Learning, Loving, and Leading through Christ

September 3, 2024

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Leadership Team Updates

Dear St. Alphonsus Families,


Welcome to the second week of school! A lot cooler and more seasonal this week, thank goodness.


The picture heading up our column this week has just a few of the many Catholic saints there are. One exciting initiative we have introduced this year is that each classroom will have its own "patron" saint. Students & teachers are selecting a saint to represent their classrooms, and will spend the year learning about their saint, praying to their saint, sharing their saint with the school, and engaging in service projects and other activities that relate to their saint. Each classroom will have some sort of display or photo of their saint, either in their prayer corner or in another area of the room. This is a really engaging way for us to dig deeper into our Catholic faith and learn about some of the inspiring and amazing saints along the way!


The new school playground is close to opening! Finishing touches are being worked on today and we are hopeful that the equipment and fencing will be removed yet this week.


This week we have just a few important reminders:


  • Car Line Reminders: Please be sure to review the below information about car line and remember that the exit is one way this year. In addition, if you are among the first to line up for morning or afternoon car line on the gym side, please pull all the way up to line up with the gym doors when parking. By pulling up, the car line pass auction winners still have plenty of space to pull in, and this allows more cars to line up along the curb which in turn allows the line to move faster. Thank you!


  • Dress Code Reminders: Unity shirts and uniform bottoms are worn on MONDAYS only, unless we specify otherwise. If we do not have school on Monday, the shirts are not worn on Tuesdays instead. Wednesdays, we wear the sky blue embroidered polo for mass. If you have not yet ordered your polo, you can find ordering information below.


  • Below is important PowerSchool information. If you have not yet filled out your health forms online or been able to access your tuition and lunch balances, please do so ASAP.

Important PowerSchool Information


It's a lot of words, so please bear with us!


Health & Registration Forms are being collected online in PowerSchool this year and are due on Friday, August 30.


If you need a prescription medication form for your doctor to sign-off on, you can find that here. You can also find a copy of it on our website here. It is fine to download, have your doctor sign, and then return the paper copy of this form to school. All other forms should be filled out online. Instructions for how to complete the forms are attached here. Please remember that these instructions are for the website, not the PowerSchool app. Although you can fill out the forms on the app, it is easier to do so from a desktop or laptop computer. The link to PowerSchool is below.


One very important form to fill out is the General Consent Form for Photo, Video & Audio use. As a a reminder, this is the photo opt-in form that gives St. Alphonsus permission to share your student's photo in our school newsletter, on our social media, and on our website. Without a form indicating YES, your student CANNOT be shown in any capacity.


Lunch fees can be paid online in the same portal that you pay tuition, called RevTrak. On a computer or laptop: to access, you need to click on the BALANCES button, not the Tuition button. Please note that we do NOT utilize EduTrak, which is what the Tuition button at the bottom of the desktop screen will take you to.


From the BALANCES page, you will see both tuition & fees listed as well as Meal Transactions. Click on the Make a Payment button on the right hand side of the screen to access RevTrak and set up your account/pay online. Please remember that you can always pay with Cash or Check by stopping in to the school office to make your payments. Online payments are not required, and everything will still be tracked in your PowerSchool account.

Later this week, we will be having a special afternoon assembly for the students in grades 5K-8th. More information to come on this exciting development, but trust us when we say it is going to be a "high-flying" event!


Mark your calendars for Back to School night from 5:30-7:00pm on Thursday, September 12. We are trying a new format this year--a round table event in the Community Room. We will have more information about this in next week's newsletter.


Have a great week! As a reminder, you can always find an archive of our school newsletters on our website here.


Best regards,

Ms. Parey, Principal

Mrs. Schermetzler & Mrs. Bruhn, Leadership Team

Log into PowerSchool Here!

Drop Off & Pick Up Line Procedures


A quick reminder for Back to School: please remember to follow our car line procedures! 


3K, 4K, & 5K students AND THEIR SIBLINGS should be dropped off and picked up in the school courtyard car line. Enter via Loomis Road and proceed past the parish house. Exit will be on to Churchway. For the first few days of school, our early childhood staff will be outside in the courtyard to meet your children and help with separation anxiety.


All other grades, 1-8, should use the main car line by the gym doors. Enter from Loomis Road by the apartments and proceed up the fence line. Please do not try to enter the car line from Schoolway or Churchway. The exit for this car line is out the gate onto Schoolway or Churchway. Please also do not cut back through the parking lot to exit on Loomis. We are trying to keep car line traffic one way this year. As always, please be mindful of parishioners leaving mass each morning.


Please do not park your car on Churchway or Schoolway for pickup.  This is a violation of our agreement with the village.  In addition, please do not park in the main school parking lot and cross the car line in order to pick up your younger students. This presents a major safety concern, as the car lines move quite quickly, and cars may not always see you as you're crossing. Thank you for helping us to keep our students safe and our neighbors happy! 


Please let Ms. Parey know if you have any questions. As a reminder, parents should NOT park and walk their children into school.

SCRIP Makes $ense

Welcome Back to School from the SCRIP program!


Did you know? SCRIP proceeds are a line item of the school budget! If 50 school families bought $100 in grocery cards and $100 in gasoline cards WEEKLY, that would be $5,000 earned in one year towards tuition credit and school! (Of course we spend more!) Help yourself and your school by making SCRIP part of your daily grocery and gas budget.


Did you know? Much more money can be earned when using SCRIP for dining out, and retail shopping. Don't forget Dine-Out Nights. Purchase those restaurant cards ahead of time and double dip with SCRIP!


Did you know? You can also raise more money by using the RAISERIGHT website when you shop online. Learn more here!


Stop at the SCRIP table at church and chat with us, or check out these videos for How to Get Started:


Learn more about the SCRIP program


Learn how to download the app and get started


Learn how to shop with the app

Signing up for SCRIP is easy! Stop by the SCRIP table when you see it after Mass, or use the app!


The enrollment code for new families is 2DB1B8CC1943. You can also check out our Enrollment Forms and FAQ on our school website. If you would like to order via paper order form, you can find that here.


Any questions, please call or email our SCRIP coordinator, Vickie Major at 414-704-0526 or via email here.

Important Dates to Remember


09/11

Dine Out Night

Cousins Subs


09/12

Back to School Roundup

5:30 - 7:00pm


09/25

Dine Out Night

MOD Pizza


10/03 & 10/04

No School

Teacher In-Service





10/09

Fun Run


10/09

Dine Out Night

Cousins Subs


10/12

Pack the Church

4:30pm Mass


10/16

Grandparents' Day

Details Coming Soon




Yearly Events Calendar Now Available


The annual events calendar is finally here! As a reminder, this calendar is designed to give you a month by month glance of some of the major events & Home & School happenings at St. Alphonsus. Please note that it is subject to change and we will always share updated revisions with you here and on our website. Currently, we are already on REV2, which is the copy we handed out to you at Meet & Greet. Our Official School Calendar can also be found on the website here.

Out of Uniform Passes Still Available!


You can still purchase Out-of-Uniform Passes from Home & School if you missed them at Meet & Greet Night. They are $20 each this year and good for an out-of-uniform day on the last Friday of each month for grades 5K-8th. Please send your money (cash or check; no change given) to the school office in an envelope labeled Out of Uniform pass and be sure to include your child's name. Checks can be made out to St. Alphonsus School. Passes will be sent home before Friday!

Out of Uniform Dates


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 August & September:


09/05

Summer Dine Out Night Out of Uniform Date with purchase at Cousins Subs in July (receipt required)


09/12

Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 09/12 (receipt required)


09/19

Summer Dine Out Night Out of Uniform Date with purchase at Cousins Subs in August (receipt required)


09/26

Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 09/25 (receipt required)


09/27

Last Friday of the Month

Out of Uniform with Purchased Pass

St. Alphonsus Morning Care is available for students in grades 3K - 8th each day that St. Alphonsus School is in session. 


It opens at 6:45 am and closes when the morning bell rings at 7:30 am. At 7:30 am, the students walk to their classrooms.


St. Alphonsus Morning Care is held in Room 330 and lead by our first grade teacher, Mrs. Kathy Ramion. Parents may park their cars in the parking lot on the east side of the Parish House and enter via the 'back porch" of the school that is across from the Parish House garages. Please walk your child up the stairs and ring the doorbell. Mrs. Ramion will come and open the door for your child. Please do not leave your child unattended while waiting for the door to open.


While in Morning Care, students may draw, play games, play with Legos, do puzzles, read, study, and talk with one another. Breakfast and snacks are not served and may not be consumed during Morning Care.


The fee is $2.00 per student per day and is due each day when you arrive with your child. For questions, please contact Kathy Ramion.

September Lunch Menu

The School Store Remains Open!


We are so pleased to be able to offer you a new online school store! Here, you will find everything from uniform shirts to spiritwear and more. All the items listed in our school store are uniform-code approved, and the school store will stay open all year long, with some new items being added throughout the year!


If you have not yet purchased your Mass Polo (grades 5K-8) or required gym uniform (grades 5-8), please make sure you do so ASAP. These are required items for the dress code this year.


The store has a fast turnaround and will be open all year. Orders will turn around within two weeks and always be dropped off at school for you to get. St. Alphonsus Catholic School will also get $1-$2 per item for anything you purchase from the school store (except on the required items) so it's an easy way for you to support our school! Visit the store at this link.

Staff Spotlight: Miss Greupink, 4K

Welcome to Staff Spotlight!


Each week we will be highlighting a member of our staff so you can get to know them better. We thought it would be great to start off with some of our new staff, so this week we are featuring Miss Kate Greupink, our new 4K teacher.


Miss Greupink recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with

a degree in Early Childhood Education and is also newly engaged! She was inspired to become a teacher by her dad, who is currently in his 41st year of teaching. As a teacher, she hopes to use the knowledge, experiences, and interests of her students to help make

class enjoyable, relatable, and valuable. She also hopes to show students that there is strength in being kind, honest, taking accountability, and being who you are. When she is not in the classroom, you can find Miss Greupink spending time with friends and family, camping, and traveling.

Extracurricular Activity Opportunities

Guitar & Ukulele Club is Back!


Mrs. Greco (formerly Miss Webber) will be offering a Guitar and Ukulele Club from 3:00-3:45pm on Thursdays in the music room. 


We will start on Thursday, September 12th and meet weekly through December. During the meeting time, students will receive both group and individual instruction on their instrument. Space is limited to 12 students in 2nd-8th grades. 


The cost for Guitar and Ukulele Club is $50. If you are not able to cover the cost but are interested in joining, please let Mrs. Greco know. 


Students interested in learning the guitar need to provide their own instrument. Students who would like to play ukulele can use a school instrument during the club meeting time, but they would need their own ukulele if they would like to practice at home. 


If your student would like to join Guitar and Ukulele Club or if you have questions, please email Mrs. Greco by Friday, September 6th.  

Gateway Organization Milwaukee is again offering band and orchestra lessons at St. Alphonsus this year!


Students in grades 3-8 are eligible for Orchestra. Students in grades 4-8 are eligible for Band.


The registration timeline is as follows:

  • Signups for band/orchestra lessons will open August 1 and close September 4.
  • Scholarship applications will open August 1 and close September 6.
  • Lessons will tentatively begin the week of September 16-20.


You can get more information from the flyer below, read their welcome letter here, or check out their website here.


Online registration is available via the links below. Registration is due by Wednesday,

September 4.


Orchestra registration is here

Band registration is here


Lessons will begin the week of September 16!

Fall Extracurricular Registrations Now Open


Some of our most beloved extracurriculars are now open for registration! Check out the information for Chess Club, Coding Club, and STEAM Club below.


You can click on this link to register.

Home & School Happenings

Join us for Popsicles on the Playground on Sunday, September 8 immediately following the 11:00am Mass. This fun event is geared towards our New Families to St. Alphonsus, but if you'd like to welcome them, please consider stopping by to say hello.

Room Parents Still Needed!


We are still in need of room parents for the following grades: 3K, 5K, 1st, 4th and 8th


Room parents provide valuable assistance to our teachers by being the classroom liaison between the teacher and classroom parents. If you are interested in being a room parent, please email Dawn Eisold and include your name, phone number, email, child’s name and grade. All room parents MUST be safeguarded.


Thanks for volunteering!

Dine Out Nights Are Back!


Back by popular demand are St. Alphonsus Dine Out Nights! These are specially designated nights at local restaurants who then give a portion of their sales back to our school, which helps to fund projects that directly benefit our students. In the past these funds were used to resurface the playground, help to buy new smart boards, and assist in remodeling the science lab.


How does it work? On the evening of each Dine Out Night, go to the restaurant during the designated time and make your purchases (be sure to watch the newsletter for any special instructions, like showing a flyer or using a code) and then our school will get a portion of the proceeds. Be sure to get a receipt (one per student) and your child can out of uniform the following day!


Dine Out Nights are one of our most popular fundraisers - you get a night off from cooking, our school raises funds to do special projects and your students gets to be out of uniform. Everyone wins! Be sure you mark your calendars with the dates of this year's events and watch the newsletter for reminders and instructions the week before each Dine Out Night.


If you have any questions, please contact Dine Out Night chair Margaret Fieldbinder via email here.


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

Parish News

Sister Eileen can be reached at eileen@st-alphonsus.org or via phone at 414.421.2442.

Special Presentation: Enduring Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Join us on Tuesday, September 10 from 7:00-8:30pm in the St. Alphonsus Community Room for a riveting presentation on "The Enduring Gifts of the Holy Spirit” with Dr. Daniel J. Scholz, Scripture Scholar, Professor, and Presenter. The presentation will explore the “three eras” of the Holy Spirit in Scripture and discuss the Holy Spirit in each era: Ancient Israel, Jesus' Life and Ministry, and Pentecost & Beyond


To register: 414-421-2442 x 225

Walk-ins are also welcome; a freewill offering will be taken at the door.

Kinship Food Pantry Volunteer Opportunity


Join the parish Director of Youth & Young Adult Ministry Karen Farrell at the Kinship Food Pantry on October 26, 2024 from 7:30 to about 11:30am.


We will be gathering cooking oil for this date. If you are able to, please donate cooking oil (canola, olive or avocado cooking oil in a medium or small size bottle). Please bring your donations to school (there will be a box outside the office for collection).


If you are interested in learning more, or to sign up, please check out the sign up genius.

Community News

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

Transformers Movie: Advanced Screening Opportunity


Are You Ready to Roll Out? Hey there, future Autobots!


Get ready for an epic adventure! You're invited to an exclusive, early screening of Transformers One at AMC Mayfair Mall IMAX 18 on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 11:00am.


This is your chance to witness the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies who once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.


Join us to experience the incredible world of Transformers on the big screen!


Registration is required to secure your tickets. Click here to sign up before all passes are claimed.


Note: Due to slight overbooking, roll out early to secure your spot. Don't miss out on this exciting advanced showing!

St. Thomas More High School Opens Applications for 2025-2026 School Year!


STM is excited to announce that they are now accepting applicants for the 2025-2026 school year. Please click here to start your application now.


Applicants can track their admissions progress in real-time using the STM Admissions Checklist. 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 to this link 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.

 

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS ARE ALSO OPEN

 

Families may also fill out the application for financial aid now. To begin the financial aid application, please visit this linkStudents 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/Racine and Wisconsin Parental Choice Programs, which will be available in February 2025.

 

If you have any questions about St. Thomas More, the application process, or anything else admissions-related, please contact Tony Mane, Director of Admissions, at 414-481-8370 x127 or via email.

Pius XI Announces Fall Information & Admissions Deadlines!


Check out the flyer below or visit their website 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.