Mission collection and miscellaneous

This week and next week we are collecting men’s clothing for the clients of the Cherry Street Mission. Donations of any used or new shirts, pants, sweaters, or coats would be a great help to the numerous men who find shelter at the mission.

Today we had our final presentation in the “Victims’ Forum” series. Be sure to ask your son about the speaker. He told a powerful story about a bad decision that effected him and many others in a disastrous way. He, and others he cared about, were victims of his actions. The boys asked great questions and were a great audience. We’ll do follow-up discussion with the students tomorrow.

Tomorrow the 8th grade tries to successfully accomplish their “Mission to Mars” at the Challenger Center. Look for a report and pictures in the next few days.

Remember to send in conference request forms by Friday. We’ll be putting a schedule together next week. Also, if you would like to purchase a tccket(s) for the reverse raffle on Feb. 17 please let me know. It’s a great evening and a chance to win $3000 or many other prizes.

Catching up on activities

As usual, it’s been a busy time in the Academy and there are many more activities coming up. I thought I would take a few minutes to catch you up on everything.

We have entered a team in the Blade Stock Contest-the “Titans” – and we have started our own in-school competition with all students and staff members making four stock picks. Mr. Butler will be keeping track of how well everyone is doing and we’ll see who comes out on top.

Tuesday we had the second of threee presentations of the “Victims’ Forum.” The students heard from young people who had made some bad choices in their young lives and dealt with the consequences of their actions. The speakers were positive and encouraging and out students did a great job respectfully listening and asking questions.

Also on Tuesday we had a great T.E.A.M. time activity. Teams composed of 2-7th graders and 2-8th graders had comstruct receptacles made of straws and tape that would cathc an egg dropped from increasing heights without breaking. As you can imagine the guys had a great time and learned a Science lesson, too. Pictures will be posted on the Academy website in a day or two.

On Friday the phys. ed. teachers will take part in an Archery workshop here at school. This will enable our students to have hands-on experiences with the sport of Archery. The Outdoor Skills Division of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will provide the training.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we’ll resume our service work whe groups of students will help serve lunch at the Helping Hands Soup Kitchen.

Next Thursday, February 1 the 8th grade will go on a “Mission to Mars” -an all day simulation of a space voyage at the Challenger Center in Oregon, Ohio.

Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday and on Monday we will host a presentation from Vince Nims, a nationally known entertainer/story teller. Students from St. Joan of Arc School, St. Charles School, and St. Elizabeth Seton School will be our guests for the 1:00 p.m. presentation in the main chapel.

Today we mailed home conference schedule request forms for the “Student-Led Conferences” that will be held in February. Please send the form back to school as soon as possible.

On Tuesday, February 5 we will have a meeting for any parents interested in planning activities for the remainder of the year. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Academy classroom area.

Stock market and several notes

Just some notes in hopes of keeping everyone informed. All students have been asked to submit four stock picks by tomorrow for participation the “The BladeStock Market Contest.” Both out 7th and 8th grade will be listed as competing teams in the contest that begins tomorrow and runs through the beginning of May. In addition we will have our own individual contest in which we will track everyone’s individual picks. Ask your son what stocks he picked and help him track them in the weeks ahead. Last Friday we had a special guest, Mr. Michael Thaman, chief Financial Officer for Owens Corning and a member of the SJJ Board Council, speak to the students about the stock market. Mr. Thaman gave an excellent presentation that made a very abstract concept easily understandable for the students.Tomorrw the 8th grade will spend the day at the University of Toledo Student Recreation Center. The senior Big Brothers will join them in the afternoon for lunch and a variety of activities. We will provide lunch and transportation to UT, but we ask parents to pick their son up at UT at 3:00 p.m. or make other arrangements for them.

On Saturday four 8th grade students and six 7th grade students will participate in the “Power of the Pen” writing competition at Perrysburg Junior High. Students have the opportunity to advance to the regional competition in Findlay in March.

On Saturday, February 3, twelve Academy students making up three teams will participate in the area MathCounts competition at the University of Toledo. Mr. Szynkowski has been working with the students and we look forward to another strong showing this year.

Students interested in television production and programming now have the opportunity to learn about being on both sides of the camera each Tuesday after school. Interested Academy students will meet in the TV4 studio each Tuesday after school until 4:00.

Mr. Nichols is busy preparing the 8th grade for their “Mission to Mars” experience at the Challenger Center on February 1. The students each have a role to play and duties to fulfill to make the mission a success. At the Challenger Center they will go through a live, timed simulation and attempt to complete the mission.

Next Wednesday, January 24 there will be a late start. Homeroom will begin at 9:15 a.m., however the Academy will be open at the regular time for students who need to arrive earlier in the morning.

Our after school movie series will resume next Thursday, Jnaury 25 after school. As always, pizza and pop will be provided for all who stay and we should conclude by 5:30 p.m.

Next week a sign-up form for conferences will be sent home. We will hold student-led conferences on February 12, 14, and 15. You can choose a time that works best for you and your son to review his progress and performance this year. On February 13 we are holding our Academy information night at 7:00 p.m. in the main chapel for any families interested in joining the Academy next year. If you know who might be interested, please encourage them to attend on the 13th.

Report cards and more

We hope to mail out report cards tomorrow afternoon. We’re planning on initiating student-lead conferences in February ( a new format and type of conference), but certainly are avaiable to meet with you before that if you have any concerns about your son’s progress.

As always, we have many activities ahead as we begin the new year. Tomorrow we will have a presentation from the “Victims’ Forum,” a program of the Lucas County Prosecutor’s Office focusing on the importance of making good choices and the consequences of bad decisions.

On Friday, we will host a 7th/8th grade dance/fun night from 7:00-9:30 p.m. Admission is $5.00 and we’ll have both gyms open with music and some activities in the main gym and battleball and basketball in the auxiliary gym. In addition, we’ll have card games and board games in the commons. We could use some help from a few parents who would be willing to help supervise the activities. Please let me know if you can help Friday evening.

This Sunday, January 14 will be “7th grade/Big Brother LazerTag Night” at Q-Zar at 5836 Monroe St. 7th grade students and their high school Big Brothers can meet at school at 5:30 p.m. for pizza and pop then head over to Q-Zar to enjoy a few games of lazer tag. If you can’t meet at school then meet the group at Q-Zar –we’ll be there from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

A reminder-there is no school Monday in obserevance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We have a new addition to our teaching staff: Mr. Jason Huther is now teaching exploratory Latin and has taken over the 7th grade English classes from me. This will allow me more time to focus on planning and supervising the Academy program and gives the students an enthusiastic, highly qualified English teacher who is very excited to be working with the 7th grade. Mr. Huther also teaches two sections of Sophmore English and one section of Latin in the high school and has done a great job here. We’re looking forward to a great second semester with Mr. Huther. His e-mail address is jhuther@sjjtitans.org