Dear Saint Mary’s Families,
After School Care (ASC) is a program that we are glad to be able to offer at Saint Mary’s. I am excited to announce that Mrs. Jennifer Southworth is serving as our After School Care Director this year.
Before Mrs. Southworth joined Saint Mary’s, she served as a Corporate Administrator offering Summer Camp Services to schools across the country. She founded this program to provide hands-on learning and enrichment activities focusing on keeping students engaged while also promoting self-expression and teamwork. In addition to serving as ASC Director, she continues to serve as an aide in the JK classroom. Mrs. Southworth is extremely excited to take on the role of ASC Director, and is looking forward to working with our Saint Mary’s families.
Saint Mary’s is certified to provide After School Care to 95 students. Last year we had about 60 students who used ASC full-time, which provided the availability for drop-in for about 35 students each day.
Our renovation is providing not only increased safety during the school day, but providing increased safety for our After School Care program as well.
Moving forward all students will be picked up from ASC from the main office. This ensures that each adult who is coming to pick up a child has direct contact with one of our After School Care employees and that we transition each student safely to the appropriate adult.
The afternoon schedule for our students is changing a bit as well. We know that our students have been in school all day and need time to decompress. At the same time we know that students need to get homework done. Students need to be fortified after a long day as well.
We also know that students do best on a schedule. A schedule has been developed for each grade level that makes sure that they get fed, that they have an opportunity to get homework done and that they have some time to decompress.
Snacks will be provided immediately after school and again around 4:30 each day.
This year we are limiting the ages of children that are on the playground at any one time. Safety is our number one priority and having students of all ages on the playground at one time isn’t safe. There are other activities planned for when your child is not on the playground.
While students will spend the majority of the afternoon with other students around their same age, about 5:15 to 5:30 all students come together because by this time the numbers have reduced to a point that we feel confident in the supervision of having all ages together.
We need those families whose children will be using After School Care full-time to register in advance using this link.
This year we are not requiring those who use the drop-in option to register in advance. After School Care is a service of Saint Mary Catholic School and by having your child enrolled at Saint Mary’s, they are automatically eligible to use the drop-in option for ASC. The first time your child uses the drop-in option you will be required to fill out the paperwork we need to have on file.
The rates for After School Care have been adjusted for the 2018-2019 school year as well. Families who are using the drop-in option will pay the same fee for all of their children. Additionally both full-time and drop-in families will have to pay for days that full day care is provided. The After School Care rates can be found here.
The schedule for After School Care aligns well with our school calendar, but doesn’t match up exactly. After School Care will not be in session the following afternoons: Tuesday, November 20th (day preceding Thanksgiving holidays), Wednesday, December 19th (day preceding Christmas holidays), Thursday, April 18th (day preceding Easter holidays), Friday, May 3rd, (Grandparents’ and Special Friends’ Day), Friday, May 24th (Field Day), or Friday, June 7th (the last day of school). The full After School Care calendar can be found here.
I am very excited about the changes we have made to the After School Care program. I feel confident that your child will be well-cared for, engaged and, most importantly, safe.
Joyfully,
Jenni Ellis
Principal
IMPORTANT DATES THIS WEEK: Please visit the school calendar regularly for the most up-to-date information as times and dates may change.
Monday, August 2nd – School Office Closed
Monday August 27th – First day of school
Friday September 7th – Save the date, Saint Mary’s Kick Off Cook Out!
This summer our hours are 7:30 to 3:30, Monday through Friday. To get to the temporary offices, enter the building as you are going to the church offices and come into the ECDC wing. We are located in Mrs. Harris’ room, the third room on the left.
NEW – Saxon Shoes: Saxon carries a wide variety of Buck and Athletic shoes for our students. Mention to your sales person that you are a Saint Mary’s Catholic School student from now until 9/1/18 and you will receive a 15% discount on your uniform shoes. See the attached flyer.
2018 – 2019 Important Key Dates Calendar: Looking toward next year, the key dates calendar for the 2018-2019 school year is linked here. You will see that the revision date is in the lower right-hand corner. We will make sure the most updated calendar is always available on our website and we will let families know if any changes to the calendar are made.
Summer Reading Lists:
Entering 1st Grade
Entering 2nd Grade
Entering Third Grade
Entering 4th Grade
Entering 5th Grade
Entering 6th & 7th Grade
Entering 8th Grade
Student Supply Lists:
Junior Kindergarten Supply List
Kindergarten Supply List
First Grade Supply List
Second Grade Supply List
Third Grade Supply List
Fourth Grade Supply List
Fifth Grade Supply List
Middle School Supply List
Church Events:
“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
Helpful Links:
Volunteer in the Lunch Room
Painless Fundraising
Flynn O’Hara Uniform inform