Parent Letter 9/21/18

Dear Parents,       
                                                                                                                   
The St. Joseph’s School students and faculty have had another awesome week at school.  Thank you for supporting your children as they continue through the school year.  We know of the time you take to get them prepared each day to come to school.  We thank you for taking time to assist them with the studies and stressing the importance of using their talents and doing their best while at school.  Please let your child’s teacher or the school office know if you have any questions or need additional information about school as we continue through the year.
 
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.
 
Marathon
Our school kicked off the 2018 Minnesota Non-Public Schools Marathon with a Pep Rally yesterday in our school gymnasium.  Our students and faculty really showed their school spirit through cheers and special “Minute to Win It” activities. 
 
The Marathon event will take place on Thursday, October 4, 2018 on the St. Joseph’s campus.  Marathon is an important community event that raises funds for our school to support our operating budget and special programs.  The proceeds from this event help keep tuition affordable for our families.  The monetary goal for this year is $67,000.  In addition, our goal is to have 100% PARTICIPATION from our school families! 
 
Specific details about Marathon was sent home with students in today’s Friday Folder.  We do request that you please see and review the Marathon information and pledge forms.  The information includes an overview of the event, a pledge sheet, and a script that can be used by your children when contacting people to support their efforts to raise funds for our school.  We would like all students to get out there and collect pledges this weekend!  Thank you for your involvement in and support of this special event.   In addition, please watch for upcoming volunteer opportunities!
 
The first Pledge Turn-in day is on Monday, September 24.  Please have your children bring their pledge forms to school to report their pledges on the turn-in days.  They should keep their form, bring it home, and continue to gather pledges prior to the next turn-in day.  The incentive for the students includes an extra recess with Mr. Wesely for the homeroom class that reports the greatest dollar amount in pledges as well as an out of uniform pass for the student in each homeroom that reports the greatest dollar amount in pledges.
 
Did you hear from your children?  During the pep rally, Mr. Wesely told the students that by reaching the school goal in pledges, the students will have a Marathon celebration “parking lot dance party”.  He also said that he would sit in a “Dunk Tank” with the chance for students and faculty to “get him wet”!  The teachers very thoughtful and provided him with many items that will help him float in the event he goes in the water.
 
The Positivity Project
During this school year, you will hear your children talking about the Positivity Project and the “Other People Matter Mindset”.  The OPM mindset can be broken down into 5 things that people who have good relationships tend to practice on a regular basis.  These include; recognizing and appreciating the good in other people, know that their words and actions affect others, support people when they struggle, cheers others on when they succeed, and remain present and give other people their attention.
 
This week, our students and faculty will explore and discuss Teamwork.  Teamwork is defined as working well as a member of a group or team.  Individuals are loyal and sacrifice individual desires for the greater good.  We encourage you to talk with your children about teamwork providing them with concrete examples of how they may be part of a team (ie; family, classroom, school, athletic team). We look forward to learning about and practicing all twenty-four character traits through the Positivity Project during this school year.
 
NWEA MAP Assessments
Students in grades 2-8 will continue the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments next week.  The students have completed the mathematics assessments.  Now, they will complete the reading assessments.  Please help your student by reminding them to get a good night sleep and to eat a healthy breakfast.  Families of students in grades 2-8 received a letter last week with information about the assessments.  We thank Mrs. Budge for coordinating and facilitating the assessments for our students.
 
Special Treat After Mass
Thank you to Our Home & School Association for hosting coffee, donuts, and fellowship after our school Mass today.  A tremendous group of parents and families gathered together.  The association leadership welcomed everyone back to school and shared many of the exciting events planned for this school year. 
 
St. Joseph’s “Drive In” Family Movie Night
Please join us Saturday, September 22nd at 7:30 pm for a “Drive In” Family Movie Night.  The movie “Cars 3” will be shown on the front lawn of school.  Please see the attached flyer for all of the details.  We look forward to seeing you all there!  The Movie Night is sponsored by the Home & School Association.

Parent Letters/Friday Folders/Attendance Communication
All non-emergency communications will come home on Fridays in the red Friday folder.  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. 
 
Teachers may be reached via the school’s voice mail system at (651-457-8550) or their email account by using the first two letters of their first name followed, without a space, by their last name (e.g. grwesely@stjosephwsp.org).  When leaving a message, remember teachers may not be available to return calls/e-mails until the end of the day. 
 
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”. 
 
School Mass
School families, friends, and members of the parish are invited to join us in prayer by attending our next school Mass on Friday, September 28 at 9:00 a.m. in the Church.  Just a reminder that parents, grandparents, family members, and members of the parish are always welcome to attend our school Masses and prayer devotions during 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;

• Women of St. Joseph Silent Auction, Craft & Bake Sale will take place in the Great Room on ! We are continuing to collect theme baskets and other items for the Silent Auction and your help is needed and appreciated! You may donate new individual items, and we will complement it with similar ones.  No need to provide a basket or put it together (unless you want to). 

 
Ideas for theme baskets are:  Gift certificates; Sporting event tickets — Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild, Gophers, etc.; Sports memorabilia; Wine & cheese; Movies & games; Children’s craft supplies; Baby items; Kitchen items.  Let your imagination take over! If you would like to donate please contact Amanda Carnes at amanda.carnes@churchofstjoseph.org or simply drop off your items to the school or parish office and include the Donor Form you can pick up in one of the offices.  
 
Click here to link to the weekly St. Joseph’s Church Bulletin .
 
Important Links:
Movie Night
Scouts
CDH - Dance Camp
CAA Cross Country Meet

September & October Look Ahead:
        
       °  Saturday, Sept. 22 – Movie Night 7:30pm Front Lawn of the School
       °  Friday, Sept. 28 – Grade 8 Field Trip to Duluth
       °  Friday, Sept. 28 – Mass 9:00 am
       °  Thursday, October 4 –  Mass  9:00 am
       °  Thursday, October 4 – Marathon 1:15-3:15 pm
       °  Friday, October 5 – No School (Staff Development Day)
       °  Wednesday, October 10 – Mass of the Holy Spirit at US Bank Stadium, grades 4-8
       °  Friday, October 12 – Mass 9:00 am
       °  Tuesday, October 16 – Mass 9:00am
       °  Wednesday, October 17 – No School for Middle School Students – Parent Teacher
                                                        Conferences -Students in Grades K-5 are in session.                                °  Thursday-Friday, October 18 & 19 – No School
       °  Monday, October 22 – School Picture Day – Out of Uniform
       °  Tuesday, October 23 – Parent Teacher Conferences, 4-8pm
       °  Wednesday, October 24 – Vision and Hearing Screening
       °  Thursday, October 25 - Parent Teacher Conferences, 4-8pm