SCHOOL CALENDAR - St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church

Volume 32– April 12, 2013
St. Teresa of Los Andes, pray for us.
School Mission Statement
St. Joan of Arc School, as part of the parish faith community, commits to
building the Catholic identity of its students, to challenging them
academically, and to preparing them for lives of service to others.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
4/16 First Communion meeting
6:30 pm (O-Z) in OLOM Center
4/19 7:30 am (Final) Erin Go Brew
4/19 Talent Show 7:00 pm in OLOM
Center
4/24 Dress Down Day
4/26 Grade 2 Retreat,
8:15 am-10:15 am
4/30 Grade 7 “That’s Not Fair” Rally
1:00 pm in OLOM Center
5/1-5/2 Drama Show at 7:00 pm in
OLOM Center
5/3 Grade 2 Eucharistic Adoration
at 1:00 pm in the chapel
5/13 May Crowning at 9:15 am
5/16 Fine Arts Night at 7:00 pm in
OLOM Center
5/24 Dress Down Day
5/26 Grade 8 Graduation at 2:00 pm
This mass is considered a
regular Sunday liturgy
5/27 NO CLASSES Memorial Day
5/30 Feast of St. Joan of Arc Mass
9:15 am
5/31 Last Day for students
Grade 5-7 Awards
Early Dismissal at 12 noon
NO Hot Lunch NO Extended Day
PreK-K 11:30 am
Gr. 1-3 11:40 am
Gr. 4-5 11:50 am
Gr. 6-8 12:00 noon
All children must have left campus
by 12:10pm.
2013-2014 Calendar Coming Soon
POPE FRANCIS I!!
POPE CONTEST WINNERS:
Check out the winners by the school office
Grades 7-8: Research Cardinals
1 st Place: Meghan Haggerty, 8A
Meghan wrote about Cardinal Timothy
Dolan from New York
2 nd Place: Daniel Alvarez, 8B
Daniel wrote about Cardinal Bergoglio
(now Pope Francis I) from Argentina
3 rd Place: Daniela Hoganson, 8A
Daniela wrote about Cardinal Marc
Oullet from Canada
3 rd Place: Grace Marko, 8B
Grace wrote about Cardinal Bergoglio
(now Pope Francis I) from Argentina
Grades 5-6: New Papal Motto
1 st Place: Raleigh Smith, 6B “If you follow me,
you follow Him.”
2 nd Place: Stone Vickers, 6B “Guarding His
word.”
3 rd Place: Sara Powers, 5B “Walk with Jesus”
Grades 3-4:New Papal Name
All classes received participation recognition.
Top name choices were:
John Paul III with 46 votes
Benedict XVII with 6 votes
Gregory XVII with 6 votes
Grades 1-2: Pope’s Coat of Arms
1 st Place: Lauren Beaulieu, 2B
2 nd Place: Samantha Williams, 2B
3 rd Place: Karla Pellot, 1B
3 rd Place: Christopher Colella, 2B
SIP CORNER by Mrs. Clare
In order to maintain our SIP goals in Spelling and
Vocabulary, sixth grade is learning more than just
the spelling and definition of words. Over a two
week period, students focus their learning on
numerous skills and the development of word
families. During the first week of each unit,
pronunciation and “word-attack” are being
practiced to help the students understand how
prefixes and suffixes can change the meaning of
a base word. During the second week of each
unit, students learn the part of speech, synonyms
and antonyms.
With our Smart Board technology, sixth grade
utilizes the Interactive Audio Pronunciation
Program as well as online activities that the class
can participate in. This helps to reinforce the
pronunciation, part of speech, and definitions for
each vocabulary word. Unit vocabulary tests are
administered through the Smart Board and
students respond to the assessment utilizing
"Smart Responders". Immediate feedback is
provided to the students as well as the teacher.
In addition to working with the Sadlier-Oxford
textbook, content area spelling and vocabulary
tests are given by the spelling teacher. Content
area teachers provide a list of words to the
spelling teacher for each quarter.
TUITION ASSISTANCE
from the STATE of FLORIDA
An exciting change for our school for 2013-2014
is that we will participate in the Step Up for
Students Scholarship Program.
This means that families with students entering
Kindergarten through Fifth Grade who qualify
may be able to receive tuition assistance from
the state. We encourage interested parents to
check the website for this program
www.stepupforstudents.org. There is a chart to
check eligibility which is based on number of
individuals in a household and household
income. If any St. Joan of Arc family qualifies,
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FAMILY APPLY
TO THE STATE FOR SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE
STATE HAS A LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF
FUNDS.
Please take advantage of this new opportunity
from the state, and if you have
any questions about the program, please feel
free to contact the school office.

ATTENTION PARENTS
ANNUAL TALENT SHOW
Friday, April 19 th at 7pm
The Show is sponsored by the Student
Council, and Council members will sell
tickets at the door. All students attending
must be accompanied by an adult.
See you there!
FINGERPRINTING UPDATE
St. Joan of has hosted the fingerprinting
equipment for the Diocese of Palm Beach for 6
years, and next year, the equipment will be
moving on to another parish. So, we encourage
parents and volunteers to get their mandated
fingerprinting done as soon as possible, while it
is still so convenient to do so. Fingerprints need
to be updated every 5 years, so this is
information for current volunteers as well. First
register online at diocesepb.org, under the Safe
Environments tab, then call the school office to
make an appointment. And don’t forget that the
Diocese requires that volunteers attend a onetime
session of “Protecting God’s Children”
within a 45-day period of being fingerprinted.
Thank you for your cooperation!!
2012-2013 Duke University’s Grade 7 TIP
(Talent Identification Program) RESULTS
13 of our students who took the SAT/ACT tests
are now eligible to attend the State Recognition
Ceremony on Tuesday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at FAU.
Congratulations to:
Brandi Antonio
Brooke Antonio
Matthew Blade
Andrew Haggerty
Thomas Hankey
Rylee Harper
Grace Heinlein
Taylor Janke
James “Luke” Murrison
Emilie Pouleriguen
Jasmin Rabosto
Kade Raynor
Lauren Wich
Just a reminder that all families should have
activated their EDLINE accounts by now.
The school office will be contacting any
parents who haven’t had a chance to
activate yet…because, very soon, this
school Newsletter will be streamlined so
that its link may e-mailed to parents through
EDLINE. Parents will be notified via an
e-mail alert that the Newsletter is ready for
viewing. You’ve asked for this, so we are
moving forward with this request.
The updated Newsletter will contain
important dates and school announcements
while providing links to any other
information parents may need.
Please note that in order to use next year’s
mandatory FACTS Tuition Program, each
family must have an active EDLINE account.
FRIDAY, APRIL 19
7:30 AM
Sponsored by
SJA Cub Scouts
Pack 323
TUITION REMINDER
Tuition is due the first of every month beginning
in August and ending in May. Tuition is
considered delinquent as of the 10 th of the
month in which it is due, at this time a $25.00
late fee will apply
The Diocese of Palm Beach and The Office
of Safe Environments held a contest with the
theme being “STAND UP TO BULLYING”.
Three winners from each Grade 4-8
were chosen.
On Tuesday, April 16 from 7:00 pm to-9:00 pm
an Awards Ceremony and Rally will be held at
Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm
Beach. Bishop Barbarito will present
Certificates to contest winners.
Congratulations to St. Joan of Arc School
winners:
Grade 4
1 st Allison Streibig 4A tee shirt logo
2 nd Carolina Ameglio 4B poster
3 rd Kate Marsenison
and Jenna Vickers 4B poster
Grade 5
1 st Stephanie DeVarona 5A poster
2 nd Adriana Metzger 5B poster
3 rd Marina Kukla 5B poster
Grade 6
1 st Eve Maria Williams 6A tee shirt logo
2 nd Tatiana Alvarez 6A tee shirt logo
3 rd Raleigh Smith 6B poetry
Grade 7
1 st Thomas Hankey, Jr. 7A tee shirt logo
2 nd Caitlin Dawson 7A tee shirt logo
3 rd Julia Nuener 7B tee shirt logo
Grade 8
1 st Margaret Hatton 8B tee shirt logo
2 nd Alexa Palermo 8B tee shirt logo
3 rd Marina Handal 8A tee shirt logo

SIBLING APPLICATIONS
2013-2014 School Year
Pre-K Three students must be 3 years old by Sept. 1, 2013
Pre-K Four students must be 4 years old by Sept. 1, 2013
Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2013
in order to be eligible.
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Bradley at (561) 392-7974 ext. 2946
.
This is Charlie Pellizzetti!
He is a 4 year-old Cockapoo who loves to run and
play and brings tons of love to our family.
He belongs to Keegan in (4B) and
Alexandra in (8A)
LUNCH PROGRAM
2012-2013
Gazebo Duty (outside)
10:50 am – 12:20 pm
4/15 Mercy Carrillo, Angela Hammes
4/16 Colleen Quarantillo
4/17 Dina Jarkas
4/18 Kelly Sanders
4/19 Rebeca Portela, Ana Maria Johnson
Our Lady of Mercy Center (inside)
10:30 am – 12:15 pm
4/15
4/16 Maria Magpantay
4/17 Brenda Garbinski
4/18 Amy Connor
4/19 Helen Carasa
Thank you to all the extra
volunteers!!
Lunch Volunteers are always
needed and welcome.

THE VALUE OF A
CATHOLIC
EDUCATION
For the second half of the school
year, we thought we'd ask our
8th Graders to share their thoughts
on the importance of a Catholic
education. Essays from the
students will now be included in
each newsletter.
The Value of a Good Catholic
Education
The Catholic Church as well as
the Diocese of Palm Beach Catholic
Schools offer children the educational
choices and tools for a successful
future. All bright futures start with a
strong foundation. Not just the mind,
but one that is centered by faith and
values. We are given a foundation that
also includes great academics,
outstanding community service,
extracurricular activities, and a lot more.
By attending a Catholic school,
your child has the outstanding
opportunity to grow in spiritual values
and morals. These essential faith and
values are repeated, taught, and
reinforced throughout the school day.
We receive the Gospel message
throughout the school year. Catholic
schools teach and encourage faith
development in the lives of children,
and are always dedicated to prove
students with a great academic
curriculum. At home and at school,
children are trained and prepared for
the lives of service to others and to
God. All over the world, Catholic
schools teach and exemplify the
importance of living the message of
Christ by helping the sick, needy, and
less fortunate. Students participate in
food pantry drives, toy drives, weekly
donations, clothing drives, and much
more which gives them an amazing
opportunity to serve others.
As you have read, Catholic schools give
students vast opportunities to excel and
exceed in mind and spirit. By sending your
child to a Catholic school, you are giving them
an advanced start in the classroom, but a
strong foundation for life. Students are also
given the tools and guidance to be the best
person we can by physically and spiritually.
Alexandria Lam - 8B
The Value of a Good Catholic Education
In this world of the twenty-first
century a Catholic school comes in handy
especially with our society and laws that are
consistently turning away from God. Catholic
schools encourage you to pray and to become
strong in your faith so that when you depart
from school and go into the world you can
preach, proclaim, and fulfill your faith to others.
Our country is led by lawmakers and
influenced by opinion makers trying to destroy
this nation by taking away our rights and
freedoms such as our freedom of religion and
freedom to worship the one and true God. By
going to a Catholic school we learn how to
fight together with Jesus, the fight of love by
bringing the kindness and love we learn at
Catholic schools into the hearts of everyone.
My Catholic school, St. Joan of Arc,
along with other Catholic schools tells the
students about ways they can grow in their
faith and places they can go to strengthen
their faith. For instance, this year I went to
Palm Beach Gardens to participate in
Steubenville, which is a retreat for young
Catholic middle school students. At
Steubenville they had many religious activities
such as adoration, confession, and mass. In
Catholic schools we also can pray, talk to and
about God, and learn about God unlike the
public schools which do not permit the name of
God or any religious objects such as a Bibles
and rosaries. We are so blessed that we have
the chance to attend a Catholic school where
God is the center of our lives and where
people cannot take Him out of our daily life.
As students of a Catholic school
we usually take our Catholic education for
granted and complain about the things we
could have or do if we went to a another
school. It is sad to see that a lot of my
classmates in my eighth grade class and a
lot of the students of the other eighth grade
class may not get to continue their
education in Catholic high schools where
God and His love are never hidden by a
cloud of darkness. As we get pushed off
the trail towards God we must use our
talents and gifts given to us by God to
make the steep and bumpy road back onto
the trail of righteousness. I believe the
students of Catholic schools find the
connection with God and themselves more
easily than children who attend public
schools.
During this past Lenten season a
very important event occurred, this was the
election of a new pope, Pope Francis.
Coming with this event is the calling of God
into our heart, so that we may better know
how to serve others just as our new pope
has served and will serve others. During
school we have been able to participate in
a novena for Pope Francis. We pray that
he will be guided by God and His love. If
we would not have been in a Catholic
school we could not understand our new
universal leader of the Catholic Church and
what his mission contains. Even though
this world is changing and a sweep of
atheism is heading our way, our Catholic
school education teaches us to stand up
for God and for the good. Thanks to a
Catholic school education we will always
know that God is there for us and that he
wants to be in our lives to help us grow in
faith and by His example He made this
possible.
Joseph Liguori – 8A