Go Make Disciples

PRINCIPAL’S PONDERINGS As we begin a new year, we’re reminded that fresh starts are one of God’s greatest gifts. The turning of the calendar doesn’t just mark time, it invites us to reflect, reset, and step forward with renewed purpose. A new year brings new opportunities to grow in faith, to strengthen friendships, to work through challenges with perseverance, and to become a little better than we were yesterday. It’s also a chance to set meaningful goals, whether that’s improving study habits, being more responsible, showing more kindness, or simply giving our personal best each day. At St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, we believe every child is created with purpose, and each day is another chance to discover and develop the gifts God has placed within them. As we enter 2026 together, my hope is that our students and families feel encouraged and supported, knowing that growth doesn’t require perfection, just effort, humility, and a willingness to try again. Thank you for the continued partnership you provide our school. Here’s to a new year filled with learning, laughter, faith, and countless new opportunities. Happy New Year from all of us at SPS! -Mr. Connors WHAT’S NEW Approval Through Odyssey for the ESA The SCCS office has started to call families to remind them to approve second semester tuition in Odyssey. Approval must be completed by January 30th in order for second semester tuition to be paid with ESA funds. Parents should have received an email from Odyssey in early December notifying them of this deadline, however, we still have 400+ students whose spring tuition has not yet been approved. This is the link parents need to access their Odyssey account. https://iowa-households.withodyssey.com/login/ Please get this done by the 30th! Recess Volunteers Needed Volunteer Recess Supervisors Needed! We are looking for parent volunteers to help supervise recess! Having extra adults on the playground helps ensure our students stay safe, supported, and engaged during outdoor play. Volunteering for recess is also a great way to fulfill your required volunteer hours while spending time with our school community. To volunteer, CMG training is required for all school volunteers. If you are interested, I am happy to send you the information and steps needed to complete the training. Please email: jescie.pullinger@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us if interested. If you are set with the CMG trainings please use the links below to volunteer for a day that works for you. Thank you for helping us keep our playground a safe and fun place for our children! January Recess Sign up Link February Recess Sign up Link March Recess Sign up Link April Recess Sign up Link May Recess Sign up Link ********** Spirit Wear Store Open Our Spirit Wear and Uniform Store is now open for the last time this school year. This is your last chance to purchase the red or navy ¼ zip uniform approved sweatshirts and other uniform tops. You can also get SPS Spirit wear! Place orders by Wednesday, January 21st. Orders will be delivered back to school by February 12th. (At checkout families can still select which teacher/class.) https://stores.inksoft.com/saint_paul_davenport Thank you for supporting the St. Paul Home and School Association! ********** K-3 Spelling Bee Monday, January 26 from 12:30-2:30 Denning Hall Parents Welcome Info coming home this week if your child is interested in participating Spelling lists - K-3 Spelling List.pdf 4th-8th Scripps National Spelling Bee Friday, January 30 from 8:45-11:30 Denning Hall Parents Welcome Info coming home this week if your child is interested in participating Spelling lists - 4-8 Spelling Bee Practice List.pdf Contact erin.darland@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us if you have any questions please! ************ Catholic Schools Week Talent Show All students are invited to participate in the school-wide Talent Show! This could be singing, dancing, a magic show, or a funny joke act, among other talents. The talent show will be on Thursday, Jan 29, 2026 at 1:00 PM. If you are interested in participating in the talent show, please fill out this Google form: talent show 25-26 , or fill out the flyer attached to this email all acts requiring music must have it turned in to Mrs. Bates by January 26th. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kamp at ann.kamp@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us or Mrs. Bates at katee.bates@ st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us . Catholic School’s Week Talent Show.pdf ********** SPS Yearbooks for sale Celebrate 100 Years of Panther Pride! 2025-26 Yearbooks are on sale this year. St. Paul's is celebrating their 100th Anniversary! Each Yearbook is on sale for $25. Over 100 pages with Full-color photos Packed with memories, milestones, and Panther pride A special keepsake honoring 100 years of our amazing school Order by Friday, May 1st, to purchase go to: https://parent.blackbaud.school/Login.aspx This once-in-a-century yearbook is the perfect way for students and families to remember this unforgettable school year. Get yours before they’re gone! If “Yearbook” is not an option in Blackbaud, that means you have already ordered one (remember that you have to log into each of your children’s accounts if they each want one). *********** Book Fair Splash into a Good Book!—The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to build your child’s home library with new books they’ll dive into again and again. Save the Information below for this Years Book Fair : Dates: January 26th to February 1, 2026 Location: SPS Media Center Family Shopping Event: February 1st, 9:30 to 10:45 A.M, during Catholic Schools Week Open House For full details and to create an e-Wallet, visit our school’s Book Fair homepage: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/stpaulapostleschool *********** Career Fair The School Counselors for the Scott County Catholic Schools, are asking for your help, as we begin preparing for our annual 8th grade career fair which will be Friday, March 6th, 2026, at St. Ambrose University Rogalski Center. We would like to extend the opportunity for any area businesses, employers, colleges, health care professionals, law enforcement agencies and other various career-related organizations to join us in educating our eighth grade students about the numerous employment opportunities that are available to them. Please see the attachments below for more details, as well as a sheet where you can sign up. If you have any questions, please reach out! Thank you for your consideration! Whitney Woods whitney.woods@st-paul.pvt.k12.ia.us 563-322-2923 Career Fair letter 2025-26.docx *********** Altar Serving for Stations of the Cross During Lent, we offer Stations of the Cross every Friday at 5:30 PM. If your child is an Altar Server and would like to learn how to serve for Stations of the Cross, please reach out to Jeanne for more information and training details. ********** Family Trivia Join us for family friendly, all ages trivia night on Saturday, February 21st hosted by Boy Scout Troop 20. Doors will open at 5:30 after mass and trivia will start at 6:15 p.m. Questions will be geared for every age group from Bluey, to Taylor Swift, to Elvis and everything in between. Show up by yourself, with friends or with your family and join a table. Cost is $5 per person at the door ($50 for reserved table). Feel free to bring your own food and drinks or buy a walking taco and drink for $5. We will also have pop, water and desserts for sale. To reserve a table and/or food please fill out this FORM or contact Amy Murphy at amy2murphy@yahoo.com . Family Trivia Flyer.jpg ********** Volunteers Needed The Rising Lady Knights Wrestling Club is hosting our 3rd Annual Girls Only Wrestling Dual Tournament on Saturday January 24th for the K-8th grade girls. It will be a history-making event - one of the largest girls-only youth dual tournaments ever held in our state! Teams will be traveling in from across Iowa and beyond. But we need YOU ! We are looking for St Paul families or Students that need to earn service hours to help volunteer at our concessions stand, help with admissions, or help to clean up.If you can help in any capacity, please sign up using the link below. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tomte0AFxRr8haKhnWxiuloOG94AsU3K/edit?usp=sharing Questions can be directed to Kelly Vrana at risingknightswc@gmail.com STILL CURRENT  Camp Shalom Great things are happening at Camp Shalom! Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills outside of Maquoketa, Iowa, Camp Shalom invites families to make camp part of their children’s faith journey. Past campers describe attending Camp Shalom as the highlight of their year! Under new leadership, Camp Shalom is headed in a beautiful direction that is focused on faith, hospitality, and safe and restorative relationships. Rooted in our mission “to nurture the spiritual formation of campers and those who disciple them toward purposeful faith,” Camp Shalom is a place where kids belong, believe, and become. Online registration for Summer Camp opens January 2 Winter Camp is January 16–18. This is a perfect midwinter opportunity for fun, friendship, and spiritual growth set in a winter wonderland. Camp Shalom is also now accepting applications for summer staff, a meaningful way to serve and grow in faith. Learn more and sign up at www.campshalomia.org ***** ********** Important Panther Perks Program Updates for 2026 We would like to inform you of several upcoming changes to the Panther Perks Program. Beginning January 1, 2026, the following updates will take effect: Monthly Physical Gift Card Orders Physical gift cards will now be processed once per month. All orders for physical cards—whether submitted via the green order sheet or through RaiseRight—must be turned in by 8:00 AM on the first Tuesday of each month. One-Week Processing Time Physical gift card orders will be sent home with your student one week after the order deadline, on the second Tuesday of each month. We appreciate your patience, as this one-week turnaround ensures our volunteers have the time needed to accurately process all orders. Ordering Outside the Monthly Schedule If you need physical gift cards outside of the scheduled monthly order week, you may place an order through the parish office at any time. Please note that parish staff may need 1–2 days to process these requests. Any orders for physical gift cards sent to school or placed online after the first Tuesday of the month will not be filled until the following month. E-Gift Cards and Reloads Available Anytime E-gift cards and reloads remain available 24/7 through the RaiseRight app. These are delivered to you electronically immediately after purchase and do not require volunteer processing—making them a convenient option for on-demand access! Thank you for your continued support of the Panther Perks Program! This fundraiser directly benefits our school and helps provide essential support for our students and staff. We truly appreciate your generosity and partnership. Panther Perk Changes 2026 *************** WEEK AT A GLANCE

PRINCIPAL’S PONDERINGS As we begin a new year, we’re reminded that fresh starts are one of God’s greatest gifts. The turning of the calendar doesn’t just mark time, it invites us to reflect, reset, and step forward with renewed purpose. A new year brings new opportunities to grow in faith, to strengthen friendships, to work through challenges with perseverance, and to become a little better than we were yesterday. It’s also a chance to set meaningful goals, whether that’s improving study habits, being more responsible, showing more kindness, or simply giving our personal best each day. At St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School, we believe every child is created with purpose, and each day is another chance to discover and develop the gifts God has placed within them. As we enter 2026 together, my hope is that our students and families feel encouraged and supported, knowing that growth doesn’t require perfection, just effort, humility, and a willingness to try again. Thank you for the continued partnership you provide our school. Here’s to a new year filled with learning, laughter, faith, and countless new opportunities. Happy New Year from all of us at SPS! -Mr. Connors WHAT’S NEW Medication Change in 2026-2027 School Year Starting in the 2026–2027 school year, there will be a change to our medication procedures. St. Paul the Apostle will no longer provide ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) to students. This adjustment aligns with the recommendation of the Scott County Health Department. If a student comes to the office with a headache, we will recommend they drink water and return to class. If they return and symptoms persist, we will contact home. During the second semester of this school year, we will continue to provide Advil and Tylenol as needed, but we will be more selective and encourage water first. Thank you for your understanding and partnership in keeping our students safe. ********** Spruce Up the School We need all hands-on deck to make our school sparkle for Catholic Schools week!! Please sign up to help at the links below. There is a Men’s Night link for Friday night for anyone who wants to come in and help with the “High” stuff (cleaning light fixtures and fixing items that require a ladder), as well as a link for Saturday morning for deep cleaning classrooms and hallways. Any amount of time will be greatly appreciated and this will count as volunteer hours for your Home and School obligation. Students, especially Junior High are welcome to help too, but they must stay with a parent at all times! If you are joining us, please bring some of the cleaning items or tools listed below if possible: Buckets, rags, vacuums, brooms, dust pans, etc., and please put your name on them if you plan to share them so if they are left behind, we know who to contact. Helpers please sign in at the school kitchen. There will be class lists – please sign in for each student as these will go directly to the teachers for the Out of Uniform list (K-8 only). As a “Thank You” for helping, all children in your family will receive an “Out of Uniform” pass to be used on Tuesday, January 20th. (Again - Make sure that you sign in so that your child gets his/her pass!!) Thank you in advance for your time and talent! Men's Night of Spruce Up the School (Friday): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F49A5AA2EA0FECE9-61405493-friday Saturday Spruce Up Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F49A5AA2EA0FECE9-61405649-spruce ********** CEW Retreat Opportunities Make a New Year's Resolution that truly restores your soul. Resolve to attend St. Paul’s 2026 Women or Men’s Christian Experience Weekends (CEW), God Shines His Light . CEW meets you where you are – whether you are seeking direction, renewal or a deeper walk with Christ – all while providing a meaningful faith community connection. Start your year with purpose. Start your year with Him. Contact Sara Sieren, 563.210.6554 or Joe Verdi, 563.505.5207 Women’s Weekend: February 6-8, 2026 Men’s Weekend: February 27, March 1, 2026 ************* STILL CURRENT Blood Drive St. Pauls is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, January 13th from 2:00 - 5:30 in the Gathering Space. To sign up, scan the QR code on the flyer below, email sjmeenan964@yahoo.com or visit online at www.bloodcenter.org - Group #038. Blood Drive Flyer ********** Camp Shalom Great things are happening at Camp Shalom! Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills outside of Maquoketa, Iowa, Camp Shalom invites families to make camp part of their children’s faith journey. Past campers describe attending Camp Shalom as the highlight of their year! Under new leadership, Camp Shalom is headed in a beautiful direction that is focused on faith, hospitality, and safe and restorative relationships. Rooted in our mission “to nurture the spiritual formation of campers and those who disciple them toward purposeful faith,” Camp Shalom is a place where kids belong, believe, and become. Online registration for Summer Camp opens January 2 Winter Camp is January 16–18. This is a perfect midwinter opportunity for fun, friendship, and spiritual growth set in a winter wonderland. Camp Shalom is also now accepting applications for summer staff, a meaningful way to serve and grow in faith. Learn more and sign up at www.campshalomia.org ***** ********** Important Panther Perks Program Updates for 2026 We would like to inform you of several upcoming changes to the Panther Perks Program. Beginning January 1, 2026, the following updates will take effect: Monthly Physical Gift Card Orders Physical gift cards will now be processed once per month. All orders for physical cards—whether submitted via the green order sheet or through RaiseRight—must be turned in by 8:00 AM on the first Tuesday of each month. One-Week Processing Time Physical gift card orders will be sent home with your student one week after the order deadline, on the second Tuesday of each month. We appreciate your patience, as this one-week turnaround ensures our volunteers have the time needed to accurately process all orders. Ordering Outside the Monthly Schedule If you need physical gift cards outside of the scheduled monthly order week, you may place an order through the parish office at any time. Please note that parish staff may need 1–2 days to process these requests. Any orders for physical gift cards sent to school or placed online after the first Tuesday of the month will not be filled until the following month. E-Gift Cards and Reloads Available Anytime E-gift cards and reloads remain available 24/7 through the RaiseRight app. These are delivered to you electronically immediately after purchase and do not require volunteer processing—making them a convenient option for on-demand access! Thank you for your continued support of the Panther Perks Program! This fundraiser directly benefits our school and helps provide essential support for our students and staff. We truly appreciate your generosity and partnership. Panther Perk Changes 2026 *************** WEEK AT A GLANCE

PRINCIPAL’S PONDERINGS As we enter the final stages of this Advent and Christmas season, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to each of our St. Paul the Apostle families. Your partnership, encouragement, and commitment to our school community make SPS a place that has a powerful impact on children. To our students: you bring joy to our hallways, energy to our classrooms, and a special light to our prayer and celebrations. We are proud of your hard work this year so far and grateful for the kindness and leadership you show as Panthers. As you enjoy your Christmas break, I hope that your homes are filled with peace, joy, and love. Find some time to spend as a family to truly cherish all of the gifts that God has given you. From all of us as SPS, we wish you the happiest of holidays and cannot wait to welcome you back for a great start to 2026! -Mr. Connors WHAT’S NEW Return from Christmas Break School resumes on Monday, January 5. We will still be in the 1st Semester, so 1st semester lunches will apply. 2nd semester lunches will start on Tuesday, January 20. ************ Pertussis Going Strong Since the start of the 2025–2026 school year, more than 50 students have been identified with pertussis, compared to 55 total cases during the entire 2024–2025 school year, with cases occurring across multiple schools in Scott County. Please help us stop the spread if anyone in your home has been identified as having pertussis: If you are coughing - STAY HOME. Everyone in the household should get medication for pertussis, even if they are not coughing and even if they have been vaccinated; this helps protect others from getting it. Please see below for more information: Pertussis Letter ********** Blood Drive St. Pauls is hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, January 13th from 2:00 - 5:30. To sign up, scan the QR code on the flyer below, email sjmeenan964@yahoo.com or visit online at www.bloodcenter.org - Group #038. Blood Drive Flyer ********** Camp Shalom Great things are happening at Camp Shalom! Nestled in the beautiful rolling hills outside of Maquoketa, Iowa, Camp Shalom invites families to make camp part of their children’s faith journey. Past campers describe attending Camp Shalom as the highlight of their year! Under new leadership, Camp Shalom is headed in a beautiful direction that is focused on faith, hospitality, and safe and restorative relationships. Rooted in our mission “to nurture the spiritual formation of campers and those who disciple them toward purposeful faith,” Camp Shalom is a place where kids belong, believe, and become. Online registration for Summer Camp opens January 2 Winter Camp is January 16–18 . This is a perfect midwinter opportunity for fun, friendship, and spiritual growth set in a winter wonderland. Camp Shalom is also now accepting applications for summer staff , a meaningful way to serve and grow in faith. Learn more and sign up at www.campshalomia.org ***** ********** STILL CURRENT Aftercare & Recess News Aftercare will close at 4:00pm TOMORROW December 18th so our staff can attend our staff Christmas party. Please see attachment for Winter Recess Details. Winter Recess Flyer ******************** Out of Uniform - 12-18-2025 - Red and Green Christmas Colors To celebrate the Christmas season, TOMORROW students may be out of uniform if they wear red and green Christmas colors. Out of uniform guidelines still apply. Out of Uniform Guidelines ● Leggings and/or bike shorts may only be worn under a dress or skirt. Dresses and skirts must be 2 inches above the knee or longer. ● Boys and girls shorts must be 2 inches above the knee or longer. ● Spaghetti straps are not allowed. If a sleeveless shirt is worn, the shoulder seams must be 1½ to 2 inches wide. ● No bare midriffs. ● Logos and slogans must be appropriate. *************** Important Panther Perks Program Updates for 2026 We would like to inform you of several upcoming changes to the Panther Perks Program. Beginning January 1, 2026, the following updates will take effect: Monthly Physical Gift Card Orders Physical gift cards will now be processed once per month. All orders for physical cards—whether submitted via the green order sheet or through RaiseRight—must be turned in by 8:00 AM on the first Tuesday of each month. One-Week Processing Time Physical gift card orders will be sent home with your student one week after the order deadline, on the second Tuesday of each month. We appreciate your patience, as this one-week turnaround ensures our volunteers have the time needed to accurately process all orders. Ordering Outside the Monthly Schedule If you need physical gift cards outside of the scheduled monthly order week, you may place an order through the parish office at any time. Please note that parish staff may need 1–2 days to process these requests. Any orders for physical gift cards sent to school or placed online after the first Tuesday of the month will not be filled until the following month. E-Gift Cards and Reloads Available Anytime E-gift cards and reloads remain available 24/7 through the RaiseRight app. These are delivered to you electronically immediately after purchase and do not require volunteer processing—making them a convenient option for on-demand access! Thank you for your continued support of the Panther Perks Program! This fundraiser directly benefits our school and helps provide essential support for our students and staff. We truly appreciate your generosity and partnership. Panther Perk Changes 2026 *************** Parish News Please see below for upcoming Parish Advent activities Advent Soup Suppers Advent Flocknote ******************** Upcoming School Events Please see attached letters for upcoming events as we head into the Advent and Christmas seasons. Advent Letter ***************** 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 ********************** WEEK AT A GLANCE