Dear St. Peter Community,
This past Wednesday we honored our grandparents of our community at our all-school Mass. Personally it was a wonderful celebration for my wife Anne and me as our daughter had just delivered her daughter (our first grandchild!) that very morning! We feel very blessed as they prepare for their move to Kirkwood this summer! Welcome to the Pride, Eliza Sheehy.
This coming Wednesday on May 19th we are honoring Fr. Jack at our all-school Mass. After Mass the bagpiper will lead Fr. Jack through the Honor Walk of students and back into the church. There he will receive a gift from each grade level. Later that day he and the staff will have lunch together.
You have received an email from Mrs. Weber asking that all students and staff dress out in our "Irish Best" this Wednesday in honor of our beloved Irish pastor! (This part is a surprise!).
Again, thank you for your constant support, prayers and encouragement. We are already preparing for a wonderful 2021-2022 school year!
With gratitude,
Dr. John Freitag, Principal
Sharing the Good News at STP by Anne Loida
Grandparents Show Their Love for Us by Sacrificing for Us
Fr. Paul presided over our Grandparents Mass this week. During the Procession, Molly McAlone and her grandmother brought up a picture of Sts. Joachim and Anne, patron saints of grandparents. Many thanks to sixth grader Eden Batten for illustrating the picture for us. Our second graders welcomed grandparents in person and on livestream to watch these newest Communicants receive the Eucharist at a school mass. Fr. Paul opened his homily with a story about a fair-weather friend of his and reminded us that our parents and grandparents show us unconditional love by their sacrifices for us. They are like Jesus in that way. After communion, our second graders reflected on what they love to do with their grandparents. Whether Opa or Oma, Grandpa or Grandma, our grandparents show what God’s love is like. We thank our St. Peter Grandparent Association for sponsoring this Mass, and are appreciative of their work to pass on the faith to our students by their steadfast witness to God’s love. Coincidentally, Dr. Freitag and his wife became new grandparents on the day of our Mass. We welcome baby Eliza. Now we can call Dr. Freitag Dr. Grandpa Freitag. :)
Next Week’s Mass: The Transfer of Leadership Mass
As we get closer to saying good-bye to our eighth grade class, we welcome our current seventh graders to become new leaders of St. Peter School. Wednesday, May 19, is the last school day for our eighth grade students, the STP Class of 2021. How fitting that as we end our emphasis on the parts of the Mass we close out our school year considering what we are called to do at the end of each Mass: we are sent forth to bring the gospel to others in the way that we live our lives. We are sent forth to go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
Please note that our seventh and eighth graders will be in attendance while the rest of the school will watch over livestream. Parents are welcome to join us at Mass, but it will be a full house. Therefore, if you can watch online, please do.
An Update from the Fourth Grade Corporal Works of Mercy Week
Last week our fourth graders really embraced their task to be hands and feet of Jesus. For starters, the children brought in a lot of food for the Blessing Box--so much that it doesn’t yet fit. In addition to canned goods, the children brought in 300+ pairs of socks for St. Patrick's Center and oodles of pennies for Our Lady's Inn. But the really big news is...the students ended up raising $1,897.39 for the St. Kizito Water Project. A few staff members chipped in and the total donation came to $2,000, BUT THAT IS NOT ALL. Mrs. Skoff received an email from one of the fourth grade parents, who graciously offered to match the $2000 donation. Talk about being like Christ! That donation will really get St. Kizito closer to clean water. So in one week the St.Peter fourth grade community raised $4000 for the students at St. Kizito. Many thanks to their teachers, Mrs. Skoff, Ms. Drury, and Ms. Kopf for guiding our fourth graders to “glorify the Lord by their lives.”
Change Is Inevitable
May is always a time of change. Students end their time in grade school and prepare to move to high school. College students move back home or don’t as their semesters end. Baseball and softball seasons begin. The days are longer--it’s light outside by 6AM and after 8PM. Each morning we try to guess how warm the temperatures will get. In addition, we’re all transitioning to more activity and even more masklessness. May is always a time of change, so be gentle with yourself.
Breathe in compassion for yourself--and others.
Breathe out anxieties about getting it all done.
Breathe in God’s peace.
Breathe out any concerns you have.
Breathe in God’s assurances that these times will pass.
Breathe out whatever is causing you anxiety right now.
Breathe in God’s promise of new life.
Breathe in hope.
Nurse's Notes
ST. PETER QUARANTINE TRACKER : 5/14/21
New COVID 19 Positive Community Members This Week: 1
COVID 19 Positive Community Members Since September: 32
Community Members Currently In Standard Quarantine: 0
Community Members Currently In Modified Quarantine*: 0
The 7 day rolling average positivity rate for St. Louis County was 4.6% with 79 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 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.
Thank you to the School, the PTO and each of you that extended kind words and messages to me in honor of Nurses Week. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated.
Arzy Harlan RN BSN
St. Peter School Nurse
News and Announcements
This week:
Wednesday, May 19 – Last Day for 8th Graders
Wednesday, May 19 – 8:15 am Mass, Transfer of Leadership Mass and Tribute to Fr. Jack, Gr 7 & 8 attend, All School Livestream
Thursday, May 20 – 8th Grade Graduation Mass, 6pm for 8th Graders and their parents – reception following
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, May 26 – Last Day for PreK Students, 11:30 Dismissal
Wednesday, May 26 – No Mass
Thursday, May 27 – Field Day, 11:30am Dismissal
Friday, May 28 – 8:15am Mass, Gr 6 & 7 attend, All School Livestream
Friday, May 28 – Last Day of School for Gr K-7, 10:00am Dismissal
School Supply Wrap Packs
Order supplies for the 2021-2022 school year online through EPI, and they will ship to your home. See flyer for details and prices.
Calendar Note for 2021-2022 School Year
Staff In-Service meetings are planned for most First Fridays next school year.
This will require an 11:30am dismissal for students on these days.
September 3, (October 1- no school), November 5, December 3, February 4-CSW, March 4, April 1, May 6
The early dismissals will eliminate the need for the late start Fridays.
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.
PTO News
Interested in joining PTO?!
We would ❤️ to have you! Please reach out to Kate Haher at kate.haher@gmail.com
St. Peter Community - Scavenger Hunt
May 7th – May 16th
Have fun with family and friends this weekend and next exploring Kirkwood and answering the following questions.
Families who answer ALL questions correctly will be entered to win a gift certificate to Downtown Kirkwood. 3 winners will be selected.
Submit your completed form to kate.haher@gmail.com with the subject Scavenger Hunt, by midnight on May 16th, for a chance
Ready - Set – Have Fun
1. How many steps are in front of the City Hall? _________________________________________
2. This artist is featured downtown with his tri-colored seats. ______________________________
3. The Farmers Market was established in what year? ____________________________________
4. This fireplace in downtown is dedicated to ___________________________________________
5. When does Tropical Moose (TroMo) open for the 2021 season? __________________________
6. How many picnic sites are in Kirkwood Park? __________________________________________
7. What story from Kirkwood Library is on the trail of the lake at Kirkwood Park? _______________
8. What is the name of the lake at Kirkwood Park? _______________________________________
9. What designation does Kirkwood have from the Arbor Day Foundation? ___________________
10. What is the octagon-shaped game by the playground at Kirkwood Park? ___________________
11. How many bronze turtles in Walker Park? ____________________________________________
12. What is the inscription on the fire pit located outside the front doors of St. Peter Church? _____________________________________________________________________________
13. How many of the large vertical stained-glass windows are around the main part of St. Peter Church building (commonly described as the “boat” part of the building)? __________________
14. There is a stone bench outside the rectory office with 2 names inscribed on it. What are the names?______________________________________________________________________
15. The awning at Spencer’s Grill states it opened what year? ______________________________
16. What color door does Strange Donuts have? _________________________________________
17. What color is the metal farmer statue outside at the Kirkwood Farmers Market? _____________
18. How many flag poles will you find at Station Plaza across from Kirkwood City Hall? ___________
19. How many garage doors does the downtown Kirkwood fire station have? __________________
20. What animal is painted on the fire hydrant outside of the downtown Kirkwood Fire Station?
The raffle winner for May is
Angie McAlone
Winning ticket #8724-LOVE-1040
Winning ticket #8724-LOVE-1040
Thank you for your generous participation in the
St. Peter We Love Our School Raffle Fundraiser!
Our final sales total was...$33,375
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!
