Dear Saint Mary’s Families,
There is a full week ahead at Saint Mary Catholic School and it begins right after school today!
We are all thrilled to help the resource teachers get moved back into their spaces this afternoon. Thank you to all who will be here helping. We couldn’t do it without you!
You get to see the progress of construction first-hand on Back to School night next week. Back to School Night for grades 1-5 is on Tuesday, September 18th and for middle school is on Wednesday, September 19th. Both evenings will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the gym. After a brief program in the gym, you will then go to your child’s homeroom. There will be two 20-minute sessions for grades 1-5. Parents of middle school students will get to spend 6 minutes in each of their child’s classes.
After the official events for the evening are over, we invite you to visit the renovated elementary wing and the renovated resource classrooms. Please know that things are still not 100% complete in these areas. There are many punch list items to be completed.
Don’t forget Consitution Day on Monday. It is a fun and festive day for our students and a great way to support the PTO. We can’t wait to see all of our students decked out in their red, white and blue!
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, September 17th – Constitution Day Tag Day
Tuesday, September 18th – Back to School Night parents of children in 1st through 5th grade, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 19th – Back to School Night for parents of middle school students, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 19th – School Mass (Please note only students who have PE on Wednesday can wear their PE uniform to mass.)
Saturday, September 22nd – Go Forth 5k, at Deep Run Park — kids’ run at 8:00 a.m., 5k at 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, September 26th – Early Release 1:30 dismissal, students will eat lunch in school
NEW – Constitution Day: On Monday, September 17th, Saint Mary’s will celebrate Constitution Day at 8:10 am in the back parking lot of the school. Parents are welcome to join us. Father Renninger will begin our celebration by leading us in prayer, and we will also have some wonderful singing to help spread the patriotic spirit. Rumor has it that Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam will be making an appearance!
In recognition of this very special day in our country’s history, Monday will be a red, white, and blue Tag Day. The cost for this is $3.00, with all money going to PTO. Please note that Tag Day dress rules apply. Please see page 23, section 3.12.2, for further details on those expectations.
We look forward to seeing a sea of red, white, and blue on Monday as we honor the 231st birthday of our Constitution!
NEW – Parking for Constitution Day: Parking is only available between the speed bumps on the side of the church. If there is no space available there, overflow can use the lower (ECDC) parking lot behind the school. Please do not park in the front of the church in the loop. Parking lot lighting and light poles are being replaced this week.
NEW – Save the Date High School Night: We would like to invite our middle school students and their parents to our annual High School Information Fair to be held on Thursday, October 11, 2018 from 6:30-8pm in the Upper Commons of our Church. Print the “Save the Date” flyer here. Look for the list of attending high schools coming soon.
Morning Carpool Additional Help Needed: We are in need of additional morning carpool help. If you are interested in being a carpool volunteer, please look at the schedule here and email Andy Branch at abranch72@gmail.com to sign up to help. Giving a half hour of your time once a week is a great way to help!
Visiting Our Campus: Our concern is the safety of the students. Because of this, we ask that anyone visiting campus at any time during the day park in the parking lot near the statue of St. Joseph. This parking lot has a speed bump at each entrance and is located on the side of the church. You can then follow the sidewalk around ECDC and up to the middle school doors.
No cars should be driving behind the school during the school day. Please remember that we have students playing on the blacktop during the day during their recess. Cars should enter and leave the campus through the Marywood Lane entrance or through the front entrance closest to Pinchbeck. Again, this is for the safety of your children.
5th Annual Go Forth 5k: The fifth annual Saint Mary Catholic School Go Forth 5k and kids’ fun run will be on Saturday, September 22 at Deep Run Park. The kids’ run starts at 8 a.m. and the 5k walk/run at 8:30 a.m. Please come help us kick off our school year with community, family, fitness and fun! Jogging strollers are welcome. The registration link is here. We’d love our registrants to sign up by September 8th so that we can get race t-shirts to everyone before the race! Thanks to many local sponsors, including Short Pump Orthodontics, Shana Branch Realtor, Wash Your Way RVA, RedRidge Pet Market, James River Irrigation, Bushin Martial Arts Academy, Fleet Feet Sports Richmond, Endorphin Fitness. Would your business like to sponsor this event? Contact Jennifer Janus at jennifer.janus@gmail.com. All proceeds to benefit the school renovation.
Band GRSM @Saint Mary’s Catholic School: The Greater Richmond School of Music (GRSM) will provide music instruction in the form of GRSM band program at Saint Mary’s Catholic School for the 2018 – 2019 school year. Click here for details.
Instructional Chess: Boys and girls have fun playing the game of chess while learning to be better players. Click here for details.
Church Events:
The Importance of Our Urban Catholic Schools
Tue., Sept. 18, 4 – 6pm, Cabell Library Lecture Hall, Rm. 303, 901 Park Ave, Richmond
Join VCU President Emeritus, Eugene Trani, guest speakers Wanda Wallin & Joseph Whitmore to learn about Catholic education in Richmond and beyond. For more information, contact Dr. Andrew Chesnut at rachesnut@vcu.edu.
Sisters in Christ
Sarah Hart – Do you have a middle school student (or high school student), if so, consider coming as a family. Speaker, Retreat Leader, Musician “Sisters in Christ” A retreat for women. Click here
“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 for Carpool Duty
Volunteer in the Lunch Room
Painless Fundraising
Flynn O’Hara Uniform inform