Welcome to August

We had a great turn out for the Little Canada parade!  I hope you and your family have enjoyed the summer so far and found time to enjoy some special activities together. As principal, I’m enthusiastic and committed to continue the success of Saint John’s School. We have the best staff who work hard to offer every student a well-rounded education.  Currently, we are replacing all the carpet and waxing the floors.  I want to share some information below that will keep you and your student informed about the upcoming school year.  After reviewing the information below, if you have any questions, I encourage you to reach out. We are looking forward to a great 2021-2022 school year! Please be on the lookout for my weekly newsletters.
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Tomorrow-August 4 at 6:30pm, Movie Night at Saint John’s presents: 

The Greatest Showman

Be sure to bring a blanket and a friend to these laidback evenings of popcorn, water (and sometimes lemonade) and a movie with the family - all for free! The movie will be in the gym, due to lighting constraints, but the playground is also accessible for kids who just want to kick back with friends they haven't seen in weeks or months (supervision not included).
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Vadnais Heights Heritage Days: Visit Our Booth Aug. 14-15
For the first time in recent memory, Saint John's School is participating in neighboring city Vadnais Heights' Heritage Days, and we'll have an information booth as a part of the Merchandise Mart from Noon to 8:00 P.M. Saturday, August 14, and 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Sunday, August 15, at Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 East County Road F, Vadnais Heights, MN 55127. If you're around for Heritage Days, please be sure to stop by! Interested in volunteering? There are snacks and a free T-shirt in it for you! Contact Laura Haraldson: [email protected].  

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Information Links:
School Calendar - click on this link for a calendar to view school start/end date as well as days off of school

K-8 Parent Handbook-Click Here

Preschool Handbook-Click Here

PreK-8 Supply List--Click Here

Uniform Sale at Revolution Sports-Click Here

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Used uniforms!
Need uniforms? Back by popular demand is the "Used Uniform Sale," which will be held after all Masses the weekend of August 14-15 in the Gathering Space, and again at Back to School Night on September 1. All items are priced to move, and there is even some brand-new Spirit Wear in the mix. Used uniform donations are still being accepted: Please drop off any used uniform donations in the marked box in the Gathering Space any weekday between 7:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M.
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BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT: Save the Date! 
Please save the date for Back-To-School Night on Wednesday, September 1st - 5:30 - 8:00.  September Movie Night will follow Back-to-School Night and feature Toy Story 4!  I will send out more information for this event closer to the start of school. This event is a great time to meet your student’s teachers and learn more about our extracurriculars, curriculum, and events.
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Volunteer This Year!
As our pandemic protocols shift to a more "normal" status this school year, we want to get ahead of the game on volunteering and how more parents can get involved firsthand in their child(ren)'s education. We anticipate having a variety of options that include one-up hours here and there, as well as regularly scheduled opportunities.

The first step is to ensure you are registered and up-to-date on your Safe Environment training, a prerequisite for all adults who work with kids in our Catholic School System here in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Please contact Laura Haraldson ([email protected]) to check your status and/or get the process started. Important: You will not be able to volunteer, even on a field trip, until you have completed the requisite online training, put forth by VIRTUS and McDowell Agency. Learn more on our website here: www.school.sjolc.org/virtus.
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WHAT ABOUT MASKS?
We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as needed. With the
information that is currently available, including our successful experience offering in-person
learning throughout the 2020-21 school year, Saint John's will continue to responsibly plan to lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Further guidance from the State and legal mandates for nonpublic schools in Minnesota will be evaluated on an as needed basis through the academic year.  We will be updating our protocols in collaboration with the Archdiocese and have our decision on August 6, 2021. 
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Cleaning
We will continue routine cleaning and disinfecting, as they are key to maintaining a safe environment for faculty, students, and staff. In addition, Virgil and Erick will continue to take a proactive daily clean and disinfection approach, following the CDC guidelines, regarding hygiene and proper cleaning procedures.
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Illness
Our expectation is that STUDENTS AND ADULTS DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS OF ANY ILLNESS WILL NOT ATTEND SCHOOL and MUST remain home if symptomatic. All staff and students will not come to school if experiencing any one of the following symptoms: 
● Over 100.4 degrees (Measure temperature before giving medications to reduce fever).

● Excessive Coughing 
● Chills 
● Repeating shaking with chills 
● Severe Headache 
● Sore throat 
● Severe Muscle Pain 
● Loss of taste or smell 
● Shortness of breath

● Vomiting or diarrhea within the previous 24 hours
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$100 Reward for New COVID-19 Vaccinations
With the Delta variant pushing cases up in Minnesota and across the country, the Governor joins the national effort outlined in the President's speech to fight COVID-19, as fall approaches, and kids go back to school.
Any Minnesotan 12 and older who gets their first COVID-19 shot July 30 through August 15 will receive $100 to spend however they choose.
How Minnesotans can get their Free Shot:

• Walk in or make an appointment through the Vaccine Connector: VaccineConnector.mn.gov.
  • Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline
    • 1-833-431-2053
    • Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. & Sat, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
• Use the state’s Vaccine Locator Map to find a vaccine provider near you: https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp.
• Check for vaccine appointments using the Vaccine Finder on https://www.vaccines.gov/   You can search for appointments by vaccine type (e.g., Pfizer).
• Contact your primary health care provider or a local pharmacy.

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Saint John's Musical for 2021-2022
Saint John’s Musical will be Annie!  We will work with Totino-Grace, who will produce the program. Totino-Grace Theater staff will be at Saint John’s at Back-To-School night for signups. We are excited to add this offering to our students. In addition, they will be signing kids up for dance and band!
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CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD
We are now offering a section of full year preschool.  Registration is open!  Returning parents, please contact Kathy LaCasse if you would like to change your registration for the fall of 2021. 
Please spread the word to your friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers and throughout the community.  New parents register HERE.
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New additions to summer athletics! 
We just added one more offering to all grade levels, K-8!  Saint John's will host a Soccer Clinic from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. Saturday, Aug. 28. Cost is $10/student. Please fill out this form if you are interested. We also are offering a volleyball clinic for incoming fifth- through eighth-graders from 9:00 to 11:00 A.M. August 30-September 3. Cost is $30 and includes a T-shirt. Again, please fill out this form for each student interested. Registration required by August 15.
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Fall Festival & Marathon is set!:


We are proud of our school and look forward to more exciting things to come our way!  Check out the great that is happening daily on our school website and follow us on Facebook.
 
Tell a friend about Saint John’s School!

Dan J. Hurley, Principal