Learning, Loving, and Leading through Christ

March 18, 2024

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Leadership Team Updates

Dear St. Alphonsus Families,


The weather can't seem to decide if it wants to be spring or not, but we are getting ready for Easter and feeling spring throughout the school! Teachers have been working hard on preparing the students for Easter and there is lovely Spring artwork and displays all over the school. This week, students in grades 2 through 8 will participate in Reconciliation as we prepare our hearts for Easter.


With the fluctuating temperatures, it is a good time for us to give you a reminder about our dress code, particularly for shorts, skorts, skirts, & jumpers. Shorts & skorts may be worn between April 1st and October 31st, except at the principal's discretion.

  • Navy blue or khaki color
  • Must be worn at waist level at all times
  • Must go past the fingertips when hands are at the student's side. Must be same length all around, both front and back
  • Must be chino or dress shorts or skorts, without pockets on legs
  • No cargo style shorts or skorts
  • Form fitting knit fabrics are not allowed

Jumpers & skirts may be worn year round, but must have tights, bike shorts, or leggings under skirts. Bike shorts are only allowed under skirts between April 1st & October 31st, just like skorts; at all other times, leggings or tights must be worn.

  • Navy blue, khaki color, Belair plaid (from Merry Mart Uniform) or hunter/classic navy plaid (from Land's End)
  • Must be worn at waist level at all times
  • Must go past the fingertips when hands are at the student's side. Must be same length all around, both front and back

Thank you for helping ensure our students are dressed their best and ready for learning every day! 


Don't forget our Easter Basket Goodie Bag Drive for kids in need around the Milwaukee area. You can find out more details on what can be donated below!


Below you will find an Updated Events calendar--we haven't updated this one in quite some time so here are the quick changes that were made: there will not be a parent Home & School social on June 6; the timing listed for Living Stations was incorrect, so that has been updated; we also updated the date for 8th grade graduation mass AT SCHOOL (instead of a Thursday, it will take place at our regular Wednesday school mass that week); and the State of the School date may be moved in May, so we have removed that date for now and will update you when it is formally scheduled. You can view the events calendar below or download a PDF copy here. Rev4, Published 03.18.24 is the most current version.


Lastly, don't forget that next week Thursday, March 28 is a full day off of school, not an early dismissal as was previously scheduled. We are off on Holy Thursday and are excited for everyone to start their spring break!


Have a fantastic week!

Best regards,

Ms. Parey, Principal

Mrs. Schermetzler & Mrs. Bruhn, Leadership Team

The scholarship application can be downloaded here, and the applications are due to our school office by April 5, 2024.

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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.

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.

March & April Dates to Remember

03/20

Dine Out Night

McDonald's; Details Below


03/21

Optional Spring Conferences

4-6pm

Sign-up Linked Above


03/26

Living Stations of the Cross

6:00pm


03/27

Living Stations of the Cross

2:00pm


03/28 & 03/29

No School; Spring Break

Happy Easter!



04/01 - 04/05

No School; Spring Break


04/10

Dine Out Night

Cousins Subs


04/19

Mom Prom

Details Below


04/26

Father-Daughter Dance

Details Below


04/29 - 04/30

Staff Appreciation Week Begins!

Save the Date for Living Stations of the Cross


Students pose each of the 14 Stations while others lead the congregation in prayer for a visual depiction of this beloved Lenten devotion. 


This year’s Living Stations will take place on Tuesday, March 26th, at 6:00 PM. in the church.  There will also be a performance on Wednesday, March 27th at 2:00 PM, again in the church. We hope you can join us.

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 Wednesday, March 27


Order forms went home last week and are due back to school by THIS Wednesday, March 20th 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 March 20th with cash or check for payment. Exact amounts only, no change will be given. One form per child but families can use one envelope.


We also need volunteers to help serve the pizza lunch to students. This is an easy one hour commitment! You can sign up here.

Does your student love to sing? Have them join Children's Choir for our Easter Performance!


Practices are Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30pm from now until Easter (Wednesday, March 20 & Wednesday, March 27). Our Easter Performance will be at the 9:00am Mass. Please consider joining us!

March & April Lunch Menus

March 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 remaining Out-of-Uniform Days for March:


03/21

Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 03/20 (receipt required)


03/22

Last Friday of the Month

Out of Uniform with Purchased Pass

Congrats to our State Forensics Team!

Forensics Team has Excellent Showing at State


A big congratulations to our Forensics team, who finished their season this weekend at the State Meet against the best competition in the state of Wisconsin. We are proud of you all for working so hard and making it so far! A HUGE congratulations goes to 8th grader Max C., who out of 1,100 kids at the meet, WON FIRST PLACE in his category! 


Congratulations to all of our competitors! We are so proud of you!

Spring Extracurricular Opportunities!

Girls on the Run is back for Girls in grades 3, 4, & 5. See more details below and click on the link to sign-up. For questions, please contact Head Coach Mrs. Domzil.

Cougar Sports Corner

Our 8th grade boys run at the Padre Serra tournament came to an end over the weekend.


Thanks for all those who came to support them and congratulations to the boys on a fantastic season!


Track Season sign-ups are still open but will be closing soon. Do not miss your chance to sign up for track! Click here to sign up.


We still have the following athletic board position open:

Treasurer


If you are interested in helping out with building the future of athletics at St. Alphonsus, please reach out to Nick Warrichaiet.

Home & School Happenings

This week Wednesday, March 20th, is Dine Out Night at McDonald’s and we hope to see you there! Dine in or carry out from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Franklin location, 7501 W. Rawson Avenue. You can order in store, in the drive-through or using the app and St. Alphonsus will get 10% of all sales. No code required!


In addition, stop inside for an apple pie (while supplies last) with a cash donation! Remember to get a receipt (one per child) so that your student can be out of uniform the following day.

 

Come support our school and let McDonald's do the cooking!

 

Dine Out Nights - the easiest and most delicious fundraisers around.

Home & School is Recruiting!


Home & School is recruiting some new chairs for the 2024-2025 School Year. The Home & School team makes sure our students and families have a fun-filled year with activities like dances & Trunk or Treat. Home & School also provides funding to each classroom & teachers for special extras including field trips. 


We are looking for some new event chairs for the 2024-2025 school year. All events have a current chair who could assist with training before the end of the year. Most things occur only one time during the school year & do not need year-long support. Please consider joining us! Thank you to everyone who has stepped up so far--we are only looking for a few more people to help!


The following teams are still looking for assistance for next year:

  • Dine Out: Needs 1, to work with one new chair already trained
  • Box Tops: Needs 1
  • Fun Fair: Needs 1 more to help


Please email Home & School Secretary Holly Lewandowski if you are interested in getting involved. 

Registration for St. Alphonsus Spring Dances is Open!


Mom Prom

For sons and moms (or mother-like figures)

Friday, April 19th

Registration info here or check out our flyer below!


Father-Daughter Dance

For daughters and fathers (or father-like figures)

Friday, April 26th

Registration info here or check out our flyer below!

Last chance to get your tickets to 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. MANY school families will be sitting in the 200s sections, so consider purchasing your tickets in those seats!

Local School & Alumni News

 Please note that any outside activities are not sponsored or endorsed by St. Alphonsus Parish or School

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!

Christian Formation Updates & Opportunities

Easter Basket Drive!


As in years' past, St. Al's Christian Formation and School families will work together to provide Easter treats for local kids who might not always be able to receive such a luxury. This year, we are hoping to gift 800 bags of Easter goodies to kids in Kindergarten through 8th Grade to help remind them of our greatest Easter message:


Jesus loves you, He died for you, and His love is so powerful that even death could not separate Him from you!


We have an Amazon wish list of items needed for the bags here. You can bring the treats to school, or bring them to church and place them in the brightly wrapped box in the gathering space. Families can also send money and we can purchase the items needed.


We need all items by March 20th at the latest!


Please let KarenEmily or Christine know if you have any questions.

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.


This will be from July 8th through July 12th from K5-5th grade from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. And it will be from July 7th through July 11th from 7pm-9pm for 6th through 12th grades. 


Want to learn more about Totus Tuus? Check out the national website! To sign up, click here.

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

Parish News

Registration Now Open for the 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 please consider joining us! Registration is now open--register online here!

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.