Parent Letter 2/26/21

Dear St. Joseph’s School Parents,          

Greetings from St. Joseph’s School!  This week it was a great week to be a Jaguar!!

Please continue reading this week’s Parent Letter to learn about a message from Mrs. Dovenmuehler and her Family, COVID reminders from our School Nurse, Meet Mrs. Deidi Keating, School Uniform Reminders, 2021-2022 Enrollment, Culvers Restaurant Night, Wakota Guiding Star Gala Tomorrow, First Communion Information along with Upcoming Parish News.

Mission

“St. Joseph’s Catholic School educates students through faith formation, academic excellence, and the development of virtue to be disciples of Christ.”

We thank all members of our school community for assisting us in carrying out the mission of St. Joseph’s School. 

A Message from Mrs. Dovenmuehler and her Family
Mrs. Debbie Dovenmuehler, 1st grade teacher, was diagnosed nearly a year ago with an aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma.  Mrs. Dovenmuehler had undergone surgery and treatment over the course of the year.  At this time, her family has shared with us that she is no longer able to continue treatment and has transitioned to a Hospice Care Facility.  

A Spiritual Bouquet was created for Mrs. Dovenmuehler.  We thank the over 120 individuals and families who placed prayers and devotions in the bouquet for her and her family.  Please continue to keep Mrs. Dovenmuehler and her family in your prayers.  

An Important Message from Our School Nurse
St. Joseph's School parents . . . If you have ANY member of your household that is being tested for COVID-19 due to an exposure, potential exposure, or with COVID symptoms - please keep ALL family members home from school until those test results have been received.  This simple mitigation greatly decreases any “close contact” exposure that could happen if a positive asymptomatic family member remains at school until those test results are known.  Thank you for your cooperation and helping to keep our students and faculty in school!

Uniform Dress Code / General Appearance Information
We want to thank our St. Joseph’s School parents for helping your child(ren) come to school each and every day dressed appropriately in their school uniforms and ready to learn.  At this time of the school year, we need to remind families that all students are expected to follow our school’s uniform dress code policy.

St. Joseph’s students are expected to come to school in compliance with the school’s dress code.  Uniforms should fit properly and be in good repair.  Some specific details of our dress code to remember include;

• St. Joseph’s cardigan sweaters, sweat shirts, and/or pullovers may only be worn in school.  Youth sports team, high school, and/or professional team sweatshirts are not included in the dress code and should not be worn in school.  School Spirit Wear clothing (shirts, sweatshirts, pullovers) may be worn in school on designated spirit days.
• Girl’s jumper /skirt hem lengths should be no shorter than four (4) inches above the knees.
• Boy’s pants should be free of tears and holes and be in good condition.
• Uniform shorts may be worn beginning April 1st.  Walking short/Bermuda length is appropriate.

In addition to dress code uniform clothing, students need to come to school well groomed.  

Specific details to remember include;

• Shaggy hairstyles do not meet the school’s dress code.  Bangs should be above the eyebrows and boy’s lengths should not extend below the ears or over the collar. 
• Unusual hairstyles, dyes, and hair extensions are not allowed.
• Face/body glitter, excessive make-up, body piercing other than ears, tattoos, nail polish, jewelry, clothing or accessories, which draw attention or are considered to be distracting are prohibited.

Hats/caps, scarves (even if they are school plaid), pants/sweat pants under skirts or jumpers, or other non-uniform apparel are not to be worn in the school during class.

Donald’s Uniform Store is our preferred uniform supplier.   In addition, the school has a variety of gently worn uniform clothing items (shirts, pants, shorts, pullovers) that will be available for purchase at our upcoming uniform sale this spring.  Please watch for more information.

We understand that your children continue to not only learn but grow during the school year.  Thank you for your continued support of our school dress code uniform dress code policy by having your children come to school 

Introducing Mrs. Deidi Keating - Title I Teacher
We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Deidi Keating has been hired by ISD 197 to be our Title I teacher.  Deidi is currently an Early Childhood Screener in the school district.   Mrs. Keating has been an educator for over 25 years.  Her experience includes teaching at the elementary level for over 10 years (St. Croix Catholic School – Stillwater), private tutoring, and center based tutoring.  She is licensed K-6th grade and currently in a graduate program earning an Early Childhood Special Education degree.  Mrs. Keating will be collaborating with our teachers providing academic support in math and reading to students who qualify for Title I services.

Specialist Classes
As we begin trimester 3, our K-8 students begin instruction with a new specialist teacher.  Throughout the remainder of the school year, our students will receive instruction from each specialist teacher - Art, Music, PE, and Spanish - for three weeks.  Beginning March 8, the schedule will be;

• Grades K-1  Music with Mrs. Bowe
• Grades 2-3  PE with Mr. Reyes
• Grades 4-5  Art with Mr. Beaman
• Grades 6-8  Spanish with Professora Tulia Valdes

Specialist instruction for Music, Art and Spanish continues to be in each grade level classroom and PE continues in the gymnasium and/or outdoors pending the weather.

2021-2022 School Enrollment - Help us make our mission happen and grow our school!
St. Joseph’s School is the largest ministry of the Church of St. Joseph.  The enrollment of new families and students continues at our school for the upcoming school year.  Thank you for assisting us in growing our school by sharing information about our school with relatives, alumni classmates, neighbors, and parish families. 

If  you know someone that is interested in learning more about our school and our programs, please invite them to contact our school office; 651-457-8550, and/or email Lindsay Mayernik, Enrollment Coordinator; limayernik@stjosephwsp.org.  Families may also visit our school website to learn more.  

 St. Joseph, pray for us!  Go Jaguars!!

Preschool News
Please note:  Calendar change for PreK4s: The PreK4s WILL be in session on Friday, March 5th. 

Lenten Activity:  Our preschool students have a beautiful trail of footprints leading to the crucifix as a sign of following Jesus on their classroom wall.  Each child created a footprint in all of our preschool classes.  It is a wonderful visual for all of us to remember to follow Jesus.  

Our preschool students have been working on Nursery Rhymes.  Nursery rhymes, rhyming words and songs are a vital part of a child’s early childhood education.  

Preschool students have enjoyed the beautiful weather and have enjoyed their time outside.

Culvers Restaurant Night - Save the Date Tuesday, March 2nd 5-7pm
Please join us for our March restaurant night at Culvers in West St. Paul on Tuesday, March 7th 5:00pm-7:00pm.  Please make sure to mention that you are there for St. Joseph’s School or show them the Culvers Flyer because 10% of your purchase will be donated to our school!  We thank Bri DeLeon and our Home and School Association for coordinating this event and all of our restaurant nights during the school year!

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 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 our school office if you need more information 651-457-8550.       

School Masses - Friday, March 5
As we continue our prayer during this Lenten season, our next school Masses will be on Friday, March 5 in the Church.  Our students and faculty will attend Mass in person following the parish’s established guidelines and protocols to do so safely.  Masses will be held; 9:00 a.m. for grades 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for grades K-3.

Our remote learners and school families are invited to continue to watch the Mass live streamed on the Church of St. Joseph website; www.churchofstjoseph.  Our school Masses are not open to families and the public.  We thank Fr. Creagan and Fr. Wratkowski for presiding at our school Masses.

February Lunch Menu - Updated

Please click here to view the updated February lunch menu for our 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.

Wakota Guiding Star Gala - Tomorrow
Virtual Gala Saturday, February 27th at 7:00pm (pre-show at 6:45pm).  This event is hosted by Matt Birk and Leah Jacobson with special guest Archbishop Hebda.  This wonderful event will help to raise funds for their new facility.  Please click here to learn more or to register for this wonderful event.

First Communion Information and Update
Tuesday, March 9 6:30-7:30 PM  Church: Parents and First Communicants will gather in the Church for a reflection/discussion on the Eucharist. 

No Rehearsal on April 6:  Please update your calendar. 

Saturday, April 10 - 10:00am  First Communion (Church)

Middle School Youth Group
Middle School Youth Group upcoming opportunities:

• Tuesday, March 16, 3:30-7:30pm - NET Night
• Monday, March 29, 4:30-5:30pm - Virtual - Living in the World
• Tuesday, April 20, 3:30-7:30pm - NET Night
• Monday, April 26, 4:30-5:30pm - Virtual - Questions and Answers
• Tuesday, May 11, 3:30-4:30pm - In person - Alive in Christ

Fr. Creagan Message - Meet the Saint: St. Josephine Bakita
St. Bakita’s life was marked by the horrors of the slave trade and later finding the joy and love of Jesus. Born in 1870 in Sudan, Northwestern Africa, Bakita was stolen by Arab slave traders at the age of 9. She was given the name of Bakita which means “lucky” as she escaped from her captors once only to be caught again. She was sold to a Turkish officer serving in the city of El Obeid, Sudan. Later she was sold again to the Italian Embassy vice-counsel at a market in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. The vice-counsel took Bakita with him as his family returned to Italy.

The Italian vice-counsel sent her to a convent school for education. She discovered the Lord, requested baptism and later discerned a call to religious life. When the Italian vice-counsel demanded she return home, the Cardinal Patriarch and a representative of the King of Italy intervened declaring she was free and slavery was illegal in Italy. 

St. Josephine Bakita made final vows with the Canossian Sisters and lived a life of holiness and joy similar to well-known regional saints Blessed Solanus Casey and St. Andre Besette. She worked as a door keeper and was soon noted for her holiness and many sought her counsel. She also traveled through Italy raising money for the missions in Africa. She died in 1947 and was canonized a saint in 2000.

Seven Sundays of St. Joseph
The Seven Sundays of St. Joseph is a devotion to the patron of the universal Church.  On the seven Sundays preceding his feast, March 19, the faithful have traditionally contemplated a series of circum- stances—seven sorrows and seven joys—in St. Joseph’s life so that they might confront the joys and sorrows of their own lives as he did.  Please click here to view part 4 of the reflections on the life of our beloved patron, St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Church Bulletin

March/April Look Ahead:

• Friday, Mar. 5 - End of Trimester 2
• Friday, Mar. 5 - Masses; 9:00 a.m. for gr. 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for gr. K-3
• Monday, Mar. 8 - Beginning of Trimester 3
• Friday, Mar. 12 - Masses; 9:00 a.m. for gr. 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for gr. K-3
• Friday, Mar. 12 - Report Cards sent home; K-5 mailed, 6-8 emailed
• Friday, Mar. 19 - Feast of St. Joseph
• Friday, Mar. 19- Masses; 9:00 a.m. for gr. 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for gr. K-3
• Monday, Mar. 29 - Monday, Apr. 5 -  Spring Break - No School
• Tuesday, Apr. 6 - School Resumes
• Friday, Apr. 9 - Masses; 9:00 a.m. for gr. 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for gr. K-3