Dear Serra Parents: 

Last Chance to Help Families in Need!

The Big Brothers Club’s Adopt-A-Family program is in its last week of preparations and we need YOUR help!  Please send in the following new items to Campus Ministry with your son so we can help the 20 San Mateo families we are adopting (especially during homeroom on Fridays, but we’ll accept donations any time):

* Gift cards (Safeway, Target, or K-Mart go a long way!)
* Toys for children ages 2 – 17
* Baby clothes
* Household items (ie. pots and pans, comforters, sheets)
* Non-perishable food items (vegetables, fruits, meats and dry goods)

Please bring in your items by Friday. We will be shopping for our families a week from this Saturday and delivering the goods to them the following Monday. We know that the current economic situation is hard for all of us, but it is most difficult for those living at or below the poverty line. Thank you for giving what you can!

Kim Bohnert & Kyle Lierk
Big Brothers Moderators

PCR Parent Portal Update:

When parents and students check on current grades in the PCR Parent Portal, be sure to select Marking Period 2 for recent assignments. Marking Period 1 shows the grades for assignments up to November 6. Marking Period 2 shows grades posted after that date.

Tuition Assistance for the 2010-2011 School Year

Tuition assistance is available through Junípero Serra High School and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Forms are available on our website at www.serrahs.com under the Admissions section. If you do not have access to our website you may call the Business Office at 650-345-0226 and a packet will be mailed to you.

Tuition assistance is granted to families who demonstrate financial need. Most families who send their sons to Serra make financial sacrifices. The Tuition Assistance Program is designed to help those families that, even with their sacrifices, are unable to meet the financial obligation.

All families who received tuition assistance for the 2009-2010 school year must reapply for the next school year. An application packet has been mailed to all families currently receiving assistance.

Applications are due February 5, 2010 and must be postmarked no later than that date.

Attention Senior Parents:

There is still time to order your senior parent ad for the 2009-2010 El Padre Yearbook! Please visit www.JostensAdService.com to order. The deadline has been extended until January 15, 2010. Please call Meg Kelly for more information at 345-8207 ext. 175.

From the Academic Resource Center:

The ARC shirts are here!  Many thanks to junior Michael Boland for the terrific design. The shirts are available in the ARC for $10. 

This year, the ARC has adopted a family through the Big Brothers Club’s Adopt-A-Family program. Thank you to the families who have already contributed. We are still in need of items mentioned in the Campus Ministry section above. Some of the ARC students will be helping to deliver the items to our family.  If you are interested in helping with the delivery, please let us know.

From the Athletic Department:

Admission to the Serra varsity basketball game against Burlingame High School on Friday, December 18 will be by ticket only. This exciting game will be played at Burlingame High. The gym will be cleared after the junior varsity game. If you are only going to attend the junior varsity game, you do not need a ticket. Tickets are pre-sale only and will not be available at the door. If you don't have a ticket, you will not be admitted to the game. Serra Booster Passes are not honored, as this is an away game. Tickets can be purchased in the Serra Student Activities Office. Prices are $6 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and Serra students and $2 for children 6-12 years old. Children 5 and under are free. Checks should be made payable to Junipero Serra High School.

From the Booster Club:

The Serra Booster Club will host its annual Crab Cioppino Dinner and Dance on Saturday, January 23. This is the social highlight of the year for Serra parents and friends! This event sells out early. Please turn in your reservations as soon as possible.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE RESERVATION FORM:

Basketball season is fast approaching! If you want to be in the lottery for a chance to win a Jungle Game ticket, you have to have a Booster Club season pass. There are no tickets sold for this game. The only way to get a ticket is to win one in the Booster Club lottery for members. Click here to become a Booster Club member TODAY!.

Need Photos? Reorder Online!

It's not too late to order Prestige Portraits by Lifetouch. By clicking the link below, you will find online ordering information for Panoramic Photos listed under Photo Events. You can also reorder school pictures by clicking on Order School Photos.  

http://www.orderschoolportraits.com/JuniperoSerraHighSchool   

Do you need to update your email contact information? Please click here to visit the PCR Educator parent portal to change your information. DO NOT reply to this Spotlight e-newsletter to change your email address. Thank you. 

If you have a question about something mentioned in this e-newsletter, please contact the proper person at Serra directly.

Click here to access the school directory

Please check our website frequently for fresh news stories about Serra:

Sincerely,

Antonia Ehlers
Communications Manager

Upcoming Events 

December 9:
Serra Christmas Concert, 7:30 p.m.

December 14: All eight classes meet (43 minute classes):
1st: 8:15-8:58
2nd: Announcements 9:03-9:51
Break 9:51-10:07
3rd: 10:12-10:55
4th: 11:00-11:43
5th: 11:48-12:31
6th: 12:36-1:19
8th: 1:24-2:07
7th: 2:12-2:55

December 15:
Final Exams
1st: 8:15-9:45*
2nd: 10:15-11:45
* Exams for Tri-School classes take place from 8:00-9:30

December 16:
Final Exams
3rd: 8:15-9:45
6th: 10:15-11:45

December 17:
Final Exams
8th: 8:15-9:45
7th: 10:15-11:45

December 18:
Final Exams
5th: 8:15-9:45
4th: 10:15-11:45

December 19:
Christmas vacation begins!

January 5:
Classes resume; all eight classes meet.

1st: 8:15-8:58
2nd: 9:03-9:51
Break:
9:51-10:07
3rd: 10:12-10:55
4th: 11:00-11:43
5th: 11:48-12:31
6th: 12:36-1:19
8th: 1:24-2:07
7th: 2:12-2:55

January 5:
Mothers' Auxiliary Meeting, 7 p.m.

January 6:
Freshman application deadline.

January 7:
Tri-School Financial Aid Night (Mercy High School, Burlingame) 6:30 p.m.

January 8:
Sophomore Mother-Son Mass

January 9:
Entrance Exam 8:30 a.m. until 11:50 a.m.

January 14:
Senior Wrap Night 6 p.m.

January 18:
School Holiday