Greetings, Lower School Families!

It has been another beautiful fall week! We are also heading into a shorter school week as our faculty and staff participate in the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence Conference and enjoy the MEA Professional Development Break. We are grateful for these opportunities to learn alongside fellow Catholic school educators and collaborate with our own teams. These experiences help us continue to grow in our mission to provide an exceptional, faith-filled education for our students.

This past week, our fifth graders dug deeper into their study of the Moon’s cycles and the lunar calendar, with a special focus on connections to Ojibwe culture. Students had the opportunity to Zoom with Mr. Jesse from Voyageurs National Park, who guided them through the phases of the Moon and explained how the Ojibwe people observe nature and the Moon to inform their lunar calendar. Our students asked fantastic questions, including questions about blood moons and his favorite phase of the Moon. It was an engaging experience filled with curiosity, discovery, and meaningful learning!

Our fifth graders also enjoyed a special collaboration with St. Thomas Academy (STA) and its Spanish program. One of Señora De la Torre’s fifth-grade classes partnered with STA student leaders for a unique learning experience. It is always a blessing to build connections with STA and learn alongside their students!

Our Lower School students enjoyed a wonderful week of collaboration in Art and Spanish as they explored Mexican art and created three-dimensional sculptures of alebrijes, colorful and imaginative Mexican folk-art figures. This partnership between Sra. De la Torre and Mrs. Peterson brought global learning to life through creativity, culture, and hands-on exploration. Be sure to stop by the fireplace and enjoy this special display in the Heart!

Our Montessori PreK students had a very special week. Those students that are kindergarten-eligible students participated in their first Club K session with Mrs. Schumacher and Mrs. Poehls. They had the opportunity to visit the kindergarten classroom, meet their future teachers, and begin building excitement for the next step in their learning journey. These students are ready to soar!

Montessori families and loved ones were also welcomed for a special "Pop In" morning. During this lovely event, students became the teachers, guiding their guests through hands-on activities and sharing their learning in action. Our Montessori students always love welcoming special visitors and showing them all they are discovering!

Our kindergarten students also hosted special guests for their first classroom "Pop In" of the year. Mrs. Schumacher and Mrs. Poehls welcomed families into the classroom to experience the joy of learning, especially through games. Students and their loved ones challenged one another with math games involving dice. What a wonderful way to build skills, share special moments, and discover the joy of learning together!

On October 16, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, VHM, a special saint in our Visitation tradition. St. Margaret Mary was a Visitation Sister who lived in France during the 17th century. Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to her as a reminder of His deep and abiding love for us, His welcoming heart, and His endless mercy.

Throughout the week, our classes found meaningful ways to learn about St. Margaret Mary and reflect on the many ways God shares His love and peace with us through the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In keeping with the annual tradition of the Visitation Sisters, classes also celebrated her feast day with M&M’s—a sweet reminder of St. Margaret Mary and the loving heart of Jesus!

Later this month, we are excited to celebrate our Visitation community and our school's largest fundraising initiative: Vis Give Day Week, October 19–23! Throughout the week, Lower School classes will participate in a Daily Bucket Challenge. Students may bring in donations to contribute to their classroom’s total, and the class that raises the most will celebrate with a special Pajama Day!

On Vis Give Day, October 22, all students will also enjoy a special Out-of-Uniform Day. Donations collected that day will count toward each classroom’s Bucket Challenge total.

Thank you for helping us make this week a joyful celebration of our school community and all that makes Visitation so special!

As you can see, our Lower School is always full of inspiration, curiosity, and excitement for learning! We strive to balance high academic expectations with the creativity and joy found in the arts, our Catholic faith, meaningful relationships, and hands-on discovery.

Thank you for your continued prayers, support, and partnership. It is a blessing to work together in nurturing our students’ minds and hearts as they grow in knowledge, faith, and love.

Wishing you and your families a wonderful MEA break!

Jessica Hallin