Learning, Loving, and Leading through Christ | |
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Dear St. Alphonsus Families,
Thank you for an amazing Cougar Carnival on Friday! It was so awesome to see so many of you come out for a fun evening in support of our school. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers and to the Cougar Carnival committee for putting this event on. We are so appreciative of all of you! You can see some pictures of the event below!
This week is Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent. You can join us for masses at 8:00am, 12:00pm, and 6:30pm. You can't spell VaLENTine without Lent, so considering spending your Valentine's Day getting your ashes! It will also mark the return of Silent Wednesdays, which we started as an Advent tradition and will now carry into Lent. Students & staff will be entering and exiting mass silently to allow our hearts & minds to be prepared for prayer during this holy season. Consider joining us for a school mass this Lenten season--it is a wonderful way to center yourself in the midst of busy weeks.
We also have TWO special dress down days this week! We will be celebrating Valentine's Day tomorrow, Tuesday, February 13, with our class parties & fun, and as such, students are invited to wear red, pink, white or Valentine's outfits to celebrate the day. Students who are not dressing to the theme should wear their regular uniform. In addition, on Friday, February 16, we will have our out-of-uniform reward day for the Penny Wars that took place during Catholic Schools Week! Together our classes raised over $1,600 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and everyone earned an out of uniform day for Friday.
Thank you to everyone who returned your Intent to Return forms last week! If you did not yet return your form, you still can. You can find a form here. These help us to plan for next year. The leadership team has been hard at work on next year's budget, schedules, and calendar, and we are already SO excited for next fall! We will also be announcing next year's school year theme this spring too. We will have so many fun & exciting things happening for next year and we are really looking forward to it!
Speaking of the calendar, in case you missed it, last week we announced the addition of a few half days in our current school year calendar. These are:
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Friday, February 23 11:30am Dismissal (No Cougar Club)
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Friday, May 3 11:30am Dismissal (No Cougar Club)
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In addition, Holy Thursday, March 28, which was already scheduled as a half day, will now be a FULL day off. There will be no school on Holy Thursday.
Did you know that Mrs. Schermetzler is the chair of the parish auction, too? Because of course she is, haha. Alongside Mrs. Eisold and Mrs. Kocen, she is excited to Roll Out the Red Carpet for you for the 23rd Annual Parish Auction in May. You can find information about the auction at the end of this newsletter. Please check it out and consider joining us--it is always a really fun time.
Lastly, this week St. Alphonsus is also hosting a special exhibit from the Vatican International Archives. You can find more details below and we hope you will consider stopping in to see this exhibit from one of the church's modern day "teenage" saints!
Have a fantastic week!
Best regards,
Ms. Parey, Principal
Mrs. Schermetzler & Mrs. Bruhn, Leadership Team
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Important Tax Information for Parents
Tuition paid reports for the current school year (August-December 2023) have been printed and can be picked up in the school office. Also available are current tuition balances by student.
Reports for the prior school year (January-June 2023) can be found in TADS by following the instructions below:
HOW TO ACCESS YOUR HOUSEHOLD PAID TUITION TAX REPORT in TADS (for January to June 2023).
1. Go to TADS.com
2. Login to your TADS account
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, and field trips.
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Rare Mid-Year Violin Opportunity!
First come, first served - Mr. Russell, Gateway Organization Milwaukee’s orchestra teacher here at St. Alphonsus, has one opening for a beginning violin or viola student, starting right away! This opportunity is open to students in grades 3-8. Lessons take place during the school day and orchestra group class takes place before school on Thursdays. If you are interested please contact Molly Lieberman.
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More Student Lector Dates Available!
Do your students in grades 2-8 love to read at mass? Consider signing them up to lector at Sunday Mass. Our spring dates are now available here. We will also need gift bearers.
Students practice with Mrs. Schermetzler on the Friday before weekend masses.
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February Dates to Remember | |
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02/07
Dine Out Night
Cousins Subs
02/09
Cougar Carnival
Details Below
02/14
Ash Wednesday
02/19
Home & School Meeting
6:00pm
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02/21
Dine Out Night
Noodles
02/23
11:30am Dismissal
No Cougar Club
02/25
Pack the Church
11:00am Mass
02/26
No School
Teacher In-Service
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Save the Date for the 4th & 5th Grade Spring Concert!
This year our 4th & 5th Grade spring concert will be held on Thursday, May 2nd at 2:00 pm in church. Please save the date and we will have more details as the event approaches!
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Our Next Pizza Lunch is Coming Up on Thursday, February 22nd!
Order forms went home last week and are due back to school by THIS Wednesday, February 14th in the morning. Please note that there is NO HOT LUNCH OR MILK served on this day, so if your students are not ordering the pizza lunch you will need to send a cold lunch. LATE ORDER FORMS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED--NO EXCEPTIONS. We are held to tight deadlines by the vendor and must have the order forms by Wednesday morning!
A copy of the order form is attached here. Return forms by February 14th with cash or check for payment. Exact amounts only, no change will be given. One form per child but families can use one envelope.
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Updated February + March Lunch Menu | |
February Out of Uniform Schedule
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 the remaining days of February:
02/13
Happy Valentine's Day!
Dress in Pink, Red & White to celebrate!
(We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Tuesday, 2/13
instead of Wednesday 2/14 because of Ash Wednesday)
02/16
PENNY WAR REWARD!
All School Out of Uniform Day for exceeding our goal
in the Penny Wars during Catholic Schools Week
02/22
Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 02/21 (receipt required)
02/23
Last Friday of the Month
Out of Uniform with Purchased Pass
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Cougar Carnival: Thank You! | |
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The Cougar Carnival was a huge success!
Thank you to everyone who joined us on Friday for the Cougar Carnival. It was a joy to see so many families together enjoying the evening!
Thank you to everyone who helped to organize the event, room parents for coordinating the classroom games, teachers and staff for the amazing raffles and showing off their ping pong skills, and to everyone who donated items and/or their time to help make this event happen.
This is a beloved St. Alphonsus tradition and we are so happy to have another successful year in the books!
Please enjoy some photos from the evening!
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Spring Extracurricular Opportunities! | |
Time to Order Your Yearbook! | |
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It's time to order your yearbooks!
Yearbook order forms went home last week. Only pre-ordered yearbooks are guaranteed, and all yearbooks will be delivered by class at the end of the year. Orders must be received by March 1.
Click on this link to place your order!
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Congratulations to our 6th grade boys' team who finished 3rd place at the St Rita's tournament!
Below is the schedule for each St Alphonsus team (and students playing at other schools) for the upcoming weekend:
St Alphonsus 5th Grade Boys: 5:00 and 7:00 pm February 13th @ St Dominic; 5:00 pm February 15th @ St Dominic; 10:00 am February 17th @ St Matthias; 12:00 and 2:00 pm February 18th @ St Alphonsus
St Alphonsus 5th Grade Girls: 10:00 am February 17th @ Holy Apostles; 1:00 pm February 18th @ Holy Apostles
St Alphonsus 6th Grade Boys: 5:00 pm February 15th @ St Mary's Hales Corners; 11:00 am February 17th @ Indian Community School; 2:00 pm February 17th @ St Mary's Hales Corners
6th Grade Girls: 11:00 am February 17th @ St Leonard; 12:00 pm February 18th @ St Charles Hartland
7th Grade Boys: 6:00 pm February 16th @ St Mary's Hales Corners; 12:00 pm February 18th @ St John the Evangelist
7th Grade Girls: 10:00 am February 18th @ St Charles Hartland
St Alphonsus 8th Grade Boys: 7:30 pm February 15th @ St Rita; 1:00 pm February 18th @ St Alphonsus
We still have the following athletic board positions open:
Treasurer
Volleyball Coordinator
Communications Coordinator
If you are interested in helping out with building the future of athletics at St. Alphonsus, please reach out to Nick Warrichaiet.
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6th Grade Learns S'more Science!
6th Grade recently learned about conduction, convection, and radiation, and they enjoyed some s'mores to do it!
Students used radiation to provoke a chemical change in the marshmallows as they cooked. They compared chemical changes to a physical change, as well.
It was a fun and delicious experiment!
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Join St. Alphonsus and the Home & School Association at the Milwaukee Wave Game!
St. Alphonsus Catholic School is the featured organization at the Milwaukee Wave game on March 22 at 6:35pm. We hope you can attend, watch a great game and support St Alphonsus Catholic School!
Please use this link to buy your tickets and we’ll see you at the game! St. Alphonsus School will get a percentage of the money from each ticket sold at this link, so feel free to spread the word & share this with your family and friends.
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Updates from our SCRIP Program:
SCRIP is off to a good start. Six weeks in and parishioners and school families have have raised over $1250 so far!
...and yet, this could be so much more!
Do you spend $500 a month on groceries?
Do you spend $400 a month on gas?
Do you go to Dine Out Nights?
If every school family bought the same amount in SCRIP, that’s a $40 rebate per month just for those purchases! Imagine if every school family took advantage of this.
Of course, there are many other ways to increase that amount by using the frequent bonuses! (Kwik-Trip is offering a 9% bonus thru February 23.)
If you haven’t questions, contact Vickie Major! She is happy to help you become a regular SCRIP buyer.
Lastly, the SCRIP program could use some help on Sundays for a few hours. Please consider sitting at the SCRIP table from 8:30-11:00. It's not hard and you get a chance to say hi to all your friends at church! Sign up here!
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Local School & Alumni News | |
Please note that any outside activities are not sponsored or endorsed by St. Alphonsus Parish or School | |
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Registration is now open for Franklin Public School Summer Learning Programs!
The Summer Learning Program is offered for students entering 1st through 12th grade in fall 2024. View the Summer Learning Program webpage here for more information. Registration is open from 1/23 through 2/11.
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Greendale High School Announces Opportunity for Incoming 8th Graders to Meet the Guidance Team
During the High School Parent/Teacher Conferences on Thursday, February 15th, there will be small group sessions available for your 8th Grader to meet with the Greendale High School Guidance Team.
Please contact Khou Perry, 414-423-0105, to reserve a spot for the small group presentation.
- 1st session- 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- 2nd session- 5:15-6:15 p.m.
- 3rd session- 6:45-7:45 p.m.
All family members are welcome to attend.
Please contact Khou Perry if you have any questions.
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Calling all St. Alphonsus Alumni!
Do you have an alumni student in your home? Are you an alum yourself, or maybe you've heard some great things our alumni are up to? Please share them with us! We would love to share more alumni news in upcoming newsletters and on our social media. You can email items to Mrs. Schermetzler. Thank you!
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Christian Formation Updates & Opportunities | |
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Want to ignite the faith of your family this summer? Want them to encounter Jesus, the Blessed Mother and have fun as well?
Then sign your family up for Totus Tuus! Totus Tuus has two distinct parts - one for younger kids and one for middle and high schoolers. The younger kids come during the day and have a group of Totus Tuus Missionaries lead them in an action packed vacation Bible camp! The missionaries are young adults who are on fire with their faith!
Then for the older kids, the missionaries (same ones mentioned above) engage them at night to grow in their faith as well - the older kids will do things more appropriate to middle and high schoolers.
St. Al's will be co-hosting this with St. Martin of Tours and it will be held at St. Martin of Tours parish.
Want to learn more about Totus Tuus? Check out the national website!
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In Matthew 25, Jesus is very clear that we are called, no, commanded to love those in need and to serve them. Somehow, by doing so, we are able to serve Jesus. He is in disguise.
And if I could bring everyone to one place to show them what it looks like to serve as if you are serving Jesus Himself, I would bring you all to the Kinship Community Food Center! It is a food pantry unlike any other one I have ever seen. They operate more like a grocery store than a food pantry. People go to different stations to choose the food they want. It affords a real dignity to everyone.
And, it's a place where generosity reigns.
Come and check it out! Please consider joining us on April 13, 2024. It's an amazing opportunity to serve Jesus disguised in the poor. To sign up or to learn more about serving, check out the sign up genius.
--Karen Farrell, Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry
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Save the Date for the Annual Parish Auction!
On May 10, 2024, we will Roll Out the Red Carpet for the 23rd annual St. Alphonsus Parish benefit auction, and we invite you to join us!
The auction is the only parish fundraiser that benefits all of St. Alphonsus’ ministries, including our school, Christian formation programs, adult education, community outreach (food pantry, community meal programs, giving tree, etc.), support groups and more.
It is sure to be a great evening, so mark your calendars now! We are also looking for donations. You can learn more in the letter below!
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St. Alphonsus Parish Hosts Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit
This exhibit from the Vatican International Exhibition presents 158 miracles that are connected to the Eucharist. All of the miracles have been investigated and approved by the Vatican. Through them, we see God demonstrating for
us that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. This exhibit was created by Carlos Acutis, one of the first "teenage" saints of the Church.
We hope you will join us to see this special exhibit in person from Thursday to Sunday in the Community Room!
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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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