Weekly Newsletter 1-17-23

Weekly Newsletter: 1/17/2023

58 Students Headed to March for Life in Washington, D.C.

This coming Sunday would have witnessed the 50th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, but with grateful hearts we are instead able to celebrate its demise after the Supreme Court's overturning of the decision this past year. While we are encouraged by the reversal, the work continues (especially in our own state) as we fight for the dignity and protection of all human life from conception to natural death.

This morning 58 of our Upper School students--along with faculty and parent chaperones--departed for Washington D.C. to take part in the first March for Life since the overturning of Roe v. Wade this Friday (1/20). Please pray for a safe trip for them and for their continued witness to the Pro-Life Movement as young people who are rooted in faith, reason, and virtue.

Transferred Feast of Saint Agnes: Thursday, 1/19:

Since the Feast of Saint Agnes occurs this week on Saturday (1/21), we decided to transfer the celebration of the feast to Thursday (1/19). Lower School Mass will be held at 8:25 AM and Upper School at 11:00 AM.

The Upper School has the great fortune of having Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams celebrating the mass at 11:00 AM. Parents are welcome to attend either of the two masses in honor of our patroness, Saint Agnes. We are excited to welcome Bishop Williams to Saint Agnes for his first time as bishop.

Time to Re-Enroll students for 2023-24

Any families with current students in the PreK3 – 11^th Grade should have received an email(s) regarding the process to re-enroll your children in your TADS account and claim their seat for next year. This must be completed by Friday, January 27^th to ensure your seat for next year. You may complete this process in your TADS account. Please go through your family's information to make sure our contact information is correct. Any changes made in your TADS account will also automatically change in your Educate account as well. Due to many classes being full and working off of waiting lists, out of fairness, we ask everyone to complete this process as soon as possible. There is also a $100 re-enrollment fee ($300 max per family). This fee is not attributed towards your family's tuition bill.

Should you have any questions please call our Director of Admissions, Mr. Joseph Olson, at 651-925-8803.

Additional Security Upgrade

We have been adding intrusion-proof glass coating to the inside of all our glass doors on the main floor of the school building. We started with the two glass doors on the Mackubin side of the building and then continued through the main entrance to the school and main office, followed by all other glass on entrances to the school. We have seen videos of this film being added to glass doors followed by a test with a person shooting the same piece of glass multiple times and then trying to kick in the glass. In no case were the people able to enter the building.

Thank you for your support of our ongoing attempts to keep all our students and employees safe during the day!

Financial Aid and Scholarship Applications

If your family is seeking financial assistance for the 2023-24 school year, financial aid applications are due by February 28^th. Even if you have filled an application and received aid in the past you must complete this process every year if you are seeking aid for the following year.

NEW THIS YEAR, all families with a current 8^th grade student going into 9^th grade that is applying for aid is asked to fill out our general Need-Based Scholarship Application (no cost) along with the financial aid application. We have been in the process of cultivating more external scholarships to fill financial aid packages for families and many of these scholarships request extra information regarding applicants that are presented to their committees. If we need further information to present (essay’s, letters of recommendation, further participation, etc.) we will directly request those also from your family.

Call our Director of Admissions, Mr. Joseph Olson, at 651-925-8803 should you have further questions.

Red & White Benefit Needs You!

Saturday, February 11th, 5:30 PM. Purchase Tickets Here.

Silent Auction Donations are still needed! Wines/liquors, household items and gift cards are most popular. Cash is always welcome and we’ll do the shopping!

Or shop our Amazon Wish List for convenience!

We would also welcome help for a last-minute push to call or visit businesses, liquor stores and restaurants to ask for donations. The Red & White is a major source of scholarship money for our families. We need everyone to chip in to make it a success.

Several Volunteer positions are still open. Click for more descriptions.

Please drop donation items in the main office by Wednesday, January 25^th

Questions? Please contact Catherine Kirkland at 651-400-8361.

All proceeds directly benefit the students of Saint Agnes--your support, in whatever capacity, is invaluable.

2023 Musical: Good News!

The secret is out. The musical for spring of 2023 is Good News! Tait University's star football player has failed his astronomy class and is no longer eligible to play in the biggest game of the season. The triangles between his girlfriend and the girl who is trying to tutor him and his coach and the professor who failed him get very complicated but make for a hilarious story

Grades 7 through 12 may join the chorus. (No audition needed)
Grades 2 through 6 may join the Children's Chorus. (No audition needed)
Grades 9 through 12 may audition for lead roles. Auditions are Jan. 31 and February 1.

All registration material and audition music may be obtained in the office any day after school. This is a show with many major and minor leads for men and women plus fun production numbers for the chorus. The male chorus members will all be football players so men, we need a lot of you. Consider joining this exciting production. It is one of the director's favorite musicals.

The deadline to register is JANUARY 27 (or January 31 with a late fee). Don't let this unique high school opportunity pass you by. It will be a memory you will never forget.

2023 Summer Series Instructors Needed

Each year Saint Agnes students, parents, and alumni have the opportunity to learn something new through our Summer Series program, and we are looking for new and exciting classes to offer our students and wider community.

This year, our Summer Series program runs from Monday, June 12th through Friday, August 18th. If you are interested in teaching a class or would simply like more information, please reach out to Mrs. Miriam Naughton, the Summer Series Coordinator. We are looking forward to an exciting summer of learning and hope to have you with us!

First Grade Virtue Assembly This Friday 1/20

Please join us at 9:30 AM in the Helene Houle Auditorium for our 1st Grade Virtue Assembly.

Burns' Supper Bagpiper Needed!

Mrs. Miriam Naughton is once again putting on the Burns' Supper this year in Gruden Gym from 1-2PM on January 25th for her students! However, she is in need of a bagpiper who would be willing to come in and play for approximately 30 minutes during the Supper.

If you play the bagpipes or happen to know someone who does and would be willing to play for our students, please contact Mrs. Naughton!

Catholic Schools Week Lower School Overview:

Semester One Honor Roll & Lettering in Academics (9-12)

Mr. Michael Adkins, Dean of Academics, is pleased to announce the 2022-23 Semester One Honor Roll:

2022-23 Semester One Honor Roll

Congratulations to all those students who’ve earned a spot! For students in grades 7-12 who earned a spot on the Honor Roll, a certificate will be provided to you soon.

At Saint Agnes School, our goal is that every student achieve the maximum capacity of his or her God-given potential.

Students in grades 7-12 earn a place on the Honor Roll in the following ways:

Semester GPA of 3.00-3.32 = Honor Roll
Semester GPA of 3.33-3.66 = Dean's List
Semester GPA of 3.67-above = Headmaster's List

The criteria for Academic Honors and qualifying for a letter in Academics are as follows:

First Letter (Academics Patch - Book or Lamp):

2 consecutive semesters of Headmaster's (formerly Principal's) List (3.67 GPA and above)
3 consecutive semesters of Dean's List (3.33-3.66 GPA)
4 consecutive semesters of Honor Roll (3.00-3.32 GPA)

Subsequent Letters (Bar Patch):

1 semester of Dean's List or higher

Visit our website to see patch examples and where to purchase them for letter jackets under Academics and “Awards and Honors” tabs. Please note that letter patches are not provided by the school.

Honor Band Congratulations!

Congratulations to:

Edward Buss

Elle Chandler

Joseph Pepin

Eleanor Walter

On Saturday, January 8^th, these five students were chosen to participate in the Grades 9-10 Honor Band for the Southeast Region of the Minnesota Band Directors Association in Austin, MN.

They spent the day rehearsing with a band made up of the best 9^th and 10^th Grade musicians in the southeast region of Minnesota. They worked with guest conductor Professor Cory Near from Luther College and concluded with a wonderful concert at the end of the day.

Father/Daughter Dance - Saturday, Jan. 28th

Plan to rock around the clock for the annual Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, January 28th, 2023. Girls in grades 9-12 are invited to attend this 1950’s Sock Hop themed event with their father, grandfather, godfather or other male role model. Dress your fifties best (semi-formal dress code) and don’t forget your dancing shoes. The event will feature a wide variety of music and dances complete with expert instruction, a dessert buffet, and a professional photo.

Tickets are $35 per family through January 26th and $45 at the door.

Purchase tickets on the Saint Agnes School website.

Event Schedule

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

7:00 PM – Music, Dancing & Expert Instruction by Dancers Studio, Dessert Buffet

10:00 PM – Evening Concludes

** A professional father/daughter photograph is included in the ticket price.

How You Can Help

Please consider volunteering to help at this event:

*Event set-up from 9:00 – 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 28th

*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).

*Please click here to find all volunteer opportunities for this event.

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

Aggie Athletics Calendar

View Aggie Athletics calendar here.

Spring Sports Registration is Now Open

Registration is now open for all high school, junior high and grade school spring sports.

Registration will close February 24^t^h. Please register at our Saint Agnes Registration Page

High School Sports: Baseball, Softball, and Boys and Girls Track.

Grade School and Junior High Sports: Baseball and Softball. Those students in grades 7 and 8 that wish to join Track must register on the high school page.

Clay Target (Trap) is offered for students in grades 7-12 and you must register by clicking on the Clubs and Activities tab on the registration site.

Boys and Girls Lacrosse will appear on the registration site by Thursday

Contact Mr. Streitz if you have any questions.

Welcome New Track Coach Mr. Dominic Shovelain!

Congratulations to Mr. Shovelain on being named head boys and girls track coach.

President’s Day Baseball Clinic

The Aggie Baseball team will hold a baseball camp on Monday, February 20th.

Grades 4-6 Students: Register for the 9-11 AM session.

Grades 7-8 Students: Register for the Noon-2 PM session.

Only 35 participants allowed per session. Cost is $35 and includes a t-shirt and a chance to win several baseball-related prizes. Two campers per session will be chosen to be bat boys for a 2023 Saint Agnes home game.

Please register under the Clubs and Activities tab on the Saint Agnes Registration Page.

Contact Coach Streitz if you have any questions or find more information here.