The Good News from Alums and Families and Friends
Providing tuition assistance to students at Community of Saints Regional Catholic School
The Good News Newsletter is a periodic publication that provides updates on the Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. We currently distribute to over 3000 alums, families and friends. We would like to continually increase our distribution. So, if you know of any alums, families or friends of St. Matthew's who are not currently receiving The Good News, please contact us with their mailing information.
PDF downloads:
The Good News - Fall/Winter 2020/2021
- COS Partnership with Notre Dame Delivers Highest Quality Academics - When Fr. Nate Wills, C.S.C., Ph.D., heard that COS received a grant to participate
in Notre Dame’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Teaching Fellows initiative, he was pleased but a little surprised. - Message from Father Steve - "I pray that you are doing well and have the support that makes life in this pandemic possible for you. Our students pray for you daily.
Students and teachers have been marvelously resilient in adapting to the demands of this year. Many of our families have additional burdens with loss of job or being furloughed. The national and international result of the death of George Floyd has touched many of our families, especially families of color. 2020 has been a year unlike any I have experienced." - Teacher profile — Audrey Moorhouse, Middle School Science - Mission to Attract Diverse Students to STEM is Both Personal and Professional
- COS Adds 2nd Kindergarten Classroom - With 36 students, this year’s class of kindergarteners is Community of Saint’s largest. Because a large number of siblings attend COS, the school had been planning to add a second kindergarten classroom since last winter.
- Following Their Dad’s Lead Siblings Honor Dad with Gift to Tuition Assistance - When John O’Halloran celebrated his birthday this year, his children decided to honor him by joining him in support of Community of Saints. Siblings Emily, John, and Mike made a $4,180 gift to cover a full scholarship for one child, plus an additional $1,000.
- PRINCIPAL’S UPDATE: Education During COVID-19 - During pandemic, Principal Bridget Kramer focuses on keeping kids safe, and on how she can use technology to keep kids engaged and learning.
- 547 Donors Contributed $345,927 for Tuition Assistance A Record Number of Donors and Donations - To say that it’s been a challenging year for schools is an understatement. Figuring out how to safely teach children during a pandemic has been riddled with variables: What if a student gets sick? What if a teacher gets sick? What if there’s another shutdown?
The Good News – Summer 2020
- Dollar-for-Dollar Match Now — Until June 30! Help us reach our goal to support tuition assistance.
- During Crisis, COS Supports Students and Families. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on school families has been a constant worry for Principal Bridget Kramer. At Community of Saints, over 65% of families qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, one of the highest rates for Catholic schools in the archdiocese, putting them at greatest risk during the economic downturn. What follows is a look at how the school responded to the crisis.
- Fr. Steve’s Column: "These last months have taught me that flexibility is the name of the game and the lead article of this issue demonstrates that our faculty and students are up to the challenge and succeeding."
- Margaret Pohl’s Estate Gift Supports COS Students. We’d like to acknowledge the generous gift from Margaret (Galvin) Pohl’s estate. Margaret died on March 1 at the age of 99. “She almost made it to 100,” said her son, Dan.
- Remembering Jerry Sexton ’44, Founder of A&F&F. From the Editor: I met Jerry Sexton for the first time when he came to my house in 2007 and asked me to be the editor for a newsletter he wanted to publish. He already had a name for it, “The Good News.” I was dubious — he was insistent. The newsletter was part of a bigger plan he had to support St. Matthew’s School. Since that meeting 13 years ago, over $2 million has been raised for tuition assistance, first at St. Matt’s, now at COS. Jerry passed away on March 21 and to honor him, I want to share the story of how this whole Alums & Friends & Families thing got started, because Jerry was the one who made it happen.
- Congratulations to the COS Class of 2016 as They Graduate High School. Graduation ceremonies are on hold but we still want to recognize the COS class of 2016 as they graduate high school. In talking with the four students featured here, something really stood out. They all described how tight-knit their COS class was and how those friends continue to be among their most treasured relationships today, which is pretty special.
The Good News – Spring 2020
- Class of 1970 – All School Reunion! St. Matt’s, St. Mike’s, St. John Vianney, and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saturday, May 16, 5:30 p.m., St. Matthew’s Social Hall.
- COS Rewarded for “Exceptional Results”, Receives Bonus $10,000 Grant from Healey Foundation
- Fr. Steve’s Column: "Community of Saints Regional Catholic School grows enrollment, expands educational opportunities, and thrives in the development of the whole student – physically, intellectually, socially, and spiritually."
- Ret. General Joseph Votel ‘72 Will Address COS Middle School and Donors on Monday, April 20, 10 a.m., Community of Saints School, 335 Hurley St. East, West St. Paul.
- Gifts Given in Memory of George Kronschnabel (1925–2020)
- Planning for Giving – Donors Use "Required Minimum Distribution" (RMD) to Contribute to COS
- Remember When... Class of 1970 from St. Matthew, St. Michael, and St. John Vianney Share Memories
- Class of 1970 group graduation photos
- School News
- What Makes Preschool So Popular. Community of Saint’s preschool has a great reputation with families and the credentials to back it up. It’s earned a Four-STAR Parent-Aware rating, the highest possible score, and it’s received national accreditation from NAEYC (the National Association for Education of Young Children).
- A Community Eager to Give What They Receive. After some family’s circumstances have improved, they return the favor!
- STEM Club Sparks Interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Building robots and programming them to do things is fun!
The Good News - Fall-Winter 2019
- Service, Faith & Leadership: Joe Votel '72 and Tom Smith '72
- End of Year Challenge!
- Honor A Loved One who values Catholic education
- Fr. Steve’s Column
- Class of 1959 Reunion
- 2018-2019 Annual Report
- School News:
- After 5 Years with Bridget Kramer as Principal, Enrollment Is Up 18% and COS is Going Strong
- Grants from University of Notre Dame
- Faith Serves as Foundation
- Expanding Resources to Manage Growth
- COS Reports 100% Staff Retention
- COS is Thankful for Generous Support
- Service is a core value at COS
COS 2019 Success Postcard
An interim mailing to our alumni and supporters highlighting recent successes.
The Good News – Summer 2019
- COS Purchases St. Michael’s Campus
- Fr. Steve’s Column
- Tom McKeown Knows a Good Education Changes Lives
- COS 2015 Alums Graduate from High School
- Class of ’69 & Reunion Sunday, April 28, 2019
- School News: University of Notre Dame Awards STEM Grant to COS
- School News: Coin Drive Raises $1,736.05 to Support Youth with Cancer
- School News: WEM Renews 3-Year Grant
- School News: Archbishop Hebda Visits COS
- School News: 8th Graders Head North for Annual Trip to Wolf Ridge
- Congratulations to the 8th Grade Graduating Class of 2019
The Good News – Spring 2019
- Fr. Steve’s Column
- COS Partners With University of Notre Dame Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE)
- General Joe Votel ’72
- Classes of 1969
- Marge Milner Will Retire After Teaching for 30 Years
- Remembering St. Michael’s School: Gerald Kegler 1950-1959
- Remembering St. Matthew’s School: Mark Votel 1951-1958
- Join us for Reunion Sunday! April 28, 2019
- Celebrate Mass with Archbishop Hebda, Thursday, April 4, 9:10 am, COS School
The Good News – Fall-Winter 2018
- COS Starts Year with 10% More Students and a New Board of Directors
- Celebrate Fr. Steve’s 50th Anniversary
- Annual Report: Record Breaking $275,827 Raised from 524 Donors
- COS Student Speaks at Aim Higher Foundation Event
- Meet the New Board of Directors
- End of Year Matching Donation Challenge!
- Gifts Given to Honor Frederick Commers (1936–2018)
- Gifts Given to Honor Sr. Patricia DeBlieck, CSJ (1938–2018)
- Honor a Loved One With a Gift in Their Name
- School Warms Up with a New Boiler
- Save the date: Reunion Sunday, May 19, 2018
The Good News – Summer 2018
- Class of 2014 High School Grads Share Plans and Advice As They Head to College
- Message from Fr. Steve
- Dollar-For-Dollar Matching until June 30
- Music Teacher Kristina Guiffre Makes Fundamentals Fun
- Reunion Sunday Mass and Breakfast
- Class of 1968 Celebrates its 50th Anniversary
- Why I Give: Kathryn Grayson (’02)
- 8th Grade Class Trip to Wolf Ridge
- COS Student Awarded Flaherty Foundation Scholarship
- Boys Basketball Team Makes It To Championship
The Good News – Spring 2018
- Isaac’s Wish — To Help Homeless
- Message from Fr. Steve
- 50 Years Later…We Remember the Fire.
- April 15: 50th Anniversary remembrance of St. Matthew’s old church and the fire that destroyed it. 10 a.m. Mass followed by brunch in the Social Hall (free will offering). RSVP to Linda Rivera at the Parish Center — 651-224-9793. Also see The Good News Special Edition - 40th Anniversary of the Church Fire (2008)
- St. Matthew’s Class of ’68 50 Year Reunion
- First Girls Basketball Team
- Lunch Monitor and the Firecracker
- Collecting Green Stamps For The Nuns’ First Car
- Alum David McDonald Adds A&F&F to Christmas List
- Good Friends, Good School
- St. Michael Class of 1968
- St. John Vianney Class of 1968
- Students Thank Supporters in Prayer and in Person
- School Awarded Healy Foundation Grant for Successful Registration Drive
- Catholic Schools Week Celebrates Friendship, Learning and Service
- Once-A-Month Donor Linda Sellars
The Good News - Fall-Winter 2017
- COS Enrollment up 15%. School Families Create Good Buzz and Bring in More Students
- Message from Fr. Steve
- School Update from Principal Bridget Kramer
- Former School Parent is New School Secretary
- COS Preschool Rated 4 Stars by Parent Aware
- Looking Back at 10 Years of The Good News
- Alums & Friends & Families 2017 Annual Report. $215,459 Raised in 9 Months Last Year – Over $1.5 Million in 10 Years!
- Dorothy Hecht Estate Gift Honors Fond Memories of St. Matthew’s
- $8,500 Challenge thru Dec. 31
The Good News Summer 2017
- How Benoit Came to COS
- Message from Fr. Steve
- Dollar-for-Dollar Matching Grant Until June 30
- Reunion Sunday Mass and Breakfast
- The First 5 Years at COS – A Brief Look Back
- COS’ First Graduating Class Just Graduated from High School
- Pastor of OLG Teaches 8th Grade Religion Class
- Leadership Team Takes on Literacy
- COS 6th grade boys basketball team wins city championship
The Good News Spring 2017
- Catholic School Teachers Share Stories from the ‘60s
- Message from Fr. Steve
- As Enrollment Rises, So Does Your Support!
- St. Matt’s Retired Teachers of ‘76
- St. Michael’s 8th Grade Class of 1966 & 1967
- St. Matthew’s 8th Grade Class of 1967
- St. John Vianney 8th Grade Class of 1967
- Sr. Anne Becker Recalls the 1960’s
The Good News Late Fall-Winter 2016
- Students Add Service to Fundraiser
- COS Prepared to Carry On St. Michael’s Tradition of Catholic Education
- Message from Fr. Steve
- COS Enrollment Up
- COS Students Make Big Impact at Cretin-Derham Hall
- 2016 Annual Report
- COS Receives $100,000 Grant
- Archbishop Visits COS
The Good News Fall 2016
- Two COS Students Win Flaherty Scholarships
- Message from Father Steve
- St. Michael’s Celebrates 150th Anniversary, Sunday, 9/25/16
- Reding Family Reflects on School History
- The Catholic School Advantage
- New Challenge Grant: Help Us Raise $65,000 by Sept. 30 to earn another $65,000!
- CSCOE Becomes Strong Partner in Support of Catholic Education
- Photo: COS graduating class of 2016
The Good News Spring 2016
- Marge Milner, Teacher & Mentor, Plays a Unique Role at COS
- Message from Father Steve
- Former St. Michael’s Parishioner Makes Estate Gift to COS
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebrates 85th Anniversary
- Service and Leadership Go Hand in Hand at COS
- St. John Vianney’s Class of 1966
- St. Michael’s Class of 1966 – Make that 1967
- St. Matthew’s Class of 1966
- St. Matthew’s Class of 1936
- St. Michael’s Class of 1936
- Remembering the May Crowning
- COS Receives Accreditation with High Praise
- Playground Update
- A New Challenge: Raise $65,000 to Earn Another $65,000
- From the Editor: The Community Behind Community of Saints
The Good News Fall/Winter 2015
- A&F&F Surpasses Goal to Meet $50,000 Schulze Challenge
- Message from Fr. Steve
- Gift from Pat Palmer Estate
- Conversation with COS Principal Bridget Kramer
- 2015 Annual Report
- Students Help Fund Playground
- St. Matt Alums Promote STA
The Good News Spring/Summer 2015
- Schulze Foundation Offers $50,000 Challenge Grant!
- Message from Fr. Steve
- New Priests at our Sponsoring Parishes
- A&F&F Raises Over $1 Million in Tuition Assistance
- Jerry Sexton (’44) Hopes for Good Things — Then Makes Them Happen
- St. Matthew’s Class of 1965.
- School update: Students Serving & Learning
- Back-to-Back Basketball Championships
- 8th Graders Takea Cultural Tour of the Twin Cities
- COS Class of 2015