Dear Saint Mary’s Families,
Happy Easter! While we had snow flurries on Monday morning, it will be over 80 degrees today. God willing we have seen the last of the snow for the year.
I know many of you and many of your children are checking the weather on the web site daily now that the temperatures are up so that it can be determined if it is a day your child can wear their PE uniform.
As you know, our web site has not been updated in quite some time. It currently does not reflect the great things that are happening here at Saint Mary’s. A web site refresh has been a priority of mine since I arrived, but I am just now getting to the point where I can spend some time focusing on the web site. Since I am new to Richmond, I would welcome recommendations of individuals or groups that you have worked with professionally or personally. And, if you would be interested in being involved in any way in the process, please let me know.
As a parent I am dealing with all the same things you are. I make plenty of mistakes along the way and miss things from time-to-time. I saw the information about Field Day T-shirts and in my mind said, “I will deal with that after break.” What didn’t click with me was that they were supposed to be ordered before break. If you are like me and missed it, we have opened up the ordering until Wednesday, April 18th. Order Field Day T-shirts Here. We are also in need of volunteers for Field Day, so please be sure to sign up to be a volunteer.
I had a lot of time in the car over Easter break and found a few podcasts that are new to me that I wanted to share. All are super quick from one minute to less than 15, but are a great way to engage with God’s word. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a one minute podcast that is published each Monday through Friday. You can listen to the sermons of Bishop Robert Barron’s, from Word on Fire fame each week. His sermons are all less than 15 minutes. The Father Mike Schmitz podcast is another great one that helps me learn more about our Catholic faith. I still have lots to learn! Please keep sending me your podcast recommendations.
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, April 16th – Middle School Brown Bag Lunch
Tuesday, April 17th – 5th Grade Field Trip
Tuesday, April 17th – JK Field Trip
Wednesday, April 18th – School Mass
Thursday, April 19th – 4th Grade Field Trip
Saturday, April 21st – Saint Mary’s Gala
Saint Mary’s Go Forth! Capital Campaign Final Report:
Nine homerooms succeeded in reaching 100% participation in the Go Forth! Capital Campaign. These are:
Kindergarten-Turner
First-Choplin
First-Mickle
Second-Klein
Third-Oliver
Third-George
Fourth-Teller
Fourth-Trout
Fourth-Valdepeñas
These classes will each get to have a pizza party, the date of which will be announced soon. A big thanks to the students, faculty, staff, and families who worked hard to reach this goal.
School-wide, we have reached 84% participation. This is terrific! Even though we are not tracking participation for pizza parties any longer, if gifts continue to come in I will keep adjusting the homeroom thermometers. Our campaign will not be over until we reach our $2 million goal and pledges are fulfilled, and it would be wonderful to see every homeroom reach 100% before the school year is out.
We are 58% of the way to our $2 million goal, at over $1,160,000.
As I said before Easter – with so much that is troubling and negative in our world today, it’s tremendously heartening to see the goodness of people in this community: people coming together as a school and parish family to help build a better place for its children to learn and grow.
Thank you, Saint Mary’s.
Jennifer Janus
Development Coordinator
You can give online here or contact Jennifer Janus at jjanus@saintmary.org for more options, or for info on making a pledge to the campaign.
SMCS Partnering with Cornerstone Christian Church: Remember we are collecting Flip Flops to send to Belize until May 9th. They can be any size, color or style. Slides are also welcome. Students can turn them in to their homeroom teacher.
NEW – Championship Chess Spring Class: The April/May class begins Friday April 13th for 7 weeks, it’s not to late too join. Please see the attached (flyer) for details. We hope that you will join us. For questions, please contact Coach Brian at 804-464-1628.
NEW – Saint Mary’s Spring Book Fair: The book fair in two short weeks. It’s the perfect time to stock up on books for the summer. For more information (flyer)
Book Fair Dates: Tuesday, April 24th – Thursday, April 26th
Shopping Hours: 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Family Night: Tuesday, April 24th from 6:30-8:30 pm
We are in need of several volunteers to help set up, run the cash registers, and break down the book fair. Please click here to sign up for a spot. If you have any issues with the sign-up process or all the times slots are filled (we can always use extra help), please don’t hesitate to email Mrs. Henning at bhenning@saintmary.org .
If you are unable to attend the Spring Book Fair in person, we invite you to visit our online fair at scholastic.com/fair or by clicking here. Our online fair is available from April 19th – May 2nd.
NEW – GRSM Band EVENTS: The Symphonic Band will have a Tour of Schools, April 30. All GRSM band members from Saint Mary’s, St. Edwards, St. Bridget’s and Our Lady of Lourdes, will travel and perform at each school. The Symphonic Tour will perform at Saint Mary’s on April 30 in St. Mary’s church at 10:30a.m.
“TRY IT OUT” GRSM Pre-Band Summer Camp: For beginner students who have an interest in joining the GRSM Beginning Band. Pre-Band Camp (flyer) All Band Camps Click Here For Additional Information (Please Note: The information for the camps at St Bridget’s is at the bottom of the page.)
Church Events:
Find your Greatness” Tickets Available Now! Dynamic Catholic: “Find Your Greatness”, Saturday, May 19, 2018, 9 am – 1:30 pm, St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Great habits create great lives. What are your habits? Are they helping you become the-best-version-of-yourself? Tickets $25 per person available at DynamicCatholic.com or call 859-980-7900
Helpful Links:
Volunteer in the Lunch Room
Painless Fundraising
Flynn O’Hara Uniform inform