Saint Ambrose News
January 16, 2026
“Forgiveness is not an occasional act; it is a constant attitude.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Dear Saint Ambrose Catholic Community,
I want to acknowledge that many in our community and beyond have been affected in different ways by what is happening around us related to our immigrant brothers and sisters. In the words of Pope Leo, “I believe we must seek ways of treating people with humanity, with the dignity that is theirs.” To this end, I want to encourage you to pray with me for the humane treatment of all immigrants, for wisdom and grace among our elected leaders, and for peace in the hearts of those who are anxious or hurting.
As a parish community, we will continue to follow Archbishop Hebda’s lead, remembering that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and are deserving of charity. With God’s help, working together in prayer and charity is a path toward peace in our communities, state, and world.
As a parish, we are called to be vigilant—not in fear, but in faith. The Eucharist remains our strength and our hope. In receiving Jesus, we are given the grace to respond not with division, but with peace; not with fear, but with trust; not with polarization, but with compassion. May we abide in Christ, close to one another, and open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
For this reason, I invite you to join us in prayer on Thursday, January 22, at 7:30 am as we pray the Rosary together for every individual affected at this time. 8 am daily Mass will follow this rosary.
We will also be holding a food drive the weekend of January 24–25 to support families connected with nearby Catholic schools. This is a simple yet meaningful way for us to live our faith through mercy, generosity, and action.
I am grateful for our faith community and for the many of you who have reached out with prayer, concern, and care for one another. My heart and my door remain open to those most affected.
Let us together demonstrate that the Eucharist is our strength and that our mutual prayer and presence can help those in need. We are called to live as a family of faith—grounded in Christ, strengthened by His presence, and guided by His peace.
In Mary’s Arms,
Father Peter Williams
5th Graders Learn Spanish Veggie Vocab
8th Grade Buildings-Around the World
Kinders Explore How to be Peacemakers
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,
Along with Father Peter, I invite you and your families to join us for the rosary next Thursday morning at 7:30 am, with daily Mass to follow. Additionally, we will collect items during Catholic Schools Week to support St. Jerome Catholic School. We invite our whole parish community to support a donation drive that will also benefit Community of Saints Catholic School. Thank you for your generosity.
Janet was out this week; please forgive us if we have missed an email or call return. We are doing our best to address urgent issues, and will connect next week on other questions. Thank you for your grace!
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. Notice that next Friday is our kickoff at school with "Class Color Day".
Recess Help
If you love the cold and enjoy children, we need recess help. Let us know if you are interested.
Junior High Night for Parents - January 22nd
We invite all parents of current and future junior high students to join us for Junior High Night at Saint Ambrose. This is a great opportunity to learn more about our programs, curriculum, and what life is like for students in grades 6–8.
When: January 22nd
Time: 5:30-6:30pm
Where: Begin in Fellowship Hall
During the evening, you will:
Meet our junior high teachers and staff
Learn about academic expectations and enrichment opportunities
Get tips on supporting your child’s success in middle school
We look forward to welcoming you and sharing all the exciting opportunities awaiting your student in junior high!
Uniform Sale
We will have a used uniform sale during Catholic Schools Week-if you have uniforms that your family has outgrown, please send them our way next week. Thank you!
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
Invocation for Peace
Words of Pope Francis, Vatican Gardens, Sunday, June 8, 2014
Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness.
Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam!
Amen.
https://dioceseofprovidence.org/news/prayer-in-honor-of-the-rev-dr-martin-luther-king-jr
Blessings on your long weekend. We look forward to being back together on Tuesday.
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
7th Grade Team: schedule with Christi
8th Grade Team: schedule with Kris
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.
Yearbook Illustrations Needed
Pablo Picasso…Frida Kahlo… Michelangelo…and…YOU!
This year’s yearbook will feature pages of student art that illustrates the Saint Ambrose Way and Virtues.
Kindergarten-2nd Graders:
Submit art that shows Be Welcoming and Be Thankful connected to the virtue of Faithfulness
Ask your teacher for a template if you would like to use it (below). It isn’t required!
3rd Graders - 5th Graders:
Submit art that shows Be Accountable and Be Clean connected to the virtue of Faithfulness
6th Graders - 8th Graders:
Submit art that shows Be Safe and Be the Best You Can Be connected to the virtue of Faithfulness (for inside art pages)
ALSO: submit art that shows the virtue of Faithfulness for a chance to be the front or back cover art on the yearbook [include the words Saint Ambrose School and 2025-2026 in your submission for the cover]
Important Guidelines:
All art must be submitted on a sheet of white paper size 8½ x 11
All art should have the student’s name, teacher’s name, and grade printed on the back
All art should be outlined in black as much as possible for the best visibility when printed (including words
Most importantly - the art should have the words of the St. Ambrose Way tenet and the Virtue of Faithfulness incorporated or written on the art.
****ALL ART MUST BE SUBMITTED TO MRS. GALLAGHER by
Friday, January 23 ****
(no late submissions can be accepted due to Lifetouch deadlines)
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.
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:
Friday, January 16-Mid-Trimester
Monday, January 19-No School, MLK Day
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.
