From the Principal's Desk...
Dear Divine Mercy Families,
The end of 1st Quarter is right around the corner. We work to wrap up our first grading cycle this week as we head into conferences and fall break next week. We look forward to seeing all of you on Monday and Tuesday for Conferences. This is an important time to take stock and look at what is going well and what is challenging. Work to make some goals for second quarter and help your child achieve them. This is what builds confidence, resilience, and self-esteem. Being honest about what we do well and what we have to work on is a skill worth fostering and will impact a student long into the future.
I hope to see many of you this Saturday, October 11th at Spooktacular. We are getting close to our goal of raising $15,000. Please consider a last effort to reach out for donations or invite participation from others. The more the merrier!
Our fall break begins on Wednesday, October 15th with a teacher workday. The staff will be working very hard that day to prepare for our Minnesota Non-Public School Accreditation Association (MNSAA) on-site visit coming up November 18, 19, and 20. We will be hosting a team of educators and administrators from Non-Public schools in Minnesota as they analyze our self-study document and observe the workings of school. This visit is a normal part of the accreditation process. We have been accredited with the organization since 1989 and will be renewing again this year. This process provides valuable insight into our school from outside our circle, providing perspective and unbiased lens in which to view our strengths and challenges. When the onsite visit is complete, we will then work to build a new strategic plan to guide our growth over the next six years. We will also be hosting team from the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis this spring to complete a visit for Lumen Accreditation. This visit will be much more focused on our Catholicity and provide another valuable set of recommendations. It will be a busy year for all of us!
When students return from Break on October 20th, we will be looking forward to Halloween happenings, Trunk or Treat, and our annual theatre in residence program through StoryBook Theatre. Stay tuned to this newsletter for all the information!
We live in HOPE-holding on to God’s promises everyday!
Mrs. Ashley
Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Reclaiming Sundays
After all the work God did during the week, on the seventh day, He rested and made it holy. We should, too.
October: Rest and Recreation
In October’s video of the Reclaiming Sundays series, Dr. Pamela Patnode, Catholic educator, author and speaker, encourages families to “keep making the effort.” She reminds us, “The more we can enter into the Lord’s Day with worship, rest and leisure as He intended, the less it feels like an obligation and the more it feels like a gift.” Let’s reclaim Sundays for the Lord and our families.
All DMCS families welcome and encouraged to attend! Anyone interested in participating as a trunk at the event can sign up via QR code or click on the Trunk!
Calendar and Upcoming Events
October 11 Spooktacular (Bruce Smith Field)
October 13 Conferences
October 14 End of 1st Quarter
Conferences
October 15 No School-Teacher Work Day
October 16-17 Fall Break-No School
October 20 School Resumes
October 22 Mass 8:30 AM (Grade 5)
October 24 Dress Down Reward Day
October 29 Mass 8:30 AM (Grade 4-Saints)
October 31 Happy Hallloween
Trunk-or-Treat BA Parking Lot 4-6PM