• Catholic Schools Week begins on 1/31. This is a time to celebrate our school, community and to enroll for the 20-21 school year.
• In December, the parish announced its plans to install a new HVAC system in our school. We are hoping to install this system during this summer, pending successful fundraising. We are continuing preparations to share more about this project and to invite you to be a part of it.
• There are a couple of staff in-services scheduled. This time will focus on professional development on the topics of technology, curriculum, and elementary writing.
• Our  “Friendzy” theme for the month (parent letter below) focuses on teamwork. Students will be learning how to share their gifts with God and to serve those in their community.

Merry Christmas

Saint John the Baptist School has been remembering the true meaning of Christmas for 132 years. We celebrate this season with songs, presents, and, most importantly, by sharing with children the true meaning of Christmas.

We are proud of our academic success. Throughout the past school year, we have been committed to keeping our doors open and children in the physical classrooms. We have seen consistent enrollment growth over the past six years, and several families have transferred to our school because of our commitment to providing in-person learning for our students. We are proud of the way our students learn critical thinking in the classroom and show their success through high academic achievement scores.

We are now welcoming fourth and fifth-generation students into our school building, as well as many new arrivals to Howard. Many of them are your grandchildren, nieces, and neighbors. One of the most special things that happen in our school, just like our parish, is that people form a true sense of community and family in our building.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!

I have previously shared that our school has implemented a new, biblical-based, friendship curriculum this year. The theme for this month is “love at all times,” which is rooted in 1 John 3:18: “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show truth by our actions.” This theme blends so beautifully with the feast of Christ the King, that we celebrate this weekend.

Reflecting on this feast, Pope Benedict XVI said: “If we put into practice our love for our neighbor, according to the Gospel message, we then pave the way for the lordship of God, and his kingdom is realized by means of us.” At school, we are working hard every day to help kids learn that love is not just a feeling, but it is an action. Whether it is our friendships, our coworking relationships, or our family relationships, love is in action.

God calls us to love at all times. We know and believe that, and we can only instill that in our children and in our community by working together. Through mutual support, we can create a culture here at St. John the Baptist that seeks to bring about the Kingdom of God and not just to prepare a feast of Thanksgiving this week, but rather to join him at his banquet, one day in heaven.

Lord, I invite You, today, to come reign in my heart. I give You complete control of my life. You are my Lord and my King. I love You and want to live in accord with Your perfect and holy will. Jesus, I trust in You.