Dear Saint Mary’s Families,
The father of Mr. Scott Schaefer, our Middle School Literature and Language teacher, passed away this week. The arrangements for Mr. Walter Schaefer are as follows.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 1st from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. with a Christian wake at 7:30 PM at Bliley’s Funeral Home-Central, 3801 Augusta Avenue, Richmond.
The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 2nd at 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Epiphany, 11000 Smoketree Drive, North Chesterfield.
If you would like to take your child to the funeral, please just check your child out as usual. I ask that your child wear his or her regular uniform (not PE uniform) as a visible sign of the support of the community of Saint Mary’s.
Thank you for your prayers for the repose of the soul of Mr. Walter Schaefer and consolation of the entire Schaefer family.
Next Friday is also an early release day and After School Care is being provided as usual. If your child is staying at After School Care, please remember to send lunch in with your child as lunch is not served on early release days.
Monday, March 5th is a professional development day for faculty and staff, which means your child will not be in school that day. After School Care will be offered on Monday, March 5th from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. To facilitate staffing you must sign up your child by Wednesday, February 28th at 7:00 p.m. Space is limited and registration is first-come, first-served. Click Here to register.
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.
Wednesday, February 28th – School Mass
Friday, March 2nd – Early Dismissal (ASC)
Friday, March 2nd – Lenten Fish Fry
Monday, March 5th – Faculty and Staff Professional Development Day, no school for students
NEW – Participation! Saint Mary’s Go Forth! Capital Campaign: Congratulations to Mrs. Trout’s fourth grade – they’re the first classroom to hit 100% participation in the Go Forth! Campaign. They’ll get a pizza party, and so can your students classroom – all it takes is 100% participation, and a gift of any size shows you support this campaign (even $1). Mr. Choplin’s class is close behind at 84%, and faculty/staff are next at 74% participation. The drive to reach 100% participation will continue through the end of March. The parish Go Forth! weekends were last weekend and this one upcoming; St. Mary parishioners have been and continue to be generous to our campaign to renovate our school. Thanks to everyone, school and parish, who has participated so far, we have raised more than $725,000 toward our $2 million goal. School family participation is now at 39%! This is great! Please help us make it 100%. Participation is important because it shows that the school families support the project, and organizations awarding grants often look for a certain level of school community support. You can give online Here or contact Jennifer Janus at jjanus@saintmary.org for more options, or for information on making a pledge to the campaign.
Lenten Fish Fry Friday: PTO is hosting its annual “Lenten Fish Fry Fridays” on March 2, 16, and 23. Please join Saint Mary’s families for food and fellowship from 5:00 PM – 6:45 PM in the Parish Hall on these dates. Catering is provided by Morrissey’s Catering. Stations of the Cross will follow promptly at 7:00 PM. Print this flyer for a handy reference of dates and times. Menu for February 23rd.
Lenten Fish Fry Volunteers: It’s Fish Fry time and we need your help to make it it possible! Please consider giving of your time. The signup has it all the information you need – Click Here. Thank you in advance!
NEW – Yearbook Shout-Outs: It’s time to purchase your shout-outs and they are in hot demand! All of the details are on the attached flyer. Please email Heather at Hheishman@saintmary.org to reserve your space. We will notify you if spaces are no longer available. (flyer)
2018 Monarch Gala: The Saint Mary’s PTO invites you to attend the 2018 Monarch Gala on Saturday, April 21 at the Hilton Richmond Short Pump Hotel and Spa. Tickets, tables, sponsorship, and other goodies are now available for purchase. New this year, you can purchase one of two head tables and enjoy the dinner and live auction in the company of Fr. Renninger or Ms. Jenni Ellis. Each head table will include 8 admissions. Reserved tables are also available which will include 10 admissions. We have some exciting sponsorship opportunities. The platinum level will offer the sponsor’s logo advertised on silent auction tables. The gold level will feature a branded cocktail of the sponsor’s choice to be listed on the bar menus. Through the website, you may also purchase raffle tickets for the pizza raffle and the back to school raffle. Winners will be announced at the Gala. And, back by popular demand, is Tag Week, which will take place May 21-24. You can purchase your child(ren)’s tag week for $25 for one child, $10 per additional child. All proceeds from the Monarch Gala, including raffle and tag week sales will benefit the upcoming school renovation. This renovation will include updated classrooms in the original wing of the school, new entrance with enhanced security, and a state of the art library and digital media center. Gala Tickets
NEW – Spirit Shop Cinch Sac order now and get a FREE water bottle: Get your cinch sac in time for spring sports! Buy a cinch sac for $10 and get a free water bottle! Buy Here
SMCS Summer Camps: Regrettably, all summer activities, including summer camps, at Saint Mary’s have been cancelled. We are very sorry for any inconvenience. We are very excited for the wonderful changes that will be happening to our school over the summer.
GRSM Band Summer Camp & Programs: Save The Dates of July 16th – 20th for summer band camp, which will be hosted at St. Bridget’s Catholic School. There will be three (3) levels of camps as follows: “Pre-Band Camp” (for those interested in “trying out” the band program with thoughts of joining the “Beginning Band” in the Fall, instruments supplied), “Intermediate Band Camp” (for those who have been in band for 1-3 years), and “Advanced Band Camp” (BY APPROVAL/AUDITION OF BAND DIRECTOR ONLY – for those who are at the level worthy of the Symphonic Band). 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:
Go Forth! St. Mary’s Church Participation Weekends: At all Masses February 17 – 18 and February 24 – 25, 2018 (flyer)
“Words of Love from Calvary:” A series of Special Presentations for the Season of Lent Thursday evenings at 7:00p.m. and Friday mornings at 10:00a.m. through March 22/23rd. (flyer)
“Dead Man Walking:” The Monsignor Charles Kelly Faith Formation Forum. The Journey Continues Saturday, April 28 at 10a.m. (flyer)
“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