***Newsflash: (1/29/12 - Please click here for information regarding our "We Care Project" donation lists.
(1/1/12) - Please click here for the February Lunch Menu
(2/1/12) - The Student Handbook is now online. Click on the link on the left sidebar on any of the Campus Life tabs.
(2/9/12) - Congrats are in order to Kindergarten B on their victory in the first game of the 2012 MIT. It was an exciting game that came down to the last quarter. We had a lot of parent support and it would be great if we could have that every week. Our games will begin each week at 12:15 at the latest and be over before 1:00. Next week, Kindergarten B and their Head Coach, Mr. Langan (Red) will do battle with Mrs. Antonucci and the First Grade (Black).
(2/12/12) - Please click here for a very special message from the Archdiocese of Newark. ***
February 8, 2012
Dear Parents,
It is hard to believe that we are just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the middle of February and we still have had hardly any snowy winter weather! Praise God!
Over the next few weeks I will be sending you information regarding changes that will be occurring at our school. Some of these changes are very exciting and will serve to make our school a model for 21st century learning. Other changes may make you scratch your head and think why are we doing that or even well, it’s about time we did that! And I am sure there will be other changes that you may not agree with but you will understand why those changes must happen.
Some changes will come as a result of the newly formed Newark Archdiocese’s Commission on Education. I will apprise you of this information as soon as I am made aware of their decisions. The Commission will be reviewing each of the grammar schools in our Archdiocese and along with the Schools Office will make suggestions for the betterment of a school. This week I want to share some exciting plans for next year with you and to explain an admission change that is necessary to keep our school vibrant and healthy.
This year we created our first laptop class with 15 laptops on a mobile cart. We are expecting to increase the number of laptops to 20 for next year so that every student in the class will have access to a laptop. Next Fall, I am planning to add an iPad 2 Learning Lab on a mobility cart which will include 20 ipads for student use. We also want to re-organize our media center to create an iKids Lab where students can join physical activity with technology to engage in STEM projects. We want Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy to be an exciting and innovative place for our students to learn.
We had an excellent response to our Early Bird Registration. I thank all of the families who registered for the 2012-2013 school year. However, registration does not automatically confer admittance to Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy. Starting with the students entering Second Grade each application will be reviewed by the principal and Board of Pastors. Students who are accepted for admission will receive an acceptance letter on March 15, 2012. Students who are denied admission or wait listed will receive a letter with a refund of their registration fee. Wait listed students will be given a choice of receiving a registration refund and looking for a different school or waiting till the end of the school year when enrollment is finalized. People who register later in the year will receive a letter two weeks from the date of their registration application.
Acceptance will be determined by the following criteria:
· essay from student indicating why they want to attend BPJ This essay will be completed during school hours.
· student academic achievement We are looking for students who take school seriously and do their best.
· student behavior We want students who represent BPJ according to the ideals listed in our Behavior Contract and can be trusted to use technology responsibly according to policy.
· cooperation from the parent (s) in the following:
o adhering to the drop off and pick up procedures
o getting their child to school on time
o seeing that their child conforms to the uniform policy
o participating in fundraising activities
o exhibiting a positive attitude toward the school
I realize this is a new procedure but in order to continue our academy status, and to offer the technology labs we are planning, we need an entrance policy that ensures we admit students who are capable of being successful at Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy and will not cause a disruption to the other students in the school.
Again, let me remind you that this Admittance Policy is not in effect for Pre-School, Kindergarten, or First Grade. However, behavior, progress, and cooperation in Pre-School, Kindergarten, and First Grade provide the history that will be used to determine admittance into Second Grade.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please continue our program of “Each One Reach One” and recommend our school to your families and friends. Word of mouth is our best advertisement and I appreciate all you do for our school.
“All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave
behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.”
-----Anatole France
Sincerely.
Lynda Wright
Principal
February 1, 2012
Dear Parents,
Please note the following clarification of our policy on cell phones and other telecommunication devices (including but not limited to ipads, ipods, netbooks, notebooks, and cameras of any kind).
TECHNOLOGY POLICY
The use of computer services at Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy is a privilege, not a right. Students are expected to make responsible, ethical, and appropriate use of computers and information services at all times. Network and computer services include: use of personal and school computers and peripherals, the Internet, campus, and/or e-mail, and all associated software. Students should realize that these services are finite and costly and that time, money, and hardware can be restricted or appropriated when these services are abused. The School holds specific expectations for students at each grade level regarding their use of computers before, during, and after school in either the computer lab, classroom, library or at home (if the school is being referenced). The following Rules of Conduct apply to information services.
Students:
· May use only their password;
· May not reconfigure or tamper with the network system in any way, or attempt to access or alter files without proper authority;
· May not unlawfully copy software or information;
· May not use illegal software;
· Must cite properly all information that is acquired from electronic sources used in their assignments;
· Are held responsible for all activity conducted on his/her account or under his/her password at school or at home
· May not run non-instructional computer games or post to any social networking service on any school-owned computer, server, or network system.
· Post information on line about the School or pictures of the School or its students or teachers without the specific permission of the Principal.
Failure to comply with these standards of acceptable use of technology will result in the following actions: suspension or withdrawal of network privileges and/or suspension or expulsion from school.
Cell phones, other telecommunication devices, and cameras may not be used during school hours including before and after school hours. Teachers will collect cell phones and other devices each morning before school begins and will return them to students at the end of the school day. If a student is found using a cell phone, other telecommunication device, or camera during school hours, the device will be confiscated and the student’s parent must come to school to retrieve the device. If the student is found taking unauthorized pictures or recording videos of the school, students, and/or teachers, the device will be confiscated and turned over to the WOPD for investigation. The student will be suspended or expelled from school immediately.
Guardian Angel Fund
Every year we lose a few students due to the economic situations of their families. Therefore we have established a Guardian Angel fund to help those families who have fallen on hard times and still want their children to continue their Catholic education at Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy. Please consider making a tax deductible donation to help these needy students. All money goes toward helping students with their tuition and any amount, no matter how small, will do good. You may send your donation directly to the school at 8 St. Cloud Place West Orange, NJ 07052 or make a donation on line using your credit card. Thank you.
BPJ Uniform Requirements
All students from K through 8 are expected to be in complete uniform on the first day of school and every day thereafter. The uniforms should be neat, clean and worn properly going to and from school. In keeping with the uniform, hairstyles should be neat and conservative. Hairstyles not considered conservative include but are not limited to: mullets, partially shaved heads, mohawks (or fauxhawks), lines or designs shaved into the hair, and "tails". these styles are not permitted. Colors other than natural hair colors are not permitted. Boys' hair may not touch the shirt collar. Bangs may not fall past the child's eyebrows. If girls are "growing out" their bangs, they must wear a headband to keep the hair out of their eyes. Students may not have permanent tattoos. Students who have pierced ears may wear one pair of small stud type earrings. Ears are the only visible part of the body that may be pierced. Students may not wear hoop or dangling earrings. This is a safety issue. Large or expensive jewelry should not be worn to school. Students are not allowed to wear make up, nail polish, fake fingernails or tips to school. The school shoe is mandatory. it is a flat soled shoe with safety soles. Rubber soled sneakers (no wheelies) are to be worn with the gym uniform and may be worn with the summer uniform. The school shoe must be worn with the winter uniform.
Students who do not conform to the above policy with regard to uniforms will be considered unprepared for school. The parent/guardian will be notified to bring a proper school or gym uniform for the student so that the student may be admitted to class. Inappropriate jewelry will be placed in an envelope by the teacher and returned to the student at the end of the school day. Nail polish remover will be made available to students who are wearing nail polish. Parents will be expected to address inappropriate hairstyles within 2 to 3 days of notification.
Thank you for your cooperation.
The Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy Advantage
For all students from Pre-K3 to Grade 8
A quality education in a Christ-centered environment
Religious and sacramental training for all students
World language program (Latin, Spanish, French)
Computer classes with controlled internet usage
Talented and Gifted program/Resource Room
EXCEL (Extended Care Enriching Learning)
Emphasis on math, science and writing
A challenging academic program
Secure and caring environment
Outstanding athletic program
Reasonable tuition
FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION
CALL THE SCHOOL OFFICE AT 973-731-3503
Building An Ark is a special program that you will find only at Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy. It is a community building project that includes all of our students from Grade 1 to Grade 8. Each teacher mentors a group of children made up of students from each grade in the school. Just like the animals going into Noah’s ark, our children come two by two from each grade.
First we form a prayer circle and begin, as we do each day, with a prayer. There is time for the students to discuss issues that are of interest to them and to seek support from their group members. Then each group plans a service activity to be accomplished sometime during the school year. They must decide what to do, determine the best way to publicize their endeavor, and if funds are needed, organize some mini-fundraiser to support their project. This is a wonderful way for our students to work cooperatively across grade levels to make a difference in our world.
