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Parent Newsletter 12/18/17
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A Message from the Headmaster
Dear Families,
As we begin this third week of Advent, I want to offer a few reflections for these final days of school before Christmas and the two-week break.
With semester exams taking place for Grades 7-12 this week, we would like to emphasize three important factors in the success of students:
- Get enough sleep. Students who lack sufficient sleep from staying up too late short circuit their brain's ability to retain knowledge and wire together all they have learned.
- Eat a good breakfast with plenty of protein each morning before exams. Replenishing their bodies with healthy calories by eating a balanced breakfast will sustain our students through their exams.
- Pray that God helps them relax, do their best, and be okay with the results. Anxiety robs too many children of peace and confidence. God loves each just as he or she is, regardless of grades earned.
Please also ensure that you have a plan for your child(ren) after school this Friday, December 22. Students will be dismissed at 11:30AM, and we will not have any after school care or supervision that day.
Don't forget to look at the front of our Saint Agnes School Christmas card! It includes a picture of our faculty and staff (with names listed on the back). This good-looking crew of people is here to serve your children!
Blessings on your Christmas preparations and season,
Kevin Ferdinandt
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Early Dismissal & No After School Care - Friday, December 22
This Friday, December 22, all students will be dismissed for Christmas break at 11:30AM. After school care for Grades K-6 and Commons for Grades 7-12 will not be available that day.
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Modified Uniform - Friday, December 22
On the last (half) day before Christmas break, all K-12 students will be in uniform, but Christmas accessories will be allowed - socks, ties, sweaters, sweatshirts, hats, etc. Students in Grades 7-12 are invited to participate in an ugly Christmas sweater contest.
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Red & White Invitation Assembly - Wednesday, December 20
Help is needed assembling invitations this Wednesday, December 20. Please consider stopping in for an hour or staying for the day. All help is appreciated, and we will work until the task is finished!
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Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Pick-Up Reminders
Now that snow has arrived, please review the drop-off and pick-up procedures:
- Vehicles should only travel eastbound on Lafond Avenue.
- Curb space is reserved for immediate drop-off and pick-up only; please make use of all space between Door #1 and the main entrance.
- Always park in the main lot (across the street from the front steps of the church) if you are entering the building.
- Drivers may not use the small lot between the church and school for drop-off or pick-up.
Once teachers release students to parents at dismissal, parents are responsible for the safety and well-being of their children.
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Handicap Space in Front of Main Office
Please note that a handicap sign is now located in front of the main office. A handicap permit is required to use this space. Your respect and observance of this new parking space (particularly during drop-off and pick-up hours) is most appreciated!
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Final Car Raffle Turn In Day - Friday, January 12!
Congratulations! We have raised over $43,000 for our school. At convocation this morning, we announced prizes from the most recent turn in day:
For their leading sales numbers, Mr. Flaherty and Mrs. Soriano's Advisories and Dr. Whalen and Mrs. O'Hare's Houses are receiving a 25-pound Pearson's salted nut roll to share! Kyle Kilduff won the 7-12 drawing for two tickets to a Wild game or two season passes to Valleyfair! Cegan Flood won the K-6 drawing for two all-day wristbands to Nickelodeon Universe at MOA!
The final turn in date for the raffle will be Friday, January 12. (After this date, any remaining ticket stubs and money may be brought to the main office.) Students who have already earned spirit wear may wear their shirts on Thursday, January 11 as a special reward.
Thank you all for your hard work! Remember, 100% of funds raised stay right here at Saint Agnes!
Please
contact Tawnee Nasseff
for more information.
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Aggie Apparel Makes Great Christmas Gifts!
Aggie Apparel will be on sale in the UAC Commons from 6-6:30PM immediately preceding the concert on December 20.
Cash, checks or credit cards are accepted. Contact Tawnee Nasseff with questions or to arrange another time for shopping.
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Christmas Toys and Food Pantry
We still have a variety of toys and gifts available for Saint Agnes School families who could use an extra hand this Christmas. Contact Mr. John Ernster at (612)-247-0456 to set up a time to shop.
Mr. Ernster also manages the Saint Agnes School Food Pantry. This free service is provided for any current Saint Agnes School family with financial need and is restocked almost weekly during the school year. It is open most Wednesday afternoons, but you may contact Mr. Ernster for specific hours of operation or to make alternate arrangements.
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Christmas Break Office Hours
The main office will be open from 8:00AM-2:00PM throughout Christmas break with these exceptions:
December 22 - 7:00AM-3:30PM
December 25 - Closed
December 26 - Closed
December 29 - 8:00AM-12:00PM
January 1 - Closed
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Re-Enrollment Available January 1-21
Mark your calendars to re-enroll your child(ren) for next year! Existing families at Saint Agnes School will be given first priority to re-enroll their current students before new applicants will be considered. This priority will be contingent upon the student being in good academic and behavioral standing with the school and the family being in good standing with their tuition account.
Current families will receive a re-enrollment email with instructions on how to re-enroll via your TADS account. There is also a $100 re-enrollment fee per student with a $300 maximum per family.
Re-enrollment will be open from January 1-21. Kindergarten acceptances will begin on January 7, and acceptances for Grades 1-11 will begin on January 22. Please contact Joseph Olson in Admissions at (651)-925-8803 with any questions.
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January 1-5 - No School
Monday, January 8 - School Resumes
Tuesday, January 9 - K-12 Open House
Friday, January 12 - Final Raffle Ticket Turn In Day
Saturday, January 13 - Father Daughter Dance
Sunday, January 14 - Musical Fair | One Act Play
Monday, January 15 - No School, Main Office Closed - MLK Jr. Day
Thursday, January 18 - Memorial of Saint Agnes (School Observation) K-12 Mass
Sunday, January 21 - Memorial of Saint Agnes (Parish Observation)
January 29 - February 2 - Snow Days/Catholic Schools Week
Wednesday, January 31 - K-6 Virtue Assembly (Led by Classroom 3A)
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Musical Fair - Save the Date - Sunday, January 14
The Musical Fair will be Sunday, January 14, at 1:30PM in Gruden Gym. Don't miss the big announcement, and get a jump-start on audition music and paper work! Grades 2-6 will be accepted for the children's chorus and Grades 7-12 will form the high school chorus. You will not be disappointed!
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K-8 Swimming Begins in January
There is still time to register for the K-8 boys and girls swimming program! Practices begin January 17 and are held at Hamline University. See the attached flyer for more information or
contact Coach Kemp
with questions and follow this link to register.
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Parents, Please Check The Lost and Found
Please make sure to take a look in the lost and found area, located on the west side of the cafeteria. All items not claimed by December 22 will be donated over Christmas break.
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Yearbook Prices
Yearbook prices will increase after DECEMBER 31! If you are interested in ordering a yearbook, please visit Balfour.com or order on campus through the main office.
Lower School - K-8 Yearbook = $20
Upper School - 9-12 Yearbook = $50
Questions or concerns please contact Mrs. Richtsmeier
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Amazon Smile - Select Saint Agnes as Your Charity of Choice!
As you prepare for Christmas, please remember to choose Saint Agnes School as your charity of choice when making purchases with retailers, credit cards, or online services that offer the opportunity to support a non-profit organization, such as Amazon Smile.
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Reminder: Campbell's Labels for Education
Campbell's Labels for Education Collection ends January 1. Please bring those labels to school before Christmas break.
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Lunchroom Volunteers Needed
We are in need of daily lunch volunteers in the cafeteria from 10:30AM to 1:30PM. Work once per week, once per month, or whenever it fits into your schedule! If you are available during the school day and would like to join our lively, hard-working crew, please contact Annette Beaudry at (651)-925-8826. All volunteers will need to be up-to-date with the Essential Three Requirements. Learn more about these requirements here.
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1st Qtr After School Care Fees: Due On or After December 10
The first quarter after school care fees were added to TADS accounts on November
30. Payment is due with your next scheduled TADS payment, on or after December 10. Families will have received an email containing the amount and date due. Please
contact Sandy Veal
at (651)-925-8815 if you did not receive an email or have any other questions.
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K-3 Program Volunteers Needed Tonight
K-3 Parents: Please consider helping with the Christmas Program tonight! We especially need a few workers to hand out programs and help with the treat table set-up and clean-up.
Follow this link to see where help is most needed.
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A Friendly Reminder on Dressing Children for Winter Recess
Parents, when your children head out the door in the morning, please make sure that they have sufficient clothing to wear outside for recess during the day: hats, scarves, mittens/gloves, sweatpants and/or snow pants, etc.
Recess is held outside every day, except for situations when the administration determines conditions to be unsuitable for outdoor play. Minnesota winters can be cold, but children thrive when they have the opportunity for fresh air and outdoor play all year long!
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After School Care Sign-Out Update
Beginning January 8, parents will sign students out of After School Care on an iPad. Upon arriving to pick up a student from After School Care, parents will receive an Access Code/PIN which they will use to sign-out their child(ren). Teachers and staff will be available the first few weeks of this new system to help parents with the transition. Please use this guide to learn more specifically how to sign-out a student.
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After School Care Hours
Please note that beginning January 8th, the K-6 After School Care pick-up time changes from 5:30PM to 5:00PM. Please plan to pick up your student(s) at this time as there is a $15 late charge. Thank you!
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December Concerts
December 18 - 6:30PM - Grades K-3 Choir Concert (Helene Houle Auditorium)
December 20 - 6:30PM - Grades 4-6 Choir Concert (Helene Houle Auditorium)
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Dual-Enrollment Application Due Tuesday, December 19
Students received information earlier this month regarding an opportunity to earn college credits by taking classes right here at Saint Agnes! All paperwork and fees for participating in the dual-enrollment program are due Tuesday, December 19.
Additional details on the program and credit transferability are available on the links below. Please visit our webpage for more information! Questions? Please contact Dean of Academics, Mr. Michael Adkins.
Frequently Asked Questions | Parent Letter | Application
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Academic Integrity & Policy Note
In preparation for final exams, the administration reviewed various policies and procedures related to academics and academic integrity. Part of that discussion noted the emergence of "smart watches" and other wearable electronic devices capable of both communication and distraction. Please be advised that these devices fall under the school's policy on Electronic Devices (p.15 of the Student / Parent Handbook) and may not be worn or carried during the school day from 7:55AM to 2:45PM.
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Junior High Game Day
When: Friday, December 22 from 11:30AM-3:00PM
Where: Commons and Bandas Gym
Activities: Open Gym, Games, and Snacks!
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Grades 9-11: PLAN/PSAT Results
All students in Grades 9-11 should have received their PLAN (9th) or PSAT (10th & 11th) test results at the end of last week. Students were asked to bring their results home to share with their parents. Their score reports include a letter with information on how to interpret their results. Please
contact Mrs. Kemp or
Mr. Loesch with any questions.
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Summer 2019 Trip to NPH Nicaragua and Costa Rica
The Spanish Department is pleased to announce a June 2019 service and culture trip to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This travel opportunity is open to all students currently in Grades 8-11. The group will start the trip volunteering at a Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos home in Nicaragua and then will continue a tour throughout Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Some of the cities and areas they will be exploring include Granada, Nicaragua, and Guanacaste, Rincón de la Vieja National Park, Arenal, and San José, Costa Rica. Students participating in the trip will not only serve others with their volunteer work at NPH but also adventure through the two countries hiking volcanos, ziplining over the rainforest, snorkeling in the ocean, and exploring the lush National Parks.
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Summer 2019 Trip to England and France
The History Department is sponsoring a trip to Paris, Normandy, and London in June 2019. This travel opportunity is open to all students currently in Grades 8-11.
If interested, please plan on attending an informational meeting on
Thursday, January 18 at 6:30PM in Room 250.
Please contact Mrs. Lori Dumas
with interest or questions.
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Father/Daughter Dance - Saturday, January 13
All girls in Grades 9-12 are invited to attend with their father or male role model on Saturday, January 13. The event features a variety of music and dances complete with expert instruction, an elegant dessert buffet, and professional photos.
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Drama Club One Act Evening - Sunday, January 14
Saint Agnes Drama Club presents One Act Evening on Sunday, January 14 at 7PM in the Helene Houle Auditorium. Students will perform two one-act plays with a brief intermission:
Complaint Department and Lemonade and
Death of a Dead Guy.
There is no charge, but a free will offering will be taken in support of the club.
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