Dear Parents,
We continue to promote and practice a Growth Mindset--to model to our children to challenge ourselves and show how we can grow by learning from our mistakes and to reflect on how “Knowledge feeds GROWTH.” Yet let’s not neglect our spiritual growth. I offer these petitions to help keep our spirits strong and faithful:
We lay our prayers before the Lord, who gives us strength.
We pray that those who lead us in faith and serve our Church, Pope Francis, our bishops, and pastors continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
We pray for national, state, and local leaders, that their work is focused on their desire to serve.
We pray for the students, families, faculty, and staff of our school, that we never forget our call to discipleship.
Guide us so that we may grow closer to you, O Lord.
In the power of your Spirit and in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. AMEN.
--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez
AZTEC TREK
On January 5, your child received the collection envelope for our annual mandatory fundraiser, the AZTEC TREK. Students and families can help support our school by collecting pledges for our walk-a-thon and game day. This fundraiser helps to keep St. Peter’s School’s tuition the lowest in the Archdiocese. The minimum mandatory amount to be collected by each student is $100, but the more a student collects, the more prizes and class points can be earned! The due date for all money to be turned in is Friday, February 9. Thank you in advance for your support!
RE-REGISTRATION FOR 2018-2019
The re-registration form (on bright orange paper) has been sent home. Please return this form no later than February 21. The form and new tuition rates are also available on the school website, www.stpeterssf.org. In order to reserve your child’s space for the next school year, the registration fee of $450 per student is due by March 28.
ARCHDIOCESE ELEMENTARY FAMILY GRANT
The application process for the Archdiocese Family Grant for the 2018-2019 school year has now begun. Please go on to mytads.com to begin the application process. Be sure you have your 2017 income tax information or 2017 income information (Calworks, social security, food stamps, etc.).
BASIC FUND
New students entering for the 2018-2019 school year must complete the BASIC Fund Application no later than March 16, 2018. Renewal families will be filling out their BASIC Fund Renewal Application in March. All student accounts must be current with no past due balances. Please be sure you have your 2017 income tax information or 2017 income information (Calworks, social security, food stamps, etc.). Please contact the school office if you have any questions.
An update from the BASIC Fund: The BASIC Fund will increase the maximum scholarship amount from $1600 to $2000. This means that the deadlines for applications will be especially important, so please submit applications for new siblings by the BASIC Fund deadline.
VALENTINE’S DAY
Next week is Ash Wednesday, which happens to fall on the same date at Valentine’s Day. Since Ash Wednesday is a solemn, quiet, and reflective day in the liturgical year, classes will instead celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 13. If your child would like to share treats or cards to celebrate Valentine’s Day, please bring those to class on Tuesday, February 13.
SPORTS COMMITTEE
St. Peter's School will be initiating a sports committee this year. The committee will be working directly with the Athletic Directors and Mr. Suárez. We will be working on policies related to the sports program and brainstorming on fundraisers to help bring in money for equipment, uniforms, and awards. If you would like to be involved please contact Mr. Suárez. We will be having a meeting on Wednesday, February 21 at 5:00 p.m.
--Jim Sanchez and Lissette Lopez, Athletic Directors
FAMILY DINNER & DANCE
The Family Dinner & Dance will take place on Saturday, February 24 form 5:00-8:00 PM. If you’d like to help with set-up, please submit the volunteer form sent home with Que Pasa, or see Mrs. Jimenez in the office.
BVCC SPRING CAMP
Registration is open for BVCC Spring Camp, which will be held from Monday, April 2 – Friday, April 6. Registration forms are available in the school office and after school at BVCC in the Parish Hall.
JOB OPENINGS
CUSTODIAN -- Full-time or Part-time position available. Must have flexibility with weekends and late afternoon shifts. HOUSEKEEPER -- On-call, weekdays or weekends. Both jobs are located at Mercy Convent (2300 Adeline Drive, Burlingame). If interested, please leave your name and phone number at the school office for Sister Marian Rose, or call the school office at 415-647-8662.
VIRTUS ONLINE TRAINING FOR SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
In order to be a volunteer at school events (such as a field trip chaperone or a sports team coach), adults must complete the online training on www.virtusonline.org.
*If you have already completed the online training by Shield the Vulnerable, your volunteer clearance is still good for 3 years from date of completion of that online course.
Follow these directions to complete the VIRTUS online training:
Go to www.virtusonline.org
Click on “First-time Registrant”
Click on “Begin the registration process”
Select San Francisco (Archdiocese)
Create a User ID and Password for yourself
Fill out the requested personal information
Select St. Peter Elementary (San Francisco) **DO NOT SELECT St. Peter Parish**
Provide your digital signatures for downloading and reading the documents: “Standards of Conduct for Those Working with Children and Young People” and “Policies and Procedures Regarding Child Abuse”
Select the online course “Protecting God’s Children for Adults” (Online Training)
Once you’ve completed the course, go to your Toolbox and click on “Training Report” to verify the completion of your course.
Upon completion of the online course, please email sjimenez@sanpedro.org or print out the “Training Report” page and submit it to the school office. You will receive 3 parent hours.
IN THE CLASSROOM
KINDER - This week we will write about what we like to do on a rainy day. We will start off by sharing what we can do on a rainy day and write our ideas on a big word web. Then we will make sentences using responses from the web. Afterward, we will have an opportunity to read our sentences during circle time and talk whether our ideas are different or the same. Lastly, we will enjoy listening to a story of "The Frog and the Locust" and "Rain." We will discuss the ways both stories tell what happens in different kinds of weather.
1A - This week in first grade we are reading and discussing how animals’ bodies help them. We are also working on new spelling patterns for words with the long /a/ sound. In religion we are practicing giving thanks to God with our hearts and voices. In math we are returning to addition and subtraction. In science we are continuing to observe and record the phases of the moon. In social studies we are practicing reading maps and keys.
2A - Second grade will be reading poetry, subtracting and adding with 4-digit numbers, talking about forgiveness and choices, making tea with found materials in science, and learning about producers and consumers. Reminder: First Communion meeting this evening-- Wednesday, 2/7/18 at 6 p.m. in St. Peter's Church.
3A – In Writing class, we will finish viewing the movie, Stone Fox, and compare and contrast the movie to the book. In Language class, we are studying prefixes and suffixes. In Social Studies, we continue learning the names of the 7 continents and the oceans of our Earth.
4A - This week 4A students will identify cause and effect relationships, combine simple sentences into compound sentences correctly, and divide 2-digit dividends by 1-digit divisors to find 1-digit quotients with remainders.
5A - In English and Social Studies this week, 5th graders are exploring a variety of texts that introduce our upcoming Revolutionary War unit. In religion, we will be discussing the Catholic history of St. Valentine and preparing for Ash Wednesday. Don't forget to return the signed permission slip for next week's cooking field trip!
6A Religion – 6th Grade will have their final visit from Paula Pardini to close out their Building Bridges Faith Community Building. Language Arts – 6th Grade will continue their research-based presentations using Google Slides. We will also begin the introduction of our next novel unit, the survival classic Hatchet. Math - Fraction Fair is coming!! The 6th graders are working very hard to prepare for the Fraction fair this week! Social Studies – 6th Grade Social Studies will be learning about the different religions of Ancient India. Science – 6th grade scientists will investigate how the angle of the sun affects Earth's seasons.
7A/7B Religion - This week, we begin our in- depth study about the Kingdom of God, what it is, different perceptions of it, and some fun parables to take us on the journey. The 7th graders will be parable writers bringing forth the story of what the Kingdom of Heaven is to them. Language Arts - Students are continuing to read Freak the Mighty. In addition to their reading, students will also respond to a series of comprehension questions to ensure understanding of the overall content. Math - 7th graders are finishing up their career projects that they have been working so very hard on and will be exploring inequalities this week before we get back to percents and percent of Change. Social Studies – 7th Grade Social Studies will have a Family Crest Museum and will analyze the causes and effects of the Black Death in Medieval Europe. Science - Students are continuing their review of organ systems as they prepare for their exam later this week.
8A Religion - 8th Grade is having their final visit from Paula Pardini to close out their Building Bridges Faith Community Building. Language Arts - Students are continuing their Poetry Unit. They have successfully completed their "Where I'm From" poems and will present their work with a potluck on Thursday, February 8. Math - 8th graders are finishing up Functions this week, specifically graphing, before we move on to linear equations and Rate of Change. Social Studies – 8th Grade will begin to look at Thomas Jefferson's presidency and the Louisiana Purchase. Science - Preliminary tests are over and students will official fly their rockets using chemical reactions this week and begin their post-lab analysis.
REMINDERS
Feb. 7 First Communion Parent Meeting, 6:00 PM in
Church
Feb. 8 Fraction Fair hosted by 6A
Feb. 9 Aztec Trek money due
Feb. 12 5th grade field trip to the Civic Kitchen
Feb. 13 Classroom Valentine’s celebrations
Feb. 14 Ash Wednesday School Mass, 8:30 AM
Feb. 5-16 STAR Testing Window
