Saint Paul School 250 James Street Burlington, NJ Education for Tomorrow, Faith for a Lifetime. January 17, 2018

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1 From the Principal Dear Saint Paul School Families, There was a very compassionate and reverent funeral mass celebration on Saturday, January 13 th for Miss Anna Jones. I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for their help and efforts with the beautiful funeral and reception. It was a very uplifting and moving spiritual funeral mass with so many priests and deacons. And also present were past students from the school who participated in the mass. In addition, the altar rosary group honor guard was very respectful and reverent to such a special person as Anna Jones. The reception was wonderful with all the food and desserts and the people who took the time to set up such a pretty setting with the candles and the baby s breath flowers in the center of the table. To my teachers and support staff who took hours to make displays of memorable pictures and quotes from our students that allow all of us to look at the service and mission of Anna over so many years. The St. Katharine Drexel and St. Paul School community have a very special person looking over us in heaven. Anna Jones will always be a part of all of us. The school staff is planning for Catholic Schools week which will take place the week of January 28 th. This will be a tremendous opportunity for the St. Paul School community to demonstrate to others what a great school community we have. There will be a calendar of events that everyone can participate. Please come out and celebrate Catholic Schools week with us and please introduce others to the quality academic and spiritual environment that St. Paul School has to offer. In Catholic Schools, we are demonstrating as it is written in Romans 10:9 if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart 1 that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. In your support of Catholic Schools you are empowering Jesus in the lives of the families and students who attend the school. We show respect and a sense of confidence to act in ways as it is stated in Phil.2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Your actions show of support by allowing your children to come to a Catholic School environment points to your empowerment of Jesus in your families lives. One of the great and deep mysteries of the Catholic faith is the Incarnation in which humanity and divinity exist, in their fullness, in perfect relationship to one another. In Catholic Schools we actively speak and give explanation of the Incarnation. We learn and discuss Jesus in our everyday events and lessons. The God who created the universe, humbled himself to become a baby so that we can all again have a relationship with him. Catholic Schools help to promote and enrich students to foster a relationship with Jesus Christ. The Incarnation as stated by Bishop Robert Barron in his series on Catholicism a Journey to the Heart of the Faith, is, along with the Trinity, a central dogmas of the Church and a foundational claim of Christianity. Belief in the true Incarnation of the Son of God, the Catechism states, is the distinctive sign of Christian faith, for it is an unique and altogether singular event. By supporting and having your children attend Catholic School you are being a witness to the Incarnation. Jesus does not allow for any middle ground, states Bishop Robert Barron. When it comes to who Jesus Christ is, he is the Truth, the Way and the Life Jn. 14:6. We are in the mission

2 of supporting and building the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus states whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters, Matt 12:30. You are partnering with Jesus Christ when you support his work in Catholic Schools. Thank you. God Bless, Deacon Joseph Rafferty Principal NJHS will have a meeting today, Wednesday, January 17th from 3:15-4:15 pm. I will continue to circulate through the classrooms but please know that if anyone needs to talk as we grieve for Miss Jones, my door is always open. * Calendar Update * Due to the March for Life this Friday, there will not be a chapel mass. Chapel masses will resume next Friday, January 26th with 3rd grade. Our next school-wide mass will be on February 2nd for Catholic Schools Week. This mass will be at 10:00am. All are welcome to attend. Student Rotarian of the Month Congratulations to Blake Thorne for being named Rotarian Student of the Month for December. Blake has been selected by his teachers for his dedication to his academics as well as his remarkable conduct. He shows exceptional leadership as a Classroom helper. He plays on the Saint Paul Varsity Basketball team. He also is a member of Robotics Club and the Yearbook Club. Blake will be recognized at the Rotary luncheon tomorrow, January 18 th, with Deacon Rafferty and Mrs. Krieger. We are very proud of Blake! Congratulations! Open House 2018 Below are upcoming Open House dates during Catholic Schools Week. If you cannot make one of these dates, please call to find a time that is convenient for you! We look forward to seeing you! Sunday, January 28th 1pm - 3pm Tuesday, January 30th 1pm - 2:45pm Thursday, February 1st 6:30pm - 8pm Pre-school Only February 1st 9:30-11:00am, (Parents and children are invited to a special class snack). Please see the schedule of Catholic Schools Week Events in today s Weekly News. 2

3 Saint Paul Scrip Program Dress Down Day! On Friday, January 19 th, Saint Paul School will have an Eagles dress down day. Students who wish to participate must bring in a $1.00 donation. Students are allowed to wear an Eagles shirt or a dark green shirt and jeans. The $1.00 donation will be used toward the Community Day of Service in April. Go Eagles! Please stop by and see us at the Scrip table for all your gift card needs (Fridays from 8-9:30am or 3-4:30pm). Every purchase of a gift card helps to raise money for SPS and off set tuition. Thank you, Sue Turpin. PTA News Family Bingo Night! All St. Paul School families are invited to attend Family Bingo on Friday, January 26th (6:30-8:00pm). This is a fun event planned by PTA to kick-off Catholic Schools week. There will be bingo games, prizes and snacks for the entire family. If interested in attending, please complete and return the form found in today s Weekly News. Save the Date Save the Date for our annual St. Paul Strong Beef N Beer, February 24, There's going to be food, music and you can win some great prizes! You can help by selling tickets. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and shows why we are St. Paul Strong! Look for more details to follow. 3 Pretzels will be on sale this Friday morning, Jan. 19, for $1.00 each. Proceeds of this Sale Please Read: 8th grade's summer reading was Little Princes by Conor Grennan. It was a memoir about his experience volunteering at an orphanage in Nepal. During this time, he realized that the kids in the orphanage had been trafficked for money, and was determined to reunite them with their families. Since that time, he has founded Next Generation Nepal, which runs rescue missions for kids like the ones in the books, houses the kids while people are sent to find their families, and reunites the kids with their families. Our 8th grade class is going to sell pretzels for the next two months to live out the corporal work of mercy: ransom the captive. 8 th Grade Class Goal: Raise enough money to reunify a rescued child with their family, to find their family, and to help reestablish the connections between family members. This cost is $335 for one child for one year. The proceeds will go to Next Generation Nepal.

4 Crazy Shoe Day Alert! Volunteer Needed Over the past few years, SPS has been hosting 2 blood drives a year and we would like to keep this collaboration for future blood drives. We are looking for a volunteer to take over as the contact person and/or liaison with Red Cross to organize the blood drives. If you are interested, please contact Sue Turpin at smcturpin@comcast.net. Support the 8th grade class trip and wear your crazy shoes on Friday, January 26th! Send in $2 to the attention of Lucy Tomczynski by January 25th! Indicate your child s name and grade with donation. This is a great addition to kicking off Catholic schools week and all the fun that is ahead! Kick off Catholic Schools Week with Saint Paul School! The 8th Grade Class is hosting a Fundraising Roller Skating Party on Sunday, January 28th at The Holiday Skating Center, Creek Rd, Delanco from 5:30 7:30pm. Come out and have fun! Please use the attached order form/flyer to reserve your spot in today s Weekly News. at SPS Our inaugural SPS Girls on the Run program was such a success we are going to take a run at it again this Spring with our 6-8 grade students by launching a GOTR Heart & Sole program. We would like to add one more coach to our group too. If you or someone you know would have any interest in helping with this awesome program that is empowering and enriching for young women in our SPS community and beyond, please reach out to Molly Logan (molly1220@comcast.net) or Kerri Chewning (kchewning@archerlaw.com). No running experience necessary! 4

5 Service Hour Opportunity for Confirmation Candidates: We are also in need of aides & monitors during our class time on Monday (6-7:15 pm) and Wednesdays (5:45 7:00 pm). This is a great opportunity to fulfill your Confirmation service hour requirement! Burlington Township High School Open House For Parents and 8th Grade Students planning to Attend BTHS in September 2018 When: Thursday, January 25, 2018, 6:00 7:15 PM Where: BTHS Performing Arts Center Topics: High School s Vision, Graduation Requirements, PARCC, Course Selection Process, Co-Curricular Activities, Academic Presentations If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Del Prato in the Religious Education Office by kdelprato@stkatharinedrexel-nj.org or call , ext Retreat for all Confirmation Candidates is scheduled for Saturday, March 3 rd from 10 am 3:45 pm followed by 4:00 Mass at All Saints Church. The retreat is mandatory for all Confirmation candidates and is an incredible day of music, fun and games that will deepen your beliefs in the faith and strengthen your love for Christ! Cabin Fever The Burlington County Historical Society invites you to an indoor camping adventure. Attendees will go hiking through the museum, compete in a winter shelter design challenge, enjoy s mores and much more! Cabin Fever will be held this Saturday, January 20, 2:00-4:00pm at the Children s History Center (454 Lawrence Street & 457 High Street). To reserve, please call x1 or burlcohistsocprograms@verizon.net. For more information, please see the flyer in today s Weekly News. The school year has been amazing so far! Our yearbook club is working hard capturing all those special moments. To order your yearbook, go to and enter our school code: SPS Bingo Don t forget Bingo this Sunday, January 21, 2018! Come out and try your luck! If you or someone you know would like to sponsor our weekly Bingo, please contact Matt at

6 Wednesday, February 7: NJHS Meeting, 3:15-4:15pm Looking Ahead Wednesday, January 17: NJHS Meeting, 3:15-4:15pm Thursday, January 18: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Monday, January 22: Rosary Group, 3-4pm Yearbook Club, 3:15-4:15pm Thursday, February 8: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Monday, February 12: Rosary Group, 3-4pm Science Club Grades K-2, 3-4pm Tuesday, February 13: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm Wednesday, February 14: Science Club Grades 3-4, 3-4pm Tuesday, January 23: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm Thursday, January 25: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Friday, January 26: Crafty Kids Club, 3-4pm Trimester 2 progress reported Monday, January 29: Rosary Group, 3-4pm Science Club Grades K-2, 3-4pm Tuesday, January 30: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm Student Council Meeting - Exec, 7:25-7:55am Wednesday, January 31: Science Club Grades 3-4, 3-4pm Thursday, February 1: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Friday, February 2: Catholic Schools Week Mass at 10am. All are welcome to attend. Monday, February 5: Rosary Group, 3-4pm Yearbook Club, 3:15-4:15pm Tuesday, February 6: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm 6