Parent Letter 11/20/20

Dear Parents,

Today was really a GREAT Day to be a JAGUAR!  Out students and staff proudly wore their Jag swag (spirit wear) and our school colors of black, orange, and white.  

At Mass. Fr. Creagan shared information with the students about the upcoming Solemnity of Christ the King (Sunday, November 22), one of the four most important feast celebrations in the Catholic church.  If your children say something, Fr. Creagan did say they may have 3 desserts on the feast day.  He also reminded the students that we will be beginning a new Liturgical Year in the church on November 29 with the beginning of the season of Advent.

At the end of the school day, we held our School Raffle Celebration.  The students were able to watch Mario and Luigi (aka Mr. Wesely and Fr. Wratkowski) race on mini bikes around the school parking lot as a reward for them reaching and exceeding the raffle goal of $75,000.  After the race, the students were surprised with a special ice cream treat.  It was a wonderful ending to a great day and week.

I would like to thank our students and families for selling tickets and supporting this important fundraising event for our school.  Tickets for the raffle remain available for purchase through the school and parish offices.  Tickets will be drawn and the lucky winners announced at our school’s Gala on Saturday, December 5. 

Give to the Max - Thank you!
Thank you St. Joseph's Community for your support during Give to the Max! We did not reach our goal of $50,000 this year, but we are extremely grateful for all of the funds raised to help us to Make our Mission Happen!

St. Joseph’s School Gala 
The St. Joseph's Gala, our school’s largest annual fundraising event during the year, will be a virtual event held on December 5, 2020.  It's an opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate Catholic education and the legacy of our school as well as raise funds for carrying out the mission of our school; educating students through faith formation and academic excellence.  Please start making your plans to attend and participate in the Gala.  If you are interested in sponsoring this event or know of businesses that might be interested, please email rachael.amarante@gmail.com

Gala registration and bidding will open on Friday November 27th.  Visit https://stjosephwsp.org/gala to learn more!  If you would like to make a donation to our Fund the School mission prior to the bidding opening, please reach out to Rachael.amarante@gmail.com

Picture Retake Day - Monday
Picture Retake Day is on Monday, November 23.  All students may be out of uniform on this day.  If you would like to have your child’s picture retaken, it is not necessary to return the original set of pictures back on November 23rd with your child, just remind them to have their pictures taken.

If your child was absent on picture day we ask that they have their picture taken on Monday for the yearbook and if you would like to pre-order a picture package, please click here to do so. 

Thanksgiving Food Drive  “Do a good deed; help a neighbor in need!” THANK YOU!!!
Thank you so much for the many donations that we received during our Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.  Our students brought in 1,252 pound of non perishable food items!  That is about 1,000 meals that we provided to our Neighbors in Need.  Neighbors Inc shared their tremendous gratitude for your generosity and kindness!  Well done St. Joe’s!

St. Joseph’s 2020 Christmas Ornament 

Order your St. Joseph's 2020 Christmas Ornament today! Limited supply, click here to order. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 27th or while supplies last.

Ornaments will be available for pick-up at the church or will be sent home with students during the second week of December. All proceeds from ornament sales will go to support the St. Joseph's School Gala.  If you have any questions about your order, please contact Betsy Joyce at betsybjoyce@gmail.com

Thank you!
Thank you to the Chamberlain Family for bringing in the most delicious donuts for our faculty and staff today.  What a wonderful treat - Thank you!

School Mass - Note change
At this time, a change regarding our school Masses is being implemented immediately.  Our students and faculty will view the Mass via live stream in their classrooms.  They will not be attending Mass in person in the church.  The Mass is live streamed on the Church of St. Joseph website.  Fr. Creagan and Fr. Wratkowski will visit our grade 3-8 classrooms to distribute Holy Communion to our students and faculty after Mass.  Parents and families may continue to view the Mass on the Church of St. Joseph website; www.churchofstjoseph.org. I hope you are able to join us.  It is a blessing to be able to pray and worship as a school community and to receive Jesus in the Eucharist.  

Preschool News
This week we welcomed back our Preschool Staff, students and families.  We understand that it was a wonderful and exciting week back for everyone.  Here are some of the many wonderful activities and things happening in our Preschool.

Parent Teacher Conferences
We would like to thank our parents for their time during our recent Parent Teacher Conferences.  We enjoyed sharing information about your child’s experiences in Preschool.

Dramatic Play is Fun!
I hope you will hear about our new dramatic play area this coming week. Our dramatic play area has magically changed from Fall Camping to a Preschool Grocery Store. The children are going to have a great time learning and playing the different roles of a grocery employee, as well as being a valued customer.  “Clean up on aisle 4!”
This month we will focus on God giving us everything and what he knows we need.  The children will also learn and reflect on what it means to be thankful as we approach this holiday season.

Thanksgiving Feast
The Preschool children will be celebrating Thanksgiving.  They will play a few turkey games, enjoy special Thanksgiving stories, and finally share a feast together.  The children will be creating their own turkey snack with fruit and other ingredients.  The children will use their special Thanksgiving placemat on our feast day, too.  In addition, the children will visit the chapel to say a thanksgiving prayer.  It is a time to celebrate all God has given us, including our new friends and school.

Thank you . . .
As the preschool staff reflect this time of year on blessings and joy, our preschool families and children come first to mind.  We feel so grateful and blessed to share in your child’s first school experience. Thank you for sharing your children with us and allowing us to get to know your family.

Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Pre-Order - Jameson’s Irish Bar (Formally Cherokee Tavern)

Thanksgiving 2020 Curbside and pick-up:  Please let them know you are there for the St. Joseph’s School Fundraiser and 15% of the proceeds will go to our school!

2 people $60 4 people $115

Everything packaged oven ready with instructions, Pick-up is Wednesday November 25 from 1-7pm

Email order to sales@briecater.com or call the owner Brian Rubenzer 651-755-4798 and we will process payment and schedule a pick-up time that works for you

Parent Letters / Attendance Communication
All non-emergency communications will come home on Fridays in 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”. 

Mission

“St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence,

and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.”

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.

Please click here to view our St. Joseph’s Church weekly bulletin.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Monday, Nov. 23 - Picture Retake Day - Out of Uniform
• Tuesday, Nov. 24 - End of Trimester 1
• Wednesday, Nov. 25 - Friday Nov. 27 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
• Sunday, Nov. 29- First Sunday of Advent
• Monday, Nov. 30- Beginning of Trimester 2