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Saint Ambrose School News
Parent Newsletter - October 7th, 2022
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Parent Newsletter - December 8, 2023
Immaculate Mary, Your Praises We Sing
Our beautiful new statue of Mary was blessed during our school Mass today.
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,
It was a full week of celebrating our Catholicity, with a Day of Mercy on Wednesday, our Saint Ambrose Feast Day on Thursday, and Mass for the Feast of Immaculate Conception today! Additionally, 4th graders embraced serving others with a toy drive for Children's Hospital. We take seriously our job of forming future saints!
Congratulations to Mrs. Bertsch and our amazing band students on a fantastic band concert last night. Let's go band! Thank you for starting off our month with joyous music.
One of the many blessings that this work gives me is knowing children for an incredibly important part of their development. It is amazing, then, to have an alum early in their professional career connect back with Saint Ambrose to share some meaningful work they are doing, and ask for our help.
Michael Elsbernd, 2012 Saint Ambrose graduate, is the co-founder of Hinckley Medical. He is in need of pediatric data to test the accuracy of their product. Here is a letter describing the company and the ask. Participation is completely voluntary. To give your child(ren) permission to participate, complete this form. Michael will be on campus December 18 and 19 for data collection.
2024-2025 Registration Info
The Finance Committee approved our budget proposal for the 2024-2025 school year, including tuition rates. Linked here (and also below) find our registration letter. We want you back! Please connect with me if you have questions or concerns.
We are looking forward to our K-8 Christmas Concert on Monday, December 18 at 7:00 PM. Students should report to their classrooms at 6:45.
Thank you to our Home and School for a wonderful stocking stuffer idea. See below for details on purchasing out of uniform passes for your children.
Information from the Office:
- Please send your family cards to the school office.
- Need gift ideas? STEM Gift Guide here
At Mass today, Father Peter talked about Mary's purity and that she did not sin the way we do. He talked about the sins of shame, blame and being mean as being difficult for us as humans, and that Mary, our mother, can intercede as we pray to do better with these sins. Let us pray:
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Mother Mary, Pray for us!
Saint Ambrose, Pray for us!
Betsy Osterhaus Hand
Principal
Welcome to the 8th Grade Christmas Shop
Our 8th graders will be fundraising for their upcoming class trip by selling small gifts for students to purchase, decorate, and wrap for their family members.
K-5 classes will be attending Friday the 15th and Monday the 18th - Your classroom teacher will let you know which day your child is scheduled to attend.
Please see the list of fun Christmas themed gifts your child is able to purchase for their family members!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ky0zG1RbY1TBMZc6C9ujj3kKOw_4kXAhx7tH57YczE4/edit?usp=sharing
Please send a few dollars with your child if they are interested in purchasing these fun Christmas gifts.
Wild are hosting a Faith and Family NIght
Join us on February 27 for the Faith and Family Ticket Pack presented by He Gets Us as the Wild take on the Hurricanes. Ticket pack includes a pregame event with Minnesota Wild Chaplain Bill Butters and former Wild player Nate Prosser.
The game is on Tuesday, February 27th v. Carolina Hurricanes @ 7:00pm, and the exclusively priced ticket pack includes a special pregame event with Minnesota Wild Chaplain Bill Butters and former Wild player Nate Prosser.
Here is the link to purchase the ticket pack: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/wildfaithfamily2324?ref=KL
2024 Shine On Performing Arts Online Submission Window Opens Soon!
One big thing: Catholic School Center Of Excellence (CSCOE) is proud to partner with Lundstrum Performing Arts to celebrate the gifts of Catholic school students through Shine On!, our annual performing and visual arts talent competition.
Tell me more: Students in 4th-8th grade from all Catholic elementary schools in Minnesota are invited to enter the competition as performing or visual artists for a chance to participate in a live showcase and win cash prizes for themselves and grants for their schools.
- Go to www.shineontalent.org, which includes all of the information they will need to participate.
What's next: Performing Arts submission window opens on November 15, 2023! Visual Arts registration coming soon in January 2024!
December the virtue focus is on Jesus and all the gifts God has given us.
In December, we want to celebrate Advent by using the gifts God has given us to bring light and joy to other people's lives. We also want to notice the gifts inside each other.
Here is a link to an Advent calendar you could use at home to help your child celebrate Advent and the many blessings we have been given by God, with the greatest gift being Jesus.
This months as a school we will be learning more about the following people and celebrations:
Saint Nicholas - Feast Dec. 6th and grades 3-8 with celerbate the sacrament of Reconciliation
Saint Ambrose - Feast Dec. 7th
Feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Dec. 8th - Mass at 9:45
Saint Juan Diego - Feast Dec. 9th
December 25th - Nativity of the Lord
Updates/Reminders:
- If you are tardy for school (9:20 or after), please come to the North Entrance and check in at the school office. The South Side is locked at 9:20.
- During COVID, we didn't ask parents to sign students out of the office consistently. We have developed some bad habits, and need to get back to a safer sign-out process. If your child(ren) are leaving early, you need to come into the school and sign them out in the office. Thank you!
- School Emergency Closing Notifications -This school year we will continue to use our Sycamore System for text and email notifications for school closures and delays due to inclement weather. You may also check Kare 11 and WCCO for notification that District 833 is closed - if they are closed we will be closed. Make sure to update Sycamore with your current phone numbers and emails as soon as possible.
Upcoming Dates to Add to Your Calendar
- Monday, December 18th-Christmas Concert at 7:00 PM.
- Our last day of school in December is Tuesday, December 19 (Christmas break from Dec 20-January 2). School resumes Wednesday, January 3.
- There will be a used uniform sale in January. We are accepting donations now-drop off in the school office.
Peace of Mind - Jules Nolan November Parent Session
DECEMBER 12, 2023
Parenting in Unpredictable Times
REGISTRATION LINK
We are Looking for Help With a Few Things...
Volunteer Requirements
We look forward to welcoming volunteers to our campus this year. If you are new to Saint Ambrose and want to serve as a volunteer, please complete the following:
Essential 3 Requirements outlined on the parish website.
This needs to be updated every three years.
Lunchroom and Recess Help
If you are interested in helping with recess or lunchroom supervision please contact Janet Seidenkranz in our school office. 651-768-3000.
Reading Counts help:
Help check books in and out for students in grades K-2. Training provided.
For more details contact Beth Salmon at bsalmon@saintambroseschool.org. or 651-768-3087.
Enrichment Volunteers Needed - Art Adventure, Jr. Great Books, Jr Achievement
We are looking for volunteers for several programs this year.
Training is provided.
Find information about each below
- Art Adventure - Grades 1-5 - It will be held in the spring but training is provided in the winter so it is important to sign up in the fall.
- Jr. Achievement - K-8 and will be held in the spring
If you are interested in volunteering please contact Dianna Helmberger at 651-768-3078 or dhelmberger@saintambroseschool.org
Home and School Board:
Tiffani Morelli-President
Ashley Salvato-Vice President
Christine Nelson-Communications Coordinator
Tara Malley-Fundraising Coordinator
Katie Hatteberg-Secretary
Abby Summerfield-Treasurer
Heather Cange-Volunteer Coordinator
Believe and Read - Groves Literacy Partner
Defining the Science of Reading.
Groves Method is based on the science of reading. As defined by Timothy Shanahan on Reading Rockets, the science of reading includes “all the methods or approaches that have been found, through research, to give kids a learning advantage in reading.” Many popular teaching methods are not based in research and are simply theories that have not been shown to be effective. The science of reading shows that reading should be taught systematically through explicit instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Cognitive research supports the science of reading. Advances in technology have helped scientists better understand how children learn how to read.
Other Information
Artsonia
Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Parents and family can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork. Below is the link and the code for parents to connect so that they can have access to not only digital copies of their child's work, but also to the personalized art gift shop that helps raise funds for art materials.
Code
TWKCXF27
Link
https://www.artsonia.com/connect/TWKCXF27
Sycamore Communication Portal/App - click below to go to Sycamore Website
https://app.sycamoreschool.com/index.php
Please login to Sycamore to access the school calendar, lunch menu, and schedules/grades (JH only)
Handbook
Here is our student handbook for this school year:
Cold Weather Procedures
During the cold winter months, we ask that parents make a special effort to see that their children are dressed appropriately (i.e. hats, mittens, boots, etc.).
The children go outside for recess daily in the lower grades unless the air or wind chill temperature exceeds –10 degrees. During winter months, we sometimes receive requests to keep children inside during recess. Such requests are difficult to honor because classrooms are not under supervision during that time. Generally if a child is well enough to attend school they should be well enough to participate in recess.
We have found that a short period of outdoor activity is extremely important in order to refresh each child. The children then arrive back in their classrooms better prepared to resume their studies.
Mission and Philosophy
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.
Follow us on Social Media
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.