Principal Post

Principal Post

October 23, 2024

Dear Parents,

We are having a beautiful fall which is allowing us to enjoy the share of our new shade structure on the ELC playground. The shade structure was purchased using funds from a DHS grant. You will also notice curbs and sidewalks have been patched and we’ve had some tuckpointing done. Thank you, Mr. Boche, for coordinating the upkeep of our school and making our grounds safe!

Locals Love Us – Thank  you!

Thank you, families, for voting St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Schools #1 in K-8 Private Schools and Preschools!

Spirit Wear Tops this Friday

Show your Panther Pride! This Friday is our first spirit wear day. Students may wear an SPS spirit wear top with their uniform bottoms. If students don’t have SPS spirit wear, they may wear a solid blue or solid gold/yellow shirt.

Spirit wear can be a former field/fun day shirt, a Panther Players musical shirt, spirit wear purchased through Home and School, or any of the many St. Paul shirts your child may have. 

Trunk or Treat, Friday, October 25

This Friday is our annual Trunk or Treat and Haunted Hallway. Please join us!

·     Home and School would like to invite all school families and all parish members to Trunk or Treat on Friday October 25th! This is a fun event for the whole family! There is no cost for this event. Sign up to trick or treat, or to hand out candy. Kids remember to dress up in your favorite costume and bring a bag to collect goodies! Please RSVP Here

·      The 8^th grade is sponsoring the Haunted Hallway again this year. Admission to the Haunted Hallway is 1 canned good.

Parent Teacher Conferences

The partnership between parents and the school is key to a child’s success in school. Conferences are a great time to build that partnership. Please sign up for your child(ren's) conference with his/her teacher at the link below. (Please make sure you select the correct teacher). 

·     https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TwwjQC-oQm0m5HUa47MbkrqVseHe7Q5kcLl8UdT2cVM/edit?usp=sharing

3yo Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten students will conference in February, but 4yo Preschool will have similar conference times as K-8.

Upcoming Events

·      Trunk or Treat, October 25

·      2-hour early dismissal, October 25, End of 1^st Quarter

·      Halloween Out of Uniform, October 31

·      Pumpkin Decorating Contest, October 30/31

·      All Saints Day Mass, November 1

·      Parent Teacher Conferences, November 5-7 (No School November 7 & 8)

• November 5 – 3:15 – 8:00 PM
• November 6 – 3:15 – 5:00 PM
• November 7 – 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM

·      Ladies Night Bingo, November 14

Not New but Still Important

SPS Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest and New Spooky Story Contest
All children at SPS are invited to participate in the annual pumpkin decorating contest on October 31st at school. Children will enter their pumpkins in to be judged with fellow classmates. Each class will view pumpkins and be able to vote for their favorite from each grade level. Please encourage your students to create their own artistic visions.

·      Pumpkin Drop Off will take place on October 30th in Denning Hall from 4-6.

·      New this year for students in 4-8th grade is the Spooky Story Contest, students can submit a story of their own creation until October 25th and the winner from each grade will be announced on October 30th!

·      Stories can be turned into the office and should include a title, author name, and grade.
We are awaiting your ghoulish creations!!!!!

·      Have any questions please reach out to Erin Haluska at erinturner26@gmail.com

Small Beginnings

Our 3–5-year-old extended day program is looking for part time help. If you are interested or know of anyone who may be interested, please contact Kelly Salek, at Kelly.Salek@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us.

Spirit Wear Days – 1^st one is this Friday!!

The Building Leadership Team, composed of administration and teachers, has chosen the following days that students may wear their St. Paul the Apostle Spirit Wear with uniform bottoms. All these days are 2-hour early dismissals.

·      Oct. 25th

·      Jan 15th

·      March 28th

·      April 25th

·      May 30th

In-School Therapist

Great news! We have an in-school therapist, Elizabeth Graham Ploense LMHC, Licensed Mental Healthcare Provider, who will be starting with us next week Monday. Mrs. Ploense is with Coventry Family Solutions. A letter of introduction will be sent out to all families in the next week, and we will have a referral process if you would like to use her services. She will be in the school on Monday afternoons.

Who to Call or Contact

It is always best to solve a problem at the level closest to its occurrence. Parents often don’t know who to best direct their concern or question to. Below I have listed some of the people and their contact information. 

Recess or Before/Aftercare Concern: Mrs. Pullinger, Jescie.Pullinger@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us

Technology: Mrs. Bates, Katee.Bates@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us

Academic or Classroom Behavior Concern: The teacher who teaches that class (homeroom, art, music, band, PE)

Financial Concern: SCCS Finance Office, 563-326,5313, Start with Rose Strickland, Rose.Strickland@sccsiowa.org

Bus Behavior, Discipline Concerns: Mrs. HB, Octavia.hboyd@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us

All other concerns or unresolved concerns: Dr. Delaney, Julie.Delaney@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us

Help Needed: Substitute Teachers and Aids

Love children? Want to work just a few days a week? We have a position for you! We need teachers and classroom aids who are willing to substitute when we have a staff member out.

Qualifications:

·      Classroom Aid – Background check and child abuse (CMG) training and other AEA trainings. We will provide the information and links.

·      Teacher – Substitute Authorization, which can be obtained through a class at the AEA, substitute teaching license or a valid teaching license. Background check and child abuse training (CMG) and other AEA training.

Contact the school office is you would like more information about either one of these positions.