Parent Letter 4/29/21

Dear St. Joseph’s School Families,        

Well, this weekend, we turn the calendar page to May 2021.  We are all anticipating and hope that May flowers are not far behind.  As we complete the last full month of school for this year, please continue to review the information contained in the Friday Letter as well as your child’s classroom newsletters.  In addition, please watch for email blasts from our school office with information during the remainder of the school year. 

May is the month devoted to Mary, the mother of God.   Prior to the beginning of our Masses on Friday, May 7, we will honor Mary with our annual May Crowning Ceremony.  In addition, our students and faculty will be including prayers to Mary, our Mother in our prayer routines at school.  Examples include; the Rosary, the Hail Mary, the Memorare, the Hail Holy Queen, the Regina Caeli, and the Angelus.  Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us!

No School Friday, April 30
Just a reminder, there will be no school for our students on Friday, April 30.  This is a professional development day for our faculty.  School will resume on Monday, May 3.  Enjoy your long weekend.

Calendar Update - Last Day of School Wednesday, June 2
Next week, we enter the final five weeks of the school year.  During this time, our teachers will be completing a variety of learning experiences with our in person and remote learners.  We are so grateful to continue to be in school with our students and faculty. 

We want to share with you an adjustment in our school calendar for the end of this school year.  We are adjusting the date for the last day of school with students in grades Kindergarten-7 to be Wednesday, June 2, 2021.  This day will be a full day of school for our students with dismissal beginning at 2:40 p.m.  

This adjustment in our calendar will allow both Thursday, June 3 and Friday, June 4 to be professional development/teacher in-service days for our faculty.  We need to provide our faculty additional time to complete the numerous tasks for closing out this unique school year as well as plan and prepare for the 2021-2022 school year. We want them to be able to finish these end of year tasks so they may begin a well deserved summer break.

Please make note of this change in our school’s 2020-2021 calendar.

NWEA MAP Assessments
Our second through eighth grade students began their MAP (Monitoring Academic Progress) assessments this week.  The students will complete their assessments in Reading next week; May 3-7, 2021.  Information about the MAP assessments and your child’s progress will be provided to parents upon completion of the assessments.

CSCOE BASH 2021
The Catholic Schools Center of Excellence supports St. Joseph’s School in so many ways ;  from technology upgrades to marketing grants to professional development for teachers!  Watch the livestream of CSCOE’s Bash on May 8 at 7 p.m., and join them in honoring our beloved Catholic school teachers and staff!  Register to attend the BASH virtually by visiting CSCOEBASH.ORG

Tuition Agreements
Tuition Agreements for the 2021-2022 School Year have been sent out via email from TADS.  It is important that you complete your agreements by the provided deadline.  If you have any questions please contact Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org or Patrick Menke Patrick.Menke@churchofstjoseph.org .

2021-2022 School Enrollment - Help us make our mission happen and grOW our school!
The enrollment of new families and students continues at St. Joseph’s School.  Please assist us in growing our school enrollment by sharing information about our school with neighbors, parish families, business colleagues, at the park, baseball or soccer fields, or while in your favorite store.  You are also encouraged to invite families to visit our school website to view information about our school programs or read our Friday Letter.   

For the 2021-2022 school year, a $250 Referral Credit is available to current school families for each new family they refer who registers for and attends our school next year.  Thank you for your assistance!  Prospective families can contact our school office; 651-457-8550 or email Lindsay Mayernik, Enrollment Coordinator at limayernik@stjosephwsp.org for information.

Uniform Dress Code Policy
As we continue through the remainder of the school year, please make note and remind your children of the following uniform expectations.  Belts are to be worn with pants and shorts.  Socks must be visible above the top of shoes and may black, navy or white only.  Shirts are to be tucked into pants and skirts.  Girls’ skirt lengths should be no more than four inches above the crease(bend) behind the knee.  Students should also only be wearing St. Joseph’s sweaters, pullovers, and/or sweatshirts during school.  Thank you for complying with our school uniform policy.

Yearbook Orders - Order Deadline Tomorrow!
Please place your order online through LIFETOUCH using Yearbook Code 1075421 or by sending a check into the school office with your child’s name and homeroom listed.  Checks should be made out to St. Joseph’s School.  The cost of the yearbook is $20.  If you have any questions please contact our school office.  Order deadline is April 30th.  

Important Dates for the 2021-2022 School Year -  K- 8
As we are planning and preparing for the 2021-2022 school year, we would like to share with you some important dates to place in your phone or on your calendar.  Additional calendar dates and a full calendar will be shared at a later date.

Monday, August 30:  First day of school:  Grades 1-6 (Kindergarten Assessments by appointment)
Tuesday, August 31:  First day of school:  Grades 7 & 8 (Kindergarten Assessments by appointment)                                 Wednesday, September 1:  First day of school:  Kindergarten
Friday, September 3:  No school for students and faculty
Monday, September 6:  Labor Day - No school for students and faculty
Monday, March 28 - Friday April 1:  Spring Break
Friday, June 3:  Last day of school for students (early dismissal)

Important Dates for the 2021-2022 School Year  - Preschool
Tuesday, August 31:  Preschool Welcome and Orientation – Terrific 3s  A.M. 
Wednesday, September 1:   Preschool Welcome and Orientation – PK4s  A.M.
Thursday, September 2: .  Preschool Welcome and Orientation PK4/5s  P.M.
Friday, September 3:  No school for students and faculty
Monday, September 6:  Labor Day - No school for students and faculty
Tuesday, September 7:  Terrific 3s First Day of School - A.M. &  PK 4/5s First Day of School - P.M.                                   
Wednesday, September 8: PK 4s First Day of School - A.M.
Monday, March 28 - Friday April 1:  Spring Break
Thursday, May 19 - Terrific 3s Last Day of School
Thursday, May 19 - PreK 4/5s Last Day of School
Friday, May 20 - PreK 4s Last Day of School

A Note from the School Nurse
COVID-19 and seasonal allergies can share similar symptoms. It's important to recognize and assess how students are feeling so you can administer the proper care. If your students are suffering from seasonal allergies, there are many Over the Counter (OTC) treatments to ease symptoms and find relief. If your students do not have a history of seasonal allergies, and are experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms, it is best to have them tested as soon as possible.  Please click here to view some differences between seasonal allergies and COVID-19.

As it pertains to COVID Testing:  When any member of a household is being tested for COVID-19 due to an exposure, potential exposure, or with COVID symptoms, all family members at home should remain home from school until 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.

For your information, we have seen an increase in Strep throat this spring. Symptoms have included headache and upset stomach.

Reminder: Please send a water bottle to school each day with your child.  With the warmer weather approaching, students will need to have these accessible each day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our school Nurse Amy Milosch ammilosch@stjosephwsp.org or Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org. 

School Masses - Friday,  May 7
As we continue in the Easter season (remember it is 50 days), our next school Masses will be on Friday, May 7 in the Church.  Masses will be held; 9:00 a.m. for grades 4-8 and 10:00 a.m. for grades K-3.  At these Masses, we will honor Mary with our annual May Crowning Ceremony.  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. 

Sacrament of Confirmation – Eighth Grade
Congratulations to our eighth grade students who were fully initiated into the Catholic Church by receiving the sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, April 24 at the Church of St. Joseph.  We thank Mr. Butler, Mrs. Bruce, Fr. Creagan, Fr. Wratkowski, the Church of St. Joseph Faith Formation Office, and the parents and sponsors of our eighth grade students for preparing our them to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  Come Holy Spirit, come.

Jump Start Summer Classes at Visitation
Visitation School will be offering in-person summer Jump Start Reading, Writing, and Math classes from June 14-July 16. This program is open to students from any school who are entering kindergarten through grade 10 in the fall. Registration is open now! Please see click here for a description of the programs offered. 

School Lunch Menus
May Lunch Menu

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.

Archdiocese Family Rosary Procession

Date: Sunday, May 2
Time: 2 p.m. (Procession line-up at 1:15 p.m.)
Location: Procession from State Capitol to Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul

As a public witness to our Catholic faith during the month of May dedicated to our Blessed Mother Mary, come with family and friends to the annual Archdiocesan Family Rosary Procession.  Archbishop Hebda will preside.  Line up begins at 1:15 p.m. on the State Capitol grounds and the procession will begin at 2 p.m.  Those who cannot walk the procession route may go directly to the Cathedral to pray the Rosary with those who are in procession.

Middle School Youth Group

Middle School Youth Group upcoming opportunities:

• Tuesday, May 11, 3:30-4:30pm - In person - Alive in Christ

St. Joseph Church Bulletin

April / May / June Look Ahead:

• Friday, Apr. 30 - No School for Students - Teacher Professional Development
• Friday, May 7 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Friday, May 14 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Friday, May 21 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Thursday, May 27 - Last Day of School for 8th Grade Students
• Friday, May 28 - Masses; 9:00am for gr. 4-8 and 10:00am for gr. K-3
• Monday, May 31 - No School - Memorial Day
• Tuesday, June 1 - Students and Staff Return to School
• Wednesday, June 2 - 8th Grade Commencement 
• Wednesday, June 2 - Last Day of School K - 7