Parent Letter 2/5/21

Dear St. Joseph’s School Parents,              

WOW!  Our Catholic Schools Week was truly a “celebration” of Catholic education and our school!  I would like to thank our faculty, students, and families for your participation in the celebration!  It was a tremendous week that included special theme days organized by our 8th grade students, our school Masses, special outdoor winter activities - Broomball, Snow Soccer, Snow Sculpting, Jaguar BINGO, and a special Raffle.

I really enjoyed “hosting” a special activity for our elementary students during the week including; grades K-1 Pajama Day Storytime, grades 2-3 Summer/Tropical Fun Day Beach Party including Beach Volleyball, Hula Hoops, Jump Ropes, and Scooter Body Surfing, and grades 4-5 Team Jersey Day Floor Hockey.  It was an awesome and exciting week for all of us!

As we conclude this year’s Catholic Schools Week celebration, I offer my sincere thanks to all of the members of our school community.  Our school values the relationships we have with our school faculty, students, families, and parish. 

Our school recognizes the support of the Church of St. Joseph to our school.  I want to thank Fr. Creagan and Fr. Wratkowski for their pastoral guidance and involvement with our school.  I would also like to thank the parishioners of the Church of St. Joseph for their financial investment and prayerful support.

Throughout this very unique school year, our students have still been able to learn and grow through quality faith-centered learning experiences in a positive, safe school environment.  I would like to thank our students for coming to school ready to learn and use the talents God has given them.   

I would like to thank our school faculty for going above and beyond in their planning and instruction, implementing, managing, and teaching their students using two platforms (in person and remote) ia a heroic accomplishment.  Daily, they are providing quality faith formation and excellent academics for our students in a safe, positive learning environment.  We are most grateful for their service to our school.

I would like to thank our school families for your engagement in and support of our school.  In addition, we appreciate your generosity through your financial investment and by sharing your gifts of time and talent with our school.  Our parents and faculty continue to work together to help the students achieve and be successful at school.

Finally, our school is an important and valued ministry of St. Joseph’s Parish.  I ask everyone to please continue to pray for our school as we all work together to carry out the awesome responsibility of raising our children in the Catholic faith.  And let’s keep celebrating our Catholic School every week of the year! 

Thank you!  St. Joseph, pray for us!  Go Jaguars!

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
Please note that some adjustments have been made to our original 2020-2021 St. Joseph’s School calendar.  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!

Parent Teacher Conferences (Virtual) - Close Sunday, February 7                       
Parent Teacher Conferences for grades K-8 are scheduled for Tuesday, February 9 and Thursday, February 11.   Please click here to schedule a conference through Sign Up Genius.  

Mid year conferences are set by teacher request (you will receive notification from the teacher to sign up) and/or parent request (parent signs up).  Although these conferences are not required, they are highly encouraged allowing parents to receive an update on their child’s academic progress and social development during the school year.  

Catholic School Week - Thank You!
We would like to thank everyone for your support as we celebrated Catholic Schools this week.  Our Home and School Association and numerous families provided prizes for our all school Bingo and Raffle.  Our students were soooo excited to call B-I-N-G-O and you should have heard the cheers from the classrooms as students' names were drawn for the prizes.

Mittens, Hats, and Socks Collection
Our fifth grade students sponsored their seventh annual mittens, hats, and socks collection for the Hats and Mittens of Minnesota and Sharing and Caring Hands.  Thank you so much for your participation and your generosity in this special service project.  Your donations will assist people in staying warm during the winter months.

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. 

St. Joseph’s School Virtual Open House Events
We would like to invite you to attend our 2021-2022 Open Houses for Preschool and Middle School.  Our Open Houses will be virtual and are scheduled for;

• Saturday, February 6  Preschool  9:00 am
• Thursday, February 11  Middle School  6:30 pm

Our Kindergarten Open House was held on Saturday, January 23.  A recording of that Open House is available in the event that you were not able to attend.

During the Open Houses, families will meet administration and faculty, learn about our school programs, and receive information on registration for the 2021-2022 school year.  

Help us 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 to attend an Open House, have them contact our school office; 651-457-8550, and/or email 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.  

Registration for the 2021-2022 School Year
It’s time for families to enroll for the 2021-2022 school year!  Prospective school families may visit our school’s website clicking on the “Visit Us” tab to obtain information about our upcoming virtual Open Houses, registration, and take a short virtual tour.

For additional information and/or questions about enrollment for next school year, please contact Lindsay Mayernik, Enrollment Coordinator at limayernik@stjosephwsp.org or by calling 651-457-8550.

NWEA MAP Assessments - Winter Assessment Reports
Our students in grades 2-8 have completed the winter administration of the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments.  Our teachers and administration are reviewing the students results monitoring their progress, identifying areas of growth and for development for our students, and planning instruction for addressing these areas.  In addition, please watch for your child’s MAP Assessment Report in the mail.  Upon receipt of the information, please contact your child’s teachers or Mrs. Budge if you have any questions regarding your child’s progress.

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 a day or two after the meeting.  We thank Betsy Joyce, Hilary Lamusga, Sarah Rogers, and Anne Novak for providing leadership for the group.
                                                                                                                                                        

School Mass
This morning, our K-8 students and faculty attended our school Masses in person.  Our teachers shared with me how excited their students were to be returning to the church to celebrate Mass.

Our next school Mass will be on Ash Wednesday, February 17.  Our students and faculty will return to attending Mass in person following the parish’s established guidelines and protocols to do so safely.  Masses will be held; 9:00 a.m. for grades 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for grades K-3.

Our remote learners and school families are invited to continue to watch the Mass live streamed on the Church of St. Joseph website; www.churchofstjoseph.  Our school Masses continue to not be open to families and the public.  We thank Fr. Creagan and Fr. Wratkowski for presiding at our school Masses.

First Reconciliation Retreat and Sacrament
Congratulations to our 2nd grade students who received their First Reconciliation last Saturday.  We thank Fr. Creagan, Fr. Wratkowski, Mrs. Fallon, Mrs. Taplin, members of the parish’s Faith Formation Office, and our families for preparing the students to receive this special sacrament of God’s mercy and love. 

Does Your Employer Offer a Matching Gift Program?
Employer matching programs are a wonderful way to maximize your donation to St. Joseph’s School.  Please look into your employer programs to see if they may participate in this program.  If you have any questions or need help with the process, please contact Lisa Wrobel in our school office.  Thank you.

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 St. Martin de Porres: Dominican Religious
In 1962, St. John XXIII canonized Martin de Porres becoming  the first black American saint.  Born in December of 1579, in Lima, Peru, he was the son of Don Juan de Porres of Burgos, a Spanish nobleman, and Ana Velasquez, a young freed  slave girl. From early childhood Martin showed great piety, a deep love for all people and a passionate devotion to Our Lady. At the age of 11 he took a job as a servant in the Dominican priory and performed the work with such devotion that he was called "the saint of the broom".  Martin was placed in charge of the Dominican's infirmary where he became known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular cures.   Martin was vested in the full habit and took the solemn vows as a Dominican brother. He established an orphanage and a children's hospital for the poor. Miraculous cures were attributed to Brother Martin.

St. Joseph Church Bulletin

February Look Ahead:

• Saturday, Feb. 6 - Preschool Virtual Open House 9am
• Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences 
• Thursday, Feb. 11 - Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences
• Thursday Feb. 11- Middle School Virtual Open House
• 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