God, let us play well but fairly,

Help us to learn something that matters once the game is over.

Let competition make us strong but never hostile.

Always let us help our opponent up.

Never catch us rejoicing in the adversity of others.

If we know victory, allow us to be happy;

if we are denied, keep us from envy.

Remind us that sports are just games.

If through athletics we set an example, let it be a good one.

We had a wonderful Catholic School Week last week with the start of the Mass on the Sunday followed by Open House. We also had various daily fun games and themed days for the students to get dressed up. On Friday afternoon we had the grades swap teachers and that was a fun time. Thanks to all my staff for their preparation for Catholic School week along with thanks to the Student Council.

The Archdiocese has revamped the Teacher Compensation scale for the next three years. I sent out on SchoolSpeak the letter from the Superintendent regarding the change in scale and the percentage increase for the next few years. Catholic schoolteachers have always been paid less than their counterparts in the public school system. With the new scale and increase, it is anticipated that the tuition will increase around 4% for the coming year. As you are aware Catholic Schools are a tuition-based system along with fundraising efforts from parents. As you are aware at our school, fundraising was removed several years ago and was built into tuition. I still believe that we can manage our budget under this model. The finance committee will be reviewing the 2023-2024 budget shortly.

Right to Life Essay

I was very impressed with this year’s Right to Life essays that our students wrote. I am looking forward to reviewing the results in a few weeks.

Sports update

As many of our parents and students are aware there has been unacceptable behavior from coaches, students, and parents/spectators at recent basketball games. We witnessed this last weekend at Terrabay and the PPSL has asked all principals to re-enforce appropriate standards of conduct at games. It was alarming that our school was part of such behavior and I wish to reenforce to everyone, to behave in an appropriate manner. If you bring friends not associated to the school, please inform them of correct behavior. I expect our coaches to be held responsible for the behavior of themselves, students, and parents. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter.

Enrollment

A reminder that we are still accepting Kindergarten and preschool enrollments. Please contact Mrs. Cierra at info@ssfallsoulsschool.org for information for the 2023-2024 school year.

Calendar 2023-2024

We have completed our calendar for the next school year, and we are waiting for approval of it from the Archdiocese. I wish to let you know that the Christmas Vacation will be from December 21st 2023 to Sunday, January 7th, with school resuming on Monday, January 8th 2024. Knowing this now, may help with Christmas vacation planning.

Principal Search Update

The search for my replacement is underway. The Associate Superintendent, along with Fr. Casimir and a committee of teachers, parents and parishioners will be involved in the process. Let us pray for this committee to search out the right person for our school community.

Rite of enrollment for Confirmation

The right of Enrollment for Confirmation will take place at the 10:30am Mass this Sunday. We look forward to seeing all families of students who will be receiving confirmation next year at this Mass.

Valentine's Day

Just a reminder that Valentine’s Day is a normal school day. School staff will not be hosting any parties or gift or card exchange among students. We ask parents to be respectful of the school’s position for Valentine's.

Spring Photos

Spring Photos will take place next Wednesday, February 15th. If you do not wish for your child to have their portrait taken, please have your child wear their school uniform.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday will be on Wednesday, February 22nd. All students need to be in full school uniform that day. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten Season.

ACRE Testing

Each year students from Grade 5 and Grade 8 sit for the ACRE test which is a test of religious knowledge. The test will be administered on Friday, February 24th. We need all 8th and 5th graders to be at school on this day.

STAR Testing

We are amid middle of year STAR testing. The results are used by the teachers to amend their teaching program for students and to see how their students are progressing.

God Bless and Stay Safe,

Vincent Riener

Principal

1. New mailing address

As of 8/31, the Minneapolis office will be closed. With this, we have a new process for the checks, documents, and invoices that were being sent through the mail.

• TADS will no longer be mailing invoices. All billing accounts will be switched to “Statements sent by email”.
• If they would still like a hard copy, they or the school can log in and go to the family’s billing account > click on an invoice number > click the button to “Download as a PDF”.
• We have notified families of this by inserting a brightly colored letter in any invoices mailed out this month. We will also email families when we switch their account to emailed statements.
• If they request to have their $18 Postal mailing fee removed, we can replace it with an “Amended Mailing Fee” that is $3 per invoice we previously sent. The over payments can be applied to their future invoices but CANNOT be refunded.

• Mailed checks and money orders should be sent to our lockbox at the address below.
• Please give this new address to every family who mentions they might send a payment.
• Mailed payments sent to the 110 N 5th St. address will be forwarded, however this will cause delays and it is possible for mail to be missed in this process.
• We are in the process of updating the website, emails, and downloadable documents with the new address.
• TBD on how this will be communicated with families and schools.

Address for TADS TM and Classic FA payments

Auncor, Inc.

PO Box 850136

Minneapolis, MN 55485

12 Rite of Enrollment for Confirmation - 10:30am

13 Archdiocesan Technology Day - 12:20 Dismissal

15 Spring Pictures

20 President's Day - Holiday

21 School Board Meeting - 6:30pm

22 Ash Wednesday - 8am Mass (Full School Uniform)

23 First Communion Parent Meeting - 7pm

27 Staff Development Meeting - 12:20 Dismissal

28 School Assembly - 2:30pm

Dear All Souls Families,

You can now pay and add credit to your child/children's cafeteria account through SchoolSpeak. Your payment will be processed through PayPal with a 3% convenience fee for all transactions.

Sign-in to your SchoolSpeak account and select "Lunch Order" in the quick links menu on the left. The "Pay" tab will direct you to your payment options. You may pay the cafeteria balance through your existing PayPal account or as a guest using your credit or debit card. You may also add credit to your child/children's cafeteria account. If you wish, you may still make cash or check payments to the school office.

Please note, for the families that have a credit card on file I will no longer be charging your credit card for lunch payments. You are responsible for paying and adding credit to your cafeteria account.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Regards,

Ms. Escobar