Exceptional Readers

Reading Fluency Rate Exceptional at St. John’s School


Dear Parents,

We are proud to announce that oral reading fluency rates obtained from the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy test are exceptionally high. This means that St. John’s students are not only acquiring, but also mastering skills related to reading proficiency. In fact, 59% of students at St. John's School scored above the national benchmarks set for oral reading fluency rates. Similarly, 36% of our students achieved the national benchmarks set for their individual grade-level.
The test, administered by St. John’s instructors three times per year, is a set of measures used to assess the acquisition of early literacy skills from kindergarten through eighth grade. The results are used to evaluate individual student development of reading skills, as well as to provide grade-level feedback toward instructional objectives.
The final Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy test of the 2008-2009 school year will be administered in mid-May. For more information, contact Ben Wayne, academic dean, at bwayne@sjsroseville.org.

Wrestling Added

Wrestling Added to After School Athletic Programs

The bleachers in the gym have been filled with excited fans since wrestling season began. One of the most recent sports to be offered to St. John’s School athletes, this season’s team promises to be tough to beat. Kyle Pontarolo, the school’s Athletic Director, has a personal background in wrestling and was excited to be able to offer this new sport to the school’s current offerings.
This year students have had an opportunity to participate in interscholastic competition in flag football, volleyball, basketball, and wrestling. Spring Sports will include soccer and track.
These new additions to the school’s programs are helping St. John’s fulfill its three fold mission of working to develop mind, body and spirit.

Board Sets $150 Early Enrollment Discount

In order to assist with plans for the growth of St. John’s School the Board of Trustees has structured an early enrollment discount for new and returning families. The deadline for returning families to return contracts and receive the discount is March 15, 2009. The deadline for new families to return their contracts is April 15, 2009.
“St. John’s School is blessed with strong growth in enrollment,” said Father Paul Hancock. “We have grown by almost 50% since the start of the 2007-2008 school year. In order for us to ensure that it is orderly growth we need to be planning well in advance of the start of next school year. We will be adding sections of students at a number of grade levels and would also like to add to our fine arts faculty. My experience is that the Spring is the best time to find the strongest teachers. I am pleased that the Board has seen the wisdom of encouraging early enrollment by a generous financial incentive.”

Open House 3/26

Spring Open House Planned for March 26

St. John’s School will hold its Spring Open House at 6:30 p.m. March 26th. The evening will begin with a brief general meeting in the Multi-purpose room. Current and prospective families are all encouraged to attend.
Classroom tours, teacher demonstrations, displays of student work, meetings with the coaching staff, as well as current parent volunteers are all designed to show case the wide range of St. John’s programs.
The evening is designed to be “child-friendly” and visitors are invited to bring their children.
Admissions staff will be on hand to answer questions about the enrollment process. For more information call the school office 916-786-5400

Fund-raising Begins

Annual Fund Launched: $30,000 Committed by Sept 30

Stacy Lackey, Chair of the 2009-2010 Annual Fund, recently announced that the first phase of the Campaign has just been launched. Board, Parent, Grandparent, and faculty and Staff Campaigns are all underway. By the end of September $30,000 had already been pledged towards the goal of $70,000.

St. John’s School, located in Roseville’s WestPark neighborhood, is a non-profit educational institution. Tuition alone does not cover the full cost of educating a student at St. John’s. Like most independent schools, St. John’s supplements its operating budget with fund-raising events such as the Fun Run and the Crab Feed, as well as with its Annual Fund. The school’s strategic goal is to increase the Annual Fund and alleviate the need for multiple fund-raising events.

This year gifts from parents and faculty and staff will go to support the school’s technology programs, while gifts from friends and grandparents will support the school’s need-based financial aid program.

Pledges and gifts to the campaign may be made through June 30, 2010. To receive a pledge card, or for more information on St. John’s Annual Fund call Katrina Johnson in the school office.

Writing Scores Increase

We are proud to announce that St. John’s Writes scores have risen in every category and at every grade level this winter.
Students in grades kindergarten through eighth have been participating in St. John’s Writes – a standardized writing examination given three times a year. The goal of this examination is simple: to gather data on each child’s, as well as each classes’ overall writing progression. This allows teachers at St. John’s School to focus their instruction both on individual and class weakness while at the same time providing strategic enrichment opportunities that are tailored to our students’ strengths.
Scores from the St. John’s Writes are reported as school-wide averages and are based on the school’s 6+1 Traits of Writing Program. The next St. John’s Writes will be given March 17, 2009. For more information, contact Ben Wayne, academic dean, at bwayne@sjsroseville.org.