Principal Post

Principal Post, May 15, 2024

Dear Parents,

Today we welcomed back our alumni class of 2020 for the 8^th grade Clap Out they missed due to COVID. We wanted to let them know how proud we are of their accomplishments and wish them well going into their next phase of education. Our current 8^th grade will have their Clap Out on Tuesday, May 28. It is a great tradition as the students walk the halls for the last time.

Article on Phones for Middle Schoolers

A friend shared the following article with me on the use of phones in school. I found it to be a very interesting read and inspiring. The middle school that battled phones — and won
- The Washington Post https://apple.news/Az9ZQ_1S1SyqhNSz79-9LCw I would recommend reading it, especially if you are contemplating getting a phone for your child.

End of the Year Assessments

Students have been taking end of the year assessments:

·     ISASP grades 3-8 in ELA and math, grades 5 and 8 in science

·     iReady reading - grades 1-8

·     iReady math – grades K-8

·     FAST – reading – K-6

Parents will receive iReady and FAST scores before the end of the school year. These are formative assessments, which indicate your child’s growth throughout the year. When you look at their scores, it is most important to look at where they started the year and where they ended. If you have questions once you receive the results, it is best to contact their teacher.

ISASP test analysis for parents will not become available until July 1. ISASP is a summative assessment that indicates how your child did on the curriculum standards for their grade. ISASP measures student achievement and understanding of the Iowa Core Standards in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science. Indicators of student proficiency and growth from grade-to-grade are provided.

SPS Golf Outing – New Date, Location and Price!

Join us for an afternoon of fun at the 6th Annual St. Paul the Apostle Golf Outing! You don’t have to be a great golfer to play. The outing is all about enjoying a beautiful, relaxing, summer afternoon with good friends!

·     New Date: June 14, 2024

·     New Location: Emeis Golf Course

·     New Price: $90 per golfer if registered by May 31 ($100 after June 1st)

·     Dinner after the Outing: SmokinButt BBQ at the Emeis pavilion

·     Contact Leigh at leigh.thompson@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us to reserve your spot today! Hope to see you all there!

Early Outs, Days Off and Fun Events

May 17, Friday – Blue and Gold Bash Adult Social at Armored Gardens

May 24, Friday – Best Day Ever (aka Day of Awesomeness), all students will participate

May 28, Tuesday – 8^th grade Clap Out

May 30, Thursday – Last day of school, 2-hour early dismissal.

May 30, Thursday – Kindergarten Graduation, 8^th grade Graduation

Not New but Still Important

Open Positions

7^th/8^th Grade English and Religion teacher – Mrs. Colleen Tallman is retiring at the end of this school year. Her enthusiasm and knowledge will be greatly missed!

Qualifications:

·     Iowa Teaching License with a Middle School or Secondary Endorsement in English/Language Arts or Social Studies.

·     Practicing Catholic in good standing if teaching Religion.

·     Teaching experience is desired.

Classroom Aid - We have a fulltime classroom aid and halftime morning classroom aid positions open for the 2024-2025 school year.

Qualifications:

·     BA or CDA preferred but not required

·     Practicing Catholic in good standing preferred but not required

·     Experience working with children is desired

If you are interested, please send a resume to Julie.Delaney@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us

St. Paul the Apostle School 100^th Anniversary Organizing Committee

The 2025-2026 school year will be SPS’s 100^th anniversary! It will be here before we know it! We will begin planning for the celebration this summer. We will be working on organizing next year for events that will happen throughout the 2025-2026 school year. If you are interested in being a part of this committee, please email me at Julie.Delaney@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us.

Fine Arts Wing and ELC Renovation

In 2016, the parish and school began a long-range master plan for our campus. The capital campaign in 2017 took care of the first 2 phases of our master plan to remodel the church, upgrade the school’s electrical system, remodel the main school entry and office for enhanced safety, install an elevator in the school and 2 offices were added. The Fine Arts Wing, a part of the plan, was not accomplished. This is the remaining major item on the plan.

·     Vocal Music, Band and Art classrooms

·     2 additional classrooms on a second-floor addition

·     Faculty bathrooms (we currently don’t have a faculty bathroom)

·     Additional office and meeting space

·     Early Learning Center – second floor renovated to house additional preschool and daycare space, with direct exterior egress

Now with the Diocesan capital campaign, Upon This Rock, winding down, our 100^th anniversary on the horizon and the 2025-2026 school year kicking full funding of ESA’s, we are looking to the 2025-26 school year to kick off this project. I am planting the seed for families to prayerfully consider putting the savings they are realizing with the ESAs toward the building of a Fine Arts wing and renovation of the ELC. This would be a short-term (1-3 year) commitment to the project. More details will be coming from the parish in school during the 2024-2025 school year.

ESA Applications Are Open!

·     Iowa’s Students First Education Savings Account (ESA) application for the 2024-25 school year is open.

·     Annual ESA applications are required for ALL prospective ESA participants.

·     Link to: ESA Application

·     Additional information regarding the ESA program is available on the Students First ESA web page, including tips for returning applicants.

·     Applying for the first time: Parents/Guardians will first be directed to sign up for an account through Odyssey with an email and password. Then, parents/guardians will receive a message from Odyssey asking them to confirm their email address. After the email is confirmed, the parent/guardian can sign into the Odyssey portal to begin their application.

·     Returning applicants: Parents/Guardians with an existing Odyssey portal account will log in to the existing account to begin the application for the 2024-25 school year.

·     Applications are REQUIRED to be completed ANNUALLY to verify student eligibility through confirmation of Iowa residency.

·     Applications are available in English and Spanish and will be accepted until Sunday, June 30, at 11:59 pm.

·     Technical support will be available from Odyssey representatives by phone at 515-368-9564 or email at help.ia@withodyssey.com.

ESA Eligibility

The roll out of ESA’s is a 3-year plan. This year the following students are eligible to apply for an ESA.

·     All students who received an ESA for the 2023-2024 school year.

·     Incoming Kindergarten students.

·     Students who transfer into St. Paul’s from a public school or home school.

·     Students whose family income is 400% of poverty or lower.

Please see the instructions in the above in the previous note to apply for an ESA.