Weekly Update 5- October 1, 2026
Calendar of Events |
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|---|---|
| Fr. 10.2 | 8:00 AM K-8 School Mass K-8 Rosary Procession (shortly after Mass) Marathon Pep Rally |
| Sa. 10.3 | 9:00 AM Mass to start the Marathon Day. Mass is followed by the St. Charles School Marathon (church, front lawn, neighborhood) |
| Mo. 10.5 | Out-of-Uniform passes may be used |
| We. 10.7 | Family Formation Night 5:15 PM Dinner (Doran Hall) 6:00 PM Formation talk (church) & youth activities (Doran Hall) |
| Fr. 10.9 | 8:00 AM K-8 School Mass (church) Last Marathon Collection Day - to qualify for a prize |
Looking Ahead |
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| Mo. 10.12 - Tu. 10.13 | Preschool - 8th Grade Conferences (school) |
| We. 10.14 - Fr. 10.16 | SCHOOL NOT IN SESSION: CSCOE Summit & Fall Break |
| Fr. 10.23 | Picture Retake Day |
Dear St. Charles Parents,
It was great to see you at Parent Information Night! During my presentation, I mentioned that we were looking at ways to reduce our screen time at school. I mentioned that I had a podcast and book recommendation for you on this topic, and I want to make sure I do that right now. I’m a huge fan of Ted Neitzke, who was a teacher, principal, and superintendent and is now the mayor of Port Washington, Wisconsin. I really appreciate Ted’s insights on leadership and education. This podcast is not new, but it is worth your time to listen to. The author he interviews is Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, and it is called “The Digital Delusion.” Here is a link to the podcast: The Smart Thinking Podcast – Digital Delusion
Marathon Day is just a couple of days away. We are building toward our goal of raising $60,000, and we need your help! Our Marathon fundraising helps us to keep tuition down, and what parent doesn’t want to jump on that bandwagon! The cost of tuition is a significant consideration for most parents. The fundraising we do helps to keep our school tuition manageable and Catholic education available to any family willing to make some sacrifices. Investing in our children’s education and formation is the best investment we can make. Of all the things we spend money on, this is the best return on investment there is. Please support the Marathon by praying, doing service projects, helping your child secure sponsorships, and showing up for the big day this Saturday! We do need volunteers! Click HERE to see how you can help!
Tomorrow, we will have our Marathon Rosary Procession shortly after the 8:00 AM Friday Mass. We’ll be praying for all those from the St. Charles School Community we have lost over the years. Parents and community members are welcome to join this event. We will end the day with a school Pep Rally for the Marathon; we are all looking forward to a big Marathon Day!
Conference sign-up went out yesterday, and we hope that every parent will sign up to come and meet with us at conferences.
Thank you,
Danny Kieffer
St. Charles School Principal
St. Charles School Marathon Is TWO Days Away!
Event Highlights
- Join us for Mass at 9:00 AM, followed by the Pep Rally: Meet at the main school entrance (front steps). We will walk or run around the designated neighborhood circuit to show our Charger spirit!
- Coffee and hot chocolate will be available to support the 6th grade Wolf Ridge field trip.
- The Spirit Wear shop will be open! Get your updated gear for this school year.
- Lunch
- Service Project and Joke Sharing
- Live Bike Raffle
We’re at $30,500! Keep Those Donations Coming!
- Scan the QR code below
- Or please share this link with your family, friends, and neighbors via social media, email or text. To allocate funds to a specific student(s), please put their name(s) in the comment section. This will count towards their individual fundraising goal.
We’re also excited to see the impact our students are making during this year’s Marathon! They have been working hard around the community, completing service projects and spreading joy through acts of kindness, putting our Catholic faith into action by serving others. There is still time to complete a service project and turn in pictures and/or service project forms! On Marathon Day, we will share a couple of student projects and have a special prize drawing. Email photos to Jennifer and turn forms into the office.
Together, we’ve made amazing strides—now let’s finish strong as a Catholic school community! Every step, every pledge, and every act of service makes a difference.
We Can’t Wait To See Everyone This Saturday, October 3rd!
Let’s Finish Strong, Chargers!
Formation Night ~ This night is for Everyone! Wed. Oct. 7
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 7, to join us for an inspiring evening as we explore “How the Good Shepherd Disciples,” presented by Clare Shrake, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Coordinator for Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
The evening begins at 5:15 with an optional taco dinner in Doran Hall served by our St. Charles School staff. RSVP HERE. From 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM, adults gather in the Church for the presentation, while 2nd-8th grade students meet in Doran Hall for youth group activities. Childcare for 1st graders and younger is provided in the youth room.
Fall Conferences
Conferences will be held on Monday, October 12th, and Tuesday, October 13th from 3:30 to 8:00 PM.
To schedule conferences, go to the St. Charles School Scheduling Page, select the relevant preschool, elementary teacher(s), and/or a middle school time slot, and then register your name and contact info. This creates a registration for each conference and sends you a confirmation email with a link to choose appointment times. For more details about conferences, please refer to the September 30th email sent from the main school email account. Please contact the school office with questions at 612-781-2643.
Home & School Opportunities
Hello Chargers!
The school year is off and running! We have many volunteer opportunities on Sign Up Genius, and we’d love to see YOU sign up! Marathon, Conferences, Germ City, and Christmas tree setup!
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or have trouble signing up.
Concession Stand Volunteers Needed
As we gear up for an exciting sports season, we’re looking for enthusiastic parent volunteers to help run the concession stand! This is a great opportunity to support our teams, meet other families, and contribute to our school spirit. We offer flexible shifts to accommodate your schedule.
What We Need:
- Volunteers to assist with selling snacks and drinks during games
- A friendly attitude and a willingness to help
Why Volunteer?
- Enjoy the thrill of the game while being part of the action
- Build connections with other parents and the community
- Help raise funds to support our school
Concession Stand Sign-Up Genius
Thank you for considering this opportunity to cheer on our athletes and make our concession stand a success! Let’s help make this sports season unforgettable!
Prayer Partners Needed
Calling all prayer warriors! Parishioners and staff have an opportunity to pray for one of our students by name from October to April as our second and eighth graders prepare to receive important sacraments this year. A “prayer partner” prays daily for a specific student and writes a short monthly note of faithful encouragement to that special person. If you are interested in volunteering, you can email Linda with any questions you have. After signing up, you will receive more details along with the name of your student in mid-October.
Well Read Mom Book Club ~ Looking for Members!
“Read more, read well” – this is the Well Read Mom Book Club’s slogan. There are several chapters of this book club already meeting once a month from our parish community, and all school moms are most welcome to join too! This is a nationwide book club that focuses on digging into classic and reputable contemporary novels with a Christian lens. Please follow the link below to sign up.
St. Charles Playgroup
The St. Charles Playgroup meets outdoors at local parks every Thursday at 10:00 AM from May through October. During the colder months (November through April), Playgroup will meet in the youth room at Church and enjoy coffee and fellowship. Please follow the link below to sign up on Flocknotes to get updates.
The Meal Train Ministry
Would you like to help provide meals for a person or family in their time of need?
OR do you or someone you know have a short-term need (due to a birth, surgery, illness, etc.) for meals to be delivered to your home? Contact Megan if you are interested in this ministry.
Join a Parish Small Group!
Please consider joining a small group here at St. Charles. The focus this year will be on the Family. These small groups are fellowship groups, prayer groups, study groups, and a place where you can grow in discipleship together. If you are interested in joining a small group, please click HERE or call the parish office at 612-781-6529.
Prayer Corner
If you would like to add someone to our prayer corner, please email the information to Danny Kieffer.
- For full recovery for Jerry, brother of staff member Glenn.
- For the repose of the soul of Dr. Donald Siniff, grandfather of student Henry, and for comfort for his family.
- For the repose of the soul of Jim L., brother of Mrs. Slattery, and for comfort for his family.
- For the peace of Christ to reign in our hearts, our homes, our community, our world.
Helpful Links for Parents for School, Parish, & Community:
- St. Charles School Calendar
- St. Charles School Lunch Menus
- St. Charles Athletic Calendar
- St Charles School Volunteers
- Spirit Wear orders
- St. Charles Borromeo Parish
- Columbia Heights Parks & Recreation Brochure
- Benilde-St. Margaret’s Open House Oct. 12
Weekly Update article deadline: Wednesday, 9:00 AM – Send submissions to mwappes@stchbs.org
