Dear St. Peter Community,
Today the 8th grade students are at Luke 18 retreat in preparation to receive the sacrament of Confirmation this Thursday, May 6th. Each year we interview our 8th grade students and PSR students about their reasons for receiving the sacrament. The best answer i heard was, "Because I believe in it!" I am confident you would be as humbled as I am after hearing the students' answers.
This is a reminder to me to call on the graces that we all received in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
Congratulations to Sarah Anderson, Ashley Behan, Kaitlyn Thornberry, Andrew Moritz, Kira Noor, Micah Doherty, Vita Lorms and Maggie Werner for winning the Knights of Columbus $1,000 Catholic high school essay contest. Our St. Peter students won 8 of the 10 scholarship awards!
Many thanks to the parents who continue to send messages of support and encouragement to our staff. I can assure that we feel it and benefit from it. Please keep the prayers going!
We are also grateful for your perseverance with the rules and procedures surrounding the Coronavirus. "COVID fatigue" weighs on all of us but I am fully confident that we will continue to stay united and persevere.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support.
With gratitude,
Dr. John Freitag, Principal
Sharing the Good News at STP by Anne Loida
The Insignificant Becomes Significant
The eighth graders received their ribbons at this week’s all-school Mass. Msgr. Jack recalled seemingly insignificant items that have now taken on significance for him: his father’s and grandfather’s hats, his grandmother’s handkerchiefs, a wooden cross, his patrol belt, and Class of 1961 ribbon from Christ the King Grade School in Chicago. He recalled the value of his grade school ribbon for inside it are memories of teachers, classmates including a best friend as well as all he learned. “I hope over time these ribbons will be filled with memories from your time at St. Peter School. St. Peter will always be your home.” He continued, “I hope you find these ribbons years from now and remember the teachers who taught you, memories of your Jefferson City trip and sixth grade camp. Fifty-six of you are inside these ribbons.” We’re proud of you, Class of 2021.
Our prayers are with them as they prepare for their Confirmation this Thursday, May 6. In preparation, the eighth grade class attended a day-long Luke 18 retreat today, April 30. Sponsored by STP youth ministry, the retreat was led by high school students, many of them graduates of STP, who led talks and discussions, games, and prayer. What a gift for our soon-to-be graduates! Many thanks to Tricia Lombardo for planning the day for them.
Next Week’s Mass: We Celebrate Our Moms and Invite Our First Graders’ Moms to Mass
Under Mrs. Muldoon’s leadership, our sweet first graders have prepared the Wednesday, May 5, Mass. They’ve invited their moms to attend Mass with them. We’ll honor all mothers and grandmothers, both in person and livestream, as we celebrate Our Mother Mary, the Blessed Mother. After Communion, we’ll honor our mothers with a blessing and prayer.
We’ll also celebrate Mary at next week’s May Crowning. On Friday, May 7, (weather permitting), the second and sixth graders will participate in a service honoring Our Lady. Two second graders from the First Communion Class of 2021 will crown Mary. The service will be recorded and shared with the rest of the school the following week. What a blessing to celebrate the Blessed Mother around the statue that was dedicated in honor of Katie Costello, Msgr. Jack’s mother.
More Spring Events around St. Peter School
Even Caleb made an appearance at last weekend’s joyous First Communion celebrations. The real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist--our heart always desires the real thing.
Last Friday the seventh graders hosted their yearly Mission Carnival. What a wonderful day outside! Such fun games! Many thanks to all who supported. They were able to raise $3000 to support the Friar Suppliers in Haiti. Of course with matching donations, Ms. Hesse feels sure they’ll have raised $25,000 to support the work of the Montfort Missionaries in Haiti! Wow! What a difference you made last week, STP!
Grandparents Mass
STP students and parents, please encourage grandparents to livestream with us at the 8:15AM Children’s Mass on Wednesday, May 12. Our second grade students are preparing a liturgy to celebrate grandparents as we recall the courage and humility of Jesus’ grandparents, Sts. Joachim and Anne.
Nurse's Notes
ST. PETER QUARANTINE TRACKER : 4/30/21
New COVID 19 Positive Community Members This Week: 2
Total COVID 19 Positive Community Members Since September: 31
Total Community Members Currently In Standard Quarantine: 21
Total Community Members Currently In Modified Quarantine: 17*
The 7 day rolling average positivity rate for St. Louis County was 5% with 130 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 Note: the onset of Covid 19 infection can present with very insidious, minor symptoms. Please take these seriously. If anyone in your household develops any of these symptoms, consider keeping everyone home until the affected person can be observed longer and/or be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
If anyone in the household presents with symptoms suspicious enough to merit COVID 19 testing, then everyone in the household should remain home. If this happens midday, please call and remove your students from school immediately.
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.
*Modified quarantine introduced by SLCHD as of 4/23/2021. Please contact St. Louis County Health Department if you seek further information
Arzy Harlan RN BSN
St. Peter School Nurse
News and Announcements
This Week:
Wednesday, May 5 – 8:15 am Mass, Gr 1 Mom’s Mass, Gr 1 attend, All School Livestream
Wednesday, May 5 – Grade 8 selling Andy’s Custard after school (rain date is Friday, May 7)
Thursday, May 6 – Gr 8 Confirmation Mass, 7:00 pm
Friday, May 7 – Charity Dress Down Day, $2.00 minimum
Friday, May 7 – May Crowning, 12:30 pm, statue in front of Church, Gr 2 & 6 attend, videotaped
Regarding homework for students who are missing school:
If the homework is requested, it will be placed in the pick-up bin outside the front doors of school after 3:00 pm.
Teachers will make an effort to send requested homework home with a sibling at the end of the school day. This cannot always be guaranteed since some teachers do not move back to their homeroom until the very end of the day.
Prevent and Protect Compliance: In order to volunteer in any capacity, every adult must have completed the Safe Environment program mandated by the St. Louis Archdiocese called Prevent and Protect.
The registration information on how to be in compliance is attached. If you require further information, please contact Mary Doyle at the Rectory.
The registration information on how to be in compliance is attached. If you require further information, please contact Mary Doyle at the Rectory.
Free Speech Screening for PK, K and 1st Grade Students - LAST CHANCE!!
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.
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.
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
PTO News
Interested in joining PTO?!
We would ❤️ to have you! Please reach out to Kate Haher at kate.haher@gmail.com
Thank you for your generous participation in the
St. Peter We Love Our School Raffle Fundraiser!
Our final sales total was...
$33,375
And the April winner is...
Matt Edwards!!!
Winning ticket # 8775-LOVE-1077
Sold by Aubrey Edwards
Congratulations, Matt, on being our April winner!
The May winner will be drawn on 5/14th!
Gratefully, STP PTO Board
Gratefully, STP PTO Board
More News
Next Week: Catholic Schools Week Mass
The eighth-graders have planned next week’s Mass, and the second graders will join them as we celebrate “Catholic Schools: Lighting the Way in Faith, Service, and Excellence. So, there will be candles and celebration and handbells. Please join us in person or on the livestream. We’ll celebrate our love for our school but also our love for Msgr. Jack, who has been pastor of our Catholic school for sixteen years! What a “light” he has been for our school and our parish!
Happy Year of St. Joseph! We Celebrate Our Fathers.
After spring break, our third graders will invite their fathers and special friends to the Wednesday, March 24, Mass. Pope Francis has announced that this year is the Year of St. Joseph. As the foster father of Jesus, Joseph is a model for fathers--despite the challenges he faced he was able to discern the love of God and to listen to God’s plans for him and his family. At this Mass, we will celebrate the fathers among us who despite challenges remain faithful to us and share God’s love with us. After Communion, these fathers will bless their children with an Aaronic blessing (believe me, you’ll recognize it), a centuries-old Jewish blessing. How blessed we are to be loved by our fathers and special friends!
