NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
I can’t believe that Monday is the 100th day of school! It is amazing to see how much our students have grown spiritually, physically, and academically.
Thank you for your support and patience as we continue to navigate the pandemic. We are grateful to our SJB families for following our mitigation protocol. Your diligence has paid off in a way we’d never imagined — our COVID numbers are declining and, with your help, they will continue to decrease.
Some of the CDC and Maricopa County Health Department updates have been confusing regarding quarantine and isolation; thus, in order to keep us all on the same page, I’d like to clarify a few items for our community. Please click on this video link to hear/see the updated protocol.
On a brighter note, the Catholic Schools Week Committee has been eagerly planning exciting events for our 20th Annual SJB Catholic Schools Week. We will kick off the week with an assembly in the courtyard followed by a fun event each day. Students will also get to wear something special each day to celebrate the theme of the day. We have many entertaining events planned and a few surprises too! For further details see this Catholic Schools Week Schedule of Events.
Joyful blessings,
Jamie Bescak, Principal
Do everything in love.
SCHOOL NEWS
School Picture Retake Day
Please have your child(ren) wear their Mass Uniform next Tuesday, January 25th. We are trying out a new photographer for our school photos. Lou Coopey All Pro Photographers will be here on campus to take every student's picture. No need to pre-order! All Pro will send home proofs and order forms two weeks later for your review. Purchases may be made at that time, if desired.
We have heard from many parents of their frustration with our previous school photographer and would greatly appreciate your feedback about All Pro.
More information is available at (480) 830-5667.
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.
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
- Thank you, families, for your donations to the Health Office this week. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
- Our numbers in the table below are going in the right direction, despite what is happening in the rest of the county. Thank you for your cooperation.
- It is very IMPORTANT that all parents continue to screen their child daily 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 me.
- You are considered a “close contact” if you were within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 while infectious for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, regardless of vaccination status or whether masks were worn, and might need to quarantine at home for at least 5 days following your last exposure.
- If your child is a close contact and not vaccinated, after 5 full days of quarantine, he/she needs to test on day 5 or later. If your child has a negative result, is fever free for 24 hours, and other symptoms are improving, your child may return to school, but must wear a mask at all times for another 5 days.
- If you are awaiting a test and your child is asymptomatic, please keep them home until you receive the negative test results.
- If your child was diagnosed with COVID and not vaccinated, he/she must isolate for 5 days. Your child may return to school after day 5, if fever-free and symptoms are improving. There is no need to retest; however, your child will need to wear a mask at all times for another 5 days.
- If your child is fully vaccinated and was exposed to COVID, he/she is considered a close contact. Your child may return to school, but must wear a mask at all times for 10 days after exposure.
- If at any point you need clarification or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Nurse Jean or me.
- Please click on this video link to hear/see the updated protocol.
Registration Now Open for 2022 Gala!
Reserve your spot for the February 26, 2022 Gala at the Four Points by Sheraton South Mountain. The Annual Gala is the school's largest fundraiser, and a fun social event for parents. There will be a casino with raffle prizes, dinner, and a live and silent auction with some great items and experiences. Tickets are $75 each and may be purchased individually or as a table with reserve seating for 10.
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://sjbosco.org/gala
SAVE THE DATE: Re-Enrollment for 2022-2023
Re-enrollment 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 heavy volume of calls expressing interest in SJB. As such, current families are strongly advised to re-enroll early to ensure a spot for next year.
Existing families only will be sent an email Monday, January 24th, with re-enrollment instructions.
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).
2nd Bonus Incentive! Referral Program: Existing families referring a NEW family for the 2022-2023 School Year will receive a $100 credit on their tuition when the new family starts school in August.
Field Day
Field Day is one of the highlights of Catholic Schools Week for our kids and involves many willing parents to make it successful. Consider coming out to play with us! Please email Mr.Caradonna or click here to sign up to volunteer or donate water or oranges. As always, we are grateful for any contribution of your time, talent, or treasure.
Good News & Bad News from Coach Caradonna
The bad news is that the soccer tournament has been cancelled due to the delayed start of basketball tournaments. Please email Mr. Caradonna with questions.
The good news is that spring sports — boys baseball and girls basketball — start soon! Sign-up now through Feb. 4. Coaches are still needed for girls 5th/6th grade basketball. Can you help? Please email Mr. Caradonna.
Students who have not played a sport will need all CYAA forms turned in by the Feb. 4th deadline date.
Choir Club
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the number of recent absences, the start date of the after-school choir has been extended to Feb 10.
Choir Club is an after-school, extracurricular activity meeting from 3:15 - 4:00 PM on Thursdays. The Choir Club is open to all 4th - 8th grade students. Our first meeting will now be Feb 10, 2022.
Students in this club 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 a St. Benedict Sunday morning Mass (9am or 11am).
Safe Environment Training (SET)
We love our volunteers, however, all campus visitors must be up-to-date with their SET by 01/31/2022. If it has been more than a year since you were certified, your account is likely archived. In that case, please email SET coordinator Dr. Teri Aguiar or text Mrs. Debbie Smith (480.529.4828) to restore your account. PLEASE DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. We will help you log in and enable you to take the ONLINE Renewal or Foundation training. Thank you for doing your part to protect our precious children.
Scrip Shop
Please note the following 2022 events:
- 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
News From Seton Catholic Prep
Admissions
This year, SCP has had a significant increase in applications and are considering a wait list. If you would like to be included in the first round of applicants, please apply now. The deadline to apply for admission to Seton Catholic Prep is TODAY — Friday, January 21, 2022. See this flyer for step-by-step instructions.
The Make-Up High School Placement Test is TOMORROW — Saturday, January 22. Space is still available.
Sports
A free winter football camp from Seton Catholic Prep is available to SJB students. Click the following link for a flyer with details: FREE FOOTBALL CAMP
Click here for the SCP 2022 Athletic Summer Camp flyer.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Teacher Job Fair February 19
Calling all teachers interested in the mission of Catholic Education. The Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools Office is hosting its Teacher Recruitment Job Fair on February 19 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center from 9 am to Noon. Our diocese has 29 elementary schools, 31 preschools and six high schools. We are always seeking the very best educators wanting to provide a superior education in a loving, Catholic environment. This is your opportunity to interact with representatives from all of our schools with teaching openings for the 2022-2023 school year. Please register by February 12 at https://catholicschoolsphx.org/en/careers/.
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 Monday...
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
Past Bulldog Bites: https://sjbosco.org/ (beneath Principal's picture)
Upcoming events are always available on our website events page.
For a more detailed list of yearly events, check the SJB website online calendar.
