Parent Newsletter
All Saints Academy, St. Cloud Campus
March 17, 2022
New News!
Schulze Family Foundation Challenge Grant
We Need You to Help ASA Meet the Challenge!
All Saints Academy was approved for a $25,000 Schulze Foundation Challenge Grant. The “challenge” is All Saints Academy has to first raise $25,000 by March 31st to receive the matching grant. The grant and matching raised money will aid the school in its efforts in becoming a project-based, STEM school for the 21st century. Potential donors are being contacted and currently we have raised roughly $17,000. I now ask the parents of ASA to consider contributing to this challenge grant. As part of the challenge from the Schulze Foundation, the money raised has to be above and beyond what is normally donated to the school. This means if you typically have given ASA $100 over the last several years and you give $100 again this year, that will not count towards the challenge grant. You would need to increase your typical donation for it to count towards the challenge grant. So if you give $200 this year, then $100 can be counted towards the challenge grant. If you want to ensure ASA receives this challenge grant, you can donate on our website or Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/AllSaintsAcademyMN
Or you send a check to the school office made out to All Saints Academy and in the memo put Schulze Grant.
The funding from this grant will provide resources that allow faculty to develop the skills, knowledge and capacity to help ASA successfully implement its goal to become a project-based, STEM school while being provided the necessary resources. Teacher training will occur during the summer so the teachers can devote enough uninterrupted time to complete the necessary training.
Below is the accepted grant proposal:
Goal: All Saints Academy will provide project-based, STEM learning experiences for students to use 21st century resources to solve real world problems. Through these experiences, students will learn essential life skills of creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration that will contribute to the success of their academic and work careers. Our goal is to ensure that all students are prepared to successfully meet the challenges of project based, STEM related course work at the middle school and high school level and be inspired to pursue areas of STEM studies.
To achieve this goal, the faculty must be fully prepared to teach and implement project-based, STEM learning experiences. Successful implementation requires that faculty are adequately trained and given time to research project-based, STEM education. With this training, faculty will better understand what resources and curriculum are needed to successfully implement and sustain ASA a project-based, STEM school, and the school will then acquire the necessary resources and curriculum.
Phase 1: Minnesota State Science Standards
Objective 1: Faculty will receive training on Minnesota State Science Standards. The training will help them understand what is expected from each standard, create lesson plans that address the standards, and develop formative assessments that aid in students achieving the standards.
Objective 2: Faculty will research and identify curriculum and classroom resources for purchase that will best support their work in meeting the State Science Standards. These resources will be purchased for classroom use.
Phase 2: Integrating Technology and Cross-Curricular Instruction in the Classroom
Objective 3: Faculty will receive training on best practices on integrating technology in the classroom and effective strategies for teaching students how to utilize technology effectively to complete classroom assignments and projects.
Objective 4: Faculty will receive training and research best practices about project-based, cross-curricular instruction to maximize instructional time.
Phase 3: Engineering Design Process
Objective 5: Faculty will receive training on the engineering design process so they can integrate this process into their classrooms and lesson plans.
Objective 6: With a comprehensive understanding of tech integration, cross-curricular instruction and engineering design process, faculty will research and identify curriculum and classroom resources for purchase.
Measurable Outcomes of All Saints Academy’s Project Based, STEM School Initiative.
· Faculty knowledge of and confidence in teaching project based, STEM related curriculum components will increase as measured by a pre-training and post-training survey.
· Faculty will successfully design a variety of lesson plans that focus on science, the use of technology, and the application of engineering design in 90% of student contact days.
· At least 70% of the science, technology and engineering lessons will utilize hands-on, project based activities as demonstrated by weekly lesson plans.
· Each grade level will participate in two STEM focused field trips or special events organized in partnership with a local STEM focused business or community partner. Field trips will be followed up with student reflections, assessments, or projects depending on the type of field trip.
· Students, parents and faculty will report satisfaction with the project-based, STEM program and identify at least two beneficial impacts as measured by a survey conducted at the end of the 2022-2023 academic year.
· Marketing of All Saints Academy’s project-based, STEM program will create community excitement for the school and will result in enrollment stabilizing and increasing rather than declining as it has been for the past 15-20 years. In year one, the goal would be to stabilize enrollment and hopefully increase enrollment by 1%.
April Funzone Sign Up
April Funzone Sign Up will be open March 21 – 31. Currently ASA does not have a Funzone Director and is struggling to find staff to work Funzone. YOU MUST SIGN UP ON SCHOOL SPEAK WITHIN THE ALLOTTED TIME FRAME. Phone calls or emails asking us to sign up your child for the entire month will not be accepted. Due to staffing issues, we will not be able to add last minute sign ups either. Only Funzone orders placed on School Speak will be accepted.
Once you have signed up, you are also able to pay your Funzone bill on School Speak. Please make every effort to keep your account up-to-date in payment.
Ellie’s Army Shirts for Sale
We have received a limited amount of Ellie’s Army t-shirts and sweatshirts for sale. T-shirts & sweatshirts are all adult sizes, small – XXL, $10/t-shirt, $25/sweatshirt. If you are interested in purchasing a item please send money to the office and a shirt will be sent home with the appropriate child.
PAC Plant Sale Fundraiser
PAC is holding a plant sale fundraiser with Gertens. An email was sent out with the links to purchase baskets and plants. There is a flyer in this Thursday’s folder. Feel free to share the link with family and friends.
· 30% of plant sales & 15% of gift card sales will go directly to PAC to help support our students and school community.
Ordering Plants:
1. Go to www.gertensfundraising.com
2. Enter the Store ID code provided into the text field and click ‘Enter ID to Continue’.
Store ID code for All Saints Academy: 529
Site will close at 10 pm on Thursday April 7, no late orders will be accepted
Picking Up Plants:
Plants will be available for pick up at school on Thursday, May 12th from 2:45 – 5:30 pm. Plants will not be held overnight.
For questions, please contact Curtis Brown at 320-761-9097.
Save the Date
End of the Year ASA Carnival. May 26 from 2pm - 6pm.
Games, crafts, food, fun! All ASA families are invited.
Enrollment for 2022-2023 School Year
Below are the links for our new enrollment software. Please take the time to complete the forms online. If your child currently attends ASA, please use the returning student link. If you plan on enrolling a child who is new to ASA, please use the new student link. An application needs to be completed for all students.
Returning Student Reenrollment links:
All Saints Academy: https://payit.nelnet.net/form/e61IeKCs
New Student Application links for each school:
All Saints Academy: https://payit.nelnet.net/form/KTXAMkdR
Server Training
The parishes will be offering server training this spring. A flyer will be coming home with 3rd – 6th graders. If your child would like to become a mass server, please complete the form and return to school by Friday, March. 25th. After the school mass on Mar. 25th, Paula Gottwalt, St. Peter’s Church will be holding a short 15 minute informational session to talk to these students about serving at mass. Actual training will take place this spring.
Spring PAA Sports
Baseball (boys)/softball (girls) season is around the corner. If any 5 th or 6 th graders haven’t already signed up for baseball or softball, please make sure to do so. The form is available on School Speak under PAA or stop in the office. Cost is $35/sport. If you have previously signed up and paid for basketball, nothing is required at this time. If you have questions, please contact our PAA Director, Kaydee Stockinger, kaydee.610@gmail.com.
CHS Baseball Breakfast
The Cathedral Baseball All-You-Can-Eat breakfast will be Sunday, March 27th from 8 am – 12pm at CHS, 312 7th Ave N., St. Cloud. Use Door #26. All are invited to attend.
A flyer is attached to this email and the School Speak version of the newsletter. Please use the QR code to purchase tickets. Prices include $12/adult (13-60), $5/child (6-12), $10/senior (60+), 5 and under are free.
Cathedral Summer Camps
Registration for Cathedral Summer Camps is open! There are a variety of camps for those finishing up PreK-11th grade. Please view registration catalog and register online through this link: https://www.vancoevents.com/us/eventlist/chs?embed=1
Reminders
COVID Tests Available
ASA has received a shipment of Covid antigen tests. If you are in need of testing kits, please stop in the office and request a kit.
Tuition Report for Taxes
If you are in need of your 2021 tuition payments for taxes, the information is on TADS. Once you enter TADS, click on “Billing” on the left. There will be a link in blue “Household Paid Tuition Tax Report.” Click on it and you will get a pdf that you can download or print.
COVID Vaccine Cards
If your child has received both doses of a Covid vaccine, this information is part of their vaccination record. Please take a picture of your child’s Covid Vaccination Card and email it to either marissa.bristow@allsaintsmn.org or karl.terhaar@allsaintsmn.org . This information will be kept in your child’s cumulative file.
Close contact who are fully vaccinated or have tested positive for Covid-19 within the last 90 days do not need to quarantine but should monitor for symptoms and wear a mask. Please provide a positive Covid test result to school.
PreK – 6 th grade students are invited to join Ski Club , called the 6X Club. Skiing will take place Sunday afternoons at Powder Ridge beginning at 2 pm, Jan. 2 nd – Feb. 13 th (weather permitting.) For more info contact Patty Gramke, pattym24@yahoo.com , 651-226-5061.
Parking in Front of the School Building
ASA tries to be a good neighbor to the homeowners in the neighborhood and follow the rules of safety. There are several “No Parking” signs on the school side of the street. Immediately in front of the school, the school side of the street is reserved for bus loading and unloading of students during the school day, 7:30 am – 4:00 pm. Please do not park between the No Parking signs. In the morning, students can be dropped off in front of the church building or further south on 11 th Ave N.
Preschool Pick Up - Please remember when parking, your car cannot block driveways. Blocking any part of a private driveway will result in citations from St. Cloud parking police. During preschool drop off & pick up, do not block private driveways in the neighborhood. The school has fielded several complaints from homeowners.
The following information is from St. Cloud Parking Information & Enforcement.
Parking on Public Streets
Improper parking on public streets can lead to a citation. City ordinances prohibit stopping, standing and/or parking a vehicle in the following places:
o On a sidewalk.
o Within an intersection.
o In front of a public or private driveway including parking to encroach upon the radius of the driveway.
o Within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.
o On a crosswalk.
o Within 20 feet of a crosswalk.
o In front of or in any alley.
o Within 30 feet of a stop sign.
Please help us be good neighbors and continue to follow all of the safety rules
Keep Your Children Home if Sick
What you can do to help:
1. Keep your child home if he/she is sick even if you think it is just the common cold. COVID often manifests like the common cold.
2. Have your child tested if he/she is showing symptoms or if there is suspected exposure to COVID.
3. Socially distance as best you can.
4. If possible, wear a mask.
It is important that children stay in school, and we lessen the burden on our healthcare system so please do what you can to help.
This truly is a community effort to keep our kids healthy and in-person at school.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Drop Off Reminders
When dropping off or picking up in front, please park on the opposite side of the road. The front of the school is reserved for bus drop off and pick up.
PreK – 6th – Students may begin arriving at school beginning at 7:30 am. Back doors (Door #4) and front doors (Door #2) will have staff. School begins at 7:50 A.M . Students must be in the building by 7:50 A.M. If they arrive later than 7:50 am, they will be marked tardy. Please remind your child to sign in at the office so that we can have accurate attendance records and lunch counts.
Please have your child bring the following items to school everyday:
· Refillable water bottle
· Shoes for gym class
· Several cloth masks if your child wears a mask during the day
All of these items help us make the school day be a smoother day for your child.
Please keep your child home if he/she has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, has vomited or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours. Please watch for additional symptoms (shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, loss of taste or smell, body aches, nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, congestion, fatigue, headache.) Please refer to the Parent Handbook on School Speak regarding Illness, Injuries and Accidents . In addition, ASA has posted several Covid resources on School Speak. If your child will be absent, please contact the office to report them absent.
Student Absences or Late Students
Please call the office to report your child’s absence before 8 am . Also, transportation changes for your child should be made by calling the office before 10 am. It is difficult for us to make changes to the routine after 10 am and teachers do not have time to check email messages to make those changes throughout the day. If your child unexpectedly needs to attend FunZone, please call the office by 10 am.
Strings Program & Band Program
ASA would like to invite your child to consider playing a stringed instrument (grades 3-6) or a band instrument (grades 4-6.) ASA offers lessons at your child's school during the regular school day along with large group rehearsals and concerts. Please contact the office or Amanda Steichen for Strings, ( asteichen@cathedralcrusaders.org ) or Sean Jacobson for Band, ( sjacobson@catholiccommunityschools.org .)
What is School Speak?
School Speak is an online school management system. It is a secure portal that allows us to provide more information, communicate with parents and offer useful tools for everyone who is a member of our school community.
If you are new to All Saints Academy or have never logged onto School Speak, please call the office for an introductory email. The welcome email was sent to new parents earlier in July. Due to security issues, the email will only stay in your inbox for a few days. If you need the email resent, please call the office at 251-5295.
Individuals who have used School Speak in the past will not get an email. The username & password you had last year is still the same.
We would like all parents to login and update their profile by Sept. 15th.
2021-2022 Playground Supervision Program
Our goal is to have one volunteer parent to act as crossing guard on the playground every day to assist the school staff during the entire recess period. Recess will be 10:25 am – 12:25 pm.
Please contact the office to sign up for Playground Supervision. We need one parent (All-day Preschool - 6) everyday to assist the school staff during the entire recess/lunch period. There is a calendar in the office for your convenience or you can call Mrs. Bristow to sign up
All families need to volunteer for recess supervision 2-3 times this year for the safety of the children. (Parents of half-day preschoolers are not required to volunteer as their children do not participate in lunch recess time.) If you find your schedule doesn’t allow you to volunteer for Recess Duty, you may opt out by paying $50. (Separate charge from Volunteer Requirement. Recess hours are applied to the 15-hours/year of volunteering.) These funds are used to defray the cost of additional paid recess staff. At the end of the school year, families will be charged $50 if they haven’t volunteered for recess.
ASA Parent Activity Committee (PAC) Corner
Hello ASA parents! Let's get to know each other! We encourage all interested parents to join PAC – especially if you are new to the community. It’s a GREAT way to meet other ASA families and get connected, and it’s a lot of fun, too!
March 2022 PAC Meeting – Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at 6:30 pm. Click here to join the meeting!
(Normally, PAC meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 6:30 PM at school.)
CALLS TO ACTION:
· Join the ASA PAC Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1078832182165102/
Questions? Email us at pac@allsaintsmn.org .
Aubrey Brown, ASA PAC Co-President
Nicole Cox, ASA PAC Co-President
Karin Loch, ASA PAC Vice President
Lindsay Kephart, ASA PAC Treasurer
Katie Schad, ASA PAC Secretary
******************************
What is PAC?
PAC is made up of ASA parents, and it is an integral part of the ASA community. Our mission is to facilitate and support the development of a Christ-centered environment through connections between home and school. Our vision is to support the growth and development of our youth through fundraisers, volunteerism, and family activities. We also facilitate staff appreciation efforts, parent development opportunities and activities inside and outside of the classroom for our children.
REMIND!
We encourage parents/guardians to sign up for REMIND - a safe, free and easy way we can communicate with parents instantly through texting.
To sign up, text ASA Administrative Assistant Mrs. Marissa Bristow at 612-260-4578 and in the message enter @ef392 .
It is that easy. You will be added to the parent list . If you have signed up in the past, it is not necessary to sign up again.
Thank you for helping to keep our school safe for all of our students.
New recess times include 10:30 – 11:45 am, daily.
Playground Duty – Week of Mar. 21 – Apr. 1
3/21 - Need one volunteer
3/22 – Siergiej
3/23 – Need one volunteer
3/24 – Kayser (Weinzetl)
3/25 – Pinkman
3/28 - Need one volunteer
3/29 – Pichotta
3/30 – Peterson
3/31 – Kayser
4/1 - Need one volunteer
Keep Collecting!
It all adds up! Continue to save the following labels:
Country Hearth and Village Hearth Products (UPCs)
Pop and can tabs
BULLETIN BOARD
The Al Newman Baseball Camp is currently open for enrollment. Camp dates are Sat., May 14 th & 21 st at Schneider Field, 33 2 nd Ave NW, St. Joseph, MN. Cost is $40/player. For more info, please see the attachment to the newsletter email as well as the School Speak Newsletter. Click Here to register your child.
Due to supply issues, a few menu items are back ordered. ASA will make every effort to update the menu as soon as we know. Please be aware that last minute menu changes may occur.
Please remember that we are a Nut-Safe building . All snacks and lunches need to be peanut-free and nut-free. There is a safe-snack list on School Speak under Announcements. NOTE: Since ingredients change this list may be updated from time to time – we ask that parents check this list before purchasing snacks throughout the year.
Did you know? Childhood allergic reactions are most likely to happen at school and 50% of reactions were previously unknown to the parents or child.
Parents, it is not too late to send in applications for free and/or reduced hot lunches . You can pick up an application at the office. If you have questions regarding this program, please contact Mrs. Bristow at 251-5295 or marissa.bristow@allsaintsmn.org.
Upcoming Dates
Mar. 24: Reconciliation, 9:30 am, grades 2/3/4
Mar. 31: Reconciliation, 9:30 am, grades 5/6
Apr. 8: Fish Fry at St. Joseph Catholic School
Apr. 14: Seder Meal
Apr. 15 – 18: Easter Break, No School for students or staff
May 2: Dist. 742 not in session, No bussing available all day
May 30: Memorial Day, No School for students or staff
Jun 1: 5th & 6th grade Graduation Mass
Jun 2: Last Day of School for Preschool – 4th grade
Jun 3: Professional Development Day for Licensed staff, progress reports mailed
Our Mission
… is to deliver an academically excellent, Catholic education that develops the whole person and inspires a Christ-centered life in a global community.
Our Vision
All Saints Academy creates and nurtures an environment which supports
students, educators and community in realizing their God given gifts, reaching their full potential and developing their life-long relationship with Christ.
This parent weekly update is published each Thursday school is in session. Anyone with questions, comments or articles they wish to be considered for inclusion should send an email to Marissa Bristow at marissa.bristow@allsaintsmn.org no later than Monday, 3 PM for that week’s update or drop it off at school.
No comments:
Post a Comment