We are currently forming a school education commission to serve as advisors. The commission will assist in the implementation of the vision, mission and overall policy of the school. Positions on this team will consist of five members from St. Andrew, one from St. Mary and one from Immaculate Conception. 

Interest Form
Please complete this form by October 12.

Refer to the school education commission explanation and membership details:
https://bit.ly/3qISrAv

We will launch Fall 2023!
Please read Fr. John Linden's note to the parish below:

Dear St. Andrew Family,
After a lot of prayer and fine work from our School Commission Exploratory Team
(as well as all your prayer and input), we have gathered enough information regarding
a possible School here at St. Andrew to now make an informed decision.
We are going to start a school at St. Andrew! We will be opening the school in
September of 2023! The details (including what grades, curriculum, etc. etc.) will
have to be worked out between now and then.

There is more than enough interest to start a school, but less than enough time to
have things sufficiently in place for an opening this fall. However, we can’t be lulled
into thinking that there is now an abundance of time to get things ready by next fall.
We have been in consultation with some truly helpful experts who have given us lists
of things to do and even timelines to get them done in.

There is a lot to do in a still short time frame, but it will be possible with great effort.
In addition to the tremendously talented and motivated team that we have now, we
will have need of all the help we can get in the next year and beyond. This will be a
Parish School. The children attending, at least at the outset, will be the young
disciples of St. Andrew, St. Mary, and Immaculate Conception. The resources of
prayer, time, money, and talent that we will all need to contribute in one way,
or another, will go into the mission of the Church for years to come.

That is ultimately what we are all investing in – The Mission of the Church.
I want to thank our amazing team that has brought such energy, effort, and expertise
to this project and thank all of you who have been praying, praying, and praying for
their work.

Thank you also for your tremendous interest and input through the survey
and the Town Hall Meetings and in the many other offerings that you have made.
St. Francis was quoted as saying right at the very end of his life, “Let us begin
brothers [and sisters], for up to now we have done nothing.” Well, I can tell you that
“nothing” has been exhausting work thus far, but St. Francis’ point is well made,
we have only scratched the surface. GO TEAM!

Bless you all,
Fr. John

As you may have heard me announce at Mass, we are growing - again! Michelle Sontag, our new Interim Principal/Director of School Opening, comes to us with a wealth of experience and a passion for educating children. We are so grateful to have her on the staff as we move into this next phase of developing a school St. Andrew.                                                                                                                                       - Fr. John

Meet Michelle Sontag

As a devout Catholic, and one who has faith knowing that my journey is designed from the One above, I believe this is my most exciting calling yet. I have been led to St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church to become the interim principal and to direct the opening of the school. I was sitting at my grandson Easton’s baseball game this summer, listening to parents who were ecstatic at the potential of opening a Catholic school in Saline.  Because I was blessed to assist in opening Monroe Catholic Elementary Schools in Monroe, I became excited too. Before long, I was making lists, recalling important information and gathering as much data as I could. Truly, my goal was to simply help with the details for such a monumental task. I am certain that the Holy Spirit had a hand in directing my path to help lead the mission of this church.

My experience spans from teaching to educational consulting, to serving as principal at St. Michael School and St. Mary School in Monroe. I have also been fortunate to be an administrator in Saline Area Schools. As the principal at Heritage School, this experience enabled me to become a part of this tight-knit community. Most recently, I have been the trainer manager for s3strategies, a K-12 professional development company. Managing over 60 elite teacher-trainers and training teachers nationally, I have had the opportunity to stay current on educational trends.

I am married to my best friend Dave and will celebrate 39 years of marriage this October. We have three grown children and four beautiful grandchildren. We are an intense baseball family too. Through sports and life’s journey, we have been touched by so many. I am honored to be able to give back to this faith-filled community.

The gift of a Catholic education is beyond measure. Serving as a Catholic school leader is a blessing ten-fold. There is not another institute where faith is first, where students excel with God-centered self-esteem, and where we are taught to be servants of the Lord. Jesus has great plans for St. Andrew Catholic Church and school. I feel blessed to serve and invite you to help in any way that you can as well. It will take all of us to create this legacy.
 

Questions or would like to help in any way? 
You can contact Michelle at [email protected]