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Dear St. Alphonsus Families,
Welcome to Advent, a time of peaceful hope & reflection during the busy month of December. We invite you to slow down and celebrate some peaceful moments during this month! Below you will find a flyer that has many of the Advent activities we will be celebrating at school throughout this month, and above is our Advent door sign that will be hanging in all classrooms. We invite you to download your own copy and display it in your home as well as a reminder of the season!
Our Advent Wreath Blessing is today at 2:00pm in the church, to kick off Advent as a school, but that is not the only opportunity for your family to participate in Advent with our parish. If your family would like to light the Advent wreath at weekend Masses, consider signing up at this link.
We will have School Mass together twice next week, as Monday is a Holy Day of Obligation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception so we will be attending an 8:00am Mass that day as well. Students should still wear unity shirts on Monday and school Mass polos on Wednesday.
Christmas will be here before we know it, and we wanted to remind you that we have made an update to the school calendar. Friday, December 20 will be early dismissal at 11:30am! Please consider joining us for Las Posadas that morning (details below) and then pick your students up early at 11:30am to start your Christmas break.
Don't forget that we will also be hosting a Christmas Spirit Day on Friday, December 6 to raise money for the St. Alphonsus Food Pantry. See more details below--this year we are asking for $5 per student to participate. Please note that if your student chooses not to participate in wearing an ugly sweater or Christmas shirt, they should dress in their regular uniform clothes.
It's a busy week with our School Christmas Concert coming up on Thursday, with performances at 10:30am and 6:00pm. In addition, Cookie Walk drop off is this Friday and Poinsettia Pickup is Friday afternoon, with the Cookie Walk going on all weekend! Please check out all the details below and make plans to join us for these events.
We hope you all had a wonderful & relaxing break!
Best regards,
Ms. Parey, Principal
Mrs. Schermetzler & Mrs. Bruhn, Leadership Team
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Cookie Walk is THIS WEEKEND!
Thank you for returning your Cookie Walk forms! It's time to get baking!
Cookies can be dropped off in both car lines on Friday, December 6. Look for our volunteers who are collecting!
Your cookies do not need to be bagged or packaged a certain way, but please keep in mind that we will not be able to store & return containers this year, so please bring your cookies in a disposable container or other receptacle that you do not need back.
Forgot to return your form? That's ok! You can still drop cookies off on Friday morning, and if you don't bake, you can consider volunteering to help us at the Cookie Walk itself. We still need some additional assistance with selling after all masses and pouring juice and coffee for Hospitality. You can sign up to volunteer for all of these jobs here! Kids are welcome to come help us in all areas of need. If you already signed up via your participation form, you do not need to sign up again. Just be sure to show up for your shift!
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Important Dates to Remember | |
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12/05
Christmas Concert
Grades 5K - 3rd
10:30am & 6:00pm
12/06
Cookie Walk Cookie Drop-Off
12/06
Christmas Spirit Day
with Donation, Details Below
12/06
Poinsettia Sale Pickup
3-6pm
Community Room
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12/07 & 12/08
Cookie Walk! After All Masses
Community Room
12/20
Las Posadas
8:00am in the Church
12/20
Early Dismissal, 11:30am
Merry Christmas!
12/21 - 01/05
Christmas Break
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
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Scholastic Ornament Sale Extended!
The Scholastic Ornament Sale is back! Order a Christmas ornament or two your family members that has your student's school picture on it.
Orders can be placed here. All orders are due by midnight tonight, Monday, December 2.
Any questions, please ask Mrs. Schermetzler.
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Quick Scheduling Note for Guitar & Ukulele Club
Due to the K5-3rd Grade Christmas Concert, Mrs. Greco will not have Guitar and Ukulele Club after school on Thursday, December 5th. Our final two meetings of the school year will be on Dec. 12th and 19th.
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Out of Uniform Dates - December
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 December:
12/06
Christmas Spirit Day!
Help us raise money for the St. Alphonsus Food Pantry. See details above!
12/12
Out of Uniform with Dine Out Night purchase on 12/11 (receipt required)
12/13
Last Friday of the Month
Out of Uniform with Purchased Pass
12/20
Dress UP for Las Posadas and the last day of school!
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Give Back To Your Favorite Catholic School Teacher!
In honor of Catholic Schools Week, January 26 to February 1, 2025, Catholic Financial Life is celebrating by holding our annual Give Back Contest!
Catholic school teachers serve an important role—to prepare the next generation for future success and reinforce Catholic values that will help children mature into Christ-like individuals. They help their students to live their faith beyond the walls of school buildings and navigate the intersection of faith and culture. So much of what teachers do has a profound impact on the lives of students.
How It Works
Nominate a Catholic school teacher here for a chance for them to receive a $500 cash prize in addition to a $4,000 donation to their school. Submission deadline is January 3, 2025. Voting will take place from January 13-17, 2025, on Catholic Financial Life’s website.
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We've Made Some Updates to the School Store!
We have added long sleeve Carolina Blue polos to the school store and are making a few other items "approved" for Mass so you can have a lot of options to keep your student warm in church in the coming months. We 've also added a sweater option to the store! Please refer to the Visual Guide sent out in previous newsletters to help you understand what is and is not allowed to be worn at Mass. You can also view a PDF here.
In addition, we have added some items for Christmas, including some items for Grandparents (pictured)! Please check out the store here and cross off some early gift shopping!
The drop dead date for Christmas orders will be December 6. This would guarantee you will have your items by our last day of school before Christmas break, Friday, December 20.
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7th Grade "Saint" to be Canonized | |
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As many of you may remember, each classroom chose a saint to study & learn about this year.
7th grade chose Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati for their class "saint." He is well-known among young people, and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed having fun & being goofy with his friends, and who loved and shared his faith.
Pope Francis announced last week that Pier Giorgio will be canonized in 2025! You can read about the miracle attributed to him here, and learn more about when he will be canonized here.
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Winter Extracurricular Opportunities! | |
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Calling All 6th to 8th Grade Students! Join Forensics!
Does your child enjoy public speaking? Or are they looking to boost their confidence when speaking in front of a crowd?
If this describes your child, Mrs. Gutche would love to have them join our Middle School Forensics Team! Forensics is a competitive public speaking club open to 6th-8th graders. Joining Forensics will help students try something new, get out of their comfort zones, look great on high school and college applications, and build confidence for public speaking in high school and beyond! Also, there is a category for everyone! Students can perform humorous pieces, serious pieces, historical pieces, act pieces out with friends, and more!
Beginning on December 9th, practices will be on Mondays and Thursdays from 3-4pm in Mrs. Gutche's room (room 327). Meets will be on Fridays or Saturdays from late January through March. Middle school students were given an information sheet and permission slip last week. Please direct any questions to Mrs. Gutche.Thank you!
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Service Program Donations Needed | |
Staff Wishlists Now Available! | |
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The School Office also has a wishlist! These items are frequently used in our school office. Thank you for your generosity!
4K Miss Greupink's Wishlist
She also likes Amazon, Target, Ulta and Starbucks gift cards.
5K Mrs. Domzil's Wishlist
She also likes gift cards for The Hair and Body Shoppe, Target, Kwik Trip and McDonald’s.
1st Grade Mrs. Ramion likes gift cards to Target, Amazon and Hobby Lobby.
2nd Grade Mrs. Frank likes gift cards for Amazon, Walgreens, Target, or Hobby Lobby.
3rd Grade Ms. Temple likes gift cards from Amazon, Target, and Starbucks!
4th Grade Mrs. Gutche's Wishlist
She also likes gift cards for Disney, Culver's and Noodles & Co.
6th Grade/MS ELA & Literature Ms. Jaeckels' Wishlist
7th Grade/MS Math Ms. Morrison enjoys gift cards to Target, Starbucks, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble!
8th Grade/MS Science & Social Studies Mr. Kneifl's Wishlist
Music Mrs. Greco's Wishlist
Art Mrs. Hoeppner's Wishlist
PE Mr. Gutche likes Menards, Qdoba, Subway, or restaurant gift cards!
Learning Support Mrs. Bruhn's Wishlist
Library Mrs. Schermetzler's Wishlist
She also likes gift cards for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or local bookstores so she can buy books to enjoy, and she loves plants!
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Let RaiseRight help you with your gift card purchases this holiday season!
Need some $10 gift cards? We have Arby’s, Cousins Subs and Culver’s and Bath & Body Works for immediate purchase!
Need gift cards for your employees? There are many options from American Express to Zappo’s!
Thinking ahead to your Spring Break? Disney cards (and other hotel chains) are available to order.
Either place an order through the RaiseRight app or call Vickie Major at 414-704-0526 to order!
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Learn more about the SCRIP program
Learn how to download the app and get started
Learn how to shop with the app
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Poinsettia Sale Pickup is this Friday, December 6!
Pick up your plants on December 6th in the MPR Community Room between 3:00 and 6:00pm
We are also still in need of helpers on December 6 to help pick up, unload, organize, & distribute plants. Please note you must be Safeguard certified to volunteer. Check out this link for our available shifts! Kids are welcome to come help!
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Join St. Alphonsus Home & School at the Milwaukee Wave game!
St. Alphonsus Catholic School is the featured organization at the Milwaukee Wave game on January 18 at 6:05pm. We hope you can attend, watch a great game and support St Alphonsus Catholic School!
Please use this link to buy your tickets and we’ll see you at the game! St. Alphonsus School will get a percentage of the money from each ticket sold at this link, so feel free to spread the word & share this with your family and friends. We encourage school families to sit in section 204, 205, or 206, so consider purchasing your tickets in those seats!
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Have Your Family Help Us Light the Advent Wreath at Masses this Advent Season!
Families are asked to light the wreath at each Mass.
If you are interested in signing up, please use this link.
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Mark your calendars and join us for our Parish Music Ministry Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 8th at 2pm!
Our theme this year is "Jesus, Hope For the World" and features music from our Adult Choir, Children's Choir, and our Bell Choir. Christmas cookies and refreshments will be provided after the concert in our Community Room. We hope to see you there!
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Local School & Community News | |
Please note that any outside activities are not sponsored or endorsed by St. Alphonsus Parish or School | |
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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.
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