Saint Ambrose News
January 23, 2026
“The mission of the teacher is to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.”
— St. John Paul II
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,
I hope everyone's furnaces are working well today! I am so grateful for my warm home and hot coffee in this frigid weather.
Catholic Schools Week is fast approaching. We are excited to celebrate our mission January 24-25 at weekend Masses, and the week of January 26 at school. Here is a family calendar with details about the week. Sign up to help with our "decorate your doughnut" fun below. We have our school donation drive for St. Jerome and our church donation drive (see above) happening simultaneously. Thank you for anything you can donate. Also, if you have extra paper bags or totes to donate, we would love those as well; we plan to pack and deliver the food to Community of Saints and St. Jerome next week.
As we celebrate I Love to Read Month, we are excited to invite our students to “Pop Into a Good Book!” To make this celebration extra special and memorable, we hope to provide popcorn for our students as a fun way to encourage reading and build excitement about books. Each class would select a time to enjoy the snack together during February. If you are able to support this celebration by donating popcorn we would be so grateful. Sign up here!
February is Heart Month, a special time to celebrate heart warriors, remember heart angels, and raise awareness about heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and congenital heart disease affects 1 in 100 babies, making it the most common birth defect. To help show our support and raise awareness, we will be wearing red on February 12th. Bring $1 to school that day to participate. All money raised will be donated to the American Heart Association to help support research, education, and care for people with heart disease.
Thank you for your kindness and support. Together, we can make a difference and help save lives.
Recess Help
If you love the cold and enjoy children, we need recess help. Let us know if you are interested.
A Rare Encounter with Saints and Popes
From January 10 through February 1, the Mall of America will host an extraordinary exhibit featuring the largest collection of saint and papal artifacts outside of Rome. Presented by the Archdiocese of St. Paul–Minneapolis in celebration of its 175th anniversary, the exhibit includes items ranging from centuries-old Papal Bulls to personal belongings of St. Teresa of Calcutta, as well as Swiss Guard artifacts to name just a few. A visit offers a unique opportunity to learn Church history, grow in faith, and experience the Catholic faith shared powerfully in what is traditionally a secular space. Learn more HERE.
A Fresh Start for the New Year
Making New Year’s resolutions can be a powerful way to reflect, set achievable goals, and grow personally. They help improve well-being, build confidence, and encourage healthier habits—especially when shared with a supportive community.
This month, St. Ambrose Catholic School staff are taking part in a wellness challenge to track their physical activity, and families are invited to join at home.
Wellness Committee Activity Challenge
O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others
Open my ears that I may hear their cries;
Open my heart so that they need not be alone
Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of the strong,
Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich.
Show me where love and hope and faith are needed,
And use me to bring them to those places.
And so open my eyes and my ears
That I may this coming day be able to do some work of peace for thee. Amen.
God bless,
Betsy Osterhaus Hand
Principal
Conferences - Thursday, February 5 and Tuesday, February 10 from 4:15–7:45 PM.
Dear Saint Ambrose Families,
Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, February 5 and Tuesday, February 10 from 4:15–7:45 PM.
Scheduling Conferences
Online scheduling opens Friday, January 23rd at 4pm.
Conference schedules will be locked on February 2nd. - you will need to contact the teacher directly after that time.
Conferences may be scheduled online through Sycamore. -If you need help scheduling, please reach out to your child’s teacher. Click here to learn how to schedule your conference online
Grades K–5
In-person conferences
15-minute time slots
Grades 6–8
Virtual conferences
10-minute time slots
Conferences are held with the grade-level team
Junior High Team Conferences
6th Grade Team: schedule with Kristen Jorgensen
7th Grade Team: schedule with Christi Loney
8th Grade Team: schedule with Kris Woolsey
Specialist Conferences
Specialists who work with both elementary and junior high students will follow this schedule:
Thursday, February 5: In-person conferences
Tuesday, February 10: Online conferences
Specialists who work only with elementary or only with junior high students will follow the conference format for those grade levels.
These conferences are held by parent and/or teacher request. If the available conference times do not work for your family, please email the teacher directly to discuss an alternative arrangement.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to connecting with you and discussing your child’s growth and progress.
Our Annual Decorate Your Own Donut
Our annual Decorate Your Own Donut event to kickoff Catholic Schools Week at St. Ambrose is on Sunday, January 25 after the 8:30 and 11am Mass and we are looking for volunteers please! Sign up to help after either Mass (or both) and bring your St. Ambrose kids as well.
Sign up Genuis - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44AEAF2EA4F5C43-61437141-decorate
This is a great chance to live out hospitality as our stellar volunteers will serve drinks, distribute donuts, manage the "decoration station" and clean-up. Kids are encouraged to show school pride and wear their school uniforms.
This is always a big event, so we appreciate any many volunteers as possible to make this fun annual highlight a hit.
Reach out to Tony Capecchi with any questions:
tonycapecchi@gmail.com or 612.310.1627
Winter Aimswebplus, FastBridge and NWEA Assessments
Winter Assessments
This winter, we will be administering the following assessments:
Grades 3–5: Math-only NWEA – measures student growth and proficiency in math skills.
3rd Grade: AimswebPlus – helps monitor reading fluency.
Grades K–3: FastBridge – provides reading and math benchmarks to guide instruction and support.
All assessment results will be mailed home in the spring. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s progress before then, we are always happy to discuss their growth and learning with you.
Extreme Faith Camp 2026 Registration Opens this Monday, January 26th at 9:00am!
Extreme Faith Camp 2026 Registration Opens this Monday, January 26th at 9:00am!
EFC is July 27th-July 31st 2026
Cost is $550 per participant
Open to all current 5th-8th grade students
Contact Bri Barbeln at bbarbeln@saintambrosecatholic.org with any questions, and visit the Parish website for more information
Link to information on Parish website: https://saintambrosecatholic.org/faith-formation/youth-ministry/
Link to Register: https://www.wesharegiving.org/App/Form/890221ba-70e0-44e8-b29c-477cc42dfb2b
Book Fair Information
Dear Saint Ambrose Families,
We are excited to welcome our Ignatius Book Fair and are asking for your help to make it a success!
Parent Volunteers Needed
If you are able to help during the fair, please consider signing up using the link below. Your time and support make a meaningful difference for our students.
Volunteer Sign-Up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0945AAAE2AA2F58-61544311-stambrose
Purchasing Options for Students
Families may choose the option that works best for them:
eWallet (cash-free option)
Cash
Check
Credit card number listed on the paper Wish List
eWallet: How to Purchase and Use Credits
1. Create Your Parent Account
Parents must first create an account and assign their child(ren) to their classrooms.
2. Add eWallet Credits
Open the search bar (magnifying glass in the top right corner).
Type eWallet.
Select from the three denomination options.
3. Assign Credits to Your Child
At checkout, be sure to assign the credits to one of your children. This allows us to locate their name on our payment device during checkout at the fair.
Options for Families with Multiple Children
One Unit for All
Purchase one unit and assign it to one child.
Siblings may share the balance.
Example: Purchase one $50 unit for Dan and allow Dan and Sue to each spend $25. Both students check out using Dan’s name.
Separate Units for Each Child
Purchase multiple units and assign one to each child.
Example: Purchase three $20 units for Dan, Sue, and Art. Each child checks out under their own name.
Please note: Unused eWallet balances cannot yet be applied to online purchases. At this time, eWallet is for in-person book fair use only.
If You Experience eWallet Issues
If you are unable to locate or purchase eWallet credits:
During Preview Day, students will complete a paper Wish List of desired books.
Parents may review and approve selections at home.
The following day, students should return the Wish List with:
Credit card information completed, or
Cash
A check made payable to Saint Ambrose School.
Thank you for supporting the Ignatius Book Fair and for encouraging a love of reading in our students. We truly appreciate your partnership and generosity!
Upcoming Dates to Add to Your Calendar
Save the Date:
Sat-Sun January 24-25-Celebration of Catholic Schools Week at weekend Masses
January 26-30-Catholic Schools Week
Saint Ambrose Way and Faith Virtue: Embracing the Virtue of Forgiveness
As we enter into the month of January, we are excited to introduce a special focus on the virtue of forgiveness. We aim to recognize that we all make mistakes so it is important to forgive and give others a second chance. We acknowledge that we are all sinners and God is forgiving us over and over again for the mistakes we make when we are truly sorry. He has mercy on us and we are called to extend that to others. We strive to practice the virtue of forgiveness by also demonstrating the St. Ambrose Way of being accountable. We want to own our actions, and always be truthful. We aspire to be humble, by not bragging if we win. If we lose, we do not show anger. When we practice forgiveness and accountability, we are better able to hear and see God in those around us.
Here's how we plan to encourage and acknowledge acts of forgiveness among our students:
Acts of Forgiveness Recognition:
Teachers will be actively observing and recognizing students who are practicing the virtue of forgiveness.
Acknowledgment with a paper bandage cut out:
2. When a teacher witnesses a noteworthy act, the student will be acknowledged and invited to the office to receive a special paper bandage with their name on it.
Saint Cards as Reminders:
In exchange for their bandage, students will be presented with a saint card. This card serves as a tangible reminder to continue embodying the virtue of forgiveness in their daily lives.
*We believe this initiative will not only foster a culture of forgiveness, but also encourage our students to reflect on the exemplary lives of saints who embody this virtue. We encourage you to discuss the significance of forgiveness with your child and how they can actively participate in this. Let's work together to make January a month filled with forgiving hearts by offering grace to one another. Forgiveness is healing!
Wishing you and your family a month filled with lots of accountability and forgiveness!
SAVE THE DATE - Saint Ambrose Summer School Week is July 13-17th!
Summer School Enrichment Camp
We offer a summer enrichment program for students entering kindergarten through grade six. There are a variety of classes in a wide range of topics including STEM, computer programming/coding, mathematics, science, reading, cooking, art, lego, computer games and much more. This is considered an enrichment experience and students find it fun and exciting to explore topics and subjects that may not be a part of a typical curriculum.
Courses will be offered Monday through Friday from July 13-17th. Students may take from one to three courses. All courses will be 1.5 hours in length. Lunch will be provided.
If you are interested in having your child participate in the opportunity please save the dates of July 13-17th
More information about registration and specific classes will be sent out in mid-February.
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.
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.
