St. John Vianney News

God’s peace and blessings to each of you.
The staff and I hope that your summer has been reinvigorating and enjoyable.  We look forward to soon spending our new school year with your children.
It has been a delight to meet all of the wonderful people in my new family here at St. John Vianney.   I am honored and humbled to be of service to you.  As I settle into the position as principal I encounter continually your commitment, cooperation and kindness.  I am excited to partner with you to ensure our highest priority – our children are given every opportunity to grow spiritually, academically, emotionally, and physically into even greater outstanding Christian citizens. 
 
We are thrilled with the new persons joining our staff this year!
 
Mrs. Amy Facchinello is joining our staff as our highly qualified Middle School Science teacher.  Her many talents include being a Michigan Math Science teacher leader as well as a dedicated educator of Art and Technology.  She will be teaching Art and Technology here as well.  All of these skills she offers to our 6-8^th grade Middle School students.  Welcome Mrs. Facchinello!
 
Mrs. Briana  Shanafelt is an alumni of St John Vianney.  She is endorsed in Math and English Language Arts (ELA).   Mrs. Shanafelt has taught college, high school and middle school math.  She joins our staff as the Middle School Math instructor and will teach sixth grade ELA.  She is described as an “impassioned educator dedicated to instill in students a life-long love of learning”.  Welcome home, Mrs. Shanafelt!
 
Please contact Mr. Tom Pastula (business@sjvkids.org or 810-235-1812) if you have any questions about your tuition payments. Thank you!
 
We are requesting that at least one parent or family member attend the New Parent Orientation  on Wednesday, August 29th, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.  Brief presentations will be made that will apply to all families.  At 6:30 pm, ALL PARENTS, new and current, will be given an opportunity to go to their child’s classroom for specific information about their grade level.  Handbooks and necessary forms will be handed out that evening. This type of orientation is very effective and enhances the success of the school year.  We ask that students/children not attend due to space and the format of the evening.  Ages & Stages, Kindergarten, and 8^th grade parents will have an additional orientation on another day, but we ask those new parents also come for the large group meeting from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on August 29th. Thank you!

As is our custom, please continue to look for newsletters, calendars, and special notes on Fridays. The majority of our notes will be accessible on our website throughout the year. 

We are looking forward to a wonderful 2018-2019 school year.  A strong home-school partnership will help each child to achieve their fullest potential, and help them to be the best that they can be.
 
May God grant you His richest blessings in the coming year,
 
Miss Marshall, Principal 
 
 
*Please note that the Flint busses will not run until September 4th.
 
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR GRADES 1 - 8 is Monday, August 27^th from 8:20 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Tuesday, August 28th is also a half day. Full days will begin on August 29th. Please note that school begins at 8:20 a.m. promptly, and dismisses at 3:20 p.m for the entire year.   It is very important that all students begin their day on time and remain until dismissal! 
 
AGES & STAGES, GSRP, & KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION SCHEDULES are listed below.  The orientation session is intended for students and parents.  
 
Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP)
The Great Start Readiness Program begins on Monday, September 10, 2018.  Students attend Monday through Thursday 8:20 a.m.-3:20 p.m.  This is a grant-funded program which includes snack and hot lunch daily for each student.  SJV Dress code is not required for this program. Parents will be contacted to schedule a time to meet the week of August 20^th to complete all required school registration information.  The GSRP Student/Parent Open House is scheduled for Monday, August 27^th from 11:00 a.m.-11:45 am.  (Parents of students who attend GSRP are not required to attend the SJV New Parent Orientation on 8/29/18.)  Home visits (which are required of the program) will be scheduled to take place between August 28^th and September 7^th, prior to the start of the program.  If you have any questions, please contact Michele Blair at 235-5687.
 
Ages & Stages:  Start date is August 29^th, with half days on August 29^th and 30^th, 8:20-11:45 a.m. Full school days begin on Tuesday, September 4th.

Child Care: Child care for Monday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 28^th is only in the morning, 6:30-8:20 a.m.  The regular childcare hours start on Wednesday, August 29^th.

Kindergarten Orientation:   Monday, August 27^th 8:45-10:15 a.m. Tuesday is a half day from 8:20-12:00 p.m. Full days begin August 29th.
                                                       
*****  Ages & Stages and Kindergarten parents are encouraged to attend the Parent Orientation at 5:30 p.m. on  August 29^th;  however, you will not be meeting with the teachers again that evening due to the morning meetings.
 
DAILY SCHEDULE:                                                 RECESS/LUNCH SCHEDULE: 
Doors Open              8:05 a.m.                                Grades K-1-2-3     11:25 a.m.
School Begins           8:20 a.m.                                Grades 4-5            11:50 a.m.
Dismissal                   3:20 p.m.                                Grades 6-7-8        12:20 p.m.
 
 
SCHOOL OFFICE:     Mrs. Diane Deitering,     8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.    235-5687
BUSINESS OFFICE:  Mr. Tom Pastula,     business@sjvkids.org    235-1812
 
A.M. ATTENDANCE PROCEDURE:  Please call the school by 9:00 a.m. if your child will not be in school. This is a safeguard so that we know where the students are and are informed of communicable illnesses. You may leave a message on the voice mail; assignments may be requested at that time.
 
ALL SCHOOL MASSES:  Mass is held each week for students in grades K-8.  Parents are encouraged to attend.  Each class will have opportunities to prepare liturgies throughout the school year.  Our students do a wonderful job of reading, commentating, being gift bearers, and singing!   We hope you can join us whenever possible. The majority of our Masses will be Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.  
 
CHILD CARE CONTRACTS are being accepted. The Child Care Center is open Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. for ages three by Dec. 1, 2018, through grade eight. There is a Before and After School program.  Call 810-234-9410.
 
DRESS CODE:  In fairness to all of our students, please follow the dress code when purchasing apparel. Our focus at school should be on learning and not on fashion trends.  Short skirts and shorts, tight and low pants, leggings and capped sleeves are not acceptable for school. Complete guidelines for acceptable clothing can be found in the dress code policy on the web site.
 
LUNCHES:  Students will need to bring lunches August 29^th and 30^th.  Our hot lunch program will begin on Tuesday, September 4^th.   A menu will be sent home the first day of school, including the directions for our new lunch procedures. Milk and juice each cost $0.50.  The cost for a hot lunch will be $2.75.  The cost for an extra entrée will be $1.50.  There will be the option of buying a salad at our salad bar for $1.50 
Please be sure that your child will eat the hot lunch; not all children like all entrées.  Pop, candy and fast food are discouraged in cold lunches.  Eating a nutritious lunch helps ensure that students are alert for afternoon classes.
 
DROPPING OFF STUDENTS FOR SCHOOL:  Students are to be dropped in front of the cones in the parking lot.  Please enter the parking lot off Blair Street and exit onto Bagley Street.  Please do not stop in the driveway as that could cause cars to be backed up on Chevrolet Avenue.   Please do not drop off students before 8:05 a.m. as there is no supervision for them.  If you need care for your children before 8:05 a.m., please contact Nancy Gallagher, our Day Care Director, at (810) 235-9410. Students in grades 1–8 are to go to the gymnasium. 
 
PICKING UP STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL:  At 3:20, all students will be dismissed from the parking lot exits. Please remind your children to be careful at this time.  Please enter the parking lot off Blair St. and exit onto Bagley Street.  Please do not stop in the driveway to pick up students. Students may not remain in the building unsupervised after school.

• Please DO NOT PARK on Bagley Street at arrival and/or dismissal. 
• The area in front of the school (Bagley Street) is reserved for busses.​
• Please DO NOT wait for your children on Bagley St.​
• Please inform any relatives or friends who transport your children of our procedures.
• Let’s be committed to safety and patience at all times. Children trust that drivers will do the right thing.  We are always concerned about the safety of all children.

 TRANSPORTATION:   Please call the school office as soon as possible if you live in the Flint School District and would like your child(ren) to ride the bus. If your child rode last year, we still need verification from you for this year.  We hope to have route information by the week of August 27th. Busses will not run until the week of September 4^th.
 
SPORTS PHYSICALS:  Students in grades 5–8, who plan to participate on any athletic team during the year, must have a physical. Physicals are good for one year. A copy of the physical report must be on file in our school office prior to the start of a season.  
 
5th/6th & 7th/8th GRADE FOOTBALL:  Please support our teams.  Go Vikings!
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Girls in grades 5–8 may start practices the last week of August.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR:  Mr. Andrew Speer welcomes your support and participation in our athletic program.  Please let the school office know if you are interested in coaching.
 
BOOK COVERS:  We expect that students keep all books covered for the entire year to help maintain quality condition. The Book Sox jumbo cloth book covers fit our books well, are washable and last for the year. We will have a few for sale at the beginning of the school year.
 
SPIRIT SALE:  Orders for SJV spirit wear tee-shirts, dress code shirts and sweatshirts, will be taken in early September. 
 
MATH/ READING:  Please have your children finish their math packet before returning to school. It is helpful to have children keep reviewing as math procedures are often forgotten over the summer. There is still plenty of time to read and turn in your calendars for summer reading.
 
FYI:  Many parents are supplementing their tuition expenses by working at DTE, LCA, Ford Field, and Tiger Stadium.