Dear Saint Mary’s Families,
We’ve raised $1 million in pledges and gifts for the Go Forth! Campaign! This is due to the generosity of many of you and many parish families and I can’t thank you enough for your support of Saint Mary’s! Being halfway to our goal is a great place to be!
I have started going to homerooms each morning to talk about the renovation with our students. This gives them an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. This also gives me an opportunity to talk with the students in person about the importance of 100% school participation.
Right now school participation is at 60%. Thank you! Again, it is fabulous that we are more than halfway there! Mrs. Trout’s class had a gelato party to celebrate being the first class to reach 100% participation. Both Mr. Choplin’s class and Mrs. Valdepenas’ class have also reached 100%. Who will be next? Pizza parties for classes which reach 100% by the end of March will take place after spring break. What a whole school pizza party would be! Don’t let your child’s class be left out.
This week a participation card and envelope will come home, one per family. This is an easy way to send a gift in if you’ve been meaning to or you can give online here. Remember, any amount constitutes a contribution and shows your support. Thank you again for your all of your support!
As you may recall from an earlier News Flash, this year we have delayed the re-enrollment for the 2018-2019 school year as we transition to an online system. We anticipate opening online enrollment the week of March 20th. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work through this process.
Remember the Fish Fry is tonight with both eat in and carry out options!
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.
Friday, March 2nd – Fish Fry
Monday, March 5th – Faculty and Staff Professional Development Day, no school for students
Tuesday, March 6th – Spirit Night Short Pump Panera Bread. (See details on Facebook and our School Calendar)
Wednesday, March 7th – School Mass
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 March 2nd.
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 – Last Call Student Picture Orders: Did you forget to order or need more pictures of your child? Real Life has posted your student’s images online for one LAST CALL to order. The deadline to order is March 4th! Each student received a 4″x 10″ information card in December. Each card includes a web address (same for the whole school) and PASSWORD for each student. If you lost your password, reach out to Real Life (contact information below), they are the only ones to have access to the passwords.
To order visit http://reallife.hhimagehost.com/smcs. Here you will be prompted to enter your email address and student password. You can add to your “cart”, when you are looking at the items in your cart in the upper right side, there is a button to look at another student, click that and you can add another student to your cart. When you place your order, the professional lab will process your order and ship directly to the address you provide. FREE shipping on all orders over $50.00. Feel free to share your student’s password with family members or anyone that might want to order as well.
For additional help or questions, please contact Andee at 804-222-4111 or andee@reallifeevents.net
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 Free Emoji Key chain or Cell phone Wallet with a Cinch Sac order : Buy a Saint Mary’s Cinch Sac for your students sportswear, sheet music, after school activity needs, never forget what your student needs for their school activities again, knowing it’s in their Saint Mary’s Cinch Sac. For a limited time your student can choose an Emoji Key chain or Cell Phone Wallet with your purchase of a school Cinch Sac. Order today!” Please email info@saintmary.org for your free gift choice after ordering your Cinch Sac. Subject: Free Item, email family name and your choice of a free Emoji key chain or free Cell Wallet. 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.)
NEW – SGHS Presents Emily Wilson, Being a Teen in 2018: On Monday, March 12, Saint Gertrude High School will welcome Catholic speaker, author, and musician Emily Wilson. Emily was the keynote speaker at the Diocese of Richmond’s DYC 2017, and travels the world sharing her faith. Emily will present “Being a Teen in 2018,” a discussion that challenges teenagers to think differently about their identity, as well as unpack the difference between who culture is telling them they are and who God created them to be. The evening presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in the SGHS Multipurpose Room. The presentation is open to the public (ages 10+) and free. (flyer)
Church Events:
NEW – “Irish Night Fundraiser:” March 10, 2018 6:45p.m. A great family event with Great food and music. Proceeds support Haiti Ministry. (flyer)
NEW – “Save the Date!” An invitation for you to celebrate how Jesus saved the world…. The celebrations of Holy Week (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