Parent Newsletter: 9/25/2017

A Message from the Director of the Lower School

Dear parents,
 
As we enter into this fifth week of school, we are grateful for the many blessings God has granted Saint Agnes School already. Last week's Homecoming events fostered a spirit of community and joy among students of all ages. Thank you to all those involved in making Homecoming week a success!
 
As you might have noticed this week, select 6th grade students began morning patrol. Similar to the afternoon patrol program, 6th graders will monitor students crossing Lafond Ave. Please direct students to utilize our crossing guards when they cross over from the Lafond Ave. parking lot to the school. Also, please be aware of the morning and afternoon patrols and their mission to create a safer drop-off and pick-up routine each day.
 
Finally, our efforts to cultivate a Catholic heart and mind through Faith, Reason, and Virtue in our students can only be possible with a strong home and school connection.

Thank you for all you do to support students in their spiritual and academic journeys!
 
In Christ,
Emily Minton
All School News
Saint Agnes School in the news!
The Catholic Schools Center for Excellence (CSCOE) recently featured an article on Saint Agnes School second graders in its bi-monthly magazine.  Last spring, Mrs. O'Hern and the second grade class observed the production of altar bread as part of their sacramental preparation. The faithful parish volunteers who make the bread prepare 2,000 hosts each week for use at the Church of Saint Agnes. 

9/28: This Thursday is the first all-school Mass of the year
Parents, families and friends are welcome to join with us in prayer on Thursday, September 28, for the first all-school Mass of the year. All students in grades K through 12 will attend Mass at 9:30 AM in the upper church. Mass will be in English.  See the schedule for K-12 Masses here.
9/28: Aggie volleyball youth night
All girls who play on the grade school or junior high volleyball teams will be announced prior to game time and participate in the introduction of varsity starters this Thursday, September 28. Game times are 4:15 (C Squad), 5:30 (JV) and 7:00 PM (Varsity). Wear your team jersey and enter to win prizes that will be given out during the game! Download the flyer to learn more.
10/12: First K-12 Open House
The first open house of the year is just a few weeks away! Stop by the advancement office or the main office to pick up a postcard to be delivered or mailed to friends, family or neighbors who may be interested in learning more about Catholic education at Saint Agnes. Our current families are some of our best advertisements, so thank you for helping us get the word out!
10/22: Church of Saint Agnes Fall Festival
Save the date for Sunday, October 22, from 11:00 AM until 3:00 PM. The parish festival is fun for the entire family with games, raffle prizes, cash prizes and of course the legendary booya!
Homecoming Week Recap

What a week! We  hosted at least 1,000 alumni and friends at the pre-game BBQ and game on Friday night! In addition, we were  pleased to welcome so many back home for Thursday's Alumni Memorial Mass & Breakfast. To top it off, the  Athletic Hall of Fame gained three new members on Saturday with the addition of Coach Heller, Bob Moeller, Jr. and Sean Smith.

Throughout the week, you and your families helped cheer these Aggie teams on to a victory during Homecoming:
  • Football defeated St. Paul Humboldt 51-12 on Friday, September 22.
  • Volleyball defeated South St. Paul 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 23-25 and 16-14 on Thursday, September 21. 
  • Girls Soccer defeated St. Anthony 3-0 on Tuesday, September 19.
With a special morning meeting for K-6, class competitions, teacher/student games, 7-12 assemblies, plus a K-12 pep fest on Friday, the school spirit was tangible all week long!
Openings for after school piano lessons still available
There are still some openings for after school piano lessons on campus. Please contact Mary Smisek at [email protected]  to learn more.
Relive the magic of Mary Poppins. DVDs available for purchase.
Relive the magic of Mary Poppins, the first production to perform in the Helene Houle Auditorium last spring. Dr. Thomas Stierman has done a magnificent job in capturing the excitement of closing night. The DVD is professionally packaged with the Mary Poppins logo on the case and disc.  The cost is $10.00 and DVDs may be purchased in the main office. Checks to Saint Agnes or exact change would be greatly appreciated.
Lunchroom volunteers are needed
We are in need of daily lunch volunteers in the cafeteria from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 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.
Yearbook Information for K-12
Place your yearbook orders for this year's keepsake book! Cost is $20 for grades K-8 and $50 for grades 9-12. Get the links to purchase online or download order forms here.

There's still time to purchase a yearbook from last year, so  contact Mrs. Richtsmeier  about our limited supply of last year's yearbooks. Pricing is $25 for K-8 and $50 for 9-12 books.
K-6 News
Fall basketball workouts for boys and girls in grades 5-8
Boys and girls in grades 5 through 8 can sign up for fall workouts. These are intense skill workouts for serious players who wish to improve their skills. These are not designed as traditional "fun", but rather to give satisfaction and enjoyment through improving! The workouts consist of about 90 minutes of skill development and team play. To sign up, please fill out this form and return to Mr. Hopkins ASAP. Questions? Please contact Mr. Hopkins.
10/3: Grandparents & Special Friends Day
We look forward to welcoming grandparents and special senior friends on Tuesday, October 3. Invitations were mailed last week based on the information you submitted. If you have questions about the invites or this special day, please contact Mrs. Kate Boyle in the Advancement Office at (651) 925-8880. Please see below for the event schedule:
     7:55 AM School Begins/Classroom Visits (Classrooms)
     8:30 AM K-6 School Mass (Upper Church)
     9:15 AM Activity (K-1 Cafeteria, 2-3 Gruden Gym, 4-6 Second Floor)
     10:15 AM K-6 Convocation (Helene Houle Auditorium)
     11:00 AM  Coffee & Treats for Guests (Ubel Activity Center Commons)
7-12 News
9/30: University of Mary visit permission forms due
A local benefactor of area Catholic high schools is once again offering an opportunity for Catholic high school juniors and seniors to partake in a free college visit to the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. Busses will leave from the Twin Cities at 7:00 AM on Sunday, October 29, returning in the late evening of Monday, October 30. Students will attend Mass at 8:00 PM on Sunday evening. Parents are welcome to join students on the trip. 

Download a permission form here or pick one up in the Guidance Office. Forms should be returned directly to Mrs. Mary Jo Feltl by email at  [email protected] or by fax at (612) 492-8899. Questions? Please contact Mrs. Feltl at (952) 270-1865. 
 
Please Note: This is a privately sponsored event. Parents must still contact the school if they wish to excuse a student's absence on Monday, October 30. Saint Agnes School does NOT collect or process the permission form.
10/11: PSAT/PLAN testing to be held on campus
Saint Agnes will administer the PSAT and PLAN tests on Wednesday, October 1 1. Both are preliminary college readiness and preparatory tests and serve as practice for the real ACT and SAT college entrance exams.   
 
PSAT for All Current Sophomores & Juniors  (View Parent Letter) 
Testing fee: $15. Students may pay online here or bring a check to the Main Office. Please make checks payable to Saint Agnes School and include PSAT in the memo. Payment is due on Monday, October 9. Learn more about the PSAT.

ACT's "PLAN" for All Current Freshmen (View Parent Letter) 
Testing fee: $15. Students may pay online here or bring a check to the Main Office. Please make checks payable to Saint Agnes School and include PLAN in the memo. Payment is due on Monday, October 9.
 
Please contact Mrs. Rachel Kemp with any questions.  In the coming week, t he Guidance Office will distribute any practice booklets and informational material s that are provided to us.
STAY CONNECTED
The Parent Newsletter is a weekly publication of Saint Agnes School.
[email protected]    |  651-925-8700  |   www.saintagnesschool.org