Saint Ambrose School News

Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,

We welcomed warmer temperatures this week! I am grateful for our recess supervisors who navigate weather, friendship challenges, conflict resolution skills and nurturing each day. We appreciate you! We could use some help on Tuesdays and Thursdays outside . Contact Janet in the school office if you are interested in helping.

Teachers will meet early on Tuesday morning (with breakfast! Thank you Chef Paul) to discuss "Standard 2" for our MNSAA Accreditation self study. Standard 2-"Curriculum and Instruction" is the largest and most comprehensive part of the self-study. The teachers are working hard to complete this work, and I'm pleased with our progress thus far. We will begin identifying our areas of focus for our strategic plan with the help of the parent survey results. We will communicate a summary of these survey results to parents before spring break. Next fall, an outside team will spend a few days at our school to complete the accreditation visit.

Book Fair

Thank you to our wonderful co-chairs of the Book Fair, Kate Niemiec and Molly Wolterstorff along with all those who helped by volunteering their time; the list is long. This is a large undertaking and requires lots of planning and hours of work. On-line shopping will continue until February 14. Thank you to everyone!

Applying for Financial Aid for the 2023-2024 School Year?

Tuition assistance applications must be completed no later than March 15. Our Financial Aid Committee will consider all applications and make recommendations to us regarding the distribution of our financial aid dollars. We will make every effort to work with families so Saint Ambrose School is open to all. However, our assistance funds are limited, and we may not have funds available for those who do not apply by the deadline. Applications can be submitted online at www.tuitionaid.com. When you apply, mark the “Aim Higher Scholarship” and the “CSAF Scholarship” as those are two opportunities for our school to receive funding to support families in need.

Out of Uniform for $1 on Tuesday, February 14

Next week we are out of uniform on Tuesday (see the info below), and we do not have school on Friday, February 17 or Monday, February 20.

Mystery Reader - Have you heard your child mention "Mystery Reader?" Mystery reader

On Wednesday mornings in February, we have a mystery reader share a snippet of a story over the loudspeakers. Students then guess who they think it was and enter into a drawing! Last week it was Mrs. Gallagher and this week was Ms. Schneider!

Our school Mass on Wednesday celebrated the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita. Father Peter encouraged us to forgive others and to accept forgiveness as St. Josephine did.

St. Josephine Bakhita, you were sold into slavery as a child and endured untold hardship and suffering. Once liberated from your physical enslavement, you found true redemption in your encounter with Christ and his Church.

O St. Bakhita, assist all those who are trapped in a state of slavery; Intercede with God on their behalf so that they will be released from their chains of captivity.

Those whom man enslaves, let God set free. Provide comfort to survivors of slavery and let them look to you as an example of hope and faith.

Help all survivors find healing from their wounds. We ask for your prayers and intercessions for those enslaved among us. Amen.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/prayer-st-josephine-bakhita

Betsy Osterhaus Hand

Principal

“Stress, Anxiety, Perfectionism and Motivation” — February 23, 7 p.m.

Parenting children with educational and behavioral differences can be rewarding AND challenging. Even children who are gifted and talented present special challenges in parenting. In this session we will discuss parenting children who have diverse needs because of educational, behavioral, and mental health challenges, as well as those who may need more enrichment.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Extreme Faith Camp is back again this summer! Bri St. Amour visited the 6th-8th grade religion classes this week to share about camp with the middle schoolers, and wanted to get information to you as well!

EFC is an opportunity for middle school teens to encounter Jesus, deepen their relationship with Him, and grow in fellowship with their friends and have a ton of fun! Camp is well-attended and well received every year, and we hope your son or daughter can come with us this summer! Registration is first come, first serve, and we consistently have a waitlist each year, so if you are interested please return your form and deposit as soon as possible!

Extreme Faith Camp 2023
Who: Any student currently in grades 6-8
Where: Camp Victory, Zumbro Falls, MN
When: June 26th-30th (depart Saint Ambrose by bus Monday morning, return by bus Friday mid-afternoon)
How Much: $475 per camper, $100 non-refundable deposit to hold your spot, final payments due at a later date

Please contact Bri St. Amour at bstamour@saintambrosecatholic.org with any questions!

We offer a summer enrichment program for students entering kindergarten through grade six. There are a variety of classes in a wide range of topics including STEM, computer programming/coding, mathematics, science, reading, cooking, art, lego, computer games and much more. This is considered an enrichment experience and students find it fun and exciting to explore topics and subjects that may not be a part of a typical curriculum.

Courses will be offered Monday through Friday from July 17-21st. Students may take from one to three courses. All courses will be 1.5 hours in length. Lunch will be provided.

If you are interested in having your child participate in the opportunity please save the dates of July 17-21st.

More information about registration and specific classes will be sent out in mid-February.

Links -

Spring Fiesta Sign Up:https://forms.gle/vNJUKQwC1cr3iR5e6

We will be checking uniforms, thank you for your support and partnership in keep students uniforms in code. Please refer to our school guidelines

Here is a visual if you need to reference uniform expectations.

As a reminder:

We will enforce the uniform policy, which states that girl's skirts will be within 2 inches of the knee and that boy's hair must be conservatively styled, well-groomed, and neat. Boys’ hair must be above the collar, the ear, and the eyebrows. Hair may not be able to touch eyebrows whether styled or not. No unconventional coloring or haircuts are allowed. Hair accessories must be solid black, solid white, solid navy, or uniform plaid.

Additional Requirements:

Shoes: Must have non-scuff soles and must be close-toed. No sandals, clogs, moccasins or platforms. Tops of shoes must be ankle-height or lower. Heels must be no higher than 1½ inches. Shoes must be solid black, solid white, or black and white. No other colors are permitted. Shoelaces must be the same color as shoes. Shoe style must be conservative.

Shirts: Must be worn under sweatshirts or sweaters. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Only the top button may be left unbuttoned. All cuffs must be buttoned.

Hair: Must be conservatively styled, well-groomed, and neat. Boys’ hair must be above the collar, above the ear, and above the eyebrows. Hair may not be able to touch eyebrows whether styled or not. No unconventional coloring or haircuts are allowed Hair accessories must be solid black, solid white, solid navy, or uniform plaid.

Jewelry: Must be simple and conservative if worn. No unconventional jewelry is allowed. No dangling earrings for girls and no earrings for boys.

Hello All,

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

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.

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.

Volunteer Requirements

We look forward to welcoming volunteers to our campus again this year. If you are new to Saint Ambrose and want to volunteer, please complete the Essential 3 Requirements outlined on the parish website. Volunteers are required to re-credential every 3 years. You will be alerted by the Archdiocese if you need to re-credential. Thank you for your compliance.

Please reference the school calendar .

Feb 14 - Out of Uniform - bring a $1.00 to help fund Saint Ambrose Athletic Departments - Dress in Pink, White or Red.

Feb 17th - 20th - No School for Students

February is I Love to Read Month!

Here are some ideas on ways you could celebrate at home:

1.) Visit a local bookstore - You don’t need to buy anything. Just show your kid how exciting it is to explore new books in the bookshop.

2.) Read aloud to your child before school - get the day off to a great start with a funny book or a feel-good story!

3.) Let your child see you read - demonstrate that you see reading is worth your time.

4.) Place books throughout your home - you could even have a special place for books that are new or connected to a special occasion like Valentine's Day.

5.) Listen to an audiobook when you are driving in the car.

6.) Donate used books - let them share their love of books with others.

Sycamore Communication Portal/App - click below to go to Sycamore Website

https://app.sycamoreschool.com/index.php

Sycamore Help Guide

Sycamore Parent Checklist

Please login to Sycamore to access the school calendar, lunch menu, and schedules/grades (JH only)

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.

February Lunch Menu

School Calendar 2022-2023

School Supply List for 2022-2023

School Website

School Facebook Page

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.