Saint Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School
Home and School
Connections
Volume 21 | Issue 1
A message from Principal Betsy Hand
Dear Saint Ambrose Parents, A joke in my family is: as soon as we arrive at my parent’s house for the weekend, one of my dad’s first questions is “what time are you leaving on Sunday?”. In a family with 10 children who now have our own families, when we all get together (#preCOVID), logistics can be an issue. Most of us are big planners(control freaks), and there is always an itinerary with arrival and departure times, meal planning and activities. This is not the case with my in-laws. A much smaller family, there is little communication about logistics, meal planning or timing of activities when we gather. (I’ve had to offer that up. Who is the control freak?). Part of being a good planner means you are prepared for what’s next. However, sometimes those of us who have that planning gene also become so focused on what is next, that we don’t enjoy the present. Honestly, sometimes we miss the present. Dr. Gregory Bottaro is the author of a book we are reading as a staff, The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time. We are created in the image of God, who is the infinite epitome of mindfulness. If mindfulness is awareness of the present moment, God is the present moment. He defined himself as “I am who I am”. God sees all as a present moment, and it is our goal to see as he sees. We will never see all as he does, but we can see what we see with the light of the present moment. (Botarro, 4). A lack of living in the present is not an adult onset problem. We are on vacation, and have just arrived at the beach. Do you have a child who says, “what time are we leaving?”. Our culture does not help promote mindfulness. The rapid-fire “refresh” quickly changing images and messages encourage us to dismiss the present to the moment we are living. Reading this book converged for me with the help of Dr. Jules Nolan who educated me on numerous studies demonstrating the value of mindfulness practices to help reduce anxiety in children, adolescents and adults. I reference a few here: (Continued Next Page)
· Mindfulness-based training programs with adolescents have been shown to improve internalizing and externalizing complaints, attention problems, and happiness (Bögels, Hoogstad, van Dun, de Schutter, & Restifo, 2008); significantly reduce anxiety (Semple, Lee, Rosa, & Miller, 2010; Sibinga et al., 2012); and increase calm, conflict avoidance, selfawareness, and self-regulation (Sibinga, Perry-Parrish, Thorpe, Mika, & Ellen, 2014). · Evaluations of mindfulness-based training programs with elementary school students showed them to improve executive functioning, behavioral regulation, and metacognition (Flook et al., 2010); to decrease impulsive action and stress responses (Gould, Dariotis, Mendelson, & Greenberg, 2012; Mendelson et al., 2010); to reduce internalizing and externalizing symptoms (Lee, Semple, Rosa, & Miller, 2008); and to increase optimism and improve socially competent behaviors and self-concept (Schonert-Reichl & Lawlor, 2010). It makes sense that a lack of mindfulness of the present moment promotes more anxiety in ourselves and our children. This book study has been so good for me. In the last month two practices that have “stuck” for me is being mindful while cooking (a great sensory activity!), and reading more poetry as that genre does promote mindfulness for me. Botarro says,: ...I want to invite you to explore an idea here that has the power to change your life. Since we are made in God’s image, we are his chldren, destined to be like him. We operate at our best-body, mind and spirit-when we claim our heritage and live according to this nature. Trusting God is the foundation for living this way. When we trust God, we know that all will be well. We see with his kind of eyes, which means that even if we don’t know what is about to happen or why, we know that all will be well. This security allows us to fully live in each moment, with all of our capabilities. It allows us to learn from our missteps, accept others in theirs, and grow into the man or woman that God created us to be. In a sentence, it is the real path to holiness and happiness. (p. 4). Dr. Jules Nolan sent these parent videos to Catholic school before school started. I think some of the advice is still well taken as we continue to navigate our present. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5LX-oj652s&feature=youtu.be (long version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idn8Lez8C68&feature=youtu.be (shorter version) God bless you! I pray that you enjoy a gift in the present moment. Betsy Osterhaus Hand Principal
A message from Principal Betsy Hand con't.
Championing our Amazing Teachers
Work flow is a challenge in most careers right now, and we are experiencing that as educators at Saint Ambrose. As you know, our teachers have been tasked with learning new ways to instruct since last March. From finding ways to assess student learning on-line to building positive relationships with students at home and children in person simultaneously, our talented teachers continue to find great ways to fully live their vocation amid limitations of a pandemic. Here are some parent testimonials championing the good work our teachers are doing. This fall has been wonderful and although unique, our students, parents, and teachers have welcomed the opportunity to come together to learn. You can feel the job in students and teachers as they have connected to learn and grow "We have been very happy with St. Ambrose's distance learning program. The teachers have been engaged, the curriculum has been adapted to incorporate live streaming, and the schedule can be adjusted to our needs at home. We've been impressed at the amount of individualized feedback our son has receive as well as the degree to which the school has been able to set up enrichment activities or focus opportunities based on his needs, despite the remote environment. while we look forward to the day when we are all back learning together, our remote experience has been a great option during this time." Sarah Foote, Parent
"When we decided that distance learning would be the best option for our 2 youngest children, it was an extremely difficult decision. Not attending school meant our children would not be spending their days in the community of Saint Ambrose that we have grown to love over the last 4 years. When we made that hard decision in August I could not have imagined the blessings of what having our kids learn at home would bring. Unlike with our older children who never had to experience learning at home in their younger years, we have been giving the unique experience of being much more hands on with learning. It has given us valuable time to work hard on handwriting, more one on one time with math facts and studying problems beyond homework, and has allowed us to foster our boys creative writing. Working with them on religion has really become a special part of our days, and I am even learning new things myself. One of our biggest concerns of keeping them home was if they would feel isolated from their classmates. The teachers at Saint Ambrose have made our boys feel extremely included in their class, and it has made all the difference. Seeing our boys smile after they have participated in class discussions, or worked with a partner makes them feel very much a part of the Saint Ambrose family. We long for the days when they can be back in class together, but for now we are so incredibly thankful for the options Saint Ambrose has given us to teach our children at home and in such an amazing partnership." -Angela Miles, Parent
"There are two things that I really missed during our time with virtual learning last school year. The first was the face to face interactions with my students, their imaginations and excitement during the creative process is so fun to watch. The second was my classroom and the community of Saint Ambrose, it has been my home away from home for the past 18 years and I really missed it!" Geri Padellford, K-8 Art Teacher "I thought wearing masks to school was going to be a disaster. It really is quite the opposite! We have all learned to look people in the eyes and read what their eyes are saying. If you think about it, it is truly amazing what our eyes can express! I have seen joy, hope, confusion, frustration, sadness, concern, exhaustion, happiness, laughter, love and peace! I have seen all those and more and it is only November! " - Tiffany Madigan, 3rd Grade Teacher "A Catholic education is very important for us and to our children. While our oldest, Emma, 8th grade, has been apart of five different schools in nine years, St. Ambrose has really felt like a family from the very first day. I know many schools claim to have that feeling but St. Ambrose put these words into actions with all three of our children and our family. You can see the love from our first visit in January during Catholic schools week, as Mrs. Osterhaus-Hand hosted our tour, she knew every student by name and a little something about them, it really impressed us. The entire community has embraced us as one of their own, not an outsider. In fact all teachers during parent teacher conferences said the same thing "it doesn't feel like your family just joined us in August" -which is a direct reflection on how the community has welcomed us . In addition, the education curriculum is also top notch. The teachers and staff push where needed but also pull if something might need a bit more help.They are preparing these young minds for greatness, and I truly believe they care about our children " - Kris Dornan, Parent
"Both of our kids were very happy to be back in school to be around their friends and teachers again. They both love school and like the structure and routine of being in the classroom. As parents, we could tell a tremendous improvement in their attitudes and emotional well-being after getting to return in the fall. We are so grateful to Saint Ambrose for all the work put in to make it possible for our kids to be back in school full time!" - Tony & Gina Niese - Parents "Saint Ambrose Catholic School has made our families transition from WI so seamless and nothing short of amazing. The teachers, students and staff have been welcoming and so helpful to our entire family. Our children have never been happy being at school. We are so blessed to be a part of this school and community." Darcey Crotteau - Parent "We were thrilled to have the privilege to send out children back to school full time in person. The entire staff at St. Ambrose worked hard to provide a safe environment where our children could benefit from hands on learning while interacting with amazing teachers and students. We are beyond grateful to have the community of St. Ambrose that has provided our children academic and spiritual growth during these trying times." - Andrea Scott, Parent "The 4th Graders who are in the classroom and doing distance learning at home began the school year with a positive attitude and a smile on their faces. That hasn't changed! i am constantly amazed by their resilience and ability to adapt to new situations. I feel so thankful to work for such an amazing community" - Anna Flynn, 4th Grade Teacher
Samantha Pryor School Nurse Hi! My name is Samantha Pryor and I am excited to be joining St. Ambrose staff as a Licenses School Nurse. I started my career as a pediatric nurse, and in 2015 I began working as a Licensed School Nurse. I truly believe healthy learners are the best learners! I enjoy partnering with teachers and parents to keep students safe and healthy while at school!
McKenzie Lindahl - Second Grade I graduated from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse in December 2019 with a Bachelor's Degree in Early Children - Middle Childhood Education. I then was a long term substitute kindergarten teacher in Holmen, WI and quickly transitioned to distance learning to end of year. I love being a teacher and in fact, i have wanted to be a teacher my whole life. I still remember setting up my own classroom in my grandma's attic and playing school with my younger cousins. Outside of being a teacher, I love spending time with my family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, playing sports, traveling, baking, reading, watching movies, and going to concerts. I am also continuing my own education as I am back at UWL getting my Master's degree in Whole Child Education and Authentic Learning. I feel so blessed to be part of the Saint Ambrose team. I have been welcomed and supported with open arms. It is such a joy to be able to provide students with a whole child education so that students can grow academically, socially, and spiritually. With the smaller class sizes, I cherish my ability to be able to build positive relationships with each student. It is my goal to create a sense of home within my classroom community and to spark curiosity and creativity within each student. I aim to help each student reach their hopes and dreams. I, myself, am also eager to grow in my faith alongside the students and staff at Saint Ambrose.
Welcome new staff
Emily McLean 7th Grade English and Literature I joined the Saint Ambrose School community this autumn with great excitement and gratefulness! I am a 2020 graduate from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, despite a global pandemic. I am a sister to seven siblings and an auntie to a village of 25+ nieces and nephews. In my free time, I love to sing, read classical literature, cook Indian and Thai cuisines, and practice with gouache painting. After graduating from UNWSP, God provided me with an opportunity to work in the Saint Ambrose School. I soon learned that Saint Ambrose would be a community of those who freely offered me their time, encouragement, and vast experience. Everyday, I am keenly aware that my passion for strengthening students' minds through a tapestry of literature and critical thinking is matched by all the teachers around me. It is my great hope to inspire my students to be lifelong learners: curious about the world around them and the literature they read. At Saint Ambrose, I know that each teacher and administrator has the same commitment to the "intellectual curiosity" that God has given us.
Allie Ziemann Extended Day Director My name is Allie Ziemann and I am the new Extended Day Director. I live in Cottage Grove with my husband Ryan and my four daughter: Ave, Olivia, Savannah and Vienna. I have my BS in Business from St. Kate's and my MA in Education from St. Scholastica. I taught kinder for a year Valley Crossing, preschool for a year and have been running a home daycare for the past twelve years. Now that my youngest is in school. I decided it would be a good time to get back into a educational role. This opportunity came at the perfect time! I love seeing all the smiling faces and interacting with all the kiddos of Saint Ambrose. The staff and community here have been so welcoming and its great to be still working with kiddos, but outside of the home. haha!
Faith and Service
Spreading JOY Dorothy Day A parishioner offered so the opportunity to help spread some joy to the Friends of Dorothy Day Program. Students in grades K-8 created pictures, cards, and messages to send to the program. They will be shard with the people there over Thanksgiving and we hope they will feel blessed by the messages of love and care from Saint Ambrose students. Woodbury Options for Women Our 7th graders collected baby items to support the work of Woodbury Options for Women. We are blown away by their generosity. WOW!
Thank you to our wonderful Physical Education teachers: Mr. Peterson and Ms. Spohr-Barilla for their willingness to "run" our 2020 School Marathon. With the help of our event chairs: Amy Audette, Molly Heisler and Rusty Nereng, students enjoyed a beautiful fall day celebrating our amazing school on our beautiful campus. Students enjoyed time together, a snack and a break from the classroom. What a blessing! Thank you to all parents and supporters who donated to our fundraiser. At last count, we raised over $12,000!
Marathon Update
Athletics
We had a very special soccer season this year. 5 weeks- 1 snow storm - 2 teams making it to the CAA finals. We were so blessed to be able to participate and are thankful for our coaches that stepped up to make it happen. Thank you so much for your donation of your time.
Fall 2020 Athletic News
AmazonSmile The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organization you select. It’s as easy as shopping on www.smile.amazon.com instead of amazon.com. All account information and items added to your cart stay the same as you go between the two sites. This link will take you directly the AmazonSmile site for Saint Ambrose: smile.amazon.com/ch/ 41-1905541 Please note that donations are only made when you shop smile.amazon.com—not when you check out through the app or amazon.com site. Box Tops Thank you to those of you who have downloaded the Box Tops App and are helping to support St Ambrose. So far this year we have earned just over $50.00 but over the life of SAW's participation in this fundraiser we have earned over $30,000 for our school. Let's keep in going!! BOX TOPS MAKES IT EASY All you need is your phone! Download the Box Tops app, shop as you normally would, then use the app to scan your store receipt within 14 days of purchase. The app will identify Box Tops products on your receipt and automatically credit your school’s earnings online. Twice a year, your school will receive a check and can use that cash to buy whatever it needs. **If you can't download the app you can still participate by sending in your receipts that have Box top Products on them and we can scan them for you. And don't forget!! BOX TOPS ON PACKAGES Kowalski's When you shop at Kowalski’s in Woodbury, Kowalski’s will make a donation on behalf of St. Ambrose of Woodbury. All you have to do is place your receipt in the box at the front of the store! It doesn’t matter how much you spend, they donate based upon number of receipts.
Fundraising
Easy ways to help Saint Ambrose throughout the year
Feel free to contact the HandS Board president if you ever have any questions about school events or have some fundraising ideas. We would love to hear from you. Many HandS make light work! Email handspresident @gmail.com
HandS Board News Meet the New Board for 2020-2021
Jason Meyer President Audrey (K), Charlotte (2nd) Favorite event: Spring Shindig Kelly Danielson Vice President Max (3rd), Zach (1st), Oliver (K), Penelope (Caterpillar ECEC) Favorite event: Book Fair Suzannah Prochazka Volunteer Coordinator Miles (5th), Will (3rd), Lucas (1st) Favorite event: Marathon Juan Carlos Figueroa Treasurer Marianne (6th) Favorite event: SAW Fest Ann Haag Secretary Charlie (6th), Elliot (3nd), Oliver (1st) Favorite event: Christmas concert Alana Hustings Communications Coord Autumn (8th), Colten (3rd) Favorite event: SAW Fest Susan Sosa Fundraising Coordinator Sophia (8th) Favorite Event: School Marathon
Fundraising Update
Jason Meyer President Audrey (K), Charlotte (2nd) Favorite event: Spring Shindig Kelly Danielson - Vice President Max (3rd) , Zach (1st), Oliver (K), Penelope (??) Favorite event: Suzannah Prochazka - Volunteer Coordinator Miles (5th), Will (3rd), Lucas (1st) Favorite event: Juan Carlos Figueroa - Treasurer Marianne (6th) Favorite event: Ann Haag - Secretary Charlie (6th), Elliot (3nd), Oliver (1st) Favorite event: Christmas concert Alana Hustings- Communications Coordinator Autumn (8th) , Colten (3rd) Favorite event: SAWFest Susan Sosa - Fundraising Coordinator Sophia (8th) Favorite Event: School Marathon
Chipotle Fundraiser Night- Thank you to all who came out on October 13th and supported Saint Ambrose at our Chipotle Fundraiser. A special thank you as well to those of you who waited extra long to get your food, it was a busy night! All together, we raised over $400 for Saint Ambrose! Upcoming Fundraisers: Stay tuned for more information about our next fundraiser in December at Ronnally's Pizza and Pasta in Woodbury. We are slated for this event to happen on Tuesday December 8th Scholastic Book Fair: Don't forget our annual Scholastic Book Fair in February. It will look different this year but planning is currently underway. Stay tuned for more details to come. Spring Shindig: Due to COVID and the restrictions, we are planning on doing a Golf Outing instead of the Shindig. Planning is in the works, details to come.
Quick Links
Dates to Remember
November November 20 Picture Re-Take Day November 24 End of Tri-mester November 25-27 NO SCHOOL-Thanksgiving November 30 School resumes NO DISTRICT BUSSING December December All Dates NO DISTRICT BUSSING December 8 Ronnally's Fundraiser December 21-January 1- Christmas Holiday Break January January 4 School Resumes January 8 NO DISTRICT BUSSING January 15 NO DISTRICT BUSSING January 22 DISTRICT BUSSING AVAILABLE January 18 NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King, Jr. Day January 29 NO DISTRICT BUSSING
All Pro Dads Saint Ambrose Sports Calendar School Calendar School Website School Facebook Page School Instagram Page Sycamore Access and Help Guides