Loyola Catholic School logo on white background
The Communicator
January 2013
Message from the President
 
Happy New Year to all. I look forward to 2013 with great anticipation of wonderful happenings at Loyola Catholic School. We are on the brink of many positive experiences for our school and need to be attentive to  three January events I am encouraging all parents and staff to attend. Also, please remember that I am at school 3-4 days per week and I look forward to your comments, suggestions and conversations. Marcie and Sue at 388.2997 always have my monthly calendar. My direct number is 388.0600 and email is  sschultz@loyolacatholicschool.org 
 
Please keep in touch as together we shape the future of Loyola Catholic School. The following are January events I encourage you to attend.
  • Catholic United Raffle Kick-off Supper and Presentation-January 23, 2013.  Supper is in Good Counsel Campus Cafeteria, 5:30-6:15pm, with information meeting following at 6:30pm. This raffle is  sponsored by Catholic United Financial and the Loyola Parent Association. This $5 raffle could net our school over $35,000 and all prizes and incentives are provided by CUF. It is crucial that parents understand why we have chosen this raffle and how they can be actively involved in helping our school.
  • State of the School Meeting - January 28, 2013, 7:00pm, Good Counsel Campus Cafeteria. Please be with us as the Trustees and I share with you the progress we have made to date as we work with the June 2011 Froehling and Anderson Study, the leadership structure for 2013-2014, and plans for future Strategic Planning. You will also have an opportunity to complete a "Value Statement" and help to structure "LCS Ambassador" opportunities. For those unable to attend this important meeting the "Value Statement" and "LCS Ambassador" opportunities will be available to you in the February Communicator.
  • National Catholic Schools Week All School Mass-January 29, 2013, 9:30 am at St. John the Baptist Church.
Please know that your children are in a safe and secure environment on both campuses of Loyola Catholic School. With the guidance of local safety and law enforcement personnel, Loyola is revising our current emergency procedures and increasing the frequency of safety drills. Through the generosity of parents serving in the field of public safety and education, we are starting a Loyola Catholic School Emergency Preparedness Initiative in partnership with local law enforcement and Emergency Medical Services at South Central College.  This initiative will enhance collaboration between LCS and community emergency response partners by providing additional education and training opportunities for both groups. This multi-year initiative will focus on reviewing our current emergency response plan, exercising that plan, and ultimately enhancing the plan based on learnings from the exercise. We anticipate having five emergency drills during the 2nd semester of school. I encourage you to have an age-appropriate conversation with your child/children on the importance of their total cooperation during these drills. Please feel free to give me a call if you have any questions about our Emergency Preparedness Initiative. 
 
Click here to read how the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 carries implications for private education.

I look forward to seeing all of you often during January.

Peace begins with a smile.
Mrs. Shelley Schultz
President LCS
"In Him all things hold together" Colossians 1:17 

IN THIS ISSUE
High School News
High School News
Intermediate News
Primary News
Advancement News
Advancement News
Technology
Loyola Food Service
Fundraisers
Important Dates
QUICK LINKS

Loyola Catholic School Receives Pathfinder Award

Congratulations
Loyola Catholic School was selected to receive The Young Pathfinder Award for the work with being named the 1st Fair Trade School in Minnesota. The Young Pathfinder Award was created in 2002 to recognize the hard work, commitment and courage displayed by young people and organizations of young people as they strive, in the spirit of Dr. King to achieve fair and equal treatment for all, healthy communities and peaceful resolutions to conflicts.  Loyola Catholic School will be honored at the 29th Annual Martin Luther KIng, Jr. Community Celebration which will be held at 5:30pm on Monday January 21, 2013 at Haling Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Minnesota State University, Mankato. Please check the Loyola website for ticket purchase information. I hope many from the Loyola Community will be in attendance to celebrate the work of our students.

  

High School News
Spotlight

 

  • January 11 and January 25, grades 9 & 10 students and teachers will attend Mass and have lunch with the School Sisters of Notre Dame. This will be a special time for students and sisters.

  • January 16-18, Senior Retreat, often remembered as one of the highlights of senior year at LCS. Please hold the senior class and advisors in your prayers during this special time
  • Jan 18, No School, End of the Quarter/Semester
  • Jan 21, No School, All LCS teachers will be in Rochester at the DOW workshop, "Together in Faith"  

Career Center

 

ACT practice with Loyola faculty

The last session of our free ACT practice for juniors will be Friday, January 18, from 9am-noon in Mr. Thiem's room.  This session will cover the English, reading, and writing sections of the ACT.  Our sincere thanks to Mrs. Goebel, Mrs. Schaub, and Mr. Thiem for offering this extra practice on their free time.  Also, congrats to this year's junior class for responding so well to these opportunities. At the full length ACT practice session on December 15 we had 70% of the juniors in attendance.  Loyola offered over 12 hours of free ACT practice to the juniors this school year. 

 

ZAP the ACT:  Attention Juniors! (sophomores and seniors may also attend)

Community Services is offering a ZAP the ACT workshop on Martin Luther King Day.  This workshop offers the students over 5 hours of tips and practice for the ACT, along with providing materials to take home for further study.  Traditionally, we have had over 50% of each class take this.   Research shows that it will raise a student's ACT score by 1-3 points.  Here are the details:

When: Monday, January 21

Time:  9am-3pm

Where:  Mankato East HS

Cost:  $89.00

How:  Call Community Services at 387-5501 or sign up at www.mankatocer.com and type "ACT" in the search by keyword.

Questions?  Email Ruth Arians at rarians@loyolacatholicschool.org 

  

Intermediate News

CHRISTMAS GIFT BASKETS - Students and staff at Fitzgerald Campus raised over $2,000 for five families from SS Peter & Paul parish.  In addition to the money raised, grade 4 students brought in gifts to benefit the families. Student shoppers learned quite a bit about cost, comparison shopping, and the way poverty impacts how we buy items. We had to bypass Hollister!  Our Advent project concluded with Mass and a display of the students' generosity in the hope of giving others a Merry Christmas. 

 

Grades 5 & 6 Mt. Kato Ski Trip - Mt. Kato Ski Trip is scheduled for Friday, January 25. The bus will leave school at 8:45am and will return at 2:30pm.  We are in need of 4 chaperones to help students on the lifts and at the top of the hill. Please contact Jay Douglas or make a note on your child's permission slip if you can help. Cost of the field trip is $17.50 (includes lift ticket and rental) or $1.50 if student has a ski pass. Helmets are required for students and may be rented at Mt. Kato for $2.00. Please indicate on the permission slip if renting a helmet. We will have a trailer for student who bring their own equipment. A sack lunch from school will be provided. Please indicate lunch choice on permission slip.  

  

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK-Sunday, January 27 - Saturday, February 2.  The theme for this year is "Catholic Schools Raise the Standards".  There will be an All School Mass at St. John the Baptist Church

Catholic Schools Week 2013

on Tuesday, January 29, at 9:30am.   Parents, grandparents, alumni and supporters are invited to attend this special Mass celebrating Catholic Schools.   You are also invited to attend the annual Spelling Bee on the Fitzgerald Campus on Wednesday, January 30, at 12:45am.  Look for more information in the weekly Intermediate School Newsletter on the main website closer to the date.

Thank you for a wonderful 2012 from the Loyola Intermediate Staff. 

 

God Bless,

William Schumacher 

wschumacher@loyolacatholicschool.org 

 

Primary News
                                        You may return Raffle Tickets at the Sock Hop!

 

It was good to be back in school after a nice long Christmas/New Year's break!  Somehow students always seem older, taller, and wiser at this time of year and it is not uncommon to hear teachers remind them, "Now you are half-way to first (or second, third or fourth) grade!"

 

We celebrated a lovely prayer service on December 21, complete with four "lighted" Advent Candles (four children with "flame" crowns); Mary and Joseph (Elise and Korben from our Christmas program); a wonderful collection of baby items...diapers, baby lotions, powder and shampoo, blankets and quilts, onesies, sleepers, CDs, books and more...and Barb Johnson, a representative from Birthright.  Barb was overwhelmed and thanked the children from her heart.  After blessing the gifts and those who will receive them, third graders helped to sort and bag the gifts, then packed them in Barb's car.  Thank you for helping your children to do so much good for our local community!  Barb later wrote on behalf of everyone at Birthright:  "Thank you for the beautiful prayer service and gifts to Birthright for the precious babies.  We will share your beautiful clothes, toys, diapers, toiletries, books and blankets with the women we serve and their precious babies."

 

Mrs. Campbell now has a SMART board in her classroom, purchased with funds raised at Wired to the Heart.  She is enjoying the adventure of learning all the amazing things it can do and all the resources now at her fingertips...and her students are cheering her on!

 

On January 14, Mr. Schumacher and I will meet at Sacred Heart School in Waseca with Marsha Stenzel, Winona Diocesan Director of Schools, and other area elementary school administrators.  This is the second of a series of meetings to encourage networking and dialogue among Catholic school colleagues about common goals and challenges.  Area teachers of grades 2 and 6 will also meet to share ideas and materials designed for their respective grade levels.

 

In light of the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook School in Connecticut, Loyola personnel are working with local safety and law enforcement to revise our current emergency plans and procedures.  We are committed to being even more vigilant by providing additional staff training and scheduling more practice drills for students.  Our first "lockdown" drill will be on February 16.  We are providing you advance notice for this first drill so you can speak to your children in advance, if you wish.  For future drills, no notice will be given.

 

On January 17, we will welcome the MSU Theater and Dance Department's touring presentation, Shine.  This original musical explores the problem of bullying and teaches strategies to deal with its consequences.  We look forward to welcoming LCS students in grades 4-6 as well as students from All Saints (Madison Lake), St. Mary's (Madelia), and John Ireland (St. Peter) schools.

 

January 17 marks the end of our second quarter of classes, and is followed by a teacher workday on January 18.  Report cards will be issued on Wednesday, January 23.  (Kindergarteners will receive their first written report card this quarter.) Parents may stop in the office to pick up their child's report card on Wednesday after noon or during office hours on Thursday.  Report cards not picked up will be mailed on Friday, January 25.

 

On Monday, January 21, Catholic school personnel will meet in Rochester for the second in a series of staff development days called Together in Faith.  Each of these days is focused on our understanding of the Creed, our challenge to live it, and our responsibility to share it with our students.

 

We are planning our celebration of National Catholic Schools Week, January 27-February 2.  Each day of the week will hold special activities for students.

  • Monday, Raise the Standards in Leadership:  Wear a hat or a button decorated with words describing your leadership qualities or the words: "I am a leader!"
  • Tuesday, Raise the Standards of Living our Faith:  Wear your best uniform; celebrate with our school family at our Catholic Schools Week Mass.
  • Wednesday, Raise the Standards of Service:  Bring donations for Project Community Connect* (each grade level is assigned a specific category of items, but all donations are welcome).  Make posters and/or cards for guests of Project Community Connect.  Wear casual clothing.
  • Thursday, Raise the Standards of Academic Excellence:  Through games such as Jeopardy, BINGO, Spelling Bees, Around the World, etc. explore how we learn in many ways. 
  • Friday, Raise the Standards of our School Spirit:  Show your Loyola spirit and pride!  Wear Loyola Spirit wear.  Tell someone special that you are proud of your school!
  • Saturday, Annual Sock Hop for Preschool-grade 3 students and families, 6:30-8:00pm, GC Campus gym.  Sponsored by Loyola Parent Association.  Admission: food donation for ECHO Food Shelf.  Refreshments available.  
    Used Uniform Sale will be held during the Sock Hop!  (If you have donations for the sale, please bring them to the primary office asap!  You may turn in CUF Raffle tickets at the Sock Hop! 

Stay tuned for specific invitations to take part in our service outreach, *South Central MN Project Connect.  Project Community Connect is a Greater Mankato Community effort to provide assistance those who are facing economic, medical, social, legal, and a variety of other challenges. 

 

Please plan to attend our State of the School meeting on January 28 at 7pm (GC Campus cafeteria) and our All School Liturgy on Tuesday, January 29 at 9:30 at St. John the Baptist church.  All are welcome. 

 

Preschool registration for current Loyola families begins February 1, with open registration beginning February 18.  Early registration is the best way to ensure your first choice of preschool class!

Kindergarten Round Up will be March 5!  Please invite your friends, relatives and co-workers to consider Loyola Catholic School for their children!

 

We are looking for someone who is handy with needle and thread to help us update our Christmas program costumes.  We can supply the fabric and some ideas for simple patterns.  If you are interested, please contact us!

 

Sister Mary Beth

mbschraml@loyolacatholicschool.org

  

 

Christmas Program Elementary  

A DVD of the December 2012 Primary School Christmas program, which will include the Preschool and the Kindergarten-Grade 3 presentations, is available for purchase.

 

Forms are available in the Primary School Office. The cost is $10 per DVD. 

 

Orders are due in the primary school office by Monday, January 14, 2013

 

 

 

Advancement News
Speech 2011-12
2011-2012 Speech Team Participants

SCHOLA is an independent organization that has the sole purpose of financially supporting Loyola.  Part of SCHOLA's role is managing scholarship endowments for the school. Each month we will highlight and promote an endowment with the hope that more awareness and visibility will generate more support. This month we are promoting the Class of 1988 Lori Tacheny Endowment. Lori was a member of the Class of 1988.   

 

This endowment currently has a balance of around $7,000 and must get to $10,000 before scholarships may be awarded from it.  The scholarships will be awarded to Loyola students who are committed to, and participating in, speech competition...one of Lori's passions.  I hope you will consider helping us reach the $10,000 mark, not only to do something positive in Lori's memory, but to support the students currently attending Loyola.  To give you may either mail a check made payable to SCHOLA Foundation, 145 Good Counsel Dr., Mankato MN 56001 or go to the LCS website and make an electronic donation.

 

Amy Klugherz

Advancement Director

aklugherz@loyolacatholicschool.org

 

Parish News

 

Mardi Gras

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Mankato will hold its 10th annual "Mardi Gras Wine, Dine & Cabaret" on Saturday, February 9.  The cost of $30 per person includes a gourmet dinner, wine, and cabaret entertainment featuring parish talent as well as guest artists. The event is open to everyone. 

 

Tickets are available by calling the parish office at 388-3766.

 

 

Technology
Thanks to generous donations at November's Wired to the Heart, Loyola is continuing to implement technology in classrooms.  Loyola's technology additions and highlights include:
  • Installing six Document Cameras at Fitzgerald and Good Counsel Campus.  Document Cameras allow teachers to dynamically project classroom materials and enhance student learning.
  • Finishing our multi-year plan to purchase projectors for every classroom.
  • Placing a set of Student Response Systems at Loyola High School, allowing teachers to receive immediate feedback from students.
  • Acquiring two professional-grade microphones for teachers implementing Flipped Classroom strategies.
  • Progressing with our long-term technology plan by placing two Smartboards in Loyola classrooms.  We also purchased another two Vernier Science Probes allowing students to interactively engage in science experiments.
We are thankful for all donations.  Every donation enables teachers to bring 21st century learning to all students.

Loyola Technology Committee

Loyola Food Service
blood oranges

The first time a child is handed an apple instead of a cookie or a baked sweet potato wedge instead of a french fry, he or she may be disappointed but this is not an inborn response; our cultural environment shapes our children's perceptions. A typical elementary student watches an average of 10 food related ads per day, primarily promoting foods that are high in fats, sugar and sodium.  At Loyola we believe that each child deserves a school lunch that is healthy, tasty, and attractively presented.  We often introduce new foods for the students to sample.  In January, we will be sampling Blood Oranges and Parsnips. Why not ask your student/s about their lunch and the new foods they have tasted?  If you have any questions please call Peggy at 388-0612 or email ppettis@loyolacatholicschool.org 

 

Peggy Pettis

LCS Food Service

 

Fundraisers

Fitz Builders Club

 

Do you enjoy Frito-Lay products?  If so, what do you do with your empty bags?  Instead of throwing them away, please consider giving them to the Fitz Builders Club.  We collect empty bags and send them to a company called Terracycle.  They turn them into recycled products and, in turn, pay us $0.02/bag. Doesn't sound like much but so far we have made over $200 for our school.   Imagine how much we could make if everyone took part! Send empty bags with your student or drop them off at the Fitz office.  Any questions, contact Judy Doyle at jdoyle@loyolacatholicschool.org, Fitz Builders Club Advisor.

 

Mrs. Judy Doyle

  

Scrip News

  • The Scrip gift card program is a dollar for dollar program.  You purchase retailer gift cards of various dollar amounts and pay the face value.  You use these gift cards to pay for household and family needs while earning Scrip rebates.  Enroll today at www.shopwithscrip.com.
  • Scrip tuition rebates for the October to December period will be posted in January.
  • Kwik Trip has revised its Scrip rebate for 2013 to 9% for its $25 and $100 card orders.
  • Pub 500 and the Frederick family has announced a Scrip rebate increase to 10% (shared as 5% to your family account and 5% to Loyola Catholic School); this rebate increased  from  5%.  Pub 500 gift card values available are $25 and $50.
  • Topper's Pizza, Mankato is a new participant in the Loyola Scrip program.  You can order the $20 value gift cards with any online order and earn the rebate of 8% (shared as 4% to your family account and 4% to Loyola Catholic School).
  •  How do I get started?  Go to the Scrip page of the Loyola Catholic School website at http://www.loyolacatholicschool.org/loyola-life/scrip   Read the link on Getting Started  and Using Scrip at www.shopwithscrip.com  and learn about the Scrip program. 
  • How does it benefit our family?  Below is the answer from a Loyola family.  

"The Nawrocki family has been scrip users for 10+ years. I have to admit, in the beginning, we weren't exactly sure how it worked. Gas and groceries were our basic scrip purchases and then I started to think about other items. You know, the sports bus stops after a game, why not have a scrip card v. cash? Then I thought, hey, my co-workers eat and drive, I could start small with them. Many jumped on board and suddenly, I thought, why have everyone running around picking up gift cards for Christmas? So I asked them if they wanted to save time and purchase their gift cards through scrip? Guess what? They said yes! Next thing you know, I started purchasing gift cards for our United Way events and other employee appreciation incentives. I plan to continue to help out after our youngest child graduates. How can I not, my co-workers have enjoyed running less errands!  For us, it's win-win. We see our tuition impacted favorably and we help our school."

~ Bobbi and Brad Nawrocki, Loyola parents

 

 

Important Dates 
*Black - family information 
*Red - staff information 
*Purple - volunteers, coaches, parents
Jan 15            No am busing - school begins at 8:00am
Jan 16-18      Senior Retreat
Jan 17            MSU Theater & Dance Presentation "Shine" grades K-6
Jan 18            No school - End of quarter/semester
                       ACT practice for juniors 9am - 12noon Mr. Thiem's classroom
Jan 21            No School - LCS teachers DOW workshop in Rochester
                       Zap the ACT 9am-3pm Mankato East HS
Jan 23            Catholic United Raffle Kick-off Supper & Presentation, GC Campus Cafeteria 
Jan 25            Mt. Kato Ski Trip Grades 5 & 6 (8:45am-2:30pm)
Jan 28            State of the School Meeting 7:00pm GC Campus Cafeteria
Jan 29            Catholic Schools Week Mass 9:30am St. John the Baptist Church 
Jan 30            Spelling Bee 12:45pm Fitz Campus
Feb 1             Preschool registration for current Loyola families opens  
                       Spirit Day
Feb 16           Lockdown Drill (*this is the only drill you will receive advance notice)
Feb 18           Preschool registration opens 
Mar 5            Kindergarten Round Up
Mar 12          No am busing - school begins at 8:00am
April 9           No am busing - school begins at 8:00am

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