The Patriot Report – August 25, 2023

 “I wish not merely to be called Christian, but also to be Christian.”—Saint Ignatius

Welcome Back to St. Jude School for another school year. This year we are presented with the CISVA theme of Living, Celebrating, and Proclaiming Our Faith. This will be a three year theme in which we explore in the first year what it means to Live the Christian faith. 

St. Ignatius points to the idea that to be a man or woman of faith, means not simply calling oneself Christian but rather allowing the faith to become one with the self. In the Gospel of John, Jesus warns his disciples that others will know that they are his disciples by what they do and so their actions must always communicate his teachings. The same is true of us. 

Throughout the school year, we will explore what it means to live the faith with your child. I encourage you to have conversations at home about what it means to be Catholic and how might others be able to tell what you value by what you say and do. 

We look forward to welcoming children to school on September 5!

We have made some changes to our daily schedule. Students are expected to be in class for 8:35am. Starting 5 minutes earlier allowed us to have 5 more minutes of eating time at lunch. Recess has changed as well. We are now starting 15 minutes earlier at 10am. Lunch runs from 11:55am to 12:40pm. Our regular end of day dismissal remains 3pm except on half days when we have a noon dismissal. 

First Bell: 8:30am

Second Bell: 8:35am – Classes start

Recess 10:00am – 10:15am

Lunch 11:55am – 12:40pm (20 minutes to eat lunch in the classroom)

Dismissal – 3:00pm

After School Club – 3:00pm – 6:00pm – register online by clicking here – starts September 6th.

First Bell: 8:30am

Second Bell: 8:35am – Classes start

Recess 10:00am – 10:15am

Dismissal – 12:00pm

After School Club – 12:00pm – 6:00pm – register online by clicking here 

Please ensure you pick up or arrange pick up at 12pm for your child(ren) on the first day of school. All staff are participating in a in-service in the afternoon which is why there is no after school club. 

Students are to be in uniform, bring a water bottle and a snack. 

A reminder to parents and visitors that there is no access to our school hallways without first signing in. This is to ensure the safety of our children and staff. We may not recognize every parent, grandparent, or visitor, so it is really important that everyone checks in first at the office so that we can maintain a safe environment. 

Similarly, parents and visitors who are not in a supervisory role such as parent supervisors, are not allowed on the playground during recess and lunch. Parents and visitors who are on our grounds during recess and lunch will be asked to leave the area. 

Thank you for your cooperation. 

On the first day of school, the parking lot will be very busy. Please plan to be early. Parking along Nootka street is available for drop off as well. Do not drop students off at the front doors along East 15. 

We have noticed that families park along East 15th and then cross the street to drop off their children. Be advised that this is dangerous as there are no crosswalks. Do not let children cross streets by themselves. 

The drop off lane will be in effect for the first day of school. Please pull all the way up to the front if using the drop off lane. 

There is no park and ride in the school parking lot. The parking lot gets used by students during recess and lunch. The parish also needs the parking space for its daily mass and occasional funerals. Please park, walk your child to the drop off area, and then leave to free up the parking space for someone else. 

The maximum speed in the parking lot is 10km an hour. Go slow. Safety is more important than being on time. Please leave early for school so that you do not need to rush. 

One of the drawbacks of a long summer break is that going back to school can be challenging for all students and especially our youngest ones. There are several things you can do now to be ready for day 1:

1. Start going to bed early and waking up earlier. Bedtime routines are essential to full and productive days. 
2. Talk about the feelings of going back to school and help remind them that there are things to look forward to (friends, field trips, new beginnings, sports, music, etc.) 
3. Get excited about going to school. Having something new for school may add to the excitement. It could be a new backpack or a new cool pencil or a new lunch bag or a fresh haircut to symbolize the start of a new school year. 
4. Talk with your child about their goals for the new school year and help them to keep it attainable and realistic.  
5. Ensure you have ordered school supplies – see separate note later in newsletter.
6. Ensure you have the uniform ready to go. Uniforms can be ordered through Cambridge Uniforms.
7. Read the newsletter, subscribe to the calendar, follow us on Facebook/Instagram.
8. Get to school early on the first day. Set an example and be punctual for school each day. 
9. Pick up your child at Noon on the first day. 

Every year there are children that cry on the first day. Most often it is because they do not want to have to say goodbye to Mom or Dad and this produces the tears. There are some helpful strategies that parents can take to reduce the tears:

Information from https://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/child-cries-at-drop-off/

• Discuss his/her feelings and show empathy for his/her struggles.
• Give your child a special small item for a sense of familiarity and a piece of home.
• Arrive earlier than the other kids to avoid the bustle of the crowds.
• Don’t leave without saying goodbye, while keeping those farewells confident and brief.
• Ask the teacher how the rest of the day went, and remind yourself that this is normal and will soon pass.

The following actions tend to make things harder:

• longer goodbyes that are drawn out
• wanting to follow your child into the school 
• getting emotionally frustrated because your child is upset
• showing your child that you’re also sad to leave them

Most of the time, your child will stop crying in less than 5 minutes once inside the school and they typically go on to have a good day. 

Even though most of us carry cellphones and have digital calendars, it is sometimes still useful to have a fridge calendar of school events. It is also helpful to share this with family and those who may be picking up your child. 

A hard copy will go home with the oldest child on the first day of school but you can access a digital copy here: 2023-24 Year at a Glance

Our School Supplies company (School Specialty) had a warehouse fire that has caused delays with supplies. They are working hard to fill all the orders that have been affected and then will fill any new orders. Thank you for your patience. 

School Specialty is not accepting orders right now. If you need supplies you will have to purchase from other stores such as Staples or WalMart. Thank you.

If you are having difficulties securing the school uniform please notify the office and your child’s classroom teacher. Families are reminded that wearing a school uniform is part of our school code and family statement of commitment. On School Mass days (Wednesdays) students are expected to be in full uniform (school sweater cardigan or school sweater vest). 

At St. Jude School we value the virtue of modesty. This not only applies to the uniform but to accessories and hair. 

It is the policy of the school for boys to have their hair trimmed to collar’s length. Girls’ hair should be neat and hair accessories limited to navy blue, forest green, black or white hair bands or simple barrettes. 

Students may wear holy medals or cross necklaces and birthstone rings. Costume jewelry, chokers, accessories, etc. are not allowed. Girls may wear pierced earrings provided they are a single small stud or hoop per ear. For safety reasons, the teacher/coach may request that jewelry be removed during sports activities. Students are not permitted to wear makeup or nail polish. Body piercing (other than ears) and tattoos (including fake ones) are not allowed.

Thank you for your understanding and support of our school policy. 

To order our school uniform you need to visit the Cambridge Uniform store (in person or online). Click here for more information, including our school code, which will be needed. 

Hot Lunch will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of each week with different vendors offered. The Hot Lunch program is an optional, pay as you go, program. Orders need to be completed a week (Tuesday at Midnight) in advance so that our coordinators and vendors have time to organize the orders. 

All hot lunch orders are done through munchalunch. A separate communication will go out via email about signing up for hot lunch with Munchalunch. A couple of things to note:

1. If your child is sick on the day of their hot lunch, you have three choices:
   1. Come and pick up the lunch by 3:30pm
   2. Give the lunch to their sibling 
   3. Donate the lunch
2. We do not store hot lunch overnight
3. Please double-check your orders – we will go by what Munchalunch says in the event a child says that they did not get hot lunch

The first day for Hot Lunch will be September 12, 2023. Orders need to be completed by September 5th at midnight.