March 16, 2023
March 16, 2023
Dear Families.
Congratulations are in order to our 6th grade boys’ basketball team and Coaches Charles Stith and Tony Zagotta! Many thanks to Jim Cabrera for his coaching assistance for the championship game. It was an exciting game at St. Francis High School on Saturday. They beat the undefeated first place team! Our Wildcats won in overtime with a score of 36-31. We are so proud of our blue division champions! Thank you to the many fans who helped cheered them on to victory!
Congratulations to Tyler Stith and Joey Zagotta for being named to the Tri-County Catholic Conference All-Conference basketball team. They were selected by the opposing coaches in the white division for their sportsmanship and play on the court. The accolades are well-deserved for their hard work and talent.
Six students went to Benedictine University for the Knights of Columbus Regional Free Throw Contest on Tuesday night! Congratulations to the following students: Landen Stith – second place – 10 year old boys; Jacob Spencer – third place – 13 year old boys; Brielle Borner – second place 14 year old girls; Joey Zagotta – third place 14 year old boys.
Track season is right around the corner. If your 5-8th grade child is interested in being on the track and field team this spring, please email our Athletic Director, Jason Woodbury at Jwoodbury@sjbwinfield.org.
Did you know that this is Illinois Arts Week? It is a celebration of how the arts impact children’s learning and enriches their lives allowing them to develop insights and abilities making connections to the world around them. Photographs will be posted from art class and music class on the St. John the Baptist Catholic School Facebook soon. We are so thankful that we are able to offer Art and Music at our school! The arts truly enhance our educational experience!
Please pray for our band students. As mentioned last week, several will be competing in Solo and Ensemble Contest this weekend at Saints Peter and Paul School in Naperville. We wish them the best as they perform.
Our spring play, Snow White and the 7 Endings, started practices this week. We indeed are so fortunate to offer performing arts opportunities at St. John’s. Band and theater are wonderful extracurricular activities.
Academically speaking, we had 16 eighth grade students qualify for the Regional Science Fair which was held last Friday. Congratulations to Augustine Cin for receiving a bronze award. Congratulations to Jack Kozlowski, Michael Mang, Faith Owens, and Alina Thorson for receiving a silver designation. Congratulations to our gold medals winners Brielle Borner, Anthony Emlen, Mia Grantz, Alexa Murray, Kim Nguyen, Connor Parkitny, Aaliyah Silva, Sofia Soriano, Tyler Stith, Lucia Vang Nu, and Joey Zagotta. Our gold medalists all qualified for the State Science Fair on April 27 and 28. Congratulations to all of you, we are so proud of you! Additionally, Aaliyah Silva received the best in the environmental category. Way to go, Aaliyah! Thank you to Miss Policht and Miss Martin for serving as judges. Al Barone from the Knights of Columbus also joined us. We are thankful for all our judges.
Congratulations to Michelle Philip, Karina Sivertsen, and Lucia VangNu for representing SJB at the Knights of Columbus Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday! Karina came in fourth place, and Michelle and Lucia also did well.
On a somewhat related note, on Monday, 3.14, our JH students rejoiced in the art of pie eating as they celebrated pi day in math classes. Thank you, Mrs. Pierscionek for providing the fixings and making the pies.
On Tuesday, students went outside to witness teachers in flight! Mr. Valenta and Mr. Hollatz are both Aerospace Education members of the Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Civil Air Patrol has as a goal to bring aerospace education to schools, giving teacher members training, curriculum, and STEM tools to bring physics, engineering, and technology into their classrooms. Mr. Valenta and Mr. Hollatz have both received drones and circuity kits to incorporate into their programs, and on Tuesday were able to experience Civil Air Patrols Teacher Orientation Program, in which they were both able to fly a plane culminating in an exciting fly over the school!
Our Lenten journey continues. Third, fourth, and fifth grade classes went to Feed My Starving Children in Aurora on Tuesday in service and almsgiving. They packed 73 boxes which means 15,768 meals during their session! Their work will feed 43 children for a year at a cost of $4,572.72. Collectively our SJB students packed 181 boxes during the two sessions. Thank you to the following chaperones for your gift of time and help on Tuesday: Tanya Ayala, Kate Augustynowicz (Emma’s grandma), Jason Barrett, Jessica Blitvich, Mariu Bulyk, Jamie Cibulka, Lauren Genuardi, Tom Grantz, Aaron Le May, Kiera Liebich, Phil Reed, Renata Roldan, Vanessa Stith, Sylvia Valdez (Christopher and Elena’s grandma), and Jason Woodbury. Without their help, our classes could not have attended and made the impact that they did. In the words of a third grade student, “It was so much fun, and I felt so happy because we were helping children who are in need of food to live.”
Parish News
The parish is offering a three night Lenten Mission on March 26 – March 28. Deacon Keith Strohm will be facilitating the mission. If you will be in town during the mission, Deacon Strohm, is an engaging speaker and each night has a different focus. Please see the posting for more information. Your child brought home a bookmark today with the themes for each session. On the reverse side is a beautiful prayer. If you aren’t able to attend, or won’t be in town, please say the prayer for the parish and those in attendance.
Tax credit scholarship update
Much is happening in the tax credit scholarship arena. Thanks be to God; we have been able to award 15 scholarships already and we will be awarding the next scholarship soon. This year we already have received $80,000 in donations with 51 students on the waitlist. We are in need of more donations so we can clear the waitlist. Please consider making a donation. For a premium of $1,000, you receive a tax credit of $750 on your Illinois 2023 state taxes and will be helping a family send their children to St. John’s for a Catholic education. What’s more, you receive a credit of $250 on your tuition so that you are receiving 100% of your donation back. Please see the Tuition Saving Plan flyer for more information in the posting. To get started with a donation, please click here: https://donations.empowerillinois.org/donations If you want to make a donation, please let me know. I am happy to assist you with the process.
Parent Club News
Thank you to everyone who attended the Roller Skating Party. It was a great time and wonderful to have so many SJB families there. A huge thank you goes to Kelley Whitman for organizing the evening of skating fun!
Don’t forget to place your order for a beautiful floral hanging basket or planter which will be delivered in time for Mother’s Day. Orders and payment made out to St. John the Baptist are due by next Friday, March 24.
Tomorrow is green day, in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. The “greenest” class will win a prize! Hair dye is not permitted. We are going to Stations of the Cross tomorrow. Regarding dress down days, don’t forget that shorts shouldn’t be worn until April 15. I know that we may have a few warmer weather days soon, and it will seem like “short weather,” but we will keep to the April 15 date for uniform and dress down days. Please see the posting for information for College Sweatshirt/t-shirt day, which is next Friday, March 24.
Another KOC Fish Fry is tomorrow night from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in Sebahar Hall. As a special treat for St. Patrick’s Day, there will be Irish dancers. Last Friday, there were so many SJB families there! The food is tasty, and a time well spent with SJB friends. Please see the flyer in the posting for more details.
In closing, I share an Irish blessing:
May God continue to bless you this week and on your Lenten journey,
Joanne