Page 1 of 11

MAY/JUNE NEWSLETTER 2016

St. Mary Catholic School

Challenging the Mind—Living the Faith

www.stmarycatholicschool.org

Dear Parents: The final few weeks of the 2015-2016 school year are upon us. Where did the school year go? There are less than six weeks left! Once you review the calendar of events for May and June, you will wonder how so many exciting events can be scheduled in these final days! The days are action-packed which will make this final stretch go even faster. Class field trips, the SUNS game, Family Fun Night, and Antietam Recreation are just a few of the many fun events planned. We also have our First Friday Mass and May Crowning and our June Mass. Many of our eighth graders will be confirmed and all our second graders will be receiving their first Holy Communion. The challenge with all of these special events is that our teachers will continue to teach and our students will continue to learn. Studying for tests, completing assignments, and writing reports require the focus of our students. Please continue to monitor your child’s schedule and study habits to ensure time is allotted each night for his/her studies. The end is in sight, but it really isn’t here yet!

On behalf of Father Collin and the faculty and staff, I want to say thank you for the sacrifices you make to choose Catholic education at SMCS. We truly appreciate that you are entrusting your precious children to us. A strong partnership between parents and teachers is imperative to the success of our students. We are in this together! Thank you for partnering with SMCS!

Our faculty, staff, and students pray throughout the year for more families to make the commitment to Catholic education as you have and enroll their children in St. Mary Catholic School. The prayer to Mother Seton we pray in school can be found on page 10 on this newsletter. Please join us in prayer for our enrollment in 2016-2017 to continue to grow. We have many new families interested, but more students are always welcome.

As always, I ask for your prayers to the Holy Spirit to give me the guidance and wisdom to serve as principal of Saint Mary Catholic School.

May God Bless you!

Patricia A. McDermott

MISSION STATEMENT

Saint Mary Catholic School empowers children in their faith journey and promotes academic excellence and life-long service inspired by the Gospel of Jesus

Christ in a nurturing community.

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 4 & 5—Rummage Set-Up & Sale

May 16—No School Teacher Professional Day May 18—Suns Baseball Game

May 20—Fun Night

May 27--T3 PBIS Celebration Noon Dismissal May 30—No School—Memorial Day

June 1—Antietam Recreation Day

June 2—Pre-Kindergarten Program Eighth Grade’s Last Day June 3—First Friday Mass

June 5—Eighth Grade Graduation

June 6—Kindergarten Graduation No Lunch Service

June 7—Noon Dismissal

June 8--Last Day for Grades 1-7 10:00 Awards Assembly Noon Dismissal

Page 2 of 11

FAITH

FIRST FRIDAY MASS & MAY CROWNING

Please join us for our school liturgy on Friday, May 6, at 10:30 A.M.

During our Mass, the fourth graders will honor the Blessed Mother

with flowers and song.

PRAYING THE ROSARY

May is known as the month of Mary. As a school community we will pray a

decade of the Rosary each morning to honor our Blessed Mother.

OPERATION RICE BOWL

Catholic Relief Services received a total of $580.40 from SMCS, thanks to our families and students who contributed. We appreciate Ms. Ward for coordinating this worthy service project and Mrs. Hammond for handling the financial responsibilities.

FIRST EUCHARIST

Willa Pentony will receive her First Holy Communion at St. Agnes Catholic Church

on May 1. Brooke Barron, Ella Britton, Spencer Byers, Francesco Capobianco,

David Dell, Samantha Ellis, Joshua Hammer, Roman Harchick, Sabrina Harman,

Olivia Kocevar, Crystal Magonya, Josephine Muto, James Ortiz, Ava Romsburg,

Nicholas Smallwood, and Avery Watts will receive their First Holy Communion at

St. Mary Catholic Church on May 1. Please keep our students in your prayers.

CONFIRMATION

Tureymar Camacho, Sofia Corsi, Kaitlin Dellaposta, Katharine DeVine, McKenzie

Foster, Avangeliya Giannaris, Therese Martin, Bridget Nooney, Rory O’Hanlon,

Andrew Stine, Samuel Strama, and James Sword will be confirmed at St. Mary

Catholic Church on May 10. Please keep them in your prayers.

FIRST FRIDAY MASS IN JUNE

Our final First Friday Mass of the school year will be held on June 3, at 10:30 A.M.

TRIMESTER NEWS

ACADEMICS

The third trimester of the 2015-2016 school year ends on June 8. Students in

grades one through seven are expected to attend school through June 8. Third trimester progress reports will be mailed

on June 20.

PARISH NEWS

INSPIRE—ASK THE PASTOR

Father Collin Poston, Pastor of St. Mary Parish, is featured in Ask-the-Pastor. In these short vignettes, Father Collin helps to answer questions about God, Jesus, faith, life—both the joys and challenges; and also helps to inspire you with a message of hope in the Lord who loves you! Follow this link, http://www.your4state.com/lifestyle/ask-the-pastor, to be inspired.

CATHOLICISM FOR ADULTS

For more information, contact Fr. Larry Adamczyk, Ladamczyk@archbalt.org

CATHOLIC BOOK CLUB

-Meets every Tuesday (except Advent & Lent) at 6:30 P.M. in Parish Center

-Discuss a book and your questions about the faith to help you grow in the Catholic Faith; Book: A Priest Forever: The Life of Fr. Eugene Hamilton.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

-Meets Wednesday mornings at 10:30 A.M. in the Parish Center

-Bring your Catechism and your questions

Second Sunday of the Month Bible Study

-Meets second Sunday of the month in Parish Center

-Topic: The Seven Last Things and Are the Sacraments Biblical

St. Joseph Men’s Prayer Group

-Meets last Friday of the Month

- 6:30 P.M.

-St. Mary Church

Page 3 of 11

AWARDS ASSEMBLY

An awards assembly will be held for students in grades one through seven on Wednesday, June 8, at 10:00. Students in grades 1-7 with perfect or exemplary attendance will be recognized. Students in grades 3-7 who have the highest average in each content area will be announced. Middle school High Honor and Honor Rolls for the third trimester will be announced. Recognition for participation in student council, chorus, and art club will be acknowledged.

GENTLE REMINDER

The Trimester III progress reports are scheduled to be mailed on June 20. Please

make sure that all your financial obligations (tuition, health & art fees, late fees,

raffle ticket fundraiser for all three phases, after-school care expenses, classroom

fees, cafeteria expenses, etc.) are paid in full by that time. Otherwise, progress

reports will be held until all financial obligations are met. Please refer to pages 8-

9 of the handbook.

FAMILY COMMITMENT

The SMCS faculty and staff want to thank all our parents and grandparents who

volunteered throughout the school year. The extra help we receive enables SMCS

to fulfill its mission of empowering children in their faith journey and promoting

academic excellence and life-long service inspired by the Gospel of Jesus Christ in

a nurturing community. Please remember to log your hours in HELPCOUNTER.

(http://helpcounter.net/main/index.php) A minimum of thirty hours must be

completed and logged in by midnight on Thursday, June 2.

HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS—H.S.A.

2016-2017 Officers Co-President: Mrs. MJ Sommerville Co-President: Mrs. Jennifer Harman

Vice-President: Mr. Thomas Witt Corresponding Secretary: Mr. Jay Zuspan

Recording Secretary: Mrs. Lisa Muto Treasurer: Mrs. Nicole Rappaport

Associate Treasurer: Mrs. Crystal Strother

On behalf of the school community, I want to thank Mrs. Jennifer Smallwood for

serving as HSA Co-President, Mrs. Cathy Ellis for serving as Vice-President, and

Mrs. Jackie Strama for serving as HSA Corresponding Secretary for this school

year. Their time and efforts truly made a difference for our students!

MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT WORK VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

The end of the school year is within sight!

As of April 25 , 5099.12 hours have been logged.

We appreciate all the time and effort al l of you are giving to support the mission of our school. Thank you!

Our Top Ten Volunteers per Hours Logged are:

Sarma & Tom McCafferty-213.10 hours

Cathy & Brandon Ellis-185.83 hours

Mo & Mike Tedeschi-181.50 hours

Alison & Jeff Ortiz-181.0 hours

Jenny & Kevin Beck-136.25 hours

Lisa Muto-178.50 hours

Kelly Kenny-124.95 hours

Stacey & Kevin Stine-108.50 hours

Marshall & Vickie Hammer-104.0 hours

Dana & Leon Weaver-93.50 hours

Remember to log into HelpCounter (http://helpcounter.net/main/index.php) to track your hours. A minimum of thirty hours must be completed and logged in by midnight on Thursday, June 2. Questions can be emailed to volunteer@stmarycatholicschool.org.

Page 4 of 11

SPAGHETTI DINNER

Our annual SMCS Spaghetti Dinner offered another opportunity for us to come together as a school community to share a delicious meal and enjoy some good company. Many thanks are extended to Paul Giannaris for donating the flavorful pasta that fed 133 people.

There was a tremendous support staff for setting up, serving, and cleaning up, which included: Jonna Larkin, Ann Mele, Louis Concordia, Keith Craver, Jeremiah Freeman, Matt Harchick, Orlando Martin, MJ Sommerville, Gracen Sommerville, Georgiana Tedeschi, Mo Tedeschi, Paul Giannaris, Kristina Ginannaris, and Rich Strama.

USED UNIFORM SALE

Many thanks are extended to Debbie Corsi for coordinating and organizing the Used Uniform Sale, and her committee, Shannon Flint, Kim O'Hanlon, and Jen Foster. At the end of the sale, the following students helped with packing up the uniforms: Sofia and Frankie Corsi, Aidan and Rory O'Hanlon, and Lleyton and Kenzie Foster. A total of $323.00 was profited on sale day.

MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL

The final Middle School Social Hour of the year will be held on

Friday, May 6. Our fifth grade students are invited to attend this

social as up-and-coming sixth graders. Fifth graders need to

return their signed permission slips to attend. The cost of

attending the social is $1.00.

CASINO NIGHT AND SILENT AUCTION

Plans are underway for the HSA Casino Night and Silent Auction to be held on Saturday, November 12, at Beaver Creek Country Club. More information is forthcoming. Lots of opportunities during the summer to fulfill Family Commitment hours are available by participating in the planning of this fun event! The committee is in need of a volunteer with graphic design experience to help create flyers and sponsorship sheets for the event.

ANTIETAM RECREATION DAY

Mark your calendars! Antietam Recreation Day is Wednesday, June 1.

Information packets were sent electronically. Activities at Antietam

Recreation include swimming in the heated pool, cable ride, carousel swing

ride, boat slide, pony rides, moon bounce, giant rope swing, petting zoo,

tennis, badminton, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, air hockey, Burma

Bridge, barge, and canoeing. Wagon rides and bombardment games will be

STAND/SHIELD THE VULNERABLE

The Archdiocese of Baltimore and Saint Mary Catholic School are committed to providing a safe environment for children. Our procedures for volunteering in schools require that a volunteer who will have substantial contact with children must complete screening and training procedures that are outlined on the www.archbalt.org website.

The current and effective version of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Child and Youth Protection Policies and Procedures, including the Statement of Policy for the Protection of Children &Youth and the Code of Conduct for Church Personnel of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which incorporates any revisions to the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Child and Youth Protection Policies and Procedures that may be made from time to time, is available on the Child and Youth Protection page of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s website and on the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s online compliance management system, Shield the Vulnerable.

Please register as a St. Mary Catholic School Volunteer, at http://www.shieldthevulnerable.org/. All new volunteers should complete the process as soon as possible. Please contact Jan McCarter, our screening coordinator, at jmccarter@saintmarysonline.org, or (301)739-0390, ext. 129, with any questions or concerns.

Page 5 of 11

held at designated times. The Annual SMCS Fun Run will be held at 8:00 A.M.

Participants must be accompanied by a parent during the entire event.

YANKEE CANDLES

Sister Corda and the HSA appreciate the families who participated in the Yankee Candle fundraiser. A total of $492

was profited from the sale.

STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS

STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS

President: Sofia Corsi Vice-President: Jackson Pentony

Secretary: Ava Giannaris Treasurer: Stephen Reiter

Parliamentarian: Aba Mitchual

APRIL TAG DAY

The Student Council would like to express its gratitude to the SMCS families for their support of our out-of-uniform day on April 8. A total of $210.25 was collected for Mercy Ships.

MAY TAG DAY

The Student Council is sponsoring a CRAZY Day on Friday, May 20, with proceeds benefitting Camp St. Vincent. Students may wear crazy attire (no hair dye).

FUN NIGHT

The HSA and the Student Council will host St. Mary’s Annual Fun Night on Friday,

May 20, from 5:30 to 8:00 P.M. Proceeds will benefit St. Mary Catholic School

HSA. Please mark your calendars for this special community-building event. Live

music, games, good food, the moon bounce, the Velcro wall, popcorn, and

cotton candy are among the highlights. The Student Council appreciates the

efforts of Ms. Sherri McClurkin for organizing this event.

STUDENT COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Elections for the SMCS Student Council officers for the 2016-2017 school year will take place this month. Guidelines for the election were explained to sixth and seventh grade students. The election timeline is as follows: May 4—Nomination Forms Due May 9—Posters Due May 13—Primary Election (First Vote) May 19—Speeches and Final Vote May 25—Induction Ceremony (2 P.M.)

NATIONAL JUNIOR

HONOR SOCIETY

Executive Board members are:

Alice Poffenberger – President

Owen O’Connor – Vice-President

Morgan McMahon – Treasurer

Annie Balog – Secretary

Lauren Beck – Parliamentarian

Our National Junior Honor Society continued its tradition of beautifying the campus of St. Mary Catholic School. NJHS members, under the direction of Mrs. Gross, spruced up our gardens by weeding, cleaning up debris, and planting new flowers.

Page 6 of 11

OTHER NEWSWORTHY ITEMS

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTIONS

On April 22, The Reverend George A. Limmer Chapter of the National Junior

Honor Society at St. Mary Catholic School welcomed thirteen new members.

Recognizing students who have met high standards of scholarship, leadership,

citizenship, character, and service is truly a celebration. An honor such as this is

a wonderful way for the school and community to appreciate the choices, and

sometimes the sacrifices, these students have made.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, I want to congratulate the following newly-inducted members to the NJHS: Ty Ambush, Susan Concordia, Daniel Duncan, Logan Flanagan, Noah Hall, Maxwell Larkin, Gabrielle McCafferty, Amina Pasha, Rayan Shahid, Matthew Stine, Zachary Zanetti, Katharine DeVine, and Rory O’Hanlon.

SCIENCE FAIR WINNERS

Congratulations to Mrs. Barger and all the middle school students for the creative and thought provoking projects that were in this year’s Science Fair. Students demonstrated their understanding of the scientific method as well as their artistic talents in presenting the findings from their experiments.

Grade Six First Place: Supertasters (Ty Ambush) Second Place: The Power of pH (Daniel Duncan) Third Place: Chasing the Light (Gabrielle McCafferty & Krystal Nogales) and Sinkholes (Noah Hall)

Grade Seven First Place: Food Fight, Organic versus Nonorganic (Jackson Pentony) Second Place: Holy Cow—It’s Plastic (Madelyn Ortiz) Third Place: 5-Second Rule (Brandon Kijowski) Grade Eight First Place: Can Plants Save the Ocean? (Bridget Nooney & Gracen Sommerville)

EIGHTH GRADE RECOGNITION

Eighth grade is such a special year for our students at SMCS. Eighth graders may be seen wearing their special T-Shirts on Fridays as recognition of their years of hard work as St. Mary Catholic School students.

The Class of 2016 includes:

Tureymar Camacho Sofia Corsi

Kaitlin Dellaposta Katharine DeVine McKenzie Foster

Evan Frantz Alexander Gary

Avangeliya Giannaris Charles Kane

Therese Martin Aba Mitchual

Bridget Nooney Rory O’Hanlon

Alice Poffenberger Madison Ryan

Gracen Sommerville Andrew Stine

Samuel Strama James Sword

Please keep them in your prayers as they complete their final weeks at SMCS!

Page 7 of 11

Second Place: What Do You See? Are You Right? Or Left? (Andrew & Matthew Stine) Third Place: How Does Sunlight Affect Generation of Current in Solar Cells? (Therese Martin)

INTERMEDIATE SPELLING BEE

On April 19, students from the third, fourth, and fifth grades participated in the St. Mary Catholic School Intermediate Spelling Bee. Students in these grades took a written test to compete for a spot in the Bee. Congratulations to the following students who were our spelling bee contestants: Third Grade Collin Ambush, Shanna Hall, Abigail Harman, Ethan Knipple, Zachary Kumar, Mackenzie O’Berry, and Henry Ortiz Fourth Grade Sofia Alexander, Brooks Carpenter, Samuel Hall, Adeel Khan, Leah McCafferty, Sonia Qaum, Madelynn Renken, Raniya Shahid, and Lauren Stine Fifth Grade Noah Karn, Armani Kenney, Jesse Mangalapati, Spencer Pentony, Sofia Qaum, and Lucy Strama

And the winners are: Third Grade: Leah McCafferty

Fourth Grade: Collin Ambush Fifth Grade: Sofia Qaum Special recognition goes to Sofia Qaum, who is the overall SMCS Intermediate Spelling Bee Champion! Our gratitude is extended to the HSA for providing the prizes for our winners, Mrs. Karn for organizing the competition, and Mrs. Gross for serving as a judge for the Bee.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT—TEACHERS AS LEARNERS

SMCS educators participate in professional development opportunities that increase their knowledge of academic content and teaching skills and their understanding of student learning and achievement. The SMCS faculty is committed to creating an environment in which students strive and achieve academic excellence. Just as we want students to be life-long learners, the SMCS staff continues to engage in conferences, workshops, graduate courses, and training activities that enhance their teaching skills. Some of the professional development activities attended by staff members include: The Joy of Believing Book Study: Jeanie Stark, Dana Hilmoe, Tina Forsythe, Bonnie Cleary, Rae Leggett, Mary Poffenberger, Lori Balog, Pam Ward, Jennifer Karn, Mary K. Barger, Kristy Gross, Derrick Hendershot, Stacey Renken, and Patricia McDermott Multi-Media and 3-D Printing Sessions with Cathy Ellis: Tina Forsythe, Bonnie Cleary, Rae Leggett, Mary Poffenberger, Lori Balog, Pam Ward, Jennifer Karn, Mary K. Barger, and Kristy Gross Intro to 3-D Printing Workshops: Mary K. Barger, Cathy Ellis, and Kristy Gross Seminar on Difficult Students—How to Unlock Their Potential: Bonnie Cleary, Dana Hilmoe, and Patricia McDermott

FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS

For the third year in a row, the Maryland’s General Assembly passed legislation providing funding to nonpublic schools who currently participate in the Maryland Nonpublic Student Textbook Program for renovations and security-related upgrades to existing nonpublic school buildings. The program is administered through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). This summer the windows in the Msgr. Passarelli Room will be replaced for a cost of $22,550. The bathroom stalls in the middle school will be replaced at the cost of $6,311.25. St. Mary Catholic School will receive $27,525 in grant money from the Nonpublic Aging Schools Fund toward these improvements in our facilities.

Page 8 of 11

Shared Learning Workshop on iPads in Education—Beginners: Lori Balog Shared Learning Workshop on iPads in Education—Advanced: Lori Balog, Mary K. Barger, Bonnie Cleary, and Jennifer Karn Shared Learning Workshop on Supporting Students with ADD and ADHD: Kristy Gross, Pam Ward, Lori Balog, and Rae Leggett Shared Learning Workshop on Google Apps in the Classroom: Lori Balog, Mary K. Barger, and Bonnie Cleary Shared Learning Workshop on Reaching the Struggling Learner—Strategies in the Secondary ELA Classroom: Mary K. Barger and Jennifer Karn CPR and First Aid: Rachel O’Connor, Paula Radley, Cheryl Hammond, Patricia McDermott, Jeanie Stark, Sister Aloysius, Dana Hilmoe, Christine Pentony, Tina Forsythe, Jonna Larkin, Bonnie Cleary, Rae Leggett, Mary Poffenberger, Lori Balog, Pam Ward, Jennifer Karn, Mary K. Barger, Kristy Gross, Faith Mentzer, Stacey Renken, Cathy Ellis, Marisa Bowers, Trevor Rowland, Barbara Brooks, Tammy Shultz, Jennifer Harman, Bob Eves, Josh Bowers, Jennifer Flanagan, Natalie Shultz, Charlie McNeil, Grace Duggins, and Mary Fink Make & Take SMART Sessions with Dana Hilmoe: Tina Forsythe, Bonnie Cleary, Rae Leggett, Mary Poffenberger, Lori Balog, Pam Ward, Jennifer Karn, Mary K. Barger, Kristy Gross, Derrick Hendershot, and Stacey Renken Developmental Screening Overview: Sister Aloysius Norman, Jeanie Stark, and Patricia McDermott Including all Children and the American with Disabilities Act: Jeanie Stark and Patricia McDermott

MUSTARD SEED MATCH FOR ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS

The date has been extended! The Archdiocese of Baltimore will award $1 for

every $2 that SMCS raises through June 30, 2016, to establish an endowed fund

within the Catholic Community Foundation which will specifically support tuition

assistance for students enrolled in SMCS. Please consider making

a donation with the knowledge that it will be matched a dollar

for every two dollars you donate. To date $102,083 has been

raised by SMCS, so the Archdiocese will match with $51,041.50.

There is still time for us to meet our goal of $150,000 to receive

$75,000 in matching funds from the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

ANNUAL FUND

SMCS twelfth Annual Fund Campaign is well underway. The SMCS Annual Fund

helps the school to invest in new programs, to maintain and upgrade technology,

to offset tuition increases, and to enhance other aspects of our students’

educational experience. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to this

year. Many thanks are extended to Mrs. Deborah Bockrath and Mr. Bob Rankin

for chairing this endeavor.

SUNS GAME

SMCS will be heading to the ball park on Wednesday, May 18.

Permission slips and payment are due no later than May 9. The tickets must be ordered at this time.

POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS

SMCS students have been earning keys throughout the month of April. We are truly blessed to have students who care about each other, who strive to excel in their academics, and who greet each school day with a smile.

As of April 25, the Key Count for students by grade level is as follows:

Pre-Kindergarten: 80 keys

Kindergarten: 70 keys

First Grade: 262 keys

Second Grade: 86 keys

Third Grade: 131 keys

Fourth Grade: 101 keys

Fifth Grade: 117 keys

Sixth Grade: 90 keys

Seventh Grade: 83 keys

Eighth Grade: 110 keys

A total of 1,130 keys have been earned by SMCS students this month!

Page 9 of 11

WALK 4 SUCCESS

Our second annual Walk 4 Success was held on April 20. The safety green shirts

worn by our participants generated much energy and enthusiasm for the event.

The weather was gorgeous and the walking parade (to City Park and back) of

students, faculty, and parents was an amazing sight for all to see. The students

enjoyed ice cream sundaes at the finish line. A total of $4,177.75 was profited for

our iPad program. We appreciate the generosity of the Harman and Rappaport

families in purchasing the t-shirts as well as the following donors for sponsoring

the walk:

Harman Funeral Home Innovative, Inc.

Antietam Eye Associates Gary Sherman, MD, Robinwood Orthopedics

Laber’s Furniture Red Barron Furniture The Tedeschi Family

The McDermott Family After Hour Pediatrics

Antietam Pediatric & Adolescent Care Kershner Electric

Center for Joint Surgery & Sports Medicine Bob & Jane Chapman

Bob Rankin NMS Healthcare The Concordias

Shahid Mahmood, MD, Family Practice

Thank you is also extended to Patti Jones for sponsoring the Chick-fil-A lunch for

Grade 6 for raising the most money. Our team of parents, Tammy Shultz,

Jennifer Flanagan, Christina Sherman, and Neda Rahimian very efficiently served

ice cream sundaes to our successful walkers.

Deb Bockrath, Patti Jones, Jennifer Harman, Kelly Kenny, and Nicole Rappaport

should be congratulated on planning and organizing such a fun and profitable

event. We appreciate the SMCS families who supported this event by sponsoring

their children in the Walk!

RUMMAGE SALE

The Saint Mary Catholic School Annual Fall Rummage Sale is scheduled for

Thursday, May 5, 2016. The set-up day is Wednesday, May 4. We are in need of volunteers. Please consider giving your

time to this community-building event that does generate income for SMCS. Since school will be in session, the following

safety procedures will be in place:

APRIL GOOD SAMS

I want to congratulate our Good S.A.M.s for April:

Kindergarten – Jersi Blundell

First Grade – Molly Pentony

Second Grade – Willa Pentony

Third Grade – Jonathan Shultz

Fourth Grade – Shanna Hall

Fifth Grade – Emily Dellaposta

Sixth Grade – Rayan Shahid

Seventh Grade – Luke Clement

Eighth Grade – Rory O’Hanlon

Thanks for your Service, Attitude, and Manners!

PHASE II RAFFLE TICKET WINNERS

Thank you is extended to Mrs. Jackie Swarner for coordinating this fundraiser and to Sister Aloysius for faithfully picking the winning ticket each week.

Congratulations to the following April winners:

($50) Week 1: The Kornilow Family

($50) Week 2: Mark & Lisa Muto

($50) Week 3: Mr. & Mrs. Stumpf

($100) Week 4: Sherri McClurkin

Page 10 of 11

Wednesday, May 4 (Set-up)

The sale is not open to the public.

Students will come directly to the classrooms upon arrival in the morning.

Students in grades K-8 who have a signed permission slip and money will be escorted to the sale in the afternoon by their classroom teachers and parent volunteers. (Please contact your child’s homeroom teacher if you can help chaperone.)

Weather permitting, students will be outside for physical education class in a roped-off portion of the playground near the middle-school doors.

Break and recess will be indoors.

Students will have lunch in their classrooms.

Thursday, May 5 (Sale Day)

Students will come directly to the classrooms upon arrival in the morning.

Pre-Kindergarten students will be on a field trip off campus for the day.

The Rummage Sale will be held in Fatima Hall of the Parish Center, the cafeteria, and the Msgr. Passarelli room. Large items may be found on the Primary lot in the area outside the cafeteria.

The stairwells leading from the cafeteria to the classrooms will be monitored. No one will be admitted upstairs.

Students will have lunch in their classrooms.

Physical education classes, break, and recess will be indoors.

Parent volunteers will visit the classrooms in the afternoon to sell baked goods to interested students.

A paid HPD Officer will be on the grounds from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

PERPETUAL ADORATION

NEW ADORERS are needed for the Perpetual Adoration Chapel

located at St. Maria Goretti High School. "The time you spend

with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament...will help bring about an

everlasting peace on earth.” (Mother Teresa of Calcutta) Call Mr. or Mrs. Ott for

more information at 301-739-4167.

HEALTH NEWS

Upon returning from a doctor’s visit with your child, please submit copies of any immunizations given to the school. Files need to be up-to-date and complete when transcripts are requested in the future. Now is the time to schedule physicals over the summer for any needed updated immunizations. If your child has been to any doctor or specialist and has any kind of device applied that may limit PE or

any activity, the school must have a doctor’s note stating the limitations and for how long upon your child’s return to school. Please contact Ms. Paula Radley at (301)733-1184, ext. 104, or by email, pradley@stmarycatholicschool.org, with any questions or concerns.

REGISTRATION

Registration for the 2016-2017 school year is now underway. If you know of any families who might be interested in learning more about St. Mary Catholic School, please encourage them to call and set up an appointment “to check us out.” Prospective students are encouraged to spend a day shadowing. Our next Open House is scheduled for May 9, from 5 to 7 P.M.

PRAYER FOR ENROLLMENT

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us…for more families to consider Catholic education at St. Mary Catholic School. Lord God, You blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to Your people. Through her example and prayers, may we learn to express our love for You in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be…

Page 11 of 11

BEST WISHES

On behalf of our school community, I want to wish Mrs.

Deborah Bockrath the best during her retirement years and

let her know that we will always keep her in our hearts and

prayers.

CAFETERIA SERVICE

Many thanks are extended to our cafeteria manager, Mrs. Barbara Brooks, and her staff, Mrs. Tammy Shultz and Mrs. Jen Harman, for providing our students with another year of tasty lunches. The final day of cafeteria service is Friday, June 3. Students will need to bring a bag lunch and a drink from home on Monday, June 6. Please send your child to school with a hefty snack.

MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OPENING

Saint Mary Catholic School has an opening for a part-time Marketing and Development Director for the 2016-17 school year. Qualifications include experience in enrollment management, development, sales, marketing, communication, and/or volunteer management; ability to appreciate and communicate a passion for Catholic elementary/middle school education; superior communication skills; ability to conceptualize and execute strategic plans; the ability to interact confidently and effectively with school staff, students, donors, school administration, the media, and alumni; and working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and the Internet. Résumés should be sent to the principal, Mrs. Patricia A. McDermott. (pmcdermott@stmarycatholicschool.org)

MEMORY BOOKS

Thank you is extended to Ms. Mary Poffenberger for the beautiful SMCS Memory

Book that captured the 2015-2016 school year in pictures. Ms. Poffenberger

unselfishly gives of her time and talent each year to create such a precious

treasure.

IN YOUR PRAYERS

Please remember Lillian Rumann (great-grandmother of Claire and

Owen O’Connor) who passed away this past month.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

WALK 4 SUCCESS