Parent Letter 1/24/20

Dear Parents,
 
Mrs. Wesely and I would like to thank you for joining us at the Memorial Mass for our son Matthew on Monday, January 20.  We continue to feel the comfort of your prayers and feel blessed to be part of this St. Joseph’s Community.   
 
“Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”
 
National Catholic Schools Week is January 26 - January 31, 2020. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.” Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Schools typically celebrate with Masses, Open Houses, and other special activities for students, families, parishioners, and the community. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to students, their families and its contributions to our church, our communities, and our nation.
 
We invite you to join us for a celebration of our school during this week.  Our celebration includes special theme days, Mass, special events including our annual Carnival, and Open House, and Jaguar Fan Appreciation Week.  Catholic Schools Week information may be found in this letter, in your Family Folders, and on our school website.  We hope that you are able to join us!
 
Mission
We thank members of our school and parish communities for assisting us in carrying out the mission of St. Joseph’s School.  Our school is the largest ministry of the parish and with everyone’s support we continue to “educate students through faith formation, academic excellence, and the development of virtue so they may become disciples of Christ.”
 
We fulfill our mission by:

• inspiring spiritual growth through classroom instruction, prayer, liturgy, devotions, sacraments, retreats and service.
• challenging students with a comprehensive curriculum enriched with fine arts and co-curricular activities meeting the needs of all learners.

• engaging students in an environment that allows them to develop virtue through shared responsibility, self-discipline, respect, honor and faith in Christ.

 
Please continue to be involved in the many opportunities to help us carry out our mission by volunteering at our school and sharing our school’s story with others.  Thank you!
 
Progress Reports & Parent Teacher Conferences                                                                                  Mid-trimester Progress Reports for students in grades 4-8 were mailed to families today.  Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, February 4 (4:30-7:30 pm) and Thursday, February 6 (4:30-7:30 pm).  Either the teacher, or the parent may request a conference to discuss the student’s progress.  Conferences are requested for, but not limited to, academic or behavior concerns, special education updates, etc.  If you would like to schedule a conference please      click here to sign up.  Please note that the sign up will close at midnight on Sunday, Feb. 2.  Any additions or changes needed after that date will need to be done through our school office.
 
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. 
 
Catholic Schools Week - January 26 – January 31, 2020                                                               National Catholic Schools Week is January 26 – January 31, 2020.  Everyone is excited to celebrate Catholic Education and our school with special theme days.  Please click the link below for more information.
 
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, Atriums, and areas of the school building 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.
 
Catholic Schools Week Mass- January 26 - 9:00 a.m.
We invite you and encourage you to attend the Catholic Schools Week Mass to be held at 9:00 a.m. at the Church of St. Joseph.  Students are asked to wear their school uniforms to the weekend Masses (January 25-26).  Students who wear their uniform will receive an out-of-uniform pass.  Parents, please send a note to your child’s teacher indicating they wore their uniform to Mass on Saturday or Sunday to receive their out-of-uniform pass.  Thank you for celebrating and supporting our school by attending this special Mass.
 
Jaguar Fan Appreciation Week - January 27 – January 30, 2020 - Volunteers Needed!                    Jaguar Fan Appreciation Week is scheduled for Monday, January 27 through Thursday, January 30, 2020.  Students and families are invited to show their school spirit and cheer on our Jaguar basketball teams in the gymnasium. We are seeking volunteers to help with this fun week - please click here to volunteer. Information about this annual event with dates and times went home in Friday Folders this week.
 
School Carnival
Planning is underway for Carnival to be held on Friday, January 31, 2020.  Carnival Pre-Ticket Sales Order forms were sent home in 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.   
 
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)  
 
Many volunteers are also needed for our Carnival to be a wonderful experience for our students.  Please click here to volunteer.  Please consider signing up for one or more of the volunteer opportunities for this event.  Thank you for your assistance and support of the special event!
 
We invite all Middle School Students to attend the After-Carnival Party on Friday, January 31st, 2020.  This party is hosted by The Middle School Faculty.  The party will include inflatables and other Middle School activities from the day’s Carnival.  Permission Slips went home with Middle School Students today in Friday Folders (also attached).
 
Spelling Bee – Wednesday, January 29
The annual St. Joseph’s School Spelling Bee for 4th - 8th grade students will be held on Wednesday, January 29 beginning at 9:00 am in the gym.  Two students from each classroom have been chosen to participate in the Spelling Bee.  Good luck to all of the participants;                 p-a-r-t-i-c-i-p-a-n-t-s; participants.
 
Registration for the 2020-21 School Year Opened in January
Student enrollment has begun for the 2020-21 school year!  Current school families are automatically re-enrolled with the required annual family registration fee applied to family TADS accounts in February.
 
Current and new families interested in learning more about our school are encouraged to attend our Catholic Schools Week Open House on January 26th from 10am to 1pm.
Families not able to attend Preview Nights or needing additional information and/or having questions about enrollment for next school year, please contact Lindsay Mayernik, Enrollment Coordinator at limayernik@stjosephwsp.org or by calling 651-789-8315.
In addition, we ask for your assistance in helping share our school story with others and increase our student enrollment.  Please consider inviting families you know to attend our Open House or contact our school to receive information or visit our school.  New families interested in enrolling their child(children) at our school should visit our school website and click on the Admissions tab.
 
Preschool Preview Night – January 23
Thank you to the many families who attended our Preschool Preview Information Night.  We really enjoyed sharing information about our growing Preschool program.  If you were not able to attend or have friends or neighbors that might be interested in the wonderful program, please contact our Preschool Director, Vicki Young at 651-789-8300.
 
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.  
Please click here to volunteer in February.
 
Fiddler on the Roof - Middle School Musical
The performances are scheduled for; Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13.  Ticket information will be provided in a future Friday Letter. We hope that you are able to attend a performance.
 
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 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.
 
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.
 
Scholastic Book Fair – February 4 - 9                                                                                            Scholastic Book Fair is coming to St. Joseph’s School!  Proceeds from the Book Fair are used to purchase books for our Library.  Students in grades K – 5 will be going to the Library to preview the Book Fair on Tuesday, February 4 with their class.  Students will come home on Tuesday with a wish list that they have filled out with items that they are interested in purchasing at the fair.  Then, Thursday, February 7 will be their Book Fair purchase day.  If you are interested in purchasing items from your students wish list or other items, please send in money with your student on the Book Fair purchase day.  
 
Students in Middle School will be attending the Book Fair on Wednesday, February 6.  This will be their purchase day.  Please send money with your student on Wednesday if they are interested in purchasing any Book Fair items.
 
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open during Parent Teacher Conferences 4:00pm-8:00pm on Tuesday, February 4 and Thursday, February 6.   It will be open at Church in the Great Room on Saturday, February 8 -  5:30pm - 6:30pm, and Sunday, February 9 -  8:30am - 12:00pm.  Please contact the school office if you have any questions; 651-457-8550.
 
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.
 
School Masses
Our next school Mass will be on Friday, January 31st  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.
 
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.  
 
Mens’ Poker Night
Join us this Saturday for Mens' Poker Night!   Free admission, free to play, and free beer and snacks!  Prizes for the winners!  No problem if you are rusty or haven't played before -- we will teach you!  Evening starts at 7:00, but come any time until we shut it down at 11:00.  18 and older.  Come on out! Click here for more information.
 
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
 
Click here to link to the weekly St. Joseph’s Church Bulletin .
 
Important Links:
Carnival Ticket Pre-Sales
Fan Appreciation Week Game Schedule
Spirit Week Dress Up Days
Middle School Carnival After Party Permission Slip
Middle School Youth Nights
Hamline University All Sports Camp
 
January / February Look Ahead:
             °  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 
            °  Wednesday, Jan. 29 - Spelling Bee 9:00am Gym
            °  Friday, Jan. 31 - Mass 9:00am Church
            °  Friday, Jan. 31 - Carnival
            °  Tuesday, Feb. 4 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30pm
            °  Thursday, Feb. 6 - Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-7:30pm        
            °  Friday, Feb. 7- Mass 9:00am Church
            °  Friday, Feb. 14 - Mass 9:00am Church
            °  Monday, Feb. 17 - No School Presidents Day