A Message from Administration

Welcome Back!

Dear St. Albert Families,

I am very happy to welcome you to another journey in your child’s education. Whether you are a new St. Albert family or a returning family, the year ahead will be a rewarding experience for your child. A commitment toward working with, understanding and nurturing each and every child are some of the many reasons why St. Albert is a great place for children to learn and grow.

We look forward to a very positive and productive year together. We extend a yearlong invitation to our families to join us at school activities and events whenever possible. Please know that we highly value home/school communication. It is vital and plays an integral role in each student’s success. We encourage you to contact us if the need arises, and to stay in the know about your child’s studies, assignments, assessments, and school activities, as well as other events and happenings.

Please make sure that at least one parent attends Parent Orientation for each of your child’s grades. We think you will find the information from our teachers very beneficial. 

Parent Orientation is scheduled as follows:

Thursday, August 24

Grades 1-6 can come at either 6:00, 6:20, or 6:40. Each session is 20 minutes. Location: your child’s homeroom. 

Grades 7-8 must come at 7:00. Jr. High session is 45 minutes. Location: Cafeteria.

Here’s to an awesome new school year as we work together to make our school a great place to work and learn each day!

Debbie Abbott

Assistant Principal

• 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. 

1st-8th Grade Parent Orientation with Teachers  

Thursday, August 24- 

Grades 1-6 can come at either 6:00, 6:20, or 6:40. Each session is 20 minutes. Location: your child’s homeroom. 

Grades 7-8 must come at 7:00. Jr. High session is 45 minutes. Location: Cafeteria.

There will be multiple sessions in case you have more than one student. Learn more about your child’s grade-specific curriculum, expectations, and what the year will look like. This is a parents only meeting.

Carpool Reminders

Thank you for reviewing and following the carpool procedures. Both morning and afternoon carpools ran smoothly! Keep in mind that JCPS starts Friday and traffic may add a few minutes to your morning commute. When utilizing the side streets in the neighborhood, please keep driveways clear so residents can exit and enter their homes and drive slowly keeping en eye out for walkers and bike riders. Thank you for putting safety first!

Free Dress Day this Friday

Parents that attended our Parent Reception/Speaker night on Monday, August 7th received a yellow ticket, allowing their child(ren) to have a free dress-down day on Friday, August 18. The ticket is good for an entire family. One child in the family should turn the ticket in to their homeroom teacher on Friday. Please see the Student/Parent Handbook for our dress-down day policy.

Not Receiving Emails from Homeroom or Grade Level Teachers?

If you are not receiving emails from the teachers, please fill out this form to be added to the homeroom/grade level emails. This is different than the all-school emails sent from Flocknote.  Please check your SPAM folders before completing the form. Thank you!

WaterStep Shoe Drive

Don’t throw those old school shoes and summer sandals out!

St. Albert the Great Parish School, in conjunction with the Parish Social Concerns Committee, is collecting shoes for WaterStep between August 21- September 1.

Students should bring shoe donations to school. There will be several collection boxes throughout the school building starting August 21st. Really large bags can be dropped off in the school office if your child cannot carry them. Shoes of ANY kind, including cleats, high heels, sandals, and boots, will be accepted!

WaterStep is a nonprofit organization that provides safe water, sanitation, and health education to communities in developing countries. If you would like more information about WaterStep, please visit their website at http://waterstep.org/.

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. In-person training courses paused during the month of July, but new sessions are now scheduled for August and September. Check the dates and locations on page 2 of the attached newsletter.

Click here for the dates 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 Larry Brunner at lbrunner@stalbert.org

Homework Club 

Begins Tuesday, August 22nd 8C Homeroom 3:00- 4:15 

Saint Albert the Great Catholic School is pleased to announce that Homework Club is back for the 2023-2024 school year. HC is an after school program developed for students currently in grades 5-8 who are challenged by completing their homework in a timely manner, need additional assistance with assignments, and or need to establish study skills necessary to prepare for tests and quizzes. It is a place where students can ask questions and receive help needed to complete their work. Homework Club is a structured environment where students will receive small group attention and motivation in a warm and encouraging atmosphere. Each day, students are directed to begin with their most challenging assignment. The assignment will be checked upon completion and provide guidance for correcting mistakes. The goal of Homework Club is to help students become resourceful and proactive learners. Students will become empowered to take charge of their academics and learn the art of successful study habits. For questions, please email dokeefe@stalbert.org

Link to Sign-Up Genius 

Club participation is limited to 15 students per day. When: Tuesdays and Thursdays Time: 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm Where: Homeroom 8C Cost: $12 per session Pick up: 4:15 pm Junior High breezeway door Payment will be collected via Venmo or cash. Mrs. O'Keefe's Venmo: @Deanna-OKeefe-1

2024/2025 Application Period For Current Families Adding a New Sibling

If you are a current school family that will be adding a new sibling in preschool-6th grade for the 2024/2025 school year, you will need to apply between August 15-31, 2023. The new 2024/2025 application and instructions can be found HERE.

Applications will be numbered according to the date received in the school office. It is critical that we know how many new siblings will be added before we start accepting applications from external applicants. We cannot guarantee enrollment if your child’s application is received after August 31, 2023. Late applications will be considered in the general pool below.

Since we get asked this every year by many parents...

If your child is currently enrolled in the school and is advancing to the next grade level next year, you DO NOT need to apply again. Once your child is in the school, we will roll over their enrollment each year. The information above only pertains to families that are adding a brand new sibling to the school.

After School Chess Club

The Knight School is offering Chess Club after school on Wednesdays for K-5th grades from 2:45-4 pm $80 per month from 9/6-5/15. Need based scholarships are available. For more information and to register click here.

Cafeteria

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year. We have several new items on the menu, and our old favorites are back. 

*We use mainly fresh or frozen vegetables

*We offer fresh and canned fruit

*No Added MSG, or added hormones

The cost of a plate lunch is $3.40. Milk or water is included with lunch. School lunches are prepaid. Parents can send in a check in an enclosed sealed envelope. Please mark the outside of the envelope with your child's name and grade.

Be sure to write your student's I.D. number in the memo line of your payment. Please use black or blue ink.

Please visit myschoolbucks.com and register your student (s). Through my school bucks, parents can monitor purchases made in the cafeteria for free. Parents can also add money to students' lunch accounts; there is a fee.

If you would like to volunteer in the lunchroom, please get in touch with Marylynn Peterman. mpeterman@stalbert.org for available dates and times.

*Please note that the cafeteria cannot monitor students' purchases of extra items. This year I can offer an option for your student to get no extras option. Please email me if you want to use the "no extra" option.

From your 23/24 PTO Executive Board:

Make sure to stop by our table at Open Classrooms to get more information on PTO involvement and volunteer opportunities. 

Click here to find out more information on becoming involved and submitting interest.

Mark Your Calendars!

2023-2024 School Year Meeting Dates 

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

All parents are encouraged to attend!

Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023

Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024

Thursday, April 18, 2024

About the PTO

If you aren’t familiar with the St. Albert PTO, all school parents are members of the PTO and have the opportunity to attend regular meetings, participate in fundraising and social events, and contribute volunteer time and talent through our many PTO volunteer opportunities. Getting involved with the St. Albert PTO is a great way to help improve our students’ educational experience while building community with other parents as well as our teachers and administrators.

Get Involved- Become a Room Parent!

The PTO is looking for volunteers to plan and execute classroom parties for Halloween, Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Each homeroom needs 2 room parent volunteers who will use PTO funds for the parties.

NEW THIS YEAR- We are also looking for volunteers to coordinate treats on St. Albert’s feast day (Nov. 15) and St. Nick’s day (Dec. 6). This is a great opportunity for those who want to be involved but are unavailable during school day parties.  

All volunteers must undergo a background check and complete the Safe Environment training. See SET training info above.

Party dates/times are as follows:

Halloween: 10/27

(1st-8th) 11:35-12:20

(JK-K) 10:00-10:45

Christmas: 12/15

(1st-8th) 11:35-12:20

(JK-K) 10:00-10:45

Valentine’s Day: 2/9

(1st-8th) 1:45-2:30 

(JK-K) 1:45-2:30

There will be more information about signups in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact Lauren Biagi and Rebecca Schardein at PTOroomparents@stalbert.org

St. Albert Water Bottles Pick Up

If you ordered St. Albert water bottles online, but did not pick them up at open classrooms, you can pick them up from the school office during regular office hours. If you cannot stop by the office, please email abaker@stalbert.org to make other arrangements to get your order. If you still need to order bottles, you can go ahead and do so here: https://store.stalbert.org/. After you place your order, you can pick up your bottles in the school office by showing your order receipt to Amy Baker. Bottles must be ordered online.

Children's Choir Opportunities

Advanced Children's Choir is comprised of 5th-8th graders who love to sing. Rehearsals take place on Tuesdays after school in the church from 2:45-3:45 p.m. beginning August 22nd. The Advanced Children's choir director is Charlotte Peake and the accompanist is Laura Sullivan. Again this year we are planning to have a combined school/church choir group that helps support the singing at the school Masses AND is encouraged to also sing on occasion at weekend Masses. New members are always welcome. It is a fun group and a valuable stewardship opportunity. Click link for permission form. Print the form, fill it out, and return it to school. 

Choristers – directed by Laura Sullivan 1st & 2nd grade: Wednesdays in the school music room 2:45 – 3:30 p.m. First rehearsal is Wednesday, October 18th This choir will sing once a month most often at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass Treble Choir-directed by Laura Sullivan 3rd & 4th grade: Thursdays in Church from 2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. First rehearsal is Thursday, September 14th This choir will sing once or twice a month at weekend Masses. Click link for permission form. Print the form, fill it out, and return it to school. 

Grace Marriage is back and we have room for more couples ready to take time to invest in their marriage. September 9th, November 4th, February 10th, April 20th; 8:30am-1:00pm in the PLC. Register by August 25th. Contact Mark and Erin Morris at Erin.ebelhar@gmail.com for questions or more information. 

Don't forget to read the Parish Post to stay up to date on all our parish events!