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Dear St. Alphonsus Families,
Welcome to another week in the busy, busy month of May! Today's newsletter is PACKED full of activities and upcoming events!
One of the big activities last week was our annual State of the School presentation. Thank you to everyone who joined us! For those of you who were not in attendance, we are excited to share several important updates and plans for the future of our school community!
Highlights from This Year’s Fun Run
This year’s Fun Run raised an incredible $40,100. Because the school hosted the event independently (without Boosterthon), all funds stayed with the school.
These funds are supporting:
- Immediate technology upgrades, including 3 smart boards, replacement student chromebooks, and replacement teacher laptops
- A new 5-year technology plan
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Expanded classroom technology and staff training
Technology Plan Highlights
Over the next five years, the school plans to:
- Increase student and teacher access to updated devices
- Add additional interactive classroom boards and Chromebooks
- Provide ongoing professional development for teachers
- Introduce a digital citizenship curriculum
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Continue evaluating and improving student technology needs
Save the Date: 2026 Fun Run
Next year’s Fun Run will take place on September 25, 2026.
Funds raised will support:
- A redesigned STEM Lab (different from our science lab)
- STEM equipment and learning materials
- Our goal for next year is $25,000, and we would love to see families there cheering students on
You can also find more information on sponsoring next year's Fun Run below!
Looking Ahead: 2026–2027 School Year
Preschool Expansion
We are excited to continue growing our early childhood program:
- Two full-time 4K sections
- Two 3K sections with full-time and M/W/F options
- Additional preschool staff hiring underway
Staffing updates:
- Mrs. Knautz will move into 4K
- Mrs. Dossett will become the new 4K aide
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Mrs. Kassees has accepted a position at another school and will not return next year
Middle School & Student Life
Next year we will introduce:
- A Student Council for grades 7–8 (with 6th grade participation beginning mid-year)
- The return of middle school assignment notebooks
- An online assignment tracking document for middle school parents
We are also pleased to welcome Fr. Kevin Tanel as our new Associate Priest beginning in June. He will celebrate school Masses and participate in school activities throughout the year.
Counseling Position
At this time, the school counselor position is on hold due to budget limitations. We are actively seeking grants and other funding opportunities to support this role in the future.
Budget & Financial Updates
The current:
- Cost to educate: approximately $13,000 per student
- Tuition: approximately $5,100 per student
Like many schools, we are experiencing increased costs due to:
- Rising health insurance premiums
- Utility and property insurance increases
- Expansion of preschool programming
While generous donations have helped offset deficits in recent years, the school will use a portion of the interest from our Endowment Fund this year to help balance the budget. Proceeds from this year’s auction Paddle Raise will also support operating costs.
Enrollment & School Choice
Enrollment Growth
- Current registered students: 124 (update: as of today, we have 127 enrolled!)
- Projected enrollment: approximately 140 students
- Early registration and a successful Open House helped improve planning and budgeting
Staffing Strength
- All current teachers are expected to return
- Our faculty brings over 100 combined years of teaching experience
- Preschool teachers hold teaching degrees, which is not a requirement for private schools. We will continue to hire high quality staff with degrees as we look to build our early childhood team, and we are excited to build our ideal group of teachers to grow this program
School Choice Program
- 12 students currently enrolled for 2026–2027 - of these, 9 are current students & 3 are new students. School choice information is confidential so we do not share which grades school choice students are in
- 8 spots still available
- Enrollment remains open through June 20
The school is intentionally growing the program gradually to preserve our strong school culture and classroom environment.
Upcoming Events
- Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza – June 2, see details below
- Cousins Subs Dine Out Night – June 10
- Greendale 4th of July Parade - July 4, see details below
- Milwaukee Milkmen Baseball Game – July 10, see details below
- Cousins Subs Dine Out Night – July 15
- Greendale Farmers Market – July 18 & August 15
Parent Question Follow-Up
A question was asked about creating a separate recess space for middle school students.
The answer is yes. Next year the school plans to designate a separate area for K3–K5 students, similar to last year’s arrangement, to better support age-appropriate recess experiences.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the items listed further, please feel free to email me to set up a time to talk!
Again, thank you for your support of our school. St. Alphonsus is what it is today because our families & school community!
Best regards,
Mrs. Sagat
Principal
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Congratulations to Marquette University High School Valedictorian - a St. Alphonsus Alum!
We are so pleased to announce that this year's valedictorian for Marquette University High School is St. Alphonsus alum Will Peelen (center). Will, a 2022 graduate of St. Alphonsus School, completed four years at MUHS with straight A’s and a weighted GPA of approximately 4.6. He took 14 Advanced Placement courses, along with college-level math classes, earned National Merit Scholar recognition and scored a perfect 36 on the ACT. You can read more about his accomplishments here!
A reminder that if you have alumni students in your family who are doing big things, we want to hear from you! Please email Mrs. Schermetzler so she can share!
Photo & article courtesy MUHS; submission courtesy the Peelen family
| | | | School Choice Information | | |
The Next Round of School Choice Applications Opened on May 1st!
Think of the Wisconsin Parental Choice Program as a new form of financial aid available to our current families. Our goal with this program is to be able to better assist our families already attending St. Alphonsus in affording Catholic school tuition! Applications for this program re-opened on May 1 and will close again on May 20. We encourage those families who are interested to apply early. You can find more information on schoolchoicewi.organd see the income eligibility chart below to learn if you qualify. You can apply online at this link.
| | Other Important Reminders | |
STAR Scores Are Coming Home This Week!
STAR Testing score reports are coming home this week for students in grades 1-8. Please contact your child's homeroom teacher (or content-area teacher for grades 5-8) if you have questions.
Thank you!
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Graduation Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for a few volunteers to help out with the 8th Grade Graduation Reception on Saturday, May 30th. Duties include helping to serve food & drink at the reception, and then cleaning up afterwards so that our 8th grade families may full enjoy the day.
This is a great volunteer opportunity for both students and parents! Students can definitely help out at this event. Sign up here!
We also need servers and cantors for the graduation Mass, which takes place at 12:00pm on Saturday, May 30th. If your student would be interested in serving or singing at the Mass, please email Mrs. Schermetzler.
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Scholarship & Award Information Requested
It is the time of year when we start preparing for 8th Grade graduation! 8th Grade parents, we want to hear about all of your children's accomplishments. Please email Mrs. Schermetzler a list of their scholarships and awards, as well as the high school they will be attending, by Friday, May 22.
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2026-2027 Financial Aid Applications: Round 2 Application Period Now Open
St. Alphonsus Catholic School is pleased to offer a limited amount of financial assistance to those who qualify. The first round of applicants will receive a letter in the next few weeks with details regarding the awarded amounts.
We still have limited funds available, and as such we are opening up the Financial Aid Applications for another round to be able to assist as many families as possible. We encourage any families who think they might qualify to please apply! We are fortunate to have support from private donors and foundations who share our goal of ensuring that Catholic education is affordable and available to as many families as possible.
The application form & instructions are linked here.
Please note that applications for this round are due by Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
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2026-2027 Tuition & Registration Information
2026-2027 Registration Form
2026-2027 Tuition Letter
2026-2027 Tuition Policy & Rates
As always, we will again have financial aid available for those families who may need it. We thank you for your commitment to Catholic education and to our school! We are so grateful for the community and support here.
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We Need Your Library Books Back...Right MEOW!
It's that time of year again! The library is closed to students for inventory and weeding so it is time to return all checked out library books. Notices will go home with students this week.
If you think you have received your notice in error, it's ok! Mrs. S is a human too and sometimes mistakes are made when checking in and solving books. Just email her and she is happy to look for your students' books here.
Receiving a notice does NOT make you a bad library patron. It is how Mrs. Schermetzler keeps track of what books are where. If you can't find your student's book, just let her know so she can mark it as lost in the system and stop waiting for it to return.
Here are some fun library stats for this year:
- 2,192 books were checked out of the school library this year
- 2nd grade had the most checkouts but 7th grade had the most renewals
- Students checked out 48% fiction, 45% non-fiction, and 7% "other" (which is mostly graphic novels)
We currently have 166 books still checked out. These need to be returned by Friday, May 29. Thank you for your help!
| | | | Important Dates to Remember | | |
05/22
11:30am Dismissal
Memorial Day Weekend
05/25
No School
Memorial Day
05/27
8th Grade School Mass Graduation Celebration
8:00am
05/29
Athletics Banquet
Community Room
05/30
8th Grade Graduation
12:00pm Mass, Ceremony to Follow
06/02
Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza
Details Coming Soon!
06/05
Last Day of School
10:00am Dismissal
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06/10
Dine Out Night
Cousins Subs
07/04
Greendale 4th of July Parade
Details Below
07/10
Milwaukee Milkmen Game
Ticket Link and Details Below
07/15
Dine Out Night
Cousins Subs
07/18
Greendale Farmer's Market
Come visit us at our booth!
08/15
Greendale Farmer's Market
Come visit us at our booth!
8/27
2026-2027 School Year
Meet & Greet Night
3-5pm; Community Room
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Out of Uniform Dates - May & June
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 May:
05/29
Last Friday of the Month
Out of Uniform with Purchased Pass
06/02
Out of Uniform for Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza
(Details Below)
06/05
Dress UP for the Last Day of School!
No jeans, joggers, or athletic shorts.
Students must wear uniform code or better!
| | | | Lunch Menu for May & June | | Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza is Coming Soon! | |
Cousins Subs Lunch for Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza
Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza, our big field day, is coming up on Tuesday, June 2. We do not serve hot lunch that day, but instead, students have the opportunity for a Cousins Subs Lunch! It is $9 for a 5" sub, and $11 for a 7.5" sub or sub in a bowl. ALL subs come with chips, cookie, and a drink. Please send your payment and order form in an envelope marked Cousins Subs Lunch. Checks can be made out to St. Alphonsus School.
Order forms went home last week! These are due THIS Friday, May 22. You can download an order form here. NO hot lunch or milk will be served, so if you choose not to order Cousins, you must send your child with a cold lunch that day.
More details about the events of Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza are below!
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Cougar Outdoor Extravaganza Details!
This is a fun-filled day of activities for students and staff, and we have a few surprises this year as well! However, we can't do it without the help of a few parent volunteers.
Check out our sign-up genius here. We are flexible on timing so come when you can! Please remember that all volunteers must be safeguarded.
This is an out-of-uniform day for students. Athletic wear & tennis shoes are recommended, as we will be outside for field day events & games much of the day. Each set of classes wears a different color so they are easily distinguished on the playground. This year the class colors are:
5th, 6th, & 7th Grades: Red
3rd & 4th Grades: Green
1st & 2nd Grades: Blue
3K, 4K, 5K: Yellow or Orange
Students should wear t-shirts, headbands, hair ties, etc. in the class color, along with their athletic gear! Please also have students wear sneakers or tennis shoes.
In addition, we will do water balloons as well so it is recommended to send a change of clothes and a towel for the end of the day! Students also need to bring a pair of shoes that can get wet--crocs, sandals, etc. Shoes MUST be worn for water balloons so if you do not send your student with an extra pair they will wear whatever shoes they have on for school that day.
Any questions, please contact Mr. Gutche or Mrs. Schermetzler.
| | Congrats to the 5K Daisies on a Great Hygiene Drive! | | |
Congratulations to our 5K Daisy Troop on a successful Hygiene Drive!
They collected hygiene supplies for the St. Alphonsus Food Pantry, and then also worked together to sort & store the supplies for the pantry to hand out. They collected 526 items! The first place class who collected the most items was 1st Grade, who donated 217 items. Honorable Mention goes to the 5K class, who donated 172 items. As a result, BOTH classes are winning a pizza party!
Congrats to the winning classes and thank you for your generous donations!
| | Another Successful "Box City" in the Books! | | |
Over the weekend, 13 of our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders participated in another round of "Box City!"
This is an engaging service project designed to teach students about the challenges facing our local communities and teach them about showing compassion and care for those who are less fortunate than us. Students slept outside in the courtyard to mimic the experience of being unhoused. Throughout the evening, they participated in various games and activities designed to get them thinking about what it might be like for those in our community who are struggling. Students were asked to raise funds for this project to be donated to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. This year, the students raised over $700!
Thank you to all who donated and also to all our parent volunteers who helped make this event happen!
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We Have Had Some Amazing End of the Year Field Trips!
The craziness of "Maycember" is here, and we have had some amazing field trips throughout the school to show for it. We will be recapping these field trips each week in our newsletter and on social media.
First up, our 4th graders had their annual trip to Madison last week--a St. Alphonsus Rite of Passage. Students in 4th grade spend all year learning about Wisconsin History and then cap off the year with a trip to the State Capitol. This year they also visited the Wisconsin Historical Society where they had a hands on class about Wisconsin history!
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Use RaiseRight to Help Plan Your Summer Travel!
Dear School Families,
As many families begin planning summer vacations and upcoming travel, we wanted to remind you about an easy way to support our school through Raise Right!
Whether you are booking flights, reserving hotels, dining out, filling up on gas, or visiting attractions, you can purchase gift cards through Raise Right for many of the places you already use. A percentage of each purchase goes to the school and with each purchase you earn money for tuition credit.
Popular vacation and travel brands available on Raise Right include airlines, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, entertainment, and more. It’s a simple way to turn everyday vacation spending into fundraising for our students. Kwik Trip Gas and Grocery are on bonus now. Get ready for 25+ bonus travel bonuses starting May 23rd.
Thank you for continuing to support our school community through Raise Right. Every purchase makes a difference!
SCRIP Enrollment Form
SCRIP Agreement
When enrolling, use SCRIP Enrollment Code BB5965L71943.
Find our more information about SCRIP here!
Learn more about the SCRIP program
Learn how to download the app and get started
Learn how to shop with the app
For questions, please contact our SCRIP coordinator, Michael Wusterbarth, via email here.
| | Congratulations, Track Athletes! | | |
Another Successful Track Meet This Weekend for the St. Alphonsus Cougars!
This past weekend was the Greater Waukesha Track & Field Championship at Catholic Memorial High School!
All of our track participants did a great job! Here are a few highlights and some photos for you to enjoy!
- 4th Grader Kaden took 2nd in the 200m
- 7th Grader Jackson took 6th in the 200m, 5th in discus, 5th in high jump
- 4th Grader Marko took 7th in the 6th grade 800m!
- 4th Grader Eliza took 7th in the 200m
The day was also full of personal PRs for many of the team members! Congratulations to all participants!
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Join Us This Summer at the Milwaukee Milkmen Game!
St. Alphonsus Catholic School is once again the featured organization at the Milwaukee Milkmen baseball game on Friday, July 10 at 6:30pm. We hope you can attend, watch a great game and support St Alphonsus Catholic School!
Get your tickets at the link here and we will see you at the ballgame! Feel free to spread the word & share this link with your family and friends.
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Calling All FUN RUN Sponsors!
Our only fall fundraiser—the Fun Run—will be back this fall! In order to make this Fun Run the best one yet, we need your help getting T-shirt sponsors this summer. There are four levels of sponsorship: $100, $250, $500 and $750. All sponsors receive their logo on the official Fun Run T-shirt and recognition in the weekly school newsletter throughout the fall.
Sponsors can be the company you or a family member works for, or a local business that you frequent. Not sure about making the ask yourself? Send us your ideas and we’ll do the legwork!
Please contact Olivia Hartley or Dawn Eisold with your donations and ideas, and thank you in advance for your support!
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The New Family Committee is Looking for Volunteer Mentor Families!
Help us welcome new families to St. Alphonsus. This is a very low-key commitment and a great way to get your whole family involved at school. We ask mentor families to exchange contact information with new families so they can have someone to contact with questions, and all mentor & new families attend a social event to welcome them to the school in the fall. Your relationship with your mentor family can be as involved as you want it to be!
If interested, please contact Dawn Eisold.
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Calling All Room Parents!
First, we’d like to say THANK YOU to all the current room parents for volunteering their time this year to assist teachers and school with various events and activities throughout the year! We appreciate your time!
Now is the time to consider becoming a room parent for the 2026-2027 school year!
Room parents provide valuable assistance to our teachers by being the liaison between the teacher and classroom parents.
If you are interested in being a room parent, please email Dawn Eisold and include your name, email, phone number and your child’s name and grade for 2026-2027 to be put on a list for fall.
Room parents will be contacted in late August. Please let us know if you have any questions and thanks for volunteering
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May Box Topics: Ways to Earn with Box Tops
Scan your Box Tops receipts and earn cash for our school! It's really easy with the Box Tops app! Scan the QR code below or visit boxtops4education.com for more information!
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School Supply Kits Now Available from 1st Day School Supplies!
Did you know that St. Alphonsus Home & School partners with 1st Day School Supplies to give parents an easy way to get everything your student needs for school?
Back-to-school shopping is not just about buying supplies. It is about navigating the list, comparing brands, and making multiple store runs. With 1st Day School Supplies, that entire process disappears. Order online in minutes, and everything arrives in one box, exactly as requested by your teacher.
Please note that due to the sizing of the shipping kits, students going into 4K will need to purchase 1 additional roll of paper towels, 2 tissue boxes, and 1 set of Clorox wipes; students going into 3rd grade will need to purchase 1 additional roll of paper towels, and students going into 4th grade will need to purchase 1 additional box of tissues.
Click here to purchase!
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2026-2027 Volleyball Sign Ups are Now Open!
As we wind down another school year, it’s time to get excited for 2026–2027 Athletics. St. Alphonsus volleyball is getting ready to serve it up!
Volleyball registration for next fall is NOW OPEN and runs through July 10.
Our volleyball program offers students more than just time on the court:
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Build confidence and leadership
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Stay active and improve athletic skills
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Develop teamwork, discipline, and friendships
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Represent your school and be part of a tradition
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Compete, grow, and have fun in a positive team environment
Whether your student is new to the game or ready to take the next step, volleyball is a great way to stay connected, challenged, and active throughout the school year.
Don’t miss out — sign up today and be part of something special next fall! The link to sign up is here.
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New Athletics Gear in the Athletics Store!
In addition to volleyball sign-ups being open, we have also added new volleyball gear to the Athletics Store!
Note that this is your last chance to order logos from last year, as most will be retired in June. So get those orders in now at this link. Gooooo Cougars!
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Middle School Camp is where faith meets adventure!
This is an Archdiocesan wide event - and it's already half full even though it's several months away! Don't let this opportunity pass you up! Please sign up today or email Karen Farrell for further information!
This unforgettable overnight retreat is designed just for middle schoolers, blending the energy of summer camp with powerful encounters with Christ. From high-energy team-building games and a camp-wide parish vs. parish showdown, to inspiring witness talks, dynamic praise & worship, and life-changing moments in Adoration and Mass—every part of the weekend is built to ignite faith, build friendships, and create memories that last long after the campfire fades. Get ready to compete, connect, and encounter something bigger than yourself!
Who: Middle School Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Dates: November 7-8, 2026 (Early Arrival on Friday possible)
Location: Phantom Ranch Bible Camp, Mukwonago
Cost: $150/person
Exact times and other information is forthcoming; Karen Farrell needs to request spots so please let her know if you are interested in more information (or if you know you want to go) by signing up here; Permission slips and payment will be due at a later time.
| | Click the image for a link to register! | |
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.
Second Semester Dates:
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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.
What is a tired librarian's favorite sum?
Sum-mer!
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