Next year’s 4^th grade teacher will be Mrs. Trout.  This will be a great match for this gifted group of students, as Mrs. Trout has been teaching at the higher 5^th and 6^th grade levels for many years.  She is a loving, and nurturing teacher with 26 years teaching experience and dedication to our school.

As we have been discussing throughout the year, 5^th and 6^th grade will be combined for the next two years.  Mrs. Odden will be the 5^th/6^th grade teacher next year.    Mrs. Odden has had experience teaching various grade levels from Kindergarten – 5^th grade and is very familiar with combined classes from teaching at Christ the King in Browerville, where they have had much success with combination classes.  Math and reading will be taught in the morning at each grade level.  From 11:30-1:40 these two grade levels will not be together because of differences in the scheduling of specials with the public schools.  Afterwards they will be reunited for the remainder of the day.

Although the remainder of the teachers will be at the same grade level next year, they too may be asked to change grade levels in future years out of necessity or to change things up.  We are very grateful to both Mrs. Trout and Mrs. Odden for taking on their new ventures and challenges.

I am excited about the future of our school and very pleased with the people we have in place to mold our children into happy, successful, spiritually complete individuals.  Together with the help of you parents, our children’s future is very bright.   God bless!

This year’s theme for Sacred Heart Area School’s Spring Blast Dinner and Auction was “Hollywood; A Night on the Red Carpet”.  The event included a stretched limo, red carpet, giant Oscar statues, and other Hollywood dazzle inside and in front of the school.  The 230 attendees had the opportunity to enjoy dinner provided by Detloff Custom Catering and beverages provided by the joint efforts of The Liquor Depot and the Knights of Columbus.   There were nearly 300 silent and live auction items up for bid, donated by generous businesses and individuals from the Staples-Motley community and Sacred Heart Area School Alumni.  This is the largest fundraising event of the year for Sacred Heart Area School averaging $36,000 in net profits for the continued operation of the school.  “The greatest attribute to the success of this event, is a loving community of disciples that believe in our mission and want to see it continue.”  Says Principal Jim Opelia.  “We are very grateful!”   

This past year, our teachers have been studying and comparing the Minnesota Academic Standards for math and language arts, and more recently in science, to the standards of the St. Cloud Diocese.  Although many similarities were found, the more recently revised Minnesota Standards seemed superior in many ways.  They were more up-to-date with the latest trends in education, more integrated across subjects, and challenged students to think more critically and creatively.  They also fit well into our curriculum.  The recently adopted Minnesota science standards also incorporate a new category.  In addition to Earth and Space, Life, and Physical, the category, or strand, called the Nature of Science and Engineering was added, which is oriented to developing careers.  Not to many years ago, our Diocesan Standards, adopted in 2001, were the superior standards.  We will certainly keep our religion standards from the diocese, but for now we are planning on officially adopting the Minnesota Standards for language arts, math,  science, and social studies for the 2012-2013 school year.  Be sure of this, that this does not change our identity as a faith based Catholic school.  Most schools in the diocese are considering or have switched over to the Minnesota Standards to various degrees.  We want parents to have the opportunity to address any thoughts or concerns before we do so.  Please share with us any likes, dislikes or uncertainties that you may have, before we go forward with this formal adoption.  Our world is changing quickly with so many rapid advances.  It only makes sense that the standards we set for our children change to meet the changes of their world.