And this is my prayer:
that your love may increase ever more and more
in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value,
so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ
for the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1
December 7, 2018
Please visit the school calendar regularly for the most up-to-date information as times and dates may change.
IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK:
Monday December 10 – Saint Mary’s Annual Christmas Program
Tuesday December 11 – Spelling Bee 1:00 pm to 2:45 pm
Wednesday December 12 – School Mass
Wednesday December 12 – Middle School Exams
Thursday December 13 – Middle School Exams
Friday December 14 – Middle School Exams
NEWS/EVENTS/NEED TO KNOW:
NEW – Very Important Survey for Principal Search: As I mentioned earlier this school year, we will be launching a search for a new permanent school principal. Your input is very important and very much needed. Please Click HERE to fill out the survey.
NEW – Middle School Exam Schedule: Starting Wednesday December 12, through Friday December 14, 2018. Click HERE
NEW – Our Lady of Guadalupe: During school mass on Wednesday December 12, we will honor Our Lady of Guadalupe. We will sing a song in Spanish after communion and our Segura students will present roses to our lady.
NEW – Giving Tuesday Update: You are part of a community of Christ-bearers who step up to answer the call! Thanks to your generosity, we made our Giving Tuesday match and then some! With our lead gift included, we raised more than $18,000. This money will kick off the Annual Fund, which supports the operating budget of Saint Mary’s Catholic School each year. The fund drive will start in the New Year, but now we’ve got a terrific head start on our $65,000 goal. THANK YOU! If you would like to make a gift to Saint Mary’s before the end of the calendar year, you can do so by clicking this link, or contact Jennifer Janus at jjanus@saintmary.org to learn about other giving options.
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.
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 – Tree Trimming Tag Day: Tuesday December 18th, $3.00 per student! Wear red & green, Christmas-y , too. Proceeds go towards trimming the limbs/branches on our playground trees. Sponsored by your PTO
NEW – Stocking Stuffers: To Our Wonderful Families of Saint Mary’s,
While you are thinking about Stocking Stuffers for your sweet children and loved ones, please consider checking out our Spirit Shop! Click HERE
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.
Join Your Student for our Christmas Buffet: Monday December 17, 2018. 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
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!
Boonli Is Open For January Lunch Orders From Monday December 3rd through December 17.
NEW – The 2019 Gala: Hello St. Mary’s Families. The 2019 Gala event will be here before we know it! It will be held March 2, 2019 at Dover Hall. The event will be fabulous, but in order for it to be successful and to raise money for our beloved school, we need your help. Please consider Gala Committee Sign-up to be part of this year’s event planning committee. Or if you have a goods or services to donate to our Live or Silent Auction please contact Kate Faraci: kate.faraci@gmail.com. We are counting on your support to make this event GREAT!
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.
Click HERE for all Saint Gertrude Events.
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