Sr. Jean's Blog

March Newsletter

Dear St. John Fisher Families,

Can you believe that tomorrow is the end of the second trimester!   Yesterday’s hint of beautiful Spring weather confirmed that the year is flying.     Given the very busy schedules that all of you have with so many activities, commitments and obligations, I hope you can find a moment  just to appreciate how far your children have come since September and help us help them make the most of
everyday until the end of the year.

I received a wonderful note from Sister Kathy Brazda after she and Michelle White visited all of the students to tell them more about our Lenten Project, Neighbor to Neighbor.   Kathy was impressed not only with the questions asked, but with the genuine care our students at every grade level  expressed for the people who are served by both the Tolton Center and Taller de Jose.  Please continue to encourage your students to make small sacrifices, do the extra chore, or skip a slurpee so that they can fill the mission boxes each
should have at home.   Thank you for modeling the compassion and care that are our school goals this year and that will make this a successful venture.

Thanks also for your generous support of the “Save Your Soles” shoe collection.  Our scouts collected more than five hundred pairs of shoes and then worked at the warehouse for many hours to help sort and pack the shoes.   It was another wonderful lesson in being
“neighbor”.

Our eighth graders celebrated Confirmation on Saturday.   Each has spent much time and “contemplation” on this important milestone in their faith development.   Their essays about why they selected a particular confirmation sponsor, why they chose their confirmation name, and their interviews with Father Bob demonstrated that they were ready to make a commitment to be Catholic leaders in the future.   We can be very proud of their efforts and of the fact that each was accepted into their high school of first choice.  Many have qualified for partial scholarships because of their performance on the entrance exam.   A good number have been selected for Honors Programs at the local high schools.   Congratulations to them and to their families.

The two February “Pack the House Days”  were great fun.   The athletic programs offered to SJF students are THE BEST.   As one who
didn’t know until long past eighth grade that a dribble was anything but what appears on a baby’s bib, it is amazing to see the skills our young athletes acquire from Saturday Morning Soccer through inter-scholastic competition.  Thanks to all who dedicate so much time to ensure our program remains strong.

he main fundraiser for our Athletic Program is coming up on March 10.   PASSPORTS is a mini trip around the world with flavors and unique beverages that would be the envy of Taste of Chicago.   A terrific band provides phenomenal background and dancing music.  Please gather neighbors and friends and come to a most enjoyable event.  More information is on the website.   Hope to see you
there.

The brain waves at school will be exponentially increased next week as the third, fifth, and seventh graders take the Terra Nova
Tests.   These standardized tests are mandated by the Office of Catholic Schools.  Although they provide a single day snapshot of individual student performance, equally important is the curriculum information we gain as we analyze the vast amount of data that we receive from the tests.   If you have a third, fifth, or seventh grader, please be sure they are well rested and have a good breakfast each day.

The parish Lenten Program has something for everyone.   Many of you were here on Tuesday night to hear Avis Clendenen’s powerful and haunting presentation on the power of forgiveness.  Next Tuesday, March 6, our theme shifts to music and we welcome Irish tenor, Gavin Coyle for a concert in Church.   Gavin’s music “soothes the soul” and is a perfect way to relax and enjoy an hour of both Irish and popular music.

On Tuesday, March 13, we will have the annual St. Patrick’s Day parish mass and soda bread reception.   Mass is at 7:30.

The parish reconciliation service is on March 20.

All of the students from grades 3-8 will have the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation on one of the Wednesdays of March.

We are very excited about this year’s book fair which begins on Sunday, March 25 after our annual Grandparents’ Mass.   The Family School Association has evaluated the fair and come up with some great new ideas to encourage our readers.   Books always make great gifts for children (and adults) of all ages.   Look for much more information about the book fair in the weeks ahead.

One of the most difficult parts of my job is to review tuition accounts at various times of the year.  Please understand that we try to be patient and, if there are circumstances that prohibit timely payments, we want to be able to help.   However, as the year progresses, some accounts are quite large and are a concern if we are to meet our very tight budget.   It is imperative to let me know if you will not be able to catch up soon with any delinquent account.   Although we never want to embarrass a child by holding a report card, we may be forced to hold report cards next week  if we have not heard from those who have delinquent accounts.    Thanks as always for your attention to this very important matter.

I mentioned in a recent Friday Thoughts that my Lenten Mantra was the pre-school mission statement:   “Are you being loving and kind?”    I see so many examples of loving and kind deeds every day here at SJF.   Parents sacrificing hours of time to check homework, drive to practice, be their child’s cheerleader.   Children who share lunches and pencils and try to make ours a bully-free environment, teachers who never count the cost of coming early or staying late to help one of their students who is struggling,  food trains that miraculously appear when one of our families needs a bit of help.   I am both encouraged and challenged to try to be my own best self and be a bit more loving and kind each day.   Watch your wee ones…they set a great example!

Happy Lent!

P.S.  Mrs. Funk just came in with the grand totals from this year’s “We Love to Read” Winter Reading Competition.  First place prize goes to the 2^nd and 6^th grade team who read more than 120,000 pages!!!   The combined number of pages read by the entire school is:  453,509!!!

Congratulations to all.
May reading every day be a life-long habit!!!

Happy Catholic Schools Week!  Although Hallmark has not capitalized on the concept, all at SJF are having a grand time celebrating the values and vision of our schools.   Many, many thanks to all who were able to attend the family mass on Sunday.   It was great to see so many new and veteran Falcons.   I was so proud of our Kindergarten “choir” who led the blessing song so beautifully and of the others who extended the blessing from their places in Church.   It was a memory making moment for all.

Monday, 700 of us danced to the music of the St. Rita High School Band.  Their spirit was contagious.  Tomorrow, the Jesse White Tumblers will be here and on Friday “Fingertips”, a one woman music show starring Katie Quick will be here for two performances.  Later that night, Moms and their sons are invited to Kane Hall for “Bingo” and other events.   The Mother-Son Bingo Friday night will be a great hit … tickets are now sold out!

Our second graders celebrated their First Reconciliation last week.   It is always such a privilege and grace to be in the presence of these young penitents when they literally skip to the altar to share their hearts with one of our priests in confession.   Another memory maker for sure.

I am still trying to keep a poinsettia plant alive at my house and realize that we begin Lent in just a few weeks!   The February Calendar has many special events including the celebration of Confirmation for our eighth graders on Saturday, Feb. 25.    Our eighth graders have prepared well for this important step in their life’s faith development.  Our parish can be very proud of their efforts.

All are invited to the gym on Saturday, Feb. 11, for Pack the House Night, celebrating the many athletic teams that bring such vitality to our school.  There will be games most of the day, so look for details on the website.   This is a good time to say thanks to all who help make the athletic program at SJF so accessible to the hundreds who participate.  The Board, the coaches, the concession stand workers, the loyal fans and parents who chauffeur, cheer, and encourage after a missed shot or soft volleyball hit, all contribute to one of the strongest programs in the Archdiocese.  I am grateful not only for their commitment to the program but also their strong support of school policies that help our kids understand how important it is that they be student athletes who balance their time well and represent their school and family values both on and off the playing field.

The IHSA Wrestling Regionals are being held at Marist Saturday at 10 a.m.  Several of our alum will be participating, so you may want to cheer your favorite high school team at this event.

Registrations for our pre-school and kindergarten programs are coming in quickly.   Please tell neighbors and friends who might be thinking about coming to our school that registration is now open to the general public and that because of the popularity and variety of programs offered, we anticipate full numbers.   If they have questions, please encourage them to call me.  Registration papers can be downloaded from the website (under the back pack section) and returned to school.

On Tuesday, February 22, Dr. Avis Clendenen from St. Xavier University will be the guest speaker for the beginning of our Lenten Program this year. Avis will speak on the meaning of forgiveness using a powerful story from her own life experience.   I think this evening will be very thought provoking and well worth your time.

Like yours, our budget at this time of the year is especially tight.  Tardy tuition, (probably because of the holidays) makes it difficult for us to keep up with bills that are regular, and never tardy.  If you are a bit behind, please do your best to catch up as soon as possible.  Please let me know if we can help in any way.

At the risk of redundancy, I am attaching an article from this week’s bulletin about Catholic Schools.   It is an attempt to summarize our goals for the school and our gratitude for the privilege of partnering with you to provide the best for our kids.

The Girl Scouts in our parish and school are collecting shoes for the “Share Your Sole” project.  A flyer describing the program should be in your child’s back pack.   Gently used gym shoes, athletic shoes, “dress shoes” of any size are being collected to be cleaned and sent to children in need.    We will have boxes available for the collection.  Thanks in advance.

Last year at this time we were shoveling our way through the twenty one inches of snow…Enjoy this very mild winter and the graces and blessings of each day.