St. Joseph's School Parent Letter 9/1/2022

Principal Note - Thursday, September 1 
Thank you for a wonderful first week of school.  Ms. Wenner and I received many wonderful emails and had conversations that your children are happy and things are going well!  We had our first fire drill today and will be practicing a lock down next week.  Students are invited to wear SPIRIT WEAR on Wednesday, September 7th.  

No School - Friday, September 2 and Monday, September 5 
There will be no school on Friday, September 2rd  and Monday September 5th.  Please enjoy the Labor Day holiday weekend with your family!  We look forward to seeing our students when they return on Tuesday, September 6.

School Mass
Our first Mass of the school year was celebrated today.  It was a beautiful way to end the week.  Our school Masses are typically scheduled on Fridays  beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Church.   Please note that exceptions may be for Holy Days of Obligation and days when school is not in session.  Our school Masses are listed on the school website calendar.

Parents are welcome to attend Mass, but students may begin sitting with their parents on September 30th.  This gives the classes four Masses to become familiar with their assigned pews and participation expectations as they often receive a grade related to their Mass participation.

ISD 197 Food Service
ISD 197 will begin providing hot lunch and milk options to our school on September 6th.   Please visit our school website under the Parents section for a monthly menu. Please remind your children that they may not take things from the salad bar if they are not having hot lunch on that day. 

ISD 197 Transportation
Bus transportation will begin on September 6th.  You should have received bus cards directly from ISD197.  Please let your child’s teacher know what their bus numbers are for their records.   If you have questions regarding bus transportation please contact ISD Transportation directly:  651-403-8320 or transportation@isd197.org.  Please note, school buses WILL BE LATE the first couple of weeks, please be patient as drivers learn their new routes.

A Message from the School Nurse
As we enter into our new school year we would like to share with you our current plan for Covid related illnesses.  Please click here to review.  Please contact the school office if you have any questions.

Spiritwear Day - Wednesday, September 7
Wednesday, September 7 is our first spiritwear day.  Students are asked to wear their Jaguar spiritwear.  If your child does not have spiritwear, they may wear black/gray/orange.  Students who do not want to wear spiritwear may wear their school uniform.  Spiritwear Days are scheduled for the 1st Wednesday of each month.  

Curriculum Nights at St. Joseph’s School!
Parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend Curriculum Night for their children’s grade levels.  The K - 5 event is on Tuesday, September 6 and the Middle School event is on September 8.  Both events begin at 6:30 p.m. with a 15 minute presentation by our administration and then parents will be invited to rotate to their children’s classrooms for a 15 minute presentation.  There will be 3 classroom sessions to help you get to most of your children’s teachers. We look forward to seeing you there!

Spirit Wear Sales Tuesday, September 6!
Two chances to get your spirit wear! St. Joe's Spirit Wear will be on sale next Tuesday, Sept. 6 in the Church Parking Lot from 3:00-4:00 p.m. AND at the K-5 Curriculum Night, starting at 6:00 p.m. in room 207 across from the school main office.  Youth and adult apparel will be available along with St. Joe's stickers! New this year: Credit cards will now be accepted along check payments (no cash please). 

Thank you to Angie Hanzal, Spirit Wear Coordinator, for facilitating this sale. 

St. Joseph’s Preschool Begins Next Week!
Please join us in welcoming our youngest Jaguars into the building next week!  Our Terrific 3’s and our PreK4/5’s classes will have their first day of school on Tuesday, September 6 and our PreK4’s class will have their first day on Wednesday, September 7.  We are so excited to have them join us!

Parent Letters and Attendance Communication
All non-emergency communications will come electronically through this Parent Letter.   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.   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”.

Parent Volunteers - Virtus Requirement Prior to Volunteering
We are very excited to welcome our parents into the building to volunteer.  We have many opportunities throughout the year where we will invite parents and grandparents in to share their time and talents with us.  All Catholic Schools in MN require that all  employees, and volunteers who interact with minors, are required to complete and maintain safe environment credentials through the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.  The program through the Arch is called Virtus.  

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.  

Some existing accounts have been placed in an inactive mode if you have not volunteered recently.  If that has happened and you are interested in becoming reactivated, or if you have any questions,  please contact  Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org.  

To ensure successful completion of the requirements, follow the information below before creating your VIRTUS account. If you have an existing VIRTUS account, contact Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org for assistance so your account can be updated prior to login. 

Lifetouch Picture Day
School pictures are scheduled for Monday, September 26.  This will be an out-of-uniform day. Lifetouch is looking for parent volunteers to help line up the students and assist the photographers.  Volunteers receive a free picture package for their child.  Please email Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org  if you are interested.  Please watch for information next week to order your picture package.

St. Joseph’s Home and School Association 
Your Home and School Association exists to support our faculty, students, and families by coordinating volunteers, organizing community events, and providing enrichment opportunities for our students.  Did you know that YOU are a part of the St. Joseph’s Home and School Association?  Every family is a member, and all members are represented by grade representatives and an executive committee.  Everyone is welcome to learn more about Home and School.  Please contact Christina Mahady  christina.mahady@gmail.com.   We are looking forward to a GREAT year at St. Joseph’s!

Used Uniform Sale * Book Covering * Coffee & Donuts                                                                                                              

Thank you to Bri Brekke,  Sara Rogers, and the many volunteers for organizing the Used Uniform Sale in August.  Thank you to Katy Lasure and her team of volunteers for organizing the Book Covering event.   These events brought in dollars for our school.  Thank you to Christina Mahaday and the Home & School Team for the wonderful donuts and coffee for our families to celebrate this new school year.   THANK YOU!

Famfare Kitchen - Home & School Fundraiser
Famfare Kitchen is partnering with us this Fall to give you a night off from cooking and support our school at the same time! Meals will be delivered on the second Tuesday of every month starting with September 13. You can now also order ahead for future pick-ups. 

15% of all orders placed by our families will be donated back to the school!

What it is: Famfare Kitchen is owned and operated by two Midwestern moms, they provide hot, homemade, family-style meals which serve 4-6 people. Meals include an entrée, salad, sides and/or bread, prepared fresh, delivered hot and ready to eat!

How it works: you can place your food orders by using our dedicated sign up link. On the day of our fundraiser you can pick up your meals at school, by the Church entrance, between 3:45pm and 4pm, go home and enjoy a hot meal without the mess or stress!

First Give Back Night Date: Tuesday, September 13 (advance ordering is also available for the October, November and December dates!)

On the Menu: Pulled Pork Carnitas Taco Bowls / GSF / mildly spicy pulled pork served with Spanish rice, shredded lettuce, homemade salsa, cheddar cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips

Order by: Monday, September 12

Pick up: At school, by the Church entrance, between 3:45pm and 4pm

Order here: https://famfarekitchen.com/raisefunds

Please visit the “Parent” section on our website for more information on Chess Club and Art Club.  Please note - Chess Club is open to students in grades K-8.  They are having a little difficulty with their site and may only list K-5.  If you have a student in grades 6-8, please register on the 5th grade tab.  

• Friday, September 2 - No School
• Monday, September 5 - No School Labor Day
• Tuesday, September 6 - Curriculum Night (K-5) 6:30pm - Spiritwear Sales
• Wednesday, September 7 - Out of Uniform - Spiritwear Day
• Thursday, September 8 - Curriculum Night (6-8) 6:30pm
• Friday, September 9 - Mass 9am , Family Art Night 5:00pm-6:30pm
• Friday, September 16 - Mass 9am
• Friday, September 23 - Mass 9am
• Monday, September 26 - School Picture Day, Out of Uniform
• Friday, September 30 - Mass 9am