Weekly Newsletter: 9/29/2025 | | |
October Important Dates:
10/1 – Upper School Field Day
10/2 – Upper School Confessions
10/3 – Dad’s Drop Off Breakfast
First Friday Mass
PreK Field Trip
Blessing of Animals
10/8 – Picture Retakes
10/9 – Coffee and Conversation after Lower School Mass
10/10 – Lower School Virtue Assembly
3rd & 5th Grade Confessions
Frassati Performance for Upper School
10/12 – Open Window Theatre Traveling Show - Frassati, Public Performance
10/14 – Lower School Grandparents Day
11th Grade Parent Meeting, 7:30pm - Virtual
10/16 – No School/MEA Break
10/17 – No School/MEA Break
10/19 – Saint Agnes Parish Festival
10/22 – PSAT/CLT 12
2nd Grade Field Trip
10/23 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (evening)
10/24 – No School, Parent/Teacher Conferences (daytime)
10/28 – Upper School Showcase
10/29 – Sophomore Formation Day
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Blessing of Animals: 10/3 @ 3PM
Saint Agnes will once again be holding a Blessing of the Animals in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The event is scheduled for Friday, October 3, at 3:00 p.m., immediately after school, on the church steps.
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Frassati Performance Coming to Saint Agnes | 10/12 @ 2PM
Experience the remarkable life of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati like never before in Frassati, the critically acclaimed stage production by playwright Jeremy Stanbary. Returning in a powerful, newly updated touring edition, Frassati commemorates the centennial of the young Italian’s death and aligns with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year and the canonization weekend of Blessed Frassati—offering audiences across America and beyond a chance to encounter a life of radical faith, boundless joy, and spiritual heroism.
Frassati will show one afternoon only on Sunday, October 12th at 2PM in the Helene Houle Auditorium.
Described as a “spiritual biographical drama,” Frassati goes beyond historical retelling to unveil the enduring spiritual truths of his life. In a world wrestling with division, disillusionment, and despair, Pier Giorgio Frassati stands as a beacon of joyful defiance against darkness—a man who lived out the paradox of the Gospel: “Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”
Audiences will be moved, challenged, and inspired by this stirring production that celebrates a life marked not by earthly triumph, but by self-giving love, contagious joy, and unwavering conviction. Whether you’re encountering Frassati for the first time or returning to his story with fresh eyes, this play is a timely reminder of the greatness each of us is called to pursue.
Don’t miss your chance to witness this unforgettable portrayal of a modern-day saint—Frassati is more than a play; it’s a call to holiness.
| Mark your Calendars – Picture Retake Day is October 8th | |
Parish Fall Festival Helpers & Donations Needed
Donate! We are looking for new kid-friendly items, valued $4-6. Ideas include $5 gift cards, toys, drinks and snacks, arts and crafts and more! Please bring donations to the main office by Wednesday October 15th.
Please also consider donating NEW prizes for the Children’s Games. See link for ideas and either drop them off or have them shipped to the school office.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2496FNAVPO8BQ?ref_=wl_share
Volunteer! We need both youth and adult volunteers on Saturday October 18th and Sunday October 19th. Sign-Up Genius Link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/30E0D4AA4AC23A2FE3-58572724-fallfestival2025
*6th grade and older students can help with games, cherry tree, and basket booth runners. Please see Youth Volunteer shifts.
We also need help stapling tickets, they can be picked up and returned in the school office. It’s an easy take home job- instructions included and staplers are available if needed!
Attend! Join us on Sunday October 19th, 10am to 2pm for games, food and booya!
Thank you! Proceeds from the festival help to support our school.
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2026-27 Application Process Open
The admission process for new students is now officially open for the 2026-27 school year. If you have a child that will be new to Saint Agnes in preschool – high school in the 2026-27 school year, you may now submit an application. Please follow the process laid out on our website ( https://www.saintagnesschool.org/admissions/apply ). This is for new students only, not current students that will be returning next school year. Re-enrollment for our current families occurs in January, 2026.
If you have questions about this process, setting up visit days, personalized tours, our Upper School or Lower School Showcases, or anything else regarding the school or admissions process, please call Mr. Joseph Olson at 651-925-8803. And, as always, please help spread the good work on Saint Agnes School to other mission-fit families.
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K-6 Lower School Parent Orientation – Recording Available
Last week Mr. Gockowski, Director of Lower School, provided parents an opportunity to learn about the vision, culture, and academics of the Lower School. Parents were offered an option to attend in-person in the morning after Lower School Mass and an evening option; due to very low RSVPs for the evening event, we pivoted to an online Zoom call. You can view the recording at this link. Thank you to everyone who joined us in-person and online!
Details & Timestamps of Online Presentation:
- 7:37: Start (prior to this we’re just arriving and getting things ready, welcoming guests)
- 7:37-24:49: Mr. Gockowski’s Lower School Overview
- 24:50-38:26: Picture Study – experience a brief lesson (could occur in literature, history, religion, etc.)!
- 38:32-55:58: Dr. Adkins’ Academic Overview
- 56:00-1:04:42: Q & A
- Questions covered the following topics: Post-secondary vision; vision for Field Trips and Retreats
- 1:04:43-end: Closing Prayer
Any questions about Lower School? Please contact the Director of Lower School, Mr. David Gockowski.
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CAA Cross Country Meet & Practice Info
Calling all 5th and 6th graders! Come run in CAA Cross Country Meet on Saturday, October 12th. This is a 1-mile race which begins at 9 AM at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. We will hold optional practice runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two weeks prior to the race to get ready. Contact Mr. Kemp at hkemp@saintagnesschool.org by Friday, Oct. 3rd if you are interested in registering.
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Save the Date! Lower School Grandparent’s Day - Tuesday, October 14th
Lower School Grandparents Day is October 14th.
Schedule of the day and RSVP can be found on our website through the link below.
Please share this information with your child’s grandparents and senior friends. Note: Only children who have confirmed RSVP will be waiting for you in the church.
Lower School Grandparent's Day Info & RSVP
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Discover Top Catholic Colleges—Free Virtual Fair
High school students, parents, and educators are invited to attend the Newman Guide Virtual College Fair on Thursday, October 9, 2025. By attending the fair, you will have the chance to:
- learn about potential scholarships
- receive free college merchandise
- hear from renowned speakers on navigating the college search
- explore virtual booths of Newman Guide Recommended colleges
- “chat” with admissions representatives
Registration is FREE and is required to attend the event/receive the recordings: cardinalnewmansociety.org/fair
Two online sessions on Thursday, October 9:
- 12:00-2:00 p.m. CT
- 6:00-8:00 p.m. CT
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UPDATED: 11th Grade Parent Meeting: Tuesday, 10/14 @ 7:30 PM - Virtual
All parents of 11th grade students are invited to join Assistant Headmaster and Director of the Upper School, Mr. Karl Hendrickson via Microsoft Teams on Tuesday, October 14th at 7:30pm. A variety of topics will be covered to set your junior student up for a fruitful and successful 2025-26 school year and beyond. Watch your email for a link to join this virtual meeting.
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Upper School (7-12) Yearbooks On Sale
US Yearbooks are on sale until December 31st
Questions? Please email Mrs. Richtsmeier.
After December, Pricing increases!
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2026 Spring Baseball Trip
The deadline is approaching to register for the 2026 High School Baseball trip to Cocoa Beach Florida April 6-12. The trip is open to all baseball players grades 9-12. See our BASEBALL PAGE for full details on the trip and on the upcoming season. Contact Coach Streitz if you have any questions.
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Cheer Clinic Participants
If your clinic participant couldn’t be at the halftime performance, please feel free to stop by the auditorium around 3PM Monday-Thursday this week to pick up poms and bows.
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Online Athletic Tickets
Saint Agnes as well as many of our opponents use GoFan as our online ticket Box Office. While Saint Agnes continues to provide both cash and online payment options, many other schools do not. Online Ticket Link: https://gofan.co/app/school/MN9808
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See the Saint Agnes athletic calendar for all times, locations, and livestreams for this week's games.
Please contact Athletic Director Mr. Streitz with any questions.
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Lower School Room Parent Information
By now you should have received an email from Mr. Gockowski and the Parent Volunteer Committee detailing a new initiative this year: Room Parents.
Please click here to see the description of this role and to take our survey.
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Our Town Cast List
The Saint Agnes School Drama Club is proud to announce the cast of Our Town, the first full-length play Saint Agnes has produced since 1987.
Performances will be November 7th, 8th, and 9th. Online ticket sales will begin in early October.
| | Forming Catholic Hearts & Minds in Faith, Reason, & Virtue | | | | |