Win Fasano Pies for a Year!

Everyone who read this blog's recent post about the triumphant return of the Fasano Pie Company and then ordered pies---or who will order pies this week---from the upcoming "pie party" at here St. Joseph School are automatically entered in a drawing to win free Fasano Pies for all of 2012.

A freshly-baked Fasano apple pie...

"In addition to the four different pies available at the St. Joe's event, we will be rolling out some great old favorites and some new, delicious pies in 2012," said Fasano Pie Company CEO Peter Fasano. "The winner of the drawing will have an excellent opportunity to try all these pies, at no charge."

Drawing will be held on or about December 18. Winner will be notified by phone or email. All those who pre-order and pre-pay for pies for the Fasano Pie Party at St. Joseph School are automatically entered. Winner will receive one full-size, freshly baked Fasano pie a month for all of 2012.

(Those not purchasing pies but who want to enter the drawing should print their name, mailing address, email address and phone number on a 3 x 5 index card and mail it to St. Joseph School/Fasano Pie Drawing, 5641 South 73rd Avenue, Summit, Illinois 60501, postmarked no later than Friday, December 9th.) 

The pie party is set for Sunday, December 18, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the school, 5641 S. 73rd Ave., Summit (a block west of 57th and Harlem). Pies must be pre-ordered and pre-paid by noon Sunday, December 11----either by dropping off an order at the school or (on Saturday and Sunday) in the lobby at St. Joseph Church, 7240 W. 57th St.

Full-size apple, cherry, blueberry and pumpkin pies are available. A portion of all sales will donated to St. Joseph School, which has provided a Catholic elementary education to boys and girls in Garfield Ridge, Summit and other communities for nearly a century.

"'Pies by Fasano' is as familiar a Chicago name as Riverview or Bozo's Circus or Frangos," added Tim Hadac, St. Joseph School Director of Development, Alumni Relations and New Media. "These pies are sure to be the hit of your holiday table and make great gifts for family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, teachers----anyone you want to thank at Christmastime."

Fasano Pie Company CEO Peter Fasano

Fasano said that he is using the event at St. Joseph as a test of demand in the area; and if he sells out of pies that day, he will offer Fasano Pie Party partnerships to other schools and churches in the area.

Pre-sales will occur on a first come, first served basis. For full details on the Fasano Pie Party, go online to stjosephschoolonline.blogspot.com.


Questions? Call 773-203-5759.

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Fasano Pie Party!

After a 25-year absence, one of Chicago's all-time favorite desserts is about to return to tables across the metro area---and one of the very first places you can get yours is right here at St. Joseph School, 5641 South 73rd Avenue, Summit (just a block west of 57th and Harlem).

The famous "Pies by Fasano" pie tin. A Chicago collectible!

The Fasano Pie Company will deliver absolutely delicious apple, cherry, blueberry and pumpkin pies to a Fasano Pie Party set for 3:00 to 4:00 PM Sunday, December 18 in St. Joe's Centennial Hall (school hall).

Pies by Fasano ("As Good As Mother's and Better Than Others") is as familiar a Chicago name as Riverview or Bozo's Circus. Many thousands of Chicago-area moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas remember these mouth-watering pies fresh and warm from the Fasano bakery and outlet store on 65th Street---as well as from grocery stores and restaurants across the Chicago area. Many people still have the memorable Fasano pie tins as collectibles.

Company CEO Peter Fasano (son of the legendary Joseph "Joe Pies" Fasano) has pledged that a portion of all sales will be donated to St. Joseph School, which has provided a Catholic elementary education to boys and girls in Garfield Ridge, Summit and other communities for nearly a century.

"I'm a product of Catholic schools myself, and I know that schools and churches can always use a good fundraiser," Fasano says.

Fasano says that he is using the event at St. Joseph as a test of demand in the area; and if he sells out of pies that day, he will offer Fasano Pie Party partnerships to other schools and churches in the area.

The new, colorful Pies by Fasano delivery truck...

"The Fasano Pie Party on December 18 will benefit St. Joe's; but this is the time for all our friends in neighboring parishes---St. Dan's, St. Jane's, St. Rene, St. Symphorosa, St. Camillus, St. Blase and so forth---to step forward, buy a couple of absolutely delicious pies and secure your chance to host a fun and easy fundrasier for your school or church," adds Tim Hadac, St. Joseph School Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

The freshly-baked apple, cherry, blueberry and pumpkin pies, full-size and bursting with flavor, are quite possibly the most delicious pies you will ever taste.

Only 500 pies will be sold for the December 18 event, and pies must be purchased in advance. Deadline to purchase pies is 2:00 PM Friday, December 9---although the pies are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out before the 9th. So order yours today!

Here's how to order:

1. On a sheet of paper, print your name, mailing address, phone number and email address---as well as how many pies you want and what kind (apple, cherry, blueberry or pumpkin).

2. Write a check, payable to St. Joseph School, for the total amount of your order ($16 per pie).

A freshly-baked Fasano apple pie...

3. Put the sheet of paper and your check in an envelope and bring it (or mail it) to St. Joseph School/Fasano Pie Party, 5641 S. 73rd Ave., Summit, IL 60501.

4. Then come to the Fasano Pie Party at 3:00 PM Sunday, December 18, pick up your pies and share a few warm memories of yesteryear. (Additionally, Peter Fasano may be bringing a limited number of freshly-baked fruit tarts to sell at the event; and St. Joe's will be selling coffee, tea, cocoa, milk and juice for those who want to sit down, relax and eat a tart.)

Questions? Call 773-203-5759.

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Beth Lewis Shines in "Music Man" at Argo

By Tim Hadac, SJS Director of Development, Alumni Relations
and New Media

Beth Lewis dancing on the Argo stage.

You may recall the St. Joseph School Blog post from September 9, in which Mr. Manetti announced the good news that SJS alumna Beth Lewis (Class of 2008) was cast in the role of Marian Paroo in Argo Community High School’s fall production of “The Music Man.”

Well, the show wrapped up its run tonight----and by all accounts, Beth gave an outstanding performance. Not surprising, really---Beth is a talented actress, musician, vocalist and composer. But great news nonetheless!

Beth is the daughter of Ms. Kim Lewis, the longtime director of the St. Joseph School Clubhouse.

Congratulations, Beth!

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Gingerbread House Family Fun

By Tim Hadac, SJS Director of Development, Alumni Relations and New Media

A “build your own gingerbread house” event is set for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 3 right here at St. Joseph School.

Everything needed to build a festive-looking gingerbread house (a sturdy base, gingerbread panels, icing, gumdrops and many other colorful candies, and a secure box to carry it home) is included.

Price is $35 per gingerbread house (two builders), with a $3 additional charge for each additional person working on that house. For example, a mother and two children building one house would pay a total of $38.

This is real family-fun event that helps get people in the Christmas spirit. While it is one of our newer annual events---it launched less than a decade ago---it has established itself as a holiday tradition at St. Joe’s---so we encourage everyone to reserve their gingerbread house kit as soon as possible.

Festive Christmas music will fill the air at the event, and light refreshments will be sold.
Additionally, our school's Chess Club will be on hand to wrap your Christmas presents for a modest fee. So please remember to bring your unwrapped gifts with you!

All proceeds from the event will be donated to St. Joseph School. Deadline to purchase your gingerbread house is Wednesday, November 23. Simply bring your check to the school office. For more information, call the school at (708) 458-2927.

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Fourth Graders Reap Educational Harvest

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

Living in one of the nation's largest metropolitan areas, it is easy to forget about our important connection to America's farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers.

Our fourth graders know the connection, thanks to the efforts of their teacher, Debbie Seidler, and the staff at the Cook County Farm Bureau.

Several weeks ago, the fourth grade class had an  in-class "field trip" presented by the Bureau.

Due to our early sign up, we were entered into a drawing that the Cook County Farm Bureau was holding. As luck would have it, the class won a "barn box" of such classroom goodies as lesson plans and many hands-on activities for the class.
Pictured (left to right) are Adam Kus, Aidan Patino, Mrs. Seidler, Cassi Dudlo and Crysalis Ruiz. The materials, part of the national "Agriculture in the Classroom" program, will aid city and suburban students at the school in learning about the vital role that agriculture plays throughout eveyday life. For more information about the Bureau, visit www.cookcfb.org.

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Garage Sale, By and For Kids!

By Tim Hadac, SJS Director of Development, Alumni Relations and New Media

The boys and girls of St. Joseph School will be hosting a unique “garage sale” from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 16 in Centennial Hall, 5641 South 73rd Avenue, Summit.


Our students will be selling a number of interesting items, including gently-used toys, children’s books and clothes.

Admission is free, and a delicious assortment of refreshments will be available.

This event is a great opportunity for all friends of the school to pick up some bargains and have some fun with family, friends and neighbors.

Please join us, won’t you?

~ ~ ~

Potbelly Fundraiser---Delicious and Fun

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

I want to thank everyone from the dozens of St. Joseph School families---as well as our friends in the Ladies of the Rosary---for supporting our recent dinner-time fundraiser at the Potbelly Sandwich Works at 57th and Harlem.

As you can see from the photos, it was a fun and delicious way to raise funds for our school.

I also want to thank Mrs. Barbara Hughes and the SJS Parent Club for organizing the event, as well as to the staff at Potbelly for their hospitality.

While final figures are not in, this fundraiser will doubtless raise several hundred dollars, as Potbelly is generously donating 25 percent of their receipts from those three hours.

Additionally, now to October 31, the Potbelly at 57th and Harlem will be selling special St. Joseph School shakes (chocolate banana is the flavor). For each shake purchased at that location, Potbelly will donate 50 cents to our school. So please stop in, won't you?

If you are out of state or otherwise not able to stop in at Potbelly but want to help our boys and girls, your donation is always welcome. Please make your check payable to St. Joseph School and mail it to us at 5641 S. 73rd Ave., Summit, IL 60501.

Have a great week.

Simple Steps to Prevent the Flu

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

Several weeks ago I wrote about the importance of teaching good health habits to children, as a way to prevent the spread of germs.

Today I want to encourage all St. Joseph School parents to consider getting a flu shot---both for yourselves and your children. My encouragement is based upon and echoes the most current, published advice of local, state and federal public health authorities.

All parents are familiar with the many vaccinations children receive in their earliest years. These life-saving vaccinations protect children from a number of potentially dangerous and even deadly diseases, like measles, mumps, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria, hepatitis and more.

But many of us think of flu shots as something just for senior citizens. Over the years, most of us have seen television news reports of elderly men and women getting flu shots.

A couple of years ago, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expanded its flu-shot recommendations to include all people over age six months. For full details, visit the CDC’s website:

http://cdc.gov/Features/FLU/

The best place to get a flu shot is from your own family doctor, and please consult your doctor before getting vaccinated. But keep in mind that flu shots are more widely available today than ever, including at many pharmacies and local public health departments. Flu vaccinations are even available in a nasal spray form, for those of us who don’t like needles.

Remember, by getting a flu shot, you are protecting yourself from influenza, which is a potentially dangerous and even deadly lung disease. Additionally, once vaccinated, your immunity to the flu will indirectly help protect your child’s classmates from spread of flu viruses---just as their immunity (if they have been vaccinated) helps protect you and your child.

So this fall, let’s all take simple steps to protect ourselves and each other.

Have a great week...

Great news about one of our graduates

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

I always enjoy sharing good news about the achievements of St. Joseph School alumni.

Today I am proud to let everyone know that Beth Lewis of the Class of 2008 has been cast in the role of Marian Paroo in Argo Community High School’s fall production of “The Music Man.”

A talented actress, musician, vocalist and composer---as well as a top student---Beth is the daughter of Ms. Kim Lewis, the longtime director of the St. Joseph School Clubhouse.

In her role, Beth will be singing “Till There Was You,” one of the most popular songs of the American stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLDsLeVxOaU&feature=related

Congratulations, Beth!

Join us for Oktoberfest this Saturday!

By Tim Hadac, SJS Director of Development, Alumni Relations and New Media

All St. Joseph School families, as well as parishioners, alumni and alumni parents, and all our friends are invited to attend our Oktoberfest celebration, set for 3:00 to 10:00 p.m. this Saturday, September 10 right here on our school's small parking lot.


If the weather does not cooperate, the event will be held in the school. So either way, we will have a fun and festive celebration for everyone.

Please bring a hearty appetite, because we will be serving grilled bratwurst, chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, sauerkraut, German-style potato salad, beer, wine, soft drinks and water.

Dinner tickets are $10 each at the event, $7 if you purchase them in advance from the school.

In addition to great food and drink, Oktoberfest will feature lively entertainment. From 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Casey Homel & the World's Honkiest Polka Band---a perennial favorite and crowd pleaser at St. Joe's---will perform.

To hear a preview of the band, check out their many videos posted on YouTube, like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rz_DPHZPvI&feature=related

Then from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m., a disc jockey will be on hand to play a wide variety of popular music.

Oktoberfest is sure to be a great time for everyone---but it also is an important fundraiser that helps enable St. Joseph School to continue to provide an excellent elementary education for our boys and girls. So make plans to join us, and please bring your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers---everyone who enjoys an afternoon and evening of family fun.

Additionally, please help us spread the word about Oktoberfest far and wide, especially to our alumni and alumni parents. This is a great opportunity to share a laugh over old memories, re-kindle old friendships and make new ones.

See you there?

Flying the flag at St. Joseph School

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

As you use the front entrance of St. Joseph Church, at the corner of 57^th Street and Father Fuerst Drive (72^nd Court), you will see 50 American flags flying on the front lawn.

Placed there shortly after noon today by St. Joseph School fifth graders, the flags are an annual Labor Day reminder for all of us to remember, honor and celebrate the struggles, sacrifices and achievements of America’s working men and women.

This year, the flags will serve a dual purpose, as they will remain in place for the 10^th anniversary commemoration of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

In addition to thanking our fifth graders and their teacher, Mrs. Nieminski, for their role in this modest but important display, I want to express my gratitude to longtime St. Joseph parishioner and St. Joseph School alumni mother Mrs. Margaret “Peggy” Feltz---who along with her husband, the late Donald W. Feltz Sr.---started this tradition several years ago. Mrs. Feltz still leads the placing of the flags every Memorial Day and Labor Day. In fact, the photos I have posted here were taken by her today.

Further, I want to thank Mr. Joe Niego and everyone at Niego Real Estate, 6625 West Archer Avenue, for their ongoing kindness and generosity in donating the flags.

May the flags continue to serve as a reminder to us all that freedom is not free, and liberty must never be taken for granted.

Have a great weekend…

"Sharing" and children's health

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

Teaching children to share is one of the most important things that parents and teachers can do.

Yet there are times when we much teach youngsters not to share.

Of course, I am talking about the times when sharing can lead to spread of disease among children and others.

Let’s all teach our children:

** do not share hats, caps, headbands or anything else that touches your hair. Sharing such items can lead to the spread of head lice from child to child.

** do not share anything that has already been in or on someone else’s mouth: a can of soda, a sports drink bottle, food, drinking straws, lip balm or lipstick, and so forth. Certain types of bacteria are spread by shared saliva, including some types of bacteria that can cause illnesses like meningitis.

** do not share towels or anything that may have come into contact with another person’s open cut or sore. Certain types of bacteria can be transmitted this way, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph bacteria that is resistant to certain antibiotics and can in some cases be dangerous.

Additionally, we must teach youngsters not to “share” coughs or sneezes. Cover your cough, cover your sneeze, use facial tissues and discard them promptly, and wash hands regularly with soap and water. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available.

Finally, the best way to teach these lessons is to lead by example. When children see adults with healthy habits, they understand that we mean what we say about good hygiene.

For more information, here is a link to a helpful page on hand washing, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/

Have a great day…

Join us at the Gran Kermes Festival!

By Tim Hadac, SJS  Director of Development, Alumni Relations and New Media

All St. Joseph School families, as well as parishioners, alumni and alumni parents, and all our friends are invited to attend the Gran Kermes Benefit Festival, set for 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. this Saturday, September 3 right here on the parish parking lot.

Led by the parish's Hispanic Ministry team, the event will feature family-friendly live entertainment---music, singing, dancing, a puppet show, and more.

Additionally, there will be a food fiesta featuring tamales, tostadas, enchiladas, flautas, gorditas, horchata, snow cones/rasapadas, and more.

Raffle tickets will be on sale for five dollars apiece, with prizes including a flat-screen TV, gift baskets and more.

Admission is free, and proceeds from food and raffle ticket sales will benefit the parish.

For full details go online to http://kermesfestival.homestead.com/

See you there...

Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

Decades ago, the term "kindergarten readiness" meant little more than parents making sure their five-year-old sons and daughters were equipped with an ample supply of pencils, crayons, paper and folders.

In recent years, with advances in our understanding of early child development, "kindergarten readiness" has become a much more complex term encompassing whether or not a young child has reached certain levels of social and emotional development, cognition and general knowledge, language development, and physical well-being and motor development.

Understandably, the "Is my child ready for kindergarten?" question---along with the "Should I delay my child's entry into kindergarten to give him/her an extra year in preschool to develop?"----is one that mothers and fathers ask more frequently than ever.

While there certainly is no "one size fits all" kindergarten readiness checklist, I found an interesting one online recently:

http://school.familyeducation.com/kindergarten/school-readiness/38491.html

(One note about the checklist, relating to the "If your child has acquired most of the skills on this checklist and will be at least four years old at the start of the summer before he or she starts kindergarten" sentence: The school code in Illinois states that a child entering kindergarten needs to be five years old by September 1st.)

One thing all parents should remember is not to keep your concerns to yourself. Share your concerns openly and honestly with your child's teacher. Work together with your child's teacher to monitor your child's progress and determine the best course of action.

As a parent, you want the very best for your child, and you prove it every day by giving your best efforts. At St. Joseph School, we share your goals and will work with you as partners in your child's education.

Have a great day...

Back-to-School Cheer and Optimism

By Lawrence Manetti, St. Joseph School Principal

Well, the optimism of a new school year is upon us.

Yesterday we gave a cheerful "Welcome back!" to our students in grades 1-8. It was great to see so many familiar faces (and a few new ones).

This is my 33rd year as a school principal and my 15th year as St. Joseph School principal; and I still find the first day of school as exciting as ever.

Today, we welcome our preschoolers and kindergarteners. Connected to that, our Parent Club will be hosting its "Boo-Hoo Breakfast" for parents of preschoolers and kindergarteners. This is a nice little "getting to know you" event designed to build camaraderie among our parents, encourage them to join and be active in the Parent Club, answer any questions they may have about the school, and help make their children's transition from home to school smooth and enjoyable.

Please keep in mind that we are still accepting students in all grades for the 2011-12 school year. This is especially important information for parents who may have registered their children elsewhere but found that the school was---for whatever reason---not as good a fit as they had hoped.

If you know any parents who fit that description, please spread the good news about St. Joseph School and encourage them to call me directly at (708) 458-2927. I will personally answer any questions they may have, and I will help walk them through the registration process.

Have a great day...

Greetings From Principal Lawrence Manetti

Welcome to the first-ever, official blog of St. Joseph School.

For those unfamiliar with us, we are located at 5641 South 73rd Avenue in Summit, Illinois. For nearly a century we have provided an excellent Catholic elementary education to boys and girls in St. Joseph Parish (which includes the northern half of Summit plus the westernmost section of Chicago's Garfield Ridge neighborhood), as well as boys and girls in nearby suburban communities like Bedford Park, Bridgeview, Justice, Willow Springs, Forest View, Stickney, Lyons and McCook, among others.

This blog is the first of several Internet-based communications tools we plan to launch and utilize in the 2011-12 school year.

This blog is primarily designed to:

** ...provide up-to-date news and other information for St. Joseph School parents and students, faculty and staff, parishioners, alumni and everyone in our school community.

** ...publicly thank individual members of our local business and professional community for the many ways they support St. Joseph School.

** ...encourage our alumni---graduates, as well as alumni parents---to share positive memories of yesteryear, and encourage all alumni to re-connect with St. Joseph School and give a helping hand to today's boys and girls.

** ...occasionally raise and discuss larger issues associated with Catholic education, to promote better and stronger Catholic education at all levels.

On a day-to-day basis, this blog will be administered---under my supervision and authority---by Tim Hadac, St. Joseph School's Director of Development, Alumni Relations and New Media. Mr. Hadac, a father of two St. Joseph School graduates and a past president of our School Board, is also a longtime journalist and public relations professional.

We welcome your feedback and encourage you to check back here frequently...