Saint Paul School 250 James Street Burlington, NJ Education for Tomorrow, Faith for a Lifetime. January 3, 2018

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1 From the Principal Dear Saint Paul School Families, The New Year brings so many different resolutions and opportunities to review your life. One of the things I like to review is something that I read many years ago in the newspaper, printed in the Courier Post in the Dear Abby section by Jeanne Phillips. It has become my tradition to try to refocus the direction of my life around some of these very simple concepts. It is entitled Just for Today : JUST FOR TODAY: I will live through this only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all my problems at once. I know that I can do something for 24 hours that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime. JUST FOR TODAY: I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine. JUST FOR TODAY: I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot. JUST FOR TODAY: I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer. JUST FOR TODAY: I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I ll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly and not interrupt when someone else is talking. I will refrain from improving anybody but myself. JUST FOR TODAY: I will do something positive to improve my health. If I m a smoker, I ll quit. If I am overweight, I will eat healthfully if only just for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it s only around the block. 1 JUST FOR TODAY: I will gather the courage to do what is right and take responsibility for my own actions. Spiritual guidelines of Saint Francis Assisi help me to enlighten and guide me to a quality relationship with God and the community in which I live and work. St. Francis of Assisi Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. St. Paul School is a very special place; it is different due to the fact that Jesus Christ is taught by the actions of the students, families, faculty, staff and our school and parish community. The Roman Catholic faith has a rich tradition of the importance of teaching love, hope and faith by empowering individuals to become more like Jesus Christ. This weekend we will celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, which is the visit of the three Magi, wise men, from the East; guided by the star, they traveled to Bethlehem to present precious gifts to the new born King of the Jews. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they found

2 the child with Mary, his mother. They fell down and worshipped him. Matthew 2:10-11 St. Paul School is a star that reflects the Roman Catholic faith to guide the faithful toward Jesus Christ. The Magi are witnesses to the presence of Christ in the world. Their actions showed the world that Jesus Christ was important and valued and he needs to be learned about. We, the members of the St. Paul School community are also witnesses to the faith of Jesus Christ and how he makes a difference in our lives. God Bless, Deacon Joseph Rafferty NJHS will have tutoring next Wednesday from 3-4 pm. Please be sure to sign up in Mrs. Krieger s office by Tuesday at lunch. NJHS will have it s January meeting on Wednesday, the 17th until 4:15 pm. Please join us at 8:45am for our First Friday Mass on January 5 th. Father Chris and Deacon Rafferty will be celebrating the Mass. Advent Collection Boxes At the beginning of this Advent season, Advent collection boxes were sent home with every student. Please return your boxes back to school by this Friday, January 5 th. Pretzels will be on sale this Friday morning, Jan. 5, for $1.00 each. Bags are available for multiple purchase to save for later or bring home. 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. 2

3 PTA News Save the Date - 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. Saint Paul Scrip Program WELCOME 2018 with a gift card or two! We have all your gift card needs for 2018 at the Scrip table which is open in the cafeteria on Fridays from 8-9:30am or 3-4:30pm. Thank you, Sue Turpin. 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. Please use the attached order form/flyer to reserve your spot in today s Weekly News. Come out and have fun! Confirmation paperwork is due on January 10 th. Registration forms for all candidates, along with your sponsor s information, your Saint report and your letter to Fr. Chris are all due on January 10 th. If you have any questions, call the Religious Ed office asap. The forms are in the Confirmation packet that you received at the student/parent meeting in October. Service Hour Opportunity for Confirmation Candidates: The Religious Education program is looking for 8 th grade students to volunteer as aides/ assistants/monitors during our 2 nd grade Reconciliation Retreat on Saturday, January 6 th from 9 am Noon in the school cafeteria. The retreat is a lot of fun for students and volunteers! 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). If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Del Prato in the Religious Education Office by kdelprato@stkatharinedrexel-nj.org or call , ext

4 Sacramental Preparation for 2nd Grade Students Upcoming Events: First Reconciliation Retreat Saturday, January 6 th - 9:30 am to Noon in St. Paul s School cafeteria. The registration form (due by Monday, December 18 th ) is included in the handbook that was distributed at the November 14 th parent meeting. All 2 nd grade students are strongly encouraged to attend. First Reconciliation Service for all 2 nd grade students Tuesday, January 9 th - 7:00 pm in St. Paul s Church. Please plan to arrive between 6:40 and 6:50 pm so your child can receive final instructions. 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: Burlington Township High School Open House For Parents and 8th Grade Students planning to Attend BTHS in September 2018 Thursday, January 25, 2018, 6:00 7:15 PM at BTHS Performing Arts Center Topics: High School s Vision, Graduation Requirements, PARCC, Course Selection Process, Co-Curricular Activities, Academic Presentations Activity Pictures All activity pictures will be taken for students next Thursday, January 11. This will include all clubs and sports that students participate in here at St. Paul School. Cheerleaders are reminded to wear their cheer uniforms to school and bring their school uniform to change into after pictures. Basketball players should bring their basketball uniforms with them to school (including appropriate socks and sneakers) 4 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 on 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.

5 SPS Bingo is Back! Bingo will resume this Sunday, January 7, Come out and try your luck at Bingo! If you or someone you know would like to sponsor our weekly Bingo, please contact Matt at 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 Tuesday, January 23: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm Thursday, January 25: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Friday, January 26: Crafty Kids Club, 3-4pm Monday, January 29: Rosary Group, 3-4pm Science Club Grades K-2, 3-4pm Looking Ahead Thursday, January 4: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Saturday, January 6: First Penance Retreat, 9:30am 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 Monday, January 8: Rosary Group, 3-4pm Yearbook Club, 3:15-4:15pm Tuesday, January 9: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm First Penance, 7:00pm, St. Paul Church Thursday, January 11: Choir Practice, 3-4pm Friday, January 12: No School for Students, Professional Development for Staff Monday, January 15: No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Tuesday, January 16: Robotics Club, 3-4:30pm Student Council Meeting - All, 3:15-4:15pm 5