Saint Ambrose School News

Dear Saint Ambrose Parents,

Our Kindergarten Team did a great job welcoming rising kinder families at our Gingerbread Night last night. What fun to see the next group of Saint Ambrose students excited to join us! If you have an incoming kindergartener (fall 2023) and are not yet on our email list, please connect with Janet.

We have two school days next week before Thanksgiving break. Tuesday, November 22nd is an out of uniform day as a prize for meeting our Marathon goal.

It is also the end of the First Trimester.

Report cards will be sent home Friday, December 2.

As educators and as parents, children's mental health is a focus. My brother serves on the board of the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, an organization committed to alleviating the suffering caused by mental illness by awarding grants that will lead to advances and breakthroughs in scientific research. https://www.bbrfoundation.org/ On Thursday, December 1 from 6-7pm, you are invited to join a webinar highlighting warning signs for anxiety and depression in children (also available on demand, but please register):

Register here: https://www.bbrfoundation.org/event/warning-signs-what-look-anxiety-and-depression-childhood

On Wednesday, December 7th, it is the Parish Day of Mercy, and our students in grades 3-8 will have an opportunity to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Class Picture

You can order class pictures for $10 each from Hilda Berdie from Picture Perfect -

https://woodburypictureperfect.pixieset.com/sawclass2022/

Password:ClassPhotos2022

Spirit Wear Items (NOT PART OF THE UNIFORM)

Use this link to order Spirit Wear. Please know that this is Spirit Wear only. These items are NOT uniform acceptable.

Loving Creator,
We asked for strength, and you gave us difficulties to make us strong.
We asked for wisdom, and you gave us problems to solve.
We asked for prosperity, and you gave us purpose and brains to use.
We asked for courage, and you gave us fears to overcome.
We asked for patience, and you gave us situations where we were forced to wait.
We asked for love, and you gave us troubled people to help.
We asked for justice, and you called us to be just and to lead with integrity.
Lord, we have received nothing that we asked for or wanted.
And yet, we received everything that we needed.
For this, we give thanks.

Amen

https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/prayer-index/thanksgiving-prayers

I communicated with more confidence to your children than I actually have about Iowa's chances against the Gophers tomorrow. Here's to great defense! Go Hawks!

Betsy Osterhaus Hand

Principal

Shine On - CSCOE

Shine On is powered by the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence in partnership with Lundstrum Performing Arts. Together, we’ve hosted Shine On for the last three years as a way to promote the performing and visual arts in Catholic schools.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Performing Arts registration:
shineontalent.org

Visual Arts registration:
shineontalent.org

https://www.cscoe-mn.org/shine-on/

We will be checking uniforms, thank you for your support and partnership in keep students uniforms in code. Please refer to our school guidelines

Here is a visual if you need to reference uniform expectations.

As a reminder:

We will enforce the uniform policy, which states that girl's skirts will be within 2 inches of the knee and that boy's hair must be conservatively styled, well-groomed, and neat. Boys’ hair must be above the collar, the ear, and the eyebrows. Hair may not be able to touch eyebrows whether styled or not. No unconventional coloring or haircuts are allowed. Hair accessories must be solid black, solid white, solid navy, or uniform plaid.

Additional Requirements:

Shoes: Must have non-scuff soles and must be close-toed. No sandals, clogs, moccasins or platforms. Tops of shoes must be ankle-height or lower. Heels must be no higher than 1½ inches. Shoes must be solid black, solid white, or black and white. No other colors are permitted. Shoelaces must be the same color as shoes. Shoe style must be conservative.

Shirts: Must be worn under sweatshirts or sweaters. Shirts must be tucked in at all times. Only the top button may be left unbuttoned. All cuffs must be buttoned.

Hair: Must be conservatively styled, well-groomed, and neat. Boys’ hair must be above the collar, above the ear, and above the eyebrows. Hair may not be able to touch eyebrows whether styled or not. No unconventional coloring or haircuts are allowed Hair accessories must be solid black, solid white, solid navy, or uniform plaid.

Jewelry: Must be simple and conservative if worn. No unconventional jewelry is allowed. No dangling earrings for girls and no earrings for boys.

Do you have a child that loves to sing and dance?....or who loves to bring stories to life?.....

or who has wondered about being up on stage in a live performance?

St Ambrose is grateful to partner with Ashland Productions to bring a fully packaged children's musical to our students. Rehearsal take place before school on Monday's & Tuesdays, and then the show is produced on the Ashland stage with lights, music, costumes and a live audience!

See the flyer for more detailed information.

Registration opens Monday, November 7th at 10am on the Ashland website.

Register quickly and secure a spot for your student!

If you have additional questions or want more information, contact Parent Coordinator, Rosanna Bamsey @ RgraceRN@gmail.com

We would also like to recruit a second parent coordinator to share the load and the fun. Parent Coordinators receive one child participation scholarship. Email Rosanna Bamsey with questions.

Save the Date: We are excited to have a Christmas Program this year.

Monday, December 19 at 7:00 PM.

As our enrollment has increased since our last program, space will be limited. We will live stream the program for extended family.

Hello All,

Artsonia is the world's largest collection of student art, published by teachers and students from around the world. Parents and family can view the art online, leave comments and order keepsakes featuring the artwork. Below is the link and the code for parents to connect so that they can have access to not only digital copies of their child's work, but also to the personalized art gift shop that helps raise funds for art materials.

Code

TWKCXF27

Link

https://www.artsonia.com/connect/TWKCXF27

Attention, Moms! Do you worry about your children? Come experience how you can replace your anxiety and fear with peace and hope by praying with other women. Moms in Prayer gathers women together to pray specifically and scripturally for our children and their schools. Won’t you join with us in prayer for this next generation? Please contact Elin Perri at elinmperri@gmail.com for information about our local group that will be meeting at Saint Ambrose on Wednesdays from 9:30 - 10:30 am for an hour of prayer in the Pingatore room.

For more information about Moms in Prayer, visit MomsInPrayer.org.

Cold Weather Procedures

During the cold winter months, we ask that parents make a special effort to see that their children are dressed appropriately (i.e. hats, mittens, boots, etc.).

The children go outside for recess daily in the lower grades unless the air or wind chill temperature exceeds –10 degrees. During winter months, we sometimes receive requests to keep children inside during recess. Such requests are difficult to honor because classrooms are not under supervision during that time. Generally if a child is well enough to attend school they should be well enough to participate in recess.

We have found that a short period of outdoor activity is extremely important in order to refresh each child. The children then arrive back in their classrooms better prepared to resume their studies.

If you were exposed to COVID-19:

-Students/staff no longer need to quarantine. If symptoms develop, stay home and get tested.

• Exposure Recommendation: if you were exposed to COVID-19, the CDC recommends you wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5.

If you test positive for COVID-19:

-Students/staff stay home for 5 days.

• If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home for at least 5 days and isolate from others in your home. You are likely most infectious during these first 5 days. Wear a high-quality mask when you must be around others at home and in public.
  • If after 5 days you are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medication, and your symptoms are improving, or you never had symptoms, you may end isolation after day 5.
  • Regardless of when you end isolation, avoid being around people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID-19 until at least day 11.
  • You should wear a high-quality mask through day 10.

School Emergency Closing Notifications -

This school year we will continue to use our Sycamore System for text and email notifications for school closures and delays due to inclement weather. You may also check Kare 11 and WCCO for notification that District 833 is closed - if they are closed we will be closed.

Make sure to update Sycamore with your current phone numbers and emails as soon as possible.

Child Safety Curriculum

In November, classes will begin our child safety curriculum. Grades K-5 will be using the Monique Burr Foundations, Child Safety Matters curriculum and 6-8 will be using Netsmartz curriculum. If you have any questions regarding the specific lessons being taught please contact your child's classroom (Grades 6-8 - Religion) teacher and they would be happy to share more information. This curriculum is required by the Archdioceses for all grade levels.

Child Safety Matters Website

NetSmartz Website

Extended Day 2022-2023 School Year: If you are interested in the Extended Day Program and have not already signed up, please complete this online form.

Our Home and School is looking for parent volunteers! Complete this form to get involved.

Volunteer Requirements

We look forward to welcoming volunteers to our campus again this year. If you are new to Saint Ambrose and want to 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.

Please reference the school calendar .

Difference Between Reading and Spelling Procedures

Reading and spelling are reciprocal processes. This means we need to teach them in different ways. Reading is a recognition, decoding, or receptive language task, whereas spelling is a production, encoding, or expressive language task. It is normal for students to struggle more with spelling because it is a production task. In spelling, there is often more than one way to spell a sound (example: k, c, or ck). Students need to explicitly learn the rules (example: use -ay for the long a sound at the end of a word) as well as see words in print multiple times so they can map the correct spelling. Here are the steps for how to approach reading and spelling with one-syllable words:

Reading (This models the procedure we want students to use when they encounter an unknown word in a text):

1. Tap the sounds in the word.

2. Blend the sounds together to form a word.

3. Read the whole word.

Spelling (This models the procedure we want students to use when they need to spell a word):

1. Tell students the word.

2. Students repeat the whole word.

3. Students tap the sounds in the word.

4. Students spell the word, one letter a time.

Sycamore Communication Portal/App - click below to go to Sycamore Website

https://app.sycamoreschool.com/index.php

Sycamore Help Guide

Sycamore Parent Checklist

Please login to Sycamore to access the school calendar, lunch menu, and schedules/grades (JH only)

Did you know that we have a Saint Ambrose Facebook Page and Instagram Page? Please follow us for school updates and photos. Click the links at the bottom of this email for quick access to our social media pages.

Lunch Menu for November

School Calendar 2022-2023

School Supply List for 2022-2023

School Website

School Facebook Page

Mission (what we offer)

We at Saint Ambrose School are part of a vibrant Catholic community supporting and nurturing

each child on their journey with Christ.

Through exceptional academics, embracing each child’s unique strengths and needs, and

joyfully engaging in prayer and service, we take a holistic, virtue-based approach to student

education and experiences. This is the Saint Ambrose Way.

Vision (what we aspire to)

As a thriving Catholic school, we create meaningful impact though each family we support and

student we send into the world.

By helping form the whole child, students are not only prepared well for the next level of

education, but life as Christian adults living the Saint Ambrose Way.

PHILOSOPHY

The Saint Ambrose community recognizes the partnership between parents, students, staff,

administration and parishioners in providing for the development of its members as people of

faith who worship, learn and grow together. As a community we have a responsibility to

support families- as the primary educators of their children- while providing enriching

experiences that promote a sense of belonging and responsibility to a community.