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School News--September 3, 2025

St. Teresa Catholic School

September 3, 2025

St. Gregory the Great

Do Students Need Structure?

Do children need structure? Aren't they just happiest when they have complete freedom to do whatever they want, whenever they want?

I think, for a short time, this might work...but I think they'd quickly discover that they would actually rather have some boundaries.

Before school started, we had some students help us with a few projects around school. When I asked them if they would want to have more summer, one of them responded, "No, too much free time." I was surprised by the answer, but I think it's true.

Structure and doing things over and over again might not be as appealing to some of us, but to children, it is essential. This desire for structure and routine is written in us by our Maker. G.K. Chesteron once wrote on this concept, speaking about repetition:

The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy… They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them.

It is not too late in the school year to take a look at the structures in your home. What time do your children go to bed? What are your guidelines for technology? What are their times for study, play and prayer? A routine might seem difficult to maintain, and they may resist at first, but I hope you discover that, in the end, they truly grow and thrive on routine.

Sister Mary Agnes

Upcoming Events

Friday, September 5: First Friday, MCA collection
Sunday, September 7: Canonization of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati

25-26 School year Calendar

September Calendar

September Menu Calendar

Monday, September 8

Not only is it the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but ttudents, teachers and staff are welcome to wear jeans and hoodies in honor of the canonization of St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati!

Home Game Help

We are offering volunteer opportunities to the families of St. Teresa School for our 4 home volleyball games! You could serve as line judge, concession stand vendor, admissions, or taking stats. Bonus: You and your families receive free admission into the volleyball game for which you volunteer! Our first game is on September 11th, 2025, and we would love to have all slots filled before then.

See the sign-up below!

St. Teresa Home Volleyball Games

Go Jayhawks!

Alyssa Cunningham

St. Teresa AD

Gerbils for the Weekend

Would you like to have pet gerbils for a weekend? Sign up below to volunteer to care for Linus and Cletus! Easy care, and I will send a few short instructions when you sign up. God bless!

Sr. Mary Agnes (sr.mary-agnes@cdolinc.net)

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E48A9A729A7F85-51756863-gerbil

Lost and Found--Fleeces

We have numerous fleeces in the lost and found already, without a name. Please make sure to write your child's name on the tag of your child's fleece, jacket or sweatshirt so we can return them to the student. If your child is missing their fleece, please come to the office.

Meds in the Office

If your student takes over the counter medications on a more regular basis and you would like to provide the medication for the health office, please bring to health office, labeled with the child's name.

School Pictures

School picture proofs are coming home today! Orders are due Friday, September 19th. Order information is on the back of the booklet: online or paper ordering options.

Retake day is Monday, September 29th.

Chairs

Need folding chairs? We are downsizing our folding chair collection. Does anyone want some OLD sturdy folding chairs...the metal ones painted brown. Call the office if you'd like some before we send them "elsewhere". We have several dozen.

Choir Opportunity

On Sunday, October 5 at 1:00 p.m., the Diocese of Lincoln will celebrate the consecration of its first consecrated virgin, Meagan Gitchell.

Students in 7th grade and up are invited to help sing in this choir.

Anyone interested, please provide their name, email, and voice part on the link below. If any students play a stringed instrument they are welcome to sign up for the orchestra. (note: first page is choir, and second page is orchestra) https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/148G25XWEjRvn8xd_jV5vQF0MDryEXmlyhhA35gkpBYM/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Musical selections found on this link:

Https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uy-3qZVGKi83ZqyhLRU4SfwaHyOYBS0_QMPZwyzLza8/edit?usp=sharing.

There will be a practice the week before the Mass; details to come.

Junior Cheer Clinic

The Pius X Cheer team will host its Jr. Cheer Clinic on Saturday, September 6 from 2 to 4 pm in our Main Gym. The camp is for those in Pre-K (at least 3) to 7th Grade. Learn more and register at https://PiusX.net/cheer.

BIST (Behavior Intervention Support Team)

for Parents

The BIST Team is offering a series of complimentary classes for parents and guardians. Classes will be presented virtually and facilitated by the BIST Team.

Topics and Dates:

· September 18th: Just One Thing at a Time: Taking on tasks that seem to be overwhelming & addressing "perceived" helplessness

· September 25th: Why is the Truth so HARD? Rebuilding trust when our children lie

· October 2nd: We All Live Here; We All Help Here: Teaching ownership, responsibility & pride through "helping out" around the house

Time:

· 5:45 PM – 6:00 PM Enter Zoom Waiting Room

· 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM Informational Session

· 6:45 PM – 7:00 PM Questions and Answers

More details on the letter attached below!

Parent Series Letter 2025.docx

Altar Society for 5th-8th grade girls

All 5th-8th grade girls are invited to become a member of the St. Maria Goretti Youth PCCW Circle. We meet on first Wednesdays of the month from 3:20-4:30 p.m. in Kaczmarek Hall. Visit https://tinyurl.com/4nwj47bf to sign up! Please contact Julie Noack at 402-310-1698 or jnoack76@gmail.com with questions.

First meeting is September 10th (the only meeting that is a 2nd Wednesday).

This year's focus is on gratitude and outreach. We typically do activities such as hands-on service projects, keeping kitchen supplies stocked and in good order, serving coffee and rolls after Mass or funeral dinners, cleaning the church, and more.

Church Cleaning

Have you ever wondered who cleans the church? We are looking for a couple of more families to join this effort of cleaning God's house. The time commitment is about 1 hour once a month and this time counts toward service hours for any children who help. We need one family to commit to once a month and one or two families to be subs for when others are unable to clean for their week. For questions, please contact Sarah Tlamka at 402-742-4007.

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.

Sent by Sister Mary Agnes on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 2:22PM