links for registration of the attached flyer.
Click the links below to download flyers
Christmas Program
Instilling Morality In Today's World
MathFest 21
SVDP Food Drive