March 5, 2010

Dear SJV Families,

     Today, we had the kick off for the Magazine Drive .  All information is in your Friday folder.  The drive will end on March 23rd.  I hope the weather cooperates and stays warm so students can go out and sell.  It is very easy to go online and order the magazines you would like.  Just enter our account number of 425007733.  If the purchase is for a certain student, their name will need to be typed in.  There is a volunteer form for magazine order tabulation in your Friday folder, so please volunteer if you can.  Thanks for supporting this fund-raiser. 

     I want all of the parents to know what the plan is for the 2010-2011 school year.  Remember, this is all dependent on registration numbers for next year.  We plan to keep all of our staff.  The school board recommended tuition for next year to be $1750 for parishioners, and $2110 for non-parishioners, with $150 discount for each additional child. The finance council has approved this recommendation.  There is a $100 family non-refundable deposit for registration on March 11th, which will be applied to fall tuition. 

     Preschool tuition will be $700 for the two day program and $1000 for the three day program.  Preschool registration is Thursday, March 11th from 5 - 7 PM.  To register for preschool, please come into the gym first and register; then you may go down and visit the classroom.   There is a $20 preschool registration fee that is non-refundable.

     SJV’s 2010-2011 K through 6th Grade School Registration is planned for Thursday, March 11th from 4:30 PM - 8:00 PM in the school’s gym.  School registration is hosted by the SJV School Board.  Those families who have not registered at the conclusion of the registration period will be contacted by the school board.  You need to turn in one form of each.  Those forms include:

        1.) Student Registration Form(s) (White- 1 per child) w/ computer read-out - please update any incorrect information or fill-in information where area is highlighted.

        2.) Tuition Agreement Form (Pink- 1 per family)-  please consider line # F.  For the families requesting tuition assistance, please bring the necessary IRS paper work.  Families are asked to meet with me during the registration period to finalize tuition reduction.

        3.) The SJV Parent / School Partnership, “Points for Parents” Program, Agreement Form (Salmon- 1 per family)  Sign-up charts will be posted in the hallway for parents to sign-up for various committees for next year...homeroom parents, coaches, fund raisers, etc.  Job descriptions are obtainable through the school office.

     SCRIP $ALES WILL BE AVAILABLE  AT REGISTRATION !!!  Scrip sales are counted from June 1st of each year until May 31st.  

     Scheduled conference times are in your Friday folder.  If you did not send in a slip you may still request a conference even if the teacher did not request one.  Either send your form back that was sent last week or give us a call at school. 

     We have a very busy week next week.  On Tuesday, the 6^th graders travel to Mankato to the Young Writers Conference.  They will be gone all day.  Thank you so much to the parents who have volunteered to drive the students to this.  The Seder meal for the 6th graders is Wednesday, March 10th at 5:30 PM in the hospitality area of the church.  On Thursday, the Science Fair takes place in the gym and after school Thursday is 4-H for K-3^rd grade until 4:30 PM. 

     Two members of the school board will have completed their three year term in June.  We are looking for individuals that would be willing to run for the next three year term.  If you are interested, please sign up at registration.  The election will be held the first weekend in May.

     If you are looking for “Points For Parents”, you might consider helping at the Family Fun Fair on Friday, March 26th at Five Lakes Elementary.  Our preschool program does an activity that night and Mrs. Gibeau could use lots of help.  You also get in free with a pass.  Please sign up by the preschool classroom or contact Mrs. Gibeau, if you can possibly help.  Thank you!!

     Remember, Basketball and cheerleading pictures have been rescheduled again for this coming Monday, March 8^th,  after school.  Do you think we will be able to complete them this time?  A schedule for the times of each team’s picture will be emailed directly to the parents.

     I received a call this week from Butch Hanson, superintendent of schools for the Fairmont Area School District .  He wanted to let me know that a few possibilities to make up snow days are being considered.  The one that is most likely  to occur is to add 15 minutes on the end of every school day starting March 15^th.  We would still have Good Friday off and then would not add any additional days.  If the public school does this, we will also, because of busing.  The public school board meets next Tuesday so I will keep you posted.

     Karman Brinkman, one of our Kindergarten parents is an Educational Consultant for Usbourne Books.  She contacted several businesses in Fairmont and asked for donations so she could give a free book to all K-2^nd grade students in our area.  Karman split the cost of the books with the businesses 50/50.  Kindergarteners’ books at SJV School were purchased by Dentist Jeff Fordice, Dentist Paul Carlson and Fairmont Family Dentistry--Jon Erickson, 1^st graders’ books were purchased by Thate’s Tree Service, and our 2^nd graders’ books were bought by Center for Specialty Care.  Thank you very much Karman and to all the businesses for their donations for giving every child their very own book.  Awesome!!

Have a good weekend. 

God’s Blessings,

Joan Schaffer

Principal at St. John Vianney School

911 S. Prairie Ave.

Fairmont , MN 56031

507-235-5304

jschaffer@sjvschool.net