A Message from Administration

Dear Parents,

From our discussions at this week’s Coffee and Conversation, many parents expressed interest in learning more about bullying since it is a label that is increasingly being used to describe behavior. October has been designated as a time to educate and acknowledge that bullying can have effects on children and families such as school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety or depression. Bullying can be verbal or physical, through social exclusion, or via digital sources like email, texts or social media. The labeling of a child or a behavior as bullying may or may not be accurate. The following information should provide some clarity. 

What’s the difference between being mean, being rude, and bullying?

Being rude is inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else. Most people do it at one time or another. Everyone puts their foot in their mouth from time to time, but that doesn’t mean we should excuse rude behaviors. We can work together to call out when someone has been rude so they do not repeat the behavior in the future. Rude behaviors can be resolved through apology and forgiveness.

Being mean is purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone, usually once or twice.

It can be mistaken as both being rude and bullying behavior. But the important distinction is the intention of the person who behaved meanly. If they didn’t mean to hurt someone’s feelings then they were being rude, not mean. If they were intending to hurt someone’s feelings, but this was the first or second time they have done so with the person, then they are being mean. Being mean can be resolved if the person being mean learns to change their behavior by being nicer or apologizing for past offenses.

Bullying is intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power. It is willful, repeated and harmful. It is often targeted at one person. Just because someone may engage in bullying behavior, this does not make them a bully. It is a negative behavior that they can change by learning empathy and compassion. Bullying can be resolved through adult intervention and personal growth of the offender.

It can be difficult to differentiate between being rude, mean or bullying. By teaching kids the differences you are helping them identify how their own behaviors impact others allowing them to navigate social situations with awareness and empathy. They can carry these important life skills with them for the rest of their lives.

Loren Cataldo and I, the school counselors, are working on classroom visits focusing on ways to promote kindness, respect and compassion. And we feel it is essential if you, as parents, continue to promote this at home.

Sincerely,

Julie Kane

School Counselor

Compromised Facebook Accounts

We have had an uptick in spammers on our various Facebook pages & groups recently. Some activity is nearly impossible to prevent on our public pages, but we know several parents have recently had accounts that were hacked which can affect our private groups. 

If your Facebook account has been hacked and you still have access to it, please remove yourself immediately from ALL St. Albert affiliated pages and groups. This includes, but not limited to, St. Albert Parents & Family, class specific groups, SAAM, St. Albert Mama Swap, Sprouts, etc. If you do not have access to your account, please contact Janelle Richardson at jrichardson@stalbert.org so she can remove you. Once your account has been recovered or a new account has been set up, you can request to be added back into all the groups. We work hard to keep our Facebook pages and groups as safe and secure as possible for our current school families. Thank you for your cooperation. 

• You can also add our digital school calendar to your phone so you have the latest school dates at your fingertips. To add our Google Calendar, click HERE and then select the +Google Calendar in the bottom right corner. 

Mass for Our Military

We will celebrate the courageous men and women who have served—and are serving—our country at St. Albert the Great’s Veterans Day Mass at 9:25 am on Thursday, November 9th. We invite all veterans and current service men and women to attend our Veteran’s Day Mass, planned by St. Albert the Great Parish School’s 8th Grade.

8th Grade Honor Flight Stewardship Project

Please help the 8th graders with their stewardship project to send a veteran St. Albert parishioner to Washington D.C. to visit the memorial of the wars they fought in! 

There are two ways to donate:

1. Purchase an American Flag pin from 10/30-11/10 with this order form.

2. Send your donation with your child(ren) on Friday, 11/10 for the Bake Sale. Items will cost between 50 cents to $2. *Please let your child(ren) know if you expect change to come back or if they should donate any change to the project. 

Thanksgiving Basket Collection November 6-10

Our Parish Social Concerns Committee, along with our school, will participate in our annual Thanksgiving Basket Collection. Each grade has been assigned a needed food item. Donations will be assembled to create complete Thanksgiving Meal Baskets for Eastern Area Community Ministries to distribute to families in need. We encourage families to go shopping together, and allow the students to pick out their donations so they feel a part of this wonderful giving opportunity. Please give generously. Your child is welcome to bring in multiple items! Donations should be sent to homerooms for collection. 

Preschool 3's: Canned Corn

Pre-K: Canned Green Beans

JK & Kindergarten: Canned Yams

1st Grade: Canned Sweet Potatoes

2nd Grade: 2 Boxes of Mashed Potatoes

3rd Grade: Instant Powdered Tea

4th Grade: Instant Powdered Lemonade

5th Grade: Canned Fruit

6th Grade: Pie Filling/Crust

7th Grade: Cake Mix/Frosting

8th Grade: Stuffing

High School Open Houses

6-8th grade families- open the one-page flyer (in English or Spanish) that summarizes information about the high school open houses and the placement test. High school open houses start in November and the High School Placement test is Saturday, December 9, 2023, 9:00 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

7/8th Grade Mixer

7th and 8th graders are invited to a Mixer on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Albert Gym. More details to come, but for now be sure to save the date!

Safe Environment Training- 

Anyone working with children must complete an initial in-person training at any of the Archdiocese of Louisville scheduled training courses. After that, a person is required to complete a five-year refresher training either online or any in-person training. Check the dates and locations on page 2 of the attached newsletter.

Click here for the most recent issue of the Honor Thy Child newsletter and the most up-to-date sessions for the Safe Environment Training offered by the Archdiocese of Louisville. If you plan on coaching or volunteering in the school, you must complete this training. Any questions, contact Rebecca Nash at rnash@stalbert.org.

2024-2025 Tuition Assistance

Now is the time to apply for tuition assistance for the 2024-2025 school year! The application process consists of completing the FACTS application and submitting supporting documentation. The tuition assistance application is available at https://www.ceflou.org/.  Deadline to complete the application and provide all documentation is November 30, 2023 for consideration in the initial round of funding. 

• The 2024-2025 application fee is $35.

• Financial assistance is available for students entering kindergarten through eighth grade, both parishioner and non-parishioner families. 

• FACTS Management is an independent, third-party service that provides reasonable assessments of the ability of families to pay tuition at private and parochial schools. Copies of the FACTS analysis and forms are shared only with the contracting parish, school or agency; no one else will receive this information. 

For more information visit https://www.ceflou.org/2023-2024-tuition-page/.

For specific questions regarding tuition assistance, please contact Lisa Kleyer in the Parish office at lkleyer@stalbert.org.

8th Grade Poinsettia Fundraiser

Please consider buying a poinsettia for the Holidays and supporting our 8th graders in their East Coast fundraising efforts! All proceeds from poinsettia sales go directly to help offset the cost for all students participating in the 2024 class trip to Washington D.C., Gettysburg, and New York City. Pre-orders will be taken through November 17. Click on the link to access the online store. The delivery date is set for November 30. More details to come on pick-up times.

Save the Date- Back to the 90's Adult Mixer

Time to dust off that windbreaker and warm up your best Electric Slide because we want you to join us for a 90’s throwback Adult Mixer! Save the Date - Saturday, January 20th. Spread the word and invite your friends!

Author Visit Book Order Form

Author Todd Zimmerman visited our younger students on Wednesday to share this book on kindness, Oliver the Ornament. If you would like to order a signed book from the author,  click here. Please send in the form with payment to the school office by Wednesday, November 1st. Books will be delivered to homerooms unless otherwise noted on the order form! If you need to pick it up in the school office, please write that on the form. 

Save the Date

Time to dust off that windbreaker and warm up your best Electric Slide because we want you to join us for a 90’s throwback Adult Mixer! Save the Date - Saturday, January 20th. Spread the word and invite your friends!

Mark Your Calendars!

2023-2024 School Year Meeting Dates 

Each PTO meeting will occur in the Cafeteria from 6 to 7:30 p.m. 

All parents are encouraged to attend!

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023

Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024

Thursday, April 18, 2024

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St. Albert the Great School Trunk or Treat

Thank you to ALL those who volunteered to have a trunk! It is very important part of the success of this event! They looked AWESOME! Thank you to Fun Masters for the bouncies! Thank you to all the families who donated candy!!! Thank you for all the donations to Blessings in a Backpack!

Part-time Gym Manager Paid Position Available

Please view this document to read the description for the part-time paid gym manager position.

22nd Annual St Albert Trivia Night

Presented by SAAM and sponsored by The Noe Group

December 2, 2023 

Join us for fun and fellowship

Doors Open at 6 pm Trivia Starts at 7 pm

This year's theme- Battle of the Bands! Dress up as your favorite band of any decade.

Prizes for the winning teams, Best Theme, Split the Pot and Head or Tails

Tables of 8- $240 Each

Tables will go on sale November 4 at 9 am and can be purchased at the St. Albert Store

DJ Dave with Odyssey Entertainment will be the Emcee for the evening.

Water and soda will be available for free with the table purchase. Bring your own food.

Become a Sponsor and Beat the Rush of Reserving a Table!

Email Trivia Night Chairs- Nick and Erin Carter today at TRIVIANIGHT@STALBERT.ORG or view the Flyer for more information. 

Wear Your Costume to Mass

Join us for time with the Holy Ghost before Trunk or Treat! St. Albert students are invited to wear their Halloween costume to the Saturday 5pm Mass on Saturday, October 21st. (no gore, guns/swords, revealing costumes) No masks during Mass. The parent chapel or restrooms will be available for anyone who wants to change into a costume after Mass.

St. Albert Men's Fellowship

Looking for brotherhood and a strong sense of community? The St. Albert Men's Fellowship is just for you! The idea for the fellowship came about in 2022, when several parishioners began to get together informally to share ideas, opportunities and to sharpen one another in different ways. Over the year, the group has grown, and we're excited to formalize our gatherings at St. Albert, inviting all our parish brothers to come meet other like-minded men interested in forming strong friendships, deepening their faith, and participating in service. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 17:17 

Join the Fellowship on Thursday, October 26th at 7:30pm in the Cafeteria for pizza, drinks, and some NFL (Bills vs. Buccaneers) on the TV! The group will be brainstorming ideas for future social gatherings and ways to get involved in parish life. If interested in attending, please click the link to fill out the form and tell us more about yourself. If you have any questions, please contact Nick Norcia at NLNorcia@gmail.com