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— Saints Simon and Jude Mission Statement — Through the Immaculate Heart of Mary we at Saints Simon and Jude School, commit ourselves to learning, proclaiming and
living the Good News of Jesus Christ. We strive to educate and develop all for Catholic leadership in the church and community,
enabling one another to serve with Compassion, Courage and Competence.
Letter from Sister Regina Today is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Next Wednesday, October 13, we as Catholics celebrate Our Lady’s appearance to
three small children at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Our Lady asked the children to pray the rosary for world peace. As Father
Gerlach mentioned at last evening’s Home and School meeting, and maybe your child/ren have shared with you, each child has
received a blessed world mission rosary. The mission rosary is comprised of five colors representing the mission areas that
need our prayers and sacrifices. Green is for Africa. Blue is for the islands of the Pacific. White symbolizes Europe. Red is for
the Americas. Yellow represents Asia. Each Wednesday, Ameila Foret, the Student Council Commissioner of Religious Activities
leads the school family in praying a decade of the rosary. Every Wednesday is also Mission Wednesday. The children have the
opportunity to sacrifice money for the needs of the children in mission lands. Our children truly are very generous!
As a family, may you find time to pray the rosary especially during this month of October that is dedicated to the Holy Rosary.
May Our Lady of the Rosary grant each of us many graces and blessings.
Time Sensitive & New Information Tomorrow is the last day to bring in a donation for SSJ’s Annual Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive! Thank you for your generosity!
Parent-Teacher conferences will be held virtually this year on Friday, 10/29. Links for the teachers’ sign- up genius will be
sent out on Thursday, 10/14 at 7:00PM. Any parent who wishes an in-person conference may request one.
From SSJ’s Student Council:
Spirit Week: Saturday, Oct. 16th is Saints Simon and Jude Homecoming at Glen Mills School. In order to show our
school spirit, we have a week of fun filled spirit.
On Monday Oct. 11th: Wear your best SSJ uniform to show our school pride as our Middle States Association
Chairperson visits SSJ. The JV soccer team will be announced during Morning Assembly.
Tuesday Oct. 12th: A Call to Kindness Day-dress down with a donation for The Foundation for Catholic Education,
Rising Together Alliance. A Call to Kindness Day is a day to celebrate the differences in all of us and what makes
each child unique. The goal is for children to see the beauty in all God's children and appreciate everyone's abilities.
The JV football team will be announced during Morning Assembly.
Wednesday Oct. 13th: Accessorize in gold over your regular school uniform (or gym uniform, if you have gym this day).
This can be a gold T-shirt, gold beads, gold headband, socks, etc. The flag football team will be announced during
Morning Assembly.
Thursday Oct. 14th: Accessorize in maroon over your regular school uniform (or gym uniform, if you have gym this
day). This can be a maroon T-shirt, maroon beads, maroon headband, socks, etc. The varsity soccer team will be
announced during Morning Assembly.
Friday Oct. 15th: Wear a CYO jersey (if you are part of a CYO team) or SSJ logo wear (if you do not have a jersey). The
varsity football team will be announced during Morning Assembly.
Halloween Basket of Fun: Student Council is sponsoring a Halloween basket raffle. The basket is full of fun
Halloween items, such as candy, treat or treat bags, pumpkin carving kit, decorations, etc. Raffle tickets will be sold
during recess or in the morning. The sale will begin on Tues. Oct. 19th and go through Tues. Oct. 26th. The winning
ticket will be chosen at morning assembly on Wednesday Oct. 27th. Tickets cost 3/$1 or 50 cents each. Proceeds
will benefit the SSJ 8th grade class fee and the missions.
SSJ School News October 7, 2021 — Issue #6
Family Pumpkin Decorating: We invite all families to decorate a pumpkin to display in the SSJ hallways. All decorated
pumpkins need to be delivered to the cafeteria on the morning of Tuesday Oct. 26th. As student council registers the
pumpkin, please include your family name along with the children’s names and homeroom numbers. All students will
be invited to view the pumpkins on Wed. Oct. 27th. Student Council officers will vote on the best decorated pumpkin.
One pumpkin per family, please! We cannot wait to see the creativity again this year!
Planning for the Talent Show 2022 is underway. This is open to students in grades 4 to 8. Any parent help or ideas are
welcome! Please contact Kathi Clapham for more information! [email protected]
Calling New Musicians in Grades 3-8: This year’s instrumental music program began in September. We are especially
proud of our student musicians and we support and believe in the benefits that learning a musical instrument can provide
your child. Making an investment in your child’s musical career now can provide lifelong benefits, including improved
cognitive and collaborative skills plus the enjoyment of learning to play an instrument.
It’s not too late to take advantage of our school’s instrumental music program. Northeastern Music Programs, our school’s
instrumental music provider, is still taking enrollments through October (although students are starting lessons now). You
can learn more about our program, enroll online, and rent an instrument through their parent company Menchey Music by
going to our schools landing page at https://nemusicprograms.com/recruitment/ss-simon-jude-west-chester-instrumental-
program/. This is a wonderful opportunity and we would love to see many of our students learn to play a musical
instrument. Thank you.
From SSJ’s Home & School Association Dine and Donate event! Help support SSJ on Thursday 10/28 at Fellini’s Cafe in West Chester. Families have the option to
dine in or take out. Fellini’s will give 15% of the bill back to the school. Don’t forget to mention SSJ when you order!
Hi from Lynn Greto, your Box Top$ 4 Education Program coordinator. As announced last year, the Box Top$ 4 Education
Program has changed the way we earn money for our school. The new and improved Box Tops mobile APP uses state-of-the-
art technology to scan your store receipt to automatically identify the participating products, and instantly adds Box Tops to
your school's earnings online without clipping.
Short demos to watch on YouTube: “Box Tops App: Scan for your School”, “How to Scan” your store receipt, and when you
have emails or digital receipts from online shopping: “How to submit digital receipts to earn Box Tops”. The same videos
can be found in the “About” menu @ https://www.boxtops4education.com/
Download the APP from the APP Store or GOOGLE PLAY. When you sign up, USE MY REFERRAL CODE: YDAA5FLJ. You and I
will each get 20 free box tops just for scanning your first receipt! That’s $2 each, just for signing up! How much could we
make if every family at SSJ did this? 201 families x $2 = $402, then add the 20 I get for each: 402 x 2 = $804! Just for
signing up with the APP!
*CLIPPED BOX TOPS? SSJ can still earn money for unexpired physical Box Tops. Attach them to collection sheets and send
them in to school. Click here for a Box Tops collection sheet. Please send in ASAP, they must be submitted by Nov. 1, or they
expire and are worthless.
SSJ logo wear has a limited supply of maroon and gray hoodies ($30) and t-shirts ($15). Both are approved for students to
wear as part of their gym uniform. If you are interested, please email [email protected]. The logo wear store will be
open in October with an assortment of SSJ apparel!
Coming December 18 and 19… our first K- grade 3 production… Frozen Kids!
Attention students in grades 6, 7, and 8... Crew positions are available for the December
production of Frozen Kids. Please look for Sign up Genius to sign up or contact Mrs. Clapham.
From SSJ’s CYO Registration for CYO Basketball is now open. We offer Regional & Parish programs for 5th & 6th grade boys and girls (JV),
as well as 7th & 8th grade boys and girls (Varsity). Click here to register.
2021 SSJ CYO Homecoming will take place on Saturday, October 16th.
All games will be played at Glen Mills School. Here is the lineup for the day:
8am - JR Flag Football vs. Trinity
8am - SR Flag Football vs. St. Thomas
9am - JV Soccer vs. St. Agnes
10am - Varsity Football vs. St. Thomas
10:30am - Varsity Soccer vs. St. Aloysius
11:45am - JV Football vs. St. Thomas
We hope to see all of our SSJ families, friends, and alums out in full force on 10/16!
The Homecoming Social (adults only) is the evening of Saturday, October 16. Click here for the evite to RSVP.
Repeated Information We had a great response for Miss Crowley’s Art Club and it’s full at this time. Thank you and enjoy!
We are very excited to offer Chester County Reading Olympics for our students in grades 4 to 8. This will be our 15th year
participating at the elementary level and 9th year at the middle school level!
A letter and book list went home with 4th and 5th grade students and their first meeting will be on Wednesday, October 13 at
lunch recess. Fourth grade teachers, Mrs. Farrell and Ms. Sullivan will be the moderators. Click here to access the letter
and click here for the reading list.
Last week, a Reading Olympics email went to middle school students in grades 6, 7, and 8 and to their parents. If students
want to be part of the team or if they want more information, there will be a quick meeting at lunch recess on Wednesday,
October 13 in the library. Mrs. Langdon and Mrs. Battista will be the moderators. Click here to access the middle school
book list.
Cub Scout Pack 168 has extended its registration deadline until October 10, 2021! To learn more about Family Scouting,
what we do, and our events, please click here to see our fun-filled calendar of activities. Enjoy activities ranging from
camping, to skiing, to rocket building, to race car building and racing, to archery, and more! Scouts learn important life
skills and teamwork! Attend one Pack meeting and one Den meeting a month with optional activities all year long! Contact
Kristin at 610-202-6439 or Chris at 610-742-2289 for more information.
Saints Simon and Jude will once again partner with the Delaware Valley Children’s Charity to provide less fortunate children
with gifts at Christmas. The Holiday program will be happening virtually again this year out of respect for the safety of
everyone. Just as last year, you will not need to shop at stores, wrap gifts, and deliver them to the church. You will be able
to shop online, from our special website, https://yougivegoods.com/dvcc-holiday2021, which will be open from October 1st
through November 30th or a special QR code. Information sheets will be in the church narthex starting October 2nd. Please
feel free to take one if you are interested in participating this year or call, email, or text me at [email protected] or
484-995-2319 for more details and instructions. Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity.
Much love and gratitude, Cindy Moribondo
High School Info for 8th Grade
Sacred Heart Academy is offering a basketball clinic for middle school girls on October 30. Click here for more information.
We invite 8th grade girls to click here and register now for the Merion Mercy Academy Scholarship & Entrance Exam offered
this Saturday, October 9 or Sunday, October 10. The test time on both dates is 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The registration form is
also the application to the school (all on one form). A parent tour will also be offered during the test time.
Interested 8th grade students are invited to participate in the Bishop Shanahan High School 8th Grade Scholarship Exam
on Saturday, October 16 from 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM. Ten renewable scholarships of $3,500 each will be offered to the top
ten scorers for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here to register for the exam.
Sacred Heart Academy is holding virtual open houses and prospective parent visits. Please click here for more details.
The Academy of Notre Dame’s High School Placement Exam is Saturday, October 16 and Saturday, October 23 at 8 a.m.
Click here to register. For questions, please contact: [email protected] or call 610-971-0498.
Prayer Requests
For Mr. Albert J. Anderson, grandfather of Zach (room 7) and Ryan (room 5), who had died. May God grant him the rewards
of eternal life. May Our mother of Sorrows console and comfort all who mourn his passing.
For Mr. Albert J. Anderson, Jr., uncle of Zach (room 7) and Ryan (room 5), who is ill. May Christ’s healing hand comfort him
and restore him to good health.
For Austin Trout, brother of Sophia (room 5), who is recovering from an injury. May Christ’s healing hand grant him a
complete and speedy recovery.
For Mrs. Lori Colgan, mother of Jimmy (room 17), who is ill. May Christ’s healing hand grant her a complete and speedy
recovery.
For Mrs. Nicole DiDomenico, mother of Tyler (room 15) and Nolan Leonhard (room 2), who is recovering from surgery. May
Christ’s healing hand comfort her and grant her a complete recovery.
We are happy to pray for the needs of our school family. If any family has a prayer request please send it to
Glimpse at the Days Ahead 10/7 November Lunch Menus Sent Home
10/8 Last Day for Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive
10/11 Middle States Re-accreditation Team Chair Visit (regular school uniforms should be worn)
10/11-10/15 Student Council Spirit Week (details above under “new information”
10/12-10/15 Merit Award Dress Down Days
10/13 November Lunch Menus Due
10/16 SSJ Homecoming, 8 AM-11:45 AM, Glen Mills School
10/17 Family, Faith, and Fun Day for First Communion and Confirmation Candidates
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Anelah McComas (room 17) and Amelia Foret (room 8). Anelah and Amelia were inducted into Bishop
Shanahan’s Junior Honor Society this past Tuesday. The criteria for this honor is that the students exhibit the qualities of
Leadership, Service, Scholarship, and Character. We, your SSJ Family, rejoice with you and your family on this wonderful
achievement. We are SSJ proud!
Congratulations Peacemakers!
During the month of September our SSJ family followed the example of Mother Teresa whose feast day is on September 4.
Mother Teresa welcomed all people, especially those in poverty. Our peacemakers strived to welcome others in every part of
our school and also helped others to grow in a spirit of friendship. Congratulations to our Peacemakers.
Row 1 (left to right): Mason Clarke, Tyler Franks, Eamon Castagna, Sean Macaulay, Jaxon Sentyz
Row 2: JJ Vengilio, Nicholas Fratini, Nate Hynes, Amy DelFra
Row 3: Glory Kosseh, Genevieve Buckley, Claire Doran, Brendan Cianfrani, Alex Bula
Row 4: Sofia Biddle, Caroline Norton, Isabella Disimile, Brooklynn Donnelly
SSJ’s Principal for the Day!
SSJ was in good hands on Wednesday with our Principal for the Day, 4th grade student, Peyton Andronowitz! She helped with
Morning Assembly; visited classrooms; made copies; wrote names on merit awards; had a pizza lunch with Sister Regina; and
much more! Peyton’s parents were the lucky winners of “Principal for the Day” during last spring’s online auction.
In honor of Bully Prevention Month, Mrs. Coulter is providing school-wide guidance lessons on bully prevention. We also began
a new initiative called, “Be the ‘I’ in KIND”. When teachers and staff recognize kind deeds done by students, they write it down
on an “I” and give it to the student, and put it on the “Be the ‘I’ in KIND” bulletin board. Congratulations to all for your kindness!
Saints Simon and Jude School – 6 Cavanaugh Court, West Chester, PA 19382 – 610.696.5249 – school.simonandjude.org
A 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
