Saint Ambrose News

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
— Jeremiah 29:11

"Go forth and set the world on fire."
— St. Ignatius of Loyola

Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,

Thank you to our wonderful committee who led a very successful (and fun) first annual Saint Ambrose Golf Tournament. Monday's chilly temperatures did not discourage a supportive group of golfers from enjoying time together. We are blessed!

We celebrated our 8th Grade Graduates yesterday with a morning breakfast and a beautiful Mass and ceremony last night. Thank you to the volunteers whose hospitality allowed our 8th grade families to enjoy this milestone.

A Few Notes:

• If you did not order a yearbook online but would still like to purchase one, you may send cash or a check for $20 per yearbook to the school office. Please place your payment in a clearly labeled envelope marked “Yearbook,” and be sure to include your child’s name(s).
• Please note that there will be no school Mass on Wednesday, May 28.
• If the weather is good, we plan to have Field Day in the afternoon on Wednesday, May 28.
• Last day of school: Thursday, May 29 we will have our Pep Fest in the morning and school Mass at 2pm. Parents are welcome to come to Mass and celebrate a wonderful year!
• Are you interested in welcoming a new family to Saint Ambrose? If so, contact Susannah Prochazka at to get details on the commitment. susannah.prochazka@gmail.com

• Summer School Garden Help

  This summer, we are looking for families to help maintain the school garden. Each week, we would need a family to stop by either on the sign-up date or the day after to weed and harvest any produce. You may keep any produce that is ready to harvest! We also have a variety of garden tools available for you to use if needed. If you are interested, please sign up here. If you have any questions please reach out to Mrs. Jorgensen (kjorgensen@saintambroseschool.org). Thanks for your support!

Last Day of Week of School Info

Tuesday - In Uniform - Normal school day

Wednesday - Out-of-Uniform - Field Day in the Afternoon - Students may be out of uniform on Wednesday, May 28th for field day! Students may bring a cinch sack for water bottle/sunscreen.

Thursday - SWARM Shirts - Last Day - Mass in the Afternoon - We recommend no backpacks on the last day, Thursday 29th, unless students take the bus.

You are invited to join us for a 2:00 pm Mass to end this wonderful school year together in prayer.

When: Thursday, May 29th

Time: Arrive at 1:40 for 2pm Mass

If you are attending Mass, we ask that you pick up your children in their classrooms from 1:40 to 1:55 and proceed to Mass in the church.

If you are unable to attend, your child will sit with their teacher for the Mass.

Immediately following Mass, families might like to enjoy a cool treat at Bridgeman's for our school fundraiser. They will be donating 20% back to Saint Ambrose. Mention Saint Ambrose at the checkout.

We are asking all families depart by 3:20 allowing for buses to transport those students that still require transportation. We would like to know your child's plan for dismissal that day. Please complete this form by Friday, May 23.

God of power and mercy,
you destroy war and put down earthly pride.
Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears,
that we may all deserve to be called your sons
and daughters.
Keep in your mercy those men and women
who have died in the cause of freedom
and bring them safely
into your kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/prayer-memorial-day-last-monday-may

Betsy Hand

Principal

Our Lost and Found is overflowing with jackets, water bottles, and other treasures! If your child is missing something, please stop by the gym hallway to take a look.

All remaining items will be donated or cleared out on Friday, May 23rd.

Thank you for helping us return lost items to their rightful homes!

As part of our class placement process, we invite parents to share any information they believe would support us in making thoughtful and informed placement decisions for their child.

Class placements are determined using a variety of factors, including educational data, input from licensed staff, the creation of balanced classroom rosters, and our professional judgment as we strive to find the best overall fit for each student. This process is not designed for requesting specific teachers or for placing particular students together.

Even if you have already shared some of this information with a staff member, completing this form ensures we have everything in one place as we move forward.

FORM

Timeline for placement:

Deadline for Parent Input Form- May 30th, 2025

Admin will work on class assignments- June -August 2025

Class lists posted Back to School Day 2025

We’re excited to share a valuable resource with you to help ensure all children have access to healthy meals during the summer months.

Hunger Impact Partners, a non-profit organization working with the Minnesota Department of Education, to spread the word about free summer meals for kids across the state.

The Free Meals for Kids mobile app helps families easily find local sites offering free meals for children and teens up to age 18. The app uses GPS to show nearby schools, parks, community centers, and libraries where meals are served. It includes site hours, directions, and indicates whether registration is required (most do not require any sign-up).

The app is regularly updated and includes helpful links to other food and family resources, such as SNAP, WIC, MFIP, and United Way’s 211.

To download the app:

• Search “Free Meals for Kids” in your app store, or use the links below:

  • App Store (iPhone)

  • Google Play (Android)

You can also learn more at:
https://hungerimpactpartners.org/meals-for-kids/mobile-app/

Please take a moment to check it out and share with others in our community. Let’s help make sure no child goes hungry this summer!

Message from South Washington County Transportation:

Students should discard their 2024-2025 bus ID card after the last day of school as new cards will be printed for the 2025-2026 school year. New bus ID cards for the 2025-2026 school year will be distributed to students by the first week of school. Note: Prior year bus ID cards will no longer function for the new school year. A new color of card will be printed for the new school year.

As a reminder, all general education students are required to scan on and off the bus each morning and afternoon. Families should ensure their child has their bus ID card with them each day. Best practice is to attach the bus ID card to your student’s backpack/binder. Students should keep track of their bus ID card and keep it in good condition by not bending/flexing the card.

Action Needed: Complete the 2025-26 SoWashCo Schools Bus Transportation Opt-in Form by May 1, 2025.

South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo Schools) will use an opt-in transportation system for the 2025-26 school year to help ensure the most efficient routing for students eligible to ride a school bus.

Transportation Opt-in Form

Families must complete the opt-in form by Thursday, May 1, 2025.

• Please complete one form with information for each child who lives within SoWashCo Schools boundary but attends a private or charter school.
  
  

• Families that do not complete the form for each child will be opted out of transportation services for the 2025-26 school year.
  
  

• Non-busing zone distances for elementary (1 mile) and middle school students (1.5 miles) are subject to change.
  
  

If your situation changes, families can opt back in for transportation at any time, as long as the student qualifies for busing services.

You can find more information at sowashco.org/transportation.

Next year, the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) will host their annual convention in Minneapolis. Archbishop Hebda strongly encourages all school staff in our Archdiocese to attend this great opportunity for professional development and formation. This means our calendar for the 2025-2026 school year includes an extra few days off in April of 2026. I hope knowing this early will help families plan for those days. We hope to offer a T, W, Th Extended Day experience for families who need childcare-details will be communicated in August.

2025-2026 calendar.

Saint Ambrose offers an engaging summer program for students entering kindergarten through grade seven. With a diverse selection of hands-on classes, children can explore STEM, science, reading, cooking, art, LEGO, computer games, and more. There's something for every interest, making summer both fun and enriching!

View the Catalog with 30 class options and registration information here!

May 26th - No School, Memorial Day

May 29th - Last Day of School

At St. Ambrose, hospitality has been our year-long virtue focus—welcoming others with warmth, kindness, and generosity in both word and action. During May, we turn our attention especially to being a unified body of Christ’s followers, intentional learners and saints in training.

In our school community, students and staff are practicing hospitality through unity, patience, and kindness. We are committed to being the best we can be by recognizing and honoring that we are all unique, equal and connected; that we care for everyone and everything in our school and that we are responsible for helping others develop their faith and virtue.

We encourage families to carry the spirit of hospitality and unity into the home by:

• Choosing what is right in your heart, mind, and body.

• Practice the virtue of perseverance - keep trying until you succeed.

• Show resilience when things don’t go your way.

Stories to Read Together at Home:

• You Are Mine by Max Lucado

Saints We Pray With This Month:

• Saint Damien of Moloki, Feast Day: May 10th

• Saint Dymphna, Feast Day: May 15th

• Saint Rita of Cascia, Feast Day: May 22

• Saint Joan of Arc, Feast Day: May 30

Let us continue walking together through this last month with hearts full of hospitality and unity.

September 6th September 13th September 20th September 27th

October 4th October 11th October 16th October 25th

November 1st November 8th November 15th November 22nd November 29th

December 3rd December 13th December 20th

January 10th January 17th January 24th January 31st

February 7th February 14th February 21st February 28th

March 7th March 21st March 28th

April 4th April 10th April 18th April 25th

May 2nd May 9th May 16th

Volunteer Requirement - Essential 3 Requirements outlined on the parish website.

Math Challenge - https://www.mathinaction.org/

Artsonia

https://www.artsonia.com/connect/TWKCXF27 And use the PARENT CODE TWKCXF27 to connect to Saint Ambrose.

Weekly Church Bulletin

May Lunch Menu

May Breakfast Menu

Student and Parent Handbook

Drop-off and Pick-up Info

Hand Connection Newsletter

School Calendar 2024-2025

School Calendar 2025-2026

School Supply List for 2024-2025

School Website

School Facebook Page

Quarterly Home and School Newsletter

Sycamore

Sycamore Help Guide

Sycamore Parent Checklist

Please login to Sycamore to access the school calendar, lunch menu, and schedules/grades (JH only)

Mission (what we offer)

We at Saint Ambrose School are part of a vibrant Catholic community supporting and nurturing

each child on their journey with Christ.

Through exceptional academics, embracing each child’s unique strengths and needs, and

joyfully engaging in prayer and service, we take a holistic, virtue-based approach to student

education and experiences. This is the Saint Ambrose Way.

Vision (what we aspire to)

As a thriving Catholic school, we create meaningful impact though each family we support and

student we send into the world.

By helping form the whole child, students are not only prepared well for the next level of

education, but life as Christian adults living the Saint Ambrose Way.

PHILOSOPHY

The Saint Ambrose community recognizes the partnership between parents, students, staff,

administration and parishioners in providing for the development of its members as people of

faith who worship, learn and grow together. As a community we have a responsibility to

support families- as the primary educators of their children- while providing enriching

experiences that promote a sense of belonging and responsibility to a community.

Did you know that we have a Saint Ambrose Facebook Page and Instagram Page? Please follow us for school updates and photos. Click the links at the bottom of this email for quick access to our social media pages.