We cannot adequately express how joyful it was on the first day of school to be able to welcome back our whole student body in-person! We had been so isolated in small groups, that to witness the true happiness on our students’ faces when they could actually gather together in community, was incredible. Our theme this year, “Born to Love & Serve - In Thought, Action, Word,” recognizes the importance of being in community and the ingredients that nurture it. Students are focusing on demonstrating their love for self, others, and our community in practical and innovative ways. They understand that “loving their neighbor” means helping friends out on the recess field or in the classroom. One way we preserve and grow our tight-knit community is by focusing on communication tips from St. Ignatius. These tips encourage respectful dialogue and inclusion in these polarized times. We could name countless other ways our students, staff, alumni, parishioners, parents and grandparents foster and grow a sense of community at St. Al’s through their selfless acts of service, always sprinkled with love. They willingly serve our school community by working to keep our school looking beautiful through Project Pride and annual volunteer clean-up days. Students are encouraged everyday to use their God-given gifts and strive to meet their full academic potential. In an effort to creatively expand educational opportunities for our students, we have completed construction on the second floor of our Garco building that includes three classrooms for STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), performing arts, and visual arts. We are so grateful for your incredible commitment to St. Al’s School and for actively sharing a passion for Catholic education. We have so much to praise God for this year - a Spirit-filled community, a new addition to our Garco building, and a staff that educates the whole child with Jesus at the forefront of all we do!

In Christ’s Love,

Angie Krauss and Dawn Manfred