January 21, 2016 Newsletter St. Stephen s Catholic School is a caring Christian community that nourishes spiritual development and academic excellence. 506 Jackson Street / Anoka / Minnesota 55303 / tel: 763-421-3236 / fax: 763-712-7433 / web: www.ststephenschool.org From the desk of Mrs. Gus... This is the year of self-study in preparation for our MNSAA accreditation visit next winter. The teachers have been analyzing compliance with MNSAA standards by collecting evidence, reflecting and writing a narrative of how the school meets, does not yet meet, or plans to meet each criteria of the Associations accreditation standards. We have designed several short stakeholder satisfaction surveys that are related to MNSAA accreditation standards and will use the information gathered to craft an Executive Summary for the School Profile. Each week we will email you a link to a short survey. When you have a few minutes, please answer the online questions. We have 6 short surveys for you. Mission and Philosophy: January 21-27 Academic Excellence: January 28 February 3 Learning Environment: February 4 February 10 Before and After Care: February 11 February 17 School Lunch Program: February 18 February 24 Overall Experience: February 25 March 2 The next step will be to identify Strengths and Challenges for the future. We will use the evidence found in the standards narrations, the stakeholder survey, and conversations with the school community to identify the school s existing strengths and identify challenges for the future. Fr. Jack Long Pastor Mrs. Rebecca Gustafson Principal Ms. Lindsay O Keefe School Counselor School Office 421-3236 Heidi Staggert 712-7473 Jake Widmyer 712-7427 Absence Line 712-7467 District Health Nurse 763-506-1504 Kitchen 712-7460 BASE 712-7453 BASE (cell) 612-418-7010* *After Hours Emergency
PRESCHOOL/ELEMENTARY TEACHERS Mrs. Kristy LIeder Pre-School Ms. Nicole Fiedler Kindergarten Mrs. Tiffany McCaffrey Kindergarten Ms. Ashley Julkowski First Grade Mrs. Mary Kay Tyminski First Grade Miss Katherine Furness Second Grade Mrs. Melissa Burke Second Grade Mrs. Marileen Diederichs Third Grade Mrs. Betty Kowalski Third Grade Miss Jenni Rice Fourth Grade Mrs. Susie Toenjes Fourth Grade Mrs. Ashley Widmyer Fifth Grade Mrs. Kim Taggart Fifth Grade MIDDLE SCHOOL/ SPECIALIST TEACHERS Mrs. Lynelle Kocher Sixth Grade Advisor/Art Sr. Matt Robinson Sixth Grade Advisor/Spanish Mr. Matthew Mahoney Sixth Grade Advisor/ Media/Technology Ms. Heather Douglas Sixth Grade Advisor/Music Mrs. Kelly Bundy Seventh Grade Advisor/Math Mr. Scotty Osborn Seventh Grade Advisor/Social Studies Mr. Kurt Werk Seventh Grade Advisor/P.E./A.D. Mrs. Jen Thamert Eighth Grade Advisor/Science Mrs. Shelley Lysdahl Eighth Grade Advisor/Literature Ms. Hannah Berchem Eighth Grade Advisor/Religion Social Studies News By Mr. Osborn, 7th Grade Advisor, Social Studies Teacher Register for S.A.F.E. classes NOW We are offering : Lego s, Fencing, Artist Academy, Junior Basketball and Yoga for Teens The registration link is below please make sure you P a g e 2 President Annie and the Boston T Party have been hard at work fulfilling their campaign promises and making new laws in the Social Studies classroom. The entire Middle School is a part of the process and is learning about the process of how a bill becomes a law. The 8 th grade serves as the Senate and the 6 th and 7 th grade serve as the House of Representatives. Each bill has to be passed by over 50% in both the Senate and House of Representatives before President Annie can sign it into law. One of the 1 st laws the Boston T Party proposed and ended up passing was to change up the back bulletin board from a Packers theme to a Minnesota and Christmas theme. It was a sad day for me! At least they were kind enough to let me keep my Packer decorations around my desk. The other law that was passed changed how the tables are arranged in the room. It will be interesting to see what other bills might become law later in the year! Hopefully none of them need to be ruled Un-schooltional by the Supreme Court. PAY and REGISTER to ensure your child s participation in the class! They fill quickly, so don t delay, register today! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/safewinter16
P a g e 3 Do you still need to complete a Virtus Training? We are offering sessions at The Church of St. Stephen s in FCC 10 6:30 9:30 PM on the following dates: Tuesday, February 16 Monday, April 18 Wednesday, June 8 Please call the church office if you have questions 763-421-2471, or log on to www.virtus.org. It s cold outside! Do your students have all their snow clothes with them each day? We are seeing an abundance of children outside in the morning and afternoon without proper snow attire. Please make sure your child comes to school with hat, mittens, snow pants and boots! Students will call home if snow clothing is forgotten.
P a g e 4 Don t forget to order your yearbook! Forms available in the office. Remember to turn in your wooden blocks to Mrs. Kocher ASAP! B.efore & A.fter S.chool E.nrichment B.A.S.E. Voice Mail: 763-712-7453 Week of: January 25 Morning Afternoon Monday Gym Color Pages January coloring contest winners TBA. Tuesday Gym Fusion Beading Wednesday Gym Trace A Friend Thursday Gym Mad Libs Friday Gym Paint Blobs
What s New at Recess & Lunch! P a g e 5 Thank you for sending warm winter gear to school every day! Hat, mittens, snow pants, boots, and a warm coat. Volunteer in January! You ll be entered in a weekly drawing for $10 Book Fair Vouchers, redeemable during Catholic Schools Week Congratulations to TIM BACHMAN, last week s winner of a $10 voucher. Thank you for helping with recess & lunch! EXTRA help needed during Catholic Schools Week. http://ststephenschool.org/get-involved/volunteer-postings/
P a g e 6 Congratulations to the Boys B Basketball team for taking 3 rd place this past weekend in the NSPSL Conference Championships. Thank you parents, fans and coaches for doing a great job! Good luck to the Varsity Boys Basketball team this weekend as they start their tournament tonight at St. Alphonsus at 7:30 PM against Providence. Tonight at home the B-team and the Girls Varsity will be having their season opener starting at 6:00 for the B-Team and 7:00 for the Varsity! Best of luck girls!! One week from today the Wrestling team will be hosting their first match of the season Jan. 28 th vs. Epiphany Match starts 5:30 PM! Go ANGELS!!!!! Kurt Werk, HPE/ Athletic Director St. Stephen Catholic School / 763.712.7465
Sunday, January 31 Catholic Schools Week Open House Scholastic Book Fair Opens Check out your child/ren s classrooms Monday, February 1 Parent Lunch Second and Fifth Grade Western Day wear your boots and saddle up! Tuesday, February 2 Parent Lunch First and 4th Grade Decade Day Dress from your favorite decade, 50 s, 60 s, 70 s make this day special! Bingo Night for families in the school gym 6:00-7:30 Book fair open Wednesday, February 3 Mass/slippers after mass Parent Lunch Kindergarten, Third, and Middle School grades Buffalo Wild Wings fundraiser dinner Thursday, February 4 ALL SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS! Culver s Night fundraiser Friday, February 5th Color Day Each class chooses a color to wear that day Pep Fest! Volleyball/Basketball