Learning, Loving, and Leading through Christ | |
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From the Desk of Mr. Johnston | |
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Dear St. Alphonsus Catholic School Families,
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Back to School Night on Wednesday! It was great to have you in the classrooms learning about what your students will be up to this year. We followed it up with a presentation in the community room, and for those of you who couldn't make it, I wanted to share my remarks with you:
The teachers and staff at St. Alphonsus Catholic School are only able to provide an amazing educational experience to your children because of the support and dedication of the parents and families of this school. We recognize that you have choices in educating your children and we thank you for entrusting your children to us. We also recognize and appreciate the sacrifices that you have made to send your children here and we thank you for that as well.
Before I talk about our school and the plans for this year, I want to take a minute to introduce myself to those of you who are new to St. Alphonsus. I was born and raised in Seattle, attended private school and a Catholic high school before coming out to Milwaukee to attend Marquette. I was lucky and I knew from the time I was 16 that I wanted to go into education and had some teachers guide me to the Jesuits at Marquette. While at Marquette I had teaching experiences, got to know the city of Milwaukee and met my wife, who is also a teacher. We both got jobs in the area out of school and now here we are.
In a Catholic school, there is more to the principal role than in other places. In a Catholic school, in addition to being the academic head of the school and leader of the teachers, the principal is the religious leader for the students and staff, the mentor, the extracurricular coordinator, and so much more. One of my previous mentors is Ed Foy, who is the new superintendent of the Milwaukee Archdiocese. Working with Ed at Dominican High School was when I really started to realize what fulfillment and joy there can be in being a Catholic school leader.
In these past two years at St. Alphonsus, I learned even more than I could have imagined. I gained experience in what it means to lead a community, set the tone and create goals for our school. No school year is without its challenges, but I am excited and energized for this year and could not be more excited to be entering year three with this community and with our amazing staff.
I have a few goals for this year that I want to talk to you about. One of the main goals for this year is to implement the student service program that our teachers and staff worked to create last year. We have created a plan to have all students participate in a variety of different service activities this year. These include service opportunities to go out into the community and interface with the people that we are serving as well as collect items to donate to those in need in the Milwaukee area. We are going to work closely with the folks at Harbor Village down the street as well as other community organizations. Our emphasis this year is on taking our gifts to serve others, rooted in the passage 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.” This passage will have us and our students ask questions about our gifts and how we can use them for a positive impact on the world. By focusing on student-led service, re-emphasizing the Catholic Social Teachings, and more, we will look closely at how we live and embody our Catholic identity. We know that one of the main reasons you send your children to us is to get that strong foundation of faith and prayer so that when they leave here, no matter where they go, they have that relationship with Jesus.
The second goal for this year is to re-emphasize and re-examine our academic excellence. I have said before that we are a school that has rigorous academics in a Christ-centered environment. This year, the faculty will be working on looking at our practices around literacy with a focus on early and middle childhood literacy. As we know, literacy is so important for our students because in elementary school we go from learning to read to reading to learn. Without a rock solid foundation in literacy, students will continue to struggle with all subjects as they get older. In order to bolster our already strong literacy program, we will have consultants come in, using a grant, to help us celebrate our successes, make high-leverage changes to improve our practices this year, and find new teaching materials and training that will give our students the very best and latest in literacy education heading into next school year. We also will continue our work on creating processes for new textbook adoption, using data to drive our decision-making and instruction. We continue to improve the science program and make good use of the science lab space, especially in the middle school grades.
Along with these two larger goals of service and academics, we will continue to work on safety training and best practices, continue to build up our extracurricular activities, have robust community and family events and work to improve the spiritual and emotional well-being of all students. As we talked about last year, we want you all to feel comfortable at St. Alphonsus, build community with one another and help to make our school a great and faith-filled place.
Once again, we are very energized for this school year and we look forward to all the exciting things that are to come this year.
Yours in Christ,
Mr. Russ Johnston
Principal
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Pledging is Now Open for the Fun Run! | |
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The Fun Run kicked off on Wednesday and students brought home their pledge packets. If you haven’t already, please register your children on mybooster.com.
After you’ve registered, you’ll have access to information for Facebook and email to help you connect to sponsors. These templates are ready to send to family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and local businesses who can make a pledge to help St. Alphonsus Catholic School reach our goal of $20,000!
The Fun Run will take place on Friday, September 15th. Weather permitting, the run will be held in the parking lot. St. Alphonsus families are invited to come out and cheer our students on!*
Grades 3K through 3rd will run at 8:15am.
Grades 4th through 8th will run at 9:15am.
Volunteers are needed! We are looking for a few volunteers to help sort and distribute Fun Run prizes immediately following the big event. Please click here to sign up.
Questions? Please contact Fun Run Chair Olivia Hartley.
*In the event of rain, the Fun Run will be held in the gym and due to safety regulations, families will not be allowed. So let’s all pray for a gorgeous day and a fun experience for our students and families!
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Thank you to our generous Fun Run Sponsors!
Platinum:
Wilke Wealth and Investment Planning
Oak Creek Wood Products
Gold:
Cousins Subs
Educators Credit Union
Murphy & Prachthauser
Silver:
St. Alphonsus School Staff
St. Thomas More High School
Mike Juneau’s Brookfield Buick GMC
Bronze:
Milk Can Diner
Biltrite Furniture
Schlossmann’s Honda City
Ricely Restaurant Group
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Upcoming Dates to Remember | |
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09/15
Fun Run
Details Below
09/20
Dine Out Night
MOD Pizza
Details Coming Soon
09/22
Fundraiser Lunch
Details Below
09/22
Uniform Closet Open
7:45-8:30am
09/24
Pack the Church
9:00am Mass
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10/04
11:30am Dismissal
Conferences 12-4pm & 5-8pm
10/05 & 10/06
No School
Staff In-Service
10/11
Fundraiser Lunch
Details Coming Soon
10/11
Dine Out Night
Cousins Subs
Details Coming Soon
10/15
Pack the Church
11:00am Mass
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Save the Date for Grandparents Day! Wednesday, October 18
Due to numerous requests from parents, grandparents, and staff, Grandparents Day at St. Alphonsus this year will be back in the fall! This is when the event used to be held, save for the last few years.
Our Grandparents Day this year will be Wednesday, October 18. More details are coming soon!
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Our first Pizza Lunch Fundraiser is coming up on Friday, September 22!
Order forms went home this week and are due back to school by September 13. 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.
A copy of the order form is attached here. Return forms by September 13 with cash or check for payment. Exact amounts only, no change will be given. One form per child but families can use one envelope.
Volunteers are also needed to help serve the lunches to students. This is an easy commitment of about an hour! You can sign up here.
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Hello families and welcome to the start of a new school year!
My name is Holly Baur and I am the School Counselor here at St. Alphonsus. Once again, I will be visiting each classroom every other week to work on social emotional learning skills, beginning the week of September 18th.
This school year students will be participating in the Zones of Regulation curriculum (or “Zones” for short). The Zones of Regulation aim to help children identify their emotions and learn strategies to cope with these emotions and feelings so they can get back to feeling calm and ready to learn. This is called self-regulation. Self-regulation is best described as the best state of alertness for a situation, or the ability to maintain a well regulated emotional state to cope with everyday stress and to be most available for learning and interacting. Children who can regulate their own emotions and attention are better ready to learn and thrive.
From time to time, all of us (including adults) find it hard to manage strong feelings such as worry, anger, restlessness, fear or tiredness, and this stops us from getting on with our day effectively. Children who feel these emotions often find it hard to learn and concentrate in school.
Zones of Regulation group ways of feeling and acting into four “Zones."
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Blue Zone
used to describe low states of alertness, when your body is running slowly, such as when you are tired, sick, sad or bored
Green Zone
used to describe a regulated state of alertness, when you are ready “good to go,” you feel happy, calm, and focused
Yellow Zone
used to describe a heightened state of alertness, but with some control, when you feel your engine starting to running high, such as when you are frustrated, overwhelmed, silly, wiggly, excited, worried, anxious, or surprised
Red Zone
used to describe extremely heightened states of alertness or very intense feelings, when you have “flipped your lid,” such as anger, rage, explosive behavior, panic, terror or elation
Zones of Regulation focus on two areas. In the first, your students will learn about how their emotions and attention are connected, and then how to recognize emotions and attention in themselves and classmates. They learn that they move through their Zones throughout the day, and that they can improve their control over their Zones through practice.
The second focus area teaches about tools for changing from one Zone to another, and encourages each child to build a repertoire of tools. The goal of the curriculum is for children to gradually become more able to call upon their toolbox when needed. It is very important to know that none of the Zones are “bad” or “naughty.” All of the Zones are expected at one time or another. As the curriculum progresses, children will practice identifying what Zone is expected, and how to change Zones to better match their levels of alertness and emotions to their situation.
I will also be integrating the movemindfully program which utilizes breathe-move-rest techniques to assist students with self-regulation and focus to help develop and maintain a positive learning environment for all students. All of the breathe-move-rest activities will become a part of each student's self-regulation toolbox.
You can find more information about the Zones of Regulation here. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email with questions or concerns.
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Last Chance for Out-of-Uniform Passes! | |
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The Out-of-Uniform Pass Sale has been extended for one more week! Order forms are due by Friday, September 15.
The St. Alphonsus Home & School Association is sponsoring the Out-Of-Uniform Pass sale this year. Passes are $15 each and are good for the last Friday of each month. Order forms are available here and can be sent to Amy Schermetzler via backpack mail by Friday, September 15. Please include cash or check for payment (no change will be given. Checks can be made out to St. Alphonsus School). Passes will be sent home before the end of September!
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Our Cougar Club after school program is hiring!
We are looking for someone with availability between the hours of 2:30 and 6pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and/or Thursdays--we can work with your schedule!
Experience with children is helpful. Responsibilities include ensuring the students' safety; engaging and playing activities with students, such as arts, crafts, and games; as well as helping students with their homework needs if necessary. Contact our Cougar Club Coordinator Stacey Pagac if you're interested.
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Cantors Needed for School Masses! | |
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Children in grades 3-8 are eligible to be cantors at school masses!
To sign up, please have your student notify their teacher that they would like to be a cantor. Practices are once a week during the school day for that week's cantors only.
Our new Director of Music & Liturgy, Mr. Zelinka, is also interested in working with students who play an instrument that might be want to perform occasionally at mass. Again, please have your student let their teacher know and staff will provide a list to Mr. Zelinka.
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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-5th grade. Join us for our New Scout Night Pack Meeting September 14th at 6:30pm in the St. Alphonsus Community Room. For more information about Cub Scouts or Pack Registration, contact Pack Committee Chair Chelsea Gates. You can also visit beascout.org.
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Coding, Chess & STEM Clubs Are Back! | |
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Registration is now open for Chess, Coding, & new this year, STEM Club! PLEASE NOTE THE NEW TIMES (2:50-3:50pm) -- LAST WEEK'S FLYERS INCLUDED THE INCORRECT TIME FRAMES. [Course codes remain the same and if you already registered, you're still good!]
We are again partnering with After School Enrichment Solutions to offer these clubs to St. Alphonsus students. Check out the flyer below for more information and register here.
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Have you enrolled in SCRIP yet? Did you hear Mr. Gerry and his wife speak about SCRIP at Back to School night and want to learn more?
What is SCRIP?
SCRIP is an easy-to-use gift card fundraiser. You purchase gift cards at face value, and your family & our school earn a rebate that can be used towards school tuition or as a donation to our school. For example, if you spend $500 in groceries each month, $250 in gas, and have a $100 Kohl's charge bill, you could be earning $40 a month alone. And many restaurants offer higher rebates! There are 100s of SCRIP vendors available, including many local vendors. Check out this listing to see all the different brands.
Signing up for SCRIP is easy, and there is even an app to use! Register here, using the enrollment code 855F1LF31943. You can also check out our Enrollment Forms and FAQ on our school website.
SCRIP is sold in-person in the Community Room prior to Saturday evening's mass, as well as on Sundays from 8:30 to 11:00am. Local gift cards will be available for purchase right away, and all others will be be ordered and delivered through backpack mail here at school.
ALL you have to do is order thru the app, or email our SCRIP coordinator, Vickie Major, here.
This info sheet also has some of the many ways you can use SCRIP! Purchase SCRIP during the month of September and you will receive an entry for every order into a raffle for a $10 Cousin's gift card...and remember to purchase SCRIP for Dine-Out Nights! It's a WIN-WIN for you and St. Al's School!
Special for this month: Kwik-Trip gas is offering 9% bonus rebate through September! Take advantage of this spectacular offer. And if you enjoy running into Kwik-Trip for bananas, coffee or any other groceries, purchase a Kwik-Trip grocery card! They are offering a 15% bonus as well!
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Pack the Church & Student Lector Program | |
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The Student Lector Program is back!
Our popular student lector program is back at Sunday masses this fall on these dates:
Sunday, September 24 at 9:00am Mass
Sunday, October 15 at 11:00am Mass
Sunday, November 5 at 9:00am Mass
St. Alphonsus students in grades 2-8 are eligible to be lectors. Students in all grades can be gift bearers. You can sign your child up here. Parents, when signing up please include YOUR email so that we can contact you the week of your students participation.
Lectors will practice with Mrs. Schermetzler on Fridays before the weekend masses!
In addition, all of our student lector dates will be Pack the Church dates for school! We would love to have the church filled with St. Alphonsus School families on these dates. Students should wear their Unity shirts or another St. Alphonsus shirt so that they are easily visible as St. Al's students. We hope to see you there!
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Hello St. Alphonsus families! My name is Carrie Jurgens and I am the Box Tops for Education Coordinator for our school.
During the ups and downs of the past couple of school years, one thing is certain: teachers and students need more help than ever before. Box Tops is a fast and easy way for you to support St. Alphonsus Catholic School.
Our goal is to earn $1,000.00 through Box Tops this year. We have currently earned $69.80 and are 7% of the way there!
Here’s how you can help us reach our goal:
Let’s give our teachers the support they need and give more kids the opportunity to dream. Little by little, we can help make a big difference!
For more information or assistance with Box Tops, please don't hesitate to contact me at any time via email here.
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St. Thomas More High School Applications are now open!
STM is excited to announce that we are now accepting applicants for the 2024-2025 school year. Please click this link to start your application now.
In order to receive an admission decision, applicants must complete the following steps on the STM Admissions Checklist:
- 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 here 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 students behalf.
Families may also fill out the application for financial aid now. To begin the financial aid application, please visit this link. 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 and Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs, which will be available in February 2024.
If you have any questions about St. Thomas More, the application process, or anything else admissions-related, please contact Admissions Director Tony Mane at 414-481-8370 x127 or via email.
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Join the St. Alphonsus Women's Group on Saturday, September 23 at 9:30, in the Parish Ministry Center, Room 101.
We will discuss the idea of "Beauty in the Catholic Faith." There are so many examples throughout history and in our own lives of how our faith encourages, inspires and depicts beauty through churches, fine art, and in simple and small ways in our homes!
This drop-in group is for all women in the St. Alphonsus parish. We meet once a month or so. For questions, contact group leader Maggie Ensing.
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Kinship Community Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunity
Please come and join us on September 16, 2023 from 7:30 to 11:30am at the Kinship Community Food Pantry located in the RiverWest Neighborhood at 924 E Clark Street, Milwaukee.
It is a great place for families to volunteer! Young children are welcome, but they do need to be able to last the morning.
The day will begin by arriving around 7:30 a.m. at St. Casimir's. You can park in the lot (if space allows) and enter to the west of the main building (between the school building and the church). You can get more information and sign up to attend here.
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The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is hosting a retreat day for all those experiencing separation and divorce.
The retreat will take place on Saturday, October 14 from 9:00am to 7:00pm at the Schoenstatt Retreat Center
W284N698 Cherry Ln, Waukesha WI 53188.
Cost: $50.00 (includes Lunch and Dinner)
Financial Assistance is Available
Register here by September 27!
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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 5:00pm Wednesdays.
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