Reflection
The CISVA theme for 2019-2020 is “I can do all things through Christ.” In these weekly reflections, I will do my best to explore this theme as it pertains to life at St. Jude School.
I am very grateful for the generosity of volunteers who work hard to support our school. Over the past couple of weeks I have had the opportunity to get to work with Frank Esposito, a long time parishioner of St. Jude. Frank was instrumental in assisting us with building our new flagpole base and for getting the flagpole upright. Frank is a generous and humble individual who gives of his talents and time. Over the past year I have also become acquainted with Neo Regala, another long time parishioner of St. Jude. Neo has been assisting the school with all sorts of little jobs here and there. He has helped water our newly landscaped area, he has set up for various functions, and when the alarm has gone off in the middle of the night, Neo is often the one who comes and checks on the school. Both Frank and Neo also volunteer extensively within the life of the parish.
It is through Christ that we learn to be of service to others. Both Frank and Neo are excellent examples of our faith in action. I am very grateful to them for all their help and assistance.
Updates
ST JUDE SCHOOL IS RENEWING ITSELF
One of our goals at St. Jude School is to increase our sense of school pride. One of the ways that we can build our school pride is by transforming our spaces into ones that are clean and pleasing to the eye. This summer we targeted two areas: the front of the school with regards to landscaping and the main lobby of the school. Our goal was to make the space welcoming and to show that we are proud of who we are. I would like to thank Serena Nguyen who came up with the ideas and colors for our lobby and Gustavo Gonzalez-Avila whose company did the painting. I would also like to thank all the maintenance parents who worked very hard over the summer to help clean up our school.
OUTSIDE LANDSCAPING BEFORE:
OUTSIDE LANDSCAPING AFTER:
OUR SCHOOL LOGO ON DISPLAY
Part of the plan for raising our school pride was to commission a handcrafted school logo that could become a focal point for the lobby. At the end of July, I spoke with Manuel Madeira (Mrs. Carmie Madeira’s husband) and he said he could do it. We are most impressed with the finished product and I know it will be on display for years to come. Below are pictures of Fr. Jun and I with the logo and of Manuel Madeira. We are very grateful to Manuel Madeira for his willingness to undertake this project.
FLAGPOLE GETS MOVED
Part of the landscaping endeavor was to move the flagpole so that it would no longer block the brick cross. We also wanted to paint the flagpole. However, the supports for the flagpole, including the concrete block, could not be moved and therefore a new support had to be created. With the assistance of parishioners Frank Esposito and Neo Regala, we were able to achieve this. Frank Esposito deserves the majority of credit as he built the forms for the concrete and did the heavy work of mixing.
Fr. Jun gives encouragement and support while starting to mix the concrete.
Frank Esposito shovels the concrete into the forms.
PARENT PARTICIPATION
Category placements are complete. If you are participating and have not been contacted, please contact Ann Tang, the Parent Participation coordinator at eparticipation@stjude.ca or at 604-803-3823 Please remember to use the online reporting form to record your hours as this is the only way you will receive credit for hours worked. You can go to the St. Jude website at www.stjude.ca, click on the Parents tab and then click on Parent Participation Online Reporting.
We are looking to fill the following positions. Please contact Ann Tang if you are available to help with any of the shifts below.
Supervision – Thursday or Friday lunch from 11:45 – 1:00pm
Supervision – Monday to Friday after school from 2:45 – 3:25pm (please choose any 2 days)
Hot lunch – Tuesdays from approximately 11:30 – 1:00pm
MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT
Our annual Meet the Teacher Night is on September 12, from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. The evening will start in the gym with prayer, introductions, and some remarks from our PEC and your Principal. Following this you will head to the classrooms to meet your child’s teachers. There will be two sessions to accommodate those with more than one child in the school. Following the classroom sessions there will be 3 meetings for parents. Fundraising will meet in the upstairs resource room (formerly the library), Supervisors will meet in the gym, and Maintenance will meet in the downstairs cafeteria area.
The layout of the evening is as follows:
6:30pm – Prayer, Introductions, Remarks
6:50pm – Move to the your child’s classroom for Session 1
6:50 to 7:10pm – Session 1
7:10 to 7:30pm – Session 2
7:30 to 8:00pm – Parent Meetings for Fundraising, Supervision, and Maintenance
ST. JUDE SCHOOL HIRES MS. JANELLE ANTAO FOR MUSIC
We are very pleased to announce the hiring of Ms. Janelle Antao for our Music position. Ms. Antao has a great passion and enthusiasm for music. She teaches a seniors choir on the weekends in Richmond, she assists in her home parish of St. Joseph the Worker, she sings with the Vancouver Bach Choir (having recently performed at the Carnegie Center in New York), and she recently completed her teacher training program with UBC. She is excited to meet the students and to start building our choir program. Music will be taught on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
HOT LUNCH FORMS SENT HOME TODAY
Hot Lunch forms were sent home today and are due on Tuesday, September 10th.
ST. JUDE PARISH CELEBRATES 75 YEARS ON OCTOBER 28
St. Jude Parish will be celebrating their 75th Anniversary. For this important occasion, they will be have a Mass on October 28th at 4pm. Their will be a formal reception at 6pm hosted at the Hilton Metrotown. Tickets are $125. The parish is looking for door prizes, sponsorship, and donations. Please contact Richelle Akol or the Parish Office if you have questions or are able to assist in any way.
CHOIR FORMS, VOLLEYBALL, AND CROSS COUNTRY
Children in the intermediate grades have been invited to participate in Choir and Volleyball. Students in Gr. 2 to Gr. 7 are also invited to join Cross Country. Forms have gone home with interested students. If your child does not have a form and would like to join, please complete one of these forms:
Cross Country Form for Gr. 2 to Gr. 7
Volleyball Form for Gr. 4 to Gr. 7
Choir Form for Gr. 4 to Gr. 7
PARISH EDUCATION COMMITTEE (PEC)
Our PEC for 2019-2020 is:
Richelle Akol – Chairperson – echairperson@stjude.ca
Anita Hua – Vice Chair – evicechair@stjude.ca
Leah Wong – Treasurer – etreasurer@stjude.ca
Ann Tang – Parent Participation – eparticipation@stjude.ca
Desiree Suganob – Maintenance – emaintenance@stjude.ca
Maria Paredes – Secretary – esecretary@stjude.ca
Fr. Jun Reyes – Pastor of St. Jude Parish