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340 Manor Avenue,
Downingtown, PA 19335 610.269.8999 Fax: 610.269.2252 |
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Weekly Update
School Principal Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer. I am looking forward to the beginning of the school year. I hope you are, too! I thank you for this privilege to provide a quality Catholic education for your children. I would like to thank everyone for all they did to get the school ready for this new school year.
We have made some changes in our school over the summer. We moved the Science Lab to the old primary computer lab. All students will now have their computer classes in the main lab. The old science lab will now be used solely for Art classes. Ten SMART boards have been installed throughout the school, and we hope to add more every year. We know that these changes only make our school better!
The enclosed September calendar contains the information regarding the opening of school as well as several other activities. School begins on Tuesday, September 7. This is a change from past years. Also, please note that the beginning days of school are staggered full-days with 3:00 p.m. dismissal. CARES will begin on September 7. A sheet outlining the program is included, as is a registration form due back by mail by August 27. Our first Uniform Exchange will be held on Thursday, September 2, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the school lobby. It will be held on the first Thursday of each month thereafter.
On the first day of school, students in Grades 5-8 will report directly to their new classrooms - class assignments will be posted outside the classrooms. Students in Grades 2-4 will report to their classrooms of last year - promotion will take place after morning prayers. Kindergarten and Grade 1 instructions will be provided in a separate letter to be sent home by those teachers. Staff members will be present in the school lobby to offer assistance/direction to new students. Please be sure your child knows how he/she is getting home on the first days of school. Grades 1-3 students are asked to bring an index card indicating their method of transportation for the first week of school, as well as their method of transportation that they will normally follow. Any time there is any confusion or conflict about how your child is going home, and we cannot reach someone in a timely manner, we will keep your child at school rather than put him or her on a bus. Just a reminder - students may be dropped off at school in the morning no earlier than 7:55 a.m. The morning bell for prayers rings at 8:25 a.m. All children should be in their classrooms, things unpacked, organized and ready to begin their school day at least five minutes before that time.
EMERGENCY FORM: Please return the enclosed Emergency Form on the first day of school. This form is in addition to the one that you will fill out for the nurse's office. We will keep this in the front office at all times, and it will be most helpful at dismissal. Please make sure all information (phone numbers-home, work and cell- and e-mail, for example) is current. Please include a designated email for all school notifications in the box provided on the form.
TRANSPORTATION: Bus information is provided by the individual school districts. Downingtown, Coatesville, and Twin Valley will send a postcard with stop/time information.
STATIONERY: A list of stationery needs for each grade was distributed in June and is published on the school website. All copybooks and theme tablets, as well as a calculator for Grade 4 will be distributed on the first day of school. The cost of these items was included in the $55 Service Fee that you paid for each child earlier in the summer. Contact paper will be available for purchase during the hours of the Uniform Exchange and again in the school office the first three days of school.
CAFETERIA: Our full five-day lunch program, in our newly painted cafeteria, will continue this year. The lunches include a beverage, entrée and healthy dessert. The September menu and order form is included in this mailing. The order is due on Friday, August 31, 2010. Please MAIL orders to school by that date. No late orders will be accepted, as our order must be placed immediately. Your child will need to pack a lunch and beverage for the first full week of school. Morning pretzel sales will begin Monday, September 13.
VOLUNTEERS: All volunteers must have their clearances on file at the Parish Office before your services can be accepted. Please make sure that your clearances are current. If you need to update them, then this information is important to you as well. Links for forms and for the Safe Environment program can be found on our school website, http://www.stjoeschooldtown.org. The clearances that are required are: 1) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
2) Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
3) Certificate of Attendance - Safe Environment Training
SCHOOL UNIFORMS: The complete spring uniform is worn beginning the first day of school. The uniforms identify the students as members of St. Joseph School. Therefore, the uniforms should be worn in a manner representing a young person who has chosen to attend our Catholic school. Modesty and neatness take precedence over fashion. Skirt length is just above the knee. Please purchase a new one if your child has outgrown her skirt. REMINDER: GRADE 5 GIRLS WILL WEAR THE SKIRT WITH THE APPROPRIATE SEASONAL TOP/BLOUSE THIS YEAR. Also, trousers are to be worn properly and with a belt. Oversized, baggy, drooping trousers and/or gym pants are not permitted. A few other reminders are as follows:
--Students are asked not to return to school with bizarre, bleached, inappropriate hairdos that require cutting and/or other remedy. No students should have their hair in their eyes. Boys should not have hair below their collars. While longer hairstyles appeared to have returned, they are not part of our school dress code.
--The Bass 'dirty buc' or 'tuft' shoe is required of all students in Grades 1 - 8.
--The regulation gym uniform with the St. Joseph logo is required. Students may wear Spirit Wear as well, but no team uniforms are permitted as the gym uniform.
--Sturdy athletic shoes are worn on the day of physical education class. They are to have non-marking soles and shoelaces (no zipper, backless, or slip-ons). Socks must be white and cover the ankle (no ped-type socks).
--With the exception of one small pair of post earrings worn in the earlobes by girls only, no jewelry or bands are permitted. No jewelry at all may be worn during physical education class. Thank you for adhering to these regulations as work to have a peaceful and positive beginning.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHTS: Our Back-to-School Nights will be held during the first full week of school. Grades 6 to 8 parents will meet their teachers on Wednesday, September 15, and Grades K to 5 parents will meet on Thursday, September 16. Both nights will start with a general meeting in the Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. Following this general meeting, you will have a chance to meet with your child(ren)'s teacher(s).
We have some changes to our faculty this year. Ms. Sheena Travaglini will now have a 6th Grade Homeroom (6C). Mrs. Leann Robertson will teach 2C. Mrs. Kate Doolin will be on family leave until January, and there will be a long-term substitute for 4C. We pray for all of our faculty and staff in gratitude for all that they do every day for our children. We pray that we will continue to be blessed here at St. Joseph School!
Welcome to all of our new families. We are happy that you are now part of the St. Joseph Community. Welcome back to our returning families. May all of you enjoy these remaining days of summer.
God bless you!
Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
Please note that no personal phone numbers/contact information (unless included else where on the site) will be included on the web version of the update.
School Principal Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
August 16, 2010
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the 2010-2011 school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer. I am looking forward to the beginning of the school year. I hope you are, too! I thank you for this privilege to provide a quality Catholic education for your children. I would like to thank everyone for all they did to get the school ready for this new school year.
We have made some changes in our school over the summer. We moved the Science Lab to the old primary computer lab. All students will now have their computer classes in the main lab. The old science lab will now be used solely for Art classes. Ten SMART boards have been installed throughout the school, and we hope to add more every year. We know that these changes only make our school better!
The enclosed September calendar contains the information regarding the opening of school as well as several other activities. School begins on Tuesday, September 7. This is a change from past years. Also, please note that the beginning days of school are staggered full-days with 3:00 p.m. dismissal. CARES will begin on September 7. A sheet outlining the program is included, as is a registration form due back by mail by August 27. Our first Uniform Exchange will be held on Thursday, September 2, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the school lobby. It will be held on the first Thursday of each month thereafter.
On the first day of school, students in Grades 5-8 will report directly to their new classrooms - class assignments will be posted outside the classrooms. Students in Grades 2-4 will report to their classrooms of last year - promotion will take place after morning prayers. Kindergarten and Grade 1 instructions will be provided in a separate letter to be sent home by those teachers. Staff members will be present in the school lobby to offer assistance/direction to new students. Please be sure your child knows how he/she is getting home on the first days of school. Grades 1-3 students are asked to bring an index card indicating their method of transportation for the first week of school, as well as their method of transportation that they will normally follow. Any time there is any confusion or conflict about how your child is going home, and we cannot reach someone in a timely manner, we will keep your child at school rather than put him or her on a bus. Just a reminder - students may be dropped off at school in the morning no earlier than 7:55 a.m. The morning bell for prayers rings at 8:25 a.m. All children should be in their classrooms, things unpacked, organized and ready to begin their school day at least five minutes before that time.
EMERGENCY FORM: Please return the enclosed Emergency Form on the first day of school. This form is in addition to the one that you will fill out for the nurse's office. We will keep this in the front office at all times, and it will be most helpful at dismissal. Please make sure all information (phone numbers-home, work and cell- and e-mail, for example) is current. Please include a designated email for all school notifications in the box provided on the form.
TRANSPORTATION: Bus information is provided by the individual school districts. Downingtown, Coatesville, and Twin Valley will send a postcard with stop/time information.
STATIONERY: A list of stationery needs for each grade was distributed in June and is published on the school website. All copybooks and theme tablets, as well as a calculator for Grade 4 will be distributed on the first day of school. The cost of these items was included in the $55 Service Fee that you paid for each child earlier in the summer. Contact paper will be available for purchase during the hours of the Uniform Exchange and again in the school office the first three days of school.
CAFETERIA: Our full five-day lunch program, in our newly painted cafeteria, will continue this year. The lunches include a beverage, entrée and healthy dessert. The September menu and order form is included in this mailing. The order is due on Friday, August 31, 2010. Please MAIL orders to school by that date. No late orders will be accepted, as our order must be placed immediately. Your child will need to pack a lunch and beverage for the first full week of school. Morning pretzel sales will begin Monday, September 13.
VOLUNTEERS: All volunteers must have their clearances on file at the Parish Office before your services can be accepted. Please make sure that your clearances are current. If you need to update them, then this information is important to you as well. Links for forms and for the Safe Environment program can be found on our school website, http://www.stjoeschooldtown.org. The clearances that are required are: 1) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check
2) Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
3) Certificate of Attendance - Safe Environment Training
SCHOOL UNIFORMS: The complete spring uniform is worn beginning the first day of school. The uniforms identify the students as members of St. Joseph School. Therefore, the uniforms should be worn in a manner representing a young person who has chosen to attend our Catholic school. Modesty and neatness take precedence over fashion. Skirt length is just above the knee. Please purchase a new one if your child has outgrown her skirt. REMINDER: GRADE 5 GIRLS WILL WEAR THE SKIRT WITH THE APPROPRIATE SEASONAL TOP/BLOUSE THIS YEAR. Also, trousers are to be worn properly and with a belt. Oversized, baggy, drooping trousers and/or gym pants are not permitted. A few other reminders are as follows:
--Students are asked not to return to school with bizarre, bleached, inappropriate hairdos that require cutting and/or other remedy. No students should have their hair in their eyes. Boys should not have hair below their collars. While longer hairstyles appeared to have returned, they are not part of our school dress code.
--The Bass 'dirty buc' or 'tuft' shoe is required of all students in Grades 1 - 8.
--The regulation gym uniform with the St. Joseph logo is required. Students may wear Spirit Wear as well, but no team uniforms are permitted as the gym uniform.
--Sturdy athletic shoes are worn on the day of physical education class. They are to have non-marking soles and shoelaces (no zipper, backless, or slip-ons). Socks must be white and cover the ankle (no ped-type socks).
--With the exception of one small pair of post earrings worn in the earlobes by girls only, no jewelry or bands are permitted. No jewelry at all may be worn during physical education class. Thank you for adhering to these regulations as work to have a peaceful and positive beginning.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHTS: Our Back-to-School Nights will be held during the first full week of school. Grades 6 to 8 parents will meet their teachers on Wednesday, September 15, and Grades K to 5 parents will meet on Thursday, September 16. Both nights will start with a general meeting in the Cafeteria at 7:00 p.m. Following this general meeting, you will have a chance to meet with your child(ren)'s teacher(s).
We have some changes to our faculty this year. Ms. Sheena Travaglini will now have a 6th Grade Homeroom (6C). Mrs. Leann Robertson will teach 2C. Mrs. Kate Doolin will be on family leave until January, and there will be a long-term substitute for 4C. We pray for all of our faculty and staff in gratitude for all that they do every day for our children. We pray that we will continue to be blessed here at St. Joseph School!
Welcome to all of our new families. We are happy that you are now part of the St. Joseph Community. Welcome back to our returning families. May all of you enjoy these remaining days of summer.
God bless you!
Sister Catherine Irene Masino, IHM
Please note that no personal phone numbers/contact information (unless included else where on the site) will be included on the web version of the update.