St. Joseph Catholic School fosters a diverse community of disciples empowered through a rigorous and inclusive Catholic education rooted in Gospel values and service to others.

On Wednesday at Mass, Father talked about how the disciples did chores for God by spreading the message of Jesus. Father Joseph asked us if were given chores by our parents and if we did them. We learn from our experiences and Scripture that when we do things for God and our community it is a sacrifice we are making for God.

Ben, 8A

In Mass, we learned how to be dependent on our own, and we should try to become a better person overall. Father Joseph asked if we do chores around our house. If so, it helps our family. Father said that if we do chores, we learn how to become a better person in life.

Julian, 8A

Our SJCS PTO Poinsettia Sale is back! These gorgeous poinsettias come straight from the grower and are available by presale only. We know it's early to be thinking of Christmas poinsettias, but order yours today! These make great gifts! They are beautiful and better than what you can buy in stores. You won't be disappointed.

To order online: https://sjcswh.ejoinme.org/Poinsettia

Deadline to order is October 23rd.

Poinsettias will be available for pick up on campus on Tuesday, November 28th. Please reach out to Mrs. Burns at missyburns14@gmail.com with questions or to help out.

Fall Fest is just a little less than a month away! HOW WILD! Fall Fest is our largest attended events of the school year! You will not want to wait in line to purchase tickets for food, games, or raffles. Get your tickets now by clicking on the link below. Options include:

• Wristband for $30. The wristband will give your child unlimited use of games or inflatables. This does not include purchasing food or bakery items. Wristbands will be $35 on the day of the Fall Fest.
• Class Basket Tickets $1 each. Classes will create raffle baskets. Buy your chances for $1.
• Food and Game Tickets $1 each. We only use tickets the day of the Fall Fest. We will have a table where you can purchase tickets the day of the event, but you are encouraged to preorder some to avoid waiting in line.
• 50/50 tickets are $1 each and can be prepurchased.
• Egg Rolls! There are a limited number of egg rolls being sold. We will run out. A dozen egg rolls cost $18. Order your egg rolls today! Thank you to the Vietnamese community for donating these scrumptious egg rolls!
• Finally, we are looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of the inflatables and other rentals. if you are interested, you can donate using the QR code.
• Use the QR code below to order tickets or use the link below: https://sjcswh.ejoinme.org/fallfest2023

Are you still looking for ways to earn your 2 service hours required for Fall Fest? Parents are invited to purchase prizes for Fall Fest. Check out the Amazon Wishlist below. Remember that parents earn 1 service hour for every $10 spent in donations to the school, when the school requests items.

*Please note that items that you purchase from this wishlist will be sent directly to our prize coordinator. You should document your donation as a service hour in Renweb (see the Resources section below for information about how to log hours).

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3BOTCOVE5YLSV?ref=cm_sw_em_r_un_un_zXiOGcYsDH8mw

I know it's hard to think about what your child is going to have for lunch on Friday, November 3, the day of the Fall Fest, but I need you to! Maschio's is providing boxed lunches on this day. These lunches MUST be preordered, and orders are due next Thursday. Using the order form below, please indicate your child's lunch choice and return it to school as soon as possible. Can't print the form? Call the school office and one of the ladies in the office will be happy to take your order over the phone.

A very special thank you to the Tran family for sponsoring the police officer at Mass this week. Family sponsors cover the $135 cost for our off duty Winter Haven Police Officer to be present on our campus during school Mass or other special events. The sponsoring family also receives 13.5 volunteer hours (as families earn 1 hour for every $10 when requested by the school). A special thank you to all families who have already scheduled a sponsorship of a police officer. If you are interested in sponsoring a police officer, please reach out to Ms. Summer at sdehaven@stjosephwhschool.org.

SJCS will dismiss at 2pm on Thursday, October 26th for teacher professional development.

Join us for Spirit Night at Beef O'Brady's on Thursday, October 26th from 5pm-9pm. Hope to see you there.

It finally happened! Mother Nature has provided us with some beautiful weather the past several days! With some cooler mornings, I take this opportunity to remind all parents of uniform expectations when the weather is chilly:

• The only time sweatpants may be worn is on PE days. Girls may NOT wear sweatpants under jumpers or skirts.
• The acceptable attire to cover little girls' legs when wearing skirts or jumpers is tights. Remember that tights extend from the hips to the tip of the toe.
• On non Mass days, there are pant options for all students.
• For grades 4-8, acceptable outerwear on Mass days (all day with dress Mass uniforms, not just in church) is zipped up fleece (sold by Sir Walter) or the new lightweight jackets sold by boosters. Hoodies or sweatshirts are not permitted to be worn with Mass dress uniform at any time.

SJCS will join schools around our nation next week to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is an opportunity to celebrate living a drug free life. Our Student Service Council has planned a fun week for our entire school. We invite your child to participate.

Monday: I'm REaDy to live a drug-free life (wear red).

Tuesday: I'm a JEAN-ius, I don't do drugs! (wear jeans with uniform tops).
Wednesday: I'm drug-free from head to toe (crazy hair day or crazy socks).
Thursday: Say "Boo!" to drugs (wear Halloween colors).
Friday: $1 dress down for Breast Cancer Awareness

On Thursday, November 16th, our school will be participating in the Great American Teach In. This annual event is held nationwide to celebrate American Education week. Members of the community are invited into the school to share information with students about their career or hobby. It is also an opportunity for students to see where education can take them. We are in need of volunteers to come and speak to our students in kindergarten through 8th grade. We are looking for the following career areas to share with students:

Health care (medical and dental)

Animal care

Cooking/Baking

Law Enforcement

Musicians

Horticulture

Engineering

News/Meteorology

Scientists

Any other career

Please click the link below to fill out an interest form.

https://forms.gle/J9nHAprsm2pebEx99

Congratulations to our October Acts of Kindness Winners: Josephine, Marie, Saul, Claudia, Nickmar, Christian, Luis, Messiah, and Evelyn!

Congratulations to our Soaring Eagles: Fabiola, Ryleigh, Haddie, Grayson, Laila, Brayden, Laura, Ally, Bridget, Jianna, Keeley, Atticus, Lexi, Jackson, Daniel, and Jorge!

With the holidays around the corner, our Catholic Charities Food Pantry needs our help to stock the shelves. This collection is in addition to the items students are encouraged to bring to Mass on Wednesdays. The items listed below are collected throughout the week in the classrooms. We will track the number of items collected in each class. The class with the highest total number of items in prek, primary (K-2), intermediate (3-5) and middle school (6-8) will receive a special treat.

This week, the week of October 16: Pasta and Sauce (no jars please)

Week of October 23: Cans of Green Beans and Mixed Vegetables (no corn please)

Week of October 30: Boxes of Instant Mashed Potatoes
Week of November 5: Boxes of Rice (no bags please)

Week of November 12: Jars of Peanut Butter

Week of November 26: Soup

Week of December 3: Cans of Tuna/Canned Meat

Week of December 10: Cereal/Oatmeal

As our girls volleyball and boys soccer seasons wind down, we are beginning to prepare for our boys and girls basketball seasons. All students in grades 5-8 are invited to play on our basketball teams. Requirements are as follows:

• Parents must have attended a sports meeting with Mrs. Haas.
• Coach Edwards has permission slips that must be completed and returned to the front office.
• Families will be charged $50 sports fee on FACTs account.
• Parents must join the respective Band app to receive notification from coaches about practices and games. (see below)
• 
  

Practices will start next week.

Congratulations to our Cross Country team who competed in the County Meet last weekend! We are proud of your endurance! Thank you for representing St. Joseph Catholic School so well!

Our church is holding a training for students interested in becoming altar servers. The training will be Saturday, October 21st at 10am in the church. Call the church office if you have any questions.

The date of our Taste of Achievement Gala has been changed. Please make a note on your calendar that the Gala will be held on Saturday, March 2nd. You will not want to miss it. Save the date and make plans to join us.

Good Luck to our Chess Team! They will attend their first competition this Saturday in Bartow! Special thanks to Ms. Karen Reece for coaching our students on the Chess Team! Go Eagles!

Happy Birthday to the following staff members who are celebrating a birthday in the month of October:

Mrs. Heisey

Mrs. Beeman

Ms. Munoz Trejo

Mrs. Freeland

Mrs. Dry

Ms. Avellaneda

Mr. Proctor

Mr. Art is beginning an afterschool art class for middle school students. If students are interested, they need to see Mr. Art to get a registration form. The cost is free. Art class will meet on Tuesday afternoons from 3 - 4:30pm.

This section of the Eagle's Eye will remain in every edition of our newsletter. It will contain links to information that parents may need from time to time. When parents have questions, we urge you to check this section for possible links that could get you the information that you need.

• School Calendar
• Lunch Menus
• Maschio's Birthday Order Form
• Registering for a lunch account
• PikMyKid User Guide (English)
• PikMyKid User Guide (Spanish)
• Fingerprinting/Safe Environment Certification Instructions
• Fingerprinting/Safe Environment Certification
• Uniform Company
• Technology Responsible Use Policy for Students
• Parent Student Handbook
• Attendance Policy
• Accessing Facts Family Portal
• Family Portal Login
• Logging Service Hours: Parents and students can now enter and view their own service hours. You can use your app to view the hours, however, you have to use the web version to enter new hours. go to FACTS Family Portal. The district code is STJC-FL. Once logged in, click on the Family option in the menu on the left side. At the top of the screen, select the family member who will be adding the service hours. Click on the Add option on the right side of the screen in the Service Hours box. Fill out the information and click Save.

O Blessed Joseph, faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector of Mary, the virgin Mother of God, I choose you this day to be my special patron and advocate and I firmly resolve to honor you all the days of my life. Therefore, I humbly ask you to receive me as your client, to instruct me in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction, to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of my death. Amen.

Principal: Mrs. Haas

Assistant Principal: Mr. Reilly

Assistant Principal: Mrs. Insua

Canonical Administrator: Fr. Tim LaBo

Superintendent: Mr. Fortier

Email: thaas@stjosephwhschool.org
Website: stjosephwhschool.org
Location: 535 Avenue M Northwest, Winter Haven, FL, USA
Phone: 863-293-3311