Go Make Disciples

October 29, 2025 Principal’s Ponderings Halloween Safety As Halloween approaches, excitement is in the air! Before our Panthers head out for a fun night of trick-or-treating this Friday, here are a few simple reminders to help keep everyone safe while enjoying the evening: Stay Visible: Wear light-colored costumes or add reflective tape and carry flashlights or glow sticks. Walk Safely: Stick to sidewalks and cross streets at corners using crosswalks. Remind children to look both ways and make eye contact with drivers before crossing. Know Your Route: Younger children should always be with an adult, and older students should travel in groups on a planned route. Check Costumes: Make sure masks don’t block vision and costumes fit properly to avoid tripping. Candy Check: Remind children not to eat any treats until an adult has looked them over. Drivers, Be Alert: Slow down in neighborhoods and watch carefully for excited trick-or-treaters who may dart into the street. At St. Paul's safety is always a top priority whether in our classrooms, on our playgrounds, or out in the community. Let’s make sure this Halloween is filled with fun, laughter, and safe memories for everyone! Have a spooktacular weekend, Panthers! ********************************************************************************************* WHAT’S NEW St. Paul the Apostle School Recognized by the Community! We are proud to share that St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School has once again been recognized by our local community in the “ Locals Love Us” awards! Our school earned 1st Place in Preschool, 1st Place in K–8 Education, and 3rd Place in Daycare. These honors reflect the dedication, faith, and excellence that define our entire community, students, staff, and families alike. At St. Paul’s, we strive to provide a nurturing, faith-filled environment where children grow academically, spiritually, and socially. Recognition like this reminds us that our shared commitment to Catholic education truly makes a difference. Thank you to all who voted and continue to support our mission. Together, we are forming hearts and minds for Christ, and it’s clear that our community notices! ********************************************************************************************* All Saints Day Yesterday, students from 5B led a beautiful Saints Parade during our All-School Mass. Each student dressed as their chosen saint, sharing a living example of faith and virtue with the school community. Their reverence and enthusiasm reminded us all that we, too, are called to follow the saints’ example of love, kindness, and faithfulness in our daily lives. ********************************************************************************************* Spirit Wear and Uniform Store is Open thru Monday St. Paul families, Our Spirit Wear and Uniform Store is now open with fresh designs, including glitter T-shirts and cozy winter hats. This is a great way to stock up for the year or pick up some Christmas gifts! Shop here: https://stores.inksoft.com/saint_paul_davenport Order deadline: Monday, November 3 for delivery to school by Tuesday, November 25. If you are purchasing Christmas gifts that you do not want to go home with your child, please email saintpaulhomeandschool@gmail.com and we can arrange for your order to be picked up in the school office. Thank you for supporting the St. Paul Home and School Association! ******************************************************************************************** Parent/Teacher Conferences Next week we will have parent/teacher conferences for 4yo Preschool and Kindergarten through 8th grades. Please sign up at the link below: Conference Sign Up Please use the MAIN OFFICE DOOR to enter the school, it is the only door that will be unlocked during conferences (you may exit out any door). Tuesday, November 4: 3:00–7:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 5: 3:00–5:00 p.m. Thursday, November 6: 7:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. 4yo Preschool conference times vary from the K-8 times. Please use the East Rusholme Street door to enter for preschool conferences. ******************************************************************************************** Panther Perk Day/Turn in Tuesday Next Tuesday, November 4 is Panther Perk Day. Orders turned in between today, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Nov. 4 will count towards an out of uniform day on Friday, Nov. 14. ********************************************************************************************* No School Students will not have school on Thursday, November 6 and Friday, November 7 due to conferences. ******************************************************************************************** Trunk or Treat Winners Dear Families, Thank you to everyone who participated in our Pumpkin Decorating and Trunk or Treat contests! We were blown away by your creativity, spirit, and festive fun. We're excited to announce this year's winners: Pumpkin Contest Winners Each winning family will receive a $10 Whitey’s Gift Card! Most Creative: Langeneckert Family (Chloe, Luke, Jacob) Spookiest: Schlue Family (Nolan, Kaitlyn) Funniest Pumpkin: Morrow Family (Lucy, Alice) Best Family Theme: Carton Family (Molly) Community Voted Top 3 Each family will receive a cookie decorating kit! Bevins Family (Lily, Evelyn) Roche Family (Patrick, Rosie, Maria) Joiner Family (Naomi) Trunk Decorating Contest Winners 1st Place – Jurassic Park: Ruhberg Family ($50 Amazon Gift Card) 2nd Place – Cookie Monster: Haulska Family ($20 Whitey’s Gift Card) 3rd Place – Guitar Skeletons: Lindstrom Family ($20 Whitey’s Gift Card) Please stop by the office to collect your family’s prize! Thank you again for making our fall festivities so memorable. We’re grateful for your creativity and community spirit! ********************************************************************************************* Ladies Night Bingo Help Needed We are looking for volunteers to help with setup and check-in for Ladies Night Bingo. If you’re interested, please sign up with the link below. Thank you! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EADAD29A4FACF8-59825770-ladies ********************************************************************************************* 1st Quarter Art Newsletter Please click on the link below to view Mrs. Brooke’s 1st quarter art newsletter: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13iKFnSM3DBZbQ9LRascyYE7IObOmwIpLZu2-nvA-CI4/edit?usp=sharing ********************************************************************************************* Senior Thanksgiving Dinner Each year St. Paul the Apostle School hosts a Thanksgiving lunch for the seniors of our parish and community. · November 21 at 11:00 AM in Denning Hall · If you know of a grandparent, parishioner or neighbor who would like to attend, please RSVP to Jeanne Sodawasser in the Parish Office, 563-322-7994. · Volunteer - We are also looking for volunteers to help the students serve the meal, set up and clean up. A link to the SignUp Genius is below. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions please email Julie Delaney at davstpauldev@gmail.com . https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0544A5AE28A7FECE9-59855950-senior ********************************************************************************************* CEW SAVE THE DATE: Christian Experience Weekend Women's: Feb 6-8, 2026 Men's: Feb 27- Mar 1, 2026 The purpose of the Christian Experience Weekend (CEW) is to set apart a time and place from the ordinary events of life to deepen our relationship with God. CEW is also a beautiful example of Christian community, allowing us to relate to one another in a variety of ways centered around the common theme of strengthening our relationship with God. Whether you’re at a starting point, looking to renew your faith or just need a pause to reflect, CEW welcomes you. Applications are available on the Parish website or in the email attachment. Save your spot today! Check out our theme song for some inspiration: https://youtu.be/XbhMBg8Hv18 Contact: Sara Sieren (Women’s CEW) 563.210.6554 / sarasieren3771@gmail.com ; Joe Verdi (Men’s CEW) 563.505.5207 / joeverdi@icloud.com ********************************************************************************************* STILL CURRENT ESA Statement We are reaching out to ask for your help in sharing the impact of the Education Savings Account (ESA) on your family. Your story is a powerful way to show how this program is opening new doors for students and helping families provide the best possible educational experience for their children. We’d love for you to share how your child’s opportunities have grown since moving to a private school with the support of the ESA. For example, you could also share how your child’s learning, confidence, or engagement has changed, and how the ESA has allowed your family to access these opportunities. To make it easy to share your story, please use this Google Form: Submit Your ESA Story . Your responses will help demonstrate the real benefits of the ESA program for families like yours.Please now that your name will be included in this response. Thank you for taking the time to tell your story. We can’t wait to hear it! ****************************************************************************************** ESA and School Choice Objection: “Private schools aren’t accountable like public schools are.” Response: At St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, we are committed to maintaining high standards of accountability. As an accredited institution, we adhere to state educational requirements, including standardized testing and accreditation processes. Additionally, many of our students participate in national assessments to monitor academic growth. Ultimately, true accountability lies with the parents: if a school does not meet the needs of its students, families have the freedom to choose another institution, and ESA funds follow the student. For more information on Education Savings Accounts and how they support school choice, visit the full article by the Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education: 10 Objections to Education Savings Accounts (and How You Can Respond) . ********************************************************************************************* Ladies Night Bingo Ladies Bingo Night Thursday November 13th 6-9 p.m., Doors open at 5 p.m. LNB Online Registration Link LNB Flyer ********************************************************************************************* Upcoming Uniform Changes This Friday, Oct. 31, students may be out of uniform wearing either a costume or Halloween colors (orange, black, green, or purple). Please see link below for costume/Halloween out of uniform guidelines. Halloween Guidelines ****************************************************************************************** Recess Volunteer Signup Sign up at one of the links below to volunteer at recess. Diocesan training and a background check is required prior to volunteering. These hours will count towards your home and school obligation. Email jescie.pullinger@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us or kelly.boche@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us for more information. Volunteer for October Recess Volunteer for November Recess Volunteer for December Recess ************************************************************************************************ Safety is Always a Priority Last Friday, I had the opportunity, along with the other Catholic school principals in our area, to meet with the Davenport Police Department to discuss safety concerns and the ongoing needs of our school buildings. These conversations are invaluable as we continue to reflect on and strengthen our safety practices. At St. Paul the Apostle, we are deeply committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming environment for all students, staff, and families. We will continue to review and improve upon the systems and procedures that help protect our children each and every day while they are here with us. ********************************************************************************************* Donations Needed A group of St. Paul Volunteers have partnered with World Relief and formed a Good Neighbor Team to mentor a local refugee family. The Semiyrango family consists of mom and dad and 7 kids aging from 2-20. They are originally from the Congo and after a lengthy and legal process arrived in the US in April of 2024. Dad and an adult son are working full-time to support the family, but they could use help with several items. We are collecting new or very gently used fall/winter clothing, household and personal care items as well as gift cards. Please drop donations off in the bins located along the windows in the gathering space and gift cards (in envelope marked Good Neighbor Team) to the Parish Office by Oct. 31. If buying new, please attach a receipt so that items can be exchanged if needed. Contact Sandy Steinke at 563.940.1481 with any questions. Thank you for your generosity! https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/70A0A44A8A72FA1FC1-59326311-collection ********************************************************************************************* Attendance Updates SPS This year, Iowa has updated how schools track student attendance. Students who miss more than 10% of school days are considered chronically absent, and those reaching 15%, if absences affect learning, will be invited to an Engagement Meeting to develop an Absenteeism Prevention Plan. Absences that reach 20% may be referred to the county attorney. The state also expanded exempt absences, including funerals, weddings, and military service, so these do not count toward attendance thresholds. Schools now use standardized attendance codes (like unexcused/excused, in-school suspension, or family leave) to record absences accurately. At St. Paul’s, we will be implementing these new codes to better track attendance and to support students. Starting in the 2nd quarter, we will also move to a clock-in/clock-out system, which will give a more precise picture of attendance throughout the day. Families can expect clearer communication and more proactive collaboration to help students stay on track. A helpful reminder: If your child has a medical or dental appointment, please provide the school with a doctor’s note so the absence can be properly marked as exempt. If your family will be out of town, let us know why and for how long, this information helps us determine whether the absence qualifies as exempt or non-exempt. Thank you for helping us keep attendance records accurate and ensure every student receives the support they need to succeed. *********************************************************************************************