Learning, Loving, and Leading through Christ |
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From The Desk of Mr. Johnston |
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Hello St. Alphonsus Families,
What a week it has been!
Our students have been up to so many things this Catholic Schools Week. I am sure that you have heard a bit about it at home, but students have been able to celebrate and reflect on what makes Catholic education so special.
Having all-school Mass, doing activities with their buddy class, going to the movie yesterday and an all-school retreat this morning were the highlights for the students. Various guessing contents, students on the announcements, and more also provided fun activities for the students this week that they were so excited about. You can see lots of pictures below and we will share more next week!
We concluded this week with an all-school prayer as a nice way to wrap up the importance of this week. As I mentioned in the last newsletter, this week is really about having a chance to reflect and celebrate our opportunity to enjoy Catholic education and all the joys that come with it.
As a reminder, there is no school on Friday February 11th for Staff Professional Development.
Stay safe and have a great weekend!
Russ Johnston
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Catholic Schools Week 2022 |
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It has been a very busy and fun week here at St. Al's for Catholic Schools Week! From Guessing Jars, to Guess the Teacher Baby Pictures, to our dress-up days, we have had so much fun. Other activities included our all-school field trip to the movies on Thursday, some Drop Everything And Read sessions as we also celebrated our Scholastic Book Fair, and today, an all-school retreat to practice our St. Alphonsus values of Safety, Responsibility, Respect, & Engagement.
One of our favorite activities this week was our all-school Service Project, creating some snack bags, called Made with Love, that students decorated and then filled with fun treats and individually packaged snacks. The bags will be delivered to those less fortunate than us who may not always get access to snacks like these.
Students also had some game time & classroom activities with their buddy classes and today, we are doing an all-school retreat! We will share pictures of that next week.
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Thank you for celebrating Catholic Schools Week with us! |
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COVID Dashboard Latest Update
Here is the link to the school's COVID Dashboard. The COVID Committee continues to meet regularly to evaluate the situation. The dashboard is updated as of 2/4/2022.
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Important Dates to Remember |
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2/11
No School
Teacher In-Service
2/18
Father/Daughter Dance
6:30 to 8:30pm
Spangler Hall
2/25
Last Friday of the Month
Out-Of-Uniform Day
with donation!
Details coming soon
2/25
Fun Fair!
5:00 to 8:00pm
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3/11
No School
Teacher In-Service
3/14
No School
Teacher In-Service
3/17
Special Out-Of-Uniform Day!
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day by sporting your green & white
3/25
Last Friday of the Month
Out-Of-Uniform Day
with donation!
Details coming soon
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February Lunch Menu - Revised |
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Please note the revised February lunch menu below!
It reflects next week's Catholic Schools Week Field Trip
as well as a change in dates to the fundraiser lunch.
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8th Grade Fundraiser Lunch - February 18 |
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Note: There is no hot lunch or milk service for students on Friday, February 18, 2022. Please remember to send a cold lunch and drink should you choose to not order Cousins Subs.
Order forms are due back to school on Friday, February 11. Please enclose ONE ORDER FORM PER CHILD with their name and homeroom number on the form. Please pay in check or cash and include exact amount. No change will be given. Make checks payable to St. Alphonsus School. Please enclose order form and payment in an envelope marked Cousins Subs Lunch with child’s name and homeroom number.
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STAR assessment scores are coming home today (Friday, February 4).
If you have any questions, please contact your child's homeroom teacher or Mrs. Bruhn.
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Tax Season Is Here - Access Tuition Reports! |
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Tuition Reports are available in your TADS account! |
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Here is how to access your tuition reports:
2. Log into Tuition Management
3. Click on” Billing” and then look below the blue box for the “Household Paid Tuition Tax Report.”
4. Click on Household Paid Tuition Tax Report
5. Enter the year for which you need the information and a statement will appear that details the fees you paid in that year. These include: Tuition Deposit, Tuition, Spanish, and field trips
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St. Alphonsus SuperFan Fundraiser is BACK! |
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Great news! The St. Alphonsus SUPERFAN T-shirt/Sweatshirt - 8th Grade Fundraiser STORE IS BACK OPEN FOR A LIMITED TIME!
The Superfan t-shirt/sweatshirt store for the 8th Grade class trip fundraiser is back open. A t-shirt, long sleeve shirt and sweatshirt are available in gray or white.
This fun SUPERFAN shirt is available for all grades and can have your child’s name printed on the back, or "Class of (whatever year child graduates)," and can also be worn by parents or students! Many students in the 8th grade class have ordered a shirt with Class of 2022 on the back. It has been fun for the kids to wear these together for non-uniform days, when they go support their classmates in sports and other events, or just lounging on the weekend. It’s a great way to show school spirit!
The window to order will close on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, and there is an option to have your order sent home via your child’s classroom to save on shipping costs.
Please click on this link to order your SUPERFAN shirt today!
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School Advisory Commission Updates |
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Parents, Teachers, Community Members...The School Advisory Commission has been revamped and revised! This Commission is formerly known as the School Committee. Click here for our updated webpage.
The commission's role is to assist the school's leadership to ensure our school will thrive and remain viable for years to come, and now is your time to get informed and get involved.
Our first Open Session of the year is March 15th at 5pm in the Community Room. Come hear the long-range plan for our school and submit your own items you would like discussed by emailing [email protected]. The deadline to submit requests for the open session is March 1st.
In the meantime, please make yourself familiar with the updated roles and responsibilities of the Commission by checking out our Operational Norms [click here].
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Mrs. Bruhn & Mrs. Schermetzler attend WSRA!
This week Mrs. Bruhn & Mrs. Schermetzler had the opportunity to attend the Wisconsin State Reading Association Conference in downtown Milwaukee. This year's theme was "The Art of Literacy."
While attending, we had the opportunity to hear from state superintendent, Dr. Jill Underly, as well as keynote speaker Dr. Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz, an award-winning poet, author, & associate professor at Columbia University. We also attended sessions on honoring student identity through literacy and a deep dive into utilizing graphic novels in the classroom and beyond in order to help students explore a wide-range of reading interests. Did you know that reading a graphic novel is often more complex than just reading a chapter book?
The highlight, however, was a session with author Nic Stone, who writes many popular middle grade and YA novels and is a favorite of both Mrs. Bruhn & Mrs. Schermetzler. Her interactive session was about storytelling, and how to help students recognize that they are the main character in their own stories. Afterwards there was a book signing and we were able to ask Ms. Stone questions about her life as a writer!
It was a wonderful way for both of us to gain new perspectives on how to best serve our students in the library and beyond. We are so excited to share some of what we learned with the St. Al's staff and students!
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Scholastic Book Fair - Thank You! |
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Thank you all so much for your help & support for this year's Scholastic Book Fair.
Our book fair is still open for online shopping through February 10, so if there is a book your student wasn't able to get, you can still make a purchase via our homepage here. All purchase still support our school, so consider doing some (very!) early Christmas shopping or snag some books for birthday gifts, Easter baskets, and more. If your student has remaining funds in their eWallet, these can also be spent at our online fair (or you can roll them over for next year!).
Because of parishioner & family support and generosity, we were also able to fulfill most teacher wishlists during the event. Thank you also to all of our volunteers--we are so, so appreciative of your help, and can't wait for next year's fair!
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Volunteers are still needed for the Father/Daughter Dance!
We also need volunteers to help make this event a success! Students in 6th grade and above can sign up for service hours. We are looking for set-up, assistance during the dance, and clean-up.
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Thanks to all who have dropped off prizes, auction items and funds! If you haven't donated, it's not too late, please send them to the office. Here is the list of prizes by class for a friendly reminder: |
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Finally, we're still looking for auction items. Tickets to sporting events or the theater, autographed items and gift cards are always a huge hit on the auction tables. Do you or your business have something you could donate? Would a couple of families in your class want to go together to create an auction basket? Please send auction items to the office marked "Fun Fair Auction."
It takes all of us to make Fun Fair a successful fundraiser and a really great evening of fun and friendship for our families. Thanks in advance for your support of this year's Fun Fair!
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Open Positions with Home & School
Parents, we need YOU to keep our vibrant Home & School Association alive. Without your involvement, the following activities will "retire":
- Fun Run
- Cookie Walk
- Hospitality/Teacher Appreciation
- School Supplies
Don't forget that Home & School also helps offset tuition costs, so it's very important that we keep these activities going. Please consider volunteering to take over one of these fun programs!
Home & School is a fun and rewarding way to get involved. If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact Tanya Pochowski.
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Catholic High School News & Notes |
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Catholic Memorial Launches NEW Expanded Bus Route
Catholic Memorial High School announced an expansion of its bus service beginning in the fall of 2022. The expansion adds a third route to service families in the southeast region of Milwaukee and Waukesha County including Greenfield, Hales Corners and Muskego. CMH now has bus transportation in the school districts of Waukesha and New Berlin, along with bus routes organized by the school. Please click here for more information.
Catholic Memorial also announces their Junior Crusaders Free Football Combine Clinic: March 5, 2022 from 12 to 2pm
Current 3rd through 7th graders are welcome to attend a Jr. Crusader Football Open House and Free Clinic at CMH! Participate in football drills, meet new players, sign up for the 2022 season. Water and Gatorade will be available for all players. Register at www.catholicmemorial.net and click on Athletics and Junior Crusaders.
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Area Sports Opportunities |
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3rd - 5th Graders: Interested in Volleyball? |
Here is a great opportunity through Southwest Milwaukee Volleyball Club to join our Youth Volleyball!
Cost is $55 per session and includes a t-shirt.
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You can find the registration form for Swim America lessons here.
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Do you have items for the newsletter? To submit them or for questions and submission guidelines, please contact Amy Schermetzler.
Please note that submissions are due by 5:00pm Wednesdays.
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