St. Teresa Tidbits
March 10, 2023
Communal Penance
Father Huber is listening to student confessions after Mass throughout Lent. We appreciate the extra time Father has given us for this sacrament.
ISASP testing- March 20-24
Iowa Assessment time is here! The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress or ISASP will begin March 20 through March 24 in grades 3-8 for our St Teresa students. They will be assessed in the areas of reading, writing, language, and math. Only 5th and 8th grades complete the science portion of the tests.
What you can do to help your student prepare...
- Talk about how important they are, and that it is important we do our best.
- Good night sleep throughout the week.
- Drink lots of water.
- Balanced evening meal.
- Encourage breakfast.
- Time outside to get fresh air and sunshine.
- Encouragement and prayer!
Education Savings Accounts
Year 1 (2023-2024)
- ALL kindergarten students
- All public school students
- Private school students at or below 300% Federal Poverty Level. ($83,250 for a family of four)
Year 2 (2024-2025)
- ALL kindergarten students
- All public school students
- Private school students at or below 400% FPL ($111,000 for a family of four)
Year 3 (2025-2026)
- ALL K-12 students in Iowa (Regardless of Income)
What is a Student Tuition Organization (STO)?
A School Tuition Organization (STO) is a charitable organization that receives voluntary cash contributions from Iowa taxpayers and allocates those funds in tuition grants to Iowa school children, who use those grants to attend one of the accredited non-public schools represented by the STO. At least ninety percent (90%) of the money received by an STO must go back out in tuition grants.
Who is eligible to receive these tuition grants?
- K-12 students who reside in Iowa and whose household’s taxable income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty rate are eligible for STO grants. STO grants are not available for preschool students.
How does the STO program benefit families in Iowa?
The tuition grants created by the STO program will give a choice to those families who may have otherwise been unable to afford a non-public school.
What is the Educational Opportunities Act?
This act, passed by the Iowa Legislature in 2006, allows Iowa taxpayers to receive a tax credit equal to seventy-five percent (75%) of the total amount of voluntary cash contributions made to a School Tuition Organization.
Love Week
Our students finished another very successful fundraiser. “Love Week” is an annual event that goes on for a couple of weeks around Valentine’s Day. It is a fundraiser that students and teachers greatly look forward to each year! Our Disciples in Training students volunteer their time first thing in the morning or at the end of the day to sell a variety of items. Children PreK through 8th grade can participate. This year there were chocolate roses, lollipops, erasers, Jesus loves you stuffies, and temporary Valentine's tattoos for sale. Students love to come shop and get gifts for their loved ones as well as a treat or two for themselves. The highlight of “Love Week” is the annual teacher lunch with student drawings. This is where any teachers and staff at St. Teresa can donate their time and money to take a student and a friend to lunch during the last few months of school. There is a box marked with the teacher’s name at both the Ossian and Spillville schools. For 25¢ students can fill out a slip with their name on it that then goes into that teacher’s drawing. Students can buy as many chances as they want to. This year 30 teachers and staff participated. Everyone greatly looks forward to seeing whose name will get drawn for the lunches. The teachers and staff allow the student to choose where they would like to go for a local lunch or what they would like the teacher to bring in. Amazing connections are made between the students and teachers during their lunch excursions. It is another way that the teachers and staff go above and beyond to create positive school memories for the students here at St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic School.
This year “Love Week” brought in an incredible net profit of $725.63 which will be donated to the UNI Dance Marathon. The money raised from the marathon will go to support children with life-threatening illnesses that are being treated at the University of Iowa Stead Family’s Children's Hospital. This phenomenal donation could not happen if it were not for the generosity of our teachers, staff, students, and their families. In the words of 1 John 4:19, “We love because he first loved us.”
Market Mania
Congratulations to Week #7 of Market Mania winners! All winners may choose from a check or SCRIP cards for the value of $25.00. Winners are: Jess Wenthold, William Welch, Tony Schuchhardt, Ryan Wenthold, Chuck Brinks and Vicky Svendsen.
Week #6 winner was Amy Taylor $25
Clorax Wipes and Kleenex
CDA winners
Congratulations to the Catholic Daughters Contest winners! The winners for the following Division II categories winners are:
Computer Art - 1st Annalise Bullerman and 2nd Braylon Holthaus
Essay - 1st Annie Hageman
Art - 1st Jena Peters, 2nd Grace Jansen, 3rd Raymond Zweibohmer, with Honorable Mention going to Bailey Kuennen
Poetry - 1st Evan Taylor, 2nd Parker Kuennen, 3rd Arely Macario, with Honorable Mention going to Avery Busch
Photography: 1st Clara Kriener, 2nd Bailey Kuennen, 3rd Charlotte Hageman, with Honorable Mention going to Jayden Timp.
Division I winners are:
Computer Art - 1st Makenzie Dahl, 2nd Avery Einck, 3rd Avery Peters, with Honorable Mention going to Izzy Gehling
Essay - 1st Avery Peters, 2nd Kendra Bushman
Art - 1st Alayna Streeter, 2nd Peyton Elsbernd, 3rd Bentley Kuennen
Poetry - 1st Sophia Welch, 2nd Brinley Lechtenberg, 3rd Nora Busch, with Honorable Mention going to Avery Einck.
Science Fair
It was a successful day at the NICC science fair competition hosted by Keystone AEA! Students did a fantastic job of presenting their projects!
Congratulations to the following:
First place: Violet and Lia
Second place: Helen and Emmy
Third place: Landon and Gavin
Third place: Matthew and Jena
Honorable Mentions: Myles, Cameron, Jordan, Kashten, and Bailey
Upcoming Events
Mar 13 Professional development day- No School
Mar 14 5-8 Scoliosis screening
Mar 14. School Board Meeting - 7:00 pm @ St. Al’s
Mar 17 St. Al’s Fish Fry
Mar 20-25 ISASP Testing Week
Mar 24 Celebration of Promise online auction begins
Mar 26 First Communion Retreat - Calmar
Email: kkriener@st-teresa.pvt.k12.ia.us
Website: www.st-teresa.pvt.k12.ia.us
Location: 414 East Main Street, Ossian, IA, USA
Phone: 563-419-4354