Ms. I's Update

Dear St. John School Families and Community,

I hope you all had a joyful and restorative summer. It has been a busy and productive season of planning, organizing, and preparing for the year ahead. We welcomed new staff members, improved facilities, and strengthened programs that directly benefit our students. See below for a list of some of the wonderful improvements made.

Our mission remains at the heart of everything we do:

"St. John School seeks to educate and nurture the spirituality of each student in the Ursuline tradition while fulfilling their highest academic potential. We prepare each student for a rapidly changing world by inspiring them to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and courageous leaders."

A warm welcome to our new students and families. It has been wonderful connecting with you and I thank our room parents, especially in TK and Kindergarten, for doing such a lovely job of building community early on. We had a great get together with our youngest Eagles in Glen Park this weekend and I look forward to a successful Kindergarten meet-up on Monday.

Last week, our teachers participated in two days of retreat, one day focused on reflection, aligning with St. Angela’s vision, virtues, and setting our intentions for the year, and another day led by Paula Pardini, founder of Caritas Creek, emphasizing positivity, team building, and the unique challenges and rewards of teaching in the Archdiocesan elementary system. Our new teachers also attended two days of Archdiocesan training.

This week, all staff will be on campus for onboarding protocols, required trainings, and dedicated classroom set-up time. You will receive an introduction from your homeroom teacher this week if you haven’t already. Please plan to attend Back to School Night on August 27, 2025, at 6:00 PM, this is a valuable opportunity to meet our teachers, learn more about expectations for the year, and understand our shared accountability in our partnership to educate your child.

We invite all families to join us for our Beginning of the Year Prayer Service at 8:15am on the first day in the school gym. This is a beautiful opportunity to center our community in faith as we begin the year.

Start of the School Year Logistics

First Day of School: Monday, August 18, 2025 – 12:00 PM dismissal: No Extended Care
Second Day of School: Tuesday, August 19, 2025 – 12:00 PM dismissal: No Extended Care

Extended Care begins Wednesday, August 20. Extended Care requires pre-registration.

All Wednesdays are 2:00 PM dismissals.

PE instruction begins Thursday, August 21st. PE is every Tuesday and Thursday. Students wear their PE uniforms on those days.

Drop-Off:

• Begins at 7:45 AM in the schoolyard.- Please note that the gate will close at 8am beginning Wednesday, August 20th.

• Drop-off is in the lot or on Burnside Avenue at the gym doors.

• Students will go directly to the gym upon arrival.

• Designated areas in the gym will be available for dropping off school supplies.

• Parents are also welcome to drop off supplies this week.

Pick-Up:

• Students will line up outside in the lot in their designated areas.

• Drive-Up: Enter the lot and remain in your car. Staff will bring your child to your vehicle.

• Walk-Up: A staff member will dismiss the child directly to you.

• If your child will be walking home during the first week, we must have written permission from a parent/guardian on file in the office.

• Pick-up can also happen on Burnside Avenue at the gym doors.

Important Reminders:

• Please be patient, use your turn signal, and show respect for each other and our neighbors.

• Do not double park/block driveways; we want to start the year strong with safe, courteous traffic flow.

Listening, Learning, and Moving Forward

At the end of last school year, some of you voiced your desire for more transparency, opportunities for feedback, and a clearer understanding of how Catholic schools operate, particularly regarding fundraising and budget allocation. We had great conversations, reflections, and learning together.

I shared that we are working toward providing a report on the state of the school, with the first one released this fall after our final financial report is submitted to the Archdiocese in September. This will give you a clear overview of our finances and a snapshot of our school’s progress.

We also committed to reviewing and improving our internal procedures for communication, record-keeping, and budget accountability. Our books are audited every three years, and our finances are reviewed monthly by Fr. Agnel and the Parish Finance Council, the Archdiocesan finance department and our Associate Superintendent. Every dollar serves the students—whether through instruction, services, or the maintenance of our school. A reminder that timely tuition, fee and registration payments are essential for our operations, and a late fee will be applied this year for overdue tuition. If you are experiencing a hardship, please schedule a meeting with me so I can bring it to the Parish Finance Council.

Opportunities for Feedback & Connection

We are committed to creating more opportunities for parents and community members to connect, share ideas, and ask questions.

• Morning Chats with Ms. I: 2nd Friday of every month, 8:15–9:00 AM in the gym after assembly. Casual conversations to build community and share updates.

• Monthly PTG Meetings: Hybrid schedule to maximize participation.

• Individual Meetings: Always welcome by appointment.

There is a lot to look forward to in this new school year and we at St. John School are incredibly excited for a wonderful year. I am particularly looking forward to how we continue to build community. This is a lengthy newsletter, so thank you in advance for reviewing it all.

With love and appreciation,

Ms. Iwaszewicz

It was a very busy summer on campus, and I truly loved being here to see our school improve and come to life in so many ways. This was a season of major upgrades and deep cleaning across our campus — a true team effort that shows what our community can accomplish together.

Projects & Improvements Completed:

• TK Classroom Overhaul: old flooring gutted and cleared, revealing layers of previous carpet (an “onion” that kept giving!). New carpet installed thanks to the quick work of our amazing family and community connections. TK is also currently being fully repainted for a fresh start.

• TK Storage Improvements: cleared out and reorganized the closet next to the TK classroom, giving it back to the teacher for classroom use.

• Fresh Paint: hallways and stairwells repainted for a brighter, cleaner feel.

• Structural Repairs: continued replacing old wood with new, treated wood.

• Lighting Upgrades: continuing our transition to energy-efficient LED lighting throughout the building, as fluorescent bulbs are no longer permitted in California as of January 1, 2025. LEDs are better for the environment, more efficient, and already installed in the gym — we’re upgrading classroom by classroom.

• Lunch Area Refresh: assembled new lunch tables and improved flow in the outside assembly area.

• Decluttering & Organizing: gutted old closets, removed items that had been stored for decades, and fully organized all Crab Feed items.

• Archive Work: special thanks to Sr. Michelle and Ms. Muñoz for beginning the massive job of going through our archives.

• Waste & Recycling:

  • One full debris bin hauled away (another coming this week)

  • 42 boxes shredded

  • Huge e-waste pickup of old electronics from various nooks and crannies

• Side Garden & Fence Completion: thanks to Mr. Wrye and volunteers, the garden fence is now complete, with beautiful succulents planted for a welcoming touch.

• Gym Improvements: New ball racks secured, floor repainted, coaches closets organized.

Special Thanks:

• Mr. Leon and our maintenance team for their constant, dedicated work.

• Mr. Mayorga and his team for completing numerous campus projects with skill and care.

• Martinez and Gonzalez families for donating multiple weekends to organizing uniforms, weeding, and hauling donations.

• A brand-new St. John family who even came by and took items to donation — wow, what a welcome and gift to our community!

• Ms. Lissete for her incredible work on our bulletin boards and as part of the organizing team.

• Ms. Victoria for her continued help and leadership in admissions over the summer.

• The Kelly family for always going above and beyond in supporting the mission of the school.

• Ms. Miriam Poland for generously volunteering her time to help with the organization effort.

We show up, and we work — all for the benefit of our kids. There are so many opportunities to volunteer — just ask where your time and talents can make the most impact!

SchoolSpeak: This is our main communication portal. We highly recommend syncing the calendar.

All families: Please update ALL profiles on SchoolSpeak.

To update your profile:

1. Click Edit My Profile on the upper-right corner.

2. Review your information and make any changes that are necessary and click Update.

3. To review your other family member’s profiles – click Family Update on the upper-right corner. 4. Review the other fields and click Update when you are done.

SchoolSpeak Resources:

Parent Quick Guide: Click Here

Parent User Guide: Click Here

Emergency/Med Forms: Please update your child(ren)'s profiles on SchoolSpeak. This is where all forms are pulled.

Extended Care: Extended Care will be offered beginning Wednesday August 20th. Please register for EC on SchoolSpeak here.

25/26 Registration: If you have not yet registered your child(ren) for this year, please contact our finance manager, Jessica Guevara (financesj@stjohnseagles.com) ASAP. Your child will not be able to start school if they are not registered.

7th Grade: Every incoming 7th grader needs proof of a TDAP booster before they can be allowed to attend school. More information here. Please send an updated immunization form to officesj@stjohnseagles.com Your child will not be able to start without this on file.

1st Communion (2nd grade) and Confirmation (8th): For students graders who are going to receive First Communion this year and for 8th graders who will be confirmed, the forms given to you at the end of the school year need to be returned by September 30th. Please contact your homeroom teacher for more information.

Fundraising bridges the gap between tuition and the true cost of operating our school, ensuring we can maintain programs, staff, facilities, and opportunities for our students. 2025–2026 Fundraising Goal: $450 per student ($70,000 total).

A buy-out option will be offered this year for families who prefer to contribute directly. We have a goal tracking spreadsheet on SchoolSpeak for families to log their contributions, whether from fundraisers, in-kind donations, or other efforts.

Major Fundraisers This Year: Crab Feed, Trunk or Treat, Read-a-thon.
(We are auditing the See’s Candy fundraiser before scheduling it to ensure the best possible return.)

Return Rates from Sees and Read-a-thon:

• See’s Candy: 22% return ($2,040 in sales to meet $450 goal)

• Read-a-thon: 70% return ($645 in pledges to meet $450 goal)

The school will track See’s and Read-a-thon proceeds for families to ensure accurate goal tracking.

How Fundraisers Are Allocated: Each fundraiser is split based on predetermined allocations, and any unspent funds at year’s end move to the General Fund.

Examples:

• Crab Feed 2025: 60% General Fund, 40% Athletics (excluding Fund-a-Need)

• Read-a-thon 2025: 70% Fine Arts, 30% Classroom/School Improvements

We will continue to report back on allocations at monthly PTG meetings and will clearly share how funds are used. See below for more information on Crab Feed and Read-a-Thon.

We warmly welcome:

• Ms. Erin – Kindergarten Teacher

• Ms. Farrar – 4th Grade Teacher

• Ms. Corrine – Fine Arts Teacher

Lunch Program: Ms. Fabi will continue to provide a wonderful lunch program for our students. Please ensure to read about the requirements and check in with her if you have any questions. She will also be at Back to School Night. (Here is the SchoolSpeak post on our lunch program)

Resource Program: St. John will continue our partnership with Words in the Wild (https://wordsinthewild.us/) to support literacy development in our lower grades. We are in the final stages of hiring for our new Resource Program to provide TK–8 ELA and math support through both push-in and pull-out services. Once that is finalized, their introduction will be sent out. At the start of the school year all students will be doing beginning of the year assessments to ensure we have an accurate snapshot of their academic abilities.

Behavior Interventionist: Coach Z will also be returning full-time as our Behavioral Interventionist and Classroom Aide. We are so grateful for her dedication and for the positive relationships she has built with our students over the years.

Counseling: Ms. Tom, our school counselor, is returning! We are meeting next week to set her return date from maternity leave (congratulations on the new baby!). She will now be directly hired by the school, as federal funding for her position has been cut.

Lexia/ST Math: The Archdiocese will no longer be covering the full cost of Lexia and ST Math licenses, so the school will now take on this expense. Students TK-5th will again have access to both programs.

Along with our exciting program expansions — including the launch of our new Resource Program, continued counseling services with Coach Z, and the addition of Ms. Corrine as our dedicated Fine Arts teacher — we want to provide a clear overview of how Junior High is structured this year.

Junior High Structure (Grades 6–8)
Our Junior High operates in a departmentalized model to best prepare students for high school. Each grade has a dedicated homeroom teacher who also teaches specific core subjects, with students rotating for other classes:

• Grade 6 Homeroom: Ms. Cathey — Science (Grades 6–8)

• Grade 7 Homeroom: Mr. Yates — Social Studies (Grades 6–8)

• Grade 8 Homeroom: Ms. Muñoz — English Language Arts (Grades 6–8) and 8th Grade Religion

• Mathematics: Mr. Hansen — Math (Grades 6–8, including an advanced class in 8th Grade)

• Religion: Mr. Acosta — Religion (Grades 6 & 7)

• Physical Education & Athletics: Coach Trevor — PE (Grades TK–8) and Athletic Director

Homeroom-Based Learning
To help students stay more focused and reduce unnecessary transitions, students will remain in their homerooms while teachers rotate to them. This structure provides a calmer learning environment and helps students manage their time and attention more effectively.

Beginning-of-Year Focus
The start of the year will be all about building essential skills for success, including:

• Organization and time management

• Understanding personal learning styles

• Learning how to ask for help effectively

• Developing independence and responsibility

Major Junior High Field Trips

• 6th Grade – Caritas Creek Outdoor Education: February 23–27, 2026

• 7th Grade – NatureBridge Environmental Science Program: March 2–4, 2026

• 8th Grade – Graduation Retreat: February 9–10, 2026

We will also host high school admissions directors on campus and take field trips to local high schools so students can explore options for their next step.

Academic Support & Expectations
We will continue to offer free tutoring and study hall to help students succeed. Teachers will clearly communicate homework, behavior, and classroom expectations at the start of the year to ensure clarity and accountability.

New Program for 7th Grade: Building Bridges
As a follow-up to their Caritas experience, 7th graders will participate in Building Bridges, a 10-week series focused on respect, active listening, and creating a positive learning community through interactive activities and guided reflection.

Curriculum Upgrade: TCI Social Studies
We are excited to announce that grades 3–8 will now use the TCI Social Studies curriculum (Learn more here), providing engaging, hands-on lessons that promote critical thinking. A big thank you to Mr. Yates and our team for researching options and embracing this new program — our students are going to love it!

We are thrilled to be launching two days a week of Fine Arts instruction this year — an investment in creativity, critical thinking, and joy for our students.

Students will now enjoy:

• One dedicated day of music instruction

• One dedicated day of art instruction

Our new Fine Arts teacher, Ms. Corrine, will also be working closely with Mr. Acosta to build our sacramental music preparation, helping to expand the choir program Mr. Acosta started. She will work in close collaboration with all teachers to ensure cross-curricular integration of the arts throughout the school year.

Come to Back to School Night to meet Ms. Corrine and learn more about our amazing new Fine Arts program. We are already planning exciting events, including a Christmas showcase, an Open House to display student artwork, and much more.

Important Note: The Fine Arts funding outlined below comes from last year’s Read-a-thon. This year’s Fine Arts program is a new, expanded initiative supported in part by family Fine Arts and Tech Fees.

2024–2025 Read-a-thon Funds Raised: $25,035.90

Allocation:

• Fine Arts – 70%: $17,525.13 (for Fine Arts instruction)

• Classroom & School Improvement – 30%: $7,510.77 (for supplementary teacher classroom supplies or broader school improvement goals)

Fine Arts Expenses:

• $16,000 – Theater (Kidstock program)

• $2,500 – Art (January to May, 5.5 hours/week, Grades 3–8)

• $0 – Art (January to May, TK–2nd)

The Read-a-thon proceeds did not cover the full cost of Fine Arts instruction — the remaining expenses were paid from the Fine Arts and Tech Fees contributed by all families.

We are beyond excited to continue this investment and to bring Kidstock theater program back again this spring for our students. We are currently finalizing the contract — while the cost had doubled, we were able to negotiate back down to last year’s rate.

We are thrilled to welcome Coach Trevor back for another year, his 15th year with St. John School! His dedication, leadership, and passion for student growth have been a driving force behind the improvements in our athletics program over the past several years. This year, we’re excited to expand again, two years ago we added Jr. Basketball, and now we are adding Youth Soccer for 1st–2nd graders. For full details on sports offered, please visit the Athletics tab on SchoolSpeak here.

(edit Fund-a-Need number- earlier publication incorrect)

Crab Feed & Fund-a-Need Transparency
Our athletics program is primarily funded through the Crab Feed, with a 60/40 split of net proceeds between the General Fund and Athletics (excluding Fund-a-Need). Last year’s event brought in $42,681.04, with $17,072.42 allocated to Athletics. The Fund-a-Need portion of last year’s Crab Feed ($12,100 gross) was specifically dedicated to improving our volleyball program. These funds went towards:

• New team uniforms (we can’t wait for you all to see our girls in them!)

• New volleyball net

• New Volleyballs & ball carts

• Padding and other accessories

While the Crab Feed is a vital source of funding, it does not cover the full cost of our program, nor does it account for ongoing facility needs such as gym lighting, bathroom access, and general upkeep. Below is a quick view of Athletics and PE expenses:

Athletics & P.E. Expenses (July 2024 – June 2025)

• Athletics Department: $17,516.01 (Athletic Director services, game & gym supervision, Olympic Day T-shirts)

• P.E. Program: $17,486.44 (Athletic Director services for P.E. instruction)

Recent Investments & Grants
Thanks to a Kolping Society Grant (restricted to athletics), we were also able to purchase:

• Basketballs (three sizes) and racks

• Hoop pads

• First aid supplies

• Ball pump

We also purchased all-new basketball uniforms last year, and this latest investment in volleyball uniforms is another big step forward. Our next planned investment is a new scoreboard for the gym, and we are currently in discussions with the Olympic Club for support in future athletic endeavors. The Athletics Board will also continue exploring new fundraising opportunities to sustain and grow our program.

Key Athletics Dates

• Fall Sports Photos – September 26, 2025 (3:30–6:00 PM)

• Winter Sports Photos – December 5, 2025 (3:30–6:00 PM)

• Spring Sports Photos – March 27, 2026 (3:30–6:00 PM)

• Coaches Clinic – Tentative date: September 4, 2025 (details from Coach Trevor to come)

• Olympic Day – May 1, 2026

• Sports Night – May 16, 2026

• Staff & Alumni vs. 8th Grade Volleyball Game – May 20, 2026

Why Athletics Matters
CYO’s mission is for all students to have the opportunity to participate. We encourage every student to try at least one sport each year, no matter their experience level. Athletics builds confidence, resilience, teamwork, and leadership skills that last a lifetime.

Finally, I want to acknowledge the many people over the years who have helped build and strengthen this program, your dedication has made St. John’s Athletics what it is today. And for anyone still unsure how it all works, please visit Coach Trevor’s table at Back to School Night (August 27, 6 PM) to learn more, meet our coaches, and see how you can get involved.

Start of the School Year:

• First Day of School: August 18, 2025 (12:00 PM Dismissal)- No Extended Care

• Second Day of School: August 19, 2025 (12:00 PM Dismissal)- No Extended Care

• Back to School Night: August 27, 2025, at 6:00 PM (Mandatory)

Special Events:

• First PTG Meeting: September 17, 2025 (In-Person)

  • We will continue to follow the same hybrid schedule for PTG meetings throughout the year.

• 8th Grade Graduation: May 29, 2026, at 4:00 PM

• Last Day of School: June 5, 2026 (12:00 PM Dismissal)

No School Days, Holidays, and Breaks:

• Labor Day: September 1, 2025

• Indigenous Peoples’ Day: October 13, 2025

• Veterans Day: November 11, 2025

• Thanksgiving Break: November 24-28, 2025

• Christmas Vacation: December 22, 2025 - January 2, 2026

• Classes Resume: January 5, 2026

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 19, 2026

• Presidents’ Day: February 16, 2026

• Good Friday: April 3, 2026

• Easter Break: April 5-10, 2026

• Memorial Day: May 25, 2026

Early Dismissal Days will be 12:00 PM. Please see the attached calendar for all the dates.

The entire student body walks together to the 9am mass every last Friday of the month. All are invited to join us. This school year, we are bringing back School Family Mass every 2nd Sunday at 10:00 AM. If you are not registered with a parish, we encourage you to join our school parish. We also welcome families from other parishes and non-Catholic families to come to this school mass- our doors are open. Find Ms. I after mass for a Free Dress Pass for the following Monday!

Find out more information on our Parish website: https://www.saintjohnevangelist.org/

We love our St. John School community and believe that our parents and families are our best ambassadors! Over the years, our school has flourished thanks to referrals from our wonderful families.

💙 Refer a family to St. John School!
If they enroll, your family will receive a $250 tuition deduction per newly enrolled student.

We have limited spots available in most grade levels—help us welcome new families to our St. John community!

For more details, contact our Admissions Director, Victoria Kelly admissions@stjohnseagles.com

Stay up to date on the local news: http://www.glenparkassociation.org/

Instagram: stjohn_sf

Email: officesj@stjohnseagles.com
Website: stjohnseagles.com
Location: 925 Chenery Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
Phone: (415) 584-8383
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjohnSF/