IRISH WEEKLY
July 17, 2025
July 17, 2025
Send questions to administration@stvm.com
STVM Summer Hours | Monday - Thursday | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
As we prepare to begin the 2025–2026 school year, we are pleased to share some exciting updates with you over the course of the next several weeks.
Quick Highlights
2025–2026 Calendar Now Live
View the major dates on STVM.com
Student life info in MyIrish (Blackbaud)
Class of 2026 Commencement Updates
New Schedule: Friday/Saturday format
New Venue:
Commencement: Akron Civic Theatre
Baccalaureate: St. Hilary Church
We hope you are enjoying a restful and joy-filled summer! While our students and teachers take a well-earned break, we’ve been hard at work behind the scenes preparing for the year ahead, including the development of a more comprehensive calendar for the 2025–2026 academic year.
We are excited to announce that the 2025–2026 school calendar is now live on STVM.com and available in My Irish (Blackbaud). Moving forward, families will have access to two main calendars:
The 2025–2026 School Calendar, viewable on the school’s website, includes all major dates and events.
The Club and Student Life Calendar, viewable in MyIrish (Blackbaud), includes details about student life activities throughout the year.
We’re proud of the improvements made to our scheduling process and believe they will enhance the experience for our students, families, and faculty. While a few updates will be added as we approach the start of the school year, all major events, holidays, and important dates are now available online.
We understand the importance of planning ahead for families. Our goal is to provide as much detail and advance notice as possible, which is why we have worked to improve this process. While we’ve done our best to finalize key dates and events, please note that all calendar items remain subject to change.
We’d also like to bring to your attention one change regarding the Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2026. The dates have adjusted slightly based on the recommendations and feedback we have received from our faculty, students, and parents. The location of commencement ceremonies has also changed from previous years.
We received significant feedback from parents, students, and faculty expressing concerns about holding these milestone events on weeknights during finals week. We have made the decision to move both ceremonies to a Friday/Saturday schedule. This change will allow more flexibility for families, especially those traveling from out of town, and ensure both events remain connected and accessible.
While the move to our Green Street Stadium in recent years was a necessary and meaningful adaptation during COVID, beginning in 2026, Commencement will return to its more traditional and formal setting at the Akron Civic Theatre. The Baccalaureate Mass will continue to take place at St. Hilary Church in Fairlawn. Key details are as follows:
Baccalaureate Mass: Friday, May 15, 2026: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Commencement Ceremony: Saturday, May 16, 2025: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
We recognize that no single plan will meet everyone’s needs, but we believe this change reflects our commitment to thoughtful planning, clear communication, and celebrating our students in the most memorable and meaningful way possible.
Thank you for your continued support of STVM. We look forward to sharing the full calendar with you soon and to another wonderful year ahead.
We’re excited to share that, thanks to our new 8-block schedule, we’re expanding our Sports Performance Training course (formerly known as Weight Training). This elective is now more accessible to a greater number of students and has been designed to better support our student-athletes during their sports seasons.
As part of this expansion, in-season athletes who would like to participate will be scheduled into a team workout during the school day as part of this course. This change allows students to complete their athletic training during school hours, freeing up their afternoons for other extracurriculars, clubs, jobs, or study time.
We understand that this course may not be the right fit for everyone, especially for students involved in marching band, choir, visual and performing arts, or those pursuing other elective interests. That’s perfectly okay - there will still be scheduled after-school training sessions available, but these would be limited!
To help us finalize schedules, we are automatically enrolling all in-season athletes into the Sports Performance Training class unless we hear otherwise. If your student does not wish to be placed in this course, please let us know by completing this short opt-out survey no later than Tuesday, July 22.
We recognize that this course wasn’t listed as an option when you originally selected electives, so we want to be sure your student’s final schedule reflects your preferences as accurately as possible.
Thank you for your attention to this update and for helping us make the most of our new schedule structure in support of your child’s success! Go Irish!
We’ve made thoughtful changes to our bell schedule to better support student success, staff collaboration, and our Marianist mission. We’ll continue using the Green | Gold block schedule, with a few key improvements:
✅ What's New:
1. Late Start Mondays (9:00 AM Start)
Every Monday, classes will begin at 9:00 AM to allow students extra time for rest, appointments, or preparation. Doors will still open at the usual time. Staff will use this time for professional development and student support.
2. Daily Innovation Block + Lunch (35 mins each)
A daily study hall period gives all students time during the day to complete assignments, ask for help, or decompress. Later in the year, this time may be used for clubs, enrichment, or mentoring.
3. Eight Instructional Blocks
Students will now be scheduled into eight instructional blocks, allowing more room for electives and support services without sacrificing core academics. Study Hall will no longer take up a full class block, though it may be scheduled for students with additional academic needs.
💡 Why It Matters:
More time for academic support and planning
Greater access to electives and enrichment
Reduced student stress and after-school workload
Stronger teacher collaboration and earlier interventions
We believe these updates will create a more balanced and enriching experience for all.
👉 View the six bell schedules
📧 scheduling@stvm.com
⛔ Note: Schedule change requests will not be accepted until August, when official dates are announced.
The updated Uniform Policy for the 2025–2026 school year is now available. It includes new Nike polos and crewnecks via the BSN website, Spirit Dress Down Fridays, and revised uniform guidelines. Review the Uniform Policy here.
We’re excited to share that the BSN Uniform Store is officially open and ready for orders! All items will be shipped to the school and will be available for pickup in the STVM Bookstore.
Shop the Store: Visit the BSN Uniform Store
Personalized Items: Some items, like sweatshirts, allow for personalization. Families can choose to add a sport or activity by typing it in during the order process. The list below includes all current approved personalization options. BSN will print only the names that match one of these selections.
Unisex Crews: There are two crewneck options available—one Nike Fleece and one BSN version. While both are labeled “men’s” in the store, they are unisex as there are no separate men's and women's size options.
Current Approved Personalization Options
Athletics:
Football • Baseball • Volleyball • Soccer • Tennis • Basketball • Lacrosse • Softball • Cheerleading • Athletic Trainer • Bowling • Golf • Track • Cross Country • Wrestling • Marching Band
Clubs & Activities:
Model UN • TARC Rocket Team • Irish Athletes for Christ • Irish Dance • Majorette • Chorus • Marianist LIFE • Student Council • Theatre • Green Street Elite • Broadcasting • NASA Rocket Team
If no sport, club, ensemble name, etc., is selected, the crewneck sweatshirt will come with "Fighting Irish" under the STVM logo.
We’re proud to offer new ways for our students and families to show their Irish pride—thank you for your continued support!
2025-26 TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS & CONTRACT
As you prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to make sure you’re aware of the transportation options available to STVM families. From STVM-operated routes to public school district transportation and Metro RTA, there are a variety of ways to get to and from campus.
For details and the 2025-26 STVM Transportation Contract, click here. The deadline is today - July 18th.
It's time to reconnect with your small group and classmates.
Thursday, July 24th
6:30 p.m. Mass | 7 p.m. Reunion
St. Francis de Sales (Akron) | 4900 Manchester Road
RSVP to jgoshe@stvm.com
Students can log into MyIrish and click on the “Course Request” tab to review the course requests they selected in the spring.
If you’re considering a change, please note that specific details about how to request a schedule change will be shared when the schedule change window opens in mid-August.
Keep in mind that any changes made that do not align with the original course requests may be subject to a fee.
If you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us at: scheduling@stvm.com.
Student Parking Permits are now on sale for $70 (first come, first served).
🕘 Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM – 3 PM
Bring your completed Parking Permit Application to the STVM Bookstore.
Class of 2026: Senior Painted Parking Spots
Make your first senior memory—paint your parking spot for $100 (includes your permit fee).
✅ To reserve a spot, seniors must:
Submit the Google Form Contract
Pay the $100 fee to the Parents' Club
Before painting:
Submit the Parking Permit Application to the Bookstore
Get design approval
🎨 Sign Up to Paint: Senior Signup Link
👨👩👧👦 Parent Volunteers: Parent Signup Link
Note: Paint is provided. Students must provide own brushes, rollers, paint tray(s), tape, towels/wipes, paint tray(s), containers to mix paint, trash bags, etc. No trash should be left behind. Spots #1–60 are reserved for seniors and painting is first come, first served.
📧 Questions? Email ParentsClub@stvm.com
We are thrilled to share the continued growth and success of our students in Advanced Placement (AP) coursework at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Over the past five years, our commitment to academic rigor, student support, and college readiness has been reflected in remarkable trends:
More Students Rising to the Challenge: Since 2021, the number of students participating in AP courses has nearly doubled, from 85 to 167 in 2025.
Record-High Exam Participation: In 2025, our students took 371 AP exams—the highest in school history!
Strong Performance on National Standards: 78.4% of our AP students in 2025 scored a 3 or higher, up from 75.27% in 2024.
Consistent Achievement: For the second consecutive year, over 130 students earned a passing score on at least one AP exam, demonstrating resilience and academic excellence across disciplines.
This data not only reflects the hard work of our students but also speaks volumes about the dedication of our faculty and the strength of our academic programs. As a STEM-designated school, we remain committed to cultivating the habits of mind and academic skills that prepare our students for success in college and beyond.
Thank you to our entire Irish family—students, teachers, and parents—for making this success possible. Together, we are building a legacy of excellence, one AP student at a time!
Stay tuned for the AP Scholar report. You can view your child’s AP scores by logging into scores.collegeboard.org
If your student has an IEP or 504 Plan and receives testing accommodations at school, please note that these accommodations do not automatically apply to standardized tests such as the PSAT, SAT, AP exams, or the ACT.
In order for your students to receive appropriate accommodations on these important assessments, separate applications must be submitted for:
College Board exams (including the PSAT, which all STVM 10th graders will take in October 2026, the SAT, and AP exams).
ACT exams (all STVM students will take the ACT in 11th grade; this is administered by a different company and requires its own process).
To allow STVM to apply for these accommodations on your student’s behalf, please complete, sign, and return BOTH of the following consent forms:
Submitting these forms early helps ensure that all applications are processed in time for testing. Forms can be sent to: administration@stvm.com
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact administration@stvm.com
Student Ambassadors
Summer Events
The 2025-26 Student Ambassadors met for a leadership workshop and training this past week and will be responsible for attending several events over the summer. Please mark your calendars for the mandatory events listed below. Students should regularly check their school email for details on events and stay tuned to the Ambassadors GroupMe app for reminders.
Contact Ms. McCarthy or Mrs. Jurevicius with any questions.
August 17, 2025: Freshman Mass, 8 a.m.
August 18, 2025: Freshman First Day of School and Orientation, 8 a.m.– 3 p.m.
IMPORTANT DATES
Aug. 17: Freshman Mass & Reception | 8:30-11am
Aug. 18: Freshman Orientation
Aug. 19: Freshman & Transfer Orientation
Aug. 20: All Student Mandatory Orientation and Picture Day| 8am- 12pm (Regular Uniform Dress)
Aug. 21: First Full Day of Classes (Green)
Aug. 22: Second Full Day of Classes (Gold)
Aug. 28: Opening Mass
Sept. 1: Labor Day (No School)
Sept. 3: Curriculum Night | 6pm-9pm
Sept. 4: Picture Retakes
Sept. 13: Band Show | 7pm-9pm
Sept. 16: Senior Retreat Day
Sept. 18: Mahar Awards
Sept. 19: Alumni Tailgate
Sept. 23: AP Scholars Breakfast | 7am-8am
Sept. 27: Akron Marathon
Oct. 1: College Fair | 6pm-7pm
Oct. 2: Donor Mass & Reception | 10am-11am
Oct. 3: Homecoming Football Game
Oct. 4: Homecoming Dance | 5pm-10pm
Oct. 6: NCAA Information Night | 6:30pm-8pm
Oct. 15: PSAT/IOWA Testing
Oct. 15: Open House
Oct. 17: End of the 1st Quarter
Oct. 20: Records Day (No School for Students)
Oct. 23: Diocesan High School Rally & Mass
Oct. 28: Sophomore Retreat
Oct. 29-30: Parent/Teacher Conferences
Oct. 30-31: No School
IMPORTANT ENROLLMENT EVENTS
August 18 - Freshmen Orientation Day | 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
August 19 - Freshmen Orientation & Mandatory Transfer Student Orientation, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sept. 13: HSPT Prep Course | 9am-12pm
Sept. 19: Football Youth Night
Sept. 20: High School Placement Test (HSPT) | 9am-12pm
Oct. 15: Open House | 6-8 p.m.
Oct. 18: High School Placement Test (HSPT) | 9am-12pm