St. Mary’s School, Oak Ridge November Highlights

St. Mary’s students participated in the 2nd

Annual Fun Run to raise money for Home

& School Association. The students were

each asked to raise $108 towards the

overall school goal of $20,000. The entire

school participated in the Fun Run on

Wednesday, November 1st. By the end of

the fundraising period, we had raised a

grand total of $20,415.01! Awesome job,

St. Mary’s Students!!

The St. Mary’s Drama Club

performed Alice in

Wonderland on November

14th. What amazing young

talent!

St. Mary’s School recently participated in the East Tennessee Vocal Association’s annual All-East Honor Choir Event held on November 17th – 18th in Maryville, TN at Maryville College and the Clayton Center for the Arts. This year’s All-East Junior High/Middle School Honor Choir was made up of approximately 260 advanced 7th & 8th grade vocal students from 35 schools throughout East Tennessee. Other honor choirs at the event included a Freshman Honor Choir, as well as a Women's Choir, a Men's Choir, & a Mixed Choir for auditioned students in 10th – 12th grades. The students learned and memorized their voice part on five pieces of music prior to attending the honors chorus. The challenging repertoire allowed them to sing in multiple languages and styles and in a variety of 3 and 4 part voicings .Congratulations to our 7thand 8th grade students for such an accomplishment!

Danielle McClean, St. Mary’s School Spanish teacher, along with three other Caribbean authors who are recipients of CODE’s Burt Award for Caribbean Young Adult Literature, met with students, teachers, librarians, and young people in Trinidad and Tobago from November 9 - 13 2017 for the Read with Me Caribbean Author Tour. Ms. McClean had the opportunity to visit schools, libraries, and homes for at-risk youth across Trinidad and share her own love of reading, discuss its importance, and encourage its practice for pleasure.

Ms. McClean also appeared as a guest author at the 2017 Miami Book Fair on November 19th, where she presented her middle grade novel Secrets of Oscuros: The Protectors’ Pledge at the Rescue Missions and Other Worlds event. St. Mary’s School is blessed that Ms. McClean shares her talents in the Spanish classroom and through literature, too!

St. Mary’s parishioners and students remembered our Veterans in a special way on November 10th. Our community gathered for Mass and began with a special presentation of the armed services flags by several St. Mary’s Cub Scouts from Pack 329. An American flag was presented and placed on a table in the sanctuary in remembrance of those who have served our country. Following Mass, our veterans and parishioners gathered for a reception hosted by the 8th grade students. Thank you to all the men and women who served our country with courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism.

St. Mary’s Alumni Memorial Mass was held on November 21st. We honored our deceased alumni, priests,

sisters and faculty members at Mass. Student Council officers and class representatives brought roses to the

altar as the names were read. A special reception was held after Mass hosted by 6th grade students.

St. Mary’s School eighth grade

students had the opportunity to

participate in the Catholic

Citizenship Essay Contest

sponsored by the Knights of

Columbus - St. Mary’s Council

3175. This competition was

open to students in grades 8-12.

This year's essay theme was

“Going to the Peripheries” and

students were asked to discuss

the role of the Catholic Church

going to the peripheries. We are

pleased to announce that

Elizabeth Brands was selected

as the winner of this

competition. Grand Knight of

Knights of Columbus Fr. McRedmond Council #3175, Keith Hood and Sir Knight Ed Drapela presented a plaque

and a gift card to Elizabeth Brands. (Pictured with SMS Principal, Sister Marie Blanchette, O.P.)

St. Mary’s Students showcased their creative talents by creating two gingerbread houses, making decorations for two Christmas wreaths, and creating original rustic art pieces for the annual Fantasy of Trees to benefit East TN Children's Hospital.

Around the school: Our fourth grade students shared the lives of special saints on All Saints Day, 5th grade

completed a unit of study on the Inca civilization and learned about the incredible building skills used in

suspension bridge design, Kindergarten enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving Feast and 8th grade decorated the

Giving Trees to collect donations for Columbus Home & Knoxville Children’s Home.