Crusader newsletter

Parents, the Family Tuition Packet was sent home today with the oldest child enrolled for the 2025/26 school year. Please read it carefully. Due to an increase in expenses, tuition has gone up roughly 13%. I understand that this is a significant amount, and I am happy to meet with any family on an individual basis who has questions. St. Louis Academy has funds available for tuition assistance and I will be speaking at the annual Spring Parent HASA meeting on April 23 with additional ways to bring down your family's tuition. Note that the Active Parishioner (take to the parish office for Father's signature) and the Scholarship Application, both included in the packet, are due on Friday, May 2. No late applications will be accepted.

Future Meetings: Thursday, May 8, 6:30

*We have an open forum at the beginning of the meetings for parents and stakeholders to speak on any topic. To attend this open forum, one must email the School Board Chair, Laura Wharton (lmwharton12@comcast.net), two weeks before the meeting with the topic to be discussed and added to the agenda per the by-laws.

OPEN POSITIONS ON THE BOARD: Marketing Chair

Please contact Principal Diller (vdiller@stlouisacademy.org) or our School Board Chair, Laura Wharton (lmwharton12@comcast.net) for more information on this position. Anyone who joins the school board will get a Family Sports Pass and get into all SLA home sports games for the 2025/26 school year for free!

NEW Curriculum Committee Chair: Thank you ERIN WARDEN for accepting the position of chair of the Curriculum Committee! Beginning next year, she will lead meetings to focus on the curriculum goals in the strategic plan and add new goals, including a new three-year school-wide reading initiative. All are welcome to sit as members of this committee providing input and support to meet the goals of our strategic plan. Be on the lookout for meeting dates in next year's newsletters and via remind. This is such an important committee, and we are so thankful to ERIN for stepping up to lead it as part of the school's advisory board.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Andrew Wilhelm for his dedication and leadership as our Athletic Director. Under his guidance, a well-organized committee was formed, ensuring the effective delegation of responsibilities that we believe will sustain our athletic program for years to come. His commitment, along with that of his family, has made a lasting impact on our community.

We are now looking for someone to step into his shoes to chair the committee. If you are interested, of if you'd like to nominate someone, please reach out to Principal Diller, or one of the committee member: Alex Wharton, Jim Hale, Joe Wharton, and John Schortgen.

Thank you once again, Andrew, for everything you've done!

At SLA, we want the best, so share this with the best teachers you know who are interested in transitioning to an amazing school they want to call home!

If you know any qualified candidates, please share this application link:

https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=DF277

If you have Facebook, see the post through the link below and like and share!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A48x9b5Zz/

CYSC male middle school spot available with SLA for this summer, July 13-18. If you are interested in sending your 5-8th grader please reach out to Josie Costanza asap. Thank you!

Bishop Luers High School NEW Freshman Registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now open! Learn more and register here: https://www.bishopluers.org/o/blhs/page/admissions. It’s a great time to be a Knight! Contact Jenny Andorfer at jandorfer@bishopluers.org with any questions.

APRIL

March 31- April 6- SPRING BREAK!!

8- 8th Grade Confirmation Practice @ St. John NH

17- Progress Reports go Home

18- NO SCHOOL- Good Friday

14- May 9- ILEARN Summative Assessment Grades 3-8

20- Easter Sunday

22- 8th Grade Confirmation @ St. John NH

23- All-Parent Spring HASA Meeting

26- Daddy-Daughter Dance

30- May 2- ARK (Assessment of Religious Knowledge) Grades 2-8

MAY

9- May Crowning Mass

8- School Board Meeting, 6:30-8:00

19- Field Day!

20- Back-Up Field Day

21- Grandparent's Day

21- 8th Grade Graduation, 6:00 Mass followed by refreshments

23- All lunch & tuition balances must be paid in full!

23- HASA Picnic Lunch

23- Last Day of School, 12:30 Dismissal

26- Memorial Day

27- Teacher Work Day- Records Day

The SLA Traveling Fatima Statue wants to visit your house! A special thanks to the Catholic Identity Committee of the School Board for getting this set up. Sign up to host her through the link below. Pick up and drop off to Miss Angie on Mondays.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0449A8AC2EABF94-51365516-slaour#/

Parent Handbook

Athletic Handbook

I've had a few opportunities since the beginning of the school year to meet with parents who have had questions surrounding the changes made to the dress code. It was suggested that I share those reasons in the newsletter to provide further clarification and to answer any remaining questions.

1) Why were there changes made to the dress code this year?

- The previous dress code was written with too many unclear guidelines, leaving a lot of grey area for parents and teachers to provide consistency to the dress code expectations. The handbook policies of a private school serve as the "Constitution" of the school, outlining the rules and expectations of that school. The previous unclear expectations in the uniform policy led to inconsistency in upholding the dress code by the SLA staff, and made it unclear to parents what to provide for their children to wear. The new clear guidelines allows our teachers to spend the majority of their time on teaching and building relationships with the students instead of questioning if the student is in approved uniform attire. It also streamlines the process for parents to provide uniform materials for the students because the guidelines are very clear what is and is not permitted.

2) Why do we even have a dress code policy?

- Our goal in enforcing a dress code is to provide an outward appearance in our school's unity, solidarity, and community with one another because the students are all wearing very closely the same things. It also allows students to increase focus on their academics instead of what they are wearing, and lessens judgements on student economic status based on their clothing. Additionally, depending on what research you read, there is a positive academic and behavioral impact as a result of wearing school uniforms.

3) Do you think the school is being too picky when it comes to things put in the dress code policy, like what kind of socks to wear? What does it matter?

- I understand that perspective. However, anything can be considered "too picky" depending on your perspective. At SLA we expect all students to keep their shirts tucked in at all times. Some may think that is "too picky". We believe that these simple things, like keeping their shoes tied as another example, are things that all students can do with exceptionality. It is a standard of our culture we want to have by expecting and encouraging all students to do the simple things really well. We want students to be intentional in writing their name on their paper well, in turning in their papers the right way, in lining up in the correct order, in being quiet in the hallway so other students can have the benefit of a learning environment. If we can encourage all our students to do all the simple things well, then we will be a lot closer to doing the bigger things well. Looking at a students socks may be trivial, but it is a simple thing we believe the students can do well, and we believe helping form this mindset will set them apart from others in society when they graduate from SLA.

As a reminder, here is the current dress code:

Fleece sweaters: are to be of the following solid colors: gray, navy blue, or black. The fleece sweater must be full zip, without a hood, and may be worn in the classroom from October 15-March 31 only.

Also, beginning November 1, the following changes are made to our dress code, per the handbook.

Skirts and Jumpers: Should touch the tops of the knees when standing. The backs of the skirts and jumpers should also touch the knee crease in the back of the leg while standing. Please consider the growth of a child over a school year when hemming or buying uniform skirts or jumpers. If shorts are worn under the jumper or skirt, they may not extend below the skirt or jumper. Rolling of skirts at the waist is a violation of the dress code. Skirt and Jumper may be the following colors: Khaki or navy blue.

*Tights or leggings must be worn under a child’s skirt/jumber beginning November 1-March 31.

Tights/Leggings: Girls may wear only tights with feet with their jumpers and skirts. Tights of various materials are allowed: fleece lined, cable knit, etc. Leggings must be worn during the school day with jumpers or skirts between November 1 and March 31. Leggings are to be plain in color – red, white, navy blue, and black. Please consider temps for outdoor recess.

Find the complete dress code in the Parent Handbook beginning on page 39.

Please use the link below to get your children registered for AfterCare at SLA. Only children registered will be eligible to stay after school with the program. Fees are broken down in the image.

https://www.learnresourcecenter.org/school-year-enrollment-forms

(From Oct 4) EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY- Body/Deodorant sprays are prohibited from campus (ie: Axe, Degree, etc). They interfere with the bathroom vape detectors.

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe at SLA!

Christ Child Society is offering free coats for kids in need. If interested please email Mrs. Hoffman at khoffman@stlouisacademy.org with first names of child, gender and size please.