Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.” Luke 21
November 30, 2018
Please visit the school calendar regularly for the most up-to-date information as times and dates may change.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK:
Sunday December 2 – Advent Brunch and Open House
Monday December 3 – Kids Korner Christmas Shop
Tuesday December 4 – Kids Korner Christmas Shop
Tuesday December 4 – Second Grade Field Trip
Wednesday December 5 – Kids Korner Christmas Shop
Wednesday December 5 – School Mass
NEWS/EVENTS/NEED TO KNOW:
NEW – Giving Tuesday: – November 27 was Giving Tuesday, a day established in 2012 to offset the commercialism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday with a season of charitable giving. An anonymous donor has offered Saint Mary’s a Giving Tuesday matching challenge: If you and I make a financial gift to Saint Mary’s Catholic School, this family will match our gifts, up to $7,000. Every dollar you and I give will actually mean $2 — double the dollars to help sustain our school, which is home away from home for our children and grandchildren.
This matching gift is available until the end of November. Please click this link to make a tax-deductible gift to Saint Mary’s today, and help us make the most of this generous matching gift. You make the difference, in this as in all things. Thank you!
Advent Pancake Brunch and Open House, This Sunday December 2nd!
To purchase tickets, click HERE, or purchase tickets at the door.
We are still in need of a few volunteers to make this wonderful, family friendly event happen!!! We have volunteer opportunities for middle school students, high school students and parents. We also are asking for small food item donations. Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. Please click HERE to volunteer!
NEW – Kids Korner Christmas at Saint Mary’s Catholic School: The school Christmas Shop is HERE! Open Sunday @ Advent Brunch through Wednesday 12/5! Check with your child’s teacher to find out your class’ special shopping day. We look forward to helping your child pick out some fun family gifts!
NEW – Christmas Shop Volunteers: Thank you to our AWESOME Christmas Shop volunteers who will help make this event a success!! We are still in need of 1 person for set-up this Saturday, 12/1 and 2 for take-down, Wednesday 12/5. Please join us for this fun tradition. Click HERE to volunteer.
NEW – Wisemen’s Purse: The Wise Men’s Purse is a community collection that will be distributed among Saint Mary’s Catholic School faculty and staff in celebration of Christmas. This collection is a fair and equitable way to share the generosity of many, and to do so in a manner in accordance with the giving policies set forth by the Diocese of Richmond. While individual classroom teachers are readily identified by students as “their” teacher, each teacher is supported by colleagues who create a loving and caring team. It is the PTO Board’s desire to acknowledge the contributions each faculty and staff member makes to the success of every child at Saint Mary’s.
Participation in Wise Men’s Purse is voluntary. Donations may be made HERE, or by check, sent in to the office labeled Wise Men’s Purse. The Purse will be open for contributions between December 3 and December 14.
NEW – Annual Christmas Program: Grades 1, 3, 5, and 7th Grades will Perform Monday, December 10 in our Annual Christmas Choir Program. Students arrive in classrooms at 6 pm, line up and proceed to church to begin at 6:30 pm. Students will wear holiday attire that is church appropriate. Girls- dresses, skirts, dress pants. Boys- slacks, dress shirt, ties, sweaters, etc. If you have any questions or need assistance please contact Dmoretti@saintmary.org.
Children Helping Children Christmas Project: The Saint Mary’s Student Council and the St. Mary’s Faith Formation Program is sponsoring the annual partnership with Sherbourne Methodist Church again this year. We have enjoyed this relationship for many years and hope your child will participate. We help low income children along Jefferson Davis Highway have a wonderful Christmas by sharing our gifts with them. Your participation will brighten the hearts of these children this holiday season. The program provides toys for children aged newborn to 12 years of age. The gift should be a toy or clothing item that your child would like to have under your tree on Christmas morning. Give the gift with gladness and, if possible, have your child earn the money to buy the gift. To assure that we have gifts that span all ages, please buy a toy that would be appropriate for your child’s age. We will be collecting the gifts the week of December 10th. Please have your child bring the gift(s) to their classroom by Friday, December 14th. The gifts will be delivered on Monday December 17th. Please do not purchase gifts that require batteries and please do not wrap the gift(s).
Thank you for sharing the Saint Mary’s School holiday spirit with others.
Sincerely,
Saint Mary’s School Student Council.
NEW – Christmas Buffet: If you haven’t ordered yet click HERE for the form to join us for this wonderful family holiday event.
Christmas Buffet Lunch Schedule:
10:50 – 11:15am 3rd and 4th Grades
11:15 – 11:40am 1st and 2nd Grades
11:40 – 12:05pm K and 5th Grades
12:05 – 12:30pm Middle School Classes
NEW – Saint Mary’s Alumni Christmas Potluck Dinner: Calling all Saint Mary’s Alumni, plus former and current faculty and staff to a potluck Christmas dinner on Thursday, December 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the school gym/parish hall. Here’s the link to the evite with more information: http://evite.me/Bw7x7QuUNr — please spread the word to any alumni you know. Please contact Jennifer Janus at jjanus@saintmary.org if you have questions. We hope you can join us!
NEW – Instructional Chess: Boys and girls have fun playing the game of chess while learning to be better players. Playing chess helps kids think more clearly and improves math and reading skills. Click HERE for information.
Monarch of the Month:Thinker – These students apply thinking skills critically and creatively to solve complex problems. Congratulations!
First Grade = George B, Evie U
Second Grade = Hank E, Dhruv P
Third Grade = George F, Madelyn W
Fourth Grade = Ella S, Trip C,
Fifth Grade = Jeffrey S, Hazel C, Matthew D,
Seventh Grade = Alex B
Eighth Grade = Olivia A, Emory S
NEW – Boonli Will Open For January Lunch Orders On Monday December 3rd through December 17.
Saint Gertrude High School Fall Admission Events:
Shadow Days; Multiple dates in November, January, and February, School day begins at 8 a.m. Register at saintgertrude.org/shadowdays.
WORTH REPEATING …
Church Events:
“The King’s Singers – GOLD” A Christmas Concert Friday, December 7, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. St. Mary’s Catholic Church Tickets: $40 per person Acclaimed for their life-affirming virtuosity and irresistible charm, two time Grammy and Emmy award winning The King’s Singers are in global demand. Come celebrate 50 years of amazing musical heritage with their special anniversary performance: GOLD.
For concert info and tickets, visit stmarysrichmond.org or call the Parish Office at 804-740-4044. We expect a sellout, so get your tickets now!
“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 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 next registration will take place on January 13th, 2019.
Helpful Links:
Volunteer for Carpool Duty
Volunteer in the Lunch Room
Painless Fundraising
Flynn O’Hara Uniform inform