Monday Memo

Week 3 | August 29 - September 2

Upcoming EVENTS

NEw In this Week's Edition:


  • Labor Day Weekend:

    • No School Next Monday (9/5)

    • No Children's Liturgy (9/3-9/4)

    • Parish Office Closed (9/5)

  • Message from the Carpool Team

  • Children's Choir

  • Altar Servers Wanted

  • Spirit Wear is Here!

  • 8th Grade J-Town Beach Fundraiser

  • WaterStep Collection

  • Fall Mum Fundraiser


Letter from the Administration

Happy Monday! I hope the transition back to school has been an easy one. Ihave really enjoyed seeing the kids and their smiling faces. They really brighten my day and have made my transition much better! Yes, even counselors have to adjust to coming back to school.
I hope you were able to come to the Parent Night with Pam Hurwitz. She was inspirational and started my year off on such a positive note. I would like to share something she said that evening that touched me. She used the analogy that our kids are like the chinese bamboo tree. The tree takes five years to grow and has to be watered and fertilized in the ground where it has been planted every day. It doesn't break through the ground for five years. It is busy growing the roots for the the plant’s foundation and strength. After five years, once it breaks through the ground, it will grow 90 feet tall in five weeks.
You have been the gardner for your child from birth to the start of school. You have watered and fertilized your child by loving and nurturing, teaching them how to treat others, sharing your expectations for their behavior, sharing your belief in God and his love for them, and so many other things which have given your child the roots they need. These roots help your child to be strong and resilient. There are going to be storms that threaten the tree but with strong roots it will survive and flourish. Storms help the roots grow stronger because they have to dig in deep and hold on.
As the counselor, I am the gardner in the storm. I work with students to be a support for them and help them when/if they experience a storm whether it is at home or school related.
Please know I am here for you as a resource. If you are concerned about something your child(ren) is struggling with and need recommendations or suggestions please reach out to me.
I hope you have a great week.

Stacie Short

School Counselor

--- Message from the carpool team ---

THINGS TO MAKE AFTERNOON CARPOOL GO FASTER


Parents,

Thank you for adjusting to our new carpool routine. We understand this is different from the last two years. If you have been here before you may remember this was the original way.


Here are a few things we have observed the last two weeks of carpool that will make carpool run faster and more effectively.


  • Please get your students and immediately load your car. Socializing causes a delay in releasing carpool.

  • Please keep all dogs/ animals in the car.

  • If your student forgets something they will need to come back in to get it through the office. They cannot go back into the building from the parking lot.

  • Please pull up close to the car in front of you. This allows us to release more kids at one time which ultimately allows us to complete carpool quickly.

  • Please refrain from being on your phone while driving in carpool. This is dangerous and we want everyone to be safe.

  • When you are entering the lot please focus on driving and not trying to find your child. We know you are excited to see your child and they are excited to see you but we have observed cars swerving when they are trying to locate their child and drive at the same time. This is unsafe for the students as well as for the teachers who are monitoring carpool.

  • Next week will be our first 12:30 dismissal. We know that many times grandparents and others who are not used to going through carpool help out and pick up students. Please talk with them (or even have them come with you prior to Friday as a dry run) so they know how to do this.

  • We understand that everyone wants to get their students and go. We have carpool for the safety of the children. There have been multiple reports of parents parking in other areas and having their students walk to meet them or walking up in carpool to retrieve them and then leaving. Please go through carpool. If there is an issue that requires your child to leave quickly please contact the office to make arrangements to pick them up there.



Thank you in advance for your help in making carpool safe for everyone.

The Carpool Team



--- Around the school ---

‭Health Department Helpline: (502) 912-8598‬

covid protocol:

If your child tests positive for Covid or has Covid symptoms, please refer to the Archdiocese of Louisville Covid Health Guidelines (attached) and complete the form below. Email your child's homeroom and Amy Baker at abaker@stalbert.org with any absence from school to arrange pickup if your child's missed work.

2023-2024 Enrollment Information

If you are adding a new sibling for the 2023/2024 school year, carefully read the attached document below. We have made significant changes to our new student application timeline.

Current families must apply between August 15-31, 2022 if they are adding a new sibling for the 2023/2024 school year. Our updated 23/24 application will be available by August 10th on our school website. It is very important that you apply during this two week timeframe in order to receive current family registration priority.

2022-2023 Calendar

To access the 2022-2023 School Year Calendar, please click below.


WaterStep collection

Don’t throw those old school shoes and summer sandals out!

St. Albert the Great Parish School, in conjunction with the Parish Social Concerns Committee, are collecting shoes for WaterStep between Monday, August 29th through Friday, September 9th.


Students should bring shoe donations to school. There will be several collection boxes throughout the school building starting August 29th. Really large bags can be dropped off in the school office if your child cannot carry them. Shoes of ANY kind, including cleats, high heels, sandals, and boots, will be accepted!


WaterStep is a nonprofit organization that provides safe water, sanitation and health education to communities in developing countries. If you would like more information about WaterStep, please visit their website at http://waterstep.org/.


Fall Mum Fundraiser

Spruce up your yard and help support our 8th grade trip by purchasing fall mums. Available in yellow, orange, red, white, purple and pink these perennial beauties are grown locally and are available for $20 each. Online orders are available through the school website or by reaching out to our 8th grade students. We have asked each participating student to sell 8 mums to help defray the cost of the trip.


The mums will be delivered to school the second week of September. Orders are due by September 7. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dyan Duncan via email at dyanduncan@gmail.com


Thanks for your support!


Spirit Wear is here!

St. Albert Spirit Wear is now available online! Click below and shop away!


--- From The Parish ---

labor day holiday

On Labor Day weekend, September 3-5, there will not be a Children's Liturgy of the Word during 10:30 am Mass, and the parish office will be closed on Monday.

altar servers needed

All students in grades 5-8 are invited to become Altar Servers. This is an important leadership role and provides a wonderful opportunity for youth to express their faith as members of our Parish Community.

Children's Choir

Children's Choirs are forming for grades 1-8!

Please see the flyer for more information.

First Communion Masses

First Holy Communion Masses will be celebrated on Sunday, November 13, 2022!

There is an IMPORTANT Parent Meeting for those with students in 2nd grade on August 30 at 6:30 pm in the PLC - the Nursery is available for younger siblings - MUST RSVP - Please see the Link to Register your child for First Holy Communion!

Thanks, Cindy McKinley
cmckinley@stalbert.org

Confirmation

The Sacrament of Confirmation for our 8th graders will be celebrated with Archbishop Fabre on February 9, 2023! PLEASE make sure that you have registered your son/daughter with the online form below by August 19th. We also need your Sponsor Info by August 19th.

The Student/Sponsor Retreat will be held on September 17 from 3:00-6:00 pm in the PLC - remember to INVITE YOUR SPONSOR!


Grace Marriage

September 17th, November 5th, February 4th,

April 22nd, 8am-1pm


No marriage is perfect, but all marriages can grow. Grace Marriage is for all married couples. You and your spouse will have one-on-one time to talk about the lessons and apply it to your own relationship. There is no forced sharing, so you will never have to share anything that you don’t want to share. The cost is $200/couple for the entire year. Which breaks down to $50/session. Breakfast and coffee/drinks will be provided, as well as snacks during the day.

Contact Erin Morris at erin.ebelhar@gmail.com for more information.

--- After school ---

Homework Club, Grades 6-8

St. Albert the Great is pleased to announce an after school program, Homework Club, developed for students currently in grades 6-8 who are challenged by completing their homework in a timely manner, need additional assistance with assignments, and or need to to prepare for tests and quizzes.

Homework Club is a structured environment where students will receive small group attention and motivation in a warm and encouraging atmosphere.

The goal of Homework Club is to help students become resourceful and proactive learners. Students will become empowered to take charge of their academics and learn the art of successful study habits.

Homework Club will be mentored by Deanna O'Keefe

Club participation is limited to 12 students per day.

  • When: Monday-Thursday

  • Time: 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm

  • Where: 8C Mrs. O’Keefe’s Homeroom

  • Cost: $12 per session

  • Pick up: 4:15 pm SHARP Junior High Breezeway door

Sacred Heart School For the arts open to the community

Sacred Heart School for the Arts is open to the community for a variety of classes from dance, musical instruments, visual arts and more! See the attached information below for more details.

Chess club is back!

The Knight Schools has arrived at St. Albert The Great! Chess is more popular than ever, so now is the perfect time to join Coach Nathan as we laugh, learn, and play one of the most beloved games of all time. Wednesday, the 24th is our free promo day, so come check us out! If you can't make the 24th, you're welcome to drop in any time during the year for an additional complimentary class. Total beginners are highly encouraged! Chess is in the library every Wednesday when school's in session from 2:45-4:00.


Enrolled Students receive a Knight School t-shirt, a chess set with carrying bag, and free replacement pieces for life.


The Knight School's high-energy, party-based approach to chess excels at instilling students with essential skills like critical thinking, confidence, focus, pattern recognition, and decision making. To learn more, check out this short video, All About The Knight School.


You can sign up for St. Albert's new chess team at www.theknightschool.com or contact Coach Nathan at nathan@theknightschool.com, phone: (630) 338-9409 with any questions.


the monday memo and you

The Monday Memo is produced by Jack O'Keefe, the Technology Director. If you have any comments, concerns, scathing criticisms, or a neat gif please let me know: jokeefe@stalbert.org

If you have any content you would like to be run in the Monday Memo, please click below and fill out the form! All information must be submitted by the Thursday prior to the run.


Have a good week, saint albert!