Parent Newsletter: 5/6/2019
A MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER
Dear Families,

This past fall, I asked Mother Assumpta to consider sending us a fifth Dominican sister for the upcoming school year. She was skeptical that she would have another sister available.

Then this spring, shortly after revealing that we would be offering a third section of 6 th grade for the upcoming school year, Sr. Maria Rose (who helps Mother Assumpta) called to ask if we still needed another sister. I told her that we would love another sister, provided that she could teach in the upper elementary grades. In her infinite wisdom, Mother Assumpta wrote me that she could send us a sister, but this sister would be better suited to the earlier elementary grades. We accepted without knowing God’s fuller plan for us.

I had no idea at that time that our beloved first grade teacher Mrs. Mary Eckberg would be seeking a leave of absence for the upcoming school year. In her own words, “After many prayers, I have asked for a one year leave of absence from Saint Agnes School. This was a very difficult decision for me as I truly love teaching at this amazing institution. However, this time will allow me the opportunity to care for my one-year old daughter and our baby due in August. I thank the administration so very much for granting my request and look forward to returning to Saint Agnes!” The wonderful news that Mrs. Eckberg will bring another child into this world is accompanied by the wonderful news that we will be welcoming Sr. Gabriella to our school as a first grade teacher this coming August!
Please say a prayer for Mrs. Eckberg and Sr. Gabriella as they make transitions this coming summer and fall.

Blessings to you,
Kevin Ferdinandt
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
Aggie Quiz Bowl Team Takes 11th at Nationals
Huge congratulations to our Aggie Quiz Bowl team for earning 11th plac e out of 152 teams at Nationals in Chicago this weekend! Team members (pictured left to right) include Vincent V. '21, Conrad T. '19, Patrick D. '22, Emma T. '20, Paul M. '19, and Sara F. '20 #GoAggies
Newsies Finish Strong
Shout-out to our Senior Newsies, carrying the banner one last time after another incredible musical season. #AllForOne #OneForAll #GoAggies
Aggie Authors Contribute to New Book Published by Blessed is She: Rise Up
Shout-out to 4 authors from the Aggie community who just helped launch a new devotional for kids from  Blessed Is She : “ Rise Up: Shining with Virtue .” Alongside contributions from Nell O’Leary (Aggie mom), Susanna Spencer (Saint Agnes parishioner), and Jacqui Skemp (Saint Agnes parishioner), Ms. Rose Coleman (3rd grade teacher) used her classroom experience to offer reflections on the virtue of studiousness . #OneForTheBooks #GoAggies
Well-Read Aggie(s) in the 5th Grade
Kudos to one  #Well -ReadAggie in Ms. Erickson's class! 5th graders are challenged to read 30 chapter books over the course of the school year: Annika Y. '26 far exceeded that goal with 115 chapter books read so far this year!   #GoAggies
All School May Crowning Mass
Honoring Our Lady this month of Mary with all-school Mass & May Crowning. #FullOfGrace  #GoAggies
UPCOMING EVENTS
7-12 Upper School Grandparents Day - Thursday, May 9
Final details ( parking, Mass, etc.) will be sent this Monday afternoon! Haven't RSVP'd yet? Please contact Mrs. Kate Boyle at 651-925-8880 as soon as possible!
Don Bosco Holy Hour with Special Prayer for Grades 9-10 - Friday, May 10
Join us from 2:00-3:00 PM every Friday afternoon for Eucharistic Adoration in the lower church chapel to pray for our school! Special prayer intentions will be offered this week for grades 9-10.
11-12 Prom 2019 - Saturday, May 11
Grand March will be in the Helene Houle Auditorium starting at 5:00 PM on Saturday, May 11. Doors to school will open at 4:45 PM. All are welcome! Information packets for students and parents can be found in the main office. Please contact Mrs. Richtsmeier  with questions.
JH Pro-Life Group Baby Drive -
Items Due Thursday, May 16
The Junior High Pro-Life Group is hosting a baby drive for Wakota Life Care Center and collecting items for the next two weeks . We are asking for baby clothes (size 18 months - size 3T), diapers (especially sizes 3, 4, & 5), baby wipes, and formula. Thursday, May 16 will be t he last day to bring in items. The advisories are having a friendly competition to see which group can bring in the most items. All baby items should be brought to Mrs. True's room (254). Please contact Mrs. True with any questions. Thank you for your support!
K-8 Field Day - Friday, May 24
Field Day for all K-8 students is Friday, May 24 from 9:30 AM-1:45 PM at West Minnehaha Playground. See the parents letter for more details . Please turn permission slips ( K-4; 7-8 Form | 5-6 Form ) in no later than Monday, May 13 . Questions can be directed to Mr. Sam Thompson .
7-12 Final Exams -
Beginning Wednesday, May 29
Final exams will be held Wednesday, May 29 through Friday, May 31.  Download schedule here. Students in grades 7-12 are dismissed after the exam periods/end-of-year events are completed each day: Wednesday (after Baccalaureate Mass, appx. 12:15 PM), Thursday (12:20 PM for 7-11; after graduation rehearsal for seniors), and Friday (11:30 AM). Teachers will be available for review sessions, and students may stay on campus to study in various locations. As in the past, with a prior parent note or call, seniors with study halls need not report to campus during study hall exam times. Please note that K-6 dismissal remains at 2:45 PM both Wednesday and Thursday. All students are dismissed at 11:30 AM on Friday and there is no After School Care.
10-11 Boundary Water Trip - June 9-13, 2019
Students currently enrolled in grades 10 and 11 are invited to participate in a Boundary Waters Canoe Trip this June 9-13. See this flyer for more details! Registrations are due tomorrow, May 7 and are available on the school's website . Contact Mr. Karl Hendrickson with questions.
ADMISSIONS
Future Kindergartner Classroom Visits - Tuesday, May 7 & Friday, May 17
Parents can bring their future Class of 2032 Kinder (or come by themselves) to join us for Morning Meeting on Tuesday, May 7 or Friday, May 17. Please RSVP online if you plan to attend either of these events, and feel welcome to invite other families who might still be looking for a Kindergarten option next year. Contact Admissions Director Joseph Olson for more information at 651-925-8803.
All School Open House -
Wednesday, May 15
Due to increased interest at this time of year, we would like to invite interested families to our All School Open House! Meet our faculty, tour our campus, and stop by from 6:30-8:00 PM on Wednesday, May 15.

Feel welcome to invite friends who may be interested in learning more about the Aggie experience. Please RSVP online if you plan to attend. For more information, contact Admissions Director Joseph Olson at 651-925-8803.
Future Kindergarten Class of 2032 BBQ Picnic - Wednesday, May 22
Kindergarten families, join us on Wednesday, May 22 for a special BBQ Picnic, the first-ever meeting of our Class of 2032! Please RSVP online if you plan to join, and feel welcome to invite other families who might still be looking for a Kindergarten option next year. Contact Admissions Director Joseph Olson for more information at 651-925-8803.
FROM THE K-6 LOWER SCHOOOL LIBRARY
Alphabet Fair - Tuesday, May 7
On Tuesday May 7, our 6th graders (along with the staff of the lower school library), will host our 8th Annual Saint Agnes Fabulous Alphabet Fair based on Debra Frasier’s book Our Fabulous Fair Alphabet . This is a school carnival with a vocabulary strengthening activities, where students in K-4 win words, fill their gamecard, and earn a blue ribbon. Please join us for a great afternoon!:
Kindergarten & Grade 2: 12:30-1:15 PM
Grades 1 & 3: 1:15-2:00 PM
Grade 4: 1:25-2:00 PM
Lower School Library Books Due - Wednesday, May 8
All library books should be returned by Wednesday, May 8 as we need time to identify missing books (10 lost per average year) and send notices and/or assess fines. Families will be responsible for submitting payment for lost books. We appreciate your support, as it is always more expensive to replace an existing book. Library classes will continue through the remainder of the school year, and we will keep our students busy with fun literacy activities! Please contact Tricia Roddy with questions.
ATHLETICS
Come Support Our Aggie Athletes this Week!
(M) May 6: Boys Lacrosse at Southwest Christian HS (JV 4:00 PM, Varsity 5:30 PM)
Baseball vs. St. Anthony Village at McMurray Field (JV 4:15 PM)
Baseball vs. St. Anthony Village at West Mini (Varsity 4:15 PM)
Softball at Presentation (Grade 6, 4:30 PM)
Softball vs. St. Anthony Village at West Mini (JV 4:30 PM)
Softball at Columbia Heights (Varsity 4:30 PM)

(T) May 7: Baseball at Community of Saints Regional Catholic School (Grade 8, 3:45 PM)
Baseball vs. Nativity at Groveland Park and Rec (Grade 6, 4:00 PM)
Softball vs. St. Joe's Rosemount at Erickson Park (Grade 8, 4:00 PM)
Baseball vs. Academy of Holy Angels at Barnes Field - Concordia University (Varsity 4:15 PM)
Softball vs. DeLaSalle HS at West Mini (JV 4:30 PM)
Softball vs. DeLaSalle HS at Carlander Field - Concordia University (Varsity 4:30 PM)

(W) May 8: Baseball vs. Nativity at Highland Park Little League (Grade 7, 3:30 PM)
Softball vs. Presentation at West Mini (Grade 6, 4:00 PM)
Baseball vs. Edison at Northeast Athletic Fields (JV 4:15 PM)
Baseball vs. Edison at Barnes Field - Concordia University (Varsity 4:15 PM)
Softball vs. Spring Lake Park HS at Carlander Field - Concordia University (Varsity 4:30 PM)

(R) May 9: Baseball vs. St. Thomas Academy at Mendakota Softball Field (Grade 8, 3:45 PM)
Boys Lacrosse vs. Waconia at Minnehaha Academy South Campus (JV 4:30 PM; Varsity 6:00 PM)
Softball at Brooklyn Center HS (Varsity 4:30 PM); JV Cancelled - prefer to play C-level if possible
Track & Field All Meet at St. Croix Prep Academy (4:30 PM)

(F) May 10: Baseball vs. St. Thomas Academy at Civic Center Field (Grade 7, 3:30 PM)
Softball vs. Immaculate Conception at Huset Park (Grade 6, 3:45 PM)
Baseball vs. St. Joseph of West St. Paul at West St. Paul Sports Complex (Grade 5, 4:00 PM)
Softball vs. Trinity at West Mini (Grade 8, 4:00 PM)
Baseball vs. Minneapolis North at Barnes Field - Concordia University (Varsity 4:15 PM)
Baseball vs. Minneapolis North at West Mini (JV 4:30 PM)

(S) May 11: Softball JV Conference Tournament at St. Anthony Village HS (TBD)
Baseball vs. Trinity at McMurray Field (JV 10:00 AM)
Baseball vs. Trinity at Toni Stone Stadium (Varsity 10:00 AM)

Visit our website for directions and up-to-date times and locations.
QUICK LINKS FROM PAST WEEKS
Mark your calendar for K-12 spring testing dates !
15% off Aggie Apparel through Sideline Store order of $75+ with code MAY19.
Plan three great months for your whole family with our Saint Agnes Summer Series !
Please bring cafeteria accounts to current by the end of the school year.
Allow families the chance to send their children to the school that is the best fit for them! Learn more about how to talk to our legislators about supporting school choice.
Coupons available for preschool, kindergarten, and new student uniforms. Shop June 1-30 for 10-20% off everything at Donald's Uniform Store.
Sign-up to donate flowers to our Sisters' Chapel over the summer.
Grades 9-12
Learn more about job opportunities for students!
Forming Catholic Hearts & Minds in Faith, Reason, & Virtue