Dear St. Peter Community,
You received a message from me stating that next Friday, January 22nd has been declared "Dress Out for Hope" day. Long story-short.............. The 1st and 3rd grade got a dress-out day for the virtue of Hope and then the 5th grade were expressing the virtue of Hope as well. Those grades thought that it would be more "Hopeful" if the whole school got to dress-out for Hope! They are even working on slogans like "Spread Hope, not the Virus"!
Please be sure to register your current and any new, additional children for the 2021-2022 school year before February 1st. Some classes will be at capacity. After February 1st spots will be opening for new families. Note: Registration is not complete without payment.
Question and Answers..........
How do you talk about the political situation with the students? We pray for peace, unity and hope. We acknowledge feelings and leave the "big issues" to the students and parents.
Formation Tip: When you talk with boys, you can't ask them to look you in the eyes and listen. Sustained eye contact for boys is generally conflict or romance. So, boys/men are often actually listening even if they aren't looking directly at you.
This weekend let's sustain the hope that we may all be one as Christ asked.
With gratitude,
Dr. John Freitag, Principal
Virtue of Hope
“Never Give Up on Jesus”
At Wednesday’s Mass, the first graders helped us introduce the Virtue of Hope. Such fabulous readers! Msgr. Jack’s homily encouraged us all to never give up hope. He reminded us that “Jesus is our only hope. Jesus can make the impossible possible. Hope means we never give up.”
The first graders processed with items that represent hope for them: a bag of seeds, canned goods, a dream bubble, and a chapter book. What items represent hope for you?
Msgr. also reminded us that with the Second Semester our focus changes from the ambo and the Liturgy of the Word to the altar and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Adoration
Starting next Friday and generally two Fridays a month, our students will spend extra time with Jesus at adoration. Throughout the day, in their classrooms or at church itself, students will spend extra time in quiet prayer. Prayers of the rosary, contemplative prayer, reflections on Scripture, the Divine Mercy Chaplet are some of the ways we experience the presence of God during Adoration.
Next Week’s Mass: We Celebrate the Dignity of All Human Life
Under Mrs. Lodes’ leadership, the fifth graders will lead us in a Call to Worship and an After-Communion Meditation that celebrates the dignity of human life, especially the most vulnerable. The kindergartners will join the fifth graders at Mass. The Preparation of the Gifts at the altar will be emphasized. While Offertory music is played, the presider sets the table for the Eucharistic feast. During this part of the Mass we can think about what we can offer of ourselves from the blessings that God has given us.
Hope: A Theological Virtue that Bridges Faith and Love
Over the third quarter, class meetings will focus on activities that support and reflect on the theological virtue of hope. Hope ultimately means to trust in God’s promises to us. Hope is more than a feeling or a wish--hope requires faith. But hope also demands love--to love God and to love our neighbors, both those we like and those we don’t. As Catholics we are called to hope, faith, and love. It’s how God created us to live. When Msgr. Jack spoke to the faculty after Christmas, he encouraged us to dream. Hope is a virtue for dreamers. Dream big, St. Peter families. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., remarked in his “I Have a Dream” speech: With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.
Nurse's Notes
ST. PETER QUARANTINE TRACKER 1/15/2021:
New COVID 19 positive community members this week: 2
Total COVID 19 positive community members since September: 21
Total Community members currently in quarantine: 57
The 7-day rolling average positivity rate for St. Louis County was 17.6% with 548 new cases today. We ask all of our staff and families to practice masking, social distancing, and all of the mitigation factors that are known to slow the spread of coronavirus when they are not in school.
Please continue to notify Nurse Arzy by email 24/7 if your student or anyone in your household has a Covid exposure and/or is tested. If your child, a member of your household, or a close contact tests positive, it is important we are immediately notified so our medical advisors can review the case and we can make the appropriate decisions for the school.
*Being in quarantine does NOT necessarily mean an individual is COVID positive
Arzy Harlan RN BSN
St. Peter School Nurse
News and Announcements
In December, parishioners were invited to a zoom presentation by Adelaide Lancaster, the founder of We Stories. Our conversation ended before we could inform families of the excellent and thought-provoking Family Learning Program. It is a 12-week program that encourages family discussion about race using children's literature as a jumping-off point. There is a cost but scholarships are available if needed. We Stories is preparing for the cohort in the upcoming 12-week Family Learning Program, which launches on January 24th. There are a few remaining spots available!
Go to westories.org/join for more information.
Go to westories.org/join for more information.
Upcoming Dates
Monday, January 18 - MLK Holiday – No School
Thursday, January 21 - Report Cards Available Online
Friday, January 22 - Dress Out Day to celebrate the Virtue of Hope - No fee required
Friday, January 29 - will now be a full day of school – Calendar Change
Sunday, January 31 through Friday, February 5 -Catholic Schools Week
Friday, February 5 - Noon Dismissal
Catholic Schools Week – More Details Coming Soon
Sunday celebrates the parish
Monday celebrates the community
Tuesday celebrates our students
Wednesday celebrates our nation
Thursday celebrates vocations
Friday celebrates teachers, staff, and volunteers, half-day of school
Free Speech Screening for PK, K and 1st Grade Students
Students in grades PreK, K and 1 are eligible to receive a speech screening, at no cost to parents. Arrangements have been made with The Speech Station to conduct screenings, and the parish SPICE fund will pay for the screenings. You will need to contact The Speech Station to schedule an appointment that is convenient for you. The deadline for scheduling your time slot is Friday, April 16, 2021.
If your child has never been screened for speech, we highly encourage you to take advantage of this offer. Speech errors can make communication and learning to read and spell very difficult.
To schedule your child's appointment, please contact: Gretchen Findlay, MA, CCC-SLP, COM at The Speech Station, LLC www.thespeechstationllc.com
If your child has never been screened for speech, we highly encourage you to take advantage of this offer. Speech errors can make communication and learning to read and spell very difficult.
To schedule your child's appointment, please contact: Gretchen Findlay, MA, CCC-SLP, COM at The Speech Station, LLC www.thespeechstationllc.com
Chess Club
See flyer in this newsletter for details.
Virtual chess club starting January 20th. $75 for 10 weeks.
Thank you to PTO and St. Peter Families!!!!
The St. Peter faculty and staff would like to send out a sincere thank you to the PTO and parents of St. Peter School. The generous gifts and kind words are greatly appreciated!
It is a blessing that we can all work and grow together in a caring and supportive environment.
PTO News
Faculty and Staff Prayer Board -The prayer board is LIVE for the Spring 2021 semester. It has slots for two families for each weekday, January - May. Sign up and take some quiet time in prayer for our dedicated faculty and staff. This time can take place by yourself, with a friend, with your family, in the car, at the Chapel-however it works for you and your family!
Mentor Families for 2021-2022 School Year - Want to be a mentor family to new families for the 21-22 school year? The time commitment is small and the impact is great! Email Jill Rhoads (jrhoads18@gmail.com) or Nikki Difani (nikkireed82@hotmail.com). Families will be paired together in late March, before the new parent orientation in April.
More News
Lost and Found
There are many items in the Lost and Found in addition to the hat and small jackets pictured. Several quarter-zip navy blue sweatshirts, and several navy blue full zip StP sweatshirts with no names. There are lots of gloves and mittens! There is a hockey stick with skull and crossbones tape on it in the office. Also, if anyone lost a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses near St. Peter, please call the office. The Lost and Found items are placed in a box near the front entrance of school in case students want to look through it.
