Parent Letter 9/17/21

Dear Parents, 

Hello from St. Joseph’s School!  

Our third week of school, the first five day week of the year, went extremely well.   We hope that you and your families are settling into the school routines.  Please know that our school staff is here to partner with you and assist you in any way during the school year.  Please contact the school office, your child’s teacher(s), check our school website, or look for this Friday Letter if you have any questions or need information about anything happening at school.

At our school Mass this morning, Fr. Cragan, in his comments to our students, teachers, and family members, focused on prayer.  He shared with us four forms of prayer;

+ Prayer of Blessing and Adoration (praising God)

+ Prayer of Petition (asking for what we need, including forgiveness)

+ Prayer of Intercession (asking for what others need)

+ Prayer of Thanksgiving (for what God has given and done)

He encouraged all of us to include these forms of prayer as we pray at home and at school.

Mission

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

and the development of virtue to be 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.

NWEA MAP Assessments
On Monday, September 20, students in grades 2-8 will begin the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments.  The assessments will be given over the next two-three weeks.  The students will complete a mathematics assessment first followed by a reading assessment.  Please help your students by reminding them to get a good night's sleep and to eat a healthy breakfast.  (Note: we recommend that this happens every day and night.).  Please click here for a letter containing more information for our students and families in grades 2-8.  We thank Mrs. Budge and Mrs. Bruce for coordinating and facilitating the assessments for our students.

A Message from the School Nurse
Health Forms - If you received a request from the nurse’s office to complete and submit any health forms, please get those turned in next week.  

Absences - Students who are absent for three or more days with COVID-like symptoms must provide the School Nurse with a negative COVID-19 test or a physician’s note to return to school.

If your child receives a negative test result but is still having symptoms, please keep them home until those symptoms have improved.  A student may not return to school until they are fever free for 24 hours without medication.

We currently are following the CDC’s 7 day quarantine path. This means close contacts of a person testing positive for COVID-19 need to quarantine for 7 days from exposure, test no sooner than day 5 after exposure, receive a negative test result (molecular PCR test) and remain symptom free.  They may then return to school on day 8 after consulting with the school nurse, and continue to monitor for symptoms through day 14.

Please review the  COVID-19 Fact sheet  

For your convenience please find a list of  COVID-19 Testing Sites

Catholic High School Preview Night – Save the Date. . .Thursday, September 23
St. Joseph’s School families with eighth grade students are invited to attend a Catholic High School Preview Night on Thursday, September 23 from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Monsignor Foran Great Room at the Church of St. Joseph.  Area Catholic High Schools will be present to share information about their high school in a “fair-style setting”.  We thank the high schools for their interest in meeting our students and their families and sharing information about their schools.

Volunteers Needed for Recess Duty 
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 September or October.

As a reminder, all volunteers must have completed their Virtus Essential 3’s.  If you need to update your current Virtus account, please click here.  If you are doing Virtus for the first time, please click here.  

Student Drop Off and Pick Up
As we complete the third week of school, we want to express our appreciation to you for following our new procedures for the Drop Off and Pick Up of your children.  Our Preschool and K-8 morning drop off is going very smoothly.  The student pick up at the end of the school day is busy - we thank you for your patience as you leave the parking lot with your child(children). Note; family vehicles should leave the parking lot at the south end using Orme Street. Vehicles should not be leaving the parking lot by going down the entrance driveway to Butler Ave.  Please continue to keep the safety of our students in mind during these times of day.  School faculty will be present during the drop off and pick up to assist our students.

School Mass
Our next school Mass will be on Friday, September 24 at 9:00 a.m.  Parents and family members are invited to attend school Masses.  Our students will remain seated with their teacher and class for the school Masses in September.

Lifetouch Picture Day
School pictures are scheduled for Monday, October 4.  This will be an out-of-uniform day.   Lifetouch is looking for parent volunteers to help line up the students and assist the photographers.  Volunteers receive a free picture package for their child.  Please email Lisa Wrobel liwrobel@stjosephwsp.org  if you are interested.  You may place your picture order online at mylifetouch.com and enter our Picture Day ID:  EVTXTZRKK

St. Joseph’s Home and School Association 
Your Home and School Association exists to support our faculty, students, and families by coordinating volunteers, organizing community events, and providing enrichment opportunities for our students.  Did you know that YOU are a part of the St. Joseph’s Home and School Association?  Every family is a member, and all members are represented by grade representatives and an executive committee.  Everyone is welcome to learn more about Home and School.  Please contact Christina Mahady  christina.mahady@gmail.com.   Meetings are typically held the first Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. If you are unable to attend, you can also send your ideas to your class rep.  We are looking forward to a GREAT year at St. Joseph’s!

Parent Letters and Attendance Communication
All non-emergency communications will come electronically through 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”. 

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 Synod
Members of the parish and school community are invited to support the important work of our Archdiocese and our Parish by participating in the Synod Small Groups at St. Joseph’s this Fall.

The Synod Small Groups will be held on Tuesdays at 8:30-10:30 a.m. or at 6:30-8:30 p.m.  You may register online at churchofstjoseph.org/small-group-registration.  Please contact the Parish Office for more information; 651-789-8350.

St. Joseph Church Bulletin

September/October Look Ahead:

• Monday, September 20 -  MAP Assessments Begin
• Thursday, September 23 - Catholic High School Night 6:30-8pm Great room
• Friday, September 24 -  Mass 9:00am
• Friday, October 1 -  Mass 9:00am
• Monday, October 4 - School Picture Day - Out of Uniform
• Friday, October 8 -  Mass 9:00am
• Friday, October 15 -  Mass 9:00am
• Thursday, October 21 & Friday, October 22 - No School MEA
• Tuesday, October 26 - Parent Teacher Conferences - Evening
• Thursday, October 28 - Parent Teacher Conferences - Evening
• Friday, October 29 -  Mass 9:00am