Saint Ambrose News
May 15th, 2026
“Christ has no body now but yours.”
— Saint Teresa of Ávila
Saint Ambrose Parents,
As we begin the important process of discerning and hiring the next principal of Saint Ambrose
Catholic School, I want to thank you for your continued prayers, support, and investment in the
life of our school community.
A Hiring Committee, comprised of representatives from the School Advisory Committee, school
faculty, and parish administration, will help guide this process. I am grateful to share that the
following individuals have accepted the invitation to serve on the committee:
Kris Woolsey, School Faculty
Sean Jones, School Faculty
Peter Berens, School Advisory
Sam Mickelson, School Advisory
Matt Lasure, Business Administrator
Erin Weinzettel, Director of Communications
I am appreciative of their willingness to serve our community in this important responsibility and
for the perspective, insight, and leadership they will bring from the various areas of the
community they represent.
As the Hiring Committee begins its work, we are inviting parents and families to participate in a
brief survey regarding the qualities and characteristics most important in the next principal of
Saint Ambrose Catholic School.
The qualities included in the survey were intentionally developed to reflect many of the core
competencies identified by the Archdiocese for Catholic school leadership, including Catholic
identity and faith leadership, communication and leadership, academic excellence and student
support, community and relationships, and the future vitality of the school.
While the Hiring Committee prayerfully discerns these competencies throughout the search
process, the survey is intended to help better understand the qualities families most value and
hope to see in the next principal of Saint Ambrose Catholic School.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, feedback, and prayers as we move
forward together in this important time for our school community.
Survey Link: https://forms.gle/A9rannA2yanvNdAm7
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Peter J. Williams
Pastor
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,
Our mantra is "finish strong" as we round into the last 2 weeks of school. Our students flourish in structure and routine, so we are working hard to stay focused and present to these last days.
Next week our 8th graders will complete their tenure at Saint Ambrose. We are proud of these graduates, and grateful for our time with them.
Thank you to Mrs. Bertsch and our band students for a beautiful band concert last night! We are blessed by your musical gifts.
Next Thursday, May 21, our parent pick up plan will change due to an Early Childhood Program in the church.
This performance is scheduled for 3:30 in the Church - the same time our parents start arriving to pick up school-aged children on the south side. Since these performances have a hearty attendance and the gathering space will be full, we are asking that any parent that does car pick up - on either the NORTH or SOUTH side, be flexible and pivot to the following pick-up change.
On 5/21/26, all parents who do car pick up will be asked to park in the north side lot, and enter the school gym where your student(s) will be waiting. Parents will not enter the building until 3:40. School staff will be available to direct the flow. We do this out of an abundance of caution making safety in our parking lot a priority.
Thank you for your help. If you have concerns, please contact the school office.
Friday, May 22 you will have 3 Nelson children as Principals for the Day as I relax and drink coffee. They have called an out of uniform dollar day-proceeds will go to the Type 1 Diabetes Research Foundation. 5th and 7th grade students will have an extra recess that day as well.
Our last week of school does include some fun! We have Field Day planned for Thursday, May 28 in the afternoon. Students can be out of uniform (must wear sneakers). Friday, May 29 our last day of school includes a Pep Fest in the morning, and Mass at 2pm. Students may wear Swarm shirts. Families are welcome to attend Mass. We do need to know how your child(ren) are getting home. Complete this form to help us plan.
Junior High Uniform Addition for Next Year 2026-2027
Beginning next fall, junior high students will be permitted to wear the approved Saint Ambrose uniform joggers. These joggers must be purchased through the school’s official uniform provider, the same source as the school sweatshirts. The approved joggers are navy blue and include the Saint Ambrose logo. This is the only jogger style permitted as part of the uniform. Joggers from other brands or without the official logo are not allowed. We have samples that can help determine sizing. Ordering information will come in the future.
Bus Transportation
South Washington County Schools (SoWashCo) will use an opt-in transportation system for the 2026-27 school year to help ensure the most efficient routing for students eligible to ride a school bus. The form can be found here. Every family must complete the opt-in form by Friday, May 15, 2026.
Yearbooks
If you forgot to order a yearbook online, there’s still time! Please send $20 (cash or check payable to Saint Ambrose School) in a clearly labeled envelope with your child’s name and teacher. Be sure to note that the payment is for a yearbook. Yearbooks will be distributed during the last week of school.
On the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and the 10th anniversary of Archbishop Hebda's installation as shepherd of our local Church, he released his pastoral letter to families: https://www.archspm.org/familyletter/
Our Lady of Fatima, we entrust this letter to you and ask for your protection as we seek to foster the renewal of holy marriages and families in our local Church. Guide us in modeling the pursuit of holiness to our children. Grant us the grace to see the gentleness of your immaculate heart as we encounter our own brokenness and the brokenness of our families. Show us the depth of your Son’s sacred heart and infinite mercy. Through the light of His resurrection, He conquered all sin and darkness. Help us to trust Him as we serve our families and neighbors, striving to be united in this life and the next — our eternal home with God our father.
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You.
Betsy Hand
Principal
Parent Input Form
Parent Input Form
As part of our class placement process, we invite parents to share any information they believe would support us in making thoughtful and informed placement decisions for their child.
Class placements are determined using a variety of factors, including educational data, input from licensed staff, the creation of balanced classroom rosters, and our professional judgment as we strive to find the best overall fit for each student. This process is not designed for requesting specific teachers or for placing particular students together.
Even if you have already shared some of this information with a staff member, completing this form ensures we have everything in one place as we move forward.
Timeline for placement:
Deadline for Parent Input Form- June 3rd, 2026
Admin will work on class assignments- June -August 2026
Class lists posted Back to School Day 2026
Limited Spots Remaining in Select Classes!
2026 Saint Ambrose Summer Enrichment Program Grades K-7
Saint Ambrose offers an engaging summer program for students entering kindergarten through grade seven. With a diverse selection of hands-on classes, children can explore STEM, science, reading, cooking, art, LEGO, computer games, and more. There's something for every interest, making summer both fun and enriching!
View the Catalog with 30 class options and registration information here!
Upcoming Dates to Add to Your Calendar
Save the Date:
May 21 - 8th Grade Graduation
May 25 - No School - Memorial Day
May 29 - Last Day of School
Saint Ambrose Way and Faith Virtue
St. Ambrose School continues its focus on Faithfulness. During the month of May, we will take a closer look at unity. We define unity by recognizing that we are all equal and connected. We care for everyone in our school, and we each have the responsibility to help others and develop their faith and virtue.
One way students and teachers are bringing the virtue of unity to life is by focusing on perseverance. Students can persevere by challenging themselves to choose what is right in heart, body and mind. In addition, perseverance can be practiced by displaying resilience when things don’t go as planned. When students choose to keep trying when things are hard, they serve as role models to others and themselves.
Unity is not only a virtue, but it also creates an environment of belonging that is experienced by all who enter our community. As stated in our daily faithfulness prayer each morning, “... faithfulness brings us together on the path to Heaven.” How we show up for each other, persevere when life gets hard, and make good choices for our hearts, minds, and bodies display the ways we can practice the virtue of unity.
Calling to mind and taking action to live our lives focusing on unity blesses us with the opportunity to not only bring our school together, but to also take this virtue with us as we go out and live with patience and kindness as we seek understanding for those who differ from us.
A few ways we can practice unity and perseverance:
Be the best you can be
Look for creative solutions for difficult problems
Be aware of others and their needs
Pray for each other
Practice positivity
Look for and celebrate the good in others
Do a little better each day
Perform acts of kindness
Saints we pray with this month:
St. Damien of Molokai - May 10
Our Lady of Fatima - May 13
St. Joan of Arc - May 30
Selected Reading: You Are Mine by Max Lucado
Other Information
Extended Day 2025-2026 School Year: If you are interested in the Extended Day Program and have not already signed up, please complete this form.
Sycamore will be accessible to families on August 19, 2025.
Sycamore Communication Portal/App - click below to go to Sycamore Website
https://app.sycamoreschool.com/index.php
Please login to Sycamore to access the school calendar, lunch menu, and schedules/grades (JH only)
Safety and Security
To continue fostering transparency and shared understanding, we’ve compiled Safety and Security Frequently Asked Questions. to address common inquiries and provide clarity on the ongoing safety and security efforts within our Saint Ambrose Catholic Community.
Thank you to all who attended our Safety Through Connection presentation on Monday night. Check out slides and handouts here: https://saintambrosecatholic.org/safety-through-connection/
Before School Activities
To ensure a safe and organized start to the day, we will now have a staff member stationed at the main school entrance from 7:45–8:30 a.m. to supervise student drop-off and help direct students to their appropriate locations for before school activities. This added supervision will help ensure that all students arrive safely and transition smoothly to their activities. All students arriving before school for any activities should enter through the main school doors. This is a change from some previous procedures for certain activities, and we appreciate your attention to this update. Thank you for your partnership in helping us maintain a safe and orderly environment for all of our students. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
If you have any questions, concerns or feedback, we are open to hearing directly from you via email or phone call. Or, complete this form.
