New Student Registration Events

New student registration events at St. Kate's provide entering students and their parents/family members with a wealth of information about academic programs and campus resources.

Students work with an academic advisor to identify courses they would like to register for in the fall and can apply for on-campus employment. They also learn what types of campus opportunities are available and find out what to to bring when living in student housing.

Parents are involved in their own orientation to campus services.

Following the event, students are mailed their final schedule. If they have questions after receiving the schedule, they should contact the Office of Academic Advising at (651) 690-6803.

We look forward to seeing families and new students this summer. Come join the excitement!

Lizette M Bartholdi
Director of Academic Advising

NOTE: Parents unable to attend should e-mail erichter-norgel@stkate.edu to request a folder of relevant information from the event.

Save These Dates

Note: these dates may differ somewhat from those announced at the April 24 New Student event. Please note the changes.

First Year Orientation - Sept. 5-7
This is the first day of Orientation and move-in day for your student. It includes an important Parent Orientation Program on Sun., Sept. 5.

Transfer Orientation - Sept. 7

Fall Classes Begin - Sept. 8

Activities Fair - Sept. 23

Family Weekend - Oct. 1-3
First Parent Speaker Series Event, Saturday, Oct. 2nd, 10-11:30 a.m.: "From Allowances to Financial Independence," featuring national speaker, Nathan Dungan, author of Share, Save, Spend.

Mid-term Break - Oct 29

Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 25-28

Final Exams - Dec. 13-16

Winter Break Begins - Dec. 16

Winter Classes Begin - Jan. 31

Residence Hall closing reminders ...

Residence Halls Close, May 21 at 6:00 p.m.

The residence halls officially close at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 21. Students have many tasks and responsibilities as part of the check-out process. Please encourage your student to read all of the closing procedures to avoid fines that may result from improper check-out, lost keys, damages and more.

All information and instructions can be found on the Residence Life website inside Kateway. May calendars with deadline reminders and other information have also been posted on individual room doors. Students remaining on campus due to commencement activities or summer housing have special closing procedures, which can also be found on the Residence Life website.

If you have questions, please contact Residence Life at (651) 690-6617 or residencelife@stkate.edu.

Hmong Family Celebration

Hmong students honored their parents, families and extended family members in the 2nd annual Hmong Family Appreciation Event Saturday, May 1.

The program was coordinated by faculty member Ka Zoua Xiong, who teaches the Hmong language classes and her students in the Elementary Hmong Class II. The program included a keynote address by graduating senior Jewelly Lee (major - sociology/women's studies; minor - communications) as well as a poignant skit presented by the students.

Participants enjoyed a potluck buffet followed by heartfelt individual presentations by the students to their families which acknowledged the love, support and sacrifices their families have made to make their education possible.

Pictured, Jewelly Lee, presenting a rose to her mother, Xai Lee.

Advice from Students to Parents ... Coming Home for Summer

Editor's note: Each May, we publish this article written by four 2009 graduates after their first year at college. It includes some great advice for parents.

Let me live in your house for free, eat your food, drive your car, use your gas, have you do my laundry, and then leave me alone to do what I want!” Just kidding.

Okay Mom and Dad, so maybe I am not completely kidding about how I’d like life to be at home this summer. Coming home for the summer after being away for the year will be a bit hard for you and me. Spending this year at St. Kate’s has been great in the sense that it has made me grow both intellectually and independently as well. It also means that I am not your baby girl anymore.

Here are some topics that I would like to discuss with you at the beginning of the summer so we can perhaps avoid misunderstandings. What are your expectations? Please share them with me at the beginning of the summer. Do I have curfew? If so, what time is my curfew? Am I allowed to use the car? Do I have to pay for my own gas — keeping in mind I am a poor college student? Will I be expected to contribute to the household by doing chores? I would be very grateful if you would be willing to negotiate on a few of these issues.

I would also like to share with you my experiences while being away at school. At school I have matured and become more independent. I also have been able to take on more responsibilities. As a result, I feel that I am able to grow into a new type of relationship with you, or at least begin one anyway. I do not feel like I am a child anymore. I realize I will always be your child, but I am growing up. I would be appreciative if you would talk to me as an adult.

Here are a few other subjects that are on my mind. First, my sleeping schedule has altered somewhat since I was home last. I am used to going to bed later and waking up even later. It would mean a lot if you would allow me at least a few extra hours to sleep in.

Second, family dynamics may have shifted since I have been away. The readjustment may be difficult, for me as well as the rest of the family, but I think that as long as we all are working on getting along things will be fine. Last, I would appreciate some privacy when I come back. I realize it will not be the same amount of privacy I had while living at school, but a little bit of privacy will go a long way.

I sincerely appreciate your understanding, Mom and Dad. It is my hope that if we both come into this summer with an open mind, the summer will go well. Although I may not always show it, I am happy to be home. After all, it is nice to finally be in a place where I do not have to wear flip-flops in the shower!

Mary Blissenbach '09, Elementary Education
Alaine Clawson '09, Elementary Education
Sara Duevel '09, Deciding
Billie Jo Zak '09, American Sign Language

Home for the Summer: tips for parents

From the Counseling Center Staff

Aaah, summertime! A time we tend to long for and a time we tend to build dreams around. We imagine time to play or to relax in the shade with a cool drink, long twilight walks and talks around the lake with people we care about, trips and family gatherings of all kinds. Your daughter is undoubtedly excited about summer, the end of the academic year and a chance to put away the textbooks for a while. Unless, of course, she’s in summer school.

If your daughter has been living away from home during the year, you also may dream of chances to reconnect and to feel like a complete family again. Your daughter may be in tune with this image. However, it’s just as likely that she won’t be and will be spending so much of her time working or with peers. You may feel like you need to make an appointment to get time with her and have a sense what’s going on in her life even while she’s living with you.

Learning to adapt to living without your daughter in your life every day might have been a challenge in fall of freshman year. It takes even more flexibility to bounce back and forth between having her gone and then back in your life again. Just as you get used to a daily routine, expected noise levels and workload, everything changes. Think of it as a way for you to stay nimble and adaptable.

You may find that you need to renegotiate some of the house rules and expectations in ways that didn’t come up during short visits during the year. Here’s a passage about this process from a book called Almost Grown by Patricia Pasick:

"While returning-home experiences may be warm and connecting, a transition is still very much in the making. You are searching for signs of growth. Students hope to see that being a college student affords them some new privilege in the family, a new kind of almost-adult status. Negotiation is the key to an evolving, positive relationship between new college students and their families. "

"At the least, your [daughter] will want to have her views listened to and respected, even if there are disagreements. On the family’s side, it’s perfectly fine to continue some expectations that, when college students are at home, they’re part of the family with obligations to help out and connect."

So, enjoy your summer with its pleasures and challenges. Try to see clearly the possibilities and joys in the real summer as it unfolds, much richer than the dreams and expectations we create in advance.