MS. RACHEL GEMO,
HEAD OF PARISH SCHOOL
May 2, 2024 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 36
THE BUZZ FROM MS. GEMO | LOWER SCHOOL NEWS - GRADES PRESCHOOL-3
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS - GRADES 4-8 | WEEKLY CALENDAR | HSA
Greetings SBPS Parents and Friends:
Thank you to all the parents who helped get their sons and daughters to school on time this week. We are mostly finished with the iReady spring diagnostics. We have some students who need to complete the diagnostics due to absences. Once we complete them, we’ll be sending home the parent report with the students-we’ll notify parents once w plan to send them home. Students who attained their projected typical annual growth or stretch growth will receive an out of uniform pass to celebrate their success. We look forward to sharing their reports with you soon.
On Saturday, May 4, the first round of our First Communicants will receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. We are proud of their preparation and look forward to welcoming them to the Eucharistic Feast. Thank you to Ms. Barry, Ms. Sulieman, Ms. Smith, Mrs. Uczen and Mrs. Vazquez for their leadership and care as they prepared our young people to receive the Sacrament. Please keep our First Communicants in your prayers.
Please also keep in your prayers all our middle school students and middle school staff. Next Tuesday, we embark on our annual AGORA trips. Sixth grade travels all over Chicago; Seventh Grade visits Springfield, St. Louis and Galena; Eighth grade heads to our nation’s capital, Washington DC. Our students have been learning about their respective travels all year and are ready for their journeys. I’d like to thank the parents for supporting this unique program. I’d like to give a BIG round of thanks and gratitude to the teachers and staff who will be traveling with our students. It’s a big responsibility and commitment to make this happen - I’m so grateful for their professional enthusiasm!
May is also Teacher Appreciation Month! Our Home and School Association will be working with parents at all grade levels to help shower our faculty and staff with appreciation. Please be on the lookout for communications from the Home and School Association with ways to support their efforts. We are blessed with a caring and hardworking staff - thank you in advance for showing your appreciation for them.
Some things to note - There is NO SCHOOL on Monday, May 6 for grades 6, 7 & 8 - it’s a good day for them to rest before they embark on the trips. It also gives some much needed planning time (and some teacher rest as well) before the trips.
Also, there is no school on Friday, May 10th - for a teacher professional development day. Our teachers will be learning about the science of reading as well as plan for end of year duties.
We also have the Talent Show and 3rd Grade Wax Museum next week - we hope you can join us for these wonderful annual traditions!
There’s a lot more important information below. Be sure to check out the following:
May 10 Day off School Basketball Camp Registration Information
Kindergarten and First Grade Summer Camp Options
New Extended Care sign up
Please find listed below important dates:
Friday, May 3, 2024 - Last day to order 2023-24 yearbooks - see post below
Saturday, May 4 - First Holy Communion 10am and 12PM
May 6, 2024 - National Nurse’s Day - Thank You Nurse Perez!!!
May 6, 2024 - no school for grades 6, 7 & 8 - Agora Prep Day
May 8, 2024 - Grades 2-5 Talent Show in the GYM at 1:30PM
May 9, 2024 - Third Grade Wax Museum in the GYM
May 7-10 - Middle School Agora Trips
May 10, 2024 - No School - Professional Development Day
May, 11, 2024 - First Holy Communion
May 12, 2024 - Happy Mothers’ Day!
May 14, 2024 - May Crowning Mass for grades K-8 at 8:30AM in church
May 14, 2024 - Athletic Board Social for Third Grade parents and new families grades 4-7 not involved in athletics but want to learn more
May 16, 2024 - HSA Teacher Appreciation Luncheon - Thank you volunteers!
May 17, 2024 - 8th Grade Graduation Retreat
May 17, 2024 - Middle School Play - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - 6PM
May 21, 2024 - Spring Band, Strings and Choir Concert in GYM
May 27, 2024 - No School Memorial Day
May 31, 2024 - 8th Grade Graduation
June 4, 2024 - Last Day of Preschool and Kindergarten
June 5, 2024 - Field Day
June 6, 2024 - Last Day of School 11:30AM Dismissal
June 10, 2024 - Summer camps begin
May God be with us and protect us in this School Year!
Ms. Rachel Gemo, Head of School
Ms. Gemo’s Prayer Corner
An Easter Prayer
Good and gracious God,
Our most glorious Creator,
As we greet the signs in nature around us:
Of Spring once again regaling us in bloom,
In the songs of returning birds and fields soon to be planted,
We give you praise for an even greater sign of new life: the resurrection of your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ, that we especially celebrate at this time.
The sadness and despair of his death has given way to the bright promise of immortality.
For the Resurrection is our guarantee that justice will triumph over treason, Light will overcome darkness, and love will conquer death.
As we celebrate, we also dare to ask for your grace that we may live the promise given to us,
By imitating the life of Jesus in reaching out to the poor, the marginalized, the least among us,
As we strive to be neighbor to all those we meet,
We ask your special blessings each and every day on our President.
Working with him may we strive to make this great country of ours a beacon of hope and justice in a world hungry for peace and so in need of your love.
We praise you in this Easter season. Change our lives, change our hearts to be messengers of Easter joy and hope.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord forever.
Amen.