Greetings, Mighty Star Families -
Fall is most definitely in the air! Mrs. Sabyan and I were just wondering when Daylight Savings will end, so if you are, too, be prepared to set your clocks back 1 hour at 2:00am on Sunday, November 2nd.
Besides getting darker, it will be getting colder, so please make sure that your students come to school with the proper cold weather gear: jackets, hats, mittens, and when the snow starts to fly - boots and snow pants. We have only a limited number of extras, so please do your best to help your children remember their gear!
Thank you for your conference attendance and communication with your students' teachers during Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences! It's always a delight to see families taking such a strong interest in their children's education and supporting our teachers who work so diligently with their classes to instill not only academic excellence, but virtue and love, as well. Please feel free to reach out to your children's teachers via email with any concerns you might have throughout the year. We are here to partner with you!
Over the past two weeks there have been MANY students across all grades falling ill with Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease (HFMD). This is a highly contagious viral condition which is proving hard to eradicate from our school.
The typical presentation of symptoms is a sore throat and fever, followed by sores/blisters in the mouth, and a rash on the hands, feet, and sometimes backside. Not everyone with HFMD gets every symptom.
PLEASE keep your child home from school if they are experiencing any symptoms of HFMD. The illness has spread to members of our faculty/staff as well, which is proving to be very taxing.
Students should remain home until they have been fever free (without medicine) for 24 hours AND the blisters on their hands, feet and mouth have healed and crusted over. This may take several days, up to a week.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your commitment to keeping our students, faculty, and staff healthy.
The typical presentation of symptoms is a sore throat and fever, followed by sores/blisters in the mouth, and a rash on the hands, feet, and sometimes backside. Not everyone with HFMD gets every symptom.
PLEASE keep your child home from school if they are experiencing any symptoms of HFMD. The illness has spread to members of our faculty/staff as well, which is proving to be very taxing.
Students should remain home until they have been fever free (without medicine) for 24 hours AND the blisters on their hands, feet and mouth have healed and crusted over. This may take several days, up to a week.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your commitment to keeping our students, faculty, and staff healthy.
Our annual ALL SAINTS' DAY PARTY will be held on Friday, October 31th from 1:30pm-3:00pm. Students in grades 1-8 are to wear their school uniforms for Mass, but are welcome to dress as their favorite (or assigned) saint afterward! Kindergarteners, if dressing up, should wear their costumes from home and have a school uniform sent with them, just in case the costume becomes cumbersome during the day.
If you'd like to join the festivities, please feel free to contact the office or your child's teacher. We'd love to have some assistance with the games, so if you'd like to take advantage of this event to tick off some volunteer hours, let us know!
*** Why do we celebrate All Saints' Day and not Halloween? ***
We celebrate All Saints’ Day on November 1 to honor all the saints - both known and unknown - who have lived faithful and holy lives. While Halloween began as All Hallows’ Eve, the vigil before this holy day, modern celebrations often focus on costumes and fun rather than faith. All Saints’ Day invites us to remember those who followed Christ’s example and to be inspired to live with the same love and goodness. Together with All Souls’ Day on November 2, it reminds us of the hope of Heaven and the unity of all God’s people - the saints in Heaven, the souls in Purgatory, and the faithful on Earth.
Another terrific annual event coming up is our Cemetery Prayer Walk scheduled for Monday, November 3rd. All students in grades K-4 will be paired with their Middle School Prayer Buddies and teachers, and after breakfast, we'll depart from the gym and head to the Old Calvary Cemetery in order to pray together for souls in purgatory. Afterward, we'll be hosted by the Hammitt family for hot chocolate before heading back to school. You are welcome to join us for this meaningful event.
* Permission slips will be emailed next week *
Minnesota law requires all schools to conduct regular emergency drills to help students and staff respond safely and calmly during real emergencies. At QPCS, we will practice 5 fire drills, 5 lockdown drills, and 1 tornado drill each school year. These drills ensure everyone knows what to do, help reduce panic and confusion, and allow us to test and strengthen our safety procedures. By practicing together, we build confidence and preparedness to keep our school community safe. Please be assured that we strive to make these drills as low stress as possible for students, using neutral words and calm speech, but in case they feel alarmed, please help them understand how important being safe at school is, and that it is our goal to keep them as secure as possible. Please reach out to me, if you have any questions.
--- NOTES FROM MRS. SABYAN ---
Preschool is in need of new or gently used pants for both boys and girls - sizes 3-6. They can be dropped off either in the office or in the Preschool room. Thank you!
There are extra Color Run t-shirts for sale for $12 each. Please contact Karin Sabyan for more information - ksabyan@queenofpeaceschool.org
ISD 94 is out of session on Monday, November 3rd. Therefore, there will be no hot lunch or public school bussing. Please send cold lunch for your students and arrange for alternate transportation, if necessary. Thank you!
Dates to Remember:
Friday, October 24 - St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop
Tuesday, October 28 - Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Saturday, November 1 - All Saints' Day - All Saints' Day Party - 1:30pm
Sunday, November 2 - The Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)
Monday, November 3 - St. Martin de Porres, Religious
Cemetery Prayer Walk
Tuesday, November 4 - St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Sunday, November 9 - The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Monday, November 10 - St. Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Tuesday, November 11 - St. Martin of Tours, Bishop
Wednesday, November 12 - St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr
Thursday, November 13 - St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin
Mater Dei Wreath Day
Saturday, November 15 - St. Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Sunday, November 16 - STUDENT MASS
Monday, November 17 - St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious
Tuesday, November 18 - The Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin
Friday, November 21 - The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday, November 22 - St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr
Sunday, November 23 - Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Monday, November 24 - St. Andrew Dung-Lac, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs
Tuesday, November 25 - St. Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr
Wednesday, November 26 - End of Trimester I - Early Dismissal (1:00pm)
Thursday, November 27 - Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 26 - Friday, November 27 - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
Sunday, November 30 - First Sunday of Advent
Monday, December 1 - First Day of Trimester II
Tuesday, December 2 - Trimester I Report Cards sent home
Wednesday, December 3 - St. Francis Xavier, Priest
Thursday, December 4 - St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Saturday, December 5 - St. Nicholas, Bishop
Monday, December 8 - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday, December 9 - St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
Wednesday, December 10 - Our Lady of Loreto
Thursday, December 11 - St. Damasus I, Pope
Friday, December 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe
Saturday, December 13 - St. Lucy, Virgin and Martyr
Thursday, December 18 - Christmas Program (6:30pm)
Sunday, December 21 - STUDENT MASS
Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2 - Christmas Break - NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, December 23 - St. John of Kanty, Priest
Thursday, December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas Day
Friday, December 26 - St. Stephen, the First Martyr
Saturday, December 27 - St. John, Apostle and Evangelist
Sunday, December 28 - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Monday, December 29 - St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
Wednesday, December 31 - St. Sylvester I, Pope
Keep in Touch!
Ave Maria!
Melissa Marti