May 2017

 

Dear Parents,

As we reach the next to last month of the school year, there are a number of events taking place in May.   Students will be making their First Communion and we congratulate all of our students who are taking this most important step in their faith journey. Our 8^th graders are also going on their graduation retreat on the 23^rd of the month and we hope that the day will be a truly valuable faith experience as they get ready for graduation.

Our annual Spring Show for grades PreK3 – 8 will be held on Friday, May 19^th at 6:30 pm in the former Bishop Ford H.S. building. Tickets are now on sale in the school office.  Later in the month, on Monday the 22^nd, we will be having a carnival for the students. More details will be provided as we get closer to the date.

In the area of academics, students in grades 4, 6, and 8 will be taking the NYS Math test.  A group of our 5^th and 7^th graders will be taking the AIS tests and students in grades 4 and 8 will also be taking the NYS Science test.  It is important that all students are present on those days as we have a limited window of opportunity to administer those exams.

Also, please remember, final tuition payments should be made in May.  We now accept credit card payments as well as check or cash.  It is imperative at this time of the year that all financial obligations are met. We thank you for your continued support.

 

Sincerely,

Mrs. Gallina

Interim Principal

 

April 2017

Dear Parents & Guardians:

April is upon us and I would like to share some of the events occurring throughout the month.

First, re-registration is ongoing. The current fee is now $250.  Please also be aware that the financial aid process is open and it is critical that you get your applications for financial aid into the application center by the April 21^st deadline. Please visit: futuresineducation.org/scholarships for more information.

Our annual Card Party is fast approaching and will be held on Friday, May 12^th.  Tickets have gone on sale so please contact the school office if interested.  This is always a wonderfully fun, well attended event with great prizes to win.

In order to continue our mission of giving to others, we will be having a special dress down day on Wednesday, April 5^th to raise money for The Marist Brothers Center at Esopus.  This is a camp devoted to working with children with autism.  A separate flyer will be sent home with more information.

Our Easter recess begins at 11:30 am dismissal on Wednesday, April 12^th.  Please be advised that there will be not hot lunch provided on Monday, 4/10 and Tuesday, 4/11 of that week. There also will be no yellow bus service on Wednesday 4/12.

Easter, as we know, is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.  It is celebrated on Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, and the end of Lent. It is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year.  Easter represents the fulfillment of God’s promises to mankind, it is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar.

When we return from Easter recess, grades 4, 6, and 8 will be taking the NYS Math tests on May 2, 3, and 4.  Faculty, staff, and students have been preparing for the test and we are confident that all students will do their best.

Sincerely,

 

Mrs. Gallina

Interim Principal

March 2017

Dear Parents,

March is upon us and we have some very important events occurring throughout the month.  Ash Wednesday, a day of fasting, and the first day of Lent is March 1^st.  Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will attend a service in Church at 10 am and students in grades PK3-grade 5 will receive ashes in school.

On March 6^th, our Yankee Candle sale will begin and materials will be sent home on this day.  Thank you for your help in supporting this fundraiser.

March 16^th is Report Card Day. Dismissal will be at 11:30 and there is no after school program that day.  Please be reminded that all financial obligations must be current through the month of February in order to receive your child’s report card and have a conference with the teacher. The second trimester report card meeting is crucial as it lays out the academic plan for your child for the rest of the school year.  The meeting times for the day are 12:15 to 2:30 pm and 4-6:45 pm.  Teachers will be in touch in order to set up appointments.

Sunday, March 19^th is the feast day of St. Joseph and it is also the day of the Brooklyn Irish-American Day Parade. We will march in the parade and since one of our parents, Mr. Joseph Heegan, is one of the aides to the Grand Marshall, we would like to see a great turnout for this event. More information about time and where to assemble will be sent home as we get closer to the date.

Finally, re-registration is ongoing. March 31^st is the deadline for early re-registration at the discount rate of $200.  Please also be aware that the financial aid process is open and it is critical that you get your applications for financial aid into the application center by the April 21^st  deadline. Please visit: futuresineducation.org/scholarships for more information.

 

Sincerely,

.

Mrs. Gallina

Interim Principal

February 2017
Dear Parents,

Last week you have received the letters regarding tuition, re-registration and financial aid. Please begin the application process as soon as possible so that you do not lose your child’s seat for next year.  As the registration and enrollment period continues, please encourage any prospective families to come and visit. We offer tours any day during school hours.

In the area of fund raising, our Scholastic Book Fair will end on Monday, February 6^th and our Candy Sale ends on Monday, February 13^th.  There are a number of prizes associated with the Candy Drive, and as this is the only mandatory fund raiser of the year, we hope you will support the drive so that we may be able to bring in as much income as possible.

We are more than halfway through the second trimester, and report cards will be distributed mid March.  Please be in touch with your child’s teacher should you have questions regarding academic progress.  This is also a good time to reorder uniform pieces and school shoes if need be.  Please remember if boots are worn to school, students should change into the school shoe upon arrival so as to avoid accidents.

Lastly, a reminder in terms of lunches and lunch time, we ask that students come to school with a packed lunch.  Dropping lunch off during the day is an inconvenience to our staff and worry-some to students waiting to receive it.  As, always, if we find a student has no lunch on a given day, we provide the hot lunch for them.  Thank you for your cooperation.

 

Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gallina
Interim Principal

January 25, 2017

 

Dear Parents:

Financial stewardship is one of the most important responsibilities of the Academy’s Board of Directors, which includes the responsibility to establish tuition rates on an annual basis.  In so doing, the Board strives to balance the Academy’s goals of offering an excellent educational program to our students, providing fair and competitive compensation and benefits to our teachers and administrative staff, and making Catholic education affordable for all those who desire it for their children.  For the coming 2017-18 school year, the Board has determined to maintain the same tuition rates as in effect for the current school year.

The Board’s decision not to increase tuition is a reflection of the Academy’s stability but depends also upon parents sharing in the responsibility for good financial stewardship of the Academy.  How can you do so?  First, make all tuition payments on a timely basis.  We cannot sustain our mission to serve all the children in our care, as well as meet the commitments we have made to our dedicated employees, without our parents likewise fulfilling their commitments.  Of course, for those needing financial assistance, scholarships and financial aid are available (see futuresineducation.org for more information).  Second, support fundraising efforts and events at the Academy.  Tuition does not cover the cost of educating your child, and we rely on the success of our fundraisers to help make up the difference.  Third, share the good news of the Academy among those in your local community, whether in person or on social media, and encouraging prospective families to attend our Open House or make an appointment to visit the Academy.  And, finally, please keep the Academy and its teachers, administrators and students in your prayers.

Thank you for your continued support, and best wishes to you and your families for the new year.

Sincerely,

Patrick M. Collins
Chair, Board of Directors

January 30^th, 2017

 

Dear Parents,

I am writing this letter to inform you that the re-registration process for the 2017-2018 school year begins today. Your child’s re-registration form is attached to this letter and we are asking you to respond as soon as possible.  Please confirm that the information is correct on the first page and then fill out the information on the reverse side of the form. The re-registration fee will be $250 per family. We are offering an early registration incentive rate of $200 per family for all families who re-register by March 31^st. Current families will be assured a seat for their child for next year if they register by March 31^st.

Last week you received news from the Board of Directors that tuition rates will remain the same. As we go forward with our plans for next year, it is important for budgetary purposes to know as early as possible, our rate of re-registration. Our Open House yesterday was well attended and we have many new families who have already registered their child for next year. This is certainly welcome news as we continue to grow St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy. We certainly hope that all our present families re-register. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gallina

Interim Principal

 

January 2017

Dear Parents,

Happy New Year and welcome back! Although it’s only January, it’s already time to start thinking about next year. Catholic Schools’ Week will begin on Sunday, January 29^th. Parents and students are invited to attend the 10:30 family Mass in Holy Name Church. Following Mass, we will hold our annual Open House from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity for prospective families to visit our school and meet other parents, students and teachers. If you know any families in the neighborhood who might be looking for a school for next year, please encourage them to come to our Open House. The day after the Open House we will begin our early re-registration process and we will also have a week of activities planned for the week. A separate schedule of events for Catholic Schools’ Week will be sent home as soon as we finalize the schedule. We are looking forward to having an enjoyable week.

Lifetouch will be here on the 12^th for any student who wishes to have their school picture or graduate photo re-taken.  Please call the office and speak to Mrs. Witthohn if you would like a re-take and a new order form will be sent home to you.

Our Student/Parent handbook has been updated and is on the school website under the ‘resources’ tab.  Please take time to read through it and then sign and return the compliance form which is the last page of the handbook.

In the area of fund raising, our annual mandatory Candy Drive will begin on the 23^rd.  Each family will be required to take one box of candy. Once the box is sold, just return the $60 to school. If you are able to sell additional boxes, you may certainly do so. There are a number of prizes associated with the Candy Drive which will be announced when we begin the drive.

At our First Friday Mass on February 3^rd, our 8^th graders will be receiving their graduation rings. This will be the first of many events for our 8^th graders as they begin their journey toward graduation.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Gallina
Interim Principal

December 2016
Dear Parents,

All of us at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy hope you had an enjoyable Thanksgiving with friends and family.  We thank you for your generosity during our food drive, it was a great success.  December is sure to be a busy month.  We will be having two Christmas shows again this year, one for Pre-K and K on December 13^th and one for Grades 1 – 8 on December 16^th. Separate letters regarding the shows will be sent home shortly. Since there are several days when after school will not be available, we are changing the monthly after school rate for December to $150 for 1 child and $250 for 2 or more children. Please check these dates on the calendar.

On Friday, December 9^th, we will have report card day for the 1^st trimester. There will be 2 sessions, one from 12:15 to 2:30 p.m. and another session from 3:45 to 6:45 p.m. All conferences must be made by appointment. Teachers will be setting up appointment schedules starting after the Thanksgiving break. Please be reminded that all financial obligations to the school must be current through the month of November in order for you to receive your child’s report card and to have a conference with the teacher. This includes tuition, fees and after school.

Students will be attending Mass on Friday, December 2^nd and students in grades 3 – 8 will attend Advent Penance services on the 13^th and 14^th.  School will be closed for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th.  Our annual vendor fair will be held on Sunday, December 4th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is a great opportunity to do some shopping while supporting our school. Santa will be at the fair this year and you will have the opportunity to take your own picture with him!  Also, don’t forget we are now listed as a charitable organization at Amazon Smile.  When you shop at smile.amazon.com it is a simple and automatic way to support our academy every time you shop, at no cost to you.

Our last day of school before Christmas will be December 22^nd with an 11:30 am dismissal and no after school.  We will return on January 3^rd, 2017.  On behalf of everyone at SJWCA I would like to wish all families a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Sincerely,

Mrs. Gallina
Interim Principal

November 2016

Dear Parents,

With so many recent changes taking place there is one constant and that is the positive show of support by so many of you.  Change is inevitable but by continuing to work together, I’m certain we will have a successful year ahead.  Positive influences and attitudes begin at home and it is so clear to see that reflected in the children who always strive to set a good example for others.

I would like to congratulate our 8^th graders who received Confirmation in October.  It is wonderful that they took this step in their spiritual development. I would also like to wish them well as they prepare to take the TACHS exam for admission into Catholic High School on Saturday, November 5^th.

November is a busy month.  We will begin with prayer services on the 7^th to kick off our food drive.  This is a part of our Catholic mission to be thankful for what we have and to always help those in need.  We ask that canned and boxed goods be sent in.  This can include fruits, vegetables, rice, pastas, cereals, and soups. The food collected will be distributed to the food pantries of Holy Name of Jesus Church and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.  The drive will end on the 18^th.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Class and individual pictures will be taken on November 17^th and 18^th with informational flyers to be sent home soon.  Many classes will be going on trips and will be having in school Thanksgiving feasts.  Information from individual teachers will be sent home to the classes involved.

In our efforts to fundraise, we will be distributing our Card and Wrap sale catalogues.  This is a great way to raise money for our school while doing some shopping for the holidays.  We would ask that you get your orders in by November 16 so that we can assure delivery before Christmas break.

On behalf of everyone at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy, I would like to wish all families a Happy Thanksgiving.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Gallina
Interim Principal

October 2016

Dear Parents,

October is an important month, as our students in 3^rd through 8^th grade will be taking the Terranova tests beginning October 11^th. It is especially important that all students arrive to school on time so that the testing process will not be disrupted.

Our Cake and Pie Sale will be ending on October 11^th and we hope you are able to support it. Later in the month, we will be holding 2 events, our Halloween Haunted House on Sunday, October 30^th and our annual Halloween Walk-A-Thon on Monday, October 31^st. More details on both events will be provided soon.

I am happy to report that we will be getting the services of an Occupational Therapist to work with our students who require those services. This will save parents from the inconvenience of having to take their child off site after school to receive those services. We are also happy to report that we are now getting the services of a Department of Health nurse for our after school program. This is in addition to the regular nursing services that we receive during the school day.

We will be hosting a High School Information Night on Wednesday evening, October 5^th at
7 p.m. in Shepherds Hall. Representatives from a number of Catholic High Schools will be here to present information about their schools to our upper grade students. Attendance is certainly encouraged.

Finally, we are making progress in the setting up of our Gross Motor Skills Room on the first floor for our Pre-K and Kindergarten students. We will certainly announce the opening of this new room when it becomes fully ready. Thank you for your continued support and may God bless you.

Sincerely,
Mr. Robert DiNardo
Principal