Weekly Newsletter
Immaculate Conception + St. Joseph School
February 29, 2024
Last Wednesday Father Diehm trained six new servers.
Mission Driven!
What sets the Bosco Catholic School System apart from other schools? We are MISSION DRIVEN to develop the WHOLE student! The BCSS Mission statement sums up the four areas that we focus on to develop the whole student but begins with the most important piece of the puzzle, FAMILIES.
The Bosco school experience is and should be a uniquely different educational experience. Bosco is MORE than just academics. It’s a learning culture centered around experiences that develop our students Spiritually, Academically, Physically, and Socially. We provide our students with multiple opportunities to grow in their faith, academics, physical well being, and social well being. We have high expectations for student engagement and behavior and bring those to life by building strong relationships between staff and students. Integrating faith and Leader in Me habits into all that we do lays a foundation for the development of the whole student, empowering each one to be the Light of Christ in the World.
As I said, the most important piece of our mission statement is “with support from families.” We sincerely thank each one of you for choosing the Bosco Catholic School system and supporting the mission!
MISSION STATEMENT
With support from families, we respect and encourage students to reach their potential
- Spiritually by developing a strong relationship with Jesus and knowledge of His church,
- Academically by igniting learning, leadership and life skills,
- Physically by learning about and living healthy habits and
- Socially by becoming active members of the community who serve others as stewards of the Gospel so they are the light of Christ in the world.
No Waterloo Busing
Please note there is no AFTERNOON Waterloo Busing March 1, the Bosco bus will still run in the afternoon. The transfer bus will still run from Bosco to St. Joseph.
Blood Drive
The Don Bosco National Honor Society will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, April 2 from 1:00-6:00 PM in the DB gym. Our schedule is already beginning to fill up, but we would love to fill all 75 donor slots. If you are interested in donating you can either call the school 319-296-1692 and leave a message for Ms. Mayer; or go here and enter 50634 for the zipcode to find our drive and schedule yourself; or reach out to one of our NHS kids: Sophia Barnett, Paige Corkery, Alexis Even, Andrew Kimball, Kaiden Knaack, Emily Naughton, Katey Schmit, or Cali Weber. Let us know what time you would like and we will get you on the schedule. We currently have open appointments every 15 minutes beginning at 2:30. The last appointment time is 5:45. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are preferred. Come be a part of this life-saving mission.
Spring Conference Sign Up
Dear Families,
The time is here for your student and his/her teacher to share with you about your student’s overall progress.
All students in grades Pk4-8 are required to participate in the conferences. Students, parents, and teachers should all participate in the conference.
K - 8 conferences will be:
3:00 - 7:00 PM on Monday, March 11
3:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 12
No classes March 13,14 & 15.
Preschool 4 year old conferences will be:
3:00 - 6:00 PM on Monday, March 11
4:00 - 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 12
No classes March 13, 14 & 15.
Parents will schedule conferences online with the Parent Teacher Conference (PTC) scheduler on our website. PK4-5 conferences will be scheduled in 15 minute increments. 6-8 and specials conferences will be scheduled in 10 minute increments. Instructions for scheduling conferences are below.
Conferences for grades PK4-5 should be scheduled with the student’s homeroom teacher. You may schedule additional conferences with specials teachers.
6-8 grade conferences:
If your student's last name starts with A - L, please schedule with Mrs. Zimmerman (Mr. Chicchelly will also be present). Last names starting with M - Z, please schedule with Mrs. Bergfeld (Mr. Armbruster will also be present). Middle school students only need one scheduled conference with Bergfeld/Armbruster or Zimmerman/Chicchelly. You are meeting with the pair of teachers you did not meet with in the fall. You can schedule separate conferences with Mr. Knepper or Mr. Kruse, if wanted.
(in Pk4-5 Conf. group; 15 min)
- Ms. Heather - (SJ Room 102)
- Mrs. Wellman - IC Room 104
- Mrs. Mangrich- IC Room 102
- Mrs. Short - IC Room 103
- Mrs. Rosauer - IC Room 106
- Mrs. Monaghan - IC Room 105
- Ms. Johnson - IC Room 206
- Mrs. Schroeder - IC Room 203
- Mrs. Olson - IC Room 205
- Mrs. Gutierrez - IC Room 204
- Mrs. Frick -IC Room 202
(in 6-12 Conf. group; 10 min)
- Mrs. Zimmerman & Mr. Chicchelly - DB Room 107
- Mrs. Bergfeld & Mr. Armbruster- DB Room 104
- Mr. Kruse - DB Room 203
- Mrs. Knepper - DB Band Room
- Ms. Carolus - DB Room 212
- Mr. Knepper - DB Room 205
- Mr. Mikita - DB Band Room
If you would like to schedule a conference with Mrs. Trueg, please email her at vtrueg@boscocatholic.org
The PTC scheduler will go live on our website Friday, February 23 at 7:00 AM. Please sign in and schedule your conferences. You may schedule conferences from February 23 at 7:00 AM until March 10 at Midnight. Anyone who does not schedule a conference time will be assigned a conference time. Please print or write down your conference schedule. You will not be able to go back to it after March 10 at Midnight.
PTC Registration Process for Parents/Guardians
To Start
• On our website click on Parent Resources then Parent Teacher Conferences.
This link will also take you to the registration/sign in screen.
- Sign In or new families - Sign Up
YOU ARE NOW AT THE PTC SCREEN
Signing Up for Parent-Teacher Conferences
PK4-5 conferences will be scheduled in 15-minute increments.
Grades 6-8 + specials will be scheduled in 10-minute increments.
Step 1: Choose the conference date and grade of students and you will be taken to a list of teachers.
Step 2: Select the teacher(s) you wish to conference with from the list or start typing the last name in the "Search Teacher" field.
Note: You can reserve time with up to eight teachers. You can register for additional teachers once you complete the current process.
Step 3: Enter the student's name.
Step 4: Click continue.
Step 5: Check the box next to the conference times(s) you wish to reserve.
Step 6: Click Update.
The timeframe/s you chose will be colored green. Watch your times, do not double book with two teachers at the same time.
At this point you may sign up for conferences for additional students in that same grade group by clicking on the “Teacher Selection” button at the bottom of the page.
To schedule a student in another grade group click your name next to “Signed in as” then the “Home” (house) button, then repeat step 1-6.
At the bottom of the screen you will see the confirmation of your conference registration. You will have the option to "click here to print" to get a copy of your Conference Registration Report.
If you have any questions about the process or have difficulty registering, either email icsecretary@boscocatholic.org or call Ms. Leohr at 296-1089 for assistance.
Print or write down your conference schedule.
From the Teachers Who Teach Specials..
Hello parents! With conferences right around the corner, we want to let you know that your child's specials teachers (PE, Art, Music, SEL, and Computer Science) would love to meet with you as well! Please consider signing up to meet with us to hear all the wonderful things happening during specials classes!
Please Note: Because Mr. Chicchelly is a middle school homeroom teacher this year, he will be unavailable for K-5 conferences this spring.
Mr. Chicchelly, Mrs. Carolus, Mrs. Knepper, Mrs. Thome, and Mrs. Becker
Nurse's Corner
March is National Nutrition Month. Here are some helpful tips to try this month.
Leader In Me Bingo
The habit for the month of February is #5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. How have you been living Habit #5 at home? Fill out your February Bingo card and return it to school by Mar. 1. Any card that has at least one Bingo will be in a drawing for a $25 gift card to Caseys.
We Need You!
Did you know that an AA, BA, or 60 hours of college coursework is all you need to take the substitute authorization course? In as few as five weeks you can complete the one required class! This class offers great tips for any one new to substituting, it offers tips on classroom management and helpful tips on how to navigate the lesson plans left by teachers.
Please share if you know anyone who might be interested in serving as a substitute at BCSS!
#204756 CR - Substitute Authorization
- Start Date: April 1, 2024
- End Date: May 5, 2024
- Cost $100
Fall Enrollment Now Open
Refer a Family
Do you know of a family that might be interested in St. Joseph Preschool, Immaculate Conception, or Don Bosco High School? Use our new referral form to let us know!
Incoming Kindergarten Events
Kindergarten Parent Information Meeting
Wednesday, March 6, 6-7 PM
Immaculate Conception Room 102
Child care provided
We'll cover a typical day, provide helpful information for the fall, answer questions, and explain Education Savings Accounts. This meeting is for those who have saved their child's spot as well as any who are undecided. Sign up here so we know to expect your family, speed up check in which starts at 5:45, and staff appropriately for child care in our ABC room.
Kindergarten Roundup
Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 AM-12:45 PM
Next years kindergartners will spend time in a kindergarten classroom, tour the campus, and eat lunch. Transportation provided from/to St. Joseph for our current preschoolers. Details and sign up
All grades! Please share our kindergarten event Facebook posts with your friends and include what you love about our school. Most people choose a Catholic school because someone tells them about it!
Youth Group Changes
There will not be youth group on Wednesday, March 6 or Wednesday, March 28. We will see you in April for pizza, faith and fun!
Sports Information
Softball season will be approaching soon! This is for girls currently in 1st-6th grade. League games will be played on Monday and Wednesday nights in May and June. Please complete the form within the link below if you would like your daughter to play softball this summer. Look for more information regarding parent and coaches' meetings in the future. If you have further questions, please reach out to Kindra Christensen 319.404.3431.
Wrestling Store
Congratulations to all wrestlers! It has been a fun year !
Grab your celebration gear today!
Erica- celebrating our first FEMALE state qualifier
This store will close on March 14
Dual & Traditional Team Champs - celebrating our 4th straight Dual and State Record 6x Traditional Championships
This store will close on March 27
Change in COVID-19 Isolation Recommendations
Iowa Health and Human Services has provided an update on the guidance for COVID-19 isolation recommendations. This can be found on the document included below, but can be summarized by saying that COVID-19 is now treated as any other respiratory illness. The recommendation for those with respiratory symptoms is to be excluded from school and child care settings until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducing medication AND respiratory symptoms are mild and improving.
The Child Illnesses And Exclusion Criteria for Education and Child Care Settings
Absences
BCSS has updated the form we utilize for planned absences. If a student has a planned absence this Absence Request Form should be completed and sent to school. All K-12 students will utilize the form to communicate with their teachers regarding their absence. Once signed by the teacher(s) the form should be turned in to the office.
Parish News and Information
Sat 4 PM, Sun 8 & 10 AM, M-W-F 7:45 AM
Sat 5:30 PM, Tue 6 PM, Thur 8 AM
IMPORTANT DATES
- March 11-12: No Waterloo Buses
- March 11-12: Parent Teacher Conferences
- March 13: No School PD Day
- March 14-15: No School
- March 17: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
- March 22-24: Bosco Musical
- March 24: Youth Choir 10 AM Mass
- March 27: Middle School Concert 1:50 PM
- March 28: Holy Thursday No School
- March 29: Good Friday No School
Preparing students to be the Light of Christ in the World!
Submit newsletter articles to icsjnewsletter@boscocatholic.org by 3 PM on Wednesdays.
Website: boscocatholic.org
Facebook boscocatholic.org
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 256, Gilbertville, IA 50634
Immaculate Conception K-8
311 16th Ave
Gilbertville, Iowa 50634
St Joseph Center PS/PK
6916 Lafayette Rd
Raymond, Iowa 50667