IRISH WEEKLY
January 30, 2026
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Plus be sure to check out all the pages linked at the top - Athletics, Counselor's Corner, Campus Ministry and Service Hours. There are time-sensitive scholarship opportunities in the Counselor's Corner.
A Message from STVM President, Dave Vitatoe
A Message from STVM President, Dave Vitatoe
Earlier today, the State of the School Address message from STVM President, Dave Vitatoe, was sent to our entire STVM community. Please be sure to take a look at this important message. Mr. Vitatoe wants to share that, as we begin a new year at St. Vincent-St. Mary, we are grateful for the strength of our traditions and excited for the momentum that is building across our school community. In this brief State of the School address, he reflects on where we are today and the encouraging direction in which STVM is moving. Click here to watch the video.
SPRING ACT DATE AND PREP COURSE
All juniors (Class of 2027) will take the ACT at school on March 11, 2026. This test is required by the State of Ohio. There is no cost for this test, and scores can be used for college admissions next fall. Students will set up accounts prior to the testing date. If your student already has an ACT account, please make sure they have that information on hand so that they can log in.
STVM math teacher and ACT tutor Joyce Conway will offer a prep course for juniors preparing to take the ACT from 8 a.m. to noon on the following dates:
February 7 | English
Feb 21 | Math
Feb 28 | Reading
March 7 | Science
Students will complete 3 ACT practice tests for each subject and receive notes and feedback.
Each session is $25. Students can pay with cash or check the day of the session. All testing materials are provided. Students will need to bring pencils and the calculator they plan to use for the exam. Calculators will not be provided.
A minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 students are needed for each session, which will be held in Mrs. Conway’s classroom. A wait list will be started for days that exceed 20 students. Space is filling up quickly. Click here to register. An email with this information has also been sent to the Class of 2027.
JUNIORS VIRTUAL PARENT MEETING
Tuesday, February 3rd, 7:30-8 p.m.
Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2027 are invited to a virtual meeting on February 3, 2026, from 7:30–8 p.m. We will be sharing important college and career pathway planning information that will begin this spring for juniors.
Please note that new information will be presented, so even families who have previously had students graduate from STVM are encouraged to attend. A meeting link will be sent to families earlier in the evening on Tuesday.
ART SUPPLIES FEE ADDED TO TUITION MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT THIS WEEK
Art fees ($30 per class) have been added to Tuition Management accounts this week. The fee replaces the practice of families purchasing their own art supplies at a higher cost. It is further beneficial for students to have consistent supplies at the start of class. Students have received information regarding this fee during their art classes and payments are currently due. Payments can be made through your Tuition Management account, cash or checks can be given to the front office or online credit cards on Hometown ticketing.
If you have any questions, please contact Barb DeGrand at bdegrand@stvm.com
RE-REGISTRATION FOR 2026-27 SCHOOL YEAR OPENS ON FEBRUARY 2ND
Re-registration for the 2026-27 school year will open on February 2, 2026. The email will come from registration@stvm.com and will include all the details you need to re-register, so please be on the lookout.
WINTER TAILGATE: fEB. 6th BOYS BASKETBALL vs. WALSH
WINTER TAILGATE: fEB. 6th BOYS BASKETBALL vs. WALSH
Parents' Club invites STVM families to our Winter Tailgate on Friday, Feb. 6 from 5:45-7:00 p.m. prior to the Varsity Boys Basketball Game v. Walsh (tipoff at 7:30 p.m.) Join us for food, soda/water and desserts in the Student Center, then cheer the Irish on to victory in the LBJ Arena! Tickets are only $5 per person or $10 per family. You may pay via HomeTown ticketing or Venmo (@stvm-parentsclub, just be label it “Winter Tailgate”). Come early, we expect a big crowd!
If you would like to donate soda, water or chips to help us defray expenses, please sign up here. All donations need to be dropped off in the main office (during school hours) by Thursday, Feb. 5.
Thanks, and GO IRISH! ☘️
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
We are working to reschedule some of the activities we had planned for Catholic Schools Week, including the Special Mass that was planned and the Staff v Student basketball game. We will make an announcement when those dates are set.
FAMILY AND MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION IS NOW OPEN
The St. Vincent-St. Mary High School Foundation Family & Memorial Scholarship application for returning students for the 2026-2027 school year is now available on the STVM website. Family & Memorial Scholarships, which are provided through the generosity of our donors and the STVM HS Foundation, are a valuable source of tuition assistance. Students should apply for any State of Ohio scholarships for which they are eligible (EdChoice-traditional and Expansion, JPSN, or Autism) and the FACTS application to be eligible to receive a Family & Memorial Scholarship. Students who are currently receiving a Family & Memorial Scholarship must reapply every year. The deadline for applications is Monday, March 2, 2026. Visit the Financial Aid and Scholarship Info section at STVM.com for instructions to complete the Family & Memorial Scholarship application and the required FACTS Financial Aid application. Click here
TEACHER/STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH -- NEW DATE FEB. 4
Parents' Club has rescheduled the teacher/staff lunch to Weds, Feb. 4. If you are no longer able to help or donate, please delete your signup. Otherwise, we are looking forward to providing a nice lunch and gifts for our amazing teachers.
We are still accepting donations so we can treat each teacher/staff member with a gift card as a heartfelt THANK YOU.
Please sign up here to donate gift cards or send in money to help us purchase gift cards. Thank you! ☘️
CCP REGISTRATION MEETING
The next meeting for students interested in registering for College Credit Plus (CCP) will be held on February 10, 2026 at 5 p.m. This is the second of two CCP meetings, and it is crucial for students and parents to attend. We will be presenting details and procedures for registering and securing funding. Please see the Counselor's Corner section for more information about CCP.
CAPSTONE 2026
As part of the 2026 Capstone Experience for seniors, here are the key dates and requirements to keep in mind:
Capstone Experience Timeline Your Capstone can take place at any point during the school year, but the dedicated Capstone Week is May 4-8, 2026.
Shadowing Hours
Seniors are required to complete 25 hours of shadowing outside of STVM. Hours may be split between multiple locations, and you may shadow outside of Ohio if you choose.
Community Sponsor
Each senior must contact and secure a community sponsor who will help guide their Capstone Experience.
Capstone Proposal
Your Capstone Proposal, including details about your sponsor and shadowing plans, is due March 2, 2026.
Capstone Presentation
After completing the experience, seniors will return to STVM on Thursday, May 14, 2026, to submit all required assignments and present on their Capstone Experience.
For complete details, please see the Capstone packet and proposal form available in MyIrish (Blackb under Resources. Please review everything thoroughly before submitting your proposal.
Questions?
If you have any questions after reviewing the materials, please contact Beth Dolan at bdolan@stvm.com
Start planning now and make the most of this exciting opportunity to explore your future career interests!
SHOWCASE 2026
BACK TO THE '80s
Get Ready for Showcase 2026!
It’s time to celebrate a milestone! Showcase 2026 is back for its 40th year! STVM’s biggest fundraising event supports tuition assistance, campus improvements, and school operations, all while bringing our Irish family together for a night full of fun. Join us on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at House Three Thirty in Akron for an evening of delicious food, an open bar, live music, thrilling auctions and raffles, and plenty of laughs and memories with friends old and new!
Be Part of the Excitement!
We’re forming committees for Showcase 2026, and there’s a spot for every parent! Whether you love organizing, connecting with people, or just want to be part of the behind-the-scenes action, volunteering is a fun way to get involved and meet other STVM families. Sign up here.
Questions or want to be added to the volunteer email list? Contact Michelle Schaeffer, Senior Director of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, at mschaeffer@stvm.com
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE: STVM VIRTUAL INSTRUCTIONAL PLAN
Purpose: To maintain instructional continuity and meet state instructional-hour requirements by conducting meaningful virtual learning on inclement-weather days when in-person learning is not possible.
Notification: Snow day decision and/or Emergency School Closure with a transition to a virtual day will be announced by 6:30 a.m. via One Call, social media, and email.
Expectations:
Attendance: Students will check in via Google Classroom or email during their scheduled block. Attendance will be taken via participation in live sessions, submission of check-in forms, or turned-in assignments.
Participation: Students will complete follow-up assignments, readings, videos, or discussions as posted on Google Classroom.
Student support: Teachers will be available for extra help via email or Google Meet during the scheduled block. See Google Classroom for details.
Angel Scholarship Fund
Angel Scholarship Fund
This Ohio Scholarship Tax-Credit Program lets you “Turn Taxes into Tuition” by directing your tax dollars to our St. Vincent-St. Mary High School students. The money will be used for tuition assistance for those students with the greatest need. This will help STVM meet its fundraising goals and keep tuition affordable. You don't have to have a student attending STVM to be eligible. All Ohio taxpayers can participate.
How does it work? Make a donation to Angel Scholarship Fund, for which you may receive a 100% Ohio income tax credit of up to $750 ($1,500 if married filing jointly) against your 2025 state tax liability. These funds will be used to provide tuition assistance for Catholic school students, and you can direct the funds specifically to STVM. In other words, the state of Ohio allows you to "spend" some of the state income taxes (that you must pay anyway) to provide tuition assistance for STVM students. The Angel Scholarship Fund is a win-win-win for taxpayer donors, scholarship recipients, and our Catholic schools.
Click here to watch this short video explaining how easy it is to contribute to the Angel Scholarship Fund.
Click here to learn more and to make your gift.
Click here to read the FAQs.
THE LEPRECHAUN NETWORK
IS LIVE!
The STVM Broadcasting Team is actively publishing on the new student-run site, The Leprechaun Network. Thanks to the Educator Initiative Grant Program from the GAR Foundation, STVM students in the journalism classes can publish their stories while developing journalistic ethics and digital literacy skills. We welcome the entire STVM community to enjoy the voices of our students as they share their stories of STVM from their unique perspectives.
2025-26 Yearbooks
For this school year, yearbooks can be ordered anytime through the Yearbook Order Center by searching for St. Vincent-St. Mary or entering school code #3108.
Please note: The price will increase in January, so be sure to purchase your copy of To the Heights now!
ATTN: Senior Parents! You can celebrate your student and express your love with a dedication; click here to learn more.
Feb. 2: Re-registration Opens
Feb. 3: Virtual Meeting for Parents of Juniors
Feb. 6: Winter Tailgate
Feb 7: Wrestling Alumni Event
Feb 13: No School
Feb 16: No School
Feb 10: CCP Parent Info Night #2 (ODE Funding Application)
Feb 24: Optional Academic Advising & Course Selection Night (Rising 10th-12th)
ATTENDANCE REMINDERS
Parents: If your student is (1) not going to be in school, (2) going to be late to school, or (3) leaving early from school, it is critical that you notify the school by calling the attendance line as soon as possible at 330-253-9116.
Students MUST SIGN OUT of the Attendance Office if they leave school early.
It is important that you call us first thing in the morning if you are planning to pick up your student during the day so that we can ensure they will be excused from class and ready to be picked up when you arrive. You may leave a message on the attendance line with this information. As a reminder, please refer to the Student/Parent Handbook for Absence Policy and required documentation.
ABSENCE REMINDERS
Please be mindful of the school policy regarding vacations and travel.
ABSENCES FOR OTHER REASONS
Absence for other reasons (vacations, family events, or participation in non-school sanctioned events) is discouraged by the school. However, in cases where the parent determines the necessity of this type of absence, the parent must notify the attendance secretary and the student must notify their classroom teachers a minimum of two weeks prior to the absence. A telephone call is required to the attendance secretary the first day of the absence at 330-253-9113 prior to 9 a.m. in order to verify that you are going forward with your travel plans.
Feb. 12: Acceptance letters emailed and welcome box delivery.
Feb. 15: Transfer applications open
April 16: Seventh Grade Visit
A limited number of shadow dates are available this winter/spring. Interested families should check www.stvm.com/enrollment or email enrollment@stvm.com for more information.
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