St. Joseph's School Parent Letter
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A Message from Principal Rickbeil
In case you missed it last week, we have an incredibly cute video with Mr. Rickbeil as he interviews some of our youngest students to ask them why you should be attending the Gala on March 1, 2025. I think we will agree that they came up with some great reasons!
No School February 14, 17 Professional Development / President’s Day
There is no school on Friday, February 14th for Professional Development. There is no school on Monday, February 17th in observance of President’s Day.
St. Joseph's Catholic School Gala: March 1, 2025
The St. Joseph's Catholic School Gala is just TWO WEEKS away and the excitement is building!
We are thrilled to announce that Kenny McMahon (STJ '86) with special guest Ali Young will be performing at our first annual Gala: After Hours event! This amazing duo is prolific on the local club scene with originals and covers sure to get you singing and dancing along! So make sure to come to Gala and then STAY for Gala: After Hours!
Tickets are still available for the next week, but ticket sales close Next Friday, February 21! Click here to register. Still on the fence about attending? Why not volunteer instead! Volunteering is a great way to experience Gala while also supporting our school. Click here to sign-up.
We're still looking for a few items for our Live Auction. Items like football tickets, vacation homes, Christmas light installations, and boating experiences are always very popular! Please contact the school office if you'd like to donate to the Live Auction.
We're also looking for a number of items for our Silent Auction. Click here to view the list of basket suggestions and to sign up! Donating a basket - both as an individual or as a group - is a great way to support Gala and our school.
Remember: The St. Joseph's Catholic School Gala is our BIGGEST fundraiser of the year, with proceeds going directly back into our community to help us retain staff, support our students, and make St. Joe's education affordable for ALL families. Thank you for your support!
DONATIONS & SPONSORSHIPS
Interested in donating a basket or event tickets for the Silent Auction? Please click here for a list of suggested items and to sign-up! Interested in donating something not on the sign-up? Please click here! Sponsorship opportunities are also available! Please click here for more information.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteering at Gala is a wonderful way to support the event, while also getting a behind-the-scenes peek at all that goes into this special event. Please click here to learn more about available opportunities!
School Mass Sunday – February 23
Please join us Sunday, February 23 for the 9:00 Mass for School Mass Sunday. We invite students to wear their school uniforms and find Father Luke, Mr. Rickbeil or Mrs. Lamusga for a ticket for a spirit wear pass (requires 2 tickets- 1 per mass) or a piece of candy. If you would like to sign up to help on Sunday, February 23 or any future school Mass Sundays, please sign up at this Sign Up Genius.
Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge: February 24-28
This year, our school is participating in the American Heart Challenge and Kids Heart Challenge through the American Heart Association. The challenge will kick off with a K-5 assembly next Friday, February 21st. The goal of the week is for students to learn heart healthy habits they can apply for the rest of their lives. Families are invited to sign up your student to become an official Heart Hero and to raise money for AHA if they choose.
How To Sign Up:
Download the FREE AHA Schools App for Apple or Android and click on “Register Now” then scroll down to join your school's team.
Then complete Finn’s Mission!
All students registered before 5pm on February 20th to receive a Game Show Grab Bag at our assembly on 2/21!
The theme of American Heart Challenge this week is the Wellness Games, with healthy goals for students to practice each day of the week. Click on this link for our K-5 program and this link for the middle school.
Thank you!
Thank you to the many parents that joined us for Parent Teacher Conferences. We are grateful to partner with you. Thank you to our Home & School Association for providing lunch for our teachers on conference day! Thank you to Anna Beery and Kersten Kempf for setting up our lost and found. We hope that many of you found items that you were missing!
Enrollment for 2025-2026 and Important Financial Aid / Scholarship Deadlines
Financial Aid and Aim Higher Scholarship deadline is February 28, 2025. Please note that you are required to apply each year for both financial aid and the Aim Higher Scholarship. Please log into your TADS account and complete your Financial aid and Scholarship applications now. Please do not miss these deadlines. The Scholarships Section of the Aim Higher Foundation website also provides resources for you, including deadlines, links to TADS, flyers in Spanish and English, an extensive FAQ list, and more.
Each year families are billed the re-enrollment fee of $200 for K-8 per household. This fee will be billed through TADS in March.
The Sacraments at Saint Joseph
Father Luke and the Faith Formation Staff recently released a brochure called The Sacraments at Saint Joseph, and it is designed to help people understand our approach to sacramental preparation. It includes information about who can receive the various sacraments, what preparation looks like, how to begin the preparation process, and where to go with your questions. Our hope is that it will be useful to people who are interested in receiving the sacraments themselves or in helping their child or loved one receive the sacraments.
We especially encourage parents of school-age children to read this document, as it lays out our approach to First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation – three milestones of our young people’s lives that might look a little different than they did five years ago. The electronic version of The Sacraments at Saint Joseph is available here. Hard copies will be available in the parish office, the school office, and the gathering space.
District Food Service
All of our students have their student ID badges from ISD 197. Each student received one for their backpack as well as one they keep in the classroom. On the ID badge is their student specific lunch ID. While student lunches are free, having a milk with a home lunch is a charge. If you have not already set up a lunch account for your student, please click here and use the student ID on the badge. These accounts are set up through ISD 197’s My Payments Plus.
St. Joseph’s School Art Show April 4-6
We are very excited to announce our upcoming Art show April 4-6. Please watch for more details in the coming weeks. We are looking for volunteers to help with this great event! Please click here to learn more.
Home & School Association
Our Home & School Association works hard to help us coordinate volunteers. Below you will find 2 SUG to help coordinate volunteers for recess helpers and lunchroom helpers! Thank you all so much for coordinating this for our school!
Yearbook Sales Now Open
Presales are now open for the St. Joseph’s School Yearbook Order Your Yearbook Today! - St. Joseph's School.
Middle School Youth Group
Calling all 6th – 8th graders! St. Joseph Middle School Youth Group meets twice a month for ALIVE Nights – at time for games, fellowship, formation, and prayer. Maybe you are wanting even more time with your friends after Alive Nights. If so, stay for Mass at 5:30pm and dinner at 6pm! Learn more about middle school youth group by clicking here!
Event Dates:
Wednesdays at 4pm
February 19
March 5 & 19
April 2 & 16
May 7 & 21
REVIVE
St. Joseph Church and School is once again hosting monthly Revive Nights for our entire community. Revive is our way of participating in the Eucharistic Revival. It includes adoration, music, prayer, and reflection. Please click here to learn more about REVIVE!
Event Dates:
Wednesdays at 6:30pm
February 26
March 26
April 23
May 28
June 18
EMMAUS
The Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus will be hosting a monthly Emmaus event at St. Joseph. It will include a time of recreation, a holy hour (with childcare), and a shared meal and you will still be home by bedtime! Please mark the dates, invite others to come along and join us!
Event Dates:
Sundays from 3:00-6:00pm
March 16
May 18
SIPPING WITH THE SAINTS
Join us as we learn more about some saints and feast of the church and explore some beers, wines, and cocktails to enjoy in their honor. Our aim is to bring the book Drinking with the Saints to life and to grow in fellowship. Open to adults ages 21 & up. Register by clicking here.
Event Dates:
Friday, February 21 – 6:30pm
Friday, April 25 - 6:30pm
Please click here to view The Church of St. Joseph Website or view the Church Bulletin by clicking here.