Loyola Catholic School logo on white background
The Communicator
April 2013
Message from the President

 

Happy Spring to everyone! I hope your Lenten journey and celebration of our risen Lord was filled with family time and strengthening of your faith and spiritual life. As always, the April Communicator is filled with important information, celebrations, and Loyola news. Please take the time to read it and note the areas that are of most importance to you. Many parents have shared their pleasure with the variety of communication we have offered you this year....monthly Communicator, weekly Friday Newsletters at each division, Constant Contact shout outs, and twitter. We will be moving to additional electronic news in the 2013-2014 school year ( text message alerts ) so please make sure we have all of your family information. Remember that all monthly Communicators and weekly Friday Newsletters are stored on the web under Newsletter.  

  • Brown Bag Lunch with the President - April 18 and May 9 at noon in the Media Center on GCC. Please come and have a conversation. I love to hear your comments.

  • Have you completed your student's enrollment process for 2013-2014? It is a challenge to prepare for our staffing needs unless we are prepared for the student number who have completed enrollment. I am happy to announce that we currently have new students enrolled with 28 in Kindergarten, 3 at the Intermediate School and 3 at the High School.

  • Referral Incentives...We need everyone's assistance to tell the Loyola story and help recruit additional students.

    • For each potential family that meets with us to learn about Loyola and mentions that you referred them, you will be entered into a drawing for $1,000 gift cards for Mankato area businesses.

    • For each family that enrolls at least one new student at Loyola and indicates you referred them, you will receive one free LCS activity pass for 2013-2014.

  • Applications for Seeds of Faith Scholarships from the Diocese of Winona are now available in the main office on GCC. The Seeds of Faith scholarships are need-based. The application process is not difficult; however, your pastor has a section he needs to complete and then mail to the Pastoral Center in Winona. Deadline for application is May 20, 2013. Please see Marcie Douglass for an application.

  • If you were unable to attend the Social Media Panel, the power point is on the LCS website. You might also want to contact the Counseling Department for copies of the handouts which were distributed. Please be alert and know what your children are doing, saying, and posting.

  • Have you taken a look at the Loyola Technology Showcase on the website? It is listed under Academics and has learning experiences posted from each division, primary, intermediate and high school. Thanks to the team of Kate Breiter and Justine Schraeder for sharing these learning experiences with the entire community.  

  • We received the following notice from the Diocese of Winona.

    Due to the state scheduled PSAT test administered on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 in all four of our Catholic high schools the Together in Faith event has been changed from Wednesday, October 16 to Monday, October 21.  Our 2013-2014 School Calendar has been adjusted to reflect the necessary changes. Loyola Catholic School, PreK - 12 will be in session on Wednesday, October 18, 2013. We will then be closed on Monday, October 21, 2013.  An updated Year at a Glance calendar for 2013-2014 is now available on the website. 
Host Families Wanted for 2013-14 School Year! 
Loyola High School has had the blessing and privilege of hosting 10 foreign exchange students during the 2012-13 school year. Through these students our Loyola community has been given the opportunity to learn more about our world, and to make new lifelong friends. Many of these exchange students have been able to participate in Loyola theater, speech, music, athletics and more. It has been a wonderful experience for our students and for the host families with whom they lived. We are currently looking for Host Families for next school year 2013 - 14. Please prayerfully consider whether hosting an exchange student is a possibility for you. If you are interested please contact our Dean of Students, John Landkamer at 507.388.2997 or jlandkamer@loyolacatholicschool.org 
 
Shelley Schultz
IN THIS ISSUE
High School News
Intermediate News
Primary News
Activities
Technology
Advancement News
Parish News
Loyola Food Service
Fundraisers
Quick View Calendar
QUICK LINKS

High School News
Spotlight
  • The High School registration for 2013-2014 will begin in April. Parents and students should review the Course Handbook on the website which will be available April 10 for 2014/15. It is important that parents take the time to understand the process before the students begin online registration. The online registration window is open from April 15 to April 29. This will allow the class schedules for 2013-2014 to be created and our goal is to have individual schedules distributed to each student prior to the close of this school year. This process has many variables and we appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

  • Please have a conversation with your student drivers regarding safe driving habits. Driving to school and parking in the HS parking lot (which is owned by SSND) is a privilege. We want everyone to be safe and especially need our teenage drivers to slow down. We have a lot of traffic on the hill from 7:45-8:05 am and then again from 2:45 - 3:15 pm and need everyone to be alert, courteous,  and not distracted.

Science Fair
Ester Archer will be competing at the State Science Fair April 7-9.  We're proud of you, Ester!

   

Band
High School Band
The LCS High School Band will be performing a combined concert with the Cleveland High School Band and Jazz Band in the Good Counsel Campus Gym. Come April 11th @ 7:30pm to hear great music, support the music programs and wish Cleveland well as they depart on their band tour to St. Louis! 
 

Prom

Loyola's Enchanted Prom will be Saturday, April 27.  Grand March doors to the Fitzgerald Theater will open at 6:00pm and Grand March will begin at 6:30pm.  Entrance to the Grand March is $2 with preschoolers and younger free.  Dinner and dance for the students will follow at the Mankato Golf Club.  Senior and Junior students may pay for their Enchanted Prom participation during lunch from April 2 through April 17.  Cost is $40 per person and Sophomores are the youngest who may be invited.  Guests not from Loyola will be asked to fill out a permission form ahead of time.  Junior parents, please ask your student how you may be able to help make this a most enchanted evening!  Thank you all for your participation and for your cooperation.  

A Message from Principal Schumacher

 

RECIPROCAL TEACHING FOR READING

Teachers in grades 4-6 have been attending Professional Learning Community in-service with reading specialist, Bonnie Houck.  The focus was on Reciprocal Teaching, a method to strengthen overall reading comprehension by using a scaffolding discussion technique that incorporates predicting, questioning, clarifying and summarizing.  Bonnie discussed the importance of incorporating individual reading time during the class reading period where students read a 'just right' book of their choice and the teacher holds individual conferences while the other students read.  Teachers practiced this method with one of the sixth grade classes during our last meeting session with Dr. Houck. We are all very excited and energized and have already been using these techniques in our classrooms.

 

8TH GRADE WELCOME TO THE HILL 
Grade 8 students and their parents, as well as any 8th graders looking at Loyola Catholic School, are invited to an "8th Grade Welcome to the Hill" on Sunday, April 7, 4:00 - 6:00pm on Good Counsel Campus.  The afternoon will include games, a tour of the high school, and a light supper.  We hope all the 8th graders and their parents will join us. 

  

HISTORY DAY

History Day gives students the opportunity to discover historic, cultural and social experiences of the past. The program also helps Loyola meet state history standards. Students do research and present exhibits, performances, and documentaries based on an annual theme.  This year's theme was "Turning Points in History: People, Places and Ideas".  History Day inspires children through exciting competitions and project-based curriculum.  All Loyola 6th graders, and those 7th graders who accepted the challenge, competed at a school History Day competition.  After judging, a select few in each category moved on to regional competition.  In addition to the work they had already completed, the students had to write a process paper and annotated bibliography. Regionals were held at MSU on March 7th.

 

Those who moved on to regionals:

 

Group Exhibits: Halle Roush/Mackenzie Reynolds, Emily Roush/Grace Dehen, Anne Wood/Sara Gartner, Pierre Deutschlander/Alex Huynh, Ryley Herding/Jerrid Buhs, Nora Coughlan/Maurah Schwartz, and Anthony Weber/Mitchell Barnes. 

Individual Exhibits: Molly Hodapp, James Bach, Michael McMahan, William Tauer, John Alto, Coltyn Hubbard, Celestte Eichers, Elizabeth Benzmilller.   

Individual Documentary: Sidney Botker and Claire Orcutt

Group Documentary: Koby Gagnon and Colin Knutson

Group Performance: Emily Schumacher, Grace Ellingworth, Eaden Javens, and Megan Mettler.

Awards: Koby Gagnon and Colin Knutson received Honorary Mention.

Participating in State are: Molly Hodapp, John Alto, William Tauer, Sidney Botker, Emily Schumacher, Grace Ellingworth, Eaden Javens, Megan Mettler,  and Elizabeth Benzmiller. 

 

Congratulations to all of you! 

 

HOME MAGAZINE EASTER EGG COLORING CONTESTOut of over 400 entries, congratulations to Claire McIntire who won the Easter coloring contest from Home Magazine!  Way to go Claire! 

 

Make sure to check the Quick View Dates at end of this email!

 

William Schumacher

A Message from Sister Mary Beth

During the season of Lent, primary students participated in prayer services on Mondays.  We focused on Jesus' words, "Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto Me."  The first graders led us in praying The Way of the Cross on March 25, telling the story of Jesus' Good Friday journey through song, readings, and simple gestures.  They led the Sisters in praying The Way of the Cross on Tuesday, March 26. 

 

Our Lenten outreach was to help provide clean water to families in remote villages in Guatemala through Global Partners Running Waters, founded by Sister Jan Gregorcich SSND.  Children brought donations to our Lenten prayer services and we tracked donations by using paper "drops of water" posted on the wall.  Each "drop" represented $5 in contributions.  Children used their math skills to compute totals.  We'll be sending over $675 to Global Partners!

 

Second grade students who are preparing for their First Holy Communion made their "Bread of Life" retreat on March 26.  They spent the entire day focused on the Eucharist: praying; singing; creating; mixing, kneading and baking bread; composing songs and raps; reflecting and writing.  Thanks to Linda Rentschler, Emily Godfredson and Jan Willaert and all the parent volunteers who made this blessing possible.

 

On April 2, the primary will begin teaching the Circle of Grace curriculum.  Circle of Grace is a K-12 program consisting of several age-appropriate lessons focused on feelings, personal safety, boundaries, the God-given dignity of each person, and action plans for times when children feel unsafe.   We assure families that the content and vocabulary are appropriate for young children, but parents are welcome to stop in the office to preview the lessons.  All Catholic schools in the Winona and New Ulm dioceses (and many other dioceses nationwide) are required to teach this program annually. 

 

Mark your calendars for MINI MACS on April 7 from 1-3pm in the Loyola GC campus gym!  Bring your children in PS-grade 6 for an afternoon of fun!  Activities include Bounce House, Petting Zoo, Crazy Hair, Face Painting, Games and Raffles. 

 

We'll celebrate our April birthdays at 10:15 Mass on April 13.  Our May Birthday Mass will be May 17.

 

We continue to welcome new families to "come and see" our school.  In the past month, we have welcomed students of all ages (including a 19 month old!) and their families to get to know Loyola and what we offer.  Hearing about the connections between these new families and current Loyola families is always a delight!  We hope you will continue to promote your school when you meet friends, neighbors, newcomers to the area, and colleagues at work.  Enrollment numbers are vital to our planning for staffing, programs, and materials for 2013-14, so if you haven't completed your own children's registration, please do so soon!

 

Late in April we will begin our end-of-year NWEA MAP testing and our spring DIBELS assessments.

 

Look ahead and check your calendars!  Preschool is planning a Big Truck Rally on May 1, Kindergarten classes are planning their Spring Program on May 10, second graders are planning their Bread of Life celebration on May 22, and third graders are planning their Blessing Mass on May 29. 

  

Sister Mary Beth

mbschraml@loyolacatholicschool.org 

                     
Activites
  • Congratulations to Connor Tanhoff for being named to the Academic All State Boys Basketball Team.
  • Congratulations to the Girls Basketball Team for the most wins in program history and for qualifying for the State Tournament.
  • Congratulations to Jack Adams for qualifying for the State Swim Meet.
Fall Sports sign up will be May 15 for students interested in Football, Volleyball, Boys and Girls Cross Country, and Boys and Girls Soccer.

 

Speech 

The Loyola Speech team is having another successful season, recently completing their regular season meets having placed first three times and second and third once out of eight meets. The Jr. High team also placed first in both of their meets this year. The team again has over 40 members in grades 8-12. We have 7 seniors on the team who are doing an outstanding job leading us:  Stephanie Wolf, Shelby Coulter, Sarah Peller, Meghan Blaine, Olivia Zwaschka, Logan Goettl and Kelcie Parsons. 

 

The team placed 1st in the Section 2A, Sub-Section 7 tournament.  Congratulations to all!  The top 4 finishers in each of the 13 categories are advancing to the Section 2A meet on April 12 in St. Peter.  They include Annie Nawrocki, Kelcie Parsons, Adam Schwartz, Sonya Benzmiller, Xia Nelson, Hannah Atkinson, Rachel Schaub, Shane Price, Sean Willaert, Sarah Peller, Shelby Coulter, Logan Goettl, Will Cipos, Meghan Blaine, Brandon Hacker, Kelly Holmin, Stephanie Wolf, Elly Orcutt, and Mary Ninneman. From there, the top 3 finishers in each category will advance to the State Speech meet at Blaine H.S. on April 20. All of these meets are open to the public and we welcome everyone to come out and enjoy outstanding performances by our talented students.

   

May Volleyball Bash for Grades 3-5 girlsVolleyball

Join us for five weeks of fun! Grades 3-5 girls are invited to join the Crusaders Volleyball coaches and senior high players in an introduction to the basics of volleyball. They will have 7 practices leading up to a scrimmage showing off their new skills on the last day. Parents are encouraged to come! Click here for registration form and bring it back to your teacher with a $30 payment by April 20.  Girls should wear gym clothes, shoes and knee pads (if you have them) and bring a water bottle.

 

April 30 - May 23

6:00pm-7:15pm Tuesdays and Thursdays

Fitzgerald Gym

 

Checks payable to: Volleyball Booster Club

Mail to:  Attn: Kali Gosch

Loyola Catholic School

145 Good Counsel Drive
Mankato, MN 56001

 

Contact Kali Gosch 

volleyball@loyolacatholicschool.org 

507.381.5341

 

Technology

 

ipad     On March 19, Loyola Catholic School held a Social Media Panel.  The panel was made up of Loyola administrators, guidance counselors, student representatives of Project for Teens, our technology coordinator, and Mankato public safety officials.  Tips on keeping your child safe, social media guidelines, and laws regarding cyber bullying were covered.  

The panel's presentation may be found by clicking here.  Parents are also encouraged to check out Internet safety websites Yoursphere and Common Sense Media for further information on Social Media.
      

 

 

Advancement News

Even though the school year is coming to the end in a couple of months, we are planning for next year.  Parent, please click here for a message from the Advancement Department.  Thank you for all of your support and help throughout this school year!  We couldn't do it without you!

     

Parish News

 

Vacation Bible School offered in our four Mankato Parishes, Summer 2013

 

Holy Rosary

Theme: "Kingdom Rock: Where Kids Stand Strong for God"

Dates: June 10-14

Cost: $25 (includes t-shirt)

Ages: 4 yrs-Grade 5

387-6501

 

SS Peter & Paul

Hosting Totus Tuus

Dates: June 23-28

Cost: $25 per student with a $75 family cap

Grades 1-6, SSPP Jesuit Hall, 9:00-2:30

Grades 7-12, SSPP Upper Room, 7:30 PM-9:40PM

388-2995

 

St. Joseph the Worker

Theme: "Kingdom Rock: Where Kids Stand Strong for God"

Dates: June 10-14

Cost: $15 per student

Ages: 4 yrs-Grade 5

625-3450

 

St. John the Baptist

Theme: "Kingdom Rock: Where Kids Stand Strong for God"

Dates: June 24-28

Cost: ?

Ages: 4 yrs-11yrs

625-3131

     

Loyola Food Service

 Tips for connecting through family meals: 

  • Clear the dining table of clutter (bills, homework, mail, etc.).
  • Involve the kids in setting the menu for the week.
  • Allow children to help shop for grocery items, choosing a variety of fruits and vegetables.
  • Give everyone a role in preparing the meal, setting the table, and cleaning up, etc.
  • Wait until everyone is home before starting to eat. Provide a healthy snack if dinner is to be late.
  • Before you sit down to eat turn off the TV and computer and put away phones so you can talk to each other at the table.
  • Start mealtime with a prayer and a "check-in" to talk about the best and most interesting parts of the day.
  • Keep conversations light and fun. Deal with serious topics later.
  • Thank everyone who helped get the meal ready!

 Tips for fun family meals:

  • Mood Music: Take turns choosing music to play softly in the background.
  • Candle Light Dinner: Darken the room and light candles. Talk about what you love about your family.
  • Formal Night: Come to the table dressed in your best. Set a fancy table and start the meal with a toast.
  • Artist Night: Cover your table with butcher paper and provide crayons.
  • PJ Party: Come to the table in your PJ's.  Enjoy a cozy "night in" together.
  • Soup and Salad Bar: Cook a soup in crock-pot and have a do-it-yourself salad bar. 
Fundraisers
Mini MACS
Too young to come to MACS Nite? Join the fun at Mini MACS Sunday April 7, 1:00 - 3:00pm in the Loyola Good Counsel Campus Gym.  This is for Preschool - Grade 6.  All children must be accompanied by a parent.  There will be a bounce house, petting zoo, crazy hair, face painting, games starting at 25 cents, snacks available for purchase and raffles.  Fun for the whole family!

 

Sponsored by:
Loyola Parent Association
Loyola Booster Club
Pet Expo
MACS Nite Committee
 
MACS Nite "Over the Hill, On the Hill"  May 4, 2013 Black & white birthday balloons

On May 4, over 1200 people will gather on "The Hill" to enjoy music, a live auction, silent auction, bingo, bakery, raffles and great food. In 2013, we are celebrating the 40th year of MACS Nite with the theme "Over the Hill, On the Hill".  During the evening, a lucky person will win $20,000 through the Lucky 20 Raffle.  The band headlining for us from 10:00pm - 12:00am is called GTX.

 

We thank you for your past support and invite you to be a part of this great event by contributing a completed basket, gift certificate, or cash donation.  If you decide you would like to contribute, you may drop off your donation any time at the Advancement Office at 145 Good Counsel Drive or contact Barb Chicos, the Advancement Administrative Assistant at 507.388.0615 or bchicos@loyolacatholicschool.org 

 

Please let Barb know what you plan to donate by April 12.  We would like the actual donation in by April 19 so it can be processed and ready for the event.  Remember to include your name and address with your donation. 

Thank you!   

  

Lucky 20

Lucky 20 is off to a strong start with one of our key sellers, Charlie Shamp, already turning in 65 ticket stubs! Thank you to Charlie and the other sellers who have gone above and beyond to get the word out about Lucky 20 and sell the tickets.  The goal is to sell 1500 tickets resulting in a over $125,000 for the school (ticket sales minus the awarded money).  The raised money goes directly back to the school to support the education of our students.  Each Loyola family is expected to sell 3 tickets this year.  We need everyone to do their part and sell the tickets.  Lucky 20 is a great raffle with a 1 in 1500 chance of winning the grand prize of $20,000 and additional chances to win one of the several $200 prizes.  Beyond the chance to win the raffle, this is an affordable way for people to support the school.  Please help us help the kids through a successful 2013 Lucky 20 raffle.   You may turn your tickets in at any school office from now until MACS Nite.

 

My School is Cool

Remember to turn your River Hills Mall receipts in to the Loyola Locker between the Food Court and JC Penney or turn them in to Barb Chicos.  Every receipt helps our school.

 

Scrip News 

Scrip rebates are a win-win for everyone....our school and our families!

 

Did you know?   The Scrip program is not a fundraiser nor does it require additional dollars from your family budget.  It simply requires a change in the way your family purchases basics such as gas, groceries and clothing or pays for things such as dining out or gifts.  The reward is the Scrip rebate for purchases paid with Scrip gift cards.

 

Did you know?  Every Scrip purchase results in a rebate to your family as well as to Loyola?

The shared rebate amount varies by retailer but generally ranges from 2 - 16%. Note that Kwik Trip offers a bonus rebate--a 9% shared rebate--until October 31. 

 

 

We heard it in the halls . . . that Scrip cards are an easy way to give your student "money" for after school snacks and meals when they are on the town without you or out of town for school activities.

 

More information can be found on Loyola's website under the Loyola Life /Scrip or contact JoAnn Schlosser, Scrip Coordinator at 507.388.0601 or jschlosser@loyolacatholicschool.org

 

Kari Simon-Benning

JoAnn Schlosser 

Quick View Dates
This incorporates dates that are announced in above newsletter.
*Black - family information 
*Red - staff information 
*Purple - volunteers, coaches, parents

April 7      Mini MACS in GC Campus Gym, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
April 9      No am busing - school begins at 8:00am
April 10    Grade 4 attends Children's Theater in Minneapolis, return time approximately 4:15pm
                 Grade 3 Science Day at GAC 
April 11     High School Band Concert with Cleveland in GC Campus Gym, 7:30pm
                 Deadline for ordering Summer Solutions from Loyola Catholic School
April 12     No School
                 Staff attends Diocese of Winona Staff Development Day
April 13     Primary School April Birthday Mass at 10:15am
April 17     Loyola Advisory Council meeting, 5:15pm
April 18     Brown Bag Lunch with President in GC Campus Media Center, noon-1:00pm
April 19     Grade 4 & 5 attend Minnesota Symphony Orchestra at West High School
April 26     Mid 4th Quarter
May 1        Preschool Big Truck Rally, 6:00-7:00pm 
May 3        School is in Session!
May 4        MACS Nite   
May 9        Brown Bag Lunch with President in GC Campus Media Center, noon-1:00pm
May 10      Kindergarten Spring Program, GCC gym, 1:30pm 
May 15      Fall Sports Sign Up
                  Loyola Advisory Council meeting, 5:15pm 
May 17      Primary School May Birthday Mass, 10:15am
May 22      Second graders' "Bread of Life" Thanksgiving Mass, 10:15am
                  Baccalaureate 7:00pm 
May 29      Grade 3 "Blessing" Mass, 10:15am
                  Graduation 7:00pm
May 30      Last Day of School
                  Grade 4-8 Mass celebrating Grade 8.  Reception for Grade 8 follows.
                  Grades 4-8 dismissed at noon (tentative time but around lunch hour)

Please remember to check the website for updates 
 
Peace and Blessings,
Loyola Catholic School