St. James the Apostle Catholic School March 20, 2021 Newsletter

Growing Our Spiritual Garden

St. James the Apostle Catholic School is a Christ-centered community where children can grow in faith, values of service and academic excellence.

Upcoming Events 5th Grade Starbase Kelly STEM Week Mon., March 22nd Picture Re-take Day Graduation Pictures

Tues., March 23rd Report Cards Emailed

Wed., March 24th

SJS Celebrates St. Joseph’s Feast Day

Salesian Day – Wear yellow t-shirt March Birthday free-dress day

Thurs., March 25th Honors Assembly @ 8 am 6th Stations @ 2:20 pm st 1 Communion Parent Mtg. @ 7 pm via Zoom

Fri., March 26th Early Release Mental Health PD Part I

5th Grade Led Stations of the Cross

How do you trap a leprechaun? th

Set STEM traps in 5 Grade . . .

Set STEM traps in 2nd Grade . . .

Set STEM traps in 1st Grade . . .

And blow bubbles!!!

4th Grade Honors African-American Heroes

8th Grade Explored the Process of Weathering

Superintendent Marti West Visits St. James

SJS Baseball and Softball Teams both won their games against Holy Spirit this week

– Go, Mustangs!

Picture Retake Day – Mon., March 22nd! WHO WILL BE PHOTOGRAPHED: • All students who missed Original Fall Picture Day. - This includes those who were absent, newly enrolled, and/or Distant Learners. o Link for Distant Learners to sign up for retakes. o https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4AADA92FA6F85-distant • Any student who has pre-ordered a picture package online. • Students who purchased an Original Fall Picture package and they are not happy with their picture. Please note these students will need to return the original package to our photographer in order to get the new picture package replaced at no additional cost to them. If you would like to retake your picture, then please email Ms. Kathy at [email protected]. *Students who are not photographed will not have their individual portrait included with their class in the 2020-2021 yearbook.

A SPECIAL INVITATION . . .

• St. James is inviting ALL of our distance learners back to campus. We have many fun and exciting events this year. Events include Living Stations, Movie Night, Fiesta Nights – “A Night in Old Saint James”, and so much more. We would love for everyone to participate. • We do NOT offer hybrid learning, so we are excited to see everyone on campus every day. • If you need assistance with uniforms, then we have our resale uniform store at school. Please contact Mrs. Aguilera, we can help. • We continue to follow all of our safety protocols. If you have any questions, then please reach out to Dr. G any time. In fact, the majority of our faculty and staff have received their first and/or second vaccine. We are on our way back to normalcy, back to our proud St. James tradition!

Marching through Lent Sunday 21

Monday 22 Picture Re-take Day Graduation Pictures

Tuesday 23 Report Cards Emailed

Wednesday 24 Salesian Day – Wear yellow t-shirt

March Birthday free-dress day

Thursday 25 Honors Assembly @ 8 am th 6 Stations @ 2:20 pm

Friday 26 Early Release Mental Health PD Part I

Saturday 27

STARBASE Kelly Stem Program for 5th Grade

1st Communion Parent Mtg. @ 7 pm via Zoom 28

29

30 Palm Sunday Mass @ 8:45 am

31 Living Stations @ 9 am

Holy Thursday

Good Friday No School

To Conclude Our Garden We Must Have Thyme: 1. Thyme for Friends 2. Thyme for Family 3. Thyme for Each Other “How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together as one!” Psalm 133:1

Starbase Kelly’s mobile unit will be providing a week-long STEM program to our 5th-8th grade students in March and April. Starbase Kelly is an innovative Department of Defense educational program unlike anything they have experienced before in school. Students will complete hands-on physics and chemistry lessons, model designs on a Computer Aided Design program, 3D print, build and launch a model rocket, and so much more! This week of learning will not only be rewarding but fun!

SJS Lenten Opportunities For more info, click on each title: Dynamic Catholic – Sign up for FREE daily inspirational videos Sanctuary Light – Purchase candles of our Sisters in their convent 40 Cans for Lent – Donate non-perishable food for Catholic Charities. We will be collecting items here at school. CSR Rice Bowl – Students will receive boxes to donate change to those in need Padre Nuestro – As a school, we will learn to pray the Our Father in Spanish.

CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Lenten alms donated through CRS Rice Bowl support the work of CRS in more than 100 different countries each year. This simple cardboard box is a tool for collecting Lenten alms.

PTC News

PTC is open to all St. James parents. If you

would like to get involved with PTC, please email [email protected]

Khaki and Plaid Court of Hope Virtual Gala Sat., May 1st

Register HERE

Volunteer Donation Opportunity! St. James is creating a gift basket for the Hope for the Future Virtual Gala. The theme is of the basket is

ON the GO! We are accepting gift cards of small amounts from various fast food restaurants to create our basket. Feel free to drop them off in car line.

Spring Raffle Tickets Drawing to be held May 7, 2021 If you have any questions, then please contact Mrs. Aguilera at 210-924-1201.

Financial Tips Did you receive your stimulus check? Did you receive the correct amount?

Do you need assistance with your taxes?

https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impactpayments

https://www.stmarytx.ed u/outreach/vita/

On this website, check when and how you will get your next Economic Impact Payment (COVID stimulus payment) from the government. Also on this website, learn how to claim the 2020 Recovery Rebate Credit on your taxes for 2020 if you didn’t get the full amount of the first or second Economic Impact Payments.

Taxpayers whose annual household income is $55,000 or less are eligible for tax assistance through the St. Mary’s VITA program.

Are you looking for tuition assistance? https://online.factsmgt.com/aid Hope for the Future tuition assistance program is now accepting applications for the 21/22 school year. To apply visit: www.hopeforfuture.org and select tuition assistance. In order to apply you will be required to submit either 2019 or 2020 tax documents.

Why I Love Our School Every week we will be sharing testimonials from our contest winners about why our students and teachers love our school. To view our Hope for the Future Impact Video,click on the image.

My students are incredible because they know me and I feel I can easily communicate with them. I have met sincere people who are willing to share ideas and work with the ideas that I may bring in. My school offers fun learning involvement that frequently connects to community and school events. My students want to learn, participate, and share ideas. They grow each day in knowledge and are respectful of peers and all others on campus. I also love my school because it teaches moral values, we gain an understanding that following and growing in our Catholic faith will help us become better people though out our lives. – Mrs. Florestela Longia – 3A Teacher "Why I love coming to St. James is because I love going to Mass and hearing the readings about God and seeing my friends and teachers every single day. When I come to St. James School everyday is different and fun. We learn about God, Jesus, and Mary. Coming and showing my St. James pride it is just so wonderful. It is a honor to go to amazing school. St. James school rules!" - Esme "Why I love coming to St. James . . . 1. I love coming to my school because there are morning jokes. 2. I love coming to my school because we learn cool stuff. 3. I love coming to my school because there are good specials. 4. I love coming to my school because I have nice friends. 5. I love my school, it has the best teachers. 6. I love coming to my school because we have a great principal. 7. I love coming to my school because we learn about God. 8. I love coming to my school because we do Mass. 9. I love coming to my school because everyone is nice. 10. I love coming to my school because people go on zoom and do not miss school." - Ayden "I love my school because they nice. We have the best teachers. We have good cafeteria food. I help people at recess, and we get to see our friends. We get to learn and play and eat. People may get hurt, but we come help the person. I like when my friends help me out. It is so nice that people do that. I like to help people out. When I’m sad, someone helps me out. When people do nice things to me it makes me happy. That’s why I love this school. We will be nice to kids. We love St. James." Andrew