Parent Correspondence Jul 2023
7-26-2023 Final Registration - Step 1!
Good Afternoon!
Fun Fact - today is National Aunt and Uncle Day! We are so thankful for the extended family members who support our Knights!
Fun Fact #2 - the teachers have been coming to school to get ready and the excitement is building around here! We want everyone to enjoy these last three weeks of summer before school begins, and we are thrilled to have some opportunities to reconnect with you at Registration and Back to School Knights! Thank you for choosing Mater Dei and please know that we consider it a privilege and a calling to partner with you in the formation of your children!
Action Items:
Final Registration is Thursday, August 3! We hold two sessions and ask that each family attend the one that works best for their schedule. The first session is from 11:00 - 1:30; the second session is from 4:00 - 6:30. Registration is in the Mater Dei Event Center, just west of the Mater Dei Holy Name Church. Parking is to the north of the Church. Students are welcome but not required to attend registration.
Please click here for the online registration form. Completing this form is step 1 of our final registration process and allows you to get some of your final registration tasks completed in advance! If there are any sections that are confusing or you need some assistance, we will be here for you on Thursday!
You will receive an email from materdei@educonnect. It is coming shortly after you receive this email.
If you are a returning family, the email contains your User ID and you will be able to use the password you used last year. If you need to reset your password, you can do so through the link on the website.
If you are a new family, the email will contain your User ID AND a password. You may change the password by using the link on the website.
It is critical that we have accurate information in our Online Portal (the Educonnect System). Please take time to review your information and make any necessary updates. We also want to make sure that you can access your account on the system.
Please click here to register for VIRTUS training. All Mater Dei volunteers, including room parents and drivers for field trips, who will be working with children must be VIRTUS trained. This training is so valuable for our volunteers and teachers because it helps adults create safe environments for children and gives us the tools we need to be strong advocates for our children. The safety of our students is our top priority.
When you access the website, select “First Time Registrant” down the left margin; then select “View a list of sessions” so that you can choose your session. Our Region is Kansas City in Kansas (Archdiocese). There is currently one session scheduled for the Topeka area and that is Wednesday, August 2, at Mother Teresa Parish. More sessions will be added as the school year begins. You are not required to attend a session at Mater Dei, but please list Mater Dei as a school/parish where you volunteer.
Please use your computer to register and allow approximately 30 minutes to complete the process. As a portion of registration, you will provide information necessary to run a background check and you will read Archdiocesan policies for Protecting All God’s Children.
You only need to attend VIRTUS training once.
Please click here to order Mater Dei Spirit Wear. Once you are connected, you can view as a guest, but you will still need to create a profile. If you select Staff, it will lead you to the spirit wear section. I believe that if you select a student, it leads you to the traditional uniform section. We like that the Lands End link will allow you to purchase spirit wear throughout the year, but we are still getting used to navigating their website. Thank you for your patience and we will be able to help at registration if you are not able to access what you need. Our school number is 900196528.
HOT LUNCH INFORMATION - PLEASE READ!
To qualify for free or reduced lunches, families must complete an application. This year, that application is available online if you click here. We will also have printed application forms available at registration. If we do not have a completed and approved application on file, we are required to charge for lunch.
If you have received a notice that you are directly certified by the State of Kansas, you are not required to complete the application.
Lunches must be paid for in advance and they are $3.10 for full price; $0.40 for reduced price; individual milks are $0.50 each.
If you have any questions, we will be able to assist you at final registration.
Attention, parents of new students (Kindergartners and transfer students)! You can bring birth certificates, baptismal certificates, and school entry physicals to final registration, if you have not already provided those!
Attention, Preschool Parents! While you are not required to attend final registration, you are welcome to come to registration and check out the uniforms, learn more about After Care, explore volunteer opportunities and submit any outstanding paperwork.
Please plan to peruse the used uniforms while you are at registration! These uniforms are free for the taking! We have limited space to store used uniforms, so you are doing us a favor if you take a few for your student.
2022-2023 Yearbooks will be available at Final Registration - we apologize for the delay and hope that you enjoy our beautiful yearbook! The cost is $15 per yearbook (with a maximum family charge of $30).
Upcoming Events:
Again, we are shaking things up! In the past, we have hosted Kindergarten separately. This year, we are hosting our self-contained classrooms (K-2) on Wednesday and our departmentalized classrooms (3-8) on Thursday. Children are welcome to attend Back-to-School Knight!
Primary Back to School Knight (grades K-2) is Wednesday, August 9! We will begin our evening at 6:00 in the cafeteria. We will welcome our families and we will have our traditional Knighting ceremony for our Kindergarten students and new students. Then you will have the opportunity to visit your child’s classroom and learn what you can expect this school year! You may bring school supplies, if you would like, and that will help keep those backpacks a little lighter on the first day of school. We will be finished by 7:30.
Back-to-School Knight for grades 3-8 is Thursday, August 10! At 5:30, we will open the doors and we have a little Scavenger Hunt to give you a chance to see our beautiful building! We will begin our "official meeting" in the cafeteria at 6:00 PM with our general session. Then, you will be able to visit each of the teachers who will work with your student this year. We will be finished by 7:30.
News From Around the School:
Middle School Parents, please click here! Everyone else, you are finished!
#MDStrong
Thank you for all you do, God bless you, and have a great day!
Andrea Hillebert
7-17-2023 Motivation Monday, Knights!
Good Afternoon, Knights!
Motivation Monday: today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want! We are working away to create a building that is “new penny shiny” and a great place to dream, learn, pray, and play!
***Change to the supply list! Please do NOT purchase any Lysol wipes! We have had a donation of all the Lysol wipes we will need for the upcoming school year (and maybe longer)! If you have already purchased some, please use them at your home. We are committed to keeping the supply list manageable for our families!
Action Items - so many ways to help out!
Please click here to sign up for Bingo! Tonight is a BIG night at Bingo, with game 14 set to pay over $9,000. Come on out to play OR volunteer!
Please click here for opportunities to help with parish projects! Keep this link handy as we update it regularly. There is nothing listed for this week yet, but we will keep it updated!
Please email me if you are interested in helping us plan the Assumption anniversary celebration - the towers have been removed and we are working to complete interior work so that the Church can be reopened. This current Assumption Church (the third building to serve as the Church in the history of the Parish) is 100 years old this year and we are eager to celebrate!
FACTS - if you are new to Mater Dei and need help setting up your FACTS account, please contact the office at this email or 785-233-1727. We want to finalize your tuition and apply your scholarships so that you can make your payments over ten months. If the deadline passes, we will be required to spread your payments over 9 months instead of 10 and that can have a significant impact on your budget. Please help us to help you by setting up your FACTS account. Please click here for instructions on setting up your FACTS account.
Returning families - we have “rolled” you in the system so you do NOT need to set up and account. Please do NOT set up a duplicate account.
Upcoming Events - we would LOVE to see your beautiful faces!
Saturday, July 22, is our annual “birthday” bash for our parish! Celebrate with some delicious BBQ!
Dinner will be served after the 5 PM Mass on Saturday.
We are eating at the Mater Dei Event Center
Lawn games - that’s right, we are all friends until the corn hole starts!
It is a wonderful opportunity to welcome Father Matt!
Everyone is welcome and you don’t have to bring anything! IF you would like to contribute something to share, please click here!
Please see the flier below for more information
Be watching your email on Wednesday, July 25! We will send a School Messenger that includes:
The online portion of Final Registration
An elective interest form for our students in grades 6-8
Information about the 0.5K, sponsored by the PTO and scheduled for August 19
Information about the Halfway to St. Patty’s Day Golf Tournament, September 21
Final Registration is Thursday, August 3, in the Mater Dei Event Center
First Session is 11:00 - 1:30
Second Session is 4:00 - 6:30
Please plan to attend!
K-2 Back to School Knight is Wednesday, August 9, from 6:00 - 7:15
3-8 Back to School Knight is Thursday, August 10, from 6:00 - 7:30
Links From Around the School:
Please click here for the Supply List
Please click here for the Academic Calendar
#MDStrong
Thank you for all you do, God bless you, and have a great day!
Andrea Hillebert