A Message from Administration

Dear St. Albert families,

Throughout the next month, all St. Albert students will be taking Fall MAP tests- Measures of Academic Progress. We give MAP tests 3 times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) to determine your child’s instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year and from year to year in the areas of Math, Reading, and Language Usage.

MAP tests are unique in that they adapt to be appropriate for your child’s level of learning. As a result, each student has the same opportunity to succeed and maintain a positive attitude toward testing. Since MAP tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it is easy for teachers to identify skills that students would benefit from, and plan instruction accordingly.

Teachers spend time preparing students at school to take the MAP test, and there are things you can do at home as well! Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast that will keep them sustained throughout the test. Leave plenty of time in the morning so that your child is not feeling rushed and stressed out before they get to school. It is also important to be on time for school, especially on testing days. If a student is late and their class has already begun testing- they will be asked to stay in the office until the class is finished. Students may bring a healthy snack to have on mornings they are MAP testing, along with their water bottles.

I hope everyone has made plans to attend our Parent Orientation this evening for 1st-8th graders. I am looking forward to seeing everyone, and if you have any questions about MAP testing, please stop by my office- I am happy to help!

Allison French 

Learning Coordinator

• 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. 

TONIGHT 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.

WALK Registration Due Tomorrow!

Registration for permission slip and t-shirt FORM due Aug. 25th!!!! If your child is not registered, your child will not receive a shirt and will not be able to walk without a permission slip. Sponsorship flyer. 

Beach Volleyball Tournament

Our 8th graders have an amazing opportunity to embark on an East Coast Expedition trip of a lifetime. Students will tour Washington D.C., Gettysburg, and New York City. This is the third year we are taking students on a trip of this scale. We are hopeful that our community will help us make the trip affordable for all who would like to travel by participating and supporting our fundraising efforts. 

Our Beach Volleyball Tournament fundraiser will be on September 30, 2023. It will be a day of fun at J-town Beach! We are looking for support in several ways: enter a team to play in the tournament, pencil it in on your calendar to come out for the day to enjoy good company and good food and order an event t-shirt which students can also wear on Spirit Wear days at school! 

Please find the team registration link and the Spirit Wear pre-order form. All shirt orders must be submitted by September 1st!! There will be two divisions of play, "Competitive" and “Family Fun". Below you will find information on each division. The Competitive Division: Must be 9th Grade or older. This is for teams of people who would fall into the C, B, or A category of play. This is a double-elimination tournament. TEAMS SIGNED UP FOR THIS DIVISION MUST BE CO-ED. The Family Fun Division: For 12 years old and up. This is for kids and people who are just looking for fun and to have a great time. This is a double-elimination tournament. Please note some kids' teams might not be co-ed. ADULT TEAMS MUST BE CO-ED. 

If you send your child to Saint Albert the Great School please send in cash or check for your teams into the office for Eryn Wicinski. Please write in the memo 8th grade volleyball registration and include your team name with payment. If you know someone who wishes to play in this tournament and is not a member of Saint Albert the Great Parish School, please have them email erynreck@aol.com. 

8th Grade Fundraiser- Mum Sales

Please help the 8th graders raise money for their East Coast Expedition Trip by purchasing some beautiful mums!! Please find the order form attached. You can submit the paper copy and pay via cash or check or you can visit the online store using the QR code to pay via credit card. Please make sure to include an 8th student's name if you would like them delivered. Thank you for your consideration!!

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 Rebecca Nash at rnash@stalbert.org.

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.

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/.

Cub Scouts

Sign up for Cub Scouts! Open to K-5th grade boys. $125 dues for the full year. Contact: Brian Shiels, Pack Committee Chair, brian.shiels@gmail.com. Next Tuesday, 8/29, at 6:30 PM at the School Cafeteria there will be an informational meeting with Q&A for parents of new Cub Scouts.

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.

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

________________

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.

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.

PTO Helping Hands

The PTO committee Helping Hands supplies helping hands to families in need. Mainly meals are delivered anonymously, but also we provide other services if needed like errands, yard work or gift card collections. We need more volunteers! Please fill out the form if you are interested and we will be in touch. Thank you! Allison Gibson & Erin Haas.

Viking Spirit Wear 

Show your Viking spirit by purchasing spirit wear for the whole family! A portion of the proceeds from the sale of spirit wear will benefit SAAM, the St. Albert Athletic Ministry. Click here to place your order from JEC Designs or Kratz Sporting Goods. Interested in team-specific spirit wear T-shirts or have a design request? Email Julie Corbett at jeccreativedesigns@gmail.com.

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.

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!