Saint Raymond Catholic School

Book Club
All students are invited to participate in a monthly Book Club to share and discuss books appropriate to their grade levels and interests. Book Club is organized and implemented by parent volunteers. It is held one morning a month before school (7:20am). A parent leader will facilitate discussion of the book and assist students in participating in an activity or project related to the book. Students who have read the selected book (or have had the book read to them) are invited to the meetings.

California Jr. Scholastic Federation (CJSF)
The California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF) is a statewide organization of over 865 chapters. CJSF, an affiliate of the high school level California Scholarship Federation (CSF), was founded in 1967 for the purpose of fostering high standards of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and service in the middle school grades. CJSF emphasizes service to the school and community while creating pride in scholastic achievement.
At the end of each semester, 7th and 8th grade students are eligible to apply for CJSF, an honor club. Eligibility and requirements are available through the moderator. Students in CJSF plan and organize a service project that benefits Saint Raymond students.

Student Council
Student Council is open to students in grades 4 - 8. The Student Council provides an opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and promote school spirit. Students must maintain a C average academically and conduct and effort grades of 1 or 2 to be eligible to serve. Student Council Positions include:

President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Commissioner of Ecology,Sports, Safety, Commissioner of Religious Affairs, Commissioner of Publicity, Commissioner of School Spirit, and Class Representatives

Yearbook
Students in grade 7- 8 are eligible to serve on the Yearbook Committee. This committee, under the direct supervision of the yearbook moderator, is responsible for the creation of our annual yearbook. Students are involved in all facets, including layout design and graphics. Children also take photographs of school activities and learn to edit yearbook spreads.

School Newspaper
Students in grades 6 - 8 are the editorial leaders of our quarterly newspaper. Students at all grades levels are eligible to write articles for the student newspaper. Articles describe various activities occurring at each grade. The student editors are involved in layout, design, and feature writing. More information is available through the newspaper moderator.

Music
All children in grades K-8 are invited to participate in the Children's Choir offered through St. Raymond Parish. Choir practice is every Friday from 3:15pm - 3:45pm in the Music Room. The Children's Choir sings every Sunday at the 9:00am mass.

CYO Athletics
St. Raymond Parish offers CYO sports for both basketball and volleyball. All children are eligible to participate. Please check out the CYO website for more information http://www.straymondcyo.com/

JUMP
JUMP, a program sponsored by St. Raymond Parish Religious Education Department, stands for Junior High Youth Ministry Program. This is a program to engage our youth in their faith and create a desire within them to grow in their relationship with Christ. This ministry is all inclusive, open to all parishioners in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. JUMP meets once a month on a Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm. The morning begins with prayer and large group games, which are quickly followed by service projects such as house cleaning or doing yard work for elderly parishioners, cleaning the church, baking cookies for the homeless, visiting nursing homes and other local volunteer activities that arise. When the service projects are completed, lunch is served. The afternoon takes those in JUMP out for some fun, such as rock climbing, bowling, miniature golf or laser tag. By 4:30pm our youth are back at St. Raymond preparing for the 5:00pm Youth and Young Adult Mass. After Mass, there is pizza and soda for everyone in Moran Hall.

While most of those who participate in JUMP stay for the whole day, not everyone can. Some have sports or other commitments that take them away for part of the day. Some may leave early and some may arrive late, and others may be there in the morning, leave part of the day and then return. Whatever the schedule, our youth are encouraged to participate in JUMP as much as they can.

Christian Service Hours
Part of following in Jesus' path is giving unselfishly of our time. This act of giving needs to be modeled at a young age. When service is rendered by students thoughtfully and prayerfully they are learning to selflessly give of themselves, just as Jesus taught. The goal of Christian Service Hours is to teach our students honesty, caring, responsibility and commitment to others. Christian Service Hours are required for all students in grades 6-8. Students in the 6th grade must complete 10 Christian Service Hours per year, students in the 7th grade must complete 15 Christian Service Hours per year, and students in the 8th grade must complete 20 Christian Service Hours per year.

Safety Patrol
Safety Patrol is open to students in gades 5-8. Students must have parental permission before joining the patrol. The students are required to be at school at 7:45am (at least one day a week). The patrol oversees the safe arrival of all students to the morning assembly area.

Outreach Garden
Student may participate in the Outreach Garden project. Food grown in the garden is donated to the needy organizations in the Tri-Valley area.