St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School

PARENT NEWSLETTER

August 10, 2010

New Year Begins Wednesday, September 1st !
We hope you are having a safe, enjoyable summer and are as eager as we are for the start of the new year! The purpose of this summer issue of the Parent Letter is to pass on important information about the upcoming school year. You will receive a copy of this newsletter each Thursday of the school year. Inside you will find information about school activities and special events. After you have read them carefully, please return the packet envelope the next day.

New SEAS Staff
There are a number of staff changes this year at SEAS. Last spring we sadly said goodby to Mrs. Tera Neumann, Mrs. Addie Olmschenk, Mrs. Eilleene Stawarski and Ms. Laura Honkomp. With a combined total of 80 years of generous, dedicated service to the children and families of the school, they will certainly be missed. We wish them the best as they begin new chapters in their lives.
We would like to welcome the following new members of our staff: Mrs. Sandy Lanz, office assistant and lunch/playground supervisor, Ms. Janel Binsfeld, first grade, Mrs. Kari Rohling, third grade, Mrs. Michelle Swedal, fourth/fifth grade combination, and Mrs. Jenifer Geisler, sixth grade!

School Calendar
As you look at our calendar for the 2010-11 school year, you will notice that our calendar is very similar to that of Cathedral High School and District #742. We have decided to observe the early dismissals that are scheduled in the their calendars. With the process of school accreditation beginning this fall, the early dismissals will give the faculty and me the additional time needed to complete work on the Self-Study, the first phase of the process.

Children’s Masses
Some changes have been made to our Children’s Mass schedule. The Masses will continue to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday mornings. Because of the high cost of transportation, only one School Mass will be held at the parishes each month, with the remaining Masses being held in the school gym. These will alternate between the Church of the Holy Spirit and the Church of St. Anthony of Padua. Thanks to the most generous donation of an annonymous donor, the cost of transportation to and from School Masses at the parishes is covered!

Open House-August 30th
Open House is an opportunity for you and your children to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and to complete essential paperwork prior to the start of the new school year. This year’s Open House will be held on Monday, August 30, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Please begin your visit by visiting the cafeteria to collect your packet. Complete the forms immediately on the night of the Open House and leave them with Sandie, the school secretary.

Theme for 2010-11
The theme of the new year comes from Psalm 118:1: “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.” The focus of staff and student morning prayer will be on the many ways God has shown His love to us.
Volunteers
If you plan on volunteering any time during the year, Safe Environment paperwork must be completed, as well as background checks that will need to be completed on new volunteers. The background check will need to be signed in the presence of Sandie, a Notary Public. We ask that you complete this paperwork during the evening of our Open House.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School Website
We encourage you to access the school’s website, www.stelizabethannseton.net, to obtain important news and information about the school.

Email Access
Because we have internet access in each of the classrooms, the staff has the capability to communicate with parents through email. Teachers, secretary and the principal will check their email several times a day to ensure quick response to your questions. Communication through email should be reserved for parents and teachers only. Please, do not allow your child to communicate with their teacher through our email system. This guideline will help us to reserve our email system for appropriate uses. Please refer to the parent handbook as to whom to contact for particular questions or requests. Questions about Kid-Kare and the Lunch Program, as well as requests for information about student attendance or changes to transportation should be directed to the school secretary, Sandie Kalla. You may also always telephone if that is more convenient for you.

Home & School
St. Elizabeth’s is so blessed with the help we receive from our Home & School Association. Past events that they have sponsored include our Fall Picnic, the Spring Fling, student dances and parties, and much more! Thank you to Shelley Motzko, Beth Windfeldt, Renee Bertram, Nina Steil, and Chris O’Hara who will again serve as committee members.

Home and School Ice Cream Social
The SEAS Home & School would like to invite everyone to an Ice Cream Social. This is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on the school grounds. What a great way for our families to begin the new year!

Busing and Supervision
Bus schedules will appear in the St. Cloud Times and the Shopping News prior to the opening of school. If you have any questions, call Scott Dahlin, the Transportation Supervisor, at 253-9370. Students who are not taking the bus may not arrive before 7:40 a.m . Bus students arriving between 7:35 and 7:40 a.m. must go to the cafeteria, where supervision will be provided. Because the buses will be dropping students off at the east entrance to the school, parents choosing to drive their students to school must drop them off at the west entrance. Students arriving after 7:40 a.m. should go directly to their classrooms.

Start Times
The Transportation Service of District 742 has set the start time of our school at 7:50 a.m. Students should be arriving five to ten minutes prior to the start time in order to put away backpacks, coats, books, etc. The buses will pick up the students at 2:25 p.m.

No Bus Transportation During the First Week
Because we are beginning our school year the week before the public school system, parents will need to provide transportation for their children from Wednesday, September 1, through Friday, September 3.

Kid-Kare Registration
The Kid-Kare program will begin operation on the first day of school, September 1. Forms will be available at the Open House. Kid-Kare registrations for September 1-September 3 must be completed the evening of the Open House.

Kindergarten Forms
Immunization forms must be returned to the school by August 16 so that the school and the nursing staff may review them. Contact the office (251-1988) if you have questions or need another copy of the form.

Tuition Payment Reminder
Please remember that we are on a twelve-month tuition payment base. The first payment was due on July 10. If you have chosen to pay by check or cash, you have received a payment coupon booklet to serve as a reminder. Please call Sandie (251-1988), if you need a coupon payment booklet or have questions. Item five of tuition Policy 402.1 states, “Registrations for the coming year from families with accounts not paid in full by June 30 will not be valid until we receive a written confirmation from the pastor of the parish that the registration is acceptable.”

Appropriate Clothing
Due to the warmer weather, the children are allowed to wear shorts during the month of September as long as they are appropriate for school. Because Mass is such a special time, we ask that the children not wear shorts to Mass. They may change into shorts after Mass. Please monitor any shirts your child wears to school to see that any messages on the shirts are appropriate and consistent with a Catholic school environment. The children may wear sandals, but because of safety concerns, we ask that they not wear flip flops.

Sporting News
The St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Athletic Association needs interested people to serve as coaches and assistant coaches for soccer, football, volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball. Students in grades four through six may pariticpate in soccer, while only students in grades five and six may participate in the other sports that are offered. Sign up for fall sports will be on August 30 at the Open House. Annual Athletic Association dues are $15.00 per family. There is also a $15.00 participation fee per student for each sport. The contact person is Melissa Toenjes, the PAA coordinator (252-0535).

United Way
Please be aware that you may designate all or any portion of your United Way contribution to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School! We are a qualified, nonprofit recipient. Just indicate the amount or percentage of your contribution that you wish to go to St. Elizabeth’s on the designation section on your pledge card. You may check with the United Way coordinator at your place of employment if you have any questions. United Way takes an administrative fee for the pledge transfer service. All donations, whether directly to the school or through your United Way contribution, are tax deductible.

Board of Education Meetings
The Board of Education of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School meets at least six times during the course of the school year. The meetings will be held in the school cafeteria. Announcements of these meetings will appear in the Parent Newsletter at least two weeks prior to the meeting. These meetings are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.

SEAS Board News
Three new directors were appointed and one of the current directors was re-appointed to three-year terms: Mark Schlough, Beth Windefeldt and Kelly Dolan were the newly appointed directors and Laura Pfannenstein was re-appointed for a second three-year term. I want to thank our outgoing directors for their past generous service to the Board: Mary Krippner, Sue Robinson, and Annette Schneider. Your dedication and creativity have been a blessing to the school, the Board and the member parishes.

St Elizabeth Ann Seton School Board of Directors

Voting Members
Fr. Tom Knoblach Fr. Jimmy Joseph Tom Odette
Larry Voigt Kelly Dolan Laurie Oster
Beth Windfeldt Laura Pfannenstein Mark Schlough
Theresa Witte
Non-voting Member
Tom Troness

Future Events

August 30 Open House
September 1 First Day of School
September 6 No School-Labor Day
September 21 Home & School Ice Cream Social @ SEAS school grounds-6:00-8:00 p.m.

God bless you,

Tom Troness, prinicpal

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School is a faith community
committed to the teachings of the Church with the mission
to provide quality learning in a Christ-centered atmosphere
for its students, families, and staff.

PAA
Band
Orchestra