Saint Ambrose News
September 5, 2025
“The strength of a soul is shown in its faithfulness to God.”
– St. John Chrysostom
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,
Our Swarm Shirt Friday included joining all of the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools in praying a rosary at 10:00 this morning. Our 8th graders led the prayers, inviting all of our students to be in solidarity with peers throughout the diocese with the intention of protection of children and grace upon the Annunciation families. I love our school! I am grateful for all of the people who make up our community, united in faith as we ask Jesus to walk with us with love and light conquering fear and darkness. Father Sam's homily on Wednesday at Mass gave all of us hope as he encouraged us to breathe in Jesus and spread that love as we breathe out. We are blessed with wonderful shepherds, teachers and students at Saint Ambrose. I also want to share an update on the safety and security of our school community.
Within the Newsnote, you will find details about the measures already in place, the
steps we are continuing to take with guidance from community experts and law
enforcement, and how we remain committed to providing a safe and supportive learning
environment for every child and staff member.
We are so excited to welcome you to Parent Information Night next Wednesday,
September 10, beginning at 6:30 pm in the church. This evening is an important opportunity for
teachers to share about the learning that will take place this year in their classrooms,
and we are grateful for your presence and support. While our teachers have received
safety training and will continue to do so, their focus during Parent Information Night will
be on your child’s educational experience. If you have questions regarding safety and
security, I ask that you direct those to me.
Spirit Wear: Please use this link to order Spirit Wear. This link will be active from Sept 1- 7th. Items will be delivered to school sometime in early October. Starting in Septemeber the order window will be open each month from the 1st to the 12th.
Volunteer Requirements
We look forward to welcoming volunteers to our campus this year. If you are new to Saint Ambrose and want to serve as a volunteer, please complete the Essential 3 Requirements outlined on the parish website. Volunteers are required to re-credential every 3 years. You will be alerted by the Archdiocese if you need to re-credential. Thank you for your compliance.
Mark Your Calendars: Parent Information Night is Wednesday, September 10 at 6:30. We hope to have 100% attendance from our families as we kick off a great school year.
Church Presentation: 6:30-7:00 PM Father Peter& Betsy Hand
Classroom Visits (approximate times)
K-5 Classroom Visit #1 7:05-7:25
K-5 Classroom Visit #2 7:30-7:50
6-8 -in the church 7:05-7:25 large group teacher intro and presentation
7:30-7:50 6th grade-Homeroom Presentation
7th & 8th grade- Classroom Visits
Need childcare? Fill out this form for complimentary child care (must be potty trained).
School Meals Reminder
All students are eligible for one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Please note that if a student’s lunch account has a negative balance, they will not be able to purchase a second entrée or any à la carte items. Breakfast is served until 9:20, please arrive before 9:15 if you are planning to have your child receive breakfast.
God of goodness,
Help us to surrender to you.
Allow us to be open to your grace, your light and your wisdom.
Help us to look toward your love and away from the darkness.
St. Mother Teresa,
Pray for Us.
Amen.
Betsy Osterhaus Hand
Principal
TRANSPORTATION
For parents who drive their children:
Drop-Off Procedures
Supervision on both the north and south sides of the building begins at 9:00 a.m.
Students must remain in vehicles until a supervisor is present outside.
Families are expected to remain in their vehicles and utilize the drive-up lanes for drop-off on both sides of the building.
Families who are walking a child to the Early Childhood (EC) program and also accompanying a school-age child may do so. Please park near the EC entrance and use designated sidewalks and crosswalks to ensure safety. Please enter through the Southside Church Entrance.
The EC doors and Extended Day doors are not a school entrance. For safety, use the designated doors.
Afternoon Dismissal Procedures
Students will be dismissed from their classrooms at 3:40 p.m.
South side dismissal: Families will park and meet their students in Fellowship Hall.
North side dismissal: Families will remain in vehicles. Students will be escorted to cars in the circle drive in front of the church doors. To improve efficiency, please display a sign with your family’s last name on the vehicle’s windshield.
For safety, all drivers must:
Drive slowly and remain alert.
Refrain from using cell phones.
Pull forward as directed before stopping to load students.
Hallow App Permission Slip - 3rd - 8th grade
Dear 3rd-8th grade parents and guardians,
Saint Ambrose is excited to be partnering with Hallow this year to provide a tool for mental
and spiritual health for faculty, staff, and students. Hallow is the #1 Catholic app and provides thousands of audio-guided sessions to listeners, covering a variety of prayer techniques, topics, and styles. The Hallow team works with Catholic schools and parishes to offer Hallow at a discount for teachers to use it in the classroom with students.
In order to set up your child’s Hallow account, Hallow needs your permission. (The company complies with Federal COPPA guidelines, and you can read more about their privacy policy at hallow.com/privacy.)
Your student will have a personal Hallow account designed for use in the classroom and at home. The content on Hallow includes music, sleep stories, meditations, and prayers designed specifically for kids and students of all ages, as well as families.
If you have any questions about the product or how your child’s account will be set up, please reach out to the Hallow team at schools@hallow.app or at 773-900-7145.
All Pro Dads
Advice for Dads on Parenting, Marriage and Relationships
Welcome to our new-comers, and welcome back to the veterans.
We’re rolling into our 18th Season of All Pro Dads at St. Ambrose, (and last one for me unfortunately.)
Please spread the word and get us emails for new Dads or anyone who might want to be on the invite list!
Looking forward to another great year, spending time with our kids and other Dads. Building a stronger family.
Below are the dates and notes about this year.
Couple Reminders
- Only people on this email list will receive the invite.
- Give us emails of people you know what to be invited.
- We send an email evite 1 week program
- You MUST RSVP so we have enough food.
- Spread the word! Or bring a friend and add them to your count.
- Please try to arrive before 8:15 to get checked in and seated.
Schedule for event days:
8:00-810 – Arrival and pay for breakfast ($6 to Lunch account)
8:15 – Program Starts
Welcome
Prayer
Breakfast
Program
Free Dress Drawing
9:05 – End of Program
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE PARISH FALL FESTIVAL
Friday, September 20 & Saturday, September 21
Please Complete the forms
We access funding from Title Grants from the state each year. Completing these forms allows us access to access funds. Please mark the "I do request...." choice for each of these three title grants.
We are Looking for Help With a Few Things...
Substitute Teachers
If you are interested in being a substitute teacher at Saint Ambrose or know someone that is, please contact Dianna Helmberger at dhelmberger@saintambroseschool.org or 651-768-3078.
Please view the following presentation for more details and information - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1AWeJsxdO371fNvSmQ9Q2W9CHmPaCI0ZQl4SHMeyFkFY/edit?usp=sharing. We also have a wonderful training that we can send new people to that is through CSCOE.
Recess Help
If you are interested in helping with recess please contact Janet Seidenkranz in our school office. 651-768-3000.
MESSAGE FROM DISTRICT REGARDING TRANSPORTATION
Bus riders will be required to have an identification card to scan getting on and off the bus. Students will be asked to have these ID badges attached to their backpacks for easy access/scanning. Please look at these few items below to better acquaint yourself with the District Busing procedures using the new rider id cards.
Believe & Read at Saint Ambrose
Believe & Read at Saint Ambrose
Believe & Read is a powerful program helping young school students build strong literacy skills. We know that children must first learn to read before they can read to learn, and this program supports that essential foundation.
At Saint Ambrose, we are grateful for the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence (CSCOE), whose support made it possible to implement Believe & Read.
About Groves Literacy Partnerships®
Reading is the foundation for both educational success and future opportunities. In the early grades, students learn to read; by third grade, they are expected to read to learn. Yet, research shows that 60% of American students are not reading at grade level by the end of third grade. Groves Literacy Partnerships® is working to change that—one school, one teacher, and one student at a time.
By sharing evidence-based literacy instruction with educators in Catholic schools, Groves equips teachers with the tools to help every child become a confident reader, illuminating the path to lifelong learning.
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)
