Parent Letter 2/11/21

Dear St. Joseph’s School Parents,            

BRRRRRR, as you know, this week we have been in the deep freeze!  Thank you for dressing your children in warm winter wear as they come to school.  Our students and faculty managed a variety of indoor recess activities during the week.  However, we are so excited to get back outdoors!  Next week?

Parent Teacher conferences were held this week.  During the conferences, teachers provided parents with an update on the academic progress and social development of their children.  We thank our teachers for  planning and preparing for the conferences.  We also thank our parents for their time in meeting with our teachers.

Plans are being finalized for the next season in the Church’s liturgical calendar - Lent.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 17.  Our school community will celebrate Mass at 9:00 a.m. with the distribution of ashes happening during the Mass.  Our grade 4-8 students and faculty will attend the Mass in person in the church by following the parish’s established guidelines and protocols to do so safely.  Kindergarten – grade 3 will view the Mass live streamed in their classrooms.  Our remote learners and school families are invited to watch the Mass live streamed on the Church of St. Joseph website; www.churchofstjoseph. 

In addition, our students and faculty will have the opportunity to grow in their faith and prepare for Easter through classroom work, prayer, Mass, Stations of the Cross, the Sacrament of Reconciliation (grades 2-8), the Rosary, and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd instruction.  May we all grow closer to Jesus through the season of Lent.

As we continue through the remainder of the school year, please be sure to contact the school office with any needs or questions you may have (651-457-8550).

Mission

“St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence, and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.”

We thank members of our school and parish communities for assisting us in carrying out the mission of St. Joseph’s School.  Our school is the largest ministry of the parish and with everyone’s support we continue to “educate students through faith formation, academic excellence, and the development of virtue so they may become disciples of Christ.” 

We fulfill our mission by:

• inspiring spiritual growth through classroom instruction, prayer, liturgy, devotions, sacraments, retreats and service.
• challenging students with a comprehensive curriculum enriched with fine arts and co-curricular activities meeting the needs of all learners.

• engaging students in an environment that allows them to develop virtue through shared responsibility, self-discipline, respect, honor and faith in Christ.

No School - Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15
There will be no school for students and staff on Friday, February 12th and Monday, February 15th as we observe the President’s Day holiday on Monday.  School will resume on Tuesday, February 16th.  Enjoy your long weekend!  Stay warm!  See you on Tuesday!                                                                      

St. Joseph’s Middle School Newsletter - The Jaguar Journal
St. Joseph’s School has a very robust and enriching Middle School program.  Each Trimester our Middle School Faculty publishes a copy of The Jaguar Journal that shares information about current events and curriculum.  Please click here to read the most recent Journal. 

Mr. Wesely’s Ties
Recently, Mr. Wesely was invited to virtually visit Mrs. Taplin’s and Mrs. Fallon’s second grade classrooms to share a story with their students.  The story, Mr. Tannen’s Ties Rules, is about a school principal and his many colorful ties.  It was a pleasure to read to the students and share with them my many ties.

In addition, the second grade students completed a special project;

Mr. Wesely wants to have a tie made to remember Catholic Schools Week at St. Joe’s.  Think about what makes St. Joe’s a great school and create a tie for him to celebrate our school.  Then write about the tie you made.  Below are a few examples of the students’ work.

“This is a tie called the “Go Jaguar” tie.  I like it because it has black and orange, the school colors and jaguar prints.  Go Jaguars!!!”  Judah

“This is called the super St. Joe’s tie!  I like St. Joe’s because we get to be together and we get to worship Jesus.”  Isaac

“My tie is the Learning tie!  I thought I would do a learning tie because this is a school.  And I am thankful for my school.”  Abby

Mittens, Hats, and Socks Collection
Our Cathol,ic Schools Week service project; collection of mittens, hats, and socks was very successful.  We want to thank everyone for their generosity.  Special thanks to our fifth grade students and teachers for coordinating this important work of mercy.  

Now Enrolling for 2021-2022
St. Joseph’s School is now enrolling families for the upcoming school year.  The interest by families in all of our school’s programs is increasing.  We are grateful to our current families for their continued enrollment.  We look forward to welcoming several new families to our school community next year.

Please continue to share our school’s good news and story!  If  you know someone that is interested in learning more about our school and our programs, please invite them contact our school office; 651-457-8550, and/or email Lindsay Mayernik, Enrollment Coordinator; limayernik@stjosephwsp.org.

Financial Aid Deadline February 20th -  Grades Kindergarten - 8
If you are interested in applying for Financial Assistance for the 2021-2022 school year, please log into your TADS account and begin that process now.  All Financial Assistance Applications are to be completed online through TADS.  The deadline to apply for and complete this process is February 20, 2021.  If you have any questions, please contact our school office or contact TADS at 612-548-3320.

Aim Higher Scholarships for 2020-2021 - Deadline February 20th
The Aim Higher Foundation provides two scholarships for students to attend Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Mpls.  The application period ends February 20th, 2021.  

Culvers Restaurant Night - Save the Date Tuesday, March 2nd 5-7pm
Please join us for our March restaurant night at Culvers in West St. Paul on Tuesday, March 7th 5:00pm-7:00pm.  Please make sure to mention that you are there for St. Joseph’s School or show them the Culvers Flyer and they will donate 10% to our school!  Thank you Bri DeLeon and our Home and School Association for coordinating this event!

Early Childhood Screening for Preschool Aged Children
Please be sure to make an appointment for Preschool Early Childhood Screening through the school district you reside in.  Screening is required now for most schools, instead of highly recommended as in the past.  It is suggested the screening be completed at the 3½ age level.  Even if your child is past the age recommendation, it is still necessary to make an appointment.  Please contact our school office if you need more information 651-457-8550.

Home and School Association Information
The Home and School Association met on Wednesday, February 3.  Mr. Wesely and the grade level parent representatives shared information and discussed a variety of topics..  Please click here for the meeting Minutes.  Minutes from the meeting are also posted on our website.  We thank Betsy Joyce, Hilary Lamusga, Sarah Rogers, and Anne Novak for providing leadership for the group.
                                                                                                                                         

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.

Father Creagan’s Message - Meet the Saint: Blessed James Miller 
In 2019 Christian Brother James Miller was beatified as a martyr. His feast day is February 13.  He was killed in Guatemala in 1982 not long after another Blessed with Minnesota connections (Blessed Stanley Rother) was also killed.

Blessed James Miller was born in 1944 near Stevens Point, WI. He grew up on a farm. He entered the Christian Brothers Order in 1959. As a novice he knew our very own Tom Gagliardi who had spent some time as a Christian brother and later served as St. Joseph School Principal and Interim Parish Administrator!  Click here to view the photo.  Blessed James Miller is 3rd from the right in the back row- Tom Gagliardi is 2nd from the right first row.

Blessed James eventually earned a masters from St. Mary University in Winona and worked as a teacher at Cretin High School.  He made perpetual vows in 1969.  He was known for his skills in being able to fix anything! He was later sent to teach at a school in Nicaragua. There was great concern when the Sandinista socialist revolutionaries took over in 1979 and Blessed James was requested to return home for his safety.  He returned to Cretin from 1979-1981, but transferred to Guatemala. There he devoted himself to helping the native Guatemalan Indians in Huehuetenango. On February 13, 1982 three masked men shot and killed him while he was repairing a well. His remains were eventually returned to Polonia, WI for burial.

Seven Sundays of St. Joseph
The Seven Sundays of St. Joseph is a devotion to the patron of the universal Church.  On the seven Sundays preceding his feast, March 19, the faithful have traditionally contemplated a series of circum- stances—seven sorrows and seven joys—in St. Joseph’s life so that they might confront the joys and sorrows of their own lives as he did. Please click here to view part 1 and click here to view part 2 of Father Creagan’s reflections on the life of our beloved patron, St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Church Bulletin

February/March/April Look Ahead:

• Friday, Feb. 12 & Monday Feb. 15 - No School Presidents Day
• Tuesday, Feb. 16- School Resumes
• Wednesday, Feb. 17 - Mass Ash Wednesday
• Friday, Feb. 26 - Mass
• Tuesday, Mar. 2 - Culvers Night
• Friday, Mar. 5 - Mass and End of Trimester 2
• Monday, Mar. 8 - Beginning of Trimester 3
• Friday, Mar. 12 - Mass
• Friday, Mar. 19 - Mass Feast of St. Joseph
• Monday, Mar. 29 - Monday, Apr. 5 - No School, Spring Break
• Tuesday, Apr. 6 - School Resumes
• Friday, Apr. 9 - Mass