September 15, 2017

Dear St. Alphonsus Families, 

What a beautiful weekend coming up. I hope you have time to enjoy the outdoors. 

We have been down in the new cafeteria (MPR) since Wednesday. Everyone is getting their bearings and we are fine tuning the flow. These cold lunch days are helpful before hot lunch is served beginning on Monday. 

With the new tables and the seating capacity, the students may be sitting with other grade levels in order to use the available seats. There is also a table of 12 for our allergy students that is reserved for their safety. 

The universal expectation of "Leave No Trace" also applies to the lunchroom. Spilled pretzels and other dry food items are being swept up by those who drop them at their tables. It's a good habit for form and they are capable of handling this. Responsibility for self is an vital lesson to learn in many areas. You may even notice this spreading to your home life if they haven't developed this habit yet! We try to instill important life skills.

Note: The September lunch menu is available on the school website.

Our Fun Run Rally is scheduled for this upcoming Tuesday at 2:15 in the gym. You are welcome to attend if you are able. 

Also, please remember to be cautious when picking up or dropping off your children. I understand busy schedules but safety is our first concern.

See you at Mass.


Hand in Hand in Education,
 
Mrs. Wadzinski
Universal Expectations for St. Alphonsus School

As we looked at behavior here at St. Alphonsus, we realized that students and teachers view what is expected differently. We thought that if we made our expectations clear and taught students what each expectation entailed, we could hold kids accountable. We devised a chart that hangs on many walls of the school and will be included in next week's Friday folder. You can view it by clicking HERE .

The idea behind each behavior is grounded in virtue. We want parents to be informed and to understand these initiatives too. If we are all talking the same language it will be very clear to the children. So far the response from teachers is overwhelmingly positive. Kids know and understand what is appropriate for all the areas of the school. Will they forget? Of course. 

We do realize we are all mistake makers. We are here to help them understand if there was harm caused and change their behavior for the good. When a student does forget or disregards the expectations, we will work to correct the behavior here at school. We will involve parents at a point where our corrections are not impacting their choices. Thank you for your support as we raise the level of respect, self-control, justice and unity here at St. Alphonsus. 

~ Mrs. Thiele

Homework

During the teacher in-service week before school started, homework consistency was an area of exploration. The teachers were asked to analyze their typical day in terms of the homework given. We looked at first through eighth grades and compared the data with the school policy for homework. We came to the conclusion that we were concurrent with the amount of homework the policy states per grade level. We did decide however, that teachers were not counting reading into the homework minutes. All the research on reading encourages children to form a daily habit of reading 20 min per day. This amount of reading prepares kids for the demands of school and ensures school success. Teachers do emphasize and encourage daily reading for all students and some include it on the assignment notebook/agenda.

~ Mrs. Thiele
SAFEGUARDING SESSION
There is a Safeguarding session scheduled at St. Alphonsus. The session will be on Saturday, October 14th from 9am to noon in the Community Room. You will need to go online to register for the course. In addition to the session, you will also need to read and acknowledge the Code of Ethical Standards and also give authorization for a background check, both of which are also done online. The registration instructions can be found HERE . This is also included a link to the session details HERE .
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES

09/18/17 FUN RUN! Kick-off Event with students

09/19/17 Chat with Pat Faculty Lounge 5:30 PM

9/19/17 School Committee Meeting 6:00 PM

09/20/17 Cousin's Night 7700 S. Lovers Lane 4-7 PM

09/20/17 Mass 8:00 AM 

09/20/17 Unity T-shirt Day

09/22/17 Picture Re-take Day 

09/27/17 Mass 8:00 AM 

09/27/17 Unity T-shirt Day

09/28/17 2nd Annual FUN RUN!

09/29/17 Non-Uniform Day

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
Help is needed in the  health room  between the hours of 11am and 1pm. Are you able to lend a hand? Please fill out and return the volunteer FORM to the office if you want to help out.

Don't forget to sign up for  recess duty ! Recess help starts at 11:25 each day and is a very simple but important role. A sign up sheet is on the front desk in the office, or you may call the office to sign up.

Finally... now that we have our beautiful new multi-purpose room finished, we will need parent help in the lunchroom. If you are available to help, please contact the office.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT!

REMEMBER.... TO HELP IN ANY CAPACITY AT THE SCHOOL, YOU MUST HAVE COMPLETED THE SAFEGUARDING CLASS!
Please remember to send back your child's empty Friday folder the following Monday each week! If you child is here Tuesday/Thursday, please make sure the folders are returned Tuesday morning. Folders are stuffed on Wednesday afternoons.
SCHOOL HAPPENINGS
Students at Camp Edwards
Congratulations to Mrs. Duckert!
She hit the "Bullseye" at the archery range at Camp Edwards!
OUT OF UNIFORM PASSES LAST CALL!!
Last chance on out of uniform passes! We will extend the sale to accept offers through the week of September 18.  
Please click  HERE  to purchase the passes. Please turn in forms to the school office. Thank you for your support!


PICTURE RETAKE DAY
Picture re-take day will be September 22nd. If your child falls into any of the following categories they should come down for re-takes:
  1. Absent on original picture day
  2. Student wishes to have picture taken now and did not order on original picture day
  3. Student was not enrolled in school at time of original picture day
  4. Student received a package and would like their picture re-taken (package must be returned at time of picture re-take)


JOIN HOME & SCHOOL FOR DINE OUT WITH ST. AL'S AT COUSINS SUBS
The next Dine Out with St. Al’s night is scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, 2017 at Cousins Subs (7700 S. Lovers Lane Rd, Franklin, WI) from 4-7pm. Cousins Subs will donate 15% of proceeds to St. Al’s Home & School to support our school’s fundraising efforts. Students who bring in their Cousin Subs receipt to school on Thursday, September 21, 2017 may be out of uniform that day. See you all there!

Questions, contact Dine Out with St. Al’s coordinator
Lindsay Rugg @  Lindsay.rugg@gmail.com .


FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE
We will be having our Father/Daughter dance October 20th.
Click HERE for the "Save the Date" flyer.


CHESS ANYONE?
Chess Scholars is still accepting registrations for their chess program. Please visit the following link to register:  https://www.chessscholars.com/signup, Click HERE for the flyer, for more information regarding the program.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
Our next School Committee Meeting will be held on September 19th from 6-8pm in the Jerusalem Meeting Room. All are welcome to attend. The agenda can be viewed HERE.

ANNUAL LADIES SHOPPING DAY
Please join us for the Annual Ladies Shopping Day in Chicago, Saturday November 4th! Travel by coach bus to Chicago for a day of shopping, dining and sight seeing! The bus departs from St. Al's at 8:30 a.m. and returns at approximately 9:30 p.m.  The cost is $50 per person and includes snacks and drinks on the bus both ways. Space is limited so reply now! Please contact Amy McBurney at  amymcburney@wi.rr.com  or  414-559-4958  to sign up. All proceeds benefit Home and School Association.

BOX TOPS  
Welcome back to school, parents! My name is Jean Nelsen and I’m thrilled to be the Box Tops for Education Coordinator for St. Alphonsus. Clipping Box Tops is an easy way for you to help our school earn cash.
 
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at  jeannelsen@yahoo.com . I’m here to make our school’s Box Tops for Education program a huge success this year. Thanks for your help!
 
I’ve included a collection sheet and an overview of the Box Tops program.
 
Box Tops 1st Quarter Contest is off to a strong start.  Current Classroom contest current rankings: 
·         Mrs. Gutche 1st place (23 sheets)
·         Mrs. Ladenthin 2nd place (20 sheets)
·         Mrs. Strop 3rd place (16 sheets)

Here are links to the overview of the program as well as the collection sheet:

ST. ALPHONSUS and YOUTH LEADERSHIP
OCT 05 thru DEC 07 every Thursday from
3:20pm – 4:20pm in the Fr. Alan Meeting Room
Youth Leadership is an 8 week program sponsored by
Toastmasters International, a non-profit educational
Organization founded in 1924.
Please visit www.toastmaster.org to learn more.

Students from the 4th , 5th and 6th grade are invited to participate. Every session is run as a meeting with students conducting the entire session and presenting the program. Toastmasters International will provide workbook.The materials and program are free. Youth Leadership will be a fun and safe environment where students can make mistakes, take risks and discover their potential. The last session on December 7th will be a special program for parents and guests.

Wendy Benkowski, the facilitator, has been an active Toastmaster member for 9 years.
She is a St. Al’s graduate from the class of 1965. If you have any questions call
414-899- 7342 or email Wendy at wbenkowski@gmail.com Registration form can be viewed and printed HERE
FUN RUN IS BACK!!
Don’t forget, the Fun Run will kick off with a Pep Rally on September 19th. Then, you can help St. Alphonsus in 4 steps:
 
1. Register on FUNRUN.COM on  September 19 .
2. Connect to sponsors—friends and family who can donate to help our school.
3. Cheer on your child! (Come to the Fun Run on  September 28 )
4. Collect!   Pledge money is due one week after the run. Checks are payable to St. Alphonsus Home and School.
 
THANK YOU!
Individual Piano Lessons
Liz Scheel is offering lessons at school. She has been teaching at St. Al's for over 15 years! Most lessons for 3rd grade and under take place during the school day. After school times are available for older children and for children who attend Cougar Club. 

The cost is $17 for 30 minute lessons and $14 for 20 minutes. To register and for more information contact Liz at  piano6868@aol.com
ST. THOMAS MORE HIGH SCHOOL MINI POMS CLINIC
The St. Thomas More High School Dance team is sponsoring a "Mini Poms" Clinic in October for two days. St. Alphonsus students are welcome to participate! Registered students meet at St. Thomas High School on October 4th and 5th (4:30-6:30pm time on each day), with the invitation to perform with the STM Varsity Poms team at their halftime performance at the St. Thomas More football game on Saturday, October 7th -- game starts at 2pm. 

Completed registration materials and $30 fee (which includes a performance shirt) is due September 20th. For more information, email Nicole Letko, head STM Poms coach at  Nicole.wagner23@gmail.com . Please click HERE for the flyer.
 SAFETY PATROL 
Cadets should report at 7:15 a.m. each scheduled day and may count this time as required service hours. They will have the privileged responsibility of assisting our parents and students during morning drop off. They are supervised by a staff member.  Based on performance, they may also receive treats and/or other rewards at the end of the week!  


Mrs. Radish
Week of September 18th-22nd
Tyler B.
Marshall B.
Matt. B.
Clara B.

Catholic Memorial High School
Open House
Wednesday, October 25th, 2017
6:00pm-8:30pm
All prospective families are invited to CMH for a night!
 
Visit CMH and see what makes our school such an amazing place!
Meet teachers, students, coaches, club directors and current parents.
Take a tour of the school.
Learn about CMH academics.
Learn about financial pathways to CMH.
Sign up for summer activities to meet new friends!
 
For information about Catholic Memorial visit  www.catholicmemorial.net



Catholic Memorial High School Haunted House
Fri., 10/20 & Sat., 10/21
Fri., 10/27 & Sat., 10/28
7:00pm-10:00pm
(not recommended for children under 11 years)
Family-Friendly hours: Saturdays, 6:00pm-6:45pm
$8 per person
Sponsored by Catholic Memorial High School
601 E College Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186
 
All proceeds will go to benefit Operation Finally Home, a charity that supports veterans and their families.
For questions email:  hauntedhouse@catholicmemorial.net

PARISH NEWS
Know anyone interested
in becoming Catholic?

Know any Catholic adults who have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation?

Please consider the RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation of Adults) or our Adult Confirmation Program.

Please click HERE for more information, or contact
Father Aaron, Father Britto,
or Sister Eileen
 Call the Parish Ministry Center: 414-421-2442
Win Father Wally's Cadillac!
Fr. Wally is raffling off his beloved Cadillac Coupe De Ville. Please visit the parish website for more information or see the link to the flyer HERE
OKTOBERFEST
Mark your calendars now for the St. Alphonsus Parish Oktoberfest Celebration October 21st.

Please click HERE for the flyer. Note: RSVP's need to be returned to the parish by October 9th.