No School Mon, Jan. 17 — Martin Luther King Day
NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
We had a busy week of DIBELS and MAP testing! We will continue with make-up testing next week for students absent this week. We want to make sure everyone gets their chance to shine and show how much they have grown academically so far this school year.
In fact, the new year is bringing many exciting things our way!
- A new AC/filtration system was installed in the MPR over Christmas break.
- Thanks to our Dads' Club, our school security system was updated.
- New security cameras will be installed within the next 2 months thanks to the funds raised from Running with Rosco and the Together Let us Go Forth Diocesan campaign. Over 25 security cameras will be installed on the inside and outside perimeter of our campus, making our campus even more secure.
- Thanks to the funds raised at last year’s virtual SJB Gala, six Promethean boards will be installed in Kindergarten, 1st-, and 2nd-grade classrooms in the next month.
- We recently received an Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) Grant that will provide Chromebooks for the entire student body. We should receive these new Chromebooks within the next month.
I am also extremely happy to announce that I hired Mr. Michael Cortez as our new full-time school counselor. Mr. Cortez comes to us with over 6 years of counseling experience and a ton of energy! Mr. Cortez will join us Monday, Jan. 24th. Please help me welcome him to our St. John Bosco family.
Next, we are gearing up for re-enrollment for existing families. We want to make sure you will be able to secure enrollment for your children before Open Enrollment begins for new families. Therefore, re-enrollment for our CURRENT families will take place one week earlier than last year — on January 24th. See details later in this newsletter under "Save The Date."
Finally, the 2022-2023 Tuition Schedule has been approved and will provide compensation for our fabulous teachers and maintain our beautiful, safe campus with an increase of less than $25/month. This increase will allow us to continue to provide a quality Catholic Education for all learners. I want to sincerely thank you all for your love and support of our teachers, staff, nurse, pastor, and administration. I look forward to all the wonderful things to come over the next 20 years!
Joyful blessings,
Jamie Bescak, Principal
Do everything in love.
SCHOOL NEWS
SJB Open House
The entire campus will be open Wednesday evening February 2 to showcase the many features that make our school unique. Our campus will be alive with excitement while families stroll through visiting science fair projects, artwork, and STEM projects. Personal tours will be available so please invite anyone you know who is looking for an exceptional Catholic school. Visiting families may click on this link to RSVP.
All Pro School Pictures
We heard you! We understand your frustration with the school picture experience this fall and would like to make it up to you. Lou Coopey’s All Pro School Pictures is offering to retake individual school photos. Picture Day is Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Order forms are available in the school office or you may visit loucoopey.com and click on the green Prepay Online icon. More information is available at (480) 830-5667.
Best of Ahwatukee Survey
Please show your support for St. John Bosco Preschool and Teacher/Librarian extraordinaire Mrs. Harvey! (#83 & #85 on the list of survey items). VOTE SJB for Best Preschool and Mrs. Harvey for Best Teacher. Vote every day through February 1 using this link: Best of Ahwatukee Survey No registration needed to vote! Click here for easy step-by-step instructions.
Nurse’s Notes
I don't even know where to begin, so I'll just dig in! Thank you all for the continuous donations to the health office! I am again completely out of water bottles and very low on masks. I would like to suggest that the parents of children who come into the office once or twice daily please donate masks. We are in need of a few more...
- child and adult sized masks
- water bottles
As is quite obvious, the COVID virus is rampant within our community. Our goal is to keep everyone safe and in the classroom for continuous learning. I highly recommend wearing masks at all times until this surge dissipates. I also recommend avoiding large gatherings over this three-day weekend.
Unfortunately, COVID tests are becoming more difficult to find. However, the county health department is providing free testing every day. You may find details at: www.maricopa.gov/5588/COVID-19-Testing#county
Thank you for your continued support of our SJB Mitigation Plans:
- Parents will continue to daily screen their child before sending them to school in the morning. If a child is displaying any COVID-like symptoms, please keep them home and email Nurse Jean and Mrs. Bescak.
- If your child has been exposed to anyone with COVID-19, contact Nurse Jean and Mrs. Bescak to help determine if they need to quarantine.
- Please continue to send at least 2 masks with your child to school each day. We have several students arriving at school without a mask.
- When students are in their classrooms and sitting in their assigned seats 3 feet or more apart, they are not required but highly recommended to wear a mask. Wearing a mask not only decreases transmission but also the need to quarantine.
I hope you all enjoy some quality time together in your "family bubbles" over this long 3-day weekend!
Mark Your Calendars: Gala Registration Opening
Start gathering your friends and reserve a table of 10 for our 20th Annual Bosco Gala! Individual tickets are available for $75, whether open seating or as part of a group.
It takes our whole community to make this event a success. We are actively seeking live and silent auction items. Do you own a business, know a celebrity, or have an item, timeshare/vacation home, sports tickets, or gift cards that you would like to contribute? Please contact Erin Gonzales to receive 1 service hour for each $10 donated.
For your convenience, Scrip gift cards may be purchased to help fund our event, earning service hours AND Scrip dollars. Please click this link to sign up to purchase gift cards via the Raise Right App. Order deadline is January 28.
CALLING ALL BUSINESSES! We are also soliciting Business Sponsorships. Click Here for available opportunities.
All Gala details may be found on the website: https://www.sjbosco.org/gala.
SAVE THE DATE: Re-Enrollment for 2022-2023
Reenrollment for the 2022--2023 school year will open at 9:00 am on Monday, January 24 – one week earlier than last year. PLEASE NOTE: We are experiencing a flurry of calls expressing interest in our school. As such, current families are strongly advised to re-enroll early to ensure a spot for next year. Specific instructions for re-enrollment will be sent in next Friday’s Bulldog Bite.
Money-Saving Note: Families who enroll by February 28, 2022 will receive a discounted enrollment fee of $150 per K - 8th student and/or $200 for Preschool, with a family maximum of $250. On March 1, enrollment fees will increase to $200 for K - 8 students and/or $225 for Preschool, with a family maximum of $300.
Bonus Incentive! Families who re-enroll their student(s) by Monday, February 28 will receive a free dress day for their child(ren)!
Making Catholic Education AFFORDABLE
Please see the links below to acquaint yourselves with information from IBE, a Student Tuition Organization (STO) that exists to help you fund your child(ren)’s Catholic Education. Click the following link for all the details:1.20.22 IBE Tax Credit Webinar Flyer.pdf
- Planning for Private School (5:30 pm): This webinar is for families who are not already in private school but would like to solicit Recommended Funds prior to attending. Great for potential families!
- Tax Credit 101 (6:30 pm): This is the life of a tax credit, from donation through scholarship. Great for everyone!
- Soliciting Funds (7:30 pm): This takes a deeper dive into how to solicit for Recommended Fund Scholarships. Great for anyone who wants to focus on Recommended Funds!
Choir Club
This is an extracurricular activity held Thursdays after school beginning January 27 and open to 4th - 8th grade students.
Directed by Dr. Luis Rodriguez, choir students will explore preparing songs in both unison and parts in a variety of musical styles. The choir will participate in several school-related activities, and will also sing once a month at Sunday Mass at St. Benedict. Click the following link to complete the registration form: After School Choir Club 21-22
Sports from Coach Caradonna
Boys and girls in 7th- and 8th-grade have an opportunity to play in a double-elimination soccer tournament. The tournament runs from January 29 to (potentially) February 11. We will have one boys team and one girls team. Parents will need to contact me to sign up. All CYAA forms are required if not turned in already. The deadline to sign up is January 17.
Also, spring sports sign-ups are fast approaching. Spring sports include baseball (boys) and basketball (girls), and I am actively seeking coaches. The registration deadline for spring sports is February 4. Students who have not played a sport will need all CYAA forms turned in by the deadline date.
Irish Dance Lessons
The Bracken School of Irish Dance is happy to offer an introductory class to St. John Bosco students. Taught by SJB alumni, classes are open to boys and girls in grades K - 8. Classes will be offered on Wednesdays 3:30 - 4:30pm in the music room, beginning on January 19. Please see the following link for a video of beginning Irish dance and the flyer for more info and to register. Beginning Irish Dance Video
Trivia Night!
Grab seven of your smartest friends and come participate in the Dads’ Club 15th Annual Bosco Trivia Night. Teams of eight will compete in ten rounds of 10 questions and games and enjoy tons of fun. BYOB and your own food. Dress warm and comfy; we will be playing on the back courtyard this year under the stars and with heaters between each table. Don't miss it!
Sponsorship opportunities are available for $150. Sponsor a round of trivia with your logo displayed on the screen and company recognition. Contact Brian Wiscombe to sponsor or sign up here: Trivia Night Sign-Up.
Scrip Shop
Please note the following January 2022 events:
- Jan. 7: MLK Day; No School
- Jan. 22: Trivia Night
- Jan. 25: School Picture Retakes with All Pro Photography
- Jan. 26: Diocesan Spelling Bee
- Jan. 30 - Feb. 4: Catholic Schools Week
- Feb. 2: Open House, Science Fair, Art Show
COMMUNITY NEWS
TOMORROW, SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2022
ARIZONA FOR LIFE MARCH AND RALLY!
Join us to be a part of history with 20,000 pro-life Arizonans as we CELEBRATE LIFE at the 2022 Arizona for Life March + Rally! Bring family, friends, positive pro-life signs, tee shirts, banners and most of all... your love of LIFE!! All are welcome to this family-friendly event! Map & Parking
Football and Softball Camps
Two FREE winter sports opportunities from Seton Catholic Prep and Benedictine University are available to SJB students. Click the flyers below for all the details:
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
Stay up to date on classroom happenings by following us on Instagram @sjbbulldogs or Facebook@stjohnboscocatholicschool. We also encourage families to tag SJB on any photos or videos they post of their child(ren) from their personal social media accounts.
Until Tuesday...
Below are helpful links to information over the weekend:
School Website: https://sjbosco.org/
School Calendar: https://sjbosco.org/calendar
Faculty & Staff Contacts: https://sjbosco.org/faculty-staff
School Lunch Program: https://sjbosco.org/school-lunch
Parish Website: https://stbenedict.org/
The Bulldog Bite: Dr. Teri Pistacchio Aguiar, editor
Upcoming events are always available on our website events page.
For a more detailed list of yearly events, check the SJB website online calendar.
