Saints School News
Weekly Office News – November 21, 2022
Saint Wenceslaus Catholic School Office Update
From the Office of the Principal:
Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Friends of SWS;
Things around the school are going to be changing this week as we get ready for the Advent season. One of our favorite projects is the creation of our manger by the students. Each grade level will use their STEM skills to create a part of the stable with all the animals, angels, straw bedding, trees, stars, and people. We will add one or two nativity characters each day until our scene is filled. This gives our kids a close-up look at each piece as they anticipate being called to the scene each day during the morning announcements.
Other activities include daily prayer around a classroom Advent wreath, a weekly all-school Advent prayer service, creating a symbolic ornament that will decorate our indoor trees, and family group activities focused on the season. Our weekly Gospels are also studied in class as part of our religion curriculum, and the students will have a chance for reconciliation and adoration.
This is a rich time in our Catholic school. The coming of Christ is understandable and exciting for our students, so it is a favorite time to be immersed in our faith.
Peace,
Kim Doyle
Principal
For PreK Families – only
Be sure to turn in your registration forms for our kindergarten program.
Registration fee waived until November 23rd.
Sick?
Please be sure to tell the school the symptoms of the illness as you are calling in. We have had many students ill in the last few weeks, and we need to report our numbers to the health department.
If your child has the flu or covid diagnosis, let us know. If they have a fever, sore throat, or cough, let us know this too. An entirely different flu might be one with vomit and diarrhea.
We appreciate your good communication with sick children.
Coffee and Donuts
Come to Mass this week, November 23 and then join other parents for coffee in the cafeteria. This is a great time to meet other parents. New parents are especially encouraged to join us.
Students will be sitting in their Family Groups (This is a combination of kids from grades 8 through kindergarten) Students in Grade 1 will be singing.
Did you get your envelope with tickets for our Sweepstakes and our Pot-o-Gold?
The Sweepstakes is required.
$300 worth ($100 for preschool) of tickets to sell.
We are giving these to you early so that you have plenty of time before the drawing, which takes place on February 1.
More tickets are available in the school office.
Pot-o-Gold is a raffle for our $20,000 prize.
This year each family received one ticket to buy or sell.
The drawing is in June.
We have 650 to sell in total. We need people to try selling more to meet our goal.
Call or stop in at the school office.
Correct snow clothing for your child?
Now with the cold and snowy weather, please make sure all students have the proper clothing.
Hats, mittens/gloves, coats, snow pants, boots, scarf/face mask when the temperature is cold.
Preschool through grade 7 will be going outside for recess every day. (Grade 7 has study hall options, and 8th grade has extended time for math class)
We will go outside when the temperature is above zero, and we watch the windchill too, and usually go outside if the windchill is above zero in combination with the temperature. Our playground supervisors and office staff will also make a decision on indoor/outdoor recess on a day-by-day basis, depending on the wind level on the playground and temp/windchill.
Food Drive Collection
954 pounds of food was collected this year.
Thanks SWS for your generosity!
Living Nativity – December 2
This is going to be so exciting. What a great way to showcase our parish and our school. There will be a Living Nativity on our property on the night of the New Prague Parade of Lights – Friday, December 2.
See the Flyer about this event.
Living Nativity adult helpers
We are looking for people
1. to come dressed in parts of the Nativityaand be part of “the scene”.
2. to help with some set up/clean up.
3. to do a few other jobs during the event
Click to volunteer to help
Adopt a Family for Christmas Gifts
This program helps the needy of LeSeuer County with Christmas. Click here to read more.
(Shopping must be completed by December 4)
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c45abae2ca7f49-adopt
Aim Higher Grants
Applications for the Aim Higher Grant opens tomorrow, on November 1st. Families with financial need can apply for a $1000 tuition grant for the 23-24 school year.
The application is open from November 1 to February 22.
Click here for more details.
PreK Early Learning Scholarship
This wonderful opportunity for children who will be in our PreK program. The Schultz Family Scholarship supports families with young children to attend the approved Catholic preschool programs.
The application is open from November 1 and remains open until the money runs out.
It takes only a few minutes to complete. Most families receive between $500 to $1500 for preschool tuition.
Click here for more details.
Santa Secret Shop
This is a special shopping time for the students. We will be setting up a gift shop. Kids can purchase gifts for their family members and get the gifts wrapped and labeled to go under your Christmas tree. This will take place on December 8th and 9th. Watch for more information.
From the School Advisory Council
We know that families are busy and sometimes it helps to have new ideas to incorporate more of the faith into your family life.
For the Love of Family
This week’s challenge:
Begin your day with thanks and praise. Start your day, before you open your eyes or roll out of bed, with a few thoughts of how grateful you are for the opportunity to try your best another day. Thank God for your abundant blessings, thinking of one or two things that will make you smile. Do this before any anxiousness of a to-do list or heaviness creeps into your mind. Try this for a bright start to your day and encourage others in your family to do the same!
Looking Ahead for Club House in December
Club House will be open for only 3 days during our Christmas Break. These days are Dec. 27, 28, and 29.
We will be closed for the rest of the break days to let our staff have some needed time off for their own families.
Toddler Tuesdays
Every Tuesday (On days when school is in session)
8:00 AM -10:00 AM – For Toddlers and their parents
Morning Car Drop off
Please drop off your children between 7:10 and 7:30. We will be locking the door at 7:30. If you come late, please drop off on Columbus and walk your child to the front door of the school to get buzzed in.
Virtus Account Set-up
To volunteer in the school, the following steps must be followed:
Make a username and password.
The 1st time will take at least 1.5 hours. After the first time that you are approved then, you will have short sessions each year to update the account.
4. Watch 14/15 short videos. You will be given a pre-video question, then allowed to watch the video, followed by a post-video question. You must watch all videos and sign and date after each question in the video section.
5. Do the background check (McDowell Agency) will ask questions of you, including your social security number.
C. – Fill out a 123B form by hand and bring that to the school office. Click here to download the 123B form
You will then complete your part, and your background check will be processed.
November
Wed. Nov. 23 – School Mass (Gr. 1 plans)
Thurs., Nov. 24 – Thanksgiving – No School/No Club House
Fri., Nov. 25 – School/No Club House
Sun., Nov 27 – Advent begins
Mon., Nov. 28- Long Lake trip meeting for grade 5 and 6 parents/kids – 6:30 PM
Tues., Nov. 29 – Starry Night meeting/seminar 6:30-8:30 PM
Wed., Nov. 30 – School Mass 8:00 (Gr. 7 plans)
December
Thurs., Dec. 1 -Gr. 2-4 Field Trip
Fri., Dec 2 – Living Nativity 5:00 -6:30 PM
Parade of Lights at 6:30 PM.
Mon., Dec 5 – Advent Prayer
Tues., Dec. 6 – St. Nicholas Day
Wed., Dec. 7 – No School Mass
Thurs. Dec. 8 -8:00am – Immaculate Conception Mass (Gr. 2 plans)
Santa Secret Shop – Dec. 8/9
Mon., Dec. 12 – Advent Prayer
Wed., Dec. 14 – 8:00 School Mass -(Gr. 6 plans)
Thurs. Dec. 15 – Reconciliation Gr. 3-8 (9:00-11:00)
Mon., Dec. 19 – Advent prayer
Tues., Dec. 20 – School Christmas Concert 1:00 and 6:30 for K-8 students
Wed. Dec. 21 – 8:00 School Mass ( Gr. 8 plans)
PreK Christmas program 10:30 am
Kindergarten Nativity play 1:00 PM
Thurs., Dec. 22 – 3/4 preschool Christmas program 10:30 AM.
Christmas Break – December 23 – January 2
Club House open on Dec 27, 28, 29 only
Tues., Jan. 3 – School Resumes
Click here for the
2022-2023 School Calendar
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