NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
Today, our eighth-grade students marked the end of their time at Saint John Bosco Catholic School with a final Mass and consecration to Blessed Mary. The ceremony was a beautiful and fitting conclusion to their time at SJB. Afterward, the entire student body lined the courtyard to cheer the eighth graders during our traditional "clap-out" as they exited the school gates for the last time.
Later in the day, we will celebrate these students at the annual Eighth Grade Awards Banquet and Dance at the Foothills Golf Club, where we will recognize their achievements during their years at St. John Bosco.
The culmination of their time at SJB will be the Graduation Mass and Commencement Ceremony next Wednesday, May 17 at 7:00 PM in the school courtyard. These events provide closure to their foundational years at SJB and we wish them all the best as they move on to high school. We are incredibly proud of each and every one of our graduates and wish them many blessings!
Joyful Blessings,
Jamie Bescak, M.Ed., Principal
Jamie Bescak, M.Ed., Principal
Do everything in love.
SCHOOL NEWS
Early Registration
FREE Dress Day
For the families who re-enrolled their student(s) by Monday, February 28, your child will receive a FREE dress day on Wednesday, May 24. Please be sure to adhere to the Student/Parent Handbook for Free Dress day guidelines.
Bulldog Ambassador Program
Would you like to be an SJB student ambassador? Bulldog Ambassadors are students who represent St. John Bosco by leading Mass and Rosary, helping at Open House, and helping prospective families learn about our amazing school! The Ambassador Program is open to sixth- through eighth-graders. Applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now being accepted.
Please fill out the application and either EMAIL it or bring it to Mrs. Gump by Tuesday, May 23 at 3:00 PM. In addition, once you've submitted your application, Mrs. Gump will ask your homeroom teacher to complete a teacher recommendation form. Please Note: Students who serve on Student Council are not eligible to be an ambassador. Feel free to email Mrs. Gump with any questions.
It's Not Too Late...
. . . to order your yearbook! See instructions on flyer below or email Mrs. Bileski.
Road Construction
Resumes on 48th St.
The City of Phoenix construction project from Chandler Blvd. to Frye Rd. will resume through May. Although we will have access to the St. Benedict and St. John Bosco parking lots, the traffic will be challenging with only two lanes open.
As always, safety is our top priority. A police officer will assist with directing traffic during drop-off and pick-up times. In order to avoid back-ups and maintain the flow of traffic, the following traffic procedures will be put in place for the duration of the City of Phoenix construction project:
- Use Frye Road to access 48th Street to make a right turn directly into the St. Benedict and St. John Bosco parking lots.
- Use our school valet carpool service during drop-off and pick-up times.
- When exiting the SJB parking lots, drivers will be allowed to make a right turn ONLY.
- We recommend the following drop-off times:
a. Grades 5th–8th: Drop off between 7:30–8:00 AM
b. Grades Preschool–4th: Drop off between 8:00–8:30 AM
c. Families with multiple children in various grade levels: Drop off during the oldest child's time.
d. NOTE: Tardy slips will not be issued until after 8:30 AM - We highly recommend the following pick-up times:
a. Grades 5th–8th: Pick up between 3:00–3:15 PM
b. Grades Preschool–4th: Pick up between 3:15–3:30 PM
c. Families with multiple children in various grade levels: Pick up during the oldest child’s time - Please continue to pull forward into parking spaces (do NOT back in) to help maintain the flow and safety in our north parking lot. We need to avoid accidents and back-ups onto 48th Street.
We greatly appreciate your cooperation in following these procedures to maintain the safety of our community and ensure the flow of traffic to expedite drop-off and pick-up during school hours.
ESA News
Applications for the 2023-2024 school year are now open on the ESA Website. THIS IS ONLY FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE NEW TO THE PROGRAM.
If you currently have an active ESA account, you will be sent a new contract to sign soon. Please see page 53 of your ESA Parent Handbook.
Also, please mark your calendar for Thursday, May 18th at 6:00 pm for a VIRTUAL meeting where we will be discussing financial assistance for the 2023-2024 school year. We will touch on tax credits and the Empowerment Scholarship Account. There will be a change in how ESA invoices will be processed next year so we highly encourage you to attend this event. Use this link to join the meeting.
Kelly McLean
kmclean@sjbosco.org
480-219-4848 ext 5106
School Uniform Sale
Expires Tomorrow!
Anton Uniforms announced their annual spring UNIFORM SALE. Don’t miss this chance to skip the back-to-school rush for your child’s SJB uniforms!
Afraid your child will outgrow them before school starts in August? Click here for Anton's flexible exchange policy!
Employment Opportunities
Join Team Bosco! Our school is growing and we have several part-time openings:
- Regular Maintenance/Janitorial position
- Preschool Instructional Assistants for the 2023-2024 school year
SCRIP SHOP
Final Bulk Order of School Year
The Scrip office will be placing the final bulk order of the school year for physical gift cards on Monday, May 15th at 8:00AM. This is a great opportunity to order any physical cards through the RaiseRight app. Cards ordered before 8:00AM on May 15th, should arrive at the school by Monday, May 22nd for distribution to families.
*Please note that this is the final bulk order of the school year. If any physical cards are ordered after this date, and "ship to coordinator" is selected, they will be shipped to the school with the first order of the new school year in August. You can still order "ship to home" eligible cards anytime and have those shipped to your home throughout the summer.
Of course, you are always encouraged to order e-cards anytime through the app; the deadline above only applies to physical card orders.
If you still need to enroll in the RaiseRight app, click here for detailed instructions
Of course, you are always encouraged to order e-cards anytime through the app; the deadline above only applies to physical card orders.
If you still need to enroll in the RaiseRight app, click here for detailed instructions
Window Hours: Mondays 7:30–8:15 AM & Fridays 12:00–12:45 PM
SJB SUMMER CAMPS
SJB Summer STEM Camp
June 19–23, 2023
Saint John Bosco is happy to announce the return of our full-day (9:00 AM to 3:30 PM) Summer STEM Camp. We will partner with invent.org to use their curriculum and modules but the camp will be taught by our trusted SJB teachers for students in Grades K–8.
Summer Volleyball Camp
June 5–8, 9–11 AM (4 Days)
SJB Back Volleyball Courts
All incoming 4th–8th graders are welcome to join the fun and bring a friend!
Learn basic passing, hitting, and serving skills while helping to raise money for a new school volleyball net.
Cost: $100 per camper. Please contact Amy Vaughan to reserve your spot by May 19th.
Innovation Learning
Summer Camp
Innovation Learning Summer Camp registration is OPEN!
Camp Hours
Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–4:00 PM
Extended Day Programming
Monday–Friday 4:00 – 6:00 PM
- Weekly (5 days): $239/week
- Daily (single day): $63/day
- Extended Day (4:00–6:00 PM): $55/week
Please contact Customer Service at info@innovationlearning.com with any questions. You may also reach out to your State Director at dkoltes@innovationlearning.com or 612-229-5797.
- Wed. 5/17: 8th Grade Graduation 7 PM; SJB Courtyard
- Fri. 5/19: Pre-K Graduation 11 AM; MPR
- Fri. 5/19: Dads' Club Meeting 7 PM MPR
- Thurs. 5/25: Pre-K–7th Grade Last Day of School; 12:30 PM Dismissal
St. Benedict
PARISH NEWS
COMMUNITY NEWS
Seton Catholic Preparatory is accepting applications for the 2023-24 school year!
Is your student interested in attending Seton Catholic Preparatory? We have private tours available to answer any questions you may have. Please contact Abigail Stoll at astoll@setoncatholic.org to schedule your tour.
We are still accepting applications on a rolling basis. Space is limited, apply today!
See steps on ‘How to Apply’ here.
Concerned about the cost of tuition? There are many ways to afford a Catholic education. One option is The Pat & Mary Ellen Hennessy Scholarship. This
scholarship is provided to an incoming ninth-grade student who will attend Seton Catholic Preparatory. The award is for half of the annual tuition and it is paid directly to the school. The award for the 2023-2024 school year is approximately $7,000! Find the application and criteria here and the recommendation form here. The application deadline is Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
480-963-1900 Ext. 2127 • astoll@setoncatholic.org • 1150 N Dobson Road Chandler, AZ 85224 • www.setoncatholic.org/
Seton Catholic Prep will be hosting summer camps over summer break for all ages! Click HERE for info and registration.
Stay up to date on classroom happenings by following us on Instagram@sjbbulldogs or Facebook@stjohnboscocatholicschool. We also encourage families to tag SJB on any photos or videos they post of their child(ren) from their personal social media accounts.
Until Monday ...
Below are helpful links to information over the weekend:
School Website: https://sjbosco.org/
School Calendar: https://sjbosco.org/calendar
Faculty & Staff Contacts: https://sjbosco.org/faculty-staff
School Lunch Program: https://sjbosco.org/school-lunch
Parish Website: https://stbenedict.org/
The Bulldog Bite: Dr. Teri Pistacchio Aguiar, editor
Past Bulldog Bites: https://sjbosco.org/ (below Principal Bescak's picture)
Upcoming events are always available on our website events page.
For a more detailed list of yearly events, check the SJB website online calendar.
