Dear Families,
I write to you today with news about one of our long-time and beloved Lower School faculty members.
After well over 18 wonderful years of service to Saint Agnes School, Ms. Kathleen O’Hern has decided to retire. She informed Fr. Moriarty and me of her decision two weeks ago. Both Fr. Moriarty and I conveyed to her our deep gratitude for her impact on Saint Agnes School.
In her own words, Kathleen wrote to us: “It has been a great blessing to be here for almost 20 years. All who know me in our archdiocese (including Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens) would say that I am an enthusiastic supporter of our faithfully Catholic school! I have worked with many dedicated priests, Sisters, administrators, faculty and staff. What joy it has been to teach our Catholic faith and prepare students to receive the Sacraments. What a special grace to be the godmother of many students, the Confirmation sponsor of others, attend priestly ordinations and profession of Religious vows of many of our graduates, and prepare students to enter into the Catholic Church.
I keep our school in my daily prayers and will continue to do so! After much discernment, it is now time for me to retire. Along with teaching Religion, I have been happy to teach Latin, help train altar servers, and serve as First Sacraments coordinator. I am confident that God will provide a wonderful teacher that will be a gift to our school and, most importantly, love our Catholic faith.
Thank you for all you do!
Again I say, God bless Saint Agnes School!”
We will now have a full-time prayer warrior (who can spend time with her grandchildren as well). She has asked that we do not hold a public honoring for her—she wants to make her way quietly into retirement at this time.
A special thank you to Ms. O’Hern for all her years of service to this beautiful school! May God bless Kathleen in her retirement, and may we find a suitable successor for Kathleen’s Lower School classes. Please say a prayer on both fronts.
Blessings to you as we approach the 4th of July,
Kevin Ferdinandt
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SA Reopening Committee
Our committee will meet for the third time on Tuesday (6/30). We have spent a good deal of time discussing prudent ways to safely start in-person classes in the Saint Agnes School building this fall. As you may know, the American Academy of Pediatricians has strongly advocated that all planning for this upcoming school year “should start with the goal of having students physically present in school.” They make a number of recommendations about maintaining proper physical distances (3-6 feet), cohorting students where possible (i.e., keeping kids together in one smaller group), utilizing outdoor spaces where possible, instilling proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette protocols, cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects, the ever-controversial wearing of masks/face shields, etc. Take a look at a communication from a Children’s hospital in Toronto regarding “Recommendations for School Reopening”
available here
. As I have said before, we will have a preliminary plan to you sometime in the latter half of July.
SA Coronavirus Assistance Fund
The Saint Agnes Coronavirus Assistance Fund has raised well over $70,000 so far to help with grocery gift cards, food items, tuition, etc. for families in need. We have given much away with the generous assistance of numerous donors. In addition, we received a
$35,000 challenge match for any money raised between now and August 31st
. If you have been blessed in particular ways that allow you to give, please help us assist families in need by
donating to the SA Coronavirus Assistance Fund.
If you are one who is in need of the assistance we have been gifted, please contact us for help.
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Stay Informed
An updated
2020-21 school calendar
can be viewed here
.
Card stock copies for your refrigerator or bulletin board will be mailed with information packets the end of July.
The
school office
will be open Monday-Thursday from 8:00 AM-2:00 PM. The office is closed on Fridays.
The
Parent Newsletter
will now be published bi-weekly into August, resuming normal weekly publications before school begins. You can also expect two packets of 2020-21 school information to be mailed to your homes at the end of June and the end of July. Please contact
the Main Office
if you have
questions.
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Updated 2020-21 Fees
Lunch
: Cost is $3.05 which includes one milk and the salad bar; additional entrees are $1.70; additional milk is $.30 each. Breakfast is $1.80 for grades 1-12, free for Kindergarten.
Students qualified for Free/Reduced program will be charged for additional entrees and milk.
More information regarding the cafeteria program, including payment options, student PIN numbers and menus will be available in August. Please contact
Ms. Sandy Veal
with questions on free/reduced lunch or your current cafeteria account. 651-925-8815.
After School Care:
We offer After School Care supervision to students in grades K-6 from dismissal (3:00 PM) until 5:00 PM each school day. This program, located in our school cafeteria, offers Saint Agnes families supervision of their student’s self-directed use of time within a monitored space, a school supply of games, art activities, access to our courtyard playground (weather permitting), and an opportunity to complete homework. How it Works/Fees: All K-6 students that have not been picked up by 3:00 PM, except for those students involved in after-school sports and other pre-approved activities, will be charged a fee of $0.10 per minute per student between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM; this is a base rate of $6.00 per hour per student. Students not picked by 5:00 PM will be assessed a late pick up charge of $10.00; students who still have not been picked up by 5:30 PM will be assessed a larger penalty of $20; recurring incidences of late pick-up may result in a withdrawal from the program. Based on the actual minutes logged in After School Care from the sign-in/sign-out system, a monthly bill will be added to each family’s TADS account on the 15th of each month. Please budget accordingly if you have multiple students in the After School Care Program.
School Supply Kits:
NEW this year, we are offering the option of pre-packaged school supply kits. Kits are available to be purchased and shipped directly to your home. Supply kits are customizable and orders over $50 receive free shipping. For more information and to place an order, visit:
www.schooltoolbox.com
and search for Saint Agnes School.
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Used Uniform Sale - TONIGHT, June 29
The annual Used Uniform Sale will be held in Bandas Gym Monday June 29, from 7:00-8:00 PM. Cash or check only, please. Shoes and belts that are in good condition will also be accepted. Please contact
Mrs. Kathy Kilduff
in the Main Office with questions.
Be sure to check the lost and found when you are here!!
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Aggie Open Golf Tournament - SOLD OUT
Golf is sold out but dinner only options are available as well as sponsorship opportunities. Would you like to support Aggie Athletics? The first $5,000 in donations will be matched by a generous alumnus!
Click here for dinner reservations or to donate
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SAVE THE DATE! Freshman Welcome Picnic - August 5
All freshmen of the class of 2024 and their parents are invited to attend a social picnic at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, August 5th. This is an informal opportunity to meet new classmates, other parents, and hear a message from the Saint Agnes faculty and administration before the start of the school year. Location is still to be determined. Watch the Aggies Newsletter for more information.
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Saint Agnes Preschool Update
As you may know, our Preschool will be transitioning from the Montessori model for the fall of 2020. I’d like to thank Ms. Angela Boris again for her great work in running our Montessori program for the past two years; she has discerned to continue educating children in Montessori. With that, I’m excited to announce the new faculty and changes to the Preschool for this coming school year. Please see the
letter linked here
. If you have questions about the program, please contact
Mr. Michael Adkins
; if you are interested in enrolling, please contact
Mr. Joseph Olson.
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Preschool Meet & Greet – July 14 & 16
In addition to the Preschool update above, please mark your calendars as we will host we will host a Meet & Greet on Tuesday, July 14 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. and Thursday, July 16 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. for current Preschool families and those interested in learning more.
Please RSVP at this link.
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High School Sports (Grades 9-12) Begin Monday, August 17
Sports offered include boys and girls soccer, cross country, football, volleyball, cheerleading and girls swimming. Contact coaches for summer workout opportunities.
Grade School/Junior High Sports Begin Monday, August 24
Sports offered for grades 5-8 include girls volleyball and boys football.
Registration for all levels opens on July 15
at this link
. More information on fall sports and coaches contact information are included in the summer mailing you will receive this week. Questions can be directed to
Athletic Director Mike Streitz
.
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Past News and Quick Links
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Stay Sharp this Summer
S
u
mmer Solutions
for students in grades PK-8 helps students keep core academic knowledge and skills sharp over the summer.
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Donald's Uniform Sale -June
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Forming Catholic Hearts & Minds in Faith, Reason, & Virtue
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