Do You Know Jesus?

Do You Know Jesus
Second Sunday of Lent, Year A
Matthew 17:1-9          

In today’s Gospel Peter, James and John travel with Jesus up on a mountain to pray. While there, they saw Jesus transfigure, or change, into what he would be like after his resurrection. Jesus appeared in a glorious, brilliant light. Then, the apostles were instructed by God to listen to Jesus and do what he said.
            Just as the apostles were instructed to listen to Jesus, so are we. How do you listen to Jesus and what does he ask you to do? Do you walk with Jesus daily? In other words, is He in your thoughts, words and actions helping you to make good choices throughout the day? Share with your family a recent experience when you felt Jesus’ encouragement to be the best person you could be.

Office Notes
Dear Parent,
Thank you for choosing St. Joseph School for your child’s education. We will continue to stress a quality faith-based education as we start our 98th year, as a school, in August 2008. We are in the process of arranging our programs for the 08/09 school year.

We ask that your family complete the attached registration form and send in the $100 non-refundable registration fee to St. Joseph by February 28, 2008.

The fee will be applied to your family tuition. If you have paid the registration fee for your kindergarten child, just return the completed form. You will receive a letter in April from the School Board documenting tuition, tuition assistance, stewardship requirements, and enrollment for the FACTS payment system.
Please see the Jan. 29 Town Hall Presentation http://www.stjosephdg.org for more information. Thank you,
Rita Stasi
Principal
Click here for registration form.

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• The Parent Transportation Report is now in the office to fill out for eligible parents who drive their students to school.
  
• The police are checking the area around the school in the morning and the afternoon – please make sure you adhere to the posted parking signs.
• A "Brown Envelope" will be sent home with your Messenger Student Today.

Dear Family,
When this was read at Mass on Monday, my thoughts were with you.

Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed me,
naked and you clothed me,
ill and you cared for me,
in prison and you visited me.’

You gave

• canned goods during Catholic Schools Week
• soup at Super Bowl time
• blankets that were made for newborns
• money in the ‘penny wars’ for the Katrina victims

Jesus must feel loved that you gave Him each of these things. Happy Valentines Day!

One Prayer a Day for Lent
If time permits nothing else, say these prayers each day of Lent.

AM Kindergarten & 7th Grade
Penny War Winners!

Congratulations! You have won a Uniform Spirit Day for this Friday February 15th! You may wear a Spirit Wear Top as part of your uniform!

Town Hall Meeting Update
Dear School Families,
Our recent Town Hall meeting was a great success. We wish to thank everyone who attended. Your input, as always, is invaluable to the school board! For those of you who could not attend the Town Hall meeting, the presentation, including an audio recording, will be posted on the school website. We encourage you to review and listen to the presentation. The presentation includes important information regarding the school's academic performance, marketing and recruitment effort, financial position and projected tuition increases for next year. This is the link to the Townhall Presentation Page. Please do not hesitate to email Kevin Lynch with any comments or ideas at kkmblynch@aol.com.
Sincerely,
Your School Board

To insure the tradition of quality Catholic Education your continued support is needed. Your gift for the annual appeal provides resources for spiritual development, computer technology, educational materials, arts and sciences curriculum, faculty salaries, and building maintenance. Please consider a gift to St. Joseph School. Please mail your donation or place it in the Sunday collection

Bulletin Board

Father-Daughter Dance Volunteer List 2008
Decorations Needed Linda is looking for anyone who has any tall, skinny, evergreen trees 3',4' or 5' (fake), that they would consider lending for the weekend to help create the winter wonderland.

Volunteer Contact Information:
Please contact Linda Provenzale to volunteer for a time slot and/or to sign up to bring baked goods. Her phone number is 630-963-4188 or email Linda.

You don't have to be the parent of a daughter to help-it is fun!

Catholic Schools Week 2008: Catholic Schools Light the Way

St. Joseph School was buzzing with activity as Catholic Schools week began with our annual Open House. We had a full house as our current St. Joseph families as well as potential families and guests visited classrooms and corridors in which creative and interesting student work was displayed.

• The School Hall provided a place in which our visitors could enjoy our very impressive display of Science Fair Projects as well as a fantastic PowerPoint presentation created by our own Crusader Communication Club.
• Refreshments for all were provided by the Social Committee and the Catholic Schools Week Committee.
• Over 150 students participated in the Basketball Shootout which raised over $400.00 as well as four boxes of canned goods for the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
• Over 50 visiting families toured the school.

Highlights from weekday activities included:
• St. Joseph Alumni were invited to participate in the Catholic Schools Week Alumni Mass and Reception.
• Five staff members were recognized for their Years of Service at St. Joseph School. Celebrating 15 years of service are SJS President Sr. Dorothy, 1st Grade Teacher Miss Krueger, 2nd Grade teacher Mrs. McGlone, and 3rd Grade Teacher Mrs. Moss. Celebrating 10 years of service is 4th Grade Teacher Mrs. Schultz. Congratulations and thank you for your years of dedicated service to St. Joseph School!
• On Tuesday, students and staff members enjoyed a hot dog lunch provided by Catholic Schools Week Committee and the Athletic and Booster Club.
• The students enjoyed a special performance of the play 1776 on Wednesday afternoon.
• Students were able to visit with their “buddies” during buddy lunch on Thursday.
• Due to the snow day on Friday, the baby blanket buddy project was rescheduled for Friday, February 8. The students and their buddies made 54 fleece baby blankets that were donated to Catholic Charities.
• Morning Catholic School Week Trivia Contests were held throughout the week.

We would like to extend sincere thanks to all the students, parents, St. Joseph staff and community members for helping to make Catholic Schools Week a success. So many of you baked, cooked, served hot dogs, cut material, supervised students, helped with set up/ clean up, donated prizes, or volunteered for the numerous other tasks involved in Catholic Schools Week. This could not have been done without your help and your generosity is greatly appreciated.
We extend special thanks to the following local businesses for their generous donations: Anderson’s Book Store, Chicago Bulls/ Sox Training Academy, Every Day’s a Sundae, Play it Again Sports, Tivoli Bowl

Help Needed For Pads Meals (Public Action to Deliver Shelter)
Monday Evenings in March

Each Monday evening during the month of March, St. Joseph Parish will be providing a meal for PADS (shelter is located in the basement of the Church, directly across the street from the Downers Grove library). Approximately 90 homeless are served dinner, a safe night's sleep and breakfast the following morning.

Help is needed to provide either a specific food item for the dinner meal or assist in the kitchen during meal time. Church communities are also asked to provide breakfast foods for the following morning.
If you are willing to help, please call the contact assigned to each meal. We will be looking for entrees, salads, vegetables and desserts for each dinner, as well as bulk eggs, bread, bacon and cereal for each breakfast.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated!
March 3rd
Ham / Contact: Julie Correll at 630-963-6922
March 10th
Turkey / Contact: Chick Briner at 630-960-5072
March 17th
Beef Sandwiches / Contact: Julie Correll at 630-963-6922
March 24th
Lasagna / Contact: Pat Lord at 630-321-1002
March 31st
Meatloaf / Contact: Joanne Norgle at 630-971-3789

Help Needed For Pads Night Staff
St. Joseph Parish is also responsible for supplying Volunteers to staff the overnight shelter. If you are able to work on any of these Monday nights, please contact Dan Troy at 630-969-7925 or Peggy Bills at 630-971-3457. The following shifts are available: 9-11 pm, 11 pm-3 am, 3-7 am. If you have never worked PADS overnight, be assured that you will be scheduled with experienced people!

"Best Pic" Contest
The Yearbook Committee is Sponsoring a "Best Pic" Contest. Submit your best St. Joseph Memory from the 2007-2008 school year. We are in need of photos from school parties, Christmas program, field trips, recess, basketball games, volleyball games, any school related event. Winners will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to Claim Jumpers Restaurant. Submit your image to Yearbook Photos by February 28th .

Yearbook 2006-2007 News
Can you believe that we are in the second half of our school year? Now’s the time to start sending photos for the yearbook. Do you have photos from Christmas parties, Halloween, Football, Basketball and Volleyball games? How about classroom activities, buddy lunch or service projects. Please keep me in mind when snapping your pictures. You can send photos via e-mail or save them on a disc. Please send in the highest resolution possible. If you are sending discs, please send through school to: Nancy Tucker, c/o Kendall Tucker, Gr. 3 / Miss Gaffud.

Elementary Catholic School Tuition Assistance

The Diocesan Catholic Education Foundation will award 300 need-based tuition assistance grants for the 2008-2009 school year to elementary school students enrolled in diocesan schools. The grants will be $500 per student, with a maximum award of $1,000 per family. Students entering kindergarten through grade eight are eligible.

The Deadline for applying to facts is March 1, 2008. You can apply online at www.facsmgt.com. If you choose to apply online, remember that all supporting documentation must be sent to the FACTS Office by March 1, 2008. Questions on how to complete the form can be answered by calling the FACTS Office directly at 1-866-315-9262.

A frequent question that is asked is what income level is too high and cuts off tuition assistance. Income is just one factor considered. Other factors include housing costs, number of children, other tuition costs, special circumstances etc.

We cannot give a specific dollar amount as to whether to apply or not.
Families will be notified in May of awards. Additional notification will be sent to the elementary school.

Crusader Pride

ST. PATRICK'S DAY POT OF GOLD RAFFLE "TOP TEN"
The top ten each receive a cash award - $75 for the highest seller, $50 to the second highest and $25 to students in places 3-10.

1st PLACE Michael Binder 270
2nd PLACE Molly Marciniak 205
3rd PLACE Aimee Dragas 150
4th PLACE Tie McLain Hodgkiss 50 / Charlie Dollard 50 / Joslyn Boyer 50 / Catherine Wember 50 / Nora Woods 50 / Jillian Gaydos 50 / Charles Roth 50/ Michael Delaplane 50/ Paul Wagner 50/ Andrew Lim 50 James McGinnis 50 / Andrew Drennan 50
5th PLACE Erica Ryan 25

For additional tickets, call Tracy O'Brien at 630-241-0276.

TRACK AND FIELD REGISTRATION
SJS Track Blog

Track & Field Registration Form Due 2/20
Track & Field Camp Registration Due 2/20

Track is open to all 5th-8th grade boys and girls interested in participating. Students are eligible to participate in both running and field events. The running events include the 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1600m races as well as relays events. Field events include long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, javelin, and high jump. Track practices are usually held three times a week at Downers Grove North/South and St. Joseph’s.

2008 Meet Dates: April 19th, April 26th, May 3rd, May 10th, and May 17th
Meet Times: 5th and 6th graders 8 am-11:30 7th and 8th graders 12- 3:30
Meet Locations: Area High Schools (recently at Willowbrook HS, Benet Academy, Lyons Township, Elmhurst College, Benedictine University). The 2008 sites will be announced in March.
Cost: First child $30, each additional child $15 ***Please write a separate check for Track Registration and the Track Camp. Make all checks payable to St Joes A&B.
Parental Involvement: A parent from each family will need to assist at one of the scheduled meets. No previous track experience needed by the volunteer parents .

2008 Track and Field Camp
The 2008 track and field camp has been scheduled for March 30, April 13, and May 4 (see below for scheduled times). 

This year we are excited to announce that Head Track Coach at Lewis University, Dana Schwarting, will be hosting the camp.  In only six years of coaching, Coach Schwarting has coached three national champions, three national runners-up, and 37 Division II Collegiate All-Americans  Furthermore, he coached two members of the 2004 US Olympic Track and Field Team that competed in Athens. 

He has coached all aspects of track and field, specifically, the sprints, shot put, discus, long and triple jump, and hurdles.  Most recently, he coached triple-jumper Marquise Brown and long-jumper Jenifer Scmidgall who were All-Americans in both indoor and outdoor competition. 

March 30th will focus on sprinting techniques; starts, form running, and training techniques. 
Times for this day will be as follows:
5th and 6th grade boys: 1-2
5th and 6th  grade girls: 2-3
7th and 8th grade boys: 3-4
7th and 8th grade girls: 4-5
April 13th and May 4th will focus on the field events.  These two days will be broken down into five sessions, each day, each session being one hour long.  Athletes will attend the session which pertains to the field event(s) they do in our meets.
Session one: triple jump   1-2 pm
Session two:  high jump and javelin 1-2 pm (same time as triple jump)
Session three: discus   2-3 pm
Session four: long jump  3-4 pm
Session five: shot put  4-5 pm

Cost:  $50 for the first family member, then $25 for each additional child. 

Basketball News
Click here for current Basketball News including practice schedules, rosters and games information.
Basketball Schedules / Rosters and Practices

Fundraising

Manna

Manna Order Form
Manna Automatic Withdrawal
Manna Standing Order Forms

Manna No pre-orders on Monday, February 18.

Sellers for the this week:
Friday, February 15, 9:30am school S. Harte / S. Barrett
Saturday, February 16, after 5:00pm mass C. Jagielo
Sunday, February 17, after 8:45am mass T. Burk / M. Geraghty
Sunday, February 17, after 10:30am mass T. Galvin / M. Fitzgerald
Friday, February 22, 9:30am school K. Lobes / T. O'Brien

Community News

Club Saturday Nights at the YMCA for Members and Non-Members
Looking for a place to hang out with your friends? All teens in 6-8th Grade are welcome to attend Club Saturday Nights from 7:00-10:00pm!
February 16, March 15 $5.00 per Teen (Pre-Register) $8.00 per Teen (At the Door)
DJ Dancing Rock Climbing Basketball/Dodgeball Tournament Raffles Swimming (9-10pm)
Indian Boundary YMCA 711 59th St. Downers Grove, IL. 60516 630.968.8400

If the teens have filled out the waivers at the last event, they do not need to fill it out again. For the new teens that will attend the event they need to fill out waivers.

Climbing Wall Waiver
Guest Pass YMCA Waiver