Weekly Update 26 – April 3, 2025
Calendar of Events |
|
|---|---|
| Fr 4.04 | 8:00 AM K-8 Mass (church) 5:45 PM Family Stations (church) 5:50 PM Soup Supper 6:30 Virtual Pilgrimage 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross (church) |
| Su 4.06 | 2:00 PM Confirmation (Cathedral of St Paul) |
| Mo 4.07 | Out-of-uniform passes may be used 6:30 PM Build a Basket Night (cafeteria) 6:30 PM Home & School Meeting (104) |
| We 4.09 | 6:00 PM Spark: 2nd-4th (MSC) 6:00 PM Ignite: 5th-8th (youth room) |
| Fr 4.11 | Lenten Day of Renewal 8th grade Reenactment of the Stations (church) 5:45 PM Family Stations (church) 5:50 PM Soup Supper (Doran Hall) 6:30 PM Virtual Pilgrimage (Doran Hall) 7:00 PM Stations of the Cross (church) |
| Sa 4.12 | Lenten Penance Service (church) |
| Mo 4.14 | Out-of-uniform passes may be used |
Looking Ahead |
|
| Fr 4.18 & Mo 4.21 | School Not in Session - Easter Break |
| Su 4.27 | First Communion |
| Sa 5.03 | Borromeo Bash |
Dear St. Charles Parents,
I trust your spring break was everything you needed. We’re glad to be back with your children and are ready for a strong finish! It might seem a little early to be talking about that, but it will be here before we know it. Monday was a valuable staff work day. We met about some immediate and some big-picture things for St. Charles. This year we are reviewing the religion curriculum and participated in virtual presentations from the Word of Life curriculum by the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press and the Virtue curriculum put together by the Dominican sisters. You will be hearing more about these resources and how they will be used at school.
Exciting News – our beloved, former principal, Gary Wilmer, will be honored tonight at the Archdiocesan Catholic School Leadership Convocation. He is one of four diocesan recipients whom Pope Francis has bestowed papal honors upon. They will receive the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award, a first for anyone in our Archdiocese! Gary Wilmer served at St. Charles from 1971-2008: a 37 year legacy! After St. Charles School, he moved to the archdiocesan level to continue to promote and support Catholic education. We thank him for his 58 years of service to Catholic education!! Read here for all the details.
The next draft of the Minnesota state budget came out and nonpublic pupil aid is still cut. We need to turn up our voices a bit. What is at stake here is funding that pays for textbooks, health service (our health aid who helps our students when they are hurt or ill), transportation, and counseling. These are essential services. There is a state statute that protects them, but our governor is trying to remove the statute. The next move is to call our governor and tell him not to take these essential services away from our kids. All of us parents are taxpayers, and we all pay tuition on top of that because we want an educated public, and we want a faith-based education for our kids. If tuition in nonpublic schools goes up, kids will leave nonpublic schools, and then it will cost the state government even more money to educate them. This cut makes no sense at any level. Please call Governor Walz, if he doesn’t answer, leave a message (more info here): 651-201-3400
Our 8th graders are being confirmed this Sunday at the St. Paul Cathedral! Let’s all keep our 8th graders in our prayers this week. I’m very proud of how this group has been leading our school. May the Holy Spirit work through them all as they finish their glory days at St. Charles School and beyond.
Speaking of our 8th graders, on April 11th, the Live Stations of the Cross will be presented by our 8th grade students in the sanctuary of the church at 2:00 PM. If you have not seen this, you may want to make it a priority. It is something that I am moved by every year.
God bless you,
Danny Kieffer
St. Charles Principal
Spread the word: New Student Applications Open
Tell all your family and friends about St. Charles School! We are now accepting new student applications for the 2025-26 school year.
Easter Food Drive ~ now through April 11th
St. Charles students are partnering with the parish to provide Easter meals for those in need. Each grade level is assigned a specific item to collect. Food will be collected now through April 11. Thank you for your help! Click here for Easter Food Drive information.
Check Out These Volunteer Opportunities!
There are a number of volunteer opportunities coming up! Teacher Appreciation Week, Hospitality, Graduation, and more!! Sign up today!
Summer Camps are Here!
Dates for these 3 school summer camps are as follows:
Monday, June 9 – Thursday, June 12:
- Art Camps: current K-8th graders
- Basketball Camps: current 3rd-8th graders
- Floor Hockey Camp: current 4th-8th graders
Monday, June 16-Thursday, June 19:
- Volleyball Camps: current 3rd-8th graders
Register for the Borromeo Bash by April 17, 2025
Less than two months until this year’s Borromeo Bash at the Hollywood Theater!
Please purchase your tickets ASAP as we will sell out again this year! Visit the Bash website for all the details of this amazing night at Bash 2025.
We are in need of auction items! Visit our Amazon Wish List if you need some ideas of what to donate! Please drop them off at the school office between 8:00 AM and 3:30 PM. All donation items and $10 per child for our grade level baskets are due by this Friday, April 4th! Thank you for your generosity as we could not have a successful event without YOU!
How do I volunteer for The Bash?
The Event Team has a need for various volunteer opportunities. This includes day-of set-up, clean-up, Wishlist support. Please click here for a list of volunteer opportunities.
Build A Basket Night ~ Monday, April 7
The Borromeo Bash planning committee is hosting a “Build A Basket” night to prepare baskets for the silent auction, and we need your help. Please help us make it the best Bash ever! Hope to see you there!
- Date: Monday, April 7th, 6:30-8 PM in the school cafeteria.
- Who: Anyone!
- What to bring: Please come with new items. These can be small (i.e. bottle of wine, a new board game that you already have, craft supplies, clothing items) or large ( i.e. sporting equipment, yard games, summer recreation). Donated items may be combined with other donated items to make themed baskets. Baskets and packing material will be provided.
- Light refreshments, snacks, and fun music will be provided.
Can’t make it, but still want to donate? Please drop off donations to go in baskets by Friday, April 4th to the school office.
2024 Education Tax Information
More information: Click here for the 2024 Subtraction Credit Information
Order your 2024-25 Yearbook ~ by April 25
Don’t miss your chance to order a yearbook! Deadline to order is April 25th. All yearbooks need to be pre-ordered online.
Parish Updates and Events
Did You Know the Parish has a YouTube Channel? Learn about the Mass in Father and Deacon’s new series “What Happens at Mass” and view Formation Night speakers if you missed the monthly Wednesday night formation. And soon you will be able to catch up on the Parish Mission if you were not able to attend.
Lenten Penance Service on Saturday, April 12, from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM in the church. A number of priests will be available to hear confessions that morning.
Prayer Corner
If you would like to add someone to our prayer corner, please email the information to Danny Kieffer.
- For the repose of the soul of Don, father-in-law of staff member Mrs. Harens and for the comfort of his family.
- For the repose of the soul of Mrs. Juntilla’s father and for the comfort of his family.
- For healing from newly diagnosed stage 4 cancer for Sid, a friend of a St Charles staff member.
- For the repose of the soul of Lois, great grandmother to students George, Freddie & Bernadette, Lucas, Alice & Emmy and Charlie & Otis, and for the comfort of her family.
- In thanksgiving for coming home from the hospital and for continued healing for Harold, sibling of students Louis, Jude, and Layla.
- For healing for 6-year-old Margaret and for guidance for her family. Margaret is a cousin to students Adriana, Robbie, Adeline, and Raina.
- For Ann, grandmother of students Eleni, John, and Andrew. Prayers for healing, success of the cancer treatment, and for the doctors and nurses.
- For Gregory, father of St. Charles student, Liam, in his deployment to the Middle East to care for wounded and ill service members – for safety and safe return for him and his unit.
- For healing for Bob, grandpa of Emily, as he continues fighting a serious infection.
- For healing from a 3rd cancer diagnosis for Jody, grandmother to students, Torin and Brody.
Helpful Links for Parents:
- St. Charles School Calendar
- St. Charles School Lunch menus
- St. Charles Athletic Calendar
- St Charles School Volunteers
- Spirit Wear orders
- Cretin Derham Hall Summer STEM Club
★ Weekly Update article deadline: Wednesday 9:00 AM – Send submissions to mwappes@stchbs.org
