Parent Letter 11/13/20

Dear Parents,

Greetings from St. Joseph's School!  This past week, school families and staff received letters sharing information regarding lab confirmed positive COVID diagnosis.  These correspondences were sent to families to provide clear communication as we follow the guidance of MDH in these situations.

As you know, for weeks this summer, our school and parish communities worked to craft a reopening plan that placed students and staff safely in our school building for in person learning and set things up for students to learn remotely.  Due to the commitment and diligence of our school community following the health and safety guidelines, protocols, and procedures within the plan, we have been in school for fifty-one days (11 weeks).  Thank you!

Currently, confirmed cases of COVID are dramatically increasing within Dakota County, the state, and the nation.  Through various forms of media, we are hearing of this and being given reasons why this may be happening.  We need to continue to pray for everyone affected by this virus.

At this time, I want to share with you my and our school’s commitment to provide for a safe, healthy, and positive learning environment for our students and staff.  For the families who have chosen in person learning, I want to continue to have your children come to school each day.  I know, because I/we have heard from many of our families, that this is also what they want - our school to remain open.

To continue to achieve this, I/we need your help.  Please continue to follow the guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control, the MN Department of Health, and our school.  We ask you to be prudent with the decisions you make as a family because those decisions can directly affect our school and our school community.

As a reminder, the most common symptoms of COVID-19 infection are cough, fever, and/or shortness of breath.  Symptoms usually develop between 2-14 days after exposure.  You may find out more about COVID-19 from the Minnesota Department of Health.  It is very important to continue to monitor your children for any signs of illness, keep them home if they are sick, and contact the school office..

Please continue to talk with your child(children) about the importance of wearing face coverings, washing hands thoroughly with soap, covering coughs and sneezes, and remaining physically distanced while at school.  You may contact our School Office, 651-457-8550, or our school Nurse, Amy Milosch ammilosch@stjosephwsp.org if you have any questions or concerns.

All School Raffle'
This week, the sale of tickets for our all school Raffle closed.  I would like to thank our students and families for selling tickets and supporting this important fundraising event for our school.  You will recall, our school has secured donations of a brand-new 2020 Ford Escape, tickets for a pilgrimage for two people through Mater Dei Tours, and $1,000 “Christmas Cash”.  Tickets will be drawn and the lucky winners announced at our school’s Gala on Saturday, December 5. 

Currently, we are finalizing the number of tickets sold and the amount of money raised for our school through the raffle.   

One of the goals for the raffle is to have 100% of our students and families participate in selling/purchasing tickets.  Any student or family who at this time has not sold or purchased tickets are asked to do so over the weekend.  Any student or family with ticket stubs and money to return to school should do this on Monday. 

As previously announced, the raffle will include special incentives and exciting contests for our students as they sell their raffle tickets.  The winners will be announced next week.  In addition, if the school reaches its goal of $75,000, Fr. Wratkowski and Mr. Wesely will be racing to the finish line on mini bikes.  

One hundred percent (100%) of the proceeds from the Raffle will be used to support St. Joseph's School’s commitment to provide affordable, quality Catholic education to all families and by financially assisting with the numerous investments the school has made to be open during the COVID pandemic.  Your support through the raffle will assist our school in covering some of these expenses.

St. Joseph’s School Gala:  Donations Needed
Our school needs your help to make this year's St. Joe's Gala Silent Auction the best one yet!  We are looking for items to be donated to the auction.  Thank you in advance for your generosity.

To make it easy, we have created a Sign Up Genius where you can sign up to donate an item. Donations are not limited to just within our community- if you know someone who has a business or item you think they would be willing to share, please forward this link to them!  Our auction is one of the best ways to support our school and we appreciate all the help to make our auction a huge success! Click here to sign up to donate!  If you have any questions please contact Bria Hammel, briahammel@gmail.com

The St. Joseph's Gala, our school’s largest annual fundraising event during the year, will be a virtual event held on December 5, 2020.  It's an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate Catholic education and the legacy of our school as well as raise funds for carrying out the mission of our school; educating students through faith formation and academic excellence.  Please start making your plans to attend and participate in the Gala.  If you are interested in sponsoring this event or know of businesses that might be interested, please email rachael.amarante@gmail.com

St. Joseph’s 2020 Christmas Ornament 
Order your St. Joseph's 2020 Christmas Ornament today! Limited supply, click here to order. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 27th or while supplies last.

Ornaments will be available for pick-up at the church or will be sent home with students during the second week of December. All proceeds from ornament sales will go to support the St. Joseph's School Gala.  If you have any questions about your order, please contact Betsy Joyce at betsybjoyce@gmail.com

Lunch Menu Update
Please note that the Tuesday, November 17th hot lunch item will be Chicken Fries.  

School Mass - Note change
At this time, a change regarding our school Masses is being implemented immediately.  Our students and faculty will view the Mass via live stream in their classrooms.  They will not be attending Mass in person in the church.  The Mass is live streamed on the Church of St. Joseph website.  Fr. Creagan and Fr. Wratkowski will visit our grade 3-8 classrooms to distribute Holy Communion to our students and faculty after Mass.  Parents and families may continue to view the Mass on the Church of St. Joseph website; www.churchofstjoseph.org. I hope you are able to join us.  It is a blessing to be able to pray and worship as a school community and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.  

First Reconciliation Parent/Child Meditation Night
The Church of St. Joseph First Reconciliation Parent/Child Meditation Night will be held this coming Tuesday, November 17.  The meeting will be in the Church from 6:30-7:30 PM.  In following the safety protocols for COVID-19, you will be asked to wear a mask for the duration of the meeting, the church space will be properly sanitized prior to our use, and the seating is already set up for adequate social distancing. If you have concerns or are not comfortable attending in person, please contact Chris Stokman, Church of St. Joseph Catechesis and Faith Formation Director.  She will provide you with the information and the necessary resources for you to do this "meditation" together with your child.  

Believe and Read (Groves) Virtual Kindergarten Preview
St. Joseph’s School is one of 33 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese using the Believe and Read literacy program.  The program is being implemented in our kindergarten, first, and second grade classrooms.  I encourage school families to attend the Catholic School Center of Excellence’s (CSCOE) Believe and Read Virtual Kindergarten Preview on Tuesday, November 17  beginning at 8:00 p.m.  Families may register at: rebrand.ly/BRKPreview or join live on Facebook: @CSCOE.

Preschool News
We look forward to welcoming our youngest Jaguars back into the school on Monday, November 16th!  Our Preschool 4’s and 4 /5’s will return to school on Monday and our Preschool 3’s will return on Tuesday.  Welcome Back Preschoolers!

Thanksgiving Food Drive  “Do a good deed; help a neighbor in need!”
St. Joseph’s eighth grade class is sponsoring a canned goods / non perishable food collection to support the work of Neighbors, Inc.  Our collection will be Monday, November 16 - Friday, November 20.   Please consider helping people in need of food in our area by donating food items during the collection.  Thank you for your generosity.  Middle School students will be out collecting during morning drop off.  Please help us to surpass our total collected food last year of over 1,000 lbs! 

Picture Retake Day
Picture Retake Day is on Monday, November 23.  All students may be out of uniform on this day.  If you would like to have your child’s picture retaken, please send back the original pack of school pictures on November 23rd with your child.  

The Weather is Changing…...AGAIN!
As the fall weather continues to change (colder, warmer,, colder, warmer) it is a good time to start sending your children to school with warmer coats and jackets.  In addition, students should bring / wear long sleeves, sweaters, sweatshirts, or three quarter zip pullovers to be comfortable in their classrooms.  Please remember that when there is snow on the ground and colder temperatures, please send your child to school with their “snow gear” allowing them to play in the snow while on the playground during recess.  Please remember to label all of your child’s clothing so that it can be returned to them in the event that it is misplaced or lost while at school. 

Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Pre-Order - Jameson’s Irish Bar (Formally Cherokee Tavern)

Thanksgiving 2020 Curbside and pick-up:  Please let them know you are there for the St. Joseph’s School Fundraiser and 15% of the proceeds will go to our school!

2 people $60 4 people $115

Everything packaged oven ready with instructions, Pick-up is Wednesday November 25 from 1-7pm

Email order to sales@briecater.com or call the owner Brian Rubenzer 651-755-4798 and we will process payment and schedule a pick-up time that works for you

Parent Letters / Attendance Communication
All non-emergency communications will come home on Fridays in this parent letter.  Parent letters will only be sent out by email every Friday (or the last day of the school week.)  Friday Letters may be found on the school website, www.stjosephwsp.org.  

Our Attendance Hotline is 651-457-3031.  If your child is going to be absent or late due to a morning appointment, please leave a message on the “Hotline”. 

Mission

“St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence,

and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.”

For Your Information
St. Joseph’s School is an important ministry of the Church of St. Joseph.  Some of our school families are not members of the parish.  In our efforts to serve all school families, our Friday Letter may at times include information about activities and events that are taking place at the Church of St. Joseph.

The Catholic Spirit - please see this special article
Did you know that Father Creagan, our pastor, is a major and the only Catholic chaplain in the Minnesota Army National Guard.  Please take a moment to read this special article in the Catholic Spirit, the Archdiocesan newspaper.  Veteran’s Day is Wednesday, November 11.  Please continue to pray for Fr. Creagan and his ministry as chaplain as well as all men and women in the military. 

Please click here to view our St. Joseph’s Church weekly bulletin.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, Nov. 16 - Friday Nov. 20 - Food Drive
• Friday, Nov. 20 - Mass 9am and 10:00am
• Monday, Nov. 23 - Picture Retake Day - Out of Uniform
• Tuesday, Nov. 24 - End of Trimester 1
• Wednesday, Nov. 25 - Friday Nov. 27 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
• Sunday, Nov. 29- First Sunday of Advent
• Monday, Nov. 30- Beginning of Trimester 2