Sr. Jean's Blog

Dear St. John Fisher Families,

I hope that the frigid weather that preceded our Christmas break will not be a dramatic foreshadowing of a nasty January. Typically, this is a good month to accomplish many things and make great strides as we hit the half-way point in the school year.

I also hope that each of you and your families had a wonderful Christmas. We left for break with wonderful memories of the award winning Christmas productions so carefully orchestrated by our pre-schoolers and Kindergarten students. Even in these difficult financial times, all in attendance had to be filled with the spirit of Christmas as they witnessed the sincerity and limitless joy of our young actors and singers. Our annual Christmas Prayer service had to be postponed because of the Friday school cancellation, but we are re-scheduling for "Little Christmas". (Every eighth grader has to have the opportunity to sing the now famous "Children Go Where I Send Thee" as part of their SJF legacy. The second graders Christmas Pageant at the Christmas Eve Masses is always beautiful and a wonderful reminder of the GIFT of family, of children and of Christmas Hope.

You provided Christmas Joy and Hope to countless people because of your immense generosity. We sent hundreds of beautiful toys to families served by Catholic Charities. The driver who comes to pick up the toys is always astounded by the number and quality of the gifts our families contribute. Additionally, the simple request for a single box of wrapped cookies or crackers for the homeless was fulfilled beyond belief! Again we sent box loads of food to those who are packing lunches for men and women who have so little. What a privilege I have each year to witness the generosity of so many acts of kindness and generosity. Thank you for always finding the time and the means to reach out to others.

January is a very important month for our graduates. They will take the high school placement test on January 10. We are blessed that our students have so many wonderful options from which to select a school that best addresses their individual interests and talents. The graduates are also in the final preparation days for Confirmation and will be formally introduced to the parish community at a special liturgy on Sunday, Jan. 11. Please keep these young men and women in your special prayers in the weeks ahead. I am proud to say that they are a talented and very delightful group of people who will be a blessing to the schools fortunate to have them as freshmen next year and to our church who will look to them for leadership in the not too distant future. I think they will be a group in whom we will continue to take great pride.

January is also the month to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This year we are especially happy to welcome multi-generation families to the all school family Mass on January 25 at 10:00. Mass will be followed by tours of the school and light refreshments. If you have aunts, uncles, cousins, or other relatives who are SJF grads, please invite them to come.

With worries about the economy filling the newspapers each day, I am more aware than ever of tight budgets. Like you, we are doing our best to meet our school budget goals even as costs escalate. We are very aware that if the school is to continue to grow and improve in all areas, we need to find additional funding both for scholarship assistance and to maintain and improve already existing school programs. In order to accomplish that goal, we have several interesting initiatives that are starting this month. HOOPSMANIA is a fun way to build great interest in Basketball's March Madness. The purchase of a single $20.00 ticket gives you multiple teams to watch as they move forward in the playoffs. You can win money based on the number of games your team wins. Last year, SJF ticket holders won more than $3,200. Additionally, top selling students won Wii systems, ipods, and other electronics. MOST important, ALL SJF students were winners because profits from last year's Hoops Mania helped us refurbish a newly equipped science and computer lab.

We have simplified the process for ticket purchases this year hoping that families might be willing to sell tickets at work or give them as gifts to sports fans. A complete description of the program will be sent home shortly. If you have additional questions or suggestions for increasing ticket sales, please email Mrs. Reed or Mrs. Maxwell. Thanks in advance for helping with this project.

We are also sponsoring a Super Bowl Party this year. Although hopes for the Bears have vanished, the party will be great fun with good food, and many opportunities to win cash and other prizes. Gather neighbors, friends and others to reserve a spot to watch the game on our version of the jumbo-tron in Kane Hall. In conjunction with the party, we are raffling off a 42 inch plasma television that does everything but make popcorn! Again, more specific information will follow shortly. Proceeds from this event will help launch the newly established SJF Scholarship Fund which is being created to help our families who might be experiencing financial difficulties.

As I make these requests for your support, I am aware that although we are asking for your help, no additional fundraising at school is mandatory. Funds from these events are used to provide the "extras" not covered by the operating budget. Our technology program remains the best in the Archdiocese. (High school teachers have been known to comment to their classes that they recognize which of their students is from SJF because of their superior technology abilities.) Unlike many other schools, we still have strong music and art programs. Our goal is to maintain and continue to improve all of the academic and extracurricular opportunities that are available for the students. Again, thank you for your consistent support of our efforts.

Even though we have not reached the half way point in this school year, we are busy planning for next year. Part of our planning will be focused on our early childhood programs in kindergarten and pre-school. We are very aware that there are a number of excellent options available from which to select a program that meets the individual needs of your children. We want to be sure that our programs continue to provide the social, emotional, and academic blend that will provide the best possible foundation for future school success. Next week you will be receiving an important survey. Please complete it if you have a child ready for pre- school or kindergarten, please also tell neighbors and friends who might be thinking about St. John Fisher to download the survey from our school website and return it to school. We value your input, recommendations and opinions as we plan for the future.

January provides wonderful opportunities for new beginnings and resolutions. In addition to the perennial weight-loss, more exercise, fewer sweets promises, encourage your child to see what he or she might be able to do to make the world a more gentle, a more kind, and a more caring place. May the spirit of Christmas which filled our homes and hearts during the last few weeks linger into the cold days and nights ahead. Happy New Year!

Dear St. John Fisher Families,

I hope that the frigid weather that preceded our Christmas break will not be a dramatic foreshadowing of a nasty January. Typically, this is a good month to accomplish many things and make great strides as we hit the half-way point in the school year.

I also hope that each of you and your families had a wonderful Christmas. We left for break with wonderful memories of the award winning Christmas productions so carefully orchestrated by our pre-schoolers and Kindergarten students. Even in these difficult financial times, all in attendance had to be filled with the spirit of Christmas as they witnessed the sincerity and limitless joy of our young actors and singers. Our annual Christmas Prayer service had to be postponed because of the Friday school cancellation, but we are re-scheduling for "Little Christmas". (Every eighth grader has to have the opportunity to sing the now famous "Children Go Where I Send Thee" as part of their SJF legacy. The second graders Christmas Pageant at the Christmas Eve Masses is always beautiful and a wonderful reminder of the GIFT of family, of children and of Christmas Hope.

You provided Christmas Joy and Hope to countless people because of your immense generosity. We sent hundreds of beautiful toys to families served by Catholic Charities. The driver who comes to pick up the toys is always astounded by the number and quality of the gifts our families contribute. Additionally, the simple request for a single box of wrapped cookies or crackers for the homeless was fulfilled beyond belief! Again we sent box loads of food to those who are packing lunches for men and women who have so little. What a privilege I have each year to witness the generosity of so many acts of kindness and generosity. Thank you for always finding the time and the means to reach out to others.

January is a very important month for our graduates. They will take the high school placement test on January 10. We are blessed that our students have so many wonderful options from which to select a school that best addresses their individual interests and talents. The graduates are also in the final preparation days for Confirmation and will be formally introduced to the parish community at a special liturgy on Sunday, Jan. 11. Please keep these young men and women in your special prayers in the weeks ahead. I am proud to say that they are a talented and very delightful group of people who will be a blessing to the schools fortunate to have them as freshmen next year and to our church who will look to them for leadership in the not too distant future. I think they will be a group in whom we will continue to take great pride.

January is also the month to celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This year we are especially happy to welcome multi-generation families to the all school family Mass on January 25 at 10:00. Mass will be followed by tours of the school and light refreshments. If you have aunts, uncles, cousins, or other relatives who are SJF grads, please invite them to come.

With worries about the economy filling the newspapers each day, I am more aware than ever of tight budgets. Like you, we are doing our best to meet our school budget goals even as costs escalate. We are very aware that if the school is to continue to grow and improve in all areas, we need to find additional funding both for scholarship assistance and to maintain and improve already existing school programs. In order to accomplish that goal, we have several interesting initiatives that are starting this month. HOOPSMANIA is a fun way to build great interest in Basketball's March Madness. The purchase of a single $20.00 ticket gives you multiple teams to watch as they move forward in the playoffs. You can win money based on the number of games your team wins. Last year, SJF ticket holders won more than $3,200. Additionally, top selling students won Wii systems, ipods, and other electronics. MOST important, ALL SJF students were winners because profits from last year's Hoops Mania helped us refurbish a newly equipped science and computer lab.

We have simplified the process for ticket purchases this year hoping that families might be willing to sell tickets at work or give them as gifts to sports fans. A complete description of the program will be sent home shortly. If you have additional questions or suggestions for increasing ticket sales, please email Mrs. Reed or Mrs. Maxwell. Thanks in advance for helping with this project.

We are also sponsoring a Super Bowl Party this year. Although hopes for the Bears have vanished, the party will be great fun with good food, and many opportunities to win cash and other prizes. Gather neighbors, friends and others to reserve a spot to watch the game on our version of the jumbo-tron in Kane Hall. In conjunction with the party, we are raffling off a 42 inch plasma television that does everything but make popcorn! Again, more specific information will follow shortly. Proceeds from this event will help launch the newly established SJF Scholarship Fund which is being created to help our families who might be experiencing financial difficulties.

As I make these requests for your support, I am aware that although we are asking for your help, no additional fundraising at school is mandatory. Funds from these events are used to provide the "extras" not covered by the operating budget. Our technology program remains the best in the Archdiocese. (High school teachers have been known to comment to their classes that they recognize which of their students is from SJF because of their superior technology abilities.) Unlike many other schools, we still have strong music and art programs. Our goal is to maintain and continue to improve all of the academic and extracurricular opportunities that are available for the students. Again, thank you for your consistent support of our efforts.

Even though we have not reached the half way point in this school year, we are busy planning for next year. Part of our planning will be focused on our early childhood programs in kindergarten and pre-school. We are very aware that there are a number of excellent options available from which to select a program that meets the individual needs of your children. We want to be sure that our programs continue to provide the social, emotional, and academic blend that will provide the best possible foundation for future school success. Next week you will be receiving an important survey. Please complete it if you have a child ready for pre- school or kindergarten, please also tell neighbors and friends who might be thinking about St. John Fisher to download the survey from our school website and return it to school. We value your input, recommendations and opinions as we plan for the future.

January provides wonderful opportunities for new beginnings and resolutions. In addition to the perennial weight-loss, more exercise, fewer sweets promises, encourage your child to see what he or she might be able to do to make the world a more gentle, a more kind, and a more caring place. May the spirit of Christmas which filled our homes and hearts during the last few weeks linger into the cold days and nights ahead. Happy New Year!