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Happy September!
Labor Day has come and gone, and lots of area schools are now back in session...that always makes it really feel like fall. Here at St. Alphonsus we are happy to have a week in already, and we are looking forward to really getting into the school rhythm and routines this week.
As always, we have some reminders for you this week:
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Next week is our Back to School Roundup! It will take place on Thursday, September 11 from 5-7pm in the Community Room. Park in the main church parking lot and enter at the church doors. You can stop in anytime that works for you between 5:00 and 7:00pm! This event is designed for parents to get to know their child's classroom teachers more. All teachers will have a table in the Community Room. Please note that this event is intended for parents only, so we recommend leaving the kiddos home. This will give you ample time to chat directly with your child's teacher, learn about classroom expectations and events, and ask questions! We look forward to seeing you then!
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Father Kevin asked us to share with you the 2025 Sacramental Guide. Please read this letter, which will outline all the ways you can receive sacraments and attend Mass this year.
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Mrs. Cech has slighty updated the Lunch Menu for September. You can see the latest copy below and also found a downloadable PDF on our website here.
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Our new Family Handbook is now available on our website! You can find details below but ALL families will need to read and sign off on the handbook this year. We sent home an acknowledgement form in backpack mail last week. These are due back by Friday, September 5. You can also download a copy of the form here.
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Do you need to report an absence or a doctors appointment? Please find absence reporting information below. Please note that emailing your child's teacher DOES NOT SUFFICE as notice of absence or tardiness--you MUST contact the school office. Thank you for your cooperation!
- Thank you for your patience in carline as we all get used to new routines! Just a quick reminder for the gym carline this week--if you start the carline, please pull all the way up to the GYM doors as the "first" parking spot in the morning. In the afternoon, please leave one space (as marked by our sign) for the Auction Carline Pass winners.
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PowerSchool Forms were due on Sunday. We still have some families with outstanding forms. Please log into PowerSchool to fill these out. You can find more information below. Our office staff will be following up with families via phone call this week.
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Dress Code Reminders: Unity shirts and uniform bottoms are worn on MONDAYS only, unless we specify otherwise. If we do not have school on Monday, the shirts are not worn on Tuesdays instead. Wednesdays, we wear the sky blue embroidered polo for mass. If you have not yet ordered your polo, you can find ordering information below. The late order unity shirts will be distributed this week, and remember, gray and navy are interchangeable! Second, please remember that red polo shirts are a St. Alphonsus tradition reserved for middle school students in grades 5-8 only. Red shirts cannot be worn by students in our younger grades.
This newsletter is our number one communication tool to you as parents. We ask that you please read it thoroughly each week. Our school website is also a great resource for you and has lots of information available under the PARENTS tab at the top of the page. You can also always find an archive of our school newsletters on our website here.
Have a great week!
Best Regards,
Megan Sagat
Principal
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| Important PowerSchool/Forms Information | |
It's a lot of words, so please bear with us!
Health & Enrollment Forms are being collected online in PowerSchool this year and were due by Sunday, August 31. If you have not yet filled out your forms, please do so ASAP.
Instructions for how to complete the forms are attached here. Please remember that these instructions are for the website, not the PowerSchool app. Although you can fill out the forms on the app, it is easier to do so from a desktop or laptop computer. The link to PowerSchool is below.
If you need a prescription medication form for your doctor to sign-off on, you can find that here. You can also find a copy of it on our website here. It is fine to download, have your doctor sign, and then return the paper copy of this form to school. All other forms should be filled out online.
One very important form to fill out is the General Consent Form for Photo, Video & Audio use. As a a reminder, this is the photo opt-in form that gives St. Alphonsus permission to share your student's photo in our school newsletter, on our social media, and on our website. Without a form indicating YES, your student CANNOT be shown in any capacity.
Lunch fees can be paid online in the same portal that you pay tuition, called RevTrak. On a computer or laptop: to access, you need to click on the BALANCES button, not the Tuition button. Please note that we do NOT utilize EduTrak, which is what the Tuition button at the bottom of the desktop screen will take you to.
From the BALANCES page, you will see both tuition & fees listed as well as Meal Transactions. Click on the Make a Payment button on the right hand side of the screen to access RevTrak and set up your account/pay online. Please remember that you can always pay with Cash or Check by stopping in to the school office to make your payments. Online payments are not required, and everything will still be tracked in your PowerSchool account.
Instructions for getting your RevTrak account set-up are here and can also be found on our school website here.
Please remember that it is always optional to pay online, for both tuition and lunch. Families are ALWAYS welcome to bring a check or cash into the school office and we will write you a receipt for payment, for both lunch and tuition.
Questions? Please contact our PowerSchool manager, Kristina Warrichaiet. Her email is kwarrichaiet@st-alphonsus.org and she is in the office on Fridays this year.
| | Other Important Back to School Information | |
School Pictures Are Now Available to Order!
Pictures are now available at this link.
Your Access Code is your student's last name (with a capitalized first letter--ex: Plath)
Ordering is available until 9/24.
Any parents interested in a retake should contact their homeroom teacher by 9/22.
Please note that retake images will replace the original image, parents will not be able to select the original image after a retake!
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Drop Off & Pick Up Line Procedures
A quick reminder for Back to School: please remember to follow our car line procedures!
3K, 4K, & 5K students AND THEIR SIBLINGS should be dropped off and picked up in the school courtyard car line. Enter via Loomis Road and proceed past the parish house. Exit will be on to Churchway. For the first few days of school, our early childhood staff will be outside in the courtyard to meet your children and help with separation anxiety.
All other grades, 1-8, should use the main car line by the gym doors. Enter from Loomis Road by the apartments and proceed up the fence line. Please do not try to enter the car line from Schoolway or Churchway. The exit for this car line is out the gate onto Schoolway or Churchway. Please also do not cut back through the parking lot to exit on Loomis. Car line traffic moves ONE way. As always, please be mindful of parishioners leaving Mass each morning. As a reminder, parents should NOT park and walk their children into school.
Please do not park your car on Churchway or Schoolway for pickup. This is a violation of our agreement with the village. In addition, please do not park in the main school parking lot and cross the car line in order to pick up your younger students. This presents a major safety concern, as the car lines move quite quickly, and cars may not always see you as you're crossing. Thank you for helping us to keep our students safe and our neighbors happy!
Please let Mrs. Sagat know if you have any questions.
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Reporting Absences & Appointments
Student absences & appointments can be reported in two ways:
- Call the office directly at 414-421-1760. Listen for the prompts and leave a message.
- Email our Attendance Secretary. The email address is attendance@st-alphonsus.org.
Emailing a student's homeroom teacher is NOT sufficient notice of absence or tardiness. All absences, early dismissals, or tardies need to be reported to the office.
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Cougar Club Reminders
Just as a reminder, St. Alphonsus offers Cougar Club at the end of each school day!
Cougar Club is an after school program open to all students in grades 3K-8th. Each day the students will have the opportunity to participate in outdoor playtime, gym time, arts and crafts, toys, games, and reading. They will also have the opportunity to work on their homework. The St. Alphonsus Catholic School Cougar Club is open every school day from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Please note that Cougar Club is closed on Early Release Days and days when St. Alphonsus Catholic School is not in session.
There is no fee to enroll in Cougar Club. Simply return a monthly calendar to Stacey Pagac, our Cougar Club coordinator, at cougarclub@st-alphonsus.org. Cougar Club calendars can be found on our website here, along with more information about the program, including fees.
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St. Alphonsus Morning Care is available for students in grades 3K - 8th each day that St. Alphonsus School is in session.
It opens at 6:45 am and closes when the morning bell rings at 7:30 am. At 7:30 am, the students walk to their classrooms.
St. Alphonsus Morning Care is held in Room 330 and lead by our first grade teacher, Mrs. Kathy Ramion. Parents may park their cars in the parking lot on the east side of the Parish House and enter via the 'back porch" of the school that is across from the Parish House garages. Please walk your child up the stairs and ring the doorbell. Mrs. Ramion will come and open the door for your child. Please do not leave your child unattended while waiting for the door to open.
While in Morning Care, students may draw, play games, play with Legos, do puzzles, read, study, and talk with one another. Breakfast and snacks are not served and may not be consumed during Morning Care.
The fee is $2.00 per student per day and is due each day when you arrive with your child. For questions, please contact Kathy Ramion.
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Mass Dress Code
This is just a reminder about our Mass dress code for students in grades 5K through 8th Grade. On Wednesdays, we wear our embroidered sky blue Mass polos. Here is a visual reminder about what other attire is considered ok for Mass!
The big thing to remember is NO HOODIES AT MASS, even if they are in the sky blue color.
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Unity Shirt Reminder
Unity shirts are worn every Monday by all students in grades 3K to 8th grade.
If you missed the deadline for receiving your child's unity shirt from the school, you can order one online from our school store.
School also does not accept returns or exchanges for wrong sizes--we order exact numbers based on what parents entered on our form. Replacement shirts in different sizes can be ordered from our school store.
The Unity Shirt from this year is the same design as last year on a different color. This means that you can wear last year's shirt or this year's shirt interchangeably! Both the light gray and the navy unity shirts are allowed to be worn on Mondays.
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School Office Supplies!
The school office can always use some help keeping office supplies stocked. Please check out our Amazon wishlist to see some of the supplies that are always needed.
Thank you for your donations!
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Time to Think About Safeguarding!
If you are new to Catholic Schools or St. Alphonsus: You are REQUIRED to be safeguarded if you would like to volunteer for St. Alphonsus School events or in your child's classrooms, AND if you would like to attend field trips as a chaperones. There are NO exceptions to this rule, so get your Safeguarding requirements done now! This includes grandparents and any other family members who may want to volunteer or help at school, as well.
In addition, as a reminder, all families who want to host a trunk at Trunk or Treat in October are required to be safeguarded. Adults cannot host a trunk if they are not Safeguard-certified, so take care of it now so you are not disappointed!
St. Alphonsus is offering a September Safeguarding session. It will be here at St. Alphonsus in the Community Room on September 10 at 6:00pm.
To register or learn more about the Archdiocese Safeguarding Program, please visit their website here. Registration is available on the left hand side of the page, and instructions are attached here. You can also reach out to Christine Gozdowiak in the parish office for any questions or assistance needed with registering.
| | | | Important Dates to Remember | | |
09/04
June Dine Out Night Out-of-Uniform Day
Details Below
09/07
Popsicles on the Playground
New Family Welcome Event
Details Below
09/08
Fun Run Kickoff!
Details Coming Soon!
09/10
Dine Out Night
Cousins Subs
09/11
Back to School Roundup
Parents Only, 5-7pm
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09/18
July Dine Out Night Out-of-Uniform Day
Details Below
09/19
No School; Teacher In-Service
09/24
Dine Out Night
Portillo's
09/26
Fun Run!
09/30
School Picture Retake Day
10/03
No School
Sustaining the Mission for Teachers
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Out of Uniform Dates - September
We thought it might be easier for you to have a list of days that are Out-Of-Uniform either with a pass or with special circumstances for the whole month, so here are the Out-of-Uniform Days for September:
09/04
SUMMER DINE OUT NIGHT (JUNE) Out of Uniform Day (JUNE receipt required)
09/11
Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 10/10 (receipt required)
09/12
Last Friday of the Month (that we don't have something going on, haha!)
Out of Uniform with Purchased Pass
09/18
SUMMER DINE OUT NIGHT (JULY) Out of Uniform Day (JULY receipt required)
09/25
Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 10/10 (receipt required)
Out of Uniform Passes Still Available!
You can still purchase Out-of-Uniform Passes from Home & School if you missed them at Meet & Greet Night. They are $20 each and good for an out-of-uniform day on the last Friday of each month for grades 5K-8th. Please send your money (cash or check; no change given) to the school office in an envelope labeled Out of Uniform pass and be sure to include your child's name. Checks can be made out to St. Alphonsus School. Passes will be sent home in backpack mail.
| | | | Lunch Menu for September - Updated! | | Fall Extracurricular Opportunities | | Please note that where referenced below, "K" refers to 5K. 3K & 4K students are not eligible for these extracurriculars. | |
Battle of the Books Returns This Fall!
When school resumes in the fall, we will again be inviting students in grades 4, 5, and 6 to participate in Battle of the Books!
Battle of the Books is a lively academic competition that improves reading comprehension, builds vocabulary, introduces students to new books & authors, and teaches teamwork, commitment, & sportsmanship. The program culminates in a tournament in April with other area Catholic Schools. It is a lot of fun!
If your child is interested in joining, they can get a head start by reading a few of the books from this list. We will have registration information and meeting dates available once school starts.
Happy reading!
Mrs. Bruhn & Mrs. Schermetzler
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Today is the Last Day to Register for Band or Orchestra Lessons!
Gateway Organization Milwaukee is again offering band & orchestra lessons at St. Alphonsus this year! Students in grades 3-8 are eligible for Orchestra. Students in grades 4-8 are eligible for Band.
The registration timeline is as follows:
- Signups for band/orchestra lessons is open now and closes September 3.
- Scholarship applications will be emailed to you and will be due by September 5.
- Lessons will tentatively begin the week of September 15.
You can get more information from the flyer below, read their welcome letter here, or check out their website here.
Online registration is available via the links below. Registration is due by Wednesday,
September 3.
Orchestra registration is here
Band registration is here
Lessons will begin the week of September 15!
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Guitar & Ukulele Club is Back!
Mrs. Greco will be offering a Guitar and Ukulele Club from 3:00-3:45 pm on Thursdays. This is an opportunity for students who are interested in the guitar or ukulele to learn their instrument in a small group setting. Both beginners and experienced players are welcome! Space is limited to 12 students in 2nd-8th grades.
The club will start on Thursday, September 11th and meet weekly through December 18th.
The cost for Guitar and Ukulele Club is $50. If you are not able to cover the cost but are interested in joining, please let Mrs. Greco know.
Students interested in learning the guitar need to provide their own instrument. School ukuleles are available for students to use during the club meeting time, but students would need their own ukulele if they would like to practice at home.
If you are interested in joining Guitar and Ukulele Club or have questions, please email Mrs. Greco by Friday, September 5th.
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St. Alphonsus Catholic School’s Fun Run is Coming Soon!
What is the Fun Run? This is a school-wide fundraiser that gets all the students moving! Small tracks are set up in the school parking lot and students run, walk, dance and skip their way around to complete all 30 laps. It will be a fun morning with lots of energy! Our goal is to raise $20,000 to update technology around the school.
How does it work? Next week you’ll receive a link to register your students on our new Giveback website. Once registered, each student will have their own link to share with family and friends to collect donations.
In addition to the school wide goal of $20,000, there will be classroom goals and prizes this year! Students will work as a team to raise funds and as they reach each level they will earn classroom prizes such as popcorn and a movie, extra recess and even a pizza party! There will also be special nightly and weekend challenges for students to earn additional rewards!
Fundraising will kick off on September 17 when the Fun Run committee will visit classrooms to tell students all about the classroom prizes they can earn. Families will have 10 days to approach friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to make pledges to your student(s).
The Fun Run will take place on Friday, September 26 in the St. Alphonsus parking lot (weather permitting). More details will be coming home soon.
If you have any questions about this year's Fun Run, please contact our Fun Run Co-Chairs, Dawn Eisold and Olivia Hartley.
Thanks in advance for your support of this FUN event!
A HUGE thank you to our T-shirt sponsors:
Platinum:
Oak Creek Wood Products
Cousins Subs
Gold:
Educators Credit Union
Silver:
Expert Institute
Bronze:
Biltrite Furniture
Ricely Restaurant Group
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Dine Out Nights Are Back!
Back by popular demand are St. Alphonsus Dine Out Nights! These are specially designated nights at local restaurants who then give a portion of their sales back to our school, which helps to fund projects that directly benefit our students. In the past these funds were used to resurface the playground, help to buy new smart boards, and assist in remodeling the science lab.
How does it work? On the evening of each Dine Out Night, go to the restaurant during the designated time and make your purchases (be sure to watch the newsletter for any special instructions, like showing a flyer or using a code) and then our school will get a portion of the proceeds. Be sure to get a receipt (one per student) and your child can out of uniform the following day!
Dine Out Nights are one of our most popular fundraisers - you get a night off from cooking, our school raises funds to do special projects and your students gets to be out of uniform. Everyone wins! Be sure you mark your calendars with the dates of this year's events and watch the newsletter for reminders and instructions the week before each Dine Out Night.
If you have any questions, please contact Dine Out Night chair Margaret Fieldbinder via email here.
Dine Out Nights - the easiest and most delicious fundraisers around!
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The New Family Committee Invites You to Join us for Popsicles on the Playground!
Join us on Sunday, September 7th immediately following the 9:00am Mass. This fun event is geared towards our New Families to St. Alphonsus, but all are welcome! Please consider stopping by to say hello. Find details and RSVP information below!
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St. Thomas More High School is excited to announce that we are now accepting applicants for the 2026-2027 school year.
Please click this link to start your application now.
Applicants can track their admissions progress in real-time using the STM Admissions Checklist. In order to receive an admission decision, applicants must complete the following steps on the STM Admissions Checklist: WE WILL NOT MAKE AN ADMISSIONS DECISION UNTIL ALL ITEMS ARE SUBMITTED!
- Request sixth and seventh-grade report cards from your current school
- Request sixth and seventh-grade standardized test results from your current school
- Request the Teacher Recommendation Form from an English, Math, Science, or Social Science teacher
- Take the High School Placement Test (more information to come on the test)
- The STM Admissions Committee will not make a decision until all paperwork is submitted on behalf of the student
Report cards, standardized test scores, and the Teacher Recommendation Form can all be requested online. Simply go to https://tmore.myschoolapp.com/app#login/apply and click "Start" next to each item on the student's Checklist. You will be asked for the name and email address of the teacher or staff member who you would like to submit the requested information on your student's behalf.
***FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS***
Families may also fill out the application for financial aid now. To begin the financial aid application, please visit https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/3ZSWD. Students who do not complete this application are not eligible to receive scholarships from St. Thomas More. This financial aid application is separate from applications for Milwaukee/Racine and Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs, which will be available in February 2025.
If you have any questions about St. Thomas More, the application process, or anything else admissions-related, please contact me at 414-481-8370 x127 or at manet@tmore.org.
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Pius XI Catholic High School invites all 8th grade students to apply for admissions for the 2026-2027 school year!
Fall Admissions Application Deadlines:
Early Application Deadline: September 23, 2025
Regular Application Deadline: November 4, 2025
The application can be found at: https://www.piusxi.org/apply.
Early Admission
Students who apply for early admission will receive an admissions decision by mid-October and will be invited to a special Pius XI event just for them.
To qualify for early admissions, applications must have an application on file by September 23, 2025 AND do the following:
- Take the Pius XI entrance exam on September 26, 2025
- Submit their 6th and 7th grade report cards
- Submit their standardized test scores (MAP, STAR or Wisconsin Forward)
- Submit their teacher recommendation form no later than September 26, 2025
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Submit a 2-3 minute video exaplaining how they will implement one of our Five Core Values into daily life at Pius XI.
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Join the St. Alphonsus Moms Group!
Looking for other Moms to share in your journey of faith and motherhood?
Come to the Wiggle Room above the church at 10:00. Moms are welcome to bring their little ones with them!
We would love to get to know each other better and help one another grow in our faith. Motherhood isn't easy. Let's share the load! Contact Darleen Zelinka with any questions.
First Semester Dates:
- September 16 at 10 a.m.
- October 7 at 10 a.m.
- October 14 at 10 a.m.
- November 4 at 10 a.m.
- November 18 at 10 a.m.
- December 2 at 10 a.m.
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Join the St. Alphonsus Women's Group!
So... who is in your tribe?
We all need one! Why not make St. Alphonsus' Women's Group YOUR tribe?
This group is a little different than the Moms Group. This group is comprised of women of all ages and backgrounds. We meet to pray, discuss and enjoy life! Contact Maggie Ensing for more information!
Check us out:
- September 27, 2025
- October 18, 2025
- November 15 - Join Us for Women of Christ!
- December 12 - Celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
- January 24, 202
- February 14, 2026
- March 21, 2026
- April 25, 2026
| | | | Please note that any outside activities are not sponsored or endorsed by St. Alphonsus Parish or School | |
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Join Cub Scout Pack 596!
Is your child interested in adventure, learning new skills and having fun? Join Cub Scout Pack 596!
Pack 596 is open to boys and girls in grades 5K through 5th grade. Join us for New Scout Night on September 11th at 6:30pm in the St. Alphonsus Multi-Purpose Room (Cafeteria).
For more information about Cub Scouts or Pack Registration contact Pack Committee Chair, Chelsea Gates via email here or at 414-731-5238, visit the Cub Scout Website here, or scan the QR code below!
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Consider joining the Syrenka Children's Polish Folk Dance Ensemble!
They announce the start of their new season and offer an invitation to new families to join their community, with events close to our school at the Polish Center and Polonia Sport Club.
Their mission is: To convey to the next generation an appreciation and love of authentic Polish culture and heritage through dance and music, in a fun and supportive environment.
The new season starts after Labor Day and they would love to welcome any interested St. Alphonsus students to their classes and events. Please check out more details below.
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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 12:00pm Fridays.
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