What a Week! CSW 2023!

My heart is bursting after such a fun Catholic Schools Week! I was talking with a teacher on Friday about the week and how special it is to celebrate our school and simply, how we love each and every one of our students here at St. Therese! We cannot wait to see our students each day and help them learn and grow! 

Above, we have some of the highlights of the week: The Talent Show, Dads making and serving pancakes, teachers getting massages, our vocations panel, Super Hero Jesus and two goofy admins with a pie in their face!

UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

Looking Ahead to 2023-2024

As we look ahead to the 2023-24 School Year, we want to share our plan for start/end dates and vacation dates. We are working on the official and detailed calendar, but wanted to get these out as soon as possible. Please note that our start, end, Christmas vacation dates and Spring Break are slightly different than Minnetonka Public Schools.

Teacher Workshops Start: Thursday, August 17, 2023

School Start Date: Tuesday, August 29, 2023

August 29th, 30th and 31^st parent drive days

Friday, September 1st is a no school day

Labor Day: Monday, September 4^th

Fall Conferences: Thursday, October 12th (No School)

St. Therese Relics Exhibit: Friday, October 13th (No School)

MEA:  Thursday, October 19^th and Friday, October 20th  

Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 22nd - Friday, November 24^th

Christmas Break: December 21 - January 3 (school resumes 1/4/24)

Spring Break: Mar 29th - April 8^th (school resumes 4/09/24) 

Last Day of School: Thursday, May 30th

CSCOE Conference Thursday and Friday

Just a heads up that I will be gone this Thursday and Friday (February 9th and 10th) for a Principal's Conference with the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence. If you need anything, please reach out to Mrs. McInerny or Ms. Sue.

St. Therese ELC Registration for 2023-24!

The ELC is opening registration for the 2023-2024 school year. If you have a preschooler at home (33 months and up), please reach out to Ms. Emily (erohla@st-therese.org) and she will get you all the information you need!

Financial Aid: Due February 17th

Any families interested in applying for Financial Aid must do so through TADS. The deadline for applying for Financial Aid is February 17th. More information can be found HERE!
 
AIM Higher Scholarship Applications
Due Friday, February 17th
For those families who choose to apply for Financial Aid, make sure that you also apply for the AIM Higher and CSAF Scholarships. Near the end of the financial aid application, you will have the opportunity to add your child(ren)'s names to be considered for these scholarships. Learn more HERE.

Summer Spirit Club 2023!

If you are interested in knowing more about Summer Spirit Club options, please reach out to Jo Ellen Begalke: jbegalke@st-therese.org.

• Soccer Shots (K-2nd-grade)
• Musical Theater, Encanto! (1st-5th-grade) 
• Fencing (2nd-8th-grade)
• Health & Wellness (4th-5th-grade)

PARENT SESSION: “Stress, Anxiety, Perfectionism and Motivation” — February 23, 7 p.m.

Parenting children with educational and behavioral differences can be rewarding AND challenging. Even children who are gifted and talented present special challenges in parenting. In this session we will discuss parenting children who have diverse needs because of educational, behavioral, and mental health challenges, as well as those who may need more enrichment. 

Continued Support for the Loula Family!

Many have been asking how they can best support the Loula family through Fitz's cancer journey. The family has provided a list of gift cards that would be helpful in daily family life as well as to help Shep, Duke, and West keep busy and have some normalcy while Steph and Andrew are busy with Fitz and his treatments. 

If you sign up for a gift card, please send it to the school office (you are welcome to include a note to the family!) in an envelope marked "Loula Family" and we will be sure to get it to them. 

You can sign up to send gift cards here. 

We are also collecting short videos (one minute or less) of our STS families sending their love to Fitz and the entire Loula family!  Fitz LOVES construction so think of creative ways to incorporate constructions vehicles or cute phrases into your video.  Think “Fitz, you are going to crush cancer!”  “Steamroll cancer, Fitz!”  “Fitz, bulldoze cancer bud!”  

Please upload your video HERE by Friday, February 10th and we will then compile the videos and send them to the Loula family.

Here are some other ways you can support the Loula family with your time:

Send letters of encouragement (these can be sent to school to send to the family), do an act of kindness for a friend in need in honor of Fitz, volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House. 

You can also donate to the following organizations in Fitz's name: Pinky Swear Foundation, the Jeremiah Program, Children's Hospital of MN

As always, please continue to keep Fitz and the entire Loula family in your prayers!

Big Dinner: March 4th!
Save the date for the Lenten Big Dinner! Come join in fellowship, Lenten Wisdom, and Dinner on Saturday, March 4^th, 2023.  We will have open gym for kids from 4pm – 5pm, Mass from 5pm – 6pm, and Lenten Big Dinner from 6pm – 8pm.  Stay tuned for more information!

Basketball Season Is In Full Swing!
We are excited for our 3 STS Basketball teams this season! Home games are listed above if you want to come cheer them on!

St. Therese students all learn about a virtue each month through our Virtues in Practice curriculum. Each grade level also learns about saints that exemplify that virtue. This month, we are learning about Prudence!