NOTES FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents,
Today we celebrated our annual Recognition Mass for students recently receiving the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation at their respective parishes. These students are to be commended as they led our school Mass with humility and reverence. Although primarily third-graders, students from various grade levels were conferred these sacraments of initiation by Bishop Dolan and our own Fr. James.
I would like to thank Mrs. Samantha Monarrez and Miss Laura Jean Curley for diligently preparing each student for these important sacraments and building a solid foundation for their faith journey. And thank you to our second-grade moms for organizing and hosting the beautiful reception following Mass.
We also celebrated yet another graduation as our pre-kindergarten students took the spotlight today. The ceremony marked the end of their time in preschool as they move up to kindergarten next year and join the “big kids” on campus.
This year has flown by — I can’t believe we are entering our last week of the 2022-2023 school year! I would like to extend an invitation to all families to attend our last school Mass on Thursday, May 25 at 8:15 AM in the MPR. This final Mass of the school year promises to be a poignant and memorable cap of the academic year and a lovely way to start the summer break.
Joyful Blessings,
Jamie Bescak, M.Ed., Principal
Jamie Bescak, M.Ed., Principal
Do everything in love.
SCHOOL NEWS
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
Kelly McLean
kmclean@sjbosco.org
480-219-4848 ext 5106
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
Stop by the Scrip office and stock up on any cards you might need for the summer! We still have plenty of Anton uniforms if you want to get a jump on that, as well as Visa gift cards for the graduates! Email Katie at sjbscrip@sjbosco.org if you need an order filled. You can order e-cards anytime to hundreds of retailers through the RaiseRight app. If you haven't already enrolled, please click here for instructions on how to get set up as well as tips for navigating the app.
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.
- 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.
