St. Matthew Elementary Jaguar Journal
April 5, 2019
St. Matthew Elementary
Jaguar Journal
This week's to-do list:
- Work on your STO application
- Shorts begin a week from Monday on April 15th, this weekend would be a good time to take an inventory of shorts as it appears they have all grown a foot since the fall!
- Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!
This Week's To-Do List:
* Vote for St. Matt's in the UnityPoint "Imaging the Amazing" contest (see below)
* Send in box tops and Hy-Vee receipts
* Vote for St. Matt's in the UnityPoint "Imaging the Amazing" contest (see below)
* Send in box tops and Hy-Vee receipts
"Paws"itive Students
Sophia Link
Keaton Fitzgerald
Katherine Nguyen
Riley Pence
Lila Thuente
Chase Rust
Raeann Negro
Sawyer Tinkham
Sloane Rosteck
Maizey Fisher
Eben Rivera
Emma Feller
Important Upcoming Events
April 8-12 - Chute ISASP testing
April 10 - Mass 8:35 AM (5th grade-Wareham)
April 12th - 3rd Grade Titanic Day
April 15-18 - Adams & Smith ISASP testing
April 17 - Mass 8:35 AM (Staff)
April 19 - No School: Good Friday
April 22 - School IS in session
April 23-26 - ISASP Testing Make-up
April 24 - Mass 8:35 AM (Staff)
April 26 - Donuts with Dad/Muffins with Mom in Kearn Hall from 7:05-8:15 AM
April 27 - 2nd Graders 1st Holy Communion at 4 PM
May 1 - Mass 8:35 AM (2nd grade)
May 6-10 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 8 - Mass 8:35 AM (1st grade-Driscoll)
May 14 - Spring Concert Matinee at 2 PM
May 14 - Spring Concert at 7 PM
May 15 - Mass 8:35 AM (1st grade-VanBerkum)
May 17 - Rainbow Olympics Day in PM
May 22 - Mass 8:35 AM (4th grade)
May 31 - Last Day of School (early dismissal)
We Need You
St. Matthew Elementary has various ways for you involvement. In late summer you will see a sign-up that allows you to see ways you can become involved and indicate interest for the 2019-2020 school year. Below are our immediate needs, please let us know if you can serve in any of these roles:
St. Matthew Elementary has various ways for you involvement. In late summer you will see a sign-up that allows you to see ways you can become involved and indicate interest for the 2019-2020 school year. Below are our immediate needs, please let us know if you can serve in any of these roles:
- SIAC (School Improvement Advisory Committee) - will be meeting on Wednesday, April 17th at 5:30 PM in the school media center. We are looking for committee members
- Marketing Committee - will begin meeting in the summer to prepare a plan for the 2019-2020 school year
Congratulations to the five students that represented St. Matthew at the All-City Music Festival on Saturday, March 30. Each student performed wonderfully and was rewarded with a 1 (Blue Ribbon) for their performance. Way to go Lucy, Megan, Mia, Kate, and Norah!
Spring Concert - Mark Your Calendar
With the warmer weather finally upon us we are getting ready for the 4th and 5th Grade Spring Music Concert. The concert will be on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 PM here in the St. Matthew Gym. Students will be expected to arrive at 6:45. Students should plan on wearing dress code or better, remembering that we will be dancing, playing buckets, as well as singing. The 5th grade band will also be performing that evening. The concert should be done by 8:00. We cannot wait to show you what we have been working on this semester in music class. Many of the students have also spent some extra time working on additional music skills for small groups. Being part of a performance is one of the National Standards that we are blessed to be able to support here at St. Matthew.
With the warmer weather finally upon us we are getting ready for the 4th and 5th Grade Spring Music Concert. The concert will be on Tuesday, May 14 at 7:00 PM here in the St. Matthew Gym. Students will be expected to arrive at 6:45. Students should plan on wearing dress code or better, remembering that we will be dancing, playing buckets, as well as singing. The 5th grade band will also be performing that evening. The concert should be done by 8:00. We cannot wait to show you what we have been working on this semester in music class. Many of the students have also spent some extra time working on additional music skills for small groups. Being part of a performance is one of the National Standards that we are blessed to be able to support here at St. Matthew.
Marker Recycling
As we get closer to the end of the school year, just a reminder that we have a spot here at school where we can recycle markers when students are finished with them.
As we get closer to the end of the school year, just a reminder that we have a spot here at school where we can recycle markers when students are finished with them.
Holy Week Mass Times
Included in the picture at the right is a list of all the Mass times for the Catholic churches in Cedar Rapids during Holy Week and for Easter Sunday. You will also find the address of each church.
Holy Week is the annual Christian observance commemorating Jesus' last week on earth and the events leading up to his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Help Wanted
Mrs. Miller-Smith has been working on some amazing vision boards to help enhance various areas of our building. We are looking to start on the first floor hallway in April and May (looking at some Saturday options) but adding some visual items to the hallway by the library, sprucing up the bathroom areas and then adding a sensory wall by the gym. We would love any and all helpers who would love to help see this vision come to life. You do not need to be an expert painter, many things will be stenciled and you would be painting between the lines. Please let Mrs. Conlon know if you are interested in helping out: aconlon@stmatthewcr.org.
Mrs. Miller-Smith has been working on some amazing vision boards to help enhance various areas of our building. We are looking to start on the first floor hallway in April and May (looking at some Saturday options) but adding some visual items to the hallway by the library, sprucing up the bathroom areas and then adding a sensory wall by the gym. We would love any and all helpers who would love to help see this vision come to life. You do not need to be an expert painter, many things will be stenciled and you would be painting between the lines. Please let Mrs. Conlon know if you are interested in helping out: aconlon@stmatthewcr.org.
STO
Just a reminder the STO deadline is coming quickly on April 15th, 2019. We will begin reaching out to those of you who completed the STO in the past and have not started an application. Additionally, if you are missing some information, we will also be in contact to make sure we help you through the process. We are here to help and happy to schedule a time for us to sit down and provide assistance. Please just let Mrs. Conlon know what time works best for you!
Just a reminder the STO deadline is coming quickly on April 15th, 2019. We will begin reaching out to those of you who completed the STO in the past and have not started an application. Additionally, if you are missing some information, we will also be in contact to make sure we help you through the process. We are here to help and happy to schedule a time for us to sit down and provide assistance. Please just let Mrs. Conlon know what time works best for you!
St. Matthew Day at the Kernels
Please join us for St. Matthew Day at the Cedar Rapids Kernels! This fun and exciting event will take place on Sunday, May 5th at 2:05 PM. Gates open at 1:00 PM, and the Kernels will take on the Dayton Dragons. It’s IPTV Daniel Tiger Day—the first 1,000 kids at the game get a free IPTV Kids Clubhouse Adventures baseball cap and can meet Daniel Tiger! Kids 12 and under eat free at the game (they will receive a coupon when they enter the main gates), and kids can play catch in the outfield and get autographs from the players after the game. Tickets are just $10.00, a savings of $2.00 off the regular box office price, AND $2.00 of each ticket goes back to support St. Matt’s. Tickets can be purchased using the flyer distributed at school, OR online by using the special URL below: (This special link will be active until Saturday, May 4th at Midnight.) If you do not want to buy your tickets online, you may also purchase them by calling the Kernels ticket office at (319) 896-7560. Please select the special ST. MATTHEW area in section 117 when ordering online and over the phone.)
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.asp?EventID=276674&promocode=stmatt
Please join us for St. Matthew Day at the Cedar Rapids Kernels! This fun and exciting event will take place on Sunday, May 5th at 2:05 PM. Gates open at 1:00 PM, and the Kernels will take on the Dayton Dragons. It’s IPTV Daniel Tiger Day—the first 1,000 kids at the game get a free IPTV Kids Clubhouse Adventures baseball cap and can meet Daniel Tiger! Kids 12 and under eat free at the game (they will receive a coupon when they enter the main gates), and kids can play catch in the outfield and get autographs from the players after the game. Tickets are just $10.00, a savings of $2.00 off the regular box office price, AND $2.00 of each ticket goes back to support St. Matt’s. Tickets can be purchased using the flyer distributed at school, OR online by using the special URL below: (This special link will be active until Saturday, May 4th at Midnight.) If you do not want to buy your tickets online, you may also purchase them by calling the Kernels ticket office at (319) 896-7560. Please select the special ST. MATTHEW area in section 117 when ordering online and over the phone.)
https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Buy.asp?EventID=276674&promocode=stmatt
National Anthem at the Kernel's Game - Who Is In?
St. Matthew Elementary has been invited to perform the National Anthem at the Kernels game on Sunday, May 5 at 2:05 p.m. at St. Matthew Day at the Kernels! Mrs. Williams is inviting all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to sing with us. If your student is interested in singing they and an adult would need to purchase a ticket (paper will come home separately for this) for $10.00 each. Students would need to arrive at the Kernels’ Stadium by 1:15. If your student is interested please either sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d44aeaa2fa6f49-star or email awilliams@stmatthewcr.org. Rehearsals have started!
St. Matthew Elementary has been invited to perform the National Anthem at the Kernels game on Sunday, May 5 at 2:05 p.m. at St. Matthew Day at the Kernels! Mrs. Williams is inviting all 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders to sing with us. If your student is interested in singing they and an adult would need to purchase a ticket (paper will come home separately for this) for $10.00 each. Students would need to arrive at the Kernels’ Stadium by 1:15. If your student is interested please either sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d44aeaa2fa6f49-star or email awilliams@stmatthewcr.org. Rehearsals have started!
Shout out to our St. Matthew students who are hard at work!
These girl scouts worked hard last night picking up around the school.Thank you so much for your service back to St. Matthew School!
Transportation Reimbursement Reminders
Second semester non-public transportation reimbursement forms for the area school districts are due May 1st. Click the district in which you live to find the form you need to submit. Remember Cedar Rapids school district forms need to be turned in to the St. Matthew office. Contact Ann Waltermyer at awaltermyer@stmatthewcr.org if you have any questions.
Second semester non-public transportation reimbursement forms for the area school districts are due May 1st. Click the district in which you live to find the form you need to submit. Remember Cedar Rapids school district forms need to be turned in to the St. Matthew office. Contact Ann Waltermyer at awaltermyer@stmatthewcr.org if you have any questions.
Summer Solutions
Believe it or not, it is that time again, time to start thinking about summer! Included below is a flyer for the Summer Solutions materials available for you. This includes both literacy and math, along with a few other options depending on grade level. Please highly consider this opportunity as it is a great way to keep students engaged and help reduce the summer slump and it compliments the workbooks we use throughout the school year!
Believe it or not, it is that time again, time to start thinking about summer! Included below is a flyer for the Summer Solutions materials available for you. This includes both literacy and math, along with a few other options depending on grade level. Please highly consider this opportunity as it is a great way to keep students engaged and help reduce the summer slump and it compliments the workbooks we use throughout the school year!
Reasons Why I Volunteer....
"I volunteer at St. Matthew School because this is a partnership. We trust this school with the education our children will receive, the positive influences who will guide them, and the community they get to be a part of day in and day out. And St. Matthew School trusts that we will be engaged, committed advocates for our children--all the children in this building really--and do our part to help make them successful, faith-filled humans. We get one shot at raising our kids, so I jump at every opportunity to get involved and help out. And in all my years volunteering here, I can tell you there is joy within these walls. There is such care for others and dedication and going the extra mile. And the kids are learning and growing in amazing ways, and truly say the funniest things. If you volunteer at school you hear it and feel it and see it, even if you are just wiping up lunch tables or making copies or helping with a class celebration or being part of a school fundraiser. There is truly no more rewarding place to give of your time and talents than St. Matthew School!"
--Katie Giorgio, mother of Lucy
"I volunteer at St. Matthew School because this is a partnership. We trust this school with the education our children will receive, the positive influences who will guide them, and the community they get to be a part of day in and day out. And St. Matthew School trusts that we will be engaged, committed advocates for our children--all the children in this building really--and do our part to help make them successful, faith-filled humans. We get one shot at raising our kids, so I jump at every opportunity to get involved and help out. And in all my years volunteering here, I can tell you there is joy within these walls. There is such care for others and dedication and going the extra mile. And the kids are learning and growing in amazing ways, and truly say the funniest things. If you volunteer at school you hear it and feel it and see it, even if you are just wiping up lunch tables or making copies or helping with a class celebration or being part of a school fundraiser. There is truly no more rewarding place to give of your time and talents than St. Matthew School!"
--Katie Giorgio, mother of Lucy
Xavier High School will be hosting a variety of summer camps for elementary and middle school students. Campers will have an opportunity to learn key skills from the coaches and moderators of Xavier's successful activities programs while having fun! Registration is now open. Campers will receive a t-shirt with their registration.
Head to http://www.xaviersaints.org/camps/ to register today and to see more information. All registration is online - no phone orders.
Contact Pam Barta in the XHS Activities Office with any questions at pam.barta@xaviersaints.org or 319-294-6635 ext. 302. Camps offered include:
Congratulations to former Jaguar and now Xavier Saint Sean Deegan. Deegan is a Xavier Jazz Band One saxophonist and was recently named one of the "Outstanding Soloists" in Class 3A! Sean is the first Saint in school history to receive an outstanding jazz band soloist honor at the state level. Hard work pays off!
2019 Saints Youth Football
Saints Youth Football, a member of the Youth Sports Foundation, is available to youth currently enrolled in the Xavier/Regis/LaSalle Catholic School system who will be in 4th, 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019.
Saints Youth Tackle Football includes:
Parent/guardian and student must attend; Preliminary equipment fitting will take place at this time. Registration will take 15-20 minutes and you are not required to stay the full 90 minutes.
$120 YSF registration fee for 4th grade; $160 YSF registration fee for 5th/6th grade
$25 equipment fee for all players to Saints Football
For more information, please contact YSF/Saints Football Coordinators:
Darryl Borcherding,Darryl.Borch@foriowa.org or 319-560-6072
Pat Thomas,patthomas@extremebodyshaping.com or 319-651-4346
Bulldogs Girls Basketball Try-Outs
Girls entering grades 2nd through 8th for 2019-2020 school year are invited to try out for the Bulldogs basketball program on April 15th and 16th at Xavier High School. See the flyer for more information.
Saints Youth Football, a member of the Youth Sports Foundation, is available to youth currently enrolled in the Xavier/Regis/LaSalle Catholic School system who will be in 4th, 5th or 6th grade in the fall of 2019.
Saints Youth Tackle Football includes:
- Introductory and fundamental skill development for team and individual growth
- Personal, spiritual and academic priorities are emphasized, building on the Catholic school/parish experience
- USA Football/Heads Up Tackle trained and certified coaches lead all football activities, teaching safe, logical and thoughtful transition from flag and modified flag to tackle football
- All equipment is provided
- Practices begin the week of August 12; 4th grade practices are Tuesday/Thursday; 5th and 6th grade practices are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
- Six-game schedule for the 5th and 6th grade and 4-5 game schedule for the 4th grade, plus a pre-season kick off jamboree/scrimmage the weekend of August 24-25
- Games are held on Sunday afternoons beginning September 8
- Free t-shirt for all players
Parent/guardian and student must attend; Preliminary equipment fitting will take place at this time. Registration will take 15-20 minutes and you are not required to stay the full 90 minutes.
$120 YSF registration fee for 4th grade; $160 YSF registration fee for 5th/6th grade
$25 equipment fee for all players to Saints Football
For more information, please contact YSF/Saints Football Coordinators:
Darryl Borcherding,Darryl.Borch@foriowa.org or 319-560-6072
Pat Thomas,patthomas@extremebodyshaping.com or 319-651-4346
Bulldogs Girls Basketball Try-Outs
Girls entering grades 2nd through 8th for 2019-2020 school year are invited to try out for the Bulldogs basketball program on April 15th and 16th at Xavier High School. See the flyer for more information.
Message from the Principal
Enjoy the weather and have a great weekend! The outdoors and being able to spend time with family and friends are the best medicine after a week of working hard. I hear 71 is a forecasted temperature, that certainly brings a smile to my face! See you on Monday, Jaguars!
--Mrs. Conlon
--Mrs. Conlon
Essentials Team Highlight
Starting this week and continuing through next week we are having music class in centers. This means students are given a task to complete on their own while I am able to work with a different group on either concert music or piano skills. It has been fun watching the students grow independently. One of the centers for the younger students has been instrument making. It is great to see all the students go out of their way to help those who are not sure what to do next. Way to go Jaguars! Parents if you haven't heard a demonstration feel free to ask them! ~Musically Yours, Mrs. Williams
Next Week's Birthdays
April 5th--Oliver Klipp
April 9th--Vinny D'Amico
April 9th--Bridget Deegan
April 10th--Neveah Pewee
Make sure to follow us on social media:
Twitter - @StMattsJags
Facebook - @StMatthewCedarRapids
