Parent Newsletter: 9/24/2018
A Message from the Director of Alumni Relations
What an exciting week we are about to embark on! Days of not needing to wear uniforms (parents and Administrators refrain from cringing!), special theme days, Student vs. Faculty Volleyball and Ultimate Frisbee, Aggie Athletic games and matches, our first-ever high school field day, Friday’s spirited K-12 Pep Fest, tailgate BBQ, football game, and Homecoming dance - I’m exhausted just thinking about it all! But really, this week is part of the great memories our students will take with them long after their time at Saint Agnes. It is the joy, competition, smiles, and camaraderie that this week brings to our entire student body community. A community we are proud of as teachers, coaches, advisers… we are a family of Aggies! A special shout-out to the teachers who will be working at school by 4AM Tuesday morning to help set up the high school field day and pork barbecue for the students - Talk about dedication!

Our alumni are an integral part of the Saint Agnes story, a story that began 130 years ago in 1888. We enjoy seeing so many of our alumni back on campus as parents of students, attending reunions, taking part in the annual Alumni Memorial Mass and Brunch on Thursday, watching the football game on Friday, and celebrating the Hall of Fame Induction on Saturday. These connections become even more special to our alumni over time and are important as the Saint Agnes story continues on for many more years. We are excited to have YOU as parents become part of the story as well.

Let’s take down the Beacons of Concordia on Friday!
Go Aggies!

Kate Boyle
Director of Alumni Relations  
The original Saint Agnes school building, torn-down in 1939.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Aggie Homecoming Week Begins Today!
Homecoming Week activities begin today! Here's a glimpse of the week:
  • Monday - K-6 Color Day, Morning Meeting; 7-12 Tacky Tourist Day
  • Tuesday - K-6 School Uniform, 8:45 AM Mass; 7-12 Class Color/House T-Shirt Day
  • Wednesday - K-6 Sports/Jersey Day, Student vs. Teacher Volleyball Game; 7-12 Destination Day
  • Thursday - K-6 Faith T-Shirt Day; 7-12 School Uniform; 8:45 AM Alumni Memorial Mass
  • Friday - K-12 Aggie Spirit Day; Pep Fest; Family Tailgate BBQ & Football Game at Klas Field
  • Saturday - 9-12 Homecoming Dance & Coronation

Download the complete schedule for details on out-of-uniform days, activities and games. Homecoming t-shirts and 9-12 dance tickets will be sold at lunch September 24-26. T-shirts cost $10. Dance tickets cost $5 pre-sale if you buy a t-shirt or $7 at the door / without a t-shirt.

Saint Agnes families, alumni and friends are invited to a free tailgate BBQ before Friday night's football game at  Hamline's Klas Field . You'll get to know other Aggie families and meet countless alumni and friends, including this year's Hall of Fame inductees! Volunteers are still needed to help with ticket sales before the game. See shift times and sign up to help !

We'll also be hosting the Alumni Memorial Mass on Thursday and Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, plus various Homecoming games and matches throughout the week. Celebrate Aggie Homecoming with us and learn more at our website .

New Aggie Apparel for Sale
Our shelves are stocked with new Aggie Apparel for Homecoming Week! Make your purchases Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week from 2:45-3:15 PM or Wednesday and Thursday 7:30-8:00 AM in the UAC Commons. Parent volunteers still needed to assist with sales. Please sign up here if you are able to help.

Masses This Week
Tuesday, September 25: K-6 Mass at 8:45 AM
Thursday, September 27: 7-12 Alumni Memorial Mass at 8:45 AM
Learn more about school Masses and see the full 18-19 schedule on our website.

Altar Servers Training - Sunday, September 30
Altar Server training for Saturday and Sunday Low Masses will take place Sunday, September 30 at 1:00 PM in the Upper Church. Attendance is mandatory for both the current servers and those interested in serving at Saturday and Sunday Low Masses. Young men in grades 5-12 are invited to the training. 

Important October Dates
October 2 – K-12 Mass (Guardian Angels)
October 5 – Grades 7-12 First Friday Confessions
October 5 – Grades 4-6 Rosary Procession at the Cathedral
October 7-8 – University of Mary College Visit
October 10 – Grades 7-8 Mass of the Holy Spirit Field Trip
October 10 – Grades 9-11 PSAT/PLAN Testing
October 10 – Grade 12 Service Field Trip
October 11 – Preschool-12 Open House (6:30-8:30 PM)
October 17 – K-6 Grandparents Day
October 17 – NO SCHOOL; Teacher Workshop
October 18 – NO SCHOOL
October 21 – Saint Agnes Parish Festival
October 23 – Picture Retake Day
October 24 – NO SCHOOL; Preschool-12 Fall Conferences (12:00-8:00 PM)

Convent Showing - Sunday, October 7 
Saint Agnes families and friends are invited to a showing of the recently renovated Convent, the new home for our Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Enjoy conversation with the Sisters and view the public area on the first floor and second floor chapel from 2:30-3:30 PM on Sunday, October 7.

PSAT/PLAN Testing On Campus - October 10
Saint Agnes will administer the PSAT and PLAN tests on Wednesday, October 10. Both are preliminary college readiness and preparatory tests and serve as practice for the real ACT and SAT college entrance exams.   
Testing Fee: $15. Please pay online here . If needed, you may pay by cash or check (please note PSAT in the memo), and submit payment to the main office. Payment is due Monday, October 8. Learn more about the PSAT.

Testing Fee: $15. Please pay online here . If needed, you may pay by cash or check (please note PLAN in the memo), and submit payment to the main office. Payment is due Monday, October 8.
The Guidance Office will distribute copies of the parent letters and PSAT practice booklets early this week. Please contact Mrs. Rachel Kemp with any questions.
ATHLETICS
Come Support Our Aggie Athletes this Homecoming Week!
(M) September 24: Volleyball at Highland Catholic (Grade 6 White, 3:45 PM)
Volleyball at Transfiguration (Grade 8, 4:00 PM; Grade 7, 4:45 PM)
Volleyball at St. Ambrose of Woodbury (Grade 5, 6:00 PM)
Football at Breck School McKnight Stadium (JH 6:30 PM)

(T) September 25: Volleyball vs. Columbia Heights at Saint Agnes Bandas Gym (C-Team 4:30 PM, JV 5:30 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM)
Volleyball at Faithful Shepherd (Grade 6 Red, 4:45 PM)
Girls Soccer at Columbia Heights (JV 5:00 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM)
Boys Soccer vs. Columbia Heights at Pioneer Park (JV 5:00 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM)
Girls Swim & Dive All Meet vs. Breck at St. Anthony Village HS (5:30 PM)

(W) September 26: Girls Soccer at Fridley Middle School (JV 4:30 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM)
Volleyball at SPA - Randolph Campus (Grade 6 Red, 3:45 PM)
Volleyball vs. Highland Catholic at Saint Agnes Gruden Gym (Grade 8, 3:45 PM, Grade 7, 4:30 PM)
Boys Soccer at Nova Classical Academy (JV 4:00 PM, Varsity 6:00 PM)
Volleyball vs. Holy Spirit at Saint Agnes Gruden Gym (Grade 6 White, 5:15 PM)
Volleyball vs. St. Ambrose at Saint Agnes Gruden Gym (Grade 5, 6:00 PM)

(R) September 27: Boys Soccer at Brooklyn Center HS (JV 4:30 PM, Varsity 4:30 PM)
Volleyball at Visitation (C-Team 4:30 PM, JV 4:30 PM, Varsity 6:00 PM)
Girls Soccer vs. Visitation at Pioneer Park (JV 5:00 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM)
Girls Swim & Dive All Meet vs. AHA/Minnehaha Academy at St. Anthony Village HS (5:30 PM)

(F) September 28: Football vs. Concordia Academy at Hamline University (Varsity 7:00 PM)

(S) September 29: Cross Country All Invitational at University of MN Golf Course (Time TBD)
Football vs. Nativity at St. Anthony Village HS (Grades 5/6, Time TBD)
Volleyball Tournament at Mounds Park Academy (Varsity, Time TBD)
Volleyball Invitational at Bloomington Kennedy High School (C-Team 8:00 AM)
Volleyball Tournament at Woodbury HS (JV 8:00 AM)
Girls Soccer at Trinity School at River Ridge (JV 11:00 AM; Varsity 1:00 PM)
Girls Swim & Dive All Invitational vs. Tartan Senior at Skyview M.S. Pool (1:00 PM)

View full athletics calendar here .

Aggie Volleyball Food Shelf Night - Tuesday, September 25
Aggie Volleyball will be hosting a food shelf night at our Homecoming Game on Tuesday, September 25. Anyone bringing a non-perishable donation will receive a ticket entering them into a drawing for Aggie Spirit Wear. Cash donations will also be accepted. Come support Aggie Volleyball and give back to the community we are all a part of! 

Fall Basketball Workouts for Grades 5-8
 Saint Agnes will be offering fall basketball workouts for boys and girls who plan to play basketball this year. These are intense skill workouts for serious players who wish to improve their skills. These are not designed for traditional “fun” but rather satisfaction and enjoyment through improving! These workouts consist of about 90 minutes of skill development and team play.
 
Dates: Sundays September 30, October 7, and October 14
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Cost: FREE!
 
Please contact Chris Hopkins , head boys basketball coach, with questions on the skills sessions.
PARENTS
Share Your Saint Agnes Story & Invite Friends to Our Open House
Please help spread the word on our upcoming Open House, starting at 6:30 PM on Thursday, October 11. Invite any families you think might be a good fit for Saint Agnes School who have children ages Preschool through 12th grade. Families need not register for this event. We ask everyone attending to arrive before the program begins at 7:00 PM. Please share our Open House event on Facebook and tell others your Saint Agnes story. Be an ambassador of Saint Agnes School and help the Admissions Office as we continue our work of Forming Catholic Hearts and Minds.

Saint Agnes Food Pantry is Open
The Saint Agnes food pantry is open Wednesdays from 1:30-3:30 PM and contains both perishable and non-perishable items. Any Saint Agnes family who wishes to take advantage of this resource is encouraged to stop in or  contact John Ernster  to set up an appointment.

Register for UMary Bus Trip by Tomorrow! Tuesday, September 25
The University of Mary and Mrs. Mary Jo Feltl will once again sponsor a bus trip for juniors and seniors to the University of Mary on October 7-8. A schedule of events can be found here . Students may register online for this opportunity. Questions? Please contact  Mrs. Rachel Kemp.

Final Call for K-6 Grandparent Addresses - Due Tuesday, September 25
Our K-6 Grandparents and Senior Friends Day is quickly approaching and we again look forward to opening our doors to them on October 17. We will be sending a special invitation out to Grandparents and Senior Friends and need your help!   Please submit names and addresses of those you would like us to invite by Tuesday, September 25. More details about this special day will be forthcoming.

All Saints Day Party
We are searching for another family (or two) to lead (co-lead) the All Saints Day Party on October 31 with planning, preparations, and event execution. The Party takes place in the Grade School Gym starting at 6:00 PM. This event has been well-attended for many years as different families have taken their turns chairing the party. Children dress in Saints’ costumes to attend, and pizza and treats are served. Volunteer parents set-up games and foods the afternoon of the party. Please contact Katie Marquardt with any questions or interest. No chair(s)—no party!

Free Aggie Family Yard Signs
We still have Saint Agnes Yard Signs available, and we would be thrilled if you displayed one in your yard for all to see. Come by the Admissions Office (Room 105) to pick up a sign and share your Aggie Spirit with the whole neighborhood. 

Host Families for Two Guatemalan Students
Interested in hosting a foreign exchange student? Two 10th grade students are in need of a host family during their stay in Minnesota. Please contact Admissions Director Mr. Joseph Olson for more information.

The Parent Newsletter is a weekly publication of Saint Agnes School.
Forming Catholic Hearts & Minds in Faith, Reason, & Virtue