St. Joseph School
25 Squire Street
New London, Connecticut 06320
“This is a holy place where we discover each other in God’s love.”
March 6, 2024
Dear St. Joseph School Families,
We continue to journey through this Lenten season, praying, sacrificing, and serving those who are in need. Our prayers during this time are centering around the Baptismal signs and symbols, as we prepare for the Easter celebration.
This week during Monday prayer we talked about the words of Baptism and the pouring of water, as well as, the importance of water in the process of life. Baptism reminds us of new life just as we are reminded of that life in the Resurrection of Easter. As we renewed our Baptismal promises indicating our belief in the Father, the Son and the Spirit, we were blessed with holy water. (We remind those wishing to receive their First Holy Communion that Baptism is the first step toward this reception.) May you take a moment once again to remember your own Baptism and that of your children in praying with us this week.
The Blues and Beyond presentation yesterday was terrific! What a wonderful group of musicians. The presentation taught us about the Black influence on music in America throughout history and commemorated Music in our Schools Month. The students were involved in singing and toe-tapping with a great deal of rhythm and clapping. It was great fun. This was funded through our Title I grants. Check our Facebook page for the video.
Our March Casual Day will take place on March 15th and once again be a $2 offering. This will assist the 7th and 8th graders in preparing the meal for the Community Meal Center on March 21st.
Since the World’s Finest Chocolate Bars are a favorite of many, and a very simple way to raise some funds to assist with field trips, we will once again conduct our Spring-ish Chocolate Bar Sale. Easter Baskets need filling! Your box of bars has been sent home. Since everyone benefits from this sale, we would appreciate it if every family contributed by selling one box. The bars are $1 each for a total of $60 for the box, earning the school $40 per box. It’s very easy—sell them or eat them and pay the school for your box. Opened or damaged boxes may not be returned.
- Our inventive 5th Graders will share their inventions with us on March 15th. Visitors are welcome at 1:30 p.m.to 2:15 p.m.
- Also, on the 15th there will be a casual day to raise $2 per student to help purchase the food for the 7th and 8th graders to prepare dinner for the New London Community Meal center on March 21st.This dinner preparation for the hungry is a long-time tradition for our students.
- March 16th, Shamrock Tea (corned beef and cabbage dinner) 4-7 p.m.
- March 17th, Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Sign up to march in the New London St. Partick’s Day parade!
- A Diocesan Professional Development Day on Artificial Intelligence takes place on March 18th for principals and teachers; therefore, there is no school on that day.
- On March 19th the feast of St. Joseph, our school will celebrate our 8th graders in Church at 1:15 p.m. as they receive their St. Joseph Class of 2024 Pins.
- March 20th, Chocolate money due.
- The 8th Grade Play will be presented on April 3rd not in March.
- March 25-29th is Holy Week. School prayer will include Monday morning Lenten prayer, the reading of the Passion by the 8th Grade on Tuesday, and our traditional school seder on Thursday.
- Thursday, March 28th school closes at 12:30 p.m. for the Triduum celebrations (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.)
- Holy Thursday, March 28th 12:30 dismissal.
- Good Friday, March 29th, NO SCHOOL.
- Happy Easter! March 31st.
- Easter Monday, April 1st, NO SCHOOL
- April 3rd Grade 8 Play at 1 p.m.
- April 5th First Friday Mass at 9 a.m., report cards, 12:30 p.m. dismissal.
We continue to keep everyone in our prayers. God’s blessings on you and your families during the Lenten journey toward Easter.
Marianne Cote, Principal