Parent Letter 1/25/19

Dear Parents,                                                                                                                          
National Catholic Schools Week is January 27 - February 2. 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!

Progress Reports & Parent Teacher Conferences
Mid-trimester Progress Reports for students in grades 4-8 were mailed home today. Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, February 5 (4:30-7:30 pm) and Thursday, February 7 (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.  CLICK HERE to schedule your conference.

First Reconciliation Retreat and Sacrament
Please pray for our 2nd grade students who will be receiving their First Reconciliation on Saturday, January 26.  The students will attend a special retreat and receive the sacrament.  We thank Fr. Creagan, Fr. Wratkowski, Mrs. Fallon, Mrs. Taplin, and our families for preparing the students to receive this special sacrament of God’s mercy and love.

Catholic Schools Week - January 27 – February 2, 2019
National Catholic Schools Week is January 27 – February 2, 2019.  Everyone is excited to celebrate Catholic Education and our school with special themes days.  Information about our celebrations and events may be found in the Important Links section of this letter.

Catholic Schools Week Mass- January 27
We invite you and encourage you to attend the Catholic Schools Week Mass at the Church of St. Joseph. The Middle School Choir will be providing the music ministry at the 9:00 am Mass.  Students are asked to wear their school uniforms to the weekend Masses (January 26-27).  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.  All participating choir students will receive an out of uniform pass as well.  Thank you for celebrating and supporting our school by attending this special Mass! 
 
Open House – Sunday, January 27  10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Everyone is invited to our Preschool–Grade 8 Open House on Sunday, January 27 from 10:00am - 1:00pm.  Our Open House is an opportunity for current, prospective, and parish families to visit our school.  All classrooms will be open for visitors.  School administration and faculty will be available to meet our guests 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 this special Open House.

Fan Appreciation Week / Spirit Week – Volunteers Needed
During Fan Appreciation / Spirit Week, our students, families, and faculty cheer on our Jaguar basketball teams at their games during January 28-31.  The game schedule may be found under the Important Links section of this letter.  In addition, we are seeking volunteers to help make this a very fun event for our students.  Please CLICK HERE to volunteer!

School Carnival – Volunteers and Donations Needed
Our annual school Carnival will be held on Friday, February 1, 2019 from 12:00 noon-3:00 p.m.  Carnival is a long-standing tradition at St. Joe’s and caps off an exciting Catholic Schools Week.
 
We are looking for several volunteers to help during Carnival.  Please CLICK HERE to volunteer!  In addition, January clearance sales are a great time to pick up carnival prizes of all kinds for the General Store.  Prizes may be brought to the school office.  Please CLICK HERE to sign up to donate.  Thank you for your assistance and support of the special event for our students.

Kindergarten Information Session – January 29
Please join administration, faculty, and staff on Tuesday, January 29 ^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. 

Registration for the 2019-2020 School Year Opens in January
It’s time to enroll for the 2019-20 school year!  Current school families with children in grades K-7 will be automatically re-enrolled for the next school year.  We are excited to offer this easy enrollment process for our families – no paperwork or forms to fill out.  The annual family registration fee ($200/family) will be 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 31st.  For questions about enrollment, contact Christy Frost ( chfrost@stjosephwsp.org or 651-789-8315).
 
2019-2020 Tuition
School administration, Parish Administrator, the School Advisory Council, and the parish Finance Council reviewed and discussed tuition and fees for the next school year.  Multi-child tuition discounts, the registration fee amount, and the Family Referral Fee were discussed by these groups.  Please visit the Admissions page on our website for 2019-2020 school tuition information.
 
2019-2020 Family Referral Credit
We always invite and encourage our families to share information about our school with your families, neighbors, and friends.  We would love to have them join our wonderful school community.  A $500 Referral Credit is available to current school families for each new family they refer which registers to attend our school for next year.  Thank you for your assistance and sharing our school story.
 
St. Joe's STEM Fair - February 28
Calling all scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and inventors!  All students in grades 3-8 are invited to participate in the first ever STEM Fair.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  Winners of the St. Joe's STEM Fair will be able to compete in the CSCOE Big Bang STEM Fair in April.  Look for information coming home in your child's Friday Folder.  Middle School Science and Engineering Teacher, Miss Schafer, will be in all the classrooms, grades 3-8, to explain all the details to students next week. If you have any questions, please email elschafer@stjosephwsp.org.
 
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Mrs. Lisa Taplin (grade 2) and Ms. Kathy Walsh (grade 5) have departed for their 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  They will return on February 5, 2019.  Please pray for them as they participate in this faith-filled journey an walk in the footsteps of Jesus.  We will look forward to hearing from them during their travels and about their pilgrimage experience upon their return.
 
Volunteers Needed for Recess Duty
We are in need of help for recess duty for the upcoming months.  Whether our students are outside or inside because of the weather, volunteers offer tremendous assistance in providing supervision of students.  Please consider signing up for recess duty.  Please watch for an email from your grade rep!  Thank you very much!
 

Scholastic Book Fair – February 5-10
Scholastic Book Fair is coming to St. Joseph’s School! We are in need of Volunteers for this event.  Please CLICK HERE to sign up!

Students in grades K – 5 will be going to the Library to preview the Book Fair on Tuesday, February 5 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.  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 Thursday,
February 7.  
 
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 5 and Thursday, February 7.   It will be open at Church in the Great Room on Saturday, February 9 -  5:30pm - 6:30pm, and Sunday, February 10 -  8:30am - 12:00pm.
Please contact the school office if you have any questions 651-457-8550.
 
Panera Family Fun Night – Wednesday, February 13
Join us for the next St. Joseph’s School Family Night at Panera located at 1740 Robert Street S. in West St. Paul.  This special community event will be on Wednesday, February 13 between 4:00pm and 8:00pm.  Come enjoy a delicious meal and great fellowship with our school families.  Please consider inviting family and friends to experience our wonderful school community.  Please bring in the flyer or show an electronic version (see attached) for our school to receive a percentage of your purchase.
 
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!
 
St. Joe’s Socials are now available
You won’t want to miss these amazing parties.  These are great way to meet new families and catch up with ones you already know!  There are a variety of parties offered from class parties, teacher hosted parties, and our parent parties.  Please Click Here to register! 
 
School Mass – Friday, February 1
Please join us for our school Mass on Friday, February 1 at 9:00am in the church.  School families, friends, and members of the parish are invited to pray with our students and faculty.
 
Cub Scout Pinewood Derby
Please have your family join the St. Joe's Cub Scouts for their annual Pinewood Derby on Saturday January 26 - 6:00pm-8:30pm in the Gym. Watch students race their custom-designed wooden Derby cars along a 42 foot race track at scale speeds of over 200mph.  See former Scout - Father Creagan - race his 'Popemobile'.  Extra Derby cars will be available for your child to race in the 'Open Class' event.  Questions: Paul Elskamp - pelskamp@msn.com Winter Season- School Closing Information
Now that we are into the “winter season”, school closings 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 are closed, our school is closed, even if St. Joseph’s School is not listed in the announcement.  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.
 
Reminder to Parents – Thank you for your cooperation!
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.  Students arriving late to school can be a disruption to the learning environment when they enter the classroom.  Thank you for your cooperation.
 
Lost and Found
Parents please stop in to check the lost and found bin located in the front main entrance of our school.  There are many items including coats, hats, gloves, shoes, and gym bags.  If you are missing any of these items please stop by school to pick them up.
 
Just a Reminder
Please continue to review our Friday Letters, check your child’s Family Folder, our school website, Facebook, Twitter, and the St. Joseph parish bulletin to keep updated on all the exciting happenings at St. Joseph’s School.
 
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.
 
Upcoming Parish events include:
Parish Father Daughter Dance - Friday, February 8    Save the Date!
Please mark your calendars for Friday, February 8 ^th for the annual Father – Daughter Dance.  The dance will be held in St. Joseph’s Church Great Room from 6:30-9:30-pm.  This event is open to all ages.  Please watch the parish bulletin for ticket information.  If you are interested in helping with this event, please contact Tracy Kracht at 651-457-2709 or ryan_kracht@msn.com.
 
Our Parish Mission: Welcoming the Stranger & The Call to Holiness
Did you know we are all called to holiness? It’s not just for priests, deacons, or professed religious.  In his November 19 general audience, Pope Francis reminded us about the "universal vocation to holiness" stressed by Vatican II: "Holiness is a gift, it is a gift that the Lord Jesus gives us, when He takes us to Himself, clothes us with Himself, and renders us like Himself." Learning about the universal call to holiness is just the first of four parts of our parish mission on Saturday, February 16 ^th. Join us and learn how personal holiness is at the core of welcoming the stranger. Please see the parish website https://churchofstjoseph.org/ for more information and to register.
 
All in God’s Plan:
St. Joseph’s will be hosting an All in God’s Plan Level 1 event for 10-12 years old girls and their mothers or significant adult female on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 2-4:30pm.   Space will be limited.  Look for registration details to be announced mid-January. 
 
Mission Statement
St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence,
and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.
 
Click here to link to the weekly St. Joseph’s Church Bulletin .
 
Important Links:  Fan Appreciation Week – Game Schedule
                    Catholic Schools Week – Theme Days
                    Carnival Ticket Pre-Order Form
                    Panera Restaurant Night
                    Air Higher Scholarship
                    CDH Baseball Clinic
                    Hamline University Sports Camp
 
January Calendar Look Ahead:
Please consider joining us for some of the special events at our school.

• Sunday, January 27 – Saturday, February 2 – Catholic Schools Week
• Sunday, January 27 – St. Joseph’s School Open House; 10:00am-1:00pm.
• Monday, January 28 – Friday, February 1 – Spirit Week
• Tuesday, January 29 – Kindergarten Information Night – 6:00-7:30pm, Great Room
• Friday, February 1 – Carnival
• Tuesday, February 5- Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00pm
• Thursday, February 7 – Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30-8:00pm
• Friday, February 8 – Mass 9:00am Church
• Friday, February 8- Father Daughter Dance – Great Room
• Tuesday, February 12- Middle School NET Night – 4:00-7:30pm Great Room
• Wednesday, February 13 – Family Fun Restaurant Night, Panera WSP 4-8pm
• Friday, February 15 – Mass 9:00am Church
• Monday, February 18 – No School – President’s Day