Parent Letter 11/16/18

Dear Parents,      
                                                                                                                     
Greetings from St. Joseph’s School!  We had another wonderful week at school.  A very successful Give to the Max Day, a Food Collection for Neighbors, Inc., the school Thanksgiving Mass involving our Middle School Choir and Band, and our Open House brought a tremendous amount of energy and spirit into our school.  Please continue to review this Friday Letter, check your child’s Family Folder, and our school website to keep updated on all the happenings at St. Joseph’s School. 
 
MN Give to the Max Day – THANK YOU!
The faculty and I are overwhelmed with gratitude!  Yesterday, was an incredible day for our school and community.  We are so thankful for your generosity and the support you provided to our school during Give to the Max Day.  Together, over $75,000 was donated to St. Joseph's School.  Twenty families combined efforts to challenge us with a  $25,000 match.  One hundred thirty donors helped us to meet, and exceed that challenge by giving over  $30,000 online or by check to our church and school offices.  And at the end of the day, a very generous supporter of the school presented us with an additional  $20,000.  
 
We are humbled by the generosity of so many in our community who continue to support our school.  Every gift is important and directly helps us continue our mission of educating students through faith formation, academic excellence and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.

May God continue to bless you, your families, our school alumni, and the benefactors.  Please check our school Facebook page for a special MN Give to the Max “Thank You!” video.

Fall Open House
St. Joseph’s School hosted a Fall Open House today.  Families had the opportunity to tour the school, visit classrooms, and meet school staff.  We appreciate everyone who came to visit the school including 15 new families.  Our students and staff did an outstanding job welcoming the families and sharing the learning and excitement taking place in our school.  We thank Christy Frost, Enrollment Coordinator for organizing the event and members of our School Advisory Council for being present to assist with the school tours.  Please help us spread the word about our amazing school!  Our best referrals come from you!  Thanks!
 
Thanksgiving Holiday Break
School will not be in session on Wednesday, November 21 – Friday, November 23 for the Thanksgiving holiday.  The school office will be closed.  School will resume on Monday, November 26.  Please enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with your family.  Please travel safely.
 
Math in Focus Information
Our school has purchased and is implementing new mathematics resources during this school year.  Math in Focus, Singapore Math by Marshall Cavendish is more than a curriculum, it is a coherent unfolding of mathematics based upon a proven pedagogy that has been successful in Singapore for 20 years.  When a school begins a new curriculum and introduces new resources, there are many different factors to consider.  Attached to this Friday Letter is a Math in Focus Newsletter; Theory and Practice.  The newsletter contains a few aspects of Singaporean teaching to be aware of during the implementation. We encourage to read this information to become familiar with some of the instructional strategies and the questioning that is taking place in our classrooms during math class.
 
Fall Fest 2018 – December 1
This year we are excited to have our Annual Fall Fest Gala Fundraiser on December 1 ^st at the Intercontinental Hotel in St. Paul.  Invitations went out last week in the mail.  We look so forward to celebrating this event with all of you!  Please RSVP & purchase tickets online at www.stjosephwsp.org/fall-fest.  A HUGE thank you is extended to Mitzi Welk, Adrianna Birk, Bri DeLeon, Mollie Rubenzer, Katie Grondahl, and Cheryl Weimer for Chairing this event.  You won’t want to miss this great evening! 
 
Fall Fest Silent Auction items are available to view.  Please see the attached flyer to view this list. 
 
Fall Fest 2018 is hosting a volunteer happy hour on Sunday November 18th from 4pm-6pm at Cherokee Tavern.   If you are interested in volunteering the day and night of Fall Fest we invite you to join us to learn more and to kick off this great event!  Please Click Here  to RSVP.  If you have any additional questions please contact Bri DeLeon briana.deleon@carters.com or Mitzi Welk mwelk@penumbrainc.com. 
 
Fall Fest Raffle Tickets on sale now.  Raffle ticket forms were previously sent home your child’s Friday Folder.  Please use this form to order your tickets for a chance to win two tremendous prizes.  (Raffle Form also attached)
 
Fall Fest Buy it Now!  Out of Uniform Passes are now available!  These make for fantastic stocking stuffers for your students.  These are available for a limited time so please get your orders in!  Flyers attached to this letter.
 
Thanksgiving Food Drive  “ Do a good deed; help a neighbor in need!”
St. Joseph’s eighth grade class sponsored a canned goods / nonperishable food collection to support the work of Neighbors, Inc.  Thanks to the participation of our school families, the collection was a huge success.  Thank you for your generosity.  A special thank you to Ms. Rowe and our eighth grade students for organizing this work of mercy.
 
Spiritwear Sales - Now Open
St. Joseph’s School Spiritwear is now open!  This sale will be open online through December 3 ^rd.  Flyers went home in Friday Folders today.  Flyer is also attached.  Please click here to order!
 
School Mass – Tuesday, November 20
Please join us for our school Mass Tuesday, November 20 at 9:00am in the church.  School families, friends, and members of the parish are invited to join our students and faculty in prayer and song.
 
St. Joe’s Basketball Clinic -Monday, November 26
4HG and the St. Joseph's athletic department will be hosting a Basketball Clinic on Monday, November 26 from 3:45-5:45 at our school gym.   This clinic if free and welcome to all students in grades 4-8.  Students will hear inspiring messages, learn basic skills, participate in age-appropriate drills, and be given an in-depth introduction into what it means to be a 4HG student-athlete and play FOR HIS GLORY!  Please join us!!
 
Volunteers Needed!  - Swim Team
St. Joseph’s School is looking for volunteers to join the coaching staff of St. Joe’s swim and dive team.   The swim team is the largest sport in the school and is open to students in grades K-8.  A background in swimming and  / or diving is preferred.  Volunteers in the following areas needed:

1. Head Diving coach
2. 1-2 individuals to work with the existing coaching staff to learn the swim meet software system for meet entries
3. Swim Coaches

Time commitment: 2 evenings a week January – First week in April.   Some weekend swim meets. 
All volunteers must complete the Virtus Essential 3 set by the Archdiocese.
 
If interested, please contact Athletic Director, Jackie VanDiver, 651-457-8550, or javandiver@stjosephwsp.org.

The Weather is Changing
The cold weather is here.  Now is the time to start sending your children to school with sweaters, sweatshirts, and jackets, snow pants, boots, hats and mittens.  During the school day, students should only wear sweatshirts and / or sweaters that are part of the St. Joseph’s School uniform.  Hoodies and sweatshirts that are from community teams, college or professional teams are not to be worn during the school day.  If there is snow on the ground, students are required to be in boots in order to play on the field 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.  
 
Mission Statement
St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence,
and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.
 
Our school community has identified faith formation, academic excellence, and the development of virtue as three pillars of our school as we continue to partner with you to provide your children with a quality Catholic education.  Thank you for supporting our school mission in so many ways throughout the school year.
 
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.
 
Upcoming Parish events include;
Turkey Bingo
Please join us for Turkey Bingo Sunday, November 18, 4:00-7:00pm in the Monsignor Foran Great Room.  All are welcome!  Thank you to the St. Joseph’s Men’s Ministry for sponsoring this event!
 
Catholic Watchman – an invitation from Mr. Wesely
The next Catholic Watchmen Night, sponsored by Regular Joes will be on Tuesday, November 20, 6:15 p.m.  All men of the school and parish are invited to join us for an evening of fellowship, spiritual reflection, and a great meal: Texas Chili, winner of the St. Joe’s Chili Cook–off.  Also featured will be a video talk by Fr. Michael Daly of the Church of St. Stephen in Minneapolis, “Serve and be a Witness to Family and Community”. Questions? Contact Jeff Lentsch at lentsch@aol.com.   Mr. Wesely hopes to see you there!
 
Children’s Christmas Eve Choir- for All Students in Grades 4-8
Once again, this year, at the 5 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass, we will have the Children’s Choir.  Practices will be held in the church on Wednesdays: November 28; and December 5, 12 and 19, from 3:45 to 5 p.m.; and an additional practice, if needed, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 10 a.m.  Welcome the newborn King into the world with your glorious voice! Please mark your calendar for the practice dates above, and sign up by contacting Denis Allaire at (651) 789-8355/ denis.allaire@churchofstjoseph.org.
 
Advent Night of Reflection Invitation for all Women
This special evening will be Thursday, December 6, 2018 from 6-9pm in the Great Room with Speaker Sarah Damm.
All women are invited to take a little break from the busy-ness of the season and treat yourself to an evening of friendship, dinner, delicious desserts, and beverages. There will also be a chance for confession and adoration.  If you would like to attend, please register on the parish website by Monday December 3 ^rd. There will be a free will offering to help us offer more nights like these to women.
 
If you would like to volunteer on the night of the event please sign up on the link provided.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACA923A1F58-advent1   Questions? Contact Amanda Carnes at amanda.carnes@churchofstjoseph.org

Click here to link to the weekly St. Joseph’s Church Bulletin .
 
Important Links:
Fall Fest Silent Auction Items
Fall Fest Raffle Tickets
Fall Fest Buy It Now – Out of Uniform
Spiritwear Sales
4HG St. Joe's Basketball Clinic
Math In Focus
Net Nights
 
 
November Calendar Look Ahead:
Please consider joining us for some of the special events at our school.
       °  Tuesday, November 20 – Mass 9:00am
       °  Wednesday November 21 – Friday November 23 – No School, Thanksgiving Break
       °  Tuesday, November 27 – Picture Retake Day – Out of Uniform
       °  Friday, November 30 – Mass 9:00am – Last Day of Trimester 1
       °  Saturday, December 1 – Fall Fest Gala
       °  Monday, December 3 – Beginning of Trimester 2
       °  Friday,  December 7 – Mass 9:00am, K-2 Senior Citizen Christmas Concert