God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
2 Corinthians 5:19
and entrusting to us the message of salvation.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK:
- Friday October 25 – Report Cards Distributed
- Friday October 25 – TONIGHT! Knights of Columbus Middle School Halloween Dance
- Monday October 28 – Trunk or Treat
- Thursday October 31 – Saints Parade
- Friday November 1 – All Saints Day Mass
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 EMAIL SCHEDULE FOR SIGNUP:
If you have any questions regarding a conference, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
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 etc…
SAINT MARY’S PARENT PRAYER:
Start your week off right and join your fellow prayer warriors to lift up our school and community in prayer. We meet every Monday after drop-off (8am) in the side chapel of the church. We hope you can join us!
MASS/SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR OCTOBER:
There are a number of times students repeatedly miss certain classes because of the Mass schedule. To compensate, we will adjust a couple of upcoming days:
Wednesday, Oct 30 — No Mass — FRIDAY Schedule
Friday, Nov 1 — All Saints Day Mass — WEDNESDAY schedule
TONIGHT! KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL HALLOWEEN COSTUME DANCE:
Admission is $5, students must have a permission slip, and a canned good. Please ensure your middle school student uses good judgment with his or her costume! Guns and other weapons may not be part of costumes. Permission Slip, also available at the door.
Please PARK AND WALK UP to drop off and pick up your student. This special dance needs your volunteer time and donations. Please note: All items purchased for the dance are reimbursable from the Knights of Columbus. Please save and submit receipts to Mr. Woodburn.
MONDAY NIGHT! “TRUNK OR TREAT”:
NEW THIS YEAR: We will have a “Best Trunk” Competition! You won’t want to miss your chance to be the inaugural SMCS Best Trunk winner, so be sure to reserve your space soon!
If you are interested in reserving a spot for Trunk or Treat, making a candy donation, or volunteering to help make this great event fun for all, please sign up!
SAINTS PARADE:
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 is the Head Football Coach at Benedictine. 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.
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 or two or three and support our graduating class.
LUNCHROOM VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. 2nd AND 3rd GRADE YOUR MONTH IS OCTOBER!:
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 will be 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 SHADOW DATES:
Tuesday, November 5th, Wednesday, November 6th, Wednesday, November 13th, Thursday, November 14th, Thursday, January 16th, Friday, January 17th, Wednesday, February 5th, and, Thursday, February 6th. Register for the shadow day of your choice!
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
“Mass of Remembrance October 30, 2019”At the beginning of November, the Church traditionally celebrates The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. This year on Wednesday, October 30 at 7:00 pm, St. Mary’s will celebrate a special Mass for All Souls. Ms. Anne O’Byrne will join us that evening with special music and sung prayer. There will be an opportunity for you to light a candle in memory of your deceased loved ones. You are also invited to bring a small framed photo in remembrance [but please not your only copy!] to place at the altar. We ask that you also place your name and phone number on the back of the photo. These pictures will remain at the altar during the month of November as a visual reminder of those who have gone before us. Following Mass that evening, all are invited to remain for a reception in the commons.
“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