NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
Our eighth-grade students celebrated their final Saint John Bosco Catholic School Mass today along with their consecration to Mary. It was a beautiful and fitting end to their SJB career. At the end of the day, the entire student body lined a pathway throughout our courtyard and cheered while parents gathered for our traditional “clap-out.” It was a grand send-off for the eighth graders who exited our front school gates for the final time as SJB students.
A few hours later we will celebrate these same students at the annual Eighth Grade Awards Banquet and Dance. It will be a festive evening at the Foothills Golf Club highlighting the achievements of these students during their years at St. John Bosco.
The capstone is the Graduation Mass and Commencement Ceremony next Wednesday, May 18 at 6:00 PM in the Saint John Bosco School courtyard. These celebrations bring closure to the students’ foundational years at SJB and they look forward to their next chapter as high school students. I am so proud of each graduate; I know that they will do well and I wish them many blessings!
Joyful blessings,
Jamie Bescak, M.Ed, Principal
Do everything in love.
SCHOOL NEWS
Ambassador Program
Bulldog Ambassadors are students who represent St. John Bosco by leading Mass and Rosary and helping prospective families learn about our amazing school! The Ambassador Program is open to sixth- through eighth-graders, and applications for the 2022-2023 school year are now being accepted.
Please fill out the application below and either EMAIL it or bring it to Mrs. Gump by Wednesday, May 25th @ 3:00 PM. In addition, once you've submitted your application, Mrs. Gump will ask your homeroom teacher to complete a teacher recommendation form. Please Note: Students who serve on Student Council are not eligible to be an ambassador. Please feel free to email Mrs. Gump with any questions.
Looking for LEGOs
SJB is preparing to upgrade both the STEM Program and the Media Room. If you have LEGOs that are taking up space in your home or are tired of stepping on them, we will be happy to take them off your hands (and feet). Please consider donating them to our STEM Program. They may be dropped off in the front office for Mr. Macdonald.
Technology Sale
Our school will be holding an end-of-year technology sale. We will have Klic-N-Print 3D printers ($50), Epson LCD Projectors ($100), and older MacBook Pro Laptops A1278 ($100). Please see next week's Bulldog Bite for the date and time of the sale. Stock is limited and it will be first-come, first-served. Questions may be directed to Mr. Macdonald.
Need Volunteer Hours?
If you have a penchant for a well-organized closet, the SJB Used Uniform Closet and/or the Lost and Found could use your talent! Stop by the school office or contact Amy Molina (480.219.4848) for details. Flexible hours!
Anton Uniforms
Purchase next year’s school uniforms now and save money! Anton Uniforms is offering 10% off SJB uniforms until May 31st. The discount code 10OFF is valid both in-store and online.
Click this link to save: Anton Uniform 10% Discount
Still Time to Order Yearbooks
There is still time to order the special 20th Anniversary Edition of the St. John Bosco Yearbook. Yearbooks ordered before the April 16 deadline will be shipped to school by May 9th. Books ordered after that deadline will be shipped to your home address.
To Purchase & Customize Your Yearbook:
1. Go to www.treering.com/validate
2. Enter your school's passcode: 1013434873754555
Any questions about ordering your yearbook may be emailed to Mrs. Krissy Bileski at KBileski@sjbosco.org.
Scrip Shop
- Wed. May 18 @ 6:00PM: 8th Grade Graduation, SJB Courtyard
- Fri. May 20: End of 3rd Trimester
- Wed. May 25 @ 8:30AM: Pre-K Graduation, SJB MPR
- Thurs. May 26 @ 12:30PM: Last Day for K - 7 Students
PARISH NEWS
Summer Teen Bible Study
Registration for Venture (Summer Teen Bible Study) has officially opened!
All students entering 6th - 12th grade in the fall are welcome, regardless of where they attend Mass.
Details, calendar, and registration form may be found here: Summer Teen Bible Study
Please note: The last day to register is Sunday, May 22nd.
Venture is the perfect way to cut down on screen time this summer, and the like-minded friends your teen will make are an incredible investment in the nourishment of his/her Catholic identity.
St. Jerome vehemently reminds us that "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ," and to know the Bible is to know a love story, a playbook for life, the greatest adventure, and the nature of God Himself. Reading Scripture is effective; it dramatically opens the heart to the movements of the Holy Spirit.
Venture is a highly engaging, practical, and desperately necessary study of the big picture of the Bible, focusing on the cohesive storyline, major characters and events, and practical application. I encourage you to take advantage of this incredible opportunity!
Please feel free to email Clare Gisla or call (480) 961-1610, ext. 307 with any questions.
Family Promise
The St. Benedict/SJB community will again provide families with food and shelter this summer through the Family Promise Ministry. This charitable program provides a “hand up” to families who are temporarily without shelter. Families utilize a Day Center where they are provided social services and shower/laundry facilities, then transported to Desert Foothills United Methodist Church, 2156 E. Liberty Ln., where they receive a hot meal and a place to spend the night. Every morning at 5:30AM, they are shuttled back to the Day Center for another day of work and school.
This is a very rewarding volunteer experience and summer is a convenient time to earn service hours. Please consider volunteering for all or part of our 2-week hosting commitment, May 29 – June 12. Volunteers are needed to provide meals, participate in after-dinner activities with the families, donate groceries, and/or be an overnight host for one night (sleep in a separate/private room).
Click the following link for more information: Family Promise Details and Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to read more about Family Promise, go to www.familypromiseaz.org. AZ Family Promise is also on Facebook.
Questions? Contact Tracy Ryan at tracyryan18@cox.net
COMMUNITY NEWS
Seton Catholic Preparatory
Plan your summer now by registering for various Seton Catholic Prep athletic camps. The following link contains a host of offerings:
Brophy College Prep
Brophy is excited to offer a full Summer Enrichment Program for rising 5th through 8th-grade boys and girls in June. Activities include sports camps, fitness classes, creative workshops, STEM and academic classes, high school prep camp, and more to keep the kids engaged, learning, and having fun this summer. Brophy Summer Enrichment Bulletin - 2022.pdf
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.
