St. Teresa Catholic School
May 22, 2024
St. Rita of Cascia
Finish Well!
We’ve been talking a lot about finishing well! God has been offering the grace and I’ve seen it accepted well in so many ways. Let’s itemize:
- Humanities 101 – the final culminating event of our inaugural year – dinner at the Venue with all the 8th graders, dressed well, they acted accordingly. (You might have seen their bright yellow limo last week with the red carpet rolled out!) God be praised.
- The Altar Server training this morning – the “trainers” said the group was more attentive and cooperative than any they have ever seen!
- While the servers were gone, the girls helped prepare for carpeting by cleaning out and arranging furniture in the hall. Nine rooms of furniture are headed to the hall. I’ve never seen so many classroom accoutrements look so good in the hall. Well done girls.
- Jayhawk Showcase today – participation by the audience was only slightly surpassed by the exceptional performances.
- Living Art Presentation by the 6th graders – art across the timeline from the cave dwellers to the present. Beautiful still life representations enacted by the children. Personification of the shift in curriculum we have embraced.
- New hires – later in the newsletter you can see the list for next year with a little shuffling and a few new names. Of particular note are the new homeroom teachers, both with experience in classical education who will fit beautifully in our faculty. When we began the curriculum shift a few years back, we wondered if we would be able to hire well. God has provided so many great applicants! We are blessed.
- While it is not over until tomorrow at 3:15, I trust He who is faithful will continue to provide the grace and the children will be sustained on the current trajectory.
- The little daily celebrations of the week continue through tomorrow, with a few surprises left! The wonder and joy of humanity is shining brightly here. God be praised.
Lord thank you for the graces of this school year, especially those which enable us to finish well. May you receive well the graces of the summer, as He never for a moment leaves us orphaned!
Sister Mary Michael, C.K.
Upcoming Events
May 23: Last Day of School! Jayhawk Olympics in the afternoon
May 24: Diaconate Ordination, 7 p.m. at Cathedral
May 25: Priesthood Ordination, 11 a.m. at Cathedral
May 26: Jonah Brox's First Mass, 2:30 p.m. St. Teresa Church
Jayhawk Olympics
We are so very excited for the Jayhawk Olympics tomorrow afternoon, THURSDAY, May 23rd! It is such a fun event beginning with a picnic lunch, continuing on with a special treat, fantastic games and two SURPRISES!
Students are allowed to wear shorts and Walk the Little Way, Jayhawk or religious t-shirt. Students will take their hot or cold lunch outside for a picnic lunch. They are welcome to bring a towel or blanket to sit on.
Building and Grounds Update
We’ve got a lot going on now and this summer...here’s what you might see happening here:
- Fence going in around the back of the building
- To provide security for our early childhood materials and children
- We’ve also updated our camera coverage in that area
- Funded by a single generous benefactor
- Carpet replacement in nine rooms – the oldest is going out, squares going in
- Funded by SFA
- Art room floor refinishing – gray and red paint off – polished concrete coming soon
- Cabinets coming in on one wall
- A couple sinks for cleanup, too
- Hallway floor replacement on 2nd and 3rd floor
- Asbestos abatement happening just after Totus Tuus
- Tile going in during the month of July
- All materials donated by a generous benefactor – Dillon Grant for installation
- We may do an all call in the summer of young able-bodied persons to help carry the tile up the steps! A few tons and three floors…yes, help would be appreciated!
- Blacktop
- Cracks filled (before small children are lost in some of them)
- Resealed with a uniform sealant – it will be a pretty black and plenty hot when the sun hits it!
That is a full summer’s worth! Add a prayer for Ben and all the workers involved!
Ordinations to the Priesthood: Saturday, May 25th
11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Risen Christ
Please keep these young men in your prayers!
Lost and Found
We will put items from the Lost and Found in front of school today. Unclaimed items will be donated to the St. Teresa thrift shop on Friday. Thank you!
Lunch Notes
Contact Rosie Polak (rosie-polak@cdolinc.net) to pay any negative lunch balances before May 23, 2024. Returning students with positive accounts; the balance will rollover to next school year; if you have, questions about your balance, feel free to send Rosie an email.
From our Diocesan Tech Office:
We have transitioned lunch programs in the Diocese of Lincoln. This has caused a transition in MySchoolBucks. We have received the following directions from the Diocese on how to reload and to add funds:
This district has moved to the "Diocese of Lincoln Schools" instance on MySchoolBucks. If you are seeing this message, please update the district linked to your account in order to add your student and view cafeteria purchases and balance information.
Using The MySchoolBucks website:
- At the top of the web page click on School District and select Add another school district
- Select Nebraska as the state
- Select Diocese of Lincoln Schools
- Click Add District
Using the Mobile App
It is recommend removing your student from your account before re-adding them from the new school district
It is recommend removing your student from your account before re-adding them from the new school district
- To remove your student select the 4 dots next to your students name and then scroll to the bottom and select Remove Student
- To re-add your student go to the menu in the upper corner and then select Add Student
- Click Continue and select Nebraska as the state then search for Diocese of Lincoln Schools as the District
- Continue and follow the prompts to re-add your student to your account
Volunteers
Thank you for all that you do to help us out here at school! Tomorrow, May 23rd, Mass will be offered for all of our volunteers here at St. Teresa School.
Summer Math Fun
Each student in grades kindergarten-6th grade will be coming home with a Summer Math Booklet. These special booklets have ten activities, based on different summer themes and are designed to be done just once a week. Read through the information letter and try to set aside just one hour each week with your student/s to focus on math in a fun, creative way. Thank you to our Fitzgerald Council 833 Knights of Columbus for purchasing these booklets for our students and making this program possible.
Service Hours
If you do any service hours over the summer, go here to print off a Service Hours sheet and begin filling them in!
Faculty and Staff for 2024-2025*
ADMINISTRATION
Principal – Sister Mary Michael, C.K.
Assistant Principal – Sister Mary Agnes, C.K.
FACULTY
PreK – Mrs. Theresa Schafers
KA – Mrs. Karri Hraban
KB – Mrs. Sadie Moser/Mrs. Sarah Seib
1st - Mrs. Angie Schafers
2A - Sister Teresa Marie, C.K.
2B – Mrs. Sophia Kresak
3A – Mrs. Cindy Werner
3B -- Miss Kaitlyn Becher
4th – Mrs. Shelly Sullivan
5th – Sister Mary Faustina, C.K. (5-8 Technology, 6th Theology)
6A- Mrs. Grace Fusselman (5-7 Math & Algebra)
6B -- Mrs. Sydney Shanahan (5-8 Science & 8th grade Math)
7th – Miss Katherine Hums (6-8 History, 6th English)
8th - Mrs. Brittany Kudron (6-8 Lit, 7th & 8th English)
7-8 Theology & K-8 Art – Mrs. Kelly Pokojski
Library K-8 & Logic 6-8 – Mrs. Susan Pepino
Music K-8 –Mrs. Terri Schilmoeller
Band 5-8 – Mrs. Melissa King
P.E. & Athletic Director – Mrs. Mary Kate Miner
Resource & Special Ed Coordinator – Mrs. Mary Murphy
Educational Consultant - Mrs. Chris Jacobsen
SUPPORT PERSONNEL
Admin. Assistant – Mrs. Mary Schmit (P/T)
Secretaries – Mrs. Laura Minchow, Mrs. Jill Zimmer (P/T)
Paras – Mrs. Kathy Berrick, Mrs. Jennifer Sager (P/T), Mrs. Monica Garcia (P/T), Mrs. Kim Vacek (P/T), Miss Gretchen Kleinschmit (P/T), Miss Grace Vinton (P/T)
Volunteer Para Assistant - Miss Jody Degenhardt
Property Manager – Mr. Ben Hirsch
Lunch Program Director – Mrs. Rosie Polak
Assistant Cooks – Mr. Gary Harper, Mr. Roger Hothan
Extended Day Director -- Miss Gretchen Kleinschmit
Extended Day Assistant--Miss Grace Vinton
*There may be some minor changes.
Summer Fun Punch Tickets
Summer Fun Punch Tickets are available in the school office for only $5! The activities and coupons are valued at over $100. KFOR-KFRX radio station teams up with local businesses to offer summer fun deals for families. Our School Family Association keeps all proceeds from the punch card sales. Help our school and your summer budget! *Only the child named on the punch ticket can use that ticket. There is no limit on how many punch tickets you are allowed to purchase. Deals include a Free Admission OR a Free Train Ride at the Lincoln Children's Zoo, a free hour of painting at Paint Yourself Silly (pottery must be purchased), BOGO admission into the Lincoln Children's Museum, Pizza Ranch free $5.00 FunZone Card (ages 12 and under),and one free admission to a Saltdogs Game when accompanied by a paying adult. Punch tickets may be used from May 24gh through August 15th, 2024. There are also coupons for Juice Stop, Pizza Ranch, Amigos, and more. Coupons expiration dates are from August 15th to December 31st, depending on the businesses.
Punch tickets may be purchased from the school office tomorrow, Thurs. May 23 or during our Wednesday summer office hours.
Extended Day Program
For the 24-25 school year we will have an extended day program that starts at 3:20 and runs until 5:30. There will be a modest cost for the program. To secure a spot in the program for your children, please email the school office at tael-aa@cdolinc.net . We will maintain the program over time for the next years, so you can count on it for your children, if needed, over the long haul. Thank you.
Tuition Payments
Please refer to the tuition statements that you received for your balances for the 2024-2025 school year. Check your FACTs account to see what payment plan you have selected (if you did not select a plan, you were automatically reenrolled in the plan you selected last year). Please note FACTs assesses the following fees:
• 1 or 2 Payments: $25
• 3+ Payments: $55
You may bypass these fees entirely if you are able to remit the total amount due by May 23rd, the final day of school.
To make any changes to your FACTs account or have any questions regarding tuition, please contact Jenn Heffernan at jennifer-heffernan@cdolinc.net .
***For families who would like to pay-in-full before May 23rd and who also applied for OSN, any awards announced after payment would be refunded to the family.***
Gaga Ball has been a hit!
Kindergarten study Ancient Egypt
6th Grade Living Art
Terri Schilmoeller hears that she's been named Teacher of the Year
Senior Class of 2024 Alumni came for Mass on Friday, May 17th.
St. Teresa School Mission Statement
St. Teresa Catholic School, in partnership with parents, provides an education faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. We nurture students’ natural sense of wonder and guide them to know and love truth, beauty, and goodness, and to live as virtuous disciples of Jesus Christ with their hearts set on true and lasting joy.