Saint Ambrose News
October 3, 2025
“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
— St. Francis of Assisi
Safety and Security Update
Dear Saint Ambrose School Families,
Thank you for your continued support as we work together with local experts and members of our wider community to guide decisions that strengthen our safety protocols and emergency preparedness. I am also grateful for the individuals who have reached out with concerns, allowing us to meet and discern together. These conversations unite us in our shared mission. At the heart of this work is one of our greatest priorities: to provide a safe and supportive environment for our children, while doing what is within our control to mitigate risks and prepare for effective response.
As we look ahead, our focus remains on three key areas: people, policies and procedures, and building updates. Guided by the expertise of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (Minnesota School Safety Center), Woodbury Public Safety, and 360 Security Services, we are strengthening existing practices and introducing new measures to better prevent, prepare, and respond.
Our partners remind us that our community itself is central to building a culture of safety. All staff have completed the I Love U Guys Standard Response Protocol training, establishing common safety and security protocols across our campus. During our next all-staff in-service day, 360 Security Services will provide a comprehensive training focused on situational awareness, strengthen early threat identification, and guide effective intervention. This session will also deepen our understanding of threat assessment, emergency planning, and reporting so our community is equipped to act and support the safety of all.
We have also invited local law enforcement representatives to attend school Masses. While they may not always be visibly in uniform, their presence is a sign of care and reassurance. Moving forward, we hope to maintain a consistent presence at Mass and invite parents with a law enforcement background to share in this ministry of protection. To those who have already come forward – thank you.
Alongside our people, policies and procedures remain critical. Vigilance is part of our daily life at Saint Ambrose, and your attentiveness to the measures in place are essential. During school Mass, all campus doors remain locked from 9:30–10:45 am, with staff stationed in the gathering space and additional individuals present outside before, during, and after. For daily school access, doors open at 8:00 am for families with students in morning activities, and at 9:30 am all doors are locked for the day. After this time, all students and visitors must enter through the Front Office, ensuring both access and accountability. These measures reflect our shared responsibility in creating a safe, faith-filled environment.
Finally, we continue to take steps to strengthen our buildings. Through our partnership with 360 Security Services, we have launched CHIRP-360, a 24/7 incident reporting platform supported by risk management methodology that identifies root causes of threats and promotes a culture of ongoing improvement. In addition, our administrative team is working with security professionals to review all entry points, especially between the Chapel and Church, as well as access between the Parish and School, to ensure updates that balance both security and accessibility. We will keep you informed as these measures are introduced, with the goal of ensuring a seamless transition for families, parishioners, and guests.
Thank you once again for your prayers, partnership, and trust. Your steadfast support allows us to remain united in our mission, grounded in Christ, and committed to protecting the children and families we are privileged to serve. Together, as a community of faith, we look to Mary’s intercession as we continue to grow in love, vigilance, and hope.
In Mary’s Arms,
Father Peter Williams and Principal Betsy Osterhaus-Hand
Marathon Update - $30,000 raised so far!
Thank you so much for all the donations you have collect so far. We are more than half way to our goal of $50,000. Way to go!
We have one more collection date scheduled for Friday, October 10th, and some great incentive prizes remain. Let's meet our goal!
Final Collection Day Prizes! These prizes will be awarded on the final collection day Friday October 10th:
$5 Donation: Swarm Shirt Day! Win a pass for an extra Swarm Shirt Day of your choosing! Students who donate at least $5 will also be put in a drawing to pie Mrs. Hand (or another adult) in the face (3 winners)!
$50 Donation: Out of uniform pass!
$75 Donation: A chance to win extra recess and an ice pop party for your classroom! There will be two winning classrooms per wing: K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 grade levels.
$250 Donation: A chance to become Principal for the Day! Students will be entered into a drawing to win! Follow Mrs. Hand through the day and help lead the school! Day determined by Mrs. Hand.
Top Prize: Top 2 fundraising families will each win 4 tickets to PINZ ULTIMATE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER in Oakdale.
If our school has 100% participation, the entire school will win an extra Swarm Shirt Day on Monday, October 13th!
If the school reaches the goal of $50,000, the entire school will be granted an OUT OF UNIFORM DAY on Tuesday, October 14th (the day before MEA break).
We are so grateful for your participation. Whether you choose to fundraise or not, all students are included in this event to celebrate Saint Ambrose Catholic School.
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,
We had a great week of learning! Ask your 2nd-8th grader what they learned about St. Therese of Lisieux this week at Mass. Father Sean enlightened us about this beloved saint.
Her "little way" calls us to intentionally live our daily lives with small acts of love for and like Jesus.
- Vision and Hearing screening will take place the morning of October 21st for grades 1, 3, 5. Additional students may be screened if there are any concerns.
- Reminder: Please remember that students should not bring caffeinated beverages for snack or lunch. Water, milk, and juice are the best choices to keep students hydrated and ready to learn throughout the day. Thank you for your support!
- Conference Information below - We encourage all families to attend fall conferences.
- Shorts have been extended until Nov 1st.
- Spirit Wear: Please use this link to order Spirit Wear. This link will be active from October 1- 7th. Items will be delivered to school sometime in mid-October. The order from August should be delivered next week!
- Donalds will deliver online uniform sales to our school! Use code - AmbroseSTS
NWEA MAP Testing Fall MAP testing for grades 3-8 has almost concluded. Test scores will be mailed to parents in late-October.
K-3 Families: Believe and Read-Groves Literacy Information
We are grateful to the Catholic School Center of Excellence for their partnership in our Believe and Read program. What is Believe and Read Partnership? All your questions will be answered in the following slide presentation. Introduction to the Groves Literacy Framework - Presentation. If you have any questions about this literacy approach, please reach out to Dianna Helmberger.
Betsy Osterhaus Hand
Principal
Virtues in Action
Hello Saint Ambrose Families,
This month, our school is working on the virtue of Kindness and how to be welcoming from our St. Ambrose Way. In October, the students and staff will be asked to show kindness and be welcoming to others by greeting each other with a smile. We can also hold the door for someone or help others if needed. We will show care for others, and we will be thoughtful of others’ needs.
We look at the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who embodied kindness through a profound compassion for all of God’s creation. St. Francis of Assisi was the son of a wealthy merchant who gave up his fortune to live a life of poverty, founded the Franciscan Order, and is known for his deep connection to nature and animals.
We will also look at the life of St. Carlos Acutis as another guide of kindness and being welcoming. He was known for standing up for kids at school who got bullied, especially kids with disabilities. When a friend’s parents were getting a divorce, Carlo made a special effort to include his friend in the Acutis’ family life.
At home, you can support your child by creating and completing Random Acts of Kindness.
Hallow App Permission Slip - 3rd - 8th grade
Dear 3rd-8th grade parents and guardians,
We are so excited for our partnership with Hallow! Our teachers have been using Hallow to introduce your children to different ways to pray and Saints to pray with, and we are excited to offer a personal subscription for each individual student. Ask your child how they have prayed with Hallow in their classroom!
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. You will also have access to this account as a parent.
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.
If you have not already, please Complete permission form here
Exciting Update – New Bookfairs at Saint Ambrose!
Dear Families,
We are excited to share that this year, Saint Ambrose will be moving away from the Scholastic Bookfair and instead trying two new options that better align with our Catholic mission and values.
📚 I55 Bookfair
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Dates: November 11–14, 2025
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This bookfair will give families the opportunity to shop ahead of the holiday season. You’ll find a wonderful selection of faith-based, educational, and family-friendly titles.
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Learn more about I55 here: I55 Bookfairs Website
📚 Ignatius Bookfair
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Dates: Early February 2026 (exact dates coming soon)
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Ignatius Press offers an excellent variety of Catholic literature, saints’ stories, spiritual growth resources, and wholesome books for children and adults.
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Learn more about Ignatius here: Ignatius Press
Scholastic Book Club Update
While we are moving away from the Scholastic Bookfair, you may still see teachers using the monthly Scholastic Book Club options in their classrooms. We want to continue to leave this as a teacher choice at this time and we will discern next steps.
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If you have money remaining in your Scholastic Wallet, here’s how you can use it: Scholastic Wallet Information.
Volunteer Opportunity
Bookfairs are only possible with the help of volunteers. If you are interested in assisting at either the November or February bookfair, please sign up using this Google Form.
Thank you for your continued support of Saint Ambrose and for helping us build a culture of joyful reading rooted in faith!
October 2025 Family Wellness Challenge
In our journey of wellness we are reminded that Wellness is not something you passively receive but something you actively work towards through daily choices and behaviors.
So we are offering a Healthy Habits Challenge!
Choose one of the habits, share your goals with another to improve outcomes and track your progress toward better health.
The Wellness Committee
Parent-Teacher Conferences are Coming Up in October
Conference Scheduling Open Friday the 26th
Our parent/teacher conferences are on Thursday, October 9th and Tuesday, October 14th.
K-5 & Specialists Conferences will be in-person both days.
6-8 Conferences will be in-person on 10/9, and virtual on 10/14. Parents may choose one or the other. Parents will be able to schedule conferences via Sycamore beginning Friday, September 26 at 4pm. Click here to learn how to schedule your conference online
K-5 Parents
We will open conference scheduling at 4pm on Friday, Sept 26th. Choose one slot for each child’s teacher.
6-8 Parents (choose one option)
Thursday, October 9-in person conferences. No appointment necessary,(no scheduling) teachers will be available for conferences from 4:15-7:30 in their classrooms.
Tuesday, October 14th -virtual conferences.
Conference scheduling will open on Friday, September 26 at 4pm. Schedule one conference for your child with the grade level homeroom team, who will be together on the meeting. This gives you the opportunity to get feedback from multiple teachers during one virtual meeting.
- 6th grade team-schedule with Ms. Jorgensen (you will meet with Ms. Becker, Ms. Petronack, Mr. Herzog and Ms. Jorgensen)
- 7th grade team-schedule with Ms. Loney (you will meet with Ms. Loney, Mr. Shriver, Ms. Toninato and Ms. Soenen).
- 8th grade team-schedule with Ms. Woolsey (you will meet with Mr. Morgenroth, Ms. Woolsey and Ms. Schisler).
Specialist Teachers
Schedule with any teacher you would like to see on Sycamore.
If you have a question or concern, please reach out. You do not need to wait for conferences to communicate.
Teachers will need to stick to the scheduled time; thank you for helping with this.
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)
