Celebrating Catholic Schools Week

This week we celebrate the gift that is our school and parish community during Catholic Schools Week. I hope your students enjoy the celebration this week!

Please join me in praying for the continued success of our school and fellow Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis--that we may continue to lead by example in forming Catholic hearts and minds in faith, reason, and virtue.

Saint Thomas Aquinas, Pray for Us!

Saint John Bosco, Pray for Us!

Saint Agnes, Pray for Us!

Last Chance for the Red & White!

There is no better way to support our own Catholic School than by contributing to our Red & White Benefit Dinner and Auction. It's coming up one week from Saturday on February 10th.

Registration closes this Wednesday, January 31^st . Donations for the silent auction must be in by Wednesday, January 31^st .

We need help for set up and flower work on Friday, Feb 9th during school hours. Students will do the heavy lifting. A few spots also remain to work the event on the 10th. Questions? Contact Mrs. Sara Bruggemann 651-925-8720.

Sign-Up Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4AABA72AA6FE3-46901650-2024#/ 

50/50 Raffle

Win up to $5,000 in the 50/50 Raffle! Winner receives half the pot. Tickets are $100 and only 100 tickets will be sold. Call Mrs. Sarah Mathis at 651-925-8703 to buy!

Car Raffle 

Please continue to turn in your outstanding Raffle tickets. Your last opportunity to turn them in at school will be February 9^th. No tickets will be accepted after February 10^th.

Questions? Contact Mrs. Sara Bruggemann 651-925-8720.

Scholarships & Financial Aid Applications Due February 29th

If you are seeking financial assistance this upcoming school year, financial aid applications are due Thursday, February 29^th. Please complete your application by this date. If you are able to finish it sooner, all the better. We aim to send tuition agreements out in March. Financial aid applications can be completed in your TADS account. You will need to upload your 1040 tax form and any W2’s for your household. TADS also may require other documentation based on your financial situation. There is a $34 charge to complete your application. 

Due to an expected enrollment increase for the 2024-25 school year and thus higher financial need from our families, your aid amount will diminish if you apply after the February 29^th deadline. 

SCHOLARSHIPS

For Lower School families that have received the Aim Higher Scholarship in the past, please have your financial aid application completed by February 23^rd. You need to meet this date in order to qualify for the scholarship again this year. Unfortunately, if you are late in submitting your financial aid application the school will have to add the missed $1000 scholarship onto your tuition agreement. 

9^th grade Need-Based Scholarships – Please review the list of scholarships here and complete these separate application for the scholarships you think you may qualify for. These applications are also due February 29^th.

12^th grade Need-Based Kubista Scholarship – Click here for the application to this scholarship. Complete and submit the application by February 29th

The Kubista Endowed Scholarship is awarded to one male and one female 11th Grade student before they enter their senior year. Students must exhibit strong Christian values, character, leadership, and academic excellence.

Active Saint Agnes Parishioner Tuition Discount - The parishioner discount is available for registered members of the Church of Saint Agnes whose regular attendance and active stewardship reflect their commitment to the parish as their primary place of worship:

• Oldest child – Family pays full tuition for oldest child.
• Second through fourth child – Family receives $500 discount per child.
• Fifth child and more – Family receives free tuition for 5th child and more.

If you have other questions please consult these two pages below or call the Admissions Office at 651-925-8803.

Tuition and Fees: https://www.saintagnesschool.org/admissions/tuition-affordability

Scholarships and Financial Aid: https://www.saintagnesschool.org/admissions/financial-aid-scholarships

February Important Dates

2/1 – Upper School Confessions

2/2 – First Friday Mass 

2/3 – Father Daughter Dance

2/7 – Junior Retreat

          MathCounts Competition

          CLT10 

2/10 – Red & White Benefit

2/13 – Lower School Virtue Assembly

               Upper School Raffle Out of Uniform Incentive Day

2/14 – Ash Wednesday

               Lower School Mass, 8:45am

               Upper School Mass, 10:15am 

2/15 – First Confessions

2/16 – Stations of the Cross

               UWRF Art Field Trip

2/19 – President’s Day/No School

2/20 – No School

2/23 – Stations of the Cross

2/24 – Mother/Son Brunch

2/27 – JH Science Fair

Ladies' Open Gym

Please join us (Women 18+) for a night of basketball and/or volleyball and fellowship! All skill levels are welcome. 

February 17 7-9 PM in Bandas Gym. Enter through the Main Doors.

Upcoming: Saturday March 9, April 13 and May 11 7PM-9PM

Contact Jenny Loch or Jessica Zingsheim with any questions. 

New Child & Working Family Tax Credits Available in Minnesota!

Even if you are not required to file Minnesota income tax returns, you can still file to claim valuable state tax benefits. The Working Family Credit and Child Tax Credits deliver tax relief to individuals whose income is below a certain level. Both credits are refundable, meaning you can receive a refund even if you do not owe tax.

What is the Child Tax Credit?

The new Child Tax Credit is available to Minnesotans who have children under 18. By filing a Minnesota tax return, you may qualify for $1,750 per child with no limit on the number of children.

What is the Working Family Credit?

The Working Family Credit is available to Minnesotans who earn income during the year. The maximum Working Family Credit is $350 if your earned income is $8,750 or more, and it can increase by:

• $350 for no qualifying child
• $1,275 for one qualifying chid, age 18 or older
• $2,450 for two qualifying children, age 18 or older
• $2,850 for three or more qualifying children, age 18 or older

Both the Child Tax Credit and Working Family Credit are phased out if your income is over $35,000 for those whose filing status is Married Filing Jointly or over $29,500 for other filers.

How do I claim these credits?

File an individual earned income tax return.

Learn more about each of these tax credits and additional resources by visiting www.FamiliesFirstProject.com/CTC

Announcing the 2024 Lenten Lecture Series: The Seven Sorrows of Mary

Mark your calendars for this year's Lenten Lecture Series, beginning on Friday, February 16th and continuing each Friday during Lent through Good Friday, March 29th.

The Lectures are held at the Church of Saint Agnes in Schuler Hall following the 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent, except for the last Sorrow, which will be presented in the homily for the Good Friday Liturgy.

Quiz Bowl Qualifies for State

The Aggie Quiz Bowl did very well last week with the varsity team winning two of four matches, qualifying them to play two lightning round, sudden death playoff matches. They beat Mounds Park Academy to qualify for the state playoffs on February 15th. 

Aggie sophomore Mary Mantel (not pictured) won an All-Star award for being a top scorer in the North Division!

Father/Daughter Dance - Saturday, Feb. 3rd

Your invitation to the Father-Daughter Ball has arrived! Be our guest for a magical evening on Saturday, February 3rd, 2024. Girls in grades 9-12 are invited to attend this year’s Father-Daughter Ball with their prince charming (fathers, grandfathers, godfathers or other male role model). Ballroom-ready attire (formal/semi-formal dress code), perhaps Cinderella-inspired, this is an opportunity to don something old, something new, something borrowed… and dance until the clock strikes ten! The event will feature a wide variety of music and dances complete with expert instruction by Dancers Studio, a dessert buffet, and a professional photo.

Pre-registration is $35 per family through February 1st and $45 at the door.

Register on the Saint Agnes School website. 

Event Schedule

6:30 PM – Social Hour and Professional Photographs**

7:00 PM – Music, Dessert Buffet, and Dancing

10:00 PM – Evening Concludes

** A professional father/daughter photograph is included in the registration price; photos must be taken before 8 PM.

How You Can Help

Please consider volunteering to help at this event:

*Event set-up from 9:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 3rd.

*Help during the event (two shifts available) from 5:00 – 8:00 PM or 8:00 – 11:00 PM

*Donations of gift cards for the purchase of desserts from Lunds, Kowalskis, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Wuollets, Café Latte, and Bread & Chocolate may be dropped off in the Main Office during school hours (please mark for Father-Daughter).

*Click here to find all volunteer opportunities for this event.

Looking for a dress? Pass Down the Gown allows you to order and wear a dress from this local non-profit for free –see website for details: http://www.passdownthegown.com/ 

Please contact Jodi Galush at jodigalush@comcast.net if you have any questions.

Mother-Son Mass & Brunch - Saturday, Feb. 24th

The high school (9-12) Mother-Son Event will take place Saturday, February 24th, and begin with Mass at the Saint Agnes Church Chapel at 10:00AM, immediately followed by a delicious catered brunch at Ideal Hall (1494 Dale St. N.). Cost is $45 for two (mother-son pair) and $20 for each additional son. Mothers (grandmothers, godmothers, or female role models), don’t miss out on the opportunity to spend this special time with your son and socialize with other Aggie families. Planning volunteers will need your timely registration for this catered event. Mother-son guests are asked to please register one week in advance (by Friday, February 16, at 3PM). No walk-ins. Register on the Saint Agnes School website or in the school office by the required February 16^th deadline. 

Please contact Cathy Clyde with any questions at (612) 875-9066 or email: weloveteesa@comcast.net.

Event Schedule for Sat. Feb. 24th

10:00 AM – Mass in the Saint Agnes Church Chapel

11:00 AM – Ideal Hall brunch and photo opportunity**

1:00 PM – Event Concludes

** A professional mother/son(s) photograph opportunity is included; photos will be available online the week following the event for download and your own printing.

Spring Sports Registration is Open – Deadline is February 28th

Registration for spring sports is now open. You must register by February 28 to avoid a $25 late fee.

Register Here.

Registration is open for the following sports:

High School

Baseball

Clay Target/Trap (Open to grades 7-12)

Softball

Track (Open to grade 7-12)

Boys & Girls Lacrosse

Grade School and Junior High

Baseball

Softball

7^th and 8^th graders interested in Clay Target or Track must register on the high school registration page.

Contact Mr. Streitz is you have any registration questions, questions about a high school sport, or have any difficulties registering.

Contact Mr. Thompson if you have a question about a Grade School or Junior High Sport.

President’s Day Aggie Baseball Camp

The high school baseball team will again hold a baseball camp for grade school and junior high students on President’s Day, Monday February 19 in Bandas Gym. Click to view the camp flyer and registration link. Contact Coach Streitz if you have any questions.

Grades 4, 5 and 6 – 9am to 11:15am / Cost is $35

Grades 7 and 8 – Noon-2:15 pm / Cost is $35

Purchase Tickets to Athletic Events

This season Saint Agnes is offering two ways to buy tickets for high school athletic events. You can still purchase tickets with cash at the gate and now you may also purchase tickets online through our online ticketing partner GoFan. Many schools we play will be using the GoFan Box Office as well; many schools have gone completely cashless.

See the Saint Agnes athletic calendar for all times, locations, and livestreams for this week's games.

Please contact Athletic Director Mr. Streitz with any questions.

Winter Sports Photo Links

Varsity Girls vs. Maranatha: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/xC0adIhkzX