St. Joseph's School Parent Letter

A Message from Principal Rickbeil
Mr. Rickbeil is out of the office today, accompanying our 8th graders on their pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion near Green Bay, Wisconsin.  In this week’s video, Mr. Rickbeil shares some of the details of this newest Saint Joseph’s School tradition.  

St. Joseph’s School Summer Camp - Registration Closing Soon! 
We are excited to open registrations for the Summer Programs at St. Joe's. We have a variety ofoptions for our students throughout the summer.  Summer Program Descriptions and Registration can be found on our school website or by
clicking here.  All of our summer program options along with After Hour Kid Power Summer Care are offered under the Parent’s Tab on the school website. Read through the offerings and click the link to register for the various opportunities for tutoring, camps, and academic offerings.

Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10
Teacher Appreciation week is coming up the week of May 6-10.  We are so grateful to our Home & School Association who will help to provide a few special things for our teachers.  One of the things they have planned for May 8.  On May 8th we will have lunch for our staff and the Home & School Association is looking for lunchroom and recess volunteers on that day so that teachers can enjoy their whole lunch period.  If you are able to volunteer please click here!  Thank you!

The Fantasticks- Performances this Weekend!
Unity High School presents The Fantasticks at St. Joseph School this weekend. Performances will be Friday, May 3rd and Saturday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m and Sunday, May 5th at 2:00 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door ($10/adult, $5/student & child).  All families are invited to attend!

Band Concert
This is a friendly reminder that our concert on May 16 will be a band concert, for students and families in the band program.  There are no other choir concerts on the schedule for the remainder of the school year.

A New Opportunity for Ms. Wenner
Audrey Wenner has accepted a new position as Assistant Principal at Saint Odilia's School in Shoreview, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.  She will conclude her work here at Saint Joseph's this June.  

We are grateful for Audrey's work with the middle school and full-school projects over the past two years. During that time, she has overseen our growing middle school and excellent middle school team, improving our student retention and working with our teachers to bring the house program to our school. She has taken the lead on most elements of our MNSAA self-study this school year, and reviews our academic program in light of the MNSAA standards.  She assists on countless tasks in our school, from morning parking lot duty to middle school team meetings and even assembling our school yearbook.  Audrey has a servant's heart, and always keeps the best interests of our students as her top priority in her work.  We will miss her, but wish her the best in her new opportunity.  

We are currently posting a position for assistant principal for the 2024-2025 school year.  This person could serve as a middle school director or assist in another area of the school depending on their skills and expertise.  

Chess Tournament - May 18 All Saints in Lakeville
All Saints in Lakeville is hosting a chess tournament for students in grades K-8 on May 18, 2024.  Please click here to learn more and to register.  

Muffins with Moms Event Thank you!
It was such a pleasure seeing all of our mothers, grandmothers and students at our muffins with moms event on Wednesday. Thank you for sharing this special day with us!   Thank you to our volunteers and to our Home & School Association for your help coordinating this event!

St. Joe’s Library News
Thank you to all the volunteers who have come to read to students in grades K-3.  The students enjoy all the different stories read to them each week.

I also would like to THANK the 4th grade teachers,  Mrs. Collwell and Mrs. Durham, for their cooperation in getting the Library Liaison’s program off the ground this year. The LL’s program has been designed for 4th graders to take some ownership of the library space by helping keep it tidy on Friday afternoons for 10 minutes before dismissal.  

Thank you to families and friends who continue to support the STJ Library by donating books.  All the previously donated books from past years will be in circulation for next year's start of the school year.  There are many great books that students will be excited to check out.  I have also been able to remove books if necessary due to damage or content. 

The Last week to check out books for students is the week May 13th.  All library books need to be returned to the library the week of May 20th during students' class times.   Replacement notices will be sent home on Monday the 27th with students who have not returned their books.  Please make it a priority to get library books in by the end of the year.

Gerten's Spring Plants Pick-Up: Friday, May 10
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Gerten's Spring Plant Fundraiser! This year's fundraiser sold over $10,000 worth of plants and gift cards, a significant portion of which will go directly back to our Home & School Association which provides funding and support for field trips, teacher appreciation initiatives, community spirit events and more! 

Plants will be available for pick-up on Friday, May 10 from 1:00-5:00 PM in the Church Parking lot. All orders MUST be picked up on this date. Please click here to schedule your pick-up time. Volunteers will be available to assist you.

Volunteers are needed for the Gerten's Plant Pick-Up! Please click here to for more information or to sign up. Thank you! 

Important Dates 2024-2025 School Year
Please click here to view the important dates for the 2024-2025 school year.

St. Joseph’s Home and School Association   
Recess Helpers Wanted!  Click HERE to sign up.  Lunchroom Helper Wanted! Click HERE to sign up.

If you are a new volunteer and have never completed your Virtus Training, please click here and follow the instructions.  If you are an existing volunteer and need to update your account (updates are required every 3 years), please click here for instructions.  

Parish Upcoming Events!
Pentecost Sunday Celebration
“Happy Birthday Church!
Sunday, May 19  I  Following the 11:00am Mass.
All are invited to gather for a birthday celebration with a family picnic out on the lawn. Delicious food, lawn games, a big birthday cake and more! We look forward to seeing you!

Let us know you can help make this party happen! No reservations needed but we encourage your donation ($5/person and $20/family to cover the cost of this event.
Visit: churchofstjoseph.org/pentecost-party

Celebrate the cherished “mothers” in your life this Mother’s Day!
The St. Joseph’s Community Caring for Life committee is delighted to offer single roses and plants for purchase on the weekend of May 11/12. Your generous support of this ministry is deeply appreciated. Thank you for joining us in honoring the gift of motherhood.

ENCOUNTER JESUS!
The National Eucharistic Procession will stop at Saint Joseph and all are invited to join us!
Tuesday, May 28 |  1:00-2:00pm

Saint Joseph, along with other parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are preparing the procession of the Eucharist as part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s Marian Route.

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION
Sunday, June 2  I  following 11:00am Mass
All children who received their First Eucharist this year are invited to wear their special outfits and process.

Please click here to view The Church of St. Joseph Website or view the Church Bulletin by clicking here.

• Wednesday, May 1 - Mass 8:45am - May Crowning - Muffins with Moms 7:45am
• Wednesday, May 8 - Mass 8:45am
• Wednesday, May 15 - Mass 8:45am - Volunteer Appreciation Mass
• Thursday, May 16 - Band Concert
• Wednesday, May 22 - Mass 8:45am
• Monday, May 27 - No School Memorial Day
• Tuesday, May 28 - 8th Grade Graduation 6:30pm Church
• Thursday, May 30 - Fitness Fun Day - School Spirit Wear Day
• Friday, May 31 - Last Day of School - Dismissal at 12:00pm - No Busing