Learning, Loving, and Leading through Christ

October 20, 2022

From The Desk of Mr. Johnston

Dear St. Alphonsus Catholic School Families,

On this shortened week I will keep my comments brief. I really would like to draw your attention to a few things down in this newsletter. First, Scrip is returning in full-force. We will have a reinvigorated Scrip program, so please take a look at the details below. Also, we will return to having physical gift cards as part of the program, so please think about if you could volunteer to help with that. Scrip is a great program for both the school and your family, so please check it out!

Second, we are pleased to have more dates for our students to help out at Sunday masses in the coming months. The next opportunity is on November 6th, but there are also dates in December, January and February. Please see more information below. We would love to have school families pack the church on these days so please mark your calendars.

Finally, we are in search of someone to take the lead on coordinating Cookie Walk in early December. This is a great St. Al's tradition that is beloved by the parish and the school. Please read more below, and let us know if you would be interested.

Please enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

Thank you and have a wonderful long weekend!

Russ Johnston

Important Dates to Remember

10/20

No School

Parent Teacher Conferences

10am-2pm and 3-7pm

10/21

No School

10/28

Trunk or Treat

5-7pm

11/03

Early Release Day

11:30am Dismissal

11/04

No School

Teacher In-Service

11/09

Admirals Game Field Trip

Grades K - 8

11/23 - 11/25

No School

Gobble Gobble!

Happy Thanksgiving

Special Dress Day for Halloween!

On October 31, students are invited to wear black & orange or Halloween-themed clothes for Halloween. Only students in grades 3K- Kindergarten are eligible to be in costumes.

This is not a normal Out-Of-Uniform Day; students out-of-uniform need to be dressing to the spirit day or wear their regular uniform.

November Lunch Menu

Make Sure to Join Us for Trunk or Treat!

Please join us for our first annual Trunk or Treat, on Friday, October 28th from 5-7pm.

Costumes are encouraged! Cars will be decorated and children can go car to car trick or treating. Whether you host a trunk or not, all are welcome!

It will be a safe, free, and family-friendly event with lots of fun activities:

Vote for your favorite pumpkin (carved by the teachers and staff of St. Alphonsus)
Each child will get a chance to win a Halloween raffle basket!
Try your hand at pumpkin bowling and other fun games!
NEW: The 8th grade class will be hosting a fundraiser this evening, offering hot dogs and warm beverages (while supplies last, cash only!)

We are also looking for volunteers to help the event run smoothly; please sign up here if you are available to help. Middle school students who are in need of service hours are also welcome to sign up to help run games or to help break down after the event.

There are also some spots left to host a trunk! Please sign up here by October 21st.

If you have any questions, please contact Dawn Eisold or Tricia Williams.

$crip Makes $en$e!

Do you spend $500 monthly for groceries? Do you spend $200 a month for gas? Do you have a Kohl's charge card bill every month? SCRIP purchases can help you and St. Alphonsus School! How does it work? You buy gift cards through Scrip, for use as gifts or for everyday use, and 50% of the retailer's rebates can be used to offset your child's tuition. Check out all the retailers on www.raiseright.org. Start saving now! This is a great way to do some early holiday shopping or pay for your groceries while also benefitting school.

Our next St. Al’s Dine Out Night is November 9 at Cousins Subs! Be sure to order your Cousins Scrip by 10/30!

As we reintroduce Scrip back to the parishioners, we are in need of volunteers to “man the Scrip table” on Sunday mornings (8:15-11:00). If you can spare a Sunday once every month or two, please contact Vickie @ 414-704-0526 or via email here.

Milk Can Diner, Broad St. Coffee, and That’s Amore have joined our local vendor list. We will have physical gift cards available for these vendors. Check out the flyer below to get started with Scrip!

Get Involved At Mass!

We are still looking for a few students to get involved with Sunday Masses.

Our next Mass that will be led by school students is Sunday, November 6 at 9:00am, and we still need a cross bearer and 2 gift bearers (we are set on lectors for this month). You can sign your student up here.

The student lectors, cross bearer and gift bearers will practice with Mrs. Schermetzler on Wednesday, November 2 directly after school mass.

In addition, we will be looking for lectors, cross bearers and gift bearers for these upcoming masses:

Sunday, December 4
Sunday, January 29
Sunday, February 19

You can sign your student up here. Practices will be the week before your student will participate, and we will remind you!

Mass Greeters Also Wanted!

Let's show our parish how welcoming our 3rd grade students are at St. Al's! Mass Greeters are also wanted for various masses throughout the year.

Our next mass for greeters is for the third grade and will also be on Sunday, November 6 at 11:00am. Please consider joining us and help bring joy to someone's day! You can sign your student up here.

Other School & Parish News

Help Us Bring Back Cookie Walk!

It's almost that time of year for a favorite St. Alphonsus Tradition: The Cookie Walk! This year the event will take place on December 10 & 11. Cookie Walk is beloved by both parish and school families alike.

We need YOUR help to keep this tradition alive. We are looking for a parent to take over as Cookie Walk Chair. The position will be fully trained and involves coordinating cookie drop-off, setup, and volunteer shifts during the event, which takes place after all masses that weekend. You will have PLENTY of help and won't have to do it alone.

If you are interested, please contact Amy Schermetzler via email for more details.

Franklin Community Youth Race for 4K - 8th Graders is On Tuesday, October 25!

Attention 4k to 8th Graders!

The FHS Cross Country Teams invite you to join us for a youth cross country race at Franklin High School on Tuesday, October 25th. The race begins on the high school upper fields. There is a $5 entry fee which includes a t-shirt. The race distance is 1 mile and awards will be given for the top two in each age. To register, click here or click the photo on the left.

Kinship Community Food Center Opportunity

Have you ever wondered what it looks like to see the Gospel lived out in our world today? Have your children ever wondered what it looks like?

The Kinship Community Food Center is a place where you see what a community of generosity looks like. Our Youth Director, Karen Farrell, has been bringing families to this food center for the better part of the last decade - and she has never had anyone not like it! The food pantry allows children to volunteer alongside their parents. Children should be able to last about three hours (recommended ages are 4 and up). Children 12 and under volunteer with their parents, and children over the age of 12 can volunteer at a station next to their parents.

Families will help in a variety of ways: help select food with the shoppers, color with little kiddos while their parents shop, serve at a coffee station, stock shelves - it is all very simple and they give on-site training.

It's a powerful, powerful way to show your faith in action! For more information or to sign up, click 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 5:00pm Wednesdays.