Category: General

Do you possess a bachelor’s degree? If so, you may be qualified to support our school through substitute teaching—-a teaching degree is not required! Lesson plans and support are always provided.

By substitute teaching at GRACE, you can:

• Generate income with flexible hours you choose
• Come and go with your children
• Choose your buildings and types of classrooms
• Share special moments with your child during a quick lunch, recess, or in the hallway unexpectedly

Your comfort and convenience are important to us. Do you only want to substitute teach at a specific school? No problem! Open to other GRACE schools? We would be happy to assign you to additional sites that work for you.

To help GRACE as a substitute teacher, please reach out to your school principal or learn more by clicking here.

You can also share this post with those who may be interested by copying the URL and pasting it to them. Consider a retired grandparent who would enjoy visiting the school once a month or so, for example. Lastly, please keep our school and staff in your prayers while we continue to navigate this extraordinary time of staff shortages. Thank you!

Hello from Mrs. Kelly, School Counselor!

Each month, I provide school counseling and guidance lessons with each classroom from preschool all the way through 8th grade on topics such as coping strategies, growth mindset, and goal-setting. This month’s lesson topic is Meet the Counselor. During these lessons, students become familiar with my role as the school counselor and how to request help from me at school. 

Our Friendzy theme this month is Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are. The goal of this unit is to see each person as a vital and important part of the community and to understand that being part of a community is key to flourishing within all aspects of life – intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.   

For more information regarding social-emotional learning, please visit SJB’s Social-Emotional Learning webpage. If you would like to contact me, my email address is skelly@gracesystem.org and my office number is 920-434-3822 ext. 225.  

We are blessed to have a full-time counselor to help our students navigate all the peaks and valleys of growing up in such a complex world.  Mrs. Kelly’s calm, steady guidance is a gift to us all.  

Children need healthy meals to learn, and GRACE offers healthy meals every school day. Did you know your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals?

Through participation in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National School Lunch Program (NSLP), GRACE is able to offer the free and reduced meal eligibility program, which aids in providing healthy, nutritious, and affordable meals to all students. To find out if your children are eligible, learn more on the GRACE food service webpage. Program materials are available in both English or Spanish online, and paper copies are available in the school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Gierczak, GRACE Food Service Administrative Assistant via email or by calling (920) 499-7330, ext. 1004.

Welcome Back, Families!

Please join us for our annual Open House night! Enter through door #1 at or after 3:30 PM. Doors will not open until the start of the event.

School Pictures will be taken by Harmann Studios, in the commons. Students do not need to be in uniform for school pictures.  **If you are unable to attend the open house, your child will have his/her photo taken during picture re-take day, September 26th.

Join us to meet the teacher, drop off your supplies, and learn about the great things SJB has to offer. Be sure to visit the tables in the gym to manage lunch accounts, purchase popcorn days and spirit wear, get involved, and more!

Today was a very special Mass for our school.

• Our entire eighth-grade class was present with us for their last all-school Mass at SJB. We recognized and thanked the students for their many years with us and this special year of leadership and preparation for the future. We hope to see them on Sunday for years to come!
• After Mass, we held a special recognition ceremony for all of the special ways that students participate at SJB. We recognized our athletes, scouts, musicians, and altar servers. We also thanked our teachers for their tireless work this school year.
• We presented the “Light of Christ Award” to one student from each homeroom at the conclusion of the ceremony. This award recognizes students who love our Lord in a special way and strive to live virtuous lives. (Pictured Below)

We are reminded that the central purpose of our school is to form students to follow Christ’s example and to spread His Light throughout the world. We can only do this in collaboration with our parents. Thank you for your support and follow-through of the Catholic way of life and high academic standards at home. May each of us continue to strive to be people of the light. 

Please join the SJB School Family in celebrating and congratulating Mrs. Gast on her retirement at the end of this school year!

Mrs. Gast has taught for 32 years! She spent 3 years teaching at an inner-city public school in California before dedicating 29 years of service to GRACE students and families! Mrs. Gast also served three years as a sergeant in the US Army. Mrs. Gast, THANK YOU for all the years of service to your students and to your country!

Q&A:

What are you looking forward to in retirement?

Spending time with my grandchildren, gardening, and traveling.

What is a favorite memory from teaching in Catholic Education?

One of my favorite memories is having my 5th graders (along with Mrs. Trester’s 4th graders) lead the annual Living Stations of the Cross for Resurrection School & Parish. Another favorite memory of mine is when the students were learning about Ecosystems/Biomes and we transformed our classroom into a rainforest. I will remember the service trips the classes took to Paul’s Pantry and the look of accomplishment and humbleness on their faces. Our fundraisers for the Ekodaga school in Ethiopia and personally bringing the backpacks and school supplies to them. As well as teaching and collaborating with the teachers in Ethiopia. I enjoyed bringing my travel experiences into the classroom to teach my students about other cultures and a world that exists outside their “small world”. And of course, all of the classroom animals I had during my teaching time at Resurrection School.

Any Parting words for your students and families?

I want to thank the St. John the Baptist School community for embracing me into your family. It was truly a pleasure and honor to finish my teaching career here. When you are surrounded by people that become your family it is difficult to leave. I want to thank the St. John the Baptist School community for embracing me into their family. It was truly a pleasure and honor to finish my teaching career here. When you are surrounded by people that become your family it is difficult to leave. “The mission of schools and teachers is to develop an understanding of all that is true, good, and beautiful”. Pope Francis”

2022-23 Student Supply Lists can be viewed and/or downloaded by master PDF below OR by clicking here to access individual lists in a Google Drive Folder.

May has traditionally been a month where the Blessed Virgin Mary is honored by the Church. Recently I placed an image of Mary under the title, Immaculate Conception, near the main school entrance. This picture is a photograph of the Mary statue from our Church – this serves as a symbol of the interconnectedness of the parish and the school. Below is paragraph 971 from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on devotion to Mary:

“‘All generations will call me blessed’: ‘The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.’ The Church rightly honors ‘the Blessed Virgin with special devotion. From the most ancient times, the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of ‘Mother of God,’ to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs. . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this adoration.’ The liturgical feasts dedicated to the Mother of God and Marian prayer, such as the rosary, an “epitome of the whole Gospel,” express this devotion to the Virgin Mary.”

Please ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for our school and parish community.

Last night’s Spring Concert and Art Show was a huge success! Thank you for supporting our students and our programs!

This single event in history changed the course of civilization forever. Power, imperialism, culture, and the hearts of men have never been the same. By conquering death, Our Lord gave us hope and the promise of eternal life. If we truly believe in Christ’s resurrection, our lives ought to be different – inspired by Him.

This Easter season, take time to ask: “How is my life different because of my faith in Christ?” Reflect on the answer and consider how you might continue to walk your faith. Consider how much you pray, attend Mass, read the Bible, serve others in need, and lovingly care for those in your home. This year, let us focus on making Easter the first day in our renewed spiritual journey rather than a single day. May we use Christ’s resurrection to enliven our hearts and to enkindle in us a deeper faith which leads to action.

Our faith in Jesus Christ transforms all we do at St. John the Baptist School. It causes us to create a school environment with faith at the center. Naturally, this means we pray and teach our religion in school, but more to the point, we teach faith in action. This means that we seek to create an environment where children learn to incorporate faith and morals into their daily lives.

Academics are an important part of our school, and we continue to boast test scores that exceed national averages. We are justifiably proud that so many of our alumni graduate at the top of their classes at both Bayport and Notre Dame Academy. But, more importantly, we are proud that the Risen Lord inspires our staff and our families to create an environment where people are loved and feel at home.