Parent Letter 4/23/21

Dear St. Joseph’s School Families,        

It is with great sadness that I share with our school community the loss of Mrs. Debbie Dovenmuehler.  Mrs. Dovenmuehler passed away on April 16, 2021 surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with brain cancer.  In her 30 years of sharing the gift of education with students, she spent 25 years teaching first and second grade at St. Joseph's School.  A visitation and Mass of Christian burial is being held today at the Church of St. Joseph.  Fr. Creagan and Fr. Wratkowski will be presiding at the Mass which will be attended by our school faculty.  Please click here to view the full obituary.  Please continue to keep Mrs. Dovenmuehler’s husband Kevin, son Luke, and her family in your prayers.  “Eternal rest grant onto her O Lord and let the perpetual light shine upon her.  May her soul and all souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.  Amen.”

I want to share with you that Ms. Ellen Schafer, Middle School Science/STEM Teacher will not be returning to St. Joe's next school year.  Ms. Schafer has accepted a position as STEM Coordinator with an area high school.  We are grateful for Ms. Schafer’s years of service to our school and we will miss her very much.  Many of you may not know, but St. Joe’s has been Ms. Schafer’s home for most of her life, starting with her baptism, she was a student here, and we were so fortunate to welcome her home with her first teaching position.  We wish you well Ms. Schafer and you will always have a home at St. Joseph’s School! 

Administrative Professionals Day
This past Wednesday was Administrative Professionals Day.  We want to thank Mrs. Wrobel and Mrs. Delmont for taking such good care of all of us each and every day.  Their professionalism, understanding, organization, and smile (to name a few) are greatly appreciated by all of us.  Thank you for your service to our school community.

No School Friday, April 30
Just a reminder, there will be no school for our students on Friday, April 30.  This is an in-service day for our faculty.  School will resume on Monday, May 3.  Enjoy your long weekend.

Prayer Service for Peace and Justice
This week, responding in fidelity with Archbishop Hebda’s call for prayer, our middle school students and faculty came together in the Church for a prayer service.  As the Archbishop stated so well: “It is during times such as these that we need to lean-in to our faith even more, and ask our Lord to help us recognize the shared humanity of all of our sisters and brothers.  We plead with the Prince of Peace to penetrate our hearts. It is only by seeing Christ in each other that we will honor the dignity of each person and arrive at true peace and justice in our world, in our country, in our communities and in our families.”  We thank Fr. Wratkowski for leading the students and faculty in prayer.

Sacrament of Confirmation – Eighth Grade
Our eighth grade students will be fully initiated into the Catholic Church by receiving the sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, April 24 at the Church of St. Joseph.  We thank Mr. Butler, Mrs. Bruce, Fr. Creagan, Fr. Wratkowski, the Church of St. Joseph Faith Formation Office, and the parents and sponsors of our eighth grade students for preparing our them to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Come Holy Spirit, come.

NWEA MAP Assessments
Our second through eighth grade students will be completing the MAP (Monitoring Academic Progress) assessments this Spring.  The students will complete their assessments in Reading and Math during the weeks of April 26 and May 3, 2021.  Information about the MAP assessments and your child’s progress will be provided to parents upon completion of the assessments.

We ask that your children come to school well rested and having had a good breakfast so they are ready to do their best work on these assessments.  In addition, please have your children arrive at school on time to begin their day at 8:40 a.m.  Please notify the school office if your child will be absent on a day during the assessments.

Please click here for a letter containing more information about MAP for our students and families in grades 2-8.  Parents of our remote learners are receiving a telephone call from Mrs. Budge to make arrangements to complete these assessments.  We thank Mrs. Budge, Mrs. Nordgren, and our grade 2-8 teachers for coordinating and administering the assessments for our students.

Tuition Agreements
Tuition Agreements for the 2021-2022 School Year have been sent out via email from TADS.  It is important that you complete your agreements by the provided deadline.  If you have any questions please contact Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org or Patrick Menke Patrick.Menke@churchofstjoseph.org .

2021-2022 School Enrollment - Help us make our mission happen and grOW our school!
The enrollment of new families and students continues at St. Joseph’s School.  Please assist us in growing our school enrollment by sharing information about our school with neighbors, parish families, business colleagues, at the park, baseball or soccer fields, or while in your favorite store.  You are also encouraged to invite families to visit our school website to view information about our school programs or read our Friday Letter.   

For the 2021-2022 school year, a $250 Referral Credit is available to current school families for each new family they refer who registers for and attends our school next year.  Thank you for your assistance!  Prospective families can contact our school office; 651-457-8550 or email Lindsay Mayernik, Enrollment Coordinator at limayernik@stjosephwsp.org for information.

Uniform Dress Code Policy
As we continue through the remainder of the school year, please make note and remind your children of the following uniform expectations.  Belts are to be worn with pants and shorts.  Socks must be visible above the top of shoes and may black or white only.  Shirts are to be tucked into pants and skirts.  Girls’ skirt lengths should be no more than four inches above the crease(bend) behind the knee.  Students should also only be wearing St. Joseph’s sweaters, pullovers, and/or sweatshirts during school.  Thank you for complying with our school uniform policy.

Yearbook Orders - Open Now!
Please place your order online through LIFETOUCH using Yearbook Code 1075421 or by sending a check into the school office with your child’s name and homeroom listed.  Checks should be made out to St. Joseph’s School.  The cost of the yearbook is $20.  If you have any questions please contact our school office.  Order deadline is April 30th.  

Progress Reports - Third Mid-trimester
The midpoint of the third trimester is today, Friday, April 23.  Progress Reports for students in grades 4-8 will be emailed home on Wednesday, April 28.  Upon receipt of your child’s Progress Report, please contact your child’s teacher(s) if you have questions or need additional information.

Specialist Class Schedule
On Monday April 26, our K-8 students will begin instruction with their next specialist teacher.  This instruction will be for three weeks.  The upcoming schedule will be;

Grades K-1 Art with Mr. Beaman
Grades 2-3  Spanish with Professora Tulia
Grades 4-5  Music with Mrs. Bowe
Grades 6-8 PE with Mr. Reyes

Specialist instruction for Art and Spanish continues to be in each grade level classroom.  Instruction in Music and PE continues indoors and/or outdoors weather permitting.

Important Dates for the 2021-2022 School Year -  K- 8
As we are planning and preparing for the 2021-2022 school year, we would like to share with you some important dates to place in your phone or on your calendar.  Additional calendar dates and a full calendar will be shared at a later date.

Monday, August 30:  First day of school:  Grades 1-6 (Kindergarten Assessments by appointment)
Tuesday, August 31:  First day of school:  Grades 7 & 8 (Kindergarten Assessments by appointment)                                                            
Wednesday, September 1:  First day of school:  Kindergarten
Friday, September 3:  No school for students and faculty
Monday, September 6:  Labor Day - No school for students and faculty
Monday, March 28 - Friday April 1:  Spring Break
Thursday, June 3:  Last day of school for students (early dismissal)

Important Dates for the 2021-2022 School Year  - Preschool
Tuesday, August 31:  Preschool Welcome and Orientation – Terrific 3s  A.M. 
Wednesday, September 1:   Preschool Welcome and Orientation – PK4s  A.M.
Thursday, September 2: .  Preschool Welcome and Orientation PK4/5s  P.M.
Friday, September 3:  No school for students and faculty
Monday, September 6:  Labor Day - No school for students and faculty
Tuesday, September 7:  Terrific 3s First Day of School - A.M. &  PK 4/5s First Day of School - P.M.                                      
Wednesday, September 8: PK 4s First Day of School - A.M.
Monday, March 28 - Friday April 1:  Spring Break
Thursday, May 19 - Terrific 3s Last Day of School
Thursday, May 19 - PreK 4/5s Last Day of School
Friday, May 20 - PreK 4s Last Day of School

A Note from the School Nurse
COVID-19 and seasonal allergies can share similar symptoms. It's important to recognize and assess how students are feeling so you can administer the proper care. If your students are suffering from seasonal allergies, there are many Over the Counter (OTC) treatments to ease symptoms and find relief. If your students do not have a history of seasonal allergies, and are experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, it is best to have them tested as soon as possible.  Please click here to view some differences between seasonal allergies and COVID-19.

As it pertains to COVID Testing:  When any member of a household is being tested for COVID-19 due to an exposure, potential exposure, or with COVID symptoms, all family members at home should remain home from school until test results have been received.  This simple mitigation greatly decreases any “close contact” exposure that could happen if a positive asymptomatic family member remains at school until those test results are known.

We have seen an increase in Strep throat this spring. Symptoms have included headache and upset stomach.

Reminder: Please send a water bottle to school each day with your child. With the warmer weather approaching, students will need to have these accessible each day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school Nurse Amy Milosch ammilosch@stjosephwsp.org or Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org. 

School Masses - Friday,  May 7
As we continue in the Easter season (remember it is 50 days), our next school Masses will be on Friday, May 7 in the Church.  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. 

Jump Start Summer Classes at Visitation
Visitation School will be offering in-person summer Jump Start Reading, Writing, and Math classes from June 14-July 16. This program is open to students from any school who are entering kindergarten through grade 10 in the fall. Registration is open now! Please see click here for a description of the programs offered. 

School Lunch Menus
April Lunch Menu

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.

Archdiocese Family Rosary Procession
Date: Sunday, May 2
Time: 2 p.m. (Procession line-up at 1:15 p.m.)
Location: Procession from State Capitol to Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul

As a public witness to our Catholic faith during the month of May dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary, come with family and friends to the annual Archdiocesan Family Rosary Procession.  Archbishop Hebda will preside.  Line up begins at 1:15 p.m. on the State Capitol grounds and the procession will begin at 2 p.m.  Those who cannot walk the procession route may go directly to the Cathedral to pray the Rosary with those who are in procession.

Middle School Youth Group
Middle School Youth Group upcoming opportunities:

• Monday, April 26, 4:30-5:30pm - Virtual - Questions and Answers
• Tuesday, May 11, 3:30-4:30pm - In person - Alive in Christ

St. Joseph Church Bulletin

April / May / June Look Ahead:

• Saturday, Apr. 24 - 8th Grade Confirmation 1:30pm St. Joseph’s Church
• Monday, Apr. 26 - May 7 - NWEA MAP Testing 
• Thursday, Apr. 29 - Masses or Rosary; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Friday, Apr. 30 - No School for Students - Teacher Professional Development
• Friday, May 7 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Friday, May 14 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Friday, May 21 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Friday, May 28 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Monday, May 31 - No School - Memorial Day
• Tuesday, June 1 - Students and Staff Return to School
• Wednesday, June 2 - 8th Grade Commencement 
• Thursday, June 3 - Last Day of School K - 7 - Early Dismissal