The Weekly Update

Pacelli 2025 Raffle Calendars are Here! Calendars cost $25 each. During 2025, there will be 90 drawings held awarding prizes of $50 to $500. The number on each calendar is the “raffle ticket” for each of these drawings. $10,000 in prize money will be awarded!

The Pacelli raffle calendars are great gifts for grandparents, family and friends. Use the upcoming holidays with family and friends to share the good news of Pacelli and sell calendars.

All proceeds from the calendar raffle go to support activities for PK - 12 students at Pacelli Catholic Schools.

If your child brought home calendars to sell, please return money, ticket stubs and any unsold calendars to your child’s teacher by Monday, December 16. If you want additional calendars, please stop in or contact the office.

On Christmas Eve, during a snowstorm, a group of strangers are on a train to Boston from

Bangor, Maine, when the train develops engine trouble, and there are track problems

ahead. The passengers are suddenly forced to disembark and take shelter in a small depot

in New Hampshire. As the former strangers become collective friends, through patience,

understanding and humor, they realize the memory of this night will be a gift to remember.

A Gift to Remember runs on the Pacelli stage December 15th at 2 pm.

Free will donations to Pacelli Drama Department will be accepted at the door.

Are you considering a gift for your child’s teacher this year? Teachers have completed a “wishlist” to help with ideas. Some are items they would like for classrooms to enrich students’ learning experiences, and some are personal pick-me-ups. Participating teachers have a Christmas tree with QR codes on the “ornaments”. Please have your child/children choose an ornament or ornaments from their teacher’s Christmas tree, or stop in and grab one if you’d like. Elementary teachers’ Christmas trees are located on the walls outside their classroom door. Middle/High school teachers are located on the wall by the office. Preschool teachers are located in the Early Childhood building on the 1st floor outside their classroom door and Kindergarten is on the 2nd floor. You can also access lists here

BOYS PAL’s will be meeting on Monday, December 16th for a poster making

party. We will meet right after school in the Pacelli Room 313 until 4:30pm. All

posters will be displayed in Lyle. If there are any special items you wish to use

on your PAL’s poster please bring them with you. Otherwise, the basic supplies

will be provided.

• Pennies are positive points
• Coin and bills are negative points
• December 9th - December 17th

Competition to raise money for Christmas Basket Shopping. The raised money is used by 7th - 12th grade students to shop and wrap gifts for local children in need. Last year the students raised $3,633!

• Pizza Ranch
• Wednesday January 8th from 4:30- 8:30 PM.
• A percent of sales and tips will go towards reducing the cost of the overall trip to Eagle Bluff.

Pacelli students will be picking up Christmas trees once again on JANUARY 11, 2025

Please have your tree to your boulevard by 8:00 a.m. with all ornaments, tinsel, and lights removed.

Students will be there during the morning to pick up your tree.

Call (507) 437-3278 or email kvasquez@pacellischools.org to reserve your pick-up location.

* A free will donation is appreciated.*

You may mail your donation to Pacelli at 311 4th St. NW or leave your donation in a

marked envelope on your tree. Please note ‘Tree Pickup’ in memo line of check.

Planning is underway for the 2026 Summer Pacelli tour of Italy and Greece. Pacelli has a long standing tradition of partnering with EFT Tours to provide educational tours of some of the most amazing places around the world. This opportunity is open to any current 6th - 12th grade student and their family members. To find out more about the tour and how to register, please contact Ms. Sheedy.

Junior High and High School Christmas Concert will be on December 18th at 7 pm in the Pacelli Auditorium. 6th & 7th grade band students will also perform.

Homework club for grades 4th-6th is now taking place every Tuesday and Thursday after school until 4:15 in Mr. Olsem's room. A light snack is provided. Students may attend any homework club meeting at your discretion. Prior notice that your student will be there is helpful but not required.

We are excited to announce a new program designed to support our 7-12 students in their academic journey. Beginning December 4th, we will be offering an 8th Hour Study Hall, which will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

This program provides students with the opportunity to receive guidance and support from a Pacelli teacher. It is an excellent chance for students to catch up on any missing work, ask questions, and enhance their understanding of the material. Participation in the study hall is voluntary; however, students may also be assigned to attend by a teacher or administrator if it is deemed that they would benefit from additional support.

We believe that this initiative will greatly assist our students in achieving their academic goals. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out.

Shamrock Zone will be open December 23rd, 26th, 27th, 30th, 31st. Shamrock Zone will be closed December 24th, 25th and January 1st. Sign up with Deidre Smith by December 19th to reserve your child's spot for the holiday break.

Merry Christmas from the Tech Department! As we look forward to the Christmas break, the Tech department wants to remind parents that home internet may not have all the same safety features and firewalls set up as the school. It has been brought to our attention that some students have found that they are able to access some sites at home that they can not access at the school. Please remember to be watchful while children are using their devices around the home. Also, Christmas is a time for family, which makes it a great time to unplug from all devices and spend time with those around us. Consider limiting screen time over this break and encourage students to read or play games with family members.

Job Postings Effective November 1, 2024 for the 2024-2025 School Year. Submit letter of interest

and resume to admin@pacellischools.org

Teachers - All teaching positions are available immediately or at the start of 2nd Semester,

January 13, 2025. December 2024 college graduates are encouraged to apply.

• Gr. 7-12 Science Teacher - Full Time
• Gr. 7-12 Language Arts Teacher - Full Time
• Grade 5 Teacher - Full Time
• Substitute Teachers

• Hearing and Vision Screenings December at 9th
• Elementary Christmas Concert December 11th at 7pm
• Preschool Christmas Concert December 12th at 6pm
• Junior High and High School Christmas Concert December 18th at 7pm
• PreK -6th Grade Christmas Shoppe December 17th
• No School December 23rd - January 1st
• No Shamrock Zone December 24th -25th and January 1st