Flocknote

School News--September 17, 2025

St. Teresa Catholic School

September 17, 2025

Security

The welfare of our children comprises the reason for our existence as a school: spiritual, physical, intellectual. Sister Mary Agnes and I had a meeting today that we scheduled a month ago with a safety expert, Joe Cowan. Mr. Cowan formerly worked for the FBI and before that was a Marine amongst other things. Our meeting went just short of two hours during which we examined our church and school along with our current safety practices.

Mr. Cowan was very reinforcing of our current practices. Specifically, he noted the locked doors at all school entrances, requiring scan cards or communication with the office. He also noted fire doors at the end of the halls which limit building access to specific areas. Our radio communication capabilities were also noted. He said few schools have radios for all teachers/staff. Ours are simple, but they work well. In the church he noted our locked doors in the transepts channeling traffic through the vestibule. The presence of a monitor in the vestibule who has communication with the school office also was applauded.

We have a few things we can work on. I’d like to itemize the top three here:

“Ignore the door”. We need to inform our kids, again, don’t let anyone in. All visitors need to go through the office to get in, so they shouldn’t open the door for anyone. Even Grandma can ring the bell, and we will be glad to unlock the door.
Fire alarm system. Ours functions fully but could use an upgrade. There is a grant opportunity on the horizon for which we are getting set to apply. Anybody out there with a week to help us with the application? It is rather lengthy.
PA system – we really like the 1956 system that has served us VERY well up to this year. We still have communication with classrooms, but now it is one way communication, where in prior times teachers could respond back. (The walkie talkies are filling in for this purpose.) We plan to write this into the grant also.

We are so blessed to have consultants like Mr. Cowan, as well as local law enforcement who serve our community so well. Thank you!

A note on safety without a word about the situation earlier this week would seem remiss. Some questioned the timing of our notification the afternoon following the disruption at the rectory. As it occurred at the end of the day, we didn’t have good facts until the following day. The event was inside at the rectory, not the school, distancing it from our building, and there were no Catechesis sessions at the time. Early on, one of the first facts we received from law enforcement upon our inquiry was that the individual was not a threat to school children. We passed that along as we were able. I apologize if the delay in communication caused you concern. Feel free to give us a call if you have concerns that need to be addressed.

Sister Mary Michael

Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 18: Buddy Lunch
Thursday, September 18: Volleyball games 6:45, 7:45 at St. Michael
Friday, September 19: 1:00 Early Dismissal
Saturday, September 20: Cross Country Meet--Seacrest, 9 a.m.
Monday, September 22: 3rd/4th confessions
Tuesday, September 23: 7B Class Mass
Tuesday, September 23: Home volleyball games, 5:45, 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, September 25: Health Screening

25-26 School year Calendar

September Calendar

September Menu Calendar

Dressing as St. Teresa on her Feast Day

Your daughter is invited to dress as St. Teresa! Our St. Teresa Parish Feast Day Mass is Wednesday, October 1st at 8:15 a.m., celebrated by Bishop Conley. Girls of the parish in K-5th grade are invited to dress as St. Teresa for this special celebration. To ensure room in the pews, please text or e-mail Britt Echtenkamp if your daughter(s) will be participating.

email: britt.echtenkamp@gmail.com or cell: 512-777-9649.

Girls will need to arrive in Kaczmarek Hall by 7:45 a.m. We will take a group picture AFTER Mass. They will be a part of the opening procession and will sit as a group in the front pews during Mass. Mothers are also needed as parent volunteers to assist with the procession and costumes before Mass. Please contact Britt if you are able to help. Thank you!

Here are some links for suggestions of how to make a costume:

1. How to Make a Nun Costume (catholicicing.com)

2. Sewing Easy All Saints Day Costumes – Mercy for Marthas

If you have a costume to loan or donate, please bring them to the school office.

ADULT ENRICHMENT 1.1

Please join us for our first session of adult enrichment. This program is designed to give adults opportunities to be transformed through the renewing of their minds (Romans 12:2) through guided discussions on topics they may not have resources to learn about in their day-to-day lives. It is important that participants prepare for the evening by reading and considering the material as suggested before each session. Our first session will be held on September 25^th from 7:00 until 8:30 at St. Teresa School. We will be considering St. Thomas More's view on the goals of education. If you would like a hard copy of the reading, please request: jean-timmerman@cdolinc.net.

The reading can also be found here:

Thomas More, Letters on Education.pdf

Sep

Adult Enrichment

7-8:30 p.m.

Are you going?

Yes

Maybe

going.

not going.

might be going.

School Pictures

School picture proofs came home last week. 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.

Ice Skating

We are working on a new date for the event. We will let you know!

Fleece and Sweatshirt Orders

It's that time of year again! Time to place your fleece and sweatshirt orders! The store is currently open and will remain open until September 28.

Orders take about two weeks to complete after the store closes!

Please check the store for size guides when ordering.

Also please consider donating your fleece or sweatshirts that no longer fit.

And remember to label your new items with your family name.

Join us at the 20th Missouri River Outdoor Expo

September 20 & 21 (9-5 each day) at Ponca State Park
All programs and activities are FREE
(Nebraska state park entry permit required)

Join us for the largest outdoor expo in the Midwest -- taking place this weekend at scenic Ponca State Park in northeast Nebraska.

More than 100 free activities will be going on over two days throughout the park, with something for all ages and skill levels. Experience hands-on learning and family-friendly outdoor activities like:

Fishing, kayaking and archery
Rock climbing, mountain biking and contests
Boat tours on the Missouri River
Cooking demonstrations, wildlife encounters and camping skills
Local entertainment, food vendors and outdoor cooking
A variety of shooting sports and youth duck calling sessions
Duckdogs: a national canine aquatic competition
The Axe Women Loggers of Maine: lumberjack-style competitions
Sunday's Ultimate Barbeque Challenge
A half-price youth lifetime permit drawing for Nebraskans 15 or under

All you need to participate is a 2025 Nebraska state park entry permit. (Buy online or pick up wherever park permits are sold.)

Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Expo with us! Try new things, build new skills and learn about all outdoor Nebraska has to offer. Bring your family, bring your friends - just don't miss out on the fun! www.outdoornebraska.gov

St. Teresa Parish Bazaar Silent Auction

We are accepting donations of NEW or handmade items and unused gift cards for our silent auction at the annual Fall Bazaar. No used items please. We also have specific items we are looking to add to some larger basket items. If you are interested in donating, please contact Elizabeth Long at 217-685-9167 or Angela Henggeler at 402-802-6352 with questions or if you are willing to sponsor a larger basket! Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Each week will feature a basket or two from our upcoming Bazaar Silent Auction on November 9! This week, in honor of Pope Leo’s birthday, we are featuring our Pope Leo Basket! Featuring a rosary from Rugged Rosaries, socks and a t-shirt from Sock Religious, items from Sophia Press, and more, this basket is a taste of what will be available at the auction!

Bazaar Prize Donations

Our annual Parish Bazaar is coming up on November 9^th and we need your

help with prizes for two of the most popular games, Bottle Mania and Spin-to-Win!

We are requesting that each family please donate $10 worth of small bottled/packaged items!

Canned pop, Small bags of chips, Pop-tarts, 21oz bottled pop, Travel-sized cereal boxes, Hot chocolate packages, Gatorade/sports drinks, Individual packages of cookies, Hostess/Little Debbie snacks, Juice boxes, Pudding snack packs, and more!

***We are also accepting donations of stuffed animals that are in new or excellent used condition***

Please send donations now until November 1^st to school with your student or drop them off in the school office, labeled ‘bazaar.’

If you have any questions please email Nikki Suesz at nikkisuesz@yahoo.com

Thanks for supporting our school!

St. Teresa Bazaar Raffle Tickets

Remember to sell your raffle tickets! Each family is expected to sell 2-3 books of tickets. See instructions on the packet of tickets that came home.

Date of Bazaar: Sunday, November 9, 11-3:30 p.m.

Pius Homecoming Tailgate

Pius X is hosting its annual Homecoming Tailgate from 5:30 to 6:45 pm Friday, Sept. 19 in the commons area of the school. The event features sliders, hot dogs, chicken fingers and more, all for a free-will donation to support the school's campus ministry program. All are welcome, including: alumni; past, current and future Pius X families and students; and all other fans of the Thunderbolts.

S.T.A.G.E.

S.T.A.G.E. Theatre will be holding AUDITIONS for their winter musicals October 16-19 for students ages 7 and up. Students will have the opportunity to audition

For Lil Red and The Cowboy Who Saw the Light, a fun western-themed musical for kids ages 7-11 years, and older students (10 and up) may audition for The Good, The Bad, and The Fuzzy, a comedic musical melodrama set in the wild west. Both musicals carry Christian themes and lessons. Weekly rehearsals beginning October 25 with performances taking place the first two weekends of January. Additional information on tuition, scheduling, and audition signups can be found at stage4kids.com under STAGE Theatre.

https://www.stage4kids.com/stage-theatre.html

CK Sisters Outdoor Fall Workday

Saturday, October 18, 1:30-4:30 pm

We will be mulching, cleaning up our vegetable garden and cutting trees. Helpful items to bring include shovels, work gloves, wheelbarrows, pickups and chainsaws. Children are also welcome – and can use this for service hours! Mark your calendars now and contact Sister Mary Angela at sr.mary-angela@cdolinc.net if you would like to come and help. Please also print and complete a LIABILITY FORM (one per adult; children added to adult form.) Villa Regina Motherhouse, 4100 SW 56th St., about 2 miles west and south of Pioneers Park. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Volunteer Opportunity: Women's Care Center Fundraising Event

When: October 1st, 5:30 p.m. through clean-up (will be finished by 9:30 p.m.)

Where: Lincoln Station Great Hall, 201 N. 7th Street in Lincoln

What: COme help serve the fundraising dinner for the Women's Care Center

Who: Anyone who is 14 and older is welcome to help

Other details: The attire is dressy attire. Women typically wear dresses and skirts, while men often wear slacks and jackets. Dinner will be provided for the volunteers.

The Women's Care Center of Lincoln is a pro-life office situated directly across from Lincoln Planned Parenthood on south 48th Street. The Center's mission is to help pregnant women choose life for their babies, have healthier pregnancies, and become better parents.

If anyone is interested or needs more information they can contact Paul Mach at paul@supportwcc.org or call 402-587-1577.

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!

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

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

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 17, 2025 at 2:56PM