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An Annunciation tradition continues, last year's Mary in the Christmas program handed off the Christmas ornament to this year's Mary.
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Dear Annunciation Families,
We have made a calendar change for the two days leading up to Christmas Break. Thursday December 17th and Friday December 18th will now be no school days. We realize that this decision may cause some child-care issues for your family. Extended Day will be open both days for families needing care. Information about how to sign up for Extended Day are included in this edition of the Weekender.
This change was made to give our teachers and staff an extended break. They have been working very hard these past several months to keep our school environment safe and they have done this without complaint. They have graciously handled having both distance learning and in-person students. Some of them have also had to manage their own need to quarantine and quickly prepare for a substitute teacher to be in their room. We have an amazing group of educators and support staff and giving them a couple extra days off is just one way that we can let them know that their well-being is critical to our school's success.
Kari Zobel,
Principal
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Please Pray for Fr. Jim Himmelsbach
Our retired and beloved pastor Fr. Jim Himmelsbach has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He served as pastor at Annunciation from 2006 to 2015 when he retired from full time priestly ministry. It is a terrible diagnosis to receive, but when I spoke with him on the phone, he was upbeat and ready to face whatever comes next with faith and trust in God. If you would like to send him a card please bring it to the parish office, or mail it here in his name, and we will make sure that he receives it. Please pray for him and good health for him as he discerns the next steps in his treatment.
Advent Blessings,
Fr. Deziel
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CARPOOL REMINDERS
- Please enter in on Harriet and out on Garfield for carpool drop off and pickup. DO NOT ENTER HARRIET AVE VIA 55TH STREET, USE 56TH OR 57TH TO MAKE CARPOOL RUN SMOOTHLY. Please respect our neighbors and do not use the ally in the middle of the parking lot.
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SCRIP Gift Card Program
Raising funds for our school is now easier than ever with gift card purchases through SCRIP! The SCRIP program allows you to buy e-gift cards or physical gift cards from hundreds of retailers – such as Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, Gap, Athleta, and numerous restaurants. Any purchase made through SCRIP will give 3% to 12% back to Annunciation School at zero additional cost to you. SCRIP is a great way to buy holiday gift cards for family, friends, teachers, coaches, and colleagues at the office or load up yourself as you’re running to a store or restaurant.
Download the RaiseRight mobile app by ShopWithScrip and simply sign up using Annunciation’s code E4C1CLLL15927 to start giving back today!
To “sweeten” the deal, APO will give one FREE out of uniform pass to any student whose family makes a purchase via SCRIP this year (one pass per student | families with more than one student will get one pass for each student in that family).
Information about our Annunciation Scrip program and ALL the Scrip flyers including the retailer list are located on our Annunciation webpage:
https://www.annunciationmsp.org/school/current-parents/store/scrip-program
See the attached flyer for how to download and start using SCRIP.
Please contact Tina Sunda (clsunda@district287.org) with questions on SCRIP.
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NO SCHOOL - CHRISTMAS BREAK: DECEMBER 17- JANUARY 1
ANNUNCIATION EXTENDED DAY PROGRAM IS OPEN
School will be closed December 17 through January 1 for Christmas Break. The Extended Day program will be open on the following days for our families from 7:00am – 6:00pm:
- December 17
- December 18
- December 21
- December 22
- December 28
- December 29
On Thursday, December 17th, we will be going to Cinema Grill in New Hope. The bus will leave at 11:00am and will return at 2:30pm. The children DO NOT need to bring a lunch. We will be having pizza there. The movie is yet TBD.
We will provide a snack at 9:00a.m and at 2:45p.m. The snack at 4:45p.m is brought from home. Please dress the children appropriately. We go outside in the morning as well as the afternoon.
The children will need to bring a lunch every day except December 17.
Please Note: Extended Day will be closed December 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 January 1.
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GoGuardian Parent
Annunciation has the ability to grant parents of 4th through 8th grade students access to GoGuardian Parent, a mobile app to help keep parents/guardians aware of your children's browsing activity, app usage, and more. GoGuardian Parent is a companion to the classroom management and internet filtering tools that your child's school uses for Chromebooks issued to students. Through the use of this app, we hope to encourage more open and honest conversations between parents and children that will result in safer practices and responsible browsing habits.
Learn More About GoGuardian
Interested in activating the GoGuardian Parent?
To join GoGuardian Parent, please fill out this survey by December 10.
If you have any questions email support@annunciationmsp.org.
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We will be accepting used uniform donations on Monday, December 7!
We will only be accepting donations on the first Monday of every month, so please bring them in on those designated days only. Uniform donations need to be washed prior to donating and placed in a plastic or paper bag when delivering to the school.
Since the weather is starting to get more chilly, we continue to request donations of sweatshirts. Also, long and short sleeve shirts in size extra-small and small.
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School Mass will be on Tuesday, not Thursday next week.
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Friday, December 11 at 9am there will be a Virtual “Coffee with the Principal” for parents.
This will be a great opportunity to talk to Principal Zobel and share updates or ask questions. Please grab your favorite morning beverage and log into Zoom to join.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97162339942?pwd=d29QZjZRNmtKdnhYQzFzS3A4VnpsQT09
Meeting ID: 971 6233 9942 Passcode: 4dYiPt
Hope to "see" you there!
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Join us for a Donuts with Santa DRIVE-THRU event as we spread Christmas cheer to our Annunciation Community.
Put on your Christmas tunes and remain safely in your vehicle as you drive thru to pick up donuts, cocoa and holiday crafts to go. Bring your letters to Santa and a donation for our Toys for Tots collection should you wish.
$40 per car. Proceeds will benefit our wonderful and hard-working teachers. Invite your friends and family, the more the merrier!
For questions, contact Courtney Klosner: courtneyklosner@gmail.com or Jen Passa: jennifer.passa@gmail.com
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The Annunciation Tree Lot will be open Friday—Saturday—Sunday December 4th through December 20th [or until all trees sellout] on the east side of the church.
We are eager to help you find just the right tree, each uniquely named, for your home. In addition, we will be selling wreaths, garlands, and tree bags.
All funds raised benefit Annunciation Church and School throughout the year. We will continue to offer free delivery for seniors and people with disabilities [within five miles of Church].
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Questions? Email Jimmy Dunn, jdunn@annunciationmsp.org
TREE LOT HOURS
December 4 to December 20:
- Friday 6:00pm to 9:00pm
- Saturday & Sunday 10:00am to 8:00pm
- Monday - Thursday CLOSED
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Limited seating is available at the 3pm & 5pm Masses.
* These Masses will be live-streamed on our Facebook page.
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GET READY TO SHINE!
The Catholic Schools Center of Excellence is looking for Catholic school students to share their talents as dancers, actors, singers and instrumentalists, as well as visual artists! Students in grades 4-8 from the 79 Catholic schools in the Twin Cities metro area are invited to audition and submit artwork for our third annual Shine On Talent Competition.
Winning acts will receive prizes, and their schools will receive a grant to enhance arts education.
For more information, visit https://www.shineontalent.org/
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Annunciation School Council is looking for school community members who are interested in joining a Diversity and Inclusion Committee comprised of parents, teachers and school leadership, to begin exploring ways to increase diversity within the school.
Areas this committee will discuss and focus on are curriculum, activities, school community building and social outreach. Our hope is to have a variety of voices at the table as we work toward a goal of greater inclusivity.
If interested, please reach out to ASC Chair Nicole Farrell at farrellnicolea@gmail.com or 952.240.9341 by December 7.
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Does your family have a child going into Kindergarten next year? Do you have any other children in your family that you would like to enroll at Annunciation next year? Or, do you know other families who are interested in attending Annunciation in 2021-22?
The online application is now open! Please click here for the Annunciation enrollment process, to schedule a tour, and to complete the online application:
https://www.annunciationmsp.org/school/new-families/admissions
We are already seeing a high number of inquiries for next school year! (* please note, families with current students already at Annunciation do not need to tour, they can simply complete the application for their new student, and submit their child's preschool screening or transcripts.)
If you refer a family to Annunciation and they take a tour, you will receive a $50 referral credit on your tuition next year. If that family enrolls, you will receive an additional $200 credit on your tuition! You must email Jennifer Renstrom if you refer a family in order to receive credit: jrenstrom@annunciationmsp.org.
Enrollment for CURRENT students for the 2021-2022 School Year
For the 2021-22 school year, Annunciation School will again use a continuous enrollment model. Students in grade K-7 will be automatically re-enrolled in mid-January, 2021. You will then receive an email from TADS to log on to your billing account to complete registration and set up your tuition agreement.
More information regarding continuous enrollment, financial aid and tuition rates for 2021-22 will be available soon.
Questions?
Please contact Jennifer Renstrom, Office Manager,
jrenstrom@annuncationmsp.org.
or Christy McFadden, Enrollment Coordinator,
cmcfadden@annunciationmsp.org
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Scholarship Applications Now Available for the 2021-22 School Year!
The Aim Higher Scholarship is awarded to students from families seeking tuition assistance. The scholarship follows students from Kindergarten through 8th grade and to other Catholic schools.
For new applicants, the CSAF/Aim Higher Scholarship is awarded to five students from families with the most tuition assistance need per eligible school.
Please click HERE to learn how to apply. Deadline to apply is February 20, 2021.
The Schulze Family Foundation has created the Schulze Early Learning Scholarship Program to assist middle-income families in gaining access to excellent Catholic preschool programs for their children.
The Foundation firmly believes in and supports the strength of the academic experience, the caring community and the spiritual development that is provided by the Catholic elementary schools.
Scholarships will be awarded ranging from $500 to $3000 and will be sent directly to the preschool to pay for tuition.
You are eligible to apply if:
- Your child will be attending an eligible Catholic preschool;
- Your child will be in their last year of preschool in 2020-2021 and
- Your family is middle-income.
Please click HERE to learn how to apply.
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HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION
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- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that with our recent positive cases and community spread numbers that everyone remain diligent in maintaining mask use, proper hand hygiene and social distance whenever possible. Teachers and staff will continue to be extra vigilant about all the MDH guidelines. MDH is our state's appointed COVID authority for all schools and we will continue to follow their guidance.
- We remain committed to notifying specific classrooms or families when directed to do so by the MDH.
- We are also committed to following FERPA & HIPAA guidelines for individuals who do test positive.
- Do not send a student or any siblings to school if you have a pending COVID test on anyone in your household. If you have a known exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID, you must stay home for 14 days from the date of contact. You can NOT test out of this quarantine.
- If one of your children is showing one of the more common symptoms or two of the less common symptoms, ALL children must stay home even if other children are feeling fine. Please notify nurse@annunciationmsp.org for the next steps.
- Our school nurse, Christy McFadden, can guide you on helpful testing locations and procedures to get your children safely back to school while keeping everyone else healthy too.
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Self-Screen Daily:
Please follow Annunciation’s self-screening protocols each day to check for COVID- 19 symptoms in your child(ren).
Our goal remains the same - keeping everyone healthy!
These symptoms are consistent with the current
Minnesota Department of Health guidelines and decision tree updates.
More common symptoms:
Have one symptom? Stay home
-fever greater or equal to 100.4, new onset and/or worsening cough, difficulty breathing or new loss of taste or smell
Less common symptoms:
Have just one? Monitor symptom progression
Have two symptoms? Stay home
-sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, excessive fatigue, new onset of severe headache or new onset of nasal congestion or runny nose
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SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY – UPCOMING EVENT!
8th grade families are invited to join in the upcoming event to learn more about the student (and family!) life experience at Saint Thomas Academy. The eventwill take place virtually and registration is required.
- Meet a Parent Ambassador – Monday, December 7 @ 7:00 PM
- Meet a current family to learn more from a parent perspective about life at STA
- Register Here
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DeLaSalle High School Offers Live/Virtual Open House on December 7 for Prospective Students and Families
On Monday, December 7, from 7:00-9:00 pm, the staff and students of DeLaSalle High School host a live and virtual Open House for prospective students and their families, offering the choice of 17 different online presentations about DeLaSalle’s mission, curriculum, and programming. We invite all parents and middle school students to join us for this highly interactive and informative event.
Interested families should go to delasalle.com (https://admissions.delasalle.com/virtual-open-house/) to pre-register and receive the links to the interactive breakout presentations on Monday evening.
Multiple breakout sessions are offered by each academic department, as well as college planning, student activities, financial aid and scholarships, Campus Ministry, learning support, the honors and AP program, the unique Global Advantage Program connecting students to international academic travel and so more DeLaSalle teachers, administrators, staff, and many current students will lead the presentations.
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From the Board of Mission Haiti, Inc.
Here is a simple fundraising opportunity for Mission Haiti, Inc. We have the opportunity to be awarded a grant from Old National Bank (between $5,000 and $15,000), we just need enough people to choose us by clicking a link and putting Mission Haiti, Inc as their charity choice.
Unfortunately, with the pandemic, we've had to cancel several fundraising opportunities this year; being awarded a grant from Old National Bank will go a long way to helping our friends in Haiti. Please take a few minutes each day between now and December 17th to click the link and vote for Mission Haiti, Inc.
https://www.oldnational.com/cyc?fbclid=IwAR1wte40-m9FR9o8Y0TAcJggeTjq2pByiSDLMevs5ad5FJp5khAdDLM-OZo
Thank you!
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LEADING WITH SPIRIT AWARD
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Thank you to everyone who continues to fill out Spirit Awards for our amazing staff!
Filling out a Leading with Spirit card online is such an easy way to show our appreciation for all they do. The teachers and staff get to know what impact they're having and be entered into the monthly drawing. It is free, you can send them any time, and your nominee could win great prizes!
To fill out a recognition, go to:
https://www.annunciationmsp.org/school/show-spirit.
If you have any questions, would like to see a certain teacher's list of favorite things, or would like to organize something special for these monthly drawings, please reach out to either Tara Dietenberger at
tdietenberger@gmail.com or Jenny Kearney at jakearn@gmail.com.
A special thank you to all the families who have contributed to our awesome drawing prizes - including the Smith family!
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Have information you'd like included in the Weekender?
The Weekender is sent out on Thursdays during the school year.
If you would like to have something featured in the Weekender, please submit contributions for consideration by Tuesday at 12pm for the week of distribution.
Please submit it using this form or by emailing Jessica Knutson. Thank you!
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If you have an additional family member who would like to receive these emails please contact Jessica Knutson.
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OUR VISION STATEMENT
Annunciation Catholic School fosters each child’s potential to create a better world through faith, virtue, knowledge, and service to others.
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