October 31, 2019 BOO!! Vol. 8

COURAGE

Last Friday we hosted a most extraordinary young woman who spoke to our students in grades 2-8:

Julia Harris sustained a traumatic brain injury at the age of 9, which left her with very significant

physical and cognitive brain disabilities. After having been a star student, athlete and swimmer (some of

whose records still stand after 18 years!) she was challenged to relearn how to walk, talk, read and write

S A I N T MARY ’ S BU Z Z

NOVEMBER’S VIRTUE: GRATITUDE

May our children always be strong and courageous

in their character and in their actions.

Ps. 51:10

OUR NOVEMBER SERVICE PROJECT: Feed the Hungry

THANKSGIVING FOOD BASKETS

Coordinated by Grade 2

Recently, Julia founded her

own company, License 2

Smile, to help motivate

others by sharing her

personal story and the keys

to living life with a smile.

Julia and all the people

who have believed in her

and worked with her are

also a study in

COURAGE, which has

been our virtue for the

month of October. We

know that Julia impacted

our students with her story

and we thank her for

teaching us about courage.

FOLLOW UP ON LICENSE TO SMILE

Just wanted to share some of the ruminations from our 7th

Grade class: "Just keep smiling everyday" - Mary Claire

"The four points Julia gave us are perfect examples for leading a good life." – Dylan Capone

"The presentation helped me understand what it means to be different." - Nathan Glenn

"If you smile, you can be positive and persevere through anything that is challenging to you. Julia Harris taught me to be positive in a

negative situation, to persevere through any tough challenge, and to smile to make someone's day." - Dylan Leong

"She believes we can do anything we put our minds to as long as we have hope and try." - Brie Lorenz

"…being positive won't happen overnight, it'll take some time but if you take the time and learn to be positive about everything, you

won't regret it." - Brie

"I learned from her presentation that even though times are tough, you will be able to get through it if you just keep smiling." Annalise

ALL SAINTS DAY

Our Grade 3 celebration of Saints will take place tomorrow, Friday, November 1st at the 9:00 student

Mass. We’ll also be distributing our COURAGE awards for the month of October. Please join us for

Mass, if you are able!

LAST MONTH’S AWARDS: RESPECT

We want to acknowledge last month’s role models for the virtue of RESPECT:

MOLLY FABER MICHAEL CARVER GABRIELLA BOCKETTI

CAMERON PENDER ADAM FERRELLI MACY McHUGH

MEGHAN CARVER MICHAELA PAPKE AMELIA BOCKETTI

LUCAS PEPE CAMERON BOCKETTI MATTHEW SECOR

JACKSON SENDLAK ALEX KANIA MATTHEW CARVER

NATHAN SECOR NOAH VALENTINE MIA CHARLAND

Please join us tomorrow at 9:00 Mass as we recognize those students who were outstanding examples of

the practice of COURAGE during the month of October.

NEXT WEEK: A VETERANS DAY REMEMBRANCE

Next Friday, November 8th

, is our special Veteran’s Day Remembrance after the 9:00 student Mass.

We’ll be welcoming a service member, and remembering those who have given service with readings

and songs. Please join us if you are able!

LIBRARY NOTICES

Quite a few books are missing from the library, and notices have been sent home to the children who

checked them out last year. Replacement charges are a flat fee of $5, in the event that you are unable to

locate the book. Library check outs for this year will begin next week, and students may return a book at

any time. Whenever a book is returned, a new book may be checked out. WE hope this will help us to

hang onto the library stock! Thanks for your help!

HANDEL’S MESSIAH AT ST. MARY’S

Hurry! If you are interested in attending this incredible event, buy your tickets this weekend. The offer

is being extended to other parishes through their bulletins this weekend, and we’ll sell out fast! See the

flyer, below.

PE UPDATES AND GAMES NEXT WEEK:

No games are scheduled until December!

The November Fitness for Kids Challenge: 9 hours of sleep per night!! Z-z-z-z-z

October’s MVPs – Thanks for showing outstanding sportsmanship and team effort:

Molly Faber Grayson Valentine Michael Carver

Noah Valentine Meghan Carver Taylor Federowicz

Rachel Noah Nate Secor Joshua Knobloch

HSA UPDATES

November 16th – Fall Meat Raffle: Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 16th at 7:00 pm for

a fun night of raffles – meat and more!

Help us promote the event by sharing with the parish community and beyond – all are welcome! Flyer is attached with details how you can reserve your tickets now. Please email Jen Noah with questions or to book a table: jennifern0809@gmail.com

Seeking basket donations- Themed Baskets for basket raffle would be much appreciated! Check out Sign Up Genius to learn more.

Send in your lottery tickets to be used in our Lottery Ticket Sombrero between now and 11/15 in an envelope marked “lottery tickets” to the school office.

Sign up to volunteer and still have a blast! Remember, you can work one and attend one as there is another meat raffle planned for the spring. Click here to volunteer – we are in great need of ticket sellers.

NEW! Academic Lottery Raffle: Sales are now open for our first ever Academic Lottery Raffle to

benefit St. Mary School! This fundraiser is taking the place of Fall Into Cash and we are asking each

family to sell 8 tickets. With total prizes valued at $12,000, including a $,2500 bonus drawing at the

upcoming Meat Raffle, these tickets should go fast. Please refer to the materials that we sent home last

week or contact hsa@stmaryschoolswormvilee.org with any questions. Additional tickets are available.

Participation in this fundraiser by every family is crucial because HSA is directly responsible for raising

funds toward the School’s operating budget.

Coming Soon - Fall Book Fair: Taking place on November 5th and 6th, our Scholastic Book Fair is a

favorite of the kiddos and a great opportunity to stock up on Christmas gifts.

School Store Fundraising SUCCESS! In just a few short weeks, our School Store fundraiser has

generated $2,300 for our classrooms and St. Mary School! A big thank you to everyone who has taken

part so far and if you haven’t, you can still get started. Please reference the materials that came home

and you can be up and running in 15 minutes or less. If you’ve already created an account for your

child, it’s easy to send a few more email invites or share your link on social media. All donated gift

cards are provided to our teachers for classroom supplies.

Upcoming Teacher Lunches: Thank you to all who have signed up to contribute to our Teacher

lunches! The next lunch we are preparing for is Catholic Schools Week. All lunches are posted on Sign

Up Genius.

CLASSROOM VISITS

MANY THANKS TO

THE

SWORRMVILLE

FIRE

DEPARTMENT

FOR PRESENTING

FIRE SAFETY TO

OUR

MONTESSORI,

KINDERGATRTEN

AND GRADES 1-3

STUDENTS!

BELOW: 4th

GRADERS WORK WITH OUR

KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS IN THEIR

LEADERSHIP CIRCLES. 4th

and 5th

GRADE

TAKE TURNS WORKING WITH OUR

LITTLE ONES!

HALLOWEEN AT SMS!

OUR MONTESSORI THROUGH GRADE 2 STUDENTS

AND THEIR TEACHERS PARADED THEIR COLORFUL

AND FUN COSTUMES THROUGH THE SCHOOL!

GOOD TIMES WERE HAD BY ALL!!

UP AND COMING AT SMS:

ALL SAINTS DAY CELEBRATION AT 9:00 MASS………………………………………………….Friday, Nov. 1

H.S.A. MEETING AT 7 PM (agenda attached)……………………………………………………Monday, Nov. 4 @ 7 PM

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR…………………………………………………………………………………..Tuesday & Wednesday,

Nov. 5 & 6

VETERANS DAY REMEMBRANCE AFTER 9 AM MASS………………………………………..Friday, Nov. 8

NOON DISMISSAL…………………………………………………………………………………………….Friday, Nov. 8

VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY – NO SCHOOL…………………………………………………………..Monday, Nov. 11

HSA MEAT RAFFLE – IT’S SO FUN!!!!!..................................................................Saturday, Nov. 16 @ 6 PM

FALL PLAY FOR MONTESSORI – GRADE 4………………………………………………………….Friday, Nov. 22 @ 7 PM

THANKSGIVING FEAST……………………………………………………………………………………..Tuesday, Nov. 26

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY…………………………………………………………………………………Wednesday – Friday,

Nov. 27-29

ALUMNI MASS & RECEPTION at 4:00 p.m.……………………………..………………………..Saturday, Nov. 30

SCHOOL RESUMES…………………………………………………………………………………………..Monday, Dec. 2

Come Celebrate

The Birth of Christ

at the

Children’s Christmas Mass or Epiphany Mass

December 24, 2019 January 5, 2020

4:15 PM MASS 9:00 AM MASS

ST. MARY’S CHURCH

We invite children grades 3 – 6 to participate

in these special gospel narratives.

What a wonderful way to share the good news by being:

An Angel, A Shepherd, A Roman Emperor

Part of the Holy Family, or a Wise Man

Practices Thursday, December 12th: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

For Christmas Eve: Tuesday, December 17th: 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Go to the link to sign up for the Christmas Eve and the Epiphany Mass:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054CABA72FA7FD0-christmas3

Call Mrs. O’Brien at 688-9380 with any questions

St. Mary Home School Association Meeting Agenda

November 4, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

I. OPENING PRAYER

II. Approve Minutes from October 7, 2019 Meeting

III. PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

IV. ADVANCEMENT REPORT a. School exposure at Meat Raffle b. Alumni Mass and reception c. Kindergarten Discovery Event d. Open House

V. CO-PRESIDENTS’ REPORT

a. Meat Raffle b. Academic Lottery Raffle

i. Ticket count update c. Fall Fest Update d. Easter Chocolate Sale

i. Gertrude Hawke confirmed e. Marathon Pledges – status f. Tony Walker Shopping Day

i. December 12, 2019 g. Ice Skating Party - February 14, 2020

i. Cornerstone Arena booked h. Winter Parent’s Social – January 17, 2020

VI. VICE-PRESIDENT’S REPORT a. Teacher’s Christmas Luncheon b. School Store - Update

VII. TREASURER’S REPORT

a. Teacher’s Start Up Gifts

VIII. COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Spiritual Committee i. Advent devotional

b. Volunteer Committee i. Meat Raffle Volunteers

ii. Thanksgiving Luncheon iii. November Teacher Lunch

c. Communications Committee

IX. NEW BUSINESS

X. CLOSING PRAYER