This memorandum is being sent from the State Board of Education as a formal notification that a fiscal year 2010 appropriation was not awarded for the Parent Guardian Transportation Reimbursement Program authorized under Section 29-5.2 of the Illinois School Code.The lack of FY 2010 funding will prevent the State Board from paying any Parent/Guardian Transportation claims filed for the 2008-2009 school year.  These payments are normally made in December of each year.  In the event that funds are restored this fiscal year, we will promptly pay the 2008 – 2009 claims that were submitted. If you have any questions regarding the information provided in this memorandum, please contact the Division of Funding and Disbursement Services at 217-782-5256.

Congratulations to Kaylee Barnes for representing St. Joseph School at the State Cross Country meet.  

Attention 8th grade parents…If you have an 8th grader getting ready for Peoria Notre Dame, please have them report to the school on Saturday, November 7th at 7:45am to take the Explorer placement test.  Questions? Please contact Patricia Brignadello at 309-691-8741 ext. 230.

Attention parents…Scrip is in need of a couple of volunteers to help fill orders on Thursdays for about 2 hours.  Please contact Stacey Palka @ 353-9659.

SCRIP is finally going online!!  As of November 9th, we will have the ability to accept SCRIP orders that have been placed using their online service!!  To do this, however, it has come to our attention that EVERYONE must register or re-register, even if you are a current SCRIP user.  In your blue folder there is a registration form.  Please complete this as soon as you can and return the first sheet to school.  You can put it with your next weekly order or return it in the blue folder.  After you complete this form, we must still register you online, and then you can go online, complete a few simple steps (user name and password registration) and then you will be able to order online.  Thank you for your continued use of this wonderful program!!

Preschool  Books                    $145
Kindergarten Never Bored     $125
1st Grade  Dog Lover             $85
1st Grade  Cat Lover              $75
2nd Grade Snowy Day 1        $150
2nd Grade Snowy Day 2        $100
3rd Grade Bears Tailgate       $110

4th Grade Sleep Over             $100
5th Grade Halloween             $90
5th Grade Music                    $75
6th Grade Thanksgiving        $140
7th Grade New Home            $60
7th Grade St. Joseph              $95
8th Grade Scrapbook             $75
Total for SJS Baskets            $1425

Thank you very much for all of your generous donations for our classroom baskets. They were stunning and we had a great auction.  The results are posted above.This total is almost half of what the Silent Auction earned overall, and about ten percent of the overall bazaar earnings.  Thank you to everyone for bidding on our baskets.  Without our winners this would not have been possible.  Thank you for the support of our church.

Thank you to the people that helped make the following baskets:  Beth & Brian Smith(Preschool), Stephanie and Ryan Sivori (Kindergarten), Tina and Dave Curtis (1st and 6th), Michele and Randy Tennis (5th) and Miss Moore and the 7th Grade (7th).  Thank you Marla Swanson and Anne Woodley for your help.  Finally, thank you to the classroom teachers and Mrs. Finnegan for help gathering the donations.  I really appreciate all of the help and feel very blessed that we had such wonderful donations.  Thank you for your support!  Sincerely, Whende Rueschhoff

This is just a friendly reminder, when paying for after-care and/or lunch/snack, you will need to make out two different checks.  One to after-care and the other for lunches or snack.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Our condolences to Bill and Kelly Cash and family on the recent death of Bill’s grandmother, Vesta Milloway

During the school year, we will be collecting items for the 7th graders to take to the soup kitchen run by the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s Order) in Peoria, IL.  Items the Sisters can use are: cream of mushroom soup, canned fruit, sugar, coffee, powdered drinks, cleaning supplies and paper products.  Four of the 7th graders will be going on the 4th Wednesday of each month when we are in session to deliver these donations and help prepare and serve lunch on that day.  There are boxes placed in the main hallway for your donations during the month.  Thanks for helping to feed our brothers and sisters in need.  Whatever we do for the least of our brothers, we do this for Our Lord.

Bull’s Night and 8th grade recognition for 8th grade girl’s basketball has been scheduled for Friday, November 20th. Please come join us in honoring our 8th grade girls’ basketball players.

Our annual school Christmas program will be on Thursday, December 3th beginning at 7:00pm.  Please mark your calendars so you won’t miss this delightful program. 

As the weather is changing, please make sure your child(ren) are dressed for the weather.  The mornings are cool but it warms up by the afternoon. As your child(ren) are  dressing, please make sure they are wearing appropriate school uniform.   An example is wearing a St. Joseph sweatshirt verse a non - school related sweatshirt or coat during the school day.   If you are unsure of our dress code, please refer to your parent handbook on page 14 & 15.  Also, this is a reminder that young ladies are to be wearing plaid skirts and jumpers only and solid color shorts, shorts or pants. Thank you for your cooperation.

4 Tips for  Smoother Mornings
Getting ready for school in the morning can be frazzling for even the most practiced of families.  Try these tips for smoother mornings as you prepare for school! 
Stick to a regular bedtime.  Making sure children get a good night’s sleep is key to ensuring a peaceful morning.  When children go to bed at a reasonable and regular time, waking the next day is easier.  Learning improves, too.
Limit breakfast choices.  Offering two healthy choices instead of unlimited access to the pantry, for example, will reduce the amount of time spent deciding.  Cold cereal, muffins, fresh fruit, etc., are all quick and healthy choices.  Offering simple foods many enable children to help themselves.
Don’t allow too much time.  Set wake-up times so that there is just enough time to wash, dress, eat and walk out the door.  That may mean laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before.
Be sure to set aside a few minutes for family prayer.  There’s no better way to start your day than with God’s blessing.

St. Joseph coupon books are currently available for purchase in the school office for $20.  All proceeds benefit the extra-curricular activities.  Here are a few of the local merchants participating: Sonic, Fiesta Ranchero, Family Video, Quizno’s, Paradise Tanning, Chicago Hut, plus a lot more!  These books make great birthday gifts!  Stop in the office  or call Debbie at 347 – 7194 for yours today.