Mass/May Crowning of Mary/Grandparents Day/Family – Guest Luncheon/Art Show/Spring Sing
Friday, May 16th is indeed a busy, delightful and prayerful day at Saint Mary’s! Following our tradition of combining a number of springtime events, Friday the 16th is a bit unusual as it is also an inclement weather make-up day, extending the typical half-day into a full day of school. The schedule for the day is:
- 9:00 AM – School Mass in the Church, all are welcome to attend!
- Immediately following Mass – Procession to the Statue of Mary in front of the School.
- Once all are gathered, Crowning of Mary by the 8th grade student elected by his or her peers.
- 10:30 AM – Art show opens in the upper commons. All guest are invited. The Art show will remain open until 1:00 PM
- 10:30 AM – Refreshments are available for families and guests in the parish hall while students return to their classrooms.
- 11:00 AM – Families and friends are invited to the classrooms to be with their students. Guests who planned on eating lunch with their students are invited to join them in the parish hall (cafeteria) during their lunch time. A rotation schedule including lunchtimes, art show and classroom time will be available for guests.
- 1:00 PM – Families and friends are invited to the Church for this year’s Spring Sing. Spring Sing will begin at 1:15 PM.
- Immediately following Spring Sing, students will return to their classrooms for dismissal. Students may be signed out from the classrooms by parents.
- 2:45 PM – Regular carpool dismissal / after school care.
The Crowning of Mary
In the Catholic Church, May is traditionally the month of Mary. This tradition is possibly due to the month of May being associated with creation. Throughout the month, parishes and schools stage May Crownings, ceremonies that include hymns and prayers to the Blessed Virgin, culminating with the crowning of a statue of the Queen of Heaven with a wreath of flowers. Performed after our school Mass, the ritual is not part of the church’s official liturgy but a popular Marian devotion, like the rosary. But unlike the rosary, it is a formal ceremony instead of an individual act.
Students in grades K, 2, 4 and 6 are asked to bring small potted (3” – 4”) flowers that will later be planted in our courtyard. Students in grades 1, 3, 5 and 7 are asked to bring in cut flowers for the baskets in the procession. A single stem is preferred. Eighth Grade students are ushers during the procession and do not process with flowers to the statue.
Luncheon
Those parents, grandparents and other honored guests who wish to eat lunch with their students during the day may order lunch online. We ask that lunch be pre-ordered so that chef Gene can prepare this special luncheon with minimal waste. Students order lunches following the usual lunch ordering procedures.
Art Show
Once again, the beautiful creations of our students will be on display and available for purchase during our art show. Please stop by and enjoy the beauty and creativity of our students.
Spring Sing
Grades K, 2, 4 and 6 perform a variety of musical numbers that they have been working on for some time. Come enjoy this very special music that the students have prepared for your enjoyment.
Grandparents Day
Grandparents and other special guests are invited to join Saint Mary’s students as we celebrate our faith, education and creativity. We hope you enjoy your visit, and extend to you a very special thank you for coming.
Special notes:
- All students are to be in regular uniforms (not P.E. uniform) for the day, regardless of temperature or schedule.
- Saint Mary’s will follow a Friday schedule on Wednesday the 14th – no Mass, please be attentive to P.E. uniforms.
- Saint Mary’s will follow a Wednesday schedule on Friday the 16th.
- Student Council Doughnut Sale to Benefit our sister parish in Haiti
- Parents and other family members are invited to sit with their student(s) during Mass.
- — Please sit with the youngest sibling’s class
- — Older siblings may be invited to sit with the family as well
- — Please let the teachers of the older siblings know where the students will be seated
- — When parents are dismissed from Mass for the procession, older siblings should quietly return to their classes