As we all know, the auction that was scheduled on March 14 was cancelled due to the beginning spread of the coronavirus.  The committee has wonderful news for you...the auction has been RESCHEDULED!!

September 26, 5:00PM at The Osthoff Resort has been confirmed and is booked!  We are so excited to get back to normal and give all of you an opportunity to bless our school while in fellowship.  Because this seems SO far away (at the moment), and we thought it would be a great way to bring a little light and fun to our chaotic lives, the committee has decided to hold a Mini ONLINE Auction Event May 1 – May 3.  Registration is now open for both events.  Please pay careful attention to all of the details below:

For those of you that have ALREADY registered:

• You are still registered and have a seat at the event on 9/26.
• You are also automatically registered for the Mini Online Auction Event scheduled 5/1-5/3.
• If you purchased 2 tickets for you and your spouse and would like to have access for both bidders on your phones, we must have both cell phone numbers in the system.  Please send an email to Renee Mitchell rmitchell@sjlplymouth.com with the names and cell numbers for each ticket holder.  This is critical if you both want to bid.
• Late April you will receive and email to self-check in.  At this time please confirm your cell numbers and credit card information for check out. 
• Any questions, please call Sheila Kaufman (920)838-6016.

For those of you interested in registering for the September event, it is $50 per person:

• Registration is open.  Please click on the button below to register.  Once in the website, choose the Registration Tab and click on Regular Registration.
• Be sure to include emails and cell phone numbers for anyone that you are purchasing a ticket for if you both want to bid.
• You will automatically be registered for the Mini Online Auction Event scheduled 5/1-5/3.
• Late April you will receive and email to self-check in.  At this time, please confirm your cell numbers and credit card information for check out. 
• Any questions, please call Sheila Kaufman (920)838-6016.

For those of you that would like to participate in the Mini ONLINE Auction ONLY, it is $20 per bidder number:

• Registration is open.  Please click on the button below to register.  Once in the website, choose the Registration Tab and click on May Online Auction Registration.
• Be sure to include emails and cell phone numbers if you both want to bid.
• You will automatically be registered for the Mini Online Auction Event scheduled 5/1-5/3.
• Late April you will receive an email to self-check in.  At this time please confirm your cell numbers and credit card information for check out. 
• Any questions, please call Sheila Kaufman (920)838-6016.

• We will continue to reflect on the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and celebrate the new life we have through His resurrection.  We invite you to listen and participate in the amazing story of our crucified and risen King.
• Palm Sunday Service on Sunday April 5 at 9:00 AM. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week as we recall our Lord's triumphant entry into Jerusalem amidst the shouts of "Hosanna," as well as hearing once again of our Lord's suffering for our salvation.
• Maundy Thursday Service on Thursday April 9 at 6:00 PM. Maundy comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "commandment".  Our Lord Jesus gives a new commandment to "love one another even as I have loved you".  The greatness of His love is in sharp contrast to His disciples' betrayal and denial.  His selfless servanthood is demonstrated as He washes His disciples' feet and gives of Himself in Holy Communion.
• Good Friday Service on Friday April 10 at 6:00 PM.  Good Friday impresses upon the hearts and minds of believers the awful consequences of sin and the magnitude of our Savior's sacrifice.  As we recall our Lord's passion, suffering and death, we give thanks to God for reconciling the world to Himself through the death of His only Son.
• Easter Service on Sunday April 12 at 9:00 AM.  Easter brings joy and thanksgiving as we exclaim that "Christ Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!"  We celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and give thanks to the Lord who promises that because Jesus lives, we will live also!
• The Holy Week services will be broadcast via Facebook Live through St. John’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sjlplymouth or through the Church Website:  www.sjlplymouth.com

It's time for the Seroogy's Chocolate Sale!  From March 14-April 10 (please note:  deadline extended).  Chocolate eggs, bunnies and lambs will be available for purchase.  Orders can be placed and delivery determined (we can deliver/drop off at a convenient location for you) via email to meghan.fay24@gmail.com or (920) 946-9222.  Chocolate fudge eggs are $5.00 and chocolate bunnies or lambs are $4.00.  All purchases to benefit PTO school events. 

Meghan Fay and Kari Marquardt

Reminder - Easter Break is 

Friday, April 10 (Good Friday) and Monday, April 13 (Easter Monday).

School resumes on Tuesday, April 14.

We continue to have Kwik Trip stock at 10% until we are sold out.  It is on a first come, first serve basis.  Rebates for the 2020-2021 school year will close on May 5, 2020.  If you have any questions, please let us know.  Liza (229-4456) or Mary (207-4655), scripoffice@sjlplymouth.com.

       Me and My Guy Dance

     Young ladies are invited to attend the 6^th annual “Me and My Guy” dance.  The dance will be held on Saturday, March 28^th, 2020 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the St. John Lutheran School Gym.

     Music/DJ will be provided by Traveling T-Bird Productions from Oostburg.  Professional photos will be taken by Irish Studios of Sheboygan.  Refreshments will be available in the St. John School Cafeteria.

     The cost is $10.00 per family – payable at the door.  Girls are welcome to attend with dads, grandpas, uncles, cousins.  Dress in your Sunday best.

     If you have any questions, please email Nancy Lefeber @ nancy.lefeber@wi.rr.com.

Enrollment/Re-enrollment for returning families is now open.  Please complete the on-line re-enrollment process as described.  

Enrollment is now open for new 3K to 8th grade for next (2020-21) school year. 

Returning families using the online version, should only need to verify and update contact information (BE SURE TO CLICK RE-ENROLL AS A RETURNING FAMILY).  Logging on to Sycamore and completing from there should automatically fill in your user name/password (toward the bottom go to My School | Enrollment | On-line form).  If you have a new student to register within your family, you can do this during your re-enrollment process as well.  Paper forms are available by request only in the school office.  

To help our planning, we ask families to register by February 28. 

It always remains possible that a grade level can become full making wait lists necessary.  Please understand that in order to reserve a spot for your child in a particular class, proper registration information must be submitted AND the $100 registration fee must be paid in order to consider a spot reserved.

CLICK HERE or through the link on the homepage www.sjlseagles.com.

Tuition rates for the 2020-2021 school year have been set.  Rates are:

3K/TT -         Member = $1,100   Non-member = $1,100 

3K/MWF -    Member = $1,410   Non-member = $1,410

4K -               Member = $1,600   Non-member = $1,700

Grades K-8 - Member = $2,000   Non-member = $2,650

Any questions regarding tuition, please contact the school office. 

St. John Lutheran has applied to participate in the state-wide WI Parental Choice Program (WPCP) for 2020-2021.   

WHO should apply?  A family must have an income at or below 220% of the federal poverty limit and live in WI.

WHEN to apply?  Feb. 3 - April 16, 2020.  If applying before 2019 taxes are filed, 2018 income will be used.  CLICK HERE to apply.

HOW to apply?  Parents complete the online application each year and provide schools with proof of residency and, if using the DPI method, proof of income.  If they applied in 2019, they should log on using the same email address and password that they used last year.  Please also present a birth certificate for your child to the school office.  Copies are not needed and the original will be returned to you.

HOW to qualify?  Income eligibility for the WPCP is based on the parent’s prior year (2019) income.

      •   Dept. of Revenue method (DOR):  Schools enter the parent’s social security number into the online application system and perform the DOR check to import income data.  DOR will first check for prior year (2019) income information.  If 2019 information is not available, DOR will check records from 2018. 

• Dept of Public Instruction method:  If the family chooses to use the DPI method to verify income, they must provide proof of their 2019 income.

WPCP Program Brochure - CLICK HERE
WPCP Frequently Asked Questions - CLICK HERE

Family income includes the income of the child’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) that reside in the same household as the student applicant.
The following are NOT included in the family income calculation:

Family size includes parents/guardians and their children by birth, marriage or adoption that reside in the same household as the student applicant.  Foster children and children in the kinship care program are counted as a family of one (1) because they are still supported by the state or county.  Therefore, the income of parents/guardians is not counted when determining eligibility for the Choice program.  The parent/guardian should indicate that the pupil is in kinship care or foster care on the online parent application. 

220% of the Federal Poverty Level for 2020-21
Family Size Maximum Yearly Income*
1 $27,478
2 $37,202
3 $46,926
4 $56,650
5 $66,374
6 $76,098
For each additional member add $9,724

RESIDENCY VERIFICATION  All applicants must submit current residency documentation (within 90 days) directly to the school during the application period.  Acceptable proof of residency:

1. Wage statement or W2 year-end earnings statement that is in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application and dated within 3 months of when the application is received.
2. Water, gas, electric, cable, satellite, or landline phone bill in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application and dated within 3 months of when the application is received.  Cell phone bills are not acceptable.
3. Lease agreement with a term that includes the date the parent applies to the school that is in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application.  Expired leases are not acceptable. 
4. Governmental correspondence that is in the name of one of the parents/guardians at the address on the student application and dated within 3 months of when the application is received.  Examples include a property tax bill, Supplemental Security Income “SSI”, Wisconsin Works “W2” Cash Benefits, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families “TANF,” Food Share “Food Stamps,” or Housing Assistance letter with the address listed and the name of the parent/guardian.  Printed statements from Access.gov can be used as residency support if the statement includes a date that is within 3 months of when the application is received. 

SECURITY E-MAIL VERIFICATION  A security feature will be included in the online parent application to help ensure application related emails are sent to a parent’s correct email address.  This feature will send an email to the parent’s email account after the parent logs into the online parent application and will ask the parent to verify the email address.

1. The parent or guardian logs into the online parent application.
2. Once logged in, the application will take the parent to an instruction page on how to verify the email address. The parent’s instructions read as follows:

1. You need to verify your email address for the Private School Choice Program Online Application.
2. Go to the inbox for your email account for:  “email address@email.com”
3. Click the "Confirm Email Address" link in the email to confirm your email address.

3. Once the parent clicks the “Confirm Email Address” link in the email, the link will take the parent to the email verification confirmation page where it notifies the parent that their email address has been verified.
4. On the email verification confirmation page, the parent will be instructed to click on a link to return to the online parent application log-in page where the parent will need to enter his or her email and password to continue the application process.

1. Parent does not receive verification email:  Please note that it may take 5 minutes to 24 hours for the email to arrive.  The parent should check his or her spam or junk folders for an email from PrivateSchoolChoice@dpi.wi.gov with a subject of "Verify your School Choice Program Email Address".
2. Parent must have a valid email:  If the parent does not have a valid email, the parent will need to create an email using any email provider (such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook.com).
3. Parent does not remember the password to their email account:  The parent must use the email provider password recovery service or create a new email address to use in the online parent application.
4. Email address is incorrect or the parent no longer has access to the email account:  The parent must create a new Choice application account using a new email address.  The only impact that the parent will have when using a new email address is that the parent will need to re-enter data.  The system remembers and recognizes continuing students by their first and last names with date of birth.
5. Need a new verification email sent:  If a parent has not verified his or her email address, the parent may go to the login page for the online parent application and enter their email and password again and a new verification email will be generated. 

Remember, tuition payments made before December 31 can be used for the State of Wisconsin tuition tax deduction for private school families on your 2019 income tax return.

If you need a receipt for 2019, please contact Mrs. Adams @ dadams@sjlplymouth.com and one will be sent to you.

2019 Private School Tuition Tax Deduction

The State of Wisconsin, (started in 2014 tax year), is going to allow parents to deduct private school tuition.  Parent of private school students in Wisconsin could receive an income tax deduction of up to $4,000 for tuition paid for each kindergarten through eighth grade student and up to $10,000 per high school student.  Only the amount paid after January 1, 2019, will qualify for the deduction.  We highly recommend that families work with their tax advisor to determine benefits.

How can parents claim the deduction?  There is a separate schedule that needs to be filled out by the student's parents.  This schedule can be obtained by from the Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue website.

How will tuition be defined?  Tuition includes any amount paid by the claimant for a pupil's tuition to attend an eligible institution and mandatory book fees paid to the institution.

Tuition does not include amounts paid with a voucher or any amounts paid as a separate charge for items such as:  supplies, rentals of equipment, meals, transportation, personal use items such as uniforms or gym clothes, before or after school child care, extracurricular activities such as musical or athletic activity fees.

How is tuition defined for students attending 8th and 9th grade in a single tax year?  For both an elementary pupil and a secondary pupil (grades 8 and 9), parent includes the amount paid for tuition during the taxable year for the period when the student was an elementary pupil (but not more than $4,000) plus the amount the parent paid for the period when the student was a secondary pupil.  If the total is more than $10,000, the parent includes the maximum $10,000.