St. Joseph's School Parent Letter

A Message from Principal Rickbeil
In this week’s video, Mr. Rickbeil gives a brief overview of all of the festivities taking place during Catholic Schools week, from January 29 to February 2, 2024.  Enjoy!

Thursday, January 25 - Parent Transportation Required 
ISD 197 is not in session on Thursday, January 25 so there will be bus transportation service available to or from school.  Parent transportation is required.  There will be hot lunch served on this day.

Friday, January 26 - No School for Students
There is no school for students on Friday, January 26.  School and Parish Staff retreat day.

Catholic Schools Week and Carnival - PreOrder Tickets Now Open Online!
Please save the date for Catholic Schools Week beginning Sunday, January 28th - February 2nd. Please view our Theme Days for Catholic Schools Week!  Our annual school Carnival will be held on Friday, February 2nd 12pm-2:45pm.  We are in need of donations and volunteers to make Carnival great!  Please click here to donate items and click here to volunteer.   Thank you to Home & School for sponsoring this event!

Carnival presale tickets are now available for purchases online.  Please click here to preorder your carnival tickets!  Preorder tickets sales will close on Monday, January 29th at 12pm.  Additional tickets will be available for purchase at the carnival.  Click here for a list of activities at the Carnival!

Preschool - 1st grade students are required to be accompanied by an adult for the Carnival.  Parents are asked to arrive at 11:50am to pick up their Prek - 1st grade students.  Permission slips went home with these students today and are to be returned by Monday, January 29th.

Mass of the Holy Spirit - January 29th - Volunteer Opportunity
St. Joseph’s School  has been selected by Catholic Schools Center for Excellence (CSCOE) to provide volunteers for the Mass of the Holy Spirit at the Xcel on January 29th! This is an incredible opportunity for our school. Our middle school students and staff will also be attending this Mass at the Xcel as well as both our parish priests.

We were asked to provide at least 10 volunteers.  If you would like to volunteer for this event please click here.  Volunteers will be assisting in showing the priests where to stand for communion.  To do that we need to have you at the Xcel early to go through the training. 

We have arranged for you to have a bus shuttle from the Cathedral of St. Paul parking lot to the loading dock at the Xcel Center.   We will provide all of the details with your volunteer packet.  You will also be seated in the Xcel for the Mass so you won’t miss a thing!

All School Raffle - Final Raffle Turn in Day is Thursday, January 25
This is our final Raffle Turn in Week -  We need your help to reach our goal of $85,000.  This is a very important fundraiser for our school and we need everyone's participation to make this a success!  We offer classroom incentives and individual student incentives which makes it fun for our students.  

After this weeks turn in day the following homerooms are in the lead:

In 1^st place -  Mrs. Kuettel’s Kindergarten class at 94% of their classroom goal
 In 2^nd place – Ms. Bollingberg’s 2^nd grade class at 91% of their classroom goal
 In 3^rd place – Mrs. Schroeder’s 1^st  grade class at 88% of their classroom goal

These 3 classrooms have been neck and neck throughout Raffle Turn in!  Next week is the final turn in – Other homerooms – it is not too late for you!  Sell those tickets for a chance to win a field trip of your choice!!!  

Other classrooms that are close to reaching their goal:

Mrs. Hawkins Kindergarten class is at 76%
Mrs. Klooz’s 3^rd grade class is at 75%
Mrs. Colwell’s 4^th grade class is at 66%

The raffle drawing will be done on February 2nd at Carnival via live stream.  We couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up Catholic Schools Week!

Shine On
CSCOE has partnered with Lundstrum Performing Arts to celebrate the gifts of Catholic school students and nurture their talent. Students in grades four through eight from all Catholic elementary schools in Minnesota are invited to participate as performing and/or visual artists. We award prizes to the top winners and their schools!

Congratulations to Scarlett B. and Joe S. in our 4th grade for being 2024 Performing Arts finalists! 

Mid-Trimester 
Today is mid-trimester! Parents with students in grades 3-8, please log in to EDUCATE to check your child's grades. For those middle school students who are receiving a D+ or lower in any class, a hard copy of their mid-trimester progress report will be mailed home to you. We ask that you review it with your child, sign it, and return it to school no later than Thursday, January 25.

Middle School Pancake Breakfast - Sunday, January 28
Please join us for our Catholic Schools Week Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, January 28 following all of our Sunday Masses in the Msgr. Foran Great Room.  Please click here to see the flier. Save time in line - Presale tickets are available by clicking here.

Hat and Mitten Collection - 5th Grade Service Project Ends January 25th
Hats and Mittens of Minnesota.  The 5th grade students are about to begin their service project collecting Hats and Mittens for those in need in Minnesota. We are asking students to bring gently used or new hats and mittens beginning January 3rd and will end January 25th.  The collection will go throughout January as they currently have requests for 26,000 sets. Help us decorate our tree and fill the boxes in the main hallway with your donations.

All School Dance - Postponed
Our school calendar has a family dance schedule for January 19th.  Unfortunately we have had to postpone this fun event.  Please watch for a future date.  Thank you!

Important Financial Aid / Scholarship Deadlines
Financial Aid and Aim Higher Scholarship deadline is February 23, 2024.  Please note that you are required to apply each year for both financial aid and the Aim Higher Scholarship.  Please do not miss these deadlines.  The Scholarships Section of the Aim Higher Foundation website also provides resources for you, including deadlines, links to TADS, flyers in Spanish and English, an extensive FAQ list, and more.  

Gala Save the Date and Volunteer Sign Up
Our Gala date has changed!  The St. Joseph’s Gala will be held on Saturday, April 6th, 2024 at the Omni Hotel.  Please mark your calendars with this important date change. If you are interested in volunteering for this great event, please click here.  Please watch for more information in the weeks to come.

Volunteer Opportunity: Science Fair Judges on January 25th
We are looking for judges for our St. Joseph's Middle School Science Fair. Please have any interested parties email Ms. Carlson at macarlson@stjosephwsp.org.  We are looking for impartial judges that have a science/engineering background (all are welcome) and are available from 8:30-12 on Thursday, January 25th, 2024. Please reach out to Ms. Mary Carlson, if you'd like to learn more: macarlson@stjosephwsp.org.

Yearbook Preorder - Now Open!
The St. Joseph’s School Yearbook Preorder is now open.  Yearbooks are pre- ordered online and will be arriving and distributed to students the last week of school.  Please click here to pre- order your yearbook, school ID code is 1075424 .  We do recommend pre-ordering your yearbook as we will only have a limited number of yearbooks available for purchase.

Cana Dinner - Saturday, February 3
Celebrate your Marriage at the Cana Dinner at this wonderful event.  Please click here to learn more and to register to attend.

St. Joseph’s Home and School Association   
Recess Helpers Wanted!  Click HERE to sign up.  Lunchroom Helper Wanted! Click HERE to sign up.

If you are a new volunteer and have never completed your Virtus Training, please click here and follow the instructions.  If you are an existing volunteer and need to update your account (updates are required every 3 years), please click here for instructions.  

Please click here to view The Church of St. Joseph Website or view the Church Bulletin by clicking here.

• Wednesday, January 24- Mass 8:45am
• Thursday, January 25 - No Bus, Parent Transportation Required;                                  Middle School Science Fair
• Friday, January 26 - No School for Students - Staff Retreat
• Sunday, January 28 - Friday February 2 - Catholic Schools Week!
• Friday, February 2 - All School Carnival 12pm-2:45pm