12/15 SMCS Newsletter
Good Afternoon St. Mary Catholic School Families,
During these last few weeks our students and staff have prepared for the coming of Christ through Advent activities, Mass, Reconciliation, concerts, and caring for others who are facing challenges this Christmas. It is these expressions of our faith and caring for others that sets St. Mary’s apart from other schools and is a true testament to how a Catholic education shapes our students. In this last week before Christmas, I encourage us all to reflect on the greatest gift that God has given us, the birth of Jesus. May we each seek out ways to bring the light of Christ to others.
Please know that I am grateful for your unwavering support and dedication to our little community. Thank you for choosing St. Mary’s. May the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts and homes with peace and joy as you rejoice in our Savior’s birth. I wish each of you a blessed Christmas and holy Christmas season!
In Christ,
Dr. Amy Summers
Saint of the Week
Saint Maximilian Kolbe is our Saint of the Week. He was born in 1894 in Poland. As a child he had a vision of Our Lady asking him to choose a red crown or a white crown, which symbolized martyrdom or purity and he chose both. When he was 17 he joined the Franciscans and seven years later was ordained a priest. During WWII he was captured by the Germans and sent to the concentration camp at Auschwitz. One day he was able to escape as soldiers were choosing others to die. One man cried out that he had children so Maximilian said he would die in the other man’s place. He said, “I am a Catholic priest.”
Christmas Spirit Week
Please see the attached flier for information about Christmas Spirit Week.
Monday - Wear Christmas Socks with Uniform
Tuesday - Wear Christmas Accessories with Uniform
Wednesday - Wear Christmas Shirt with Uniform Bottoms
Thursday - Christmas Best (those not in Christmas Best must be in uniform)
Friday - House Shirts, Uniform Bottoms, and Christmas Accessories
Coverage Next Week
I will be out next week recovering from surgery. I will check my email periodically. April Nitzell (anitzell@stmarycatholicschool.org) will be covering for me in my absence.
Registration for 2025-2026 School Year
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will open this week. Please be watching your email. Current families completing the registration process by January 13 receive a discounted registration fee of $300 per family. New student registration will open at the same time. After January 13 we will not be able to hold spots for students not registered. If you have questions, please contact Audi Lebedda (alebedda@stmarycatholicschool.org).
Science Fair
Our Science Fair will be held February 25. Packets and registration information will be available after Christmas Break. However, the next few weeks are a great time to begin to think about what your project might be. It will be open to all students in grades PreK through eight but is mandatory for all middle school students.
Middle School Youth Group
Our next Middle School Youth Group will be held on December 17 from 3:15-4:30. Permission slips were sent home last week.
Christmas Parties
On the afternoon of December 20 classes will be having their Christmas parties. Please see information from each teacher. Due to student allergies, please remember that all food sent in cannot be homemade and must include an ingredient list.
Basketball Games
Come support our Boys’ Basketball Team. Here is their schedule. All games are played at Broadfording Christian Academy.
Summer Camps
We are excited to announce upcoming summer camps that will be held at SMCS. Registration for the STEM Camp is now open. Camps will be held M-Th each week.
June 9-12 Camp Invention Session I (Rising Kindergarten - 6th Grade)
June 16-19 Camp Invention Session II (Rising Kindergarten - 6th Grade)
June 23-26 Mini-Camps (specifics to be announced in January)
July 7-10 Vacation Bible School
Earning House Points
House points can be earned in different ways. Each week in the newsletter some of them will be shared.
Students can earn points by completing the December monthly take home project. If you would like to create your own family project tied to the virtue of Generosity, please feel free to do that as well and just note that on the form. Students should turn in the completed form by December 20 to earn a point for their House.
This month the challenge is for students in Grades PreK - 1st grade is to learn the Our Father. Students in grade 2 - 8 should memorize the Ten Commandments. Each student who does this earns a point for their House.
Accelerated Reader
Students may use this link to login to Accelerated Reader and take quizzes on books they have read. Their logins have been given to their teacher.
The Catholic Faith Explained
Every Thursday, from 7-8PM, Father James will host a class series called “The Catholic Faith Explained.” This week’s topic is The Mass. Come learn and connect the dots of our faith. All are welcome.
Daily Mass
Daily Mass is at 8:25. Students in grades 3-8 will attend Mass every day, grades K-2 will attend on Tuesday and Friday, and PreK will attend on Friday. We welcome families to join us as well.
Parent Volunteer Opportunities (must have Virtus)
December 17 - Vision and Hearing Screening
Commitment Hours can be recorded here.
Parent commitment hours can also be fulfilled by purchasing items that teachers have requested via the following Amazon wishlist.
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2XA10FZAMYKAL?ref_=wl_share
Lunch Menu
Please use this link for the updated December menu.
Confessions This Week
Thursday - 8th Grade
Clubs This Week
Basketball - Tuesday
Art Club - Tuesday
Guardians of the Altar - Wednesday
Young Women of Grade - Wednesday
Upcoming Dates
December 15 Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
December 16 Wear Christmas Socks with Uniforms
December 17 Wear Christmas Accessories with Uniforms
December 17 Middle School Youth Group (3:15-4:30)
December 18 Wear Christmas Shirt with Uniform Bottoms
December 19 Wear Your Christmas Best
December 20 Wear House Shirt, Uniform Bottoms, and Christmas Accessories
December 21 - January 1 Christmas Break
January 2 School Resumes
January 6-10 MAP Testing
January 10 House Assembly/House Spirit Day
January 14 T2 Interim Report Cards
January 16 School Safety Drills
January 20 No School - MLK Jr. Day
January 23 TAG Day
January 25 Catholic Schools Week Pancake Breakfast
January 26 - Feb 1 Catholic Schools Week Activities
Virtus Background Check
Any parent/volunteer who is interested in helping with field trips, classroom events, recess duty, etc.must go through the Virtus registration as mandated by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. We are asking as many parents as possible to do this so that we have volunteers who are readily available, if you have not already done so. Please be sure to complete the two parts, the video and the background check. Additionally, three references must be checked. The registration instructions can be found here. This can be done at virtusonline.org. Please choose the VOLUNTEERS WITH SUBSTANTIAL CONTACT WITH CHILDREN option.
If you have questions about your status, please contact Stephanie Roccograndi (sroccograndi@stmarycatholicschool.org)