Sr. Jean's Blog

Dear St. John Fisher Families.

The first month of the new year has been quite exciting! Record cold spells, record crowds at Open House, the school population praying with the nation as a new president took the oath of office, flying tumblers in our gym...never let it be said that there is a "down time" at SJF!

We began the month with a special blessing and sendoff for the eighth graders who took their high school placement tests on January 9th. The fourth graders made "emergency kits" with candy, pencils, and other supplies for them to take to the test. Together we prayed that the sharp minds and sharp pencils they would be using for the test would help them be very successful. All will hear about their acceptance in the middle of February. I am confident this talented group of scholars will do well.

Although the school community could not go to Washington, we did celebrate the inauguration. Our activities included a lovely prayer service, an inaugural parade for some of our youngest citizens, and an opportunity for everyone to watch the actual swearing in ceremony. Some of the students have written letters to the new president or to the Obama girls, others wrote beautiful prayers, and all are excited to be part of this very important moment in history. One of our sixth graders attended the inauguration and is now our official historian for all things related to the inauguration.

Catholic Schools Week is always such great fun! It was wonderful to see so many families at Mass on Sunday and to share your enthusiasm about the amazing work the students are doing in their classrooms, the science lab, the tech centers, and the art room. We are so proud of their creativity, their insightful writing, and the progress so many are making in accelerated math and reading. Please encourage them to keep up their fine efforts.

A highlight of the week was the visit of the Jesse White Tumblers who literally flew through the air in the gym. What an amazing group of athletes. Cheers could be heard from here to Western Avenue! Mr. Jesse White himself was here and not only performed with the group but also shared brief but very inspired words with the students about goal setting and high standards. This day was a memory maker for the students.

Other Catholic Schools Week events included the all-school bingo game and two theater performances. It has been a great week to attend SJF.

If you were at Mass on Sunday, you heard the exciting news about a wonderful donation the new scholarship fund received from Ms. Louise Cadwell. As an educator her entire life, Ms. Cadwell must have inspired thousands of students for many, many years. Her estate has donated $25,000 to help fund the new SJF Scholarship Fund.

All of us are aware of this difficult economy. We are very aware that SJF families are not immune from the worries that so many are experiencing as costs continue to escalate and job security is diminished. The Archdiocese has taken a dramatic step in response to the crisis by announcing that all salaries will be frozen for the next fiscal year. Although this will be difficult for our teachers, we hope that the decision will help us build a budget for next year that is responsible and realistic and sensitive to the temporary difficulties some of our families are experiencing. At our school board meeting this month we also discussed ways to "grow" the scholarship fund to help us provide limited financial assistance to our families who have been deeply affected by the economic crisis we are experiencing. More details about our plans will be announced as they evolve.

You may also have read that the Archdiocese has is creating a fund for scholarship assistance for families where there has been a job loss. Details at this point have not been finalized, but please let me know as soon as possible if the main breadwinner in your family has lost his or her job. I want to be ready to submit whatever is required once the Archdiocesan Plan is in place.

Our first fund raiser for the scholarship fund was Sunday's Super Bowl Party. Thank you for your generous response to the raffle for the 42 inch television, for your support of the out of uniform day, and for coming to the party. Special thanks to Jackie Long and her amazing crew of volunteers who spent hours planning, gathering sponsors, and tending to every detail for the event. The party was great fun and will be very helpful as we try to expand the scholarship fund.

Another important event that will kick off this week is our Hoops Mania Project to help maintain and continue to improve our school technology and science programs. Fans who participated last year really enjoyed watching their teams progress through the Final Four. Each $20.00 ticket provides multiple opportunities to win cash prizes. (Last year we had a number of $500.00 winners.) You can help by purchasing a ticket and/or by being one of our ambassadors willing to sell tickets to others. The process is easier this year because tickets are given directly to our customers. We have some exciting prizes for student sellers. A packet of information about the project will come home this week. If you have a question or would be willing to help, please give Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs. Reed or me a call. Thanks in advance for your help.

In addition to our new scholarship program, the school and parish are working on the creation of a new outreach program that links individuals, neighbors, and families with others in the parish who might need some assistance. Called Helping Hands, Glowing Hearts, the goal of the program is to touch the hearts and lives of persons in the parish who might need some temporary assistance. Our first step is to gather volunteers who would be willing to be on our helpers' list. This new initiative affirms our parish's reputation for reaching out when ever there is a need. More information will soon be on the school website. Thanks in advance for your generous response to using helping hands to transform many hearts.

February is a special month for the second graders and eighth graders. On Saturday, Feb. 7, the eighth graders celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. Each of the students has taken their preparation for the sacrament very seriously, has done hours of service, and has carefully reflected on their decision to assume a more adult role in the Church. In a reflection they wrote together for Bishop Gustoavo, they said:
Confirmation does not represent the culmination of a journey; rather Confirmation is the start of our adult life in the Church . . . it is the extension of our choice to build a stronger faith on the foundation that our Baptism provided for us.. . . It is promoting and pursuing a Catholic life that includes living, loving, and standing up for our faith as Catholics. . Most of all, Confirmation means building on the strong foundation of our faith to become lifelong Christian leaders in the Church.

On February 18, the second graders will celebrate their first Reconciliation. This is always one of my favorite evenings of the year as I am privileged to watch the beautiful trust and faith each of the "penitents" has. The love and pride of their parents is one of those magic moments that affirm the best parts of parenting.

We are now accepting registrations for the pre-school and kindergarten for next year. If you have a neighbor or friend who might have missed the announcement about registration or has not completed the pre-school survey that is now on the school website, please have them call the school.

A few reminders:
**Report cards will be distributed at the end of February. Please remember that we need to hold the cards of students if there is an outstanding tuition balance. If you know now that your bill will not be paid, please notify me in writing on or before February 15. As stated earlier, we know that these are difficult times for many of our families and we want to be able to respond, but need appropriate information in order to do so. Requests must be in writing to be considered.

**Earlier this year we announced that in order to make our students more "mature and responsible students", we will not accept lunches, assignments, forgotten gym shoes, or the myriad items that often land on the school counter during the morning. Thanks for your excellent cooperation; however, since we returned from our Christmas break, some seem to have forgotten the new policy. Please know that your child will NEVER go hungry. The lunch program provides emergency lunches which can be "charged" for the next day. Please help us help your student to become more responsible in the days and months ahead.

Last week when a new parent came in to register his child for pre-school, I spoke to him about the investment he was making. I had just opened the mail that included a list of Honor Roll Students from Brother Rice. The list was very impressive and affirmed that our students have a strong foundation for high school success. Thank you for your strong support of our academics, our athletics, the fine arts. The challenge that President Obama gave at his inauguration to be responsible citizens in a fast changing global environment will mean not only hard choices and difficult sacrifices but also a renewed commitment to the values and ideals that will make a big difference in that world for which we together are preparing our children. It is a task well worth the investment!

March Newsletter

Dear St. John Fisher Families,

Last week at a principal's meeting, I was teased about my short-lived television career. No one was more surprised than I when John Garcia and his news crew from Channel 7 were at the front door because they learned we had to close the school because of the flu. As I said to my colleagues, we all work so hard to let the world know about high test scores, great sports programs, excellent service projects and other GOOD NEWS about our schools. I guess high fevers, deep coughs and related ailments are more interesting to the viewing public. Mr. Garcia was most impressed with our school, met some great kids who happened to be here, was very empathetic to the situation, and even called to see if the students had recovered two days later. (I must admit I watched Channel 7 for several nights after just to be sure he did not sound like he might be sick!) I am happy to report that attendance is now back to normal and the vast majority of our students and teachers seem to be well. Thank you for your patience during our epidemic and for your support of the decision to close.

Related to this incident, I learned last week that Little Company of Mary does have a special program at the hospital for children of working parents who need someone to care for their child when they must go to work. Sponsored by the pediatric department, the hospital provides the TLC needed for children who are not well enough to be in school for a day or two.

It is difficult to believe that we are at the beginning of the final trimester of the school year. I saw some wonderful report cards on Friday, and know that students are working hard to master the academic challenges they face each day. Please continue to encourage their best efforts.

Students in grades 3, 5, and 7 will be "put to the test" this week when they take the Terra Nova Tests. These standardized tests are mandated by the Archdiocese and, in addition to helping determine individual strengths and concerns for our students, the tests help us look at our curriculum to determine that it meets and surpasses goals named in State and National Standards. This year the tests will be more challenging because they have been revised and re-normed. Although there is little one can do to prepare for the tests, we do encourage you to be sure your child is well rested, has had a good breakfast, and understands the importance of taking the time to focus on the questions that are asked. This year the reading and language sections of the test are separate and more written responses at every level are required. If you have a question or concern, please call Mrs. Reed or me. We should have the scores in early May.

In addition to the start of the third trimester, we are also at the start of Lent. At Mass on Wednesday we offered several suggestions for various things students could do as individuals, as families, and as a class to make these days very special. Each child should have brought home a bank for "Operation Starfish," a program we are sponsoring to increase awareness of the needs of children in the poorest parts of Latin America. Please put the bank in a special place in your home and encourage the students to fill it by making small sacrifices (dessert one night a week, a small reward for a chore well done, one less run through McDonalds) Because we are aware that several of our own families are struggling this year, a portion of the money we collect as a parish and school will be reserved for the new scholarship fund. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for modeling for your children the importance of reaching out to help others in need.

We are also encouraging our students to come for Mass every weekend during Lent. I know that all of you have such busy schedules and that even the weekends are filled with many activities. Our invitation is to think about the ways in which you spend a single hour each week and then see if you can spend that hour at Mass. Again, thanks for the role modeling that helps our children understand priorities.

Our parish mission will be held on the Tuesday evenings of Lent and will feature excellent speakers. On March 10, Father Bill Kenneally who has a wonderful reputation throughout the Archdiocese as an inspired and thought provoking speaker will give a talk on living our faith in the workplace and community.

On March 17th, we will have our annual St. Patrick's Day Mass. Father Marty Marren, who knows Ireland very well both because of his parents and because of his frequent visits there will be the guest homilist. Beautiful Irish music by our choir and others will be featured. A soda bread reception will follow.

On March 24, Eileen Doherty Stanecki, Dean of Students at St. Xavier University and one of own parishioners will reflect with us on living our faith life at home. Eileen is a wife, mother, and gifted speaker and will have both common sense and rich wisdom to share.

March 31 is the Annual Reconciliation Service. Having just attended the second graders' first reconciliation, I am reminded of the grace that this healing sacrament provides.

Again, our parish staff is very aware of the busyness of your lives but hopes that this weekly hour on the Tuesdays of Lent will provide the quiet and insights we that are so needed, especially during these very difficult days when so many are worried about the economy and other concerns. We promise the time will be an hour well spent.

Another project that our school and parish community is very excited about is
Helping Hands, Glowing Hearts. Last month I mentioned that the goal of the program is to link members of the parish family who have specific needs with others in the parish who have the time, talent, and willingness to share their hearts. On Monday, we will be sending home a volunteer form. Lent might be a great time to think about what you might be able to do as an individual or as a family to help make this program grow.
We have several "meal trains" in operation. We have been able to help a few of our seniors who have requested rides for appointments. We know there are neighbors who could use a bit of help with simple housekeeping, or just a visit or an anonymous cookie delivery. Please take a minute to talk about this project with your family or with your neighbors. What a tremendous powerhouse of grace and good deeds it will produce!
Please return your volunteer sheet either to the box in the back of Church or to the school. Members of the committee will contact you as needs surface. Again, thank you!

If you long for A Taste of Chicago without the crowds and heat, be sure you come for the Athletic Board Fundraiser on Saturday, March 7. Passports '09 will be a great gathering of friends and neighbors and featuring food specialties from nine different countries. The night promises to be great fun. Hope you can be here.

There are several important changes/additions to the March calendar.

March 15 is the Annual South Side Irish Parade. The parish and school will once again have a trolley to represent the SJF community in the parade. All are welcome to walk with us down Western Avenue as a strong showing of our parish spirit.

On March 16, our entire faculty will attend a mandatory workshop at Christ the King on new regulations from the Department of Family Services. Students will not have school that day.

On March 29, the Annual Book Fair opens. This year, we are inviting grandparents as special guests for the 10:00 Mass. All are then invited to the book fair and to listen to a story teller who will be here that morning. More details will follow, but please mark your calendars.

HOOPS MANIA is in full swing. Tickets are still available. Remember each ticket gives you the opportunity to win cash prizes based on the success of one of five teams randomly assigned on the ticket for the NCEA Basketball Tournament. Last year several of our ticket holders were $500.00 winners. If you need a ticket, please call the school and we will send it home with your child.

Congratulations to our school band who at the recent adjudications at Marist earned many outstanding awards. Please also note that because of the parish mission, the band concert, originally scheduled for the end of this month has been postponed until April 28th.

We are very pleased that registrations for next year's kindergarten and pre-school continue to come in every day. Please tell neighbors and friends who might be considering our school that it is important to register soon because some of the classes are already almost full. Thanks for helping spread the word about the Early Childhood Programs at SJF. Because we are already planning for next year, please also advise us now if you are not planning to return to SJF next year.

I hope the long, dark and cold days of winter are behind us and that the hope of a beautiful Spring will inspire our Lenten Sacrifices, deepen our appreciation for the many gifts that we too often take for granted, and help us to help our kids become their best selves.