Saints School News
School News – October 26, 2020
Saint Wenceslaus Catholic School Office Update
From the Office of Principal:
Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Friends of SWS,
Step by step, one day at a time, is our new mode of operations here at SWS. This is actually a good philosophy to live by as it causes us to rejoice each and everyday with what we have in front of us.
We are so used to planning and planning ahead, but Covid has caused us to learn to be much more flexible and to go in a different direction quickly if need be. Of course this causes anxiety for those who are tied to a set schedule and a black and white plan. I wonder if our children will be benefiting from this way of action! They are learning to be flexible, to go with the new direction, to turn quickly to make life work a different way, to be resilient, and to appreciate what they have in a moment in time.
God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
“Pray Often, Work Hard, Trust God”
Marathon Pizza Pick up – October 30
We will have our 2nd and final pizza pick up day for those who doubled their marathon goal.
Grades K-8 will get their pizza at 2:10-2:30 as they are being dismissed. (if not picked up last week)
Preschool families can get their pizza at normal school pick up times: 12:00 and 3:00 (or during aftercare pickup)
Amazon Smile Program
With the holiday coming, I am sure that many of you will be shopping online. Please sign up for this program and name St. Wenceslaus Catholic School (In Minnesota – as there are also schools by the same name in other states) Our school receives 0.5% back on all purchases. It might not seem like a lot, but it all adds up over time.
Go to this link to register.
https://smile.amazon.com
Halloween Activities
1. No uniforms- everyone wears orange and black.
2. Hats ( just a simple regular baseball hat or a little Halloween hat and Halloween headbands allowed.
2. We will play an all school bingo game with prizes over the PA system with all kids in their classrooms.
3. The students will be given a treat.
No costumes, masks, games, dance, and no treats brought from home this year! Boo Hoo!
Regular Covid appropriate face covering must be worn as usual- no halloween masks.
“Peace of Mind” – Parent Mental Health and Wellness
Join Dr. Jules Nolan each month for virtual group counseling webinars for parents. This opportunity comes to you through CSCOE (Catholic School Center of Excellence.
Parenting Changes in Elementary and Middle School
November 4 at 6:30 PM
November 10 at 6:00 PM
https://swsaints.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Peace_of_Mind_NOVEMBER_parents.03.pdf
Conferences will be virtual on November 5
Sign up for a 10 minute virtual Google Meet Conference with your child’s teacher. After you secure a time, the teacher will send you the link. All virtual conferences will take place from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
Link to sign up for a time
https://signup.com/go/jgQRQxy
For those children who have more than one teacher – please sign up with only your child’s homeroom teacher at this time.
Club House for grades K-8
November 5 for conference day – no regular school classes on this day.
Please sign up by this link:
https://forms.gle/AE2MEHkn6eXMo7X28
NWEA Test Results – Grades 1 – 8
Watch for an envelope to come home on Monday in your child’s backpack! This is the NWEA report for your child’s growth. Please have this report handy during your virtual conference time so that you can ask any questions to the teacher.
NWEA tests are given in fall, winter, and spring. Normally, the reports show a growth plan from fall to spring. These tests are used to help the teachers zero in on the greater needs of the class and each student so that they can develop a curriculum to meet learning standards better.
This year we adjusted the report to show growth from last fall 2019 to this fall 2020. We want to look at the results including the Covid spring distance learning time and the summer slide so that we know what direction to head with our goals for this school year.
School Mass
We continue to have our school Masses on Wednesday. We will be rotating the various grade levels for Mass each week to plan the Mass as they ususally do each year and to attend in person. Classes that do not attend in person, will be watching the Mass together via live stream in their classrooms. All classes will attend in person at various points in the month, but the rotation to attend may depend on many factors including how many students might be out sick, are quarantined, or if the class might be better off staying in their classroom. There will not be a set schedule of who attends each week. Teachers will learn of there assigned Mass times as appropriate.
We have spread the students out to be 2 per bench and each class is separated from another class so as to keep our class clusters together and distanced. This strategy will keep the same “close contact” connections that students and teachers have all day just in case we learn that one member of a classroom cluster may carry the Covid virus. (remember, we have to look back 2 days or 48 hours after someone develops symptoms)
Parents Note — You may attend Mass on the day that your child’s class plans. You need to sit in the back on the left side (Blessed Virgin Mary side of the church). Please sit only 2 people per bench way in the back or you may need to stand in back. Come for the Rosary at 7:30 AM if you like. We’d love to have you pray for the school.
Food Drive
Let’s help our neighbors in need! Our school will continue to do our food drive for Thanksgiving for our local food shelf.
Please send items to donate to the food shelf to school on Wednesday, November 18. Send all items in a grocery bag so that your child can personally carry it to the food shelf.
We will not be bringing the food to church this year. We will simply take a walk to the food shelf after Mass to deliver the food.
Saintly Service
This year we are focusing on nine great saints. In October we study St. Teresa of Calcutta. Our goal is to be “assertively friendly” like Mother Teresa.
The students have been doing a great job of being friendly to the adults in the builiding and their classmates. We can see theri smiles right through theri masks.
Auction/Gala Committee
Seeking members of our parent community to help with this wonderful school event. Let’s get creative as we plan our semi in-person/online event.
The Starry Night is our biggest school fundraiser and is the largest community spirit builder that we host each year.
Contact Kim if you are willing to serve on the committee
Endowment Board of Directors
Did you know that SWS has an endowment fund that accepts donations? We also have a board of directors for this fund.
We would like to open this up for a few people to help this board. There are only two meetings per year but we need help all year in visiting with our donors. Are you good at investing money? Are you good at helping other people invest their money? Then we could use your skills. Please let Kim know if you are interested in helping the school in this way.
Substitute Staff Members Wanted
We need Substitutes this year.
Anyone with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree can serve as a teacher substitute.(college diploma must be submitted)
We also need monitors for classrooms if the kids are in school and a teacher is remote. ( people with good management skills)
We need backup people for the kitchen, office, and Club House, and the preschool.
Please let Kim know if you are available to be called to help this year.
COVID Contacts – when your child is feeling sick, is getting COVID test, or has been exposed.
Please be sure to send the message to the school office before sending any notes to teachers.
SWS COVID Points of contact:
Health Aide – teresa.rademacher@swsaints.org
Principal – kim.doyle@swsaints.org
Office Manager- sherry.hartman@swsaints.org

Wed., Oct. 28 – 8:00 School Mass (gr. 4 King plans)
Fri. Oct. 30 – Halloween activities – No uniforms- Black and Orange Day
PIZZA goes home for the marathon prize!
Sun., Nov. 1 – All Saints Day
Mon., Nov. 2 – All Souls Day
Tues., Nov. 3 – Election Day
Wed., Nov. 4 – 8:00 School Mass ( gr. 3 plans)
Thurs., Nov. 5 – Parent/Teacher Virtual Conferences 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed. Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – no Mass this day
Tues., Nov. 17 – PreKIndergarten Family Dinner on us! 5:00-6:00 PM.
Wed. Nov.18, 8:00 School Mass ( Gr. 2 plans)
Wed. Nov. 18 – Food Drive for Thanksgiving
We.d Nov. 25 – 8:00 School Mass
Thurs., Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving – No Club House
Fri., Nov. 27 – No School Thanksgiving Break- No Club House
Saints Return 2020 – Page
A. Stay up-to-date on all activities that take place in 2020
B. Latest learning plans for the 2020 year
C. Resources for parents
D. Links to teachers pages
Go to swsaints.org