Last June St. Joseph’s learned that we were recognized by Manhattan Media as the 2008 Blackboard Award Winner for Outstanding Religious Elementary School. Manhattan Media selects a winning school that has been shown to be a vibrant, caring and challenging learning community. In 2003, Manhattan Media recognized our school with a Rising Star Award highlighting our strengths as a religious community with strong academics and hand-on learning. The Award for Outstanding Religious School recognizes the work, effort, and talents of the students, faculty, administration, and supportive community. We thank the parish and school community for supporting the great work that takes place in our school.
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A special thank you to Jannette Lopez and Thomas Staunton, parents of Aidan in Kindergarten for organizing the Parent Social last Friday. I would also like to thank all of the families and businesses who contributed so generously to make the Parent Social a great evening. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped to organize, set-up, decorate and clean-up. The delicious meal was provided by the following businesses: O’Hanlon’s, Maz Mezcal, Giovanna’s Restaurant, Tree Restaurant, Donny Brook Bar and Restaurant, and Pitmaster John/Tugboat Bell.
Each fall, St. Joseph’s School – Yorkville supports the Yorkville Common Pantry (YCP) to provide food for needy families. The annual Thanksgiving Food Drive ended November 20. If you would like to send in a monetary donation, it will be forwarded to Yorkville Common Pantry. Please make check payable to Yorkville Common Pantry and specify Turkey Money in the memo of the check. Thank you for your generosity and kind service of others. The many items donated will help to make delicious meals for those in need.
Our goal from the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce Raffle is $20,000. To date, $7,000 has been returned to the school. Please remember all tickets sold and unsold must be returned to the school office by Friday, November 21.
Thanksgiving Recess begins at dismissal on Tuesday, November 25. Pre-K 3 – Kindergarten students dismiss at 11:15 AM; Grades 1 – 8 students dismiss at 11:30 AM. School resumes on Monday, December 1. The Early Childhood Prayer Service takes place on Tuesday, November 25 at 9:00 AM. Families are invited to join us as we celebrate Thanksgiving.
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Reports cards will be distributed on Monday, November 24 and Tuesday, November 25. Report cards, and the content of the report card, will be withheld if financial obligations have not been met. If you have questions regarding financial status, please see Sister Leona.
Next Sunday, November 30, begins the liturgical season of Advent when we are asked to prepare our hearts for Jesus. Prayers during morning assembly will focus on Advent and ways we can prepare for the coming of Jesus. Please join us for a quiet moment of prayer to start and center your day.
Volunteers are needed for the Holiday Gift Wrapping at Barnes and Noble on December 5. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the school office.
Please join us for the Scholastic Book Fair, which runs from Tuesday, December 9, through Thursday, December 11, and on Sunday, December 14. The children will be assigned a time to view and purchase books. The Book Fair will accept cash, credit and check. Students may purchase raffles to win one of eleven $10.00 Scholastic gift certificates (one for each class). The winners will use the gift certificates at the Book Fair. Raffle tickets are $.25 each or 5 for a $1.00. Please return money for the raffles in an envelope marked with your child’s name and grade. The Book Fair will be open with additional hours for parents on Wednesday, December 10, from 2:30 – 4:00 PM and on Friday, December 12, from 8:15 – 11:15 AM. The brochure, which showcases some of the books available at the Scholastic Book Fair, will be sent home with the next weekly.
Volunteers are needed for the Scholastic Book Fair on the following days and times:
Monday, December 8 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, December 9, 10, and 11 during school hours
Sunday, December 14 from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Breakfast with Santa is scheduled for Sunday, December 14. All children must be chaperoned. Tickets are first come, first served.
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The School Appeal will run through the end of December. Click here to download the appeal form. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Save the Date: Under the direction of Mr. Gomes, K- 8 students will perform in the annual Holiday Concert on Friday, December 19, at 7:00 PM. This concert is a great way to celebrate the holiday season! The concert is mandatory for all students enrolled in Grades K – 8. If your child is unable to participate, he/she will be given a research topic. Information Sheets will be sent home in the next weekly.
St. Joseph’s School – Yorkville would like to commend and congratulate the Class of 2008 for their diligent work and effort. It was a banner year, with the children being accepted in their first choice diocesan schools, private schools, and specialized high schools. Members of the Class of 2008 were accepted at the following schools (abbreviated list):
Regis Marymount
Loyola Stuyvesant
Bronx Science Brooklyn Tech
Bard Early College Townsend Harris
Fordham Prep St. John’s Prep
Xavier Dominican
St. Vincent Notre Dame
St. Francis Prep Archbishop Molloy
Cardinal Spellman Cardinal Hayes
Mt. St. Michael Eleanor Roosevelt
In addition, the Class of 2008 was offered $373,100 in scholarship monies. A special mention needs to be made for one of our eighth graders who was accepted to Regis High School. Admission to Regis is highly competitive and only applicants who have demonstrated superior academic ability in elementary school are considered. Also, a special mention needs to be made for another eighth grader who was accepted at Marymount School on a prestigious Mother Butler Scholarship. We wish all the best to each and every one of our students of the Class of 2008.
Pray for us, St. Joseph
As you were called to be the guardian
Of Jesus and Mary,
So we are called to be guardians of the holy,
To nurture what is divine:
God’s grace in our hearts
And in earthly incidents and surroundings
Where the life of Jesus continues.
Joseph, faithful and true,
Help us to know and to do God’s will
As it is revealed in the depths of our being
And in the events of our lives,
Confident that in the maze of our times
We are never left to walk alone.
Amen.