SJDL Summer News
Week of July 14 - July 18
Lord,
Thank You for the gift of this week,
for the love that surrounds me,
and the grace that sustains me.
Fill my heart with gratitude and my actions with love,
so I may reflect Your goodness to others.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Summer Fun Fact
Tide pools along the Southern California coast act like tiny natural aquariums, showcasing marine life up close. Some tide pool creatures, like sea slugs (nudibranchs), are so bright and colorful they look like they belong in a cartoon. These wild little wonders are not only real—they’re actually relatives of snails and can even absorb toxins from their prey to protect themselves. Nature’s tiny superheroes! These ecosystems are so delicate and unique that many are protected—so visitors can explore with their eyes, not their hands! Look, don’t touch!
Summer Walk/Hike Podcasts
Throughout the summer, we’ll be sharing a curated library of podcasts that we believe are timely, relevant, and meaningful. Our goal is to support parents with thoughtful, faith-informed content that addresses the current influences shaping the lives of children and families today. Each episode will aim to strengthen your understanding of the cultural challenges, namely division and doubt, we face while grounding our response in Catholic moral values and a unified vision of truth, faith, and formation.
We invite you to journey through Scripture with The Bible in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr. Mike Schmitz and brought to you by Ascension Press. In just 20–25 minutes a day, you’ll hear the entire Bible read and explained in the context of God’s loving plan for humanity.
Fr. Mike brings clarity, reflection, and pastoral insight, helping listeners make sense of salvation history and how it connects to our daily lives. Whether you’re new to Scripture or have read the Bible before, this podcast offers a powerful way to deepen your faith, grow in understanding, and build a solid spiritual foundation for you and your family.
As we face a culture filled with noise and confusion, The Bible in a Year invites us back to the voice of truth—God’s Word. We encourage you to listen, reflect, and allow Scripture to shape your heart and home this summer.
There's an idea about how children learn to read that's held sway in schools for more than a generation — even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago.
Introducing The Rosary in a Year
Welcome to The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR) from Ascension. In 365 days, Fr. Mark-Mary will take Catholics on a journey into deeper prayer and greater love for the Rosary. Form a lasting habit of prayer and enter more deeply into mediation on the lives of Jesus and Mary through the Rosary.
Read, Rest, Repeat: Growing Minds and Hearts This Summer
Combating the 'summer slide' and addictions to online interactive platforms begins with creating a culture of purposeful reading at home. Reading consistently over the summer helps children retain what they’ve learned, strengthen their vocabulary, and continue developing a love for stories, learning, and truth. It also provides a quiet space for reflection and can be a beautiful way to grow in faith.
Summer is an ideal time to slow down and savor books that both challenge and inspire. Help your child choose books that are engaging, age-appropriate, and filled with meaning—stories that reflect virtues such as kindness, courage, perseverance, and faith. Blending fun fiction with spiritual reading—such as Bible stories, saint biographies, or Catholic picture books—can make reading both enjoyable and formative.
Make reading part of the daily rhythm of summer life. Whether it’s curled up on the couch after lunch, under a tree in the afternoon, or together before bed, setting aside dedicated time to read sends the message that books matter. Having books easily accessible throughout the home makes it more likely that children will pick them up often.
Reading together is a powerful way to bond and model fluency and love for literature. Even older children benefit from being read to. Use these moments to spark conversations. Ask your child what they thought about a character’s choices, what lessons they noticed, or how the story reflects something God teaches us. Encourage simple reflection after reading. Children can draw a picture of what they read, write a sentence about the main idea, or reflect on a virtue they saw in the story. Keeping a journal or reading log can be a fun way to track progress and encourage thoughtful engagement.
Visiting the library regularly or taking part in a summer reading challenge can provide structure and motivation. For older students, reading books that explore identity, leadership, or faith-based themes can open the door to deeper discussions. Purposeful reading keeps minds active, hearts open, and spirits growing. It’s a quiet but powerful way to ensure that children return to school ready—not just academically, but also with a deeper sense of who they are becoming.
Building Character in Children Through Catholic Values
As we embrace the slower pace and joyful moments of summer, it's the perfect time to renew our commitment to the values that guide our Catholic way of life—faith, gratitude, service, and love.
Summer offers countless opportunities to grow in virtue as a family:
- Faith in the beauty of God's creation—take time to pray outdoors, attend Mass while traveling, or read Scripture together under the stars.
- Gratitude for the gift of rest and togetherness—cherish the simple blessings of shared meals, laughter, and quiet moments.
- Service in everyday ways—whether helping a neighbor, volunteering, or simply being patient and kind to one another.
- Love as our daily mission—living out the Gospel in how we speak, act, and treat others, even on the hottest or most hectic days.
Let’s continue to make this summer a season of purpose, filled not only with fun but with faith-filled living. May Christ’s light continue to shine in your homes and hearts throughout these warm and wonderful months.
Wishing you a blessed and joy-filled summer!
2025-2026 Interactive Online Platform Policy
To protect the healthy development of students, beginning Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Catholic School will prohibit the use of any interactive online platform that allows communication, engagement reward or motivation feedback loops for all enrolled students. Children are not equipped to navigate the risks these platforms pose, including addiction, harmful content, and social pressure. Rooted in our Catholic mission, this policy fosters virtue, authentic relationships, and spiritual growth by removing digital distractions that conflict with our values. It is a formative measure intended to support students' dignity, integrity, and overall well-being.
Read the Full Policy and Report of Findings
2025-2026 School Year
Lancer Athletics Announcements
Beginning of Year Lancer Athletics
Upcoming Lancer Athletic Events
Please note that not all events are listed. Click on the Calendar below for all upcoming events.
If you are interested in becoming a Lancer Athletics Sponsor providing addtional uniforms, warm-ups, etc. for our teams, please email Mr. McKee ([email protected]) for information on how you and/or your company can help.
Home & School Association
The Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac Home and School Association is an organization of parents who have chosen to participate more fully in the service of Saint Jeanne de Lestonnac School by organizing fundraising activities, and by providing funds that directly benefit the students, faculty, the general plant, and equipment. The Home & School Association is instrumental in achieving the undertakings of the school with the support of our friends, parents and the local community.
FlipGive
Online Shopping and Fundraising In One Convinient Place
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