Saint Joseph School
25 Squire Street
New London, Connecticut 06320
“A holy place where we discover each other in God’s love”
October 4, 2023
Dear St. Joseph School Families,
We began praying the prayers of the Rosary on Monday, near the outside statue of our Blessed Mother Mary. Our teachers have been reviewing and explaining this prayer to the children during religion classes. This morning I reminded the students that the tradition of praying the Rosary is hundreds of years old, and that our Blessed Mother Mary appeared to young children, asking them to pray this prayer for peace. This morning, we prayed together for peace in our hearts, our communities and in our world. We will continue this tradition throughout the month of October.
Formal uniforms are to be worn starting on October 10th . I remind you that the only acceptable shoes to be worn with the more formal uniform are the tan suede bucks or solid black sneakers. Girls wear navy blue knee socks or navy tights. Girls’ shorts under skirts may not hang below the hemline.. Leggings are not acceptable with uniforms in school.
The money for World’s Finest Chocolate Bars will go to our enrichment and field trip fund. Payment for the boxes you received initially is due on October 6th . Please do not return partial boxes, as you will be held responsible for the $60 cost of the entire box.
Our first Casual Day for Charity this year, earned $521.25. This money will be sent directly to Sacred Hearts School in Maui, and will purchase a brick with our school’s name and location (New London, CT).
We express our thanks to Luigi Sferrazza, a graduate of St. Joseph School, Class of 1992, for his donation of lunch for all the students and staff, bringing his Pizza Truck to school. The students and staff were able to share “pizza with the pastor”, and a delicious lunch. First Friday Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. October 6 th . Dismissal will be at 12:30 p.m. for the long weekend to allow for our faculty meeting. There is no school on October 9th.
On October 12th we will celebrate our individual Cultures and Countries of Origin with a Potluck Supper. A flyer was sent home with your children yesterday to allow for you to sign up for the supper and tell us what you will be bringing.
For those of you whose children in Grades 5-8 would like to play basketball for St. Joseph School, only one parent has come forward to offer help. I have sent home the requirements for this volunteer task several times. It does include approval by the Office for Safe Environments and attendance at a meeting for coaches and parents of players. A minimum of 8 volunteers is necessary. We will set a deadline of October 20th. Players also have to complete paperwork. After that date it will be too late to start.
Remember our Mission: “To Accept each person as a unique creation in God’s image; to Model Jesus as we make everyone feel welcome in this holy place; to Educate each other for life; and, to Nurture the diverse gifts and talents of the whole school family.”
Prayer and spirituality are integral to who we are as people, and as a school family. We continue to embrace God’s help in all that we do. Please continue your prayers for our families, our staff, our school, and all who are in need of prayer at this time.
Important Dates
October 6 – 9 a.m.—First Friday Mass, 12:30 p.m. Dismissal and Faculty Meeting
9 – No School for Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day
10 – Formal Uniforms are to be worn from this day until further notice.
12 – Family Cultural Harvest Dinner—Arrival 5:45, Dinner at 6 p.m. (Bring a dish to share from your cultural heritage.)
18 – Home and School Association Meeting at 6 p.m.
20 – Kindergarten and Grade 1 Field Trip to the Farm
27 – Grades 3-5, Coast Guard Concert at the Academy; Halloween party by the Home and School Association 5:30-7 p.m.
30 -Grades 6-8, Coast Guard Concert at the Academy
November 1 – All Saints Day, Mass at 9 a.m.
3 First Friday—No Mass. 12:30 Dismissal
God’s Blessings!
Marianne Cote, Principal