A Message from Our Head of School

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”

– Galatians 5:22-23

At our school Mass on Wednesday, the lesson from Father Kevin’s homily was about the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. He reminded us that when we embrace the graces and gifts we receive from the Holy Spirit, we are a light to the world and grow in our mission of making Jesus known and loved. The 12 Fruits of the Holy Spirit are signs that the Holy Spirit is alive within us and helping us live the faith in our daily lives. Whether you were able to join us for the school Mass or not, I encourage you to ask your children about what they learned at Mass on Wednesday – they all were very engaged with Father Kevin during his homily. Know that you are welcome to join us at any of our school Masses during the school year. 

By the way, if you have not seen our beautiful new stained-glass windows above the new entrance, please take a moment to gaze upon them the next time you are in the building. Have great week!

Mike McGinty

Head of School

A Message from Our School Principals

Next Wednesday, October 19, our OLG teachers will be attending the Catholic School Summit of Excellence, a professional development conference at the Minneapolis Convention Center. We begin the day celebrating Mass with Archbishop Hebda and hundreds of Catholic School teachers, leaders and staff. We will then attend professional development sessions, all in alignment with the Catholic intellectual tradition.  

K - 8 Parent/Teacher Conferences are coming up in four weeks! OLG will be hosting conferences on Monday, November 7, from 4:00 - 8:00 PM, and on Tuesday, November 8 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. We know that education works best when parents and teachers work together, and these meetings are a great opportunity to share information. You will receive an email on Wednesday, October 26 with a link to sign up. Middle school teachers will meet with parents in ten minute increments and elementary parents will meet with parents for twenty minutes. There is a misprinted calendar listing October 27 as a date for middle school conferences. That is the wrong date. The correct dates for all K - 8 conferences are Monday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 8.

P.S. - Thank you all for your support of our OLG School Marathon Fundraising effort. On top of all the dollars raised, we also took 1,472 donations to VEAP. Great work!

Julie Moran & Jim Dahlman

Elementary & Middle School Principals

A Message from Our Preschool Director

Preschool this past week was busy with playful learning! We had our first in-house field trip with a visit from a fire fighter, followed by our first all-school fire drill. Our Young Scholars started the "Our Community Around Us" unit while our Little Saints have been investigating how trees grow big and strong while observing the changing of the season. We love our new playground with so much room to play and learn! Looking ahead we will be having Preschool Conferences on November 8 from 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM. Look for a sign-up in the coming weeks.

Nicole Rogers

Preschool Director

Santa's Secret Shop Thank You

Thank you to all who joined us last week for photos at Santa's Secret Shop! We've already raised $7,100 and counting for St. John Paul II Catholic School. Look for more information about Santa's Secret Shop in the coming weeks!

November Lunch Ordering

Due Monday, October 17 by 8:00 PM

Lunch orders for the month of November are due soon! View the lunch menus below and order lunches in EZ Apps. 

Preschool Lunch Menu

Kindergarten - 8th Menu

Family Mass & Breakfast Parent Volunteers Needed!

Monday October 17, 7:30 AM - Mother/Daughter

Tuesday, October 18, 7:30 AM - Father/Son

We can't wait to see you at our upcoming Family Masses and Breakfasts! We are still in need of a few more parent volunteers. If you are available to help (Dads on Monday, Moms on Tuesday), sign-up here!

Middle School Service Club (MSSC)

Monday & Tuesday, October 17-18 - Fall Family Mass & Breakfast

Thursday, October 27 - Veteran's Day Cards

Sign up here!

RSVP for Middle School Parent Nights Out

Edina Country Club Tennis House, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

As our students return to the classroom, it's perfect time to gather as parents to get to know one another and build community. Please join us for a casual and fun evening with light bites and cocktails at the Edina Country Club. More details to follow. Looking forward to meeting you in person!

RSVP Required to Attend:

• 6th Grade - November 9
• 7th Grade - November 15 - RSVP by 11/8
• 8th Grade - November 16 - RSVP by 11/9

3rd & 4th Grade Jubilate Children's Choir

Sundays, November 6 - December 11

O come, all ye faithful 3rd and 4th graders - join the Jubilate Kids Choir for the 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass! The first of six rehearsals will begin at 10:45 am; subsequent rehearsals will all be held from 10:35 until 11:25 am. Parent helpers are also needed. Click here to register and contact Mary Jo Cole at maryjocole@comcast.net or 952-334-0165 for more information. Learn new Christmas music, make new friends and share your musical gifts!

Veterans Day Program

Friday, November 11, 1:30 - 2:45 PM

Our 4th - 8th graders will host a program for veterans on Veterans Day. The program includes a speaker, a few songs played by our student band, a chance for veterans to introduce themselves to our students, and a reception in the Commons. All veterans are invited to attend. Check back here next week for a sign-up form for veterans.

Service Project with PES Sisters

Saturday, October 15 - Sunday, October 16, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Join the OLG Men's Club for an awesome service opportunity at the PES Sisters' convent in Bloomington and help replace their 70-year-old sprinkler system. No experience necessary. Bring the kids, siblings, spouse, friends, shovel and knee pad. Join for as much as you can. Beverages and food will be provided. We need 10+ people per day digging holes, learning how to install sprinkler heads, and moving some dirt. Your help is saving $15,000 on this project, so let's do this! Click here to sign-up and contact Peter Raih with questions - peter@raih.com 612-802-3294

Becoming Provider Group for Dads

Thursdays starting October 20, 7:30 - 9:00 PM

Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes to lead your family in faith? What does it mean to Reign in Life through Jesus Christ? Is it something more than just attending Church on Sunday? Is it more than making it through life and just sneaking into heaven by the skin of our teeth? This formation series for men seeks to discover what the invitation of the Gospel, the invitation of the Church, has to offer them as sons of their Heavenly Father and in their vocation as husbands and fathers.

Groups meet twice monthly through February 2023 at Our Lady of Grace. Cost is $60 per participant. For more information or to register, visit our website or email Kory LaCroix.

Church Nursery Reopened!

Our Lady of Grace Church Nursery has reopened in its new space, school room 513! Our childcare staff lovingly welcomes 1 & 2 year old children during 9:30 AM Sunday Mass with no reservation required. We are currently assessing the need to offer childcare during Sunday 11:30 AM Mass. Please email Stephanie Lloyd if you would use childcare during 11:30 Mass.

Marriage Booster Retreat

Saturday, November 19, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Whether you have been married for six months or sixty years, it is never a bad idea to get away together to both celebrate and reflect on your marriage. The Marriage Booster Retreat is a faith-filled, encouraging, and romantic one day retreat designed to let you reconnect, laugh, and talk deeply with the most important person in your life.

We’ll look at communication, intimacy & sex, dealing with conflict, money, parenting, emotional needs, and more. Get ready for a day that will truly bless your marriage!

Cost is $50 per couple and scholarships are available. Click here to learn more and register. Email any questions to Elizabeth Mueller, Director of Marriage and Family.

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