God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
John 3:16
so that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK:
- Tuesday November 5 – 4th Grade Field Trip
- Wednesday November 6 – Book Fair
- Wednesday November 6 – School Mass
- Thursday November 7 – 1:30pm Dismissal, ASC Offered, Evening Parent Teacher Conferences
- Thursday November 7 – Book Fair
- Friday November 8 – No School Parent Teacher Conferences; No ASC
- Friday November 8 – Book Fair
NEWS/EVENTS/NEED TO KNOW:
FROM OUR CLINIC – STREP THROAT AWARENESS:
Several cases of strep throat have been reported school wide. Please watch your child for the symptoms that usually appear 2-5 days after exposure. Not all signs and symptoms need to be present to suspect strep throat.
Signs and Symptoms of Strep Throat:
● Throat pain, that can often start very quickly
● Pain and difficulty when swallowing
● Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus
● Tiny red spots on the soft or hard palate – the area at the back of the roof of the mouth
● Swollen, tender lymph glands (nodes) in your neck
● Fever
● Headache
● Rash
● Stomach ache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children
For accurate diagnosis, a throat culture needs to be taken at the doctor’s office. Following a culture being taken, your child should remain at home until you know the results. If medication is prescribed for strep throat, your child needs to be on the medication and fever free for 24 hours before returning to school.
Please remind your children to frequently wash their hands at school to help prevent the spread of illness.
Please notify the School Clinic at 741-8790 if your child becomes ill with strep throat or if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Lisa Thesier and Tara Horan
School Nurses
PARENT & TEACHER CONFERENCE SIGNUP:
| Dear SMCS Families, Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity for teachers and parents to share information and discuss strategies designed to motivate and encourage students to learn. November 7, 3pm – 7pm November 8, 8am – 12pm For the 2019-2020 school year, Parent-Teacher conference days are scheduled for Thursday, November 7th and Friday, November 8th. Due to the large number of available conference “slots,” separate sign-ups have been created for each teacher. To allow for more convenient scheduling for families with multiple students at Saint Mary’s, families with 3 or more children are allowed to schedule times on10.28, followed by 2 children families on 10.30, followed by open scheduling available on 11.1. Families were emailed the teacher links to sign-up. Sign-ups will close on Tuesday, November 5th at 9pm. Please click on the teacher’s name to access their sign-up. Ms. Beale Mrs. Benton Mrs. Dunham – Art Mrs. Dyer Mrs. Forkey Mrs. George Mrs. Harris Madame Healy Mrs. Klein Mrs. Lamb Mrs. Lee – Elementary Foreign Language Mr. Maddock Mrs. Meadows Mrs. Moretti – Music Ms. Mugford Mrs. O’Leary Mrs. Olesen – Math Enrichment Mrs. Peebles Mrs. Reardon Mrs. Robinson – PE Mr. Schaefer Mrs. Slifka Senora Thompson Mr. Tlusty – Technology Mrs. Trout Mrs. Turner Mrs. Tuskey Mrs. Valdepenas Mr. Woodburn |
FALL 2019 MONARCH MESSENGER:
In this issue of our Monarch Messenger read about alumna Katie Hutchinson, a heroic act, an alumna student returns as a teacher and so much more.
ICE CREAM SUNDAES!:
Don’t Forget On Our Next Early Dismissal Day, November 7th our 8th grade class will be selling ice cream sundaes to our 2nd – 8th grade classes during lunch. The cost is $2 each and students can add their flavor of syrup, sprinkles and whip cream.
They will be providing ice cream cups to our Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten and 1st grade students during the same lunch times. No toppings – provided. All proceeds benefit the 8th grade graduation fund, please help support our graduating 8th grade class.
VETERAN’S DAY ASSEMBLY:
Our Veteran’s Day Assembly will be on Monday, November 11th, at 2:00p.m., in the Church. The assembly is for grades 2nd through 8th. The speaker this year is Mr. Greg Lilly. Mr. Lilly served in the United States Marine Corps and is currently the Head Football Coach at Benedictine College Preparatory . The Veteran’s Day Salute and a letter explaining/instructions are here for your convenience. Please have your students’ Salutes in to Mrs. Klein by Monday November 4th.
BLAZE PIZZA SPIRIT NIGHT:
Pizza! Pizza! Pizza! Join your SMCS PTO on Tuesday, November 12th from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Blaze Pizza for our next Saint Mary’s Spirit Night! 20% of all proceeds (dine in & carry out) will be donated back to our school. Blaze Pizza is a fast casual, build your own pizza restaurant located at 4101 Dominion Boulevard, Suite 400, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060.
ANNUAL THANKSGIVING BUFFET:
Join us for our annual Thanksgiving Buffet on Tuesday November 26th. Our buffet is always a special time for our students and families. Sign up here if you haven’t done so already in your Boonli lunch account. We love seeing our students and families at this wonderful event!
CHAMPIONSHIP CHESS WINTER SESSION:
Championship Chess will continue to offer chess class and will begin the winter session on November 15th (no school on November 8th) and continue for 9 classes ending February 7th. The registration is due by November 10th.
IT’S THAT TIME OMGOODNESS “ADVENT CALENDAR SALES”:
2019 Chocolate Advent Calendars. Our 8th grade class is selling these fun-for-all ages calendars! Purchase one, two, or three and support our graduating class. Calendars will be on sale until 11/8, while supplies last. ONE order per form please!
LUNCHROOM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST IT’S YOU TURN, SIGN UP NOW!
Parents – are you looking to get involved, see your child and help out in a much needed way? One way to volunteer is during lunch. Each grade level is assigned a month. Please consider helping!
Click on the month to sign up!
November – Kindergarten & First
January 2020 – 2nd & 3rd grades
NEW FOR PAINLESS FUNDRAISING-COKE REWARDS:
Saint Mary’s is now live in the Coke Rewards Program. Refresh yourself and make great things happen for Saint Mary’s Catholic School. How do you do this you may ask, it’s EASY!
PAINLESS FUNDRAISING PUBLIX ENROLLMENT MADE EASY:
This information will help you set up your Publix account and our school will start earning rewards!
SAINT GERTRUDE SPECIAL STUDENT PRAYER SERVICE:
In celebration of Discover Catholic Schools Week, Saint Gertrude High School invites you to join us for a special student-led Prayer Service on Sunday, November 17 at 2 p.m. The service will include a student reflection and will give you a glimpse into how we celebrate chapel each week. For more information and to register to attend please visit our Prayer Service web page.
ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH EVENT:
“Richmond Symphony Orchestra” “Songs of the Angels – A Celebration of the Music of Christmas” Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 7 pm. With special appearance by Saint Mary’s School Choir – Tickets: $25 per person, $40 for reserved seating – Available online at St. Mary’s Catholic Church HERE or in the parish office.
Discounted tickets available for Saint Mary’s Catholic School choir families – email Mrs. Heather Heishman at hheishman@saintmary.org
“Altar Server Training” There will be an afterschool training for students interested in becoming altar servers. You must be 5th grade or older, have made your 1st Communion, and be willing to participate in training and serve at Mass on a rotational schedule. Training will be on Tuesday, November 12 after school [2:45-4:00]; we will meet in the church. To register for this training.
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Vrtis in the Parish Office, 740-4044, ext. 22.
“From Sea to Shining Sea” Join us for a free concert on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 3 pm at St. Mary Church. Fiddle virtuoso, Michael Ferry, Tom Kaczmarek (piano) and Fr. Renninger (baritone) will explore the musical styles which were popular in America from the time of the 13 Colonies to the end of the Civil War. All are invited; reception to follow. RSVP at stmarysrichmond.org or call the parish office at 804-740-4044.
“Middle School Youth Group Nights” For Grades 6-8…Food, Friends, and Fun! Gatherings will focus on fellowship and building relationships. Open to ALL Saint Mary’s community middle schoolers and their friends. Participants must be registered for parish faith formation (select Attends Catholic School in the online registration at the parish website) to ensure parental permission. Nights are planned for Nov. 24, Dec. 15, and Jan. 5.
“Are You Interested in Becoming A Catholic?” If you have never been baptized, if you were baptized in another Christian denomination and would like to become Catholic, or if you were baptized Catholic, but never received the Sacraments of Eucharist or Confirmation, you are welcome to join our RCIA Inquiry Process. For more information, call Sr. Pat at 740-4044, ext. 13, or go to our parish web page, and click on “Interest in Becoming Catholic”.
“St. Mary’s Catholic Church Registration” Parish registration takes place monthly on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 pm or some weekdays at 7 pm in the Bishop Sullivan Room. During this one-hour program, you will meet other parishioners, our Pastor and staff, receive an introduction to St. Mary’s Parish and complete the registration documents. Childcare and refreshments are provided.
Our registration will take place on November 17, 2019.
HELPFUL LINKS:
Volunteer for Carpool Duty
Painless Fundraising
Flynn O’Hara Uniform information