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Parent Letter 1/10/20
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Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! I have enjoyed my return to school this week to be with our awesome faculty and your delightful children. Seeing their smiles and hearing their greetings make each day special. Thank you for entrusting and sharing your children with us at school.
We want to thank all of the families who were able to share a family Christmas card with us at school. My Principal office door could not hold all of the cards that we received. I really enjoyed looking at the cards, seeing your beautiful families, and reading the greetings.
As we conclude this first full week of school after the holiday break, we have been reminding our students of the expectations for all of us while we are at school. Our teachers have also been practicing with their students and recognizing them for following these expectations. Some of the expectations include; arriving at school on time, coming to school ready to learn, being a great listener, having school supplies, having school work completed on time, participating in classroom lessons, cooperating with teachers and classmates, using best manners in the lunchroom, playing safe at recess, and walking in the hallways quietly. In addition for our middle school students; remembering to have their computer with them and to charge it each evening. Thank you for partnering with us by reminding your children of the expectations and your confidence in their ability to follow and meet them.
January and February are very busy months at St. Joseph’s School. Plans have been finalized for several special events to take place during these months. Thank you for reading and reviewing all of this information carefully.
Our administration and faculty have scheduled a number of opportunities for families, and members of the parish and community to gather to learn more about our school. By attending any of the meetings and/or the Open House, individuals will learn about our school programs, meet faculty and staff, and receive a tour of the building.
Catholic Schools Week is scheduled for January 26 - January 31, 2020. A number of activities, events, and celebrations (including Carnival) are planned for this special week to celebrate Catholic education and our school. Jaguar Spirit and Fan Appreciation Week also takes place during that week. Go Jaguars! Please watch for a schedule for the special events taking place during the week coming soon.
Memorial Mass - Matthew Wesely
Greg and Anne Wesely would like to share with you that there will be a Memorial Mass for their son Matthew on Monday, January 20 (MLK Day) at the Church of St. Joseph. Visitation will begin at 10am followed by Mass at 11am. They invite all who can to join them.
The family will be going immediately after Mass for a private burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
Mission Statement
“St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence,
and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.”
Preschool visits Kindergarten
This week our Preschool teachers, Ms. Kirsten and Ms. Peg and Kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Byron and Mrs. Kuettel partnered to provide the chance for our four / four-five-year-old preschool children to visit our Kindergarten classrooms. The preschool children enjoyed meeting the teachers and completing special activities with the kindergarten students during their visit to the classrooms.
Registration for the 2020-21 School Year Opens in January
It’s almost time to enroll for the 2020-21 school year! Current school families will be automatically re-enrolled with the required annual family registration fee applied to family TADS accounts in February. If a current family would like to delay re-enrollment, they must notify the school office by January 15th.
Current and new families interested in learning more about our school are encouraged to attend one of our January preview nights;.- Kindergarten Preview Night - January 14th at 6pm
- Preschool Preview Night: January 23rd at 6pm
- Open House: January 26th, 10am to 1pm
Middle School Preview Night - January 9 - Thank you!
Thank you to the several families who attended our Middle School Preview night. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to share with you the outstanding opportunities that St. Joseph’s Middle School has to offer for your child(ren).
Kindergarten Preview Night – January 14
Please join school administration and faculty on Tuesday, January 14 th at 6:00 p.m. in the parish’s Great Room to learn more about our school’s Kindergarten program. Families will also tour our Kindergarten classrooms and visit with our faculty during the evening. Childcare will be available.
Preschool Preview Night – January 23
Please join us Thursday, January 23rd at 6:00pm in the Preschool Classrooms to learn more about the preschool offerings we provide for 3 & 4 year olds. Childcare will be available.
Open House – Sunday, January 26th 10:00 am – 1:00 pm St. Joseph School has scheduled an opportunity for current, prospective, and parish families to visit our school. Everyone is invited to our Preschool –Grade 8 Open House on Sunday, January 26 from 10:00am - 1:00pm. All classrooms will be open for visitors. School administration and faculty will be available to meet with you and share information about our school. If you know of a family (parish member, neighbor, relative, colleague at work) who may be interested in learning more about our school, please invite them to attend the special Open House.
Church of St. Joseph Bulletin Insert
A copy of an insert that was included in this past weekend’s Church of St. Joseph bulletin has been attached for your information. We will continue to communicate and share information about our school with the members of the parish during this month as well as at our school Preview Nights and Open House.
No School- Friday, January 17th and Monday, January 20th
There will be no school on Friday, January 17th and Monday, January 20th. Faculty will be attending professional development on Friday and we observe the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Monday. Enjoy your long weekend!
School in Session – Tuesday, January 21st
School will be in session on Tuesday, January 21st for students and faculty. Please note that school is not in session for students in ISD 197. Transportation and school lunch will not be available for families. Parents will need to provide transportation to / from school and lunch for their children on this day.
Preschool Information
Preschool will not be in session on Friday, January 17th and Tuesday, January 21st. Our Preschool teachers will be conducting Telephone Conferences with the parents of their students. In addition, on Wednesday, January 22nd, the penguins from will visit the PreKindergarten 4/5 ‘s class.
First Reconciliation Retreat and Sacrament
Please pray for our 2nd grade students who will be receiving their First Reconciliation on Saturday, January 25. The students will attend a special retreat and receive the sacrament. We thank Fr. Creagan, Fr. Wratkowski, Mrs. Fallon, Mrs. Taplin, members of the parish’s Faith Formation Office, and our families for preparing the students to receive this special sacrament of God’s mercy and love.
School Carnival
Planning is underway for Carnival to be held on Friday, January 31, 2020. Please watch for packets coming home in today’s Friday Folders. Carnival is a long-standing tradition at St. Joe’s and caps off an exciting Catholic Schools Week. Carnival will be held during the school day and students will have a normal school schedule from 8:40am-12:00pm followed by the start of Carnival at 12:00pm. Students are treated to lunch in their classrooms before being dismissed for Carnival. All Preschool - 1st grade students must be accompanied by an adult or middle school student at all times throughout the Carnival. Carnival ends at 3:00pm and student will return to their classrooms to prepare for normal dismissal at 3:40pm. Please watch for more details coming out soon.
We are in need of donations for prizes at our school Carnival! Please click here to sign up for a donation. After Christmas and clearance sales are a great time to pick up carnival prizes of all kinds. Prizes may be brought to the school office. ( No used items please) Please watch for volunteer opportunities for this event. Thank you for your assistance and support of the special event!
St. Joe’s Winter Socials - Now Open!
St. Joe’s Winter Socials are now open! Please see the attachment below for a list and details of the Socials that are now available! Please click here to register to attend.
Early Childhood Screening for Preschool Aged Children: Please be sure to make an appointment for Preschool Early Childhood screening through the school district you reside in. Screening is required now for most schools, instead of highly recommended as in the past. It is suggested that the screening be completed at the 3½ age level. Even if your child is past the age recommendation, it is still necessary to make an appointment. Please contact Vicki Young at 651-789-8300 if you have any questions or need additional information.
St. Joe’s Swim Team Information
This year, over 70 swimmers are registered for the swim team. The students in specific grades have been assigned practice times in order to keep the two sessions relatively even. There will be a few families with children in both sessions.
The first night of practice will be Monday, January 13th. Please follow this schedule;- 6:00 (sharp) Coaches meeting in the hall outside the girls locker room
- 6:15-6:30 Grades K-3 Parent and swimmer meeting
- 6:30-7:00 Grades K-3 Swim practice
- 7:05-7:15 Grades 4-8 Parent and swimmer meeting
- 7:15-8:00 Grades 4-8 Swim practice
Due to the Henry Sibley boys high school swim team using the pool, there will be no locker room access for the K-3 boys until 6:15 pm. Therefore, K-3 boys need to arrive ready to go with their swimsuit under their clothes.
There will be no entry into the pool area until 6:05 pm. Please be respectful of the Sibley team as they will have just gotten out of the water.
More information regarding the season will be covered at the parent meeting on Monday. Any additional questions should be directed to Kara Farley, Katrina Schneeman and/or Kristy Simmons.
Karafarley@comcast.net Katrinaschneeman@gmail.com Kristy.simmons@medtronic.com
Does Your Employer Offer a Matching Gift Program?
Employer matching programs are a wonderful way to maximize your donation to St. Joseph’s School. Please look into your employer programs to see if they may participate in this program. If you have any questions or need help with the process, please contact Lisa Wrobel in our school office. Thank you.
Reminders for Parents
As we return to school, we would like to remind parents of the following;
Start of school day
Our school day for students in grades K-8 begins at 8:40 a.m. Our school doors open at 8:30am. Please make sure your child is arriving to school and in their classroom prior to 8:40 a.m. so they are not tardy. A student’s school day begins smoothly when they are at school and in their classroom on time. In addition, students arriving late to school can be a disruption to the learning environment when they enter the classroom. Thank you for your cooperation (and your child’s cooperation) in arriving at school on time.
Morning student drop off
Vehicles are to approach the school traveling on Seminole Ave. in front of the church and school buildings. Vehicles need to move forward as far as possible along Seminole Ave. when dropping off students. After students are dropped off, vehicles should continue on Seminole and only turn right at the stop sign onto Butler Ave. The line of cars moves quicker and limits congestion when vehicles only turn right. Parents need to park their vehicle in the west parking lot across from the church and walk their child across Seminole Ave. if they need to assist their child coming to the school building. For safety reasons, parents should not park on Seminole Ave. across from the school building and walk their child across the street.
Afternoon student pick up
Vehicles are to enter the parking lot via the Butler entrance (north), park in the back rows of the parking lot facing the school building, and exit the parking lot via Orme Street (south past the rectory-priests’ residence). Parents are to get out of their vehicles, pick up their child, and walk them through the traffic area. Parents entering the parking lot, moving forward without parking, and having their child come to the car without parking creates confusion, a disruption in the flow of vehicles leaving the parking lot, and threatens the safety of our students and faculty. Parents should not pick up their children from Butler or Orme Streets. Please use reduced speeds and caution when exiting the parking lot. Note: Vehicles should not exit the parking lot going down the entrance driveway to Butler.
Volunteers Needed for Recess Duty - Please help
We need help for recess duty for the remaining months of school. Whether our students are outside or inside because of the weather, volunteers offer tremendous assistance in providing supervision of students. Please click here to volunteer in January.
Winter Season- School Closing Information
Now that we are into the “winter season”, school closings due to snow and/or extreme cold are announced on television and radio. St. Joseph’s School is always listed with our school district; ISD 197 West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan. If District 197 schools close, our school will close. In addition, our school office will also send out an “email blast” to our school families and a message will be posted on our school website announcing the closing of school. Please note; If an extreme number of weather related closings occur, school administration will evaluate the need to reschedule instructional days.
The Weather is Changing
Winter continues in West St. Paul with more predictions of cold temperatures and snow. Please send your children to school with their sweaters, sweatshirts, jackets, and “snow gear” including hats, scarves, and nylon gloves/mittens so your child’s hands remain dry. Please remember to label all of your child’s clothing so that it can be returned to him/her in the event that it is misplaced or lost while at school. Our school’s Lost and Found is located on the first floor outside of the cafeteria.
School Masses
Our next school Mass will be on Thursday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m. in the Church. Parents and family members are always welcome to attend our school Masses and prayer devotions during the school year.
Painting with Mr. Beaman
St. Joe’s moms are invited to attend “Painting with Mr. Beaman”. This special event will be held on January 31st at 6:30pm in the parish’s Great Room. This is the fourth year of painting fun! Join a group of ladies for a fun and relaxing night of wine, hors d’oeuvres, and painting lead by our own amazingly talented art teacher Mr Beaman! It will be the perfect way to unwind after a fun Carnival Day!
Sign up here: https://stjosephwsp.org/paint-night
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.
Middle School Youth Nights
Middle School Youth Nights will be held every other week throughout the year! These nights will be held on the 1st and 3rd week of each month and will include fun, snacks, fellowship, and different types of prayer such as bible study, Adoration, and small groups. Please see the attachment for a full list of dates and times. If you have any questions, please contact Jake Debolt at jake.debolt@churchofstjoseph.org
Regular Joes - Exodus 90
Join the Regular Joes for Exodus 90 - January 13-April 12. Please click on the link below to learn more or click on this link to download the app https://exodus90.com/.
Click here to link to the weekly St. Joseph’s Church Bulletin .
Important Links:
School Preview Information Nights / Open House/Letter from Mr. Wesely
Carnival Packet
Middle School Youth Nights
Regular Joes Exodus 90
January Look Ahead:
° Tuesday, Jan. 13 - Kindergarten Preview Night 6:00pm Great Room
° Thursday, Jan. 16 - 9:00am Mass Church
° Friday, Jan. 17 - No School for Students, Professional Development for Staff
° Monday, Jan. 20 - No School for Students, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
° Tuesday, Jan. 21 - School IN Session - Parent Transportation and No School Lunch
° Tuesday, Jan. 21 - No Preschool - Phone Conferences
° Thursday, Jan. 23 - Preschool Preview Night 6:00pm, Preschool
° Friday, Jan. 24 - Mass 9:00am Church
° Saturday, Jan. 25 - First Reconciliation Retreat & Sacrament - Parent & 2nd Grader
(Mailing will be sent with exact times)
° Sunday, Jan. 26 - Catholic Schools Week Mass 9:00 a.m. Church of St. Joseph
° Sunday, Jan. 26 - Catholic Schools Week Open House 10:00am- 1:00pm, School
° Sunday, Jan. 26 - Friday, Jan. 31- Catholic Schools Week
° Monday, January 27 - Friday, January 31 - Jaguar Spirit Week
° Friday, Jan. 31 - Mass 9:00am Church
° Friday, Jan. 31 - Carnival