June 3, 2010

Dear Parent/Guardian:

                 I learned (AGAIN) a very important lesson this weekend – “Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today!” All year long Julie Hentges has been taking fantastic pictures of our students to be included in a Scrapbook Video. I consciously made the decision to wait until May to compile this video because I didn’t want to use up the hard space on my laptop computer.  I regretted that decision this past weekend when I sat down to make the video!  I don’t know whether it is a blessing or a curse but I always forget how much time/effort it takes to do the various projects. So I always go into the tasks with enthusiasm. It is only when I am in the middle of a task that my mind kicks in and says, “”Remember when you did this last year, it wasn’t that much fun!”  Anyway the video was completed at 10:00 p.m. on Monday night.  (Those in the video business always say plan 1 hour for every minute of video produced.  I think the video ended up being 28 minutes long so you know it kept me busy!)  Next year I will complete it each month because I discovered that I had missed snapping certain pictures. (I only have 18 6^th grade Science Fair students. I missed two somehow!)  The concrete sequential person that I am would have loved to tally to be sure all students were included equally!  That was impossible!  I discovered that some students just manage to have their picture taken more often!  I also hope (pray) that I included all individual pictures of the students. I scanned them in…counted them as I scanned them…and then counted them as I put them into the imovie. But there is this little nagging voice that says, “You should have checked them off the list as you included the pictures!” I think you will enjoy the final project. We have included the DVD’s in this week’s Thursday folder for those of you who sent in your $5.00. Thank you to Aaron Barker & his family who copied the DVD’s for me.

Field Day – We certainly had fun yesterday at our Field Day. Thank you to Pam Kenning and Paula Thelen who helped plan the events. Thank you to Sandy Torborg, Nancy Schlangen, Keith Burg, Lois Gertken and Kelly Bautch who helped us out.  Our theme was “The Amazing Race Across America”. We had ten stations representing ten of our states.  The “governor” or person in charge of the station told the children about the state including the capital, state motto and why the activity at the station pertained to that state.  At the conclusion of the ten stations, each team was given the ten state capitals and ten state mottos and they had to match them with the state!  I was impressed how well the students remembered the information. 

WE DID IT!  Yes, we reached our goal!!  We collected over $150,000 of Plantenberg receipts to receive our $1,000 from Plantenberg’s. Thank you to Patti & Tucker Plantenberg for this wonderful program.

Congratulations – Congratulations to the following fifth graders who had NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS  all year:  Taylor Jude, Cole Dingmann, Anthony Robak, Kaitlyn Reinhardt, Hailey Torborg, Katie Hormann, Lily Becker, Nolan Rea and Sydney Lewellyn.

More Good News – Jerry Voit, the bus driver for our fifth and sixth grade field trip to the cities last week, stopped by to let me know how wonderfully the children behaved on the bus.  Wow! That made my day!

BINGO AT RIVER STATION  We have discovered that it is important that workers arrive by 6:15 p.m. on the nights you are assigned to work.  The following jobs must be completed:

Caller  Set up small Bingo machine.  Place all the bingo balls in the tray and have one of the bingo players (not worker) verify that all the bingo balls are there.  Adjust the microphone volume etc.

Cashiers – Set up the computer and printer.  Hand out the $20 packets of money to the floor workers.

Floor Workers – Tape plastic bags on each table. Hand out programs for each table. Take the caps off the daubers and put daubers on the table. Exchange 20 ones for $20 bills.  Sell first round of cards. This all has to be done before 7:00 p.m.

CHECK  THE NEW SCHEDULE – Remember a new workers schedule was sent home last week.  Check it to be sure that you are there on your assigned dates.  Thank you to Sandy Torborg and Karen Blattner who have been there every week to help me train in new people.  They have been there to fill in if a floor worker didn’t show. This however, will not happen this summer so it is important that you show on your assigned time.  Remember, you must get a substitute if you cannot make it.  (Do not call me!) Thanks!

I haven’t quite figured out how to get the cash bank and bingo cards there without me showing up each week. But I will figure something out!

Sauk River Chain of Lakes – Thank you to Carole Braun who has volunteered to help me with the Sauk River Chain of Lakes rolls/coffee for their annual meeting.  We could use one more person.

***Opportunities****

Piano Lessons – Beth Hagen (320.309.8679) is interested in giving piano lesson this summer. Call her if you are interested. Beth is the daughter of Katie Nienaber.

20 Gallon Fish Tank – Bev Jacobs (320.248.5466) has a 20 gallon fish tank that she would like to give away. Please call her if you are interested.

Build a Bike Program – The Cold Spring Granite Company is hosting a “Build A Bike” workshop in July.  They will give 2 bikes to children from each of our local parishes (12 years and under) Recipients will be asked to come to the Richmond Lions Park on July 22^nd to receive their bike. Please call me if you are interested.

Minnesota Healthcare Outreach Project – The St. Cloud Area Legal Services offers help for individuals and families who are uninsured or underinsured.  The goal is to identify those who are in need of medical coverage, and then to assist them through the application process for any one of the Minnesota’s Health Care Programs available through the county or state.  Their services are completely free.  Call 320.253.0121 for more information.

Gambling Meeting – The Gambling Committee will meet on Thursday, June 10^th at 7:00 p.m.  We really need gambling committee members there as we have to finalize (or work out the kinks) the process we use for filling out forms and submitting them to the state as well as ways we can get cash bank/bingo cards to River Station each week.

Golf Teams – We are in need of TEAMS!!  Won’t you join us on Friday, June 11^th for a 4-person scramble starting at 1:00 p.m.  You will golf 9 holes followed by dinner at Grandpa Jerry’s Bar & Grill at the River Station for $50.00.  The forms have been sent home previously but if you misplaced your form, you will find one on line at www.ss-peterandpaul.com

This Week’s Folder – Please check through this week’s folder carefully because it has information on Family Fun Nights and Soccer Clinic for Grades 5 & 6.

River Lake Days – Don’t forget to follow the River Lake Days Schedule that has been sent home previously. It is so important that you show up at your assigned times.  Remember that everyone was required to work. So if you did not sign up, I scheduled you for Friday night bingo!!   Please find a sub if you cannot make it.  DO NOT call me!  Thanks!  If you signed up for SET UP on Wednesday night, please be here at 6:30 p.m.

Next Fall – I heard this through the grapevine so I thought I would pass it on to you.  Later this summer you will receive a “blue post card” from the district/bus company. You MUST return those cards if you want your child to be transported next year.

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you for sharing your child with us this year!  I truly believe they are so fortunate to attend a small Catholic school.  One of the things that always stands out for me as I wander through the halls…there is a lot of laughter and praise that goes on each day!  I think the children are fortunate to be educated this environment!

Thank you! Thank you!  I so appreciate all the parents and community members who share their talents with us each week. It is AMAZING to see how many people help us out.  I always chuckle because whenever someone critiques me, they will say (and rightly so), “You do too much!  You need to delegate more”.  When I see all the people who stepped forward to help out, I can’t help thinking “What would I do without these wonderful volunteers!”

See you on September 1^st at our Open House. But before that date, ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

Jacqueline L. Walz