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Blackbaud

WELCOME IRISH FAMILIES!

Welcome to the 2024-2025 St. Vincent-St. Mary school year! We can't wait to see everyone in the coming weeks and embark on the exciting school year ahead.

You'll find a link at the top to the Athletics page, and additional pages will be added over time. You'll also find quick links to pages on STVM.com like the School Calendar, the Parent Resource Section, the Blackbaud login and more. Don't forget to bookmark this page so you can come back and find it easily!

Mandatory Curriculum & Parent Night

We value clear and open communication, and with many new faces and expectations for the 2024-2025 school year, we invite all parents and guardians to attend a MANDATORY Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 4, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.

During Curriculum Night, you will have the opportunity to walk through your child's schedule, meet their teachers, and learn about the key information and requirements needed for a successful school year.

We look forward to seeing you there!

freshman Welcome Breakfast

Sunday, August 18

8:30 AM Mass St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church

9:30 AM Breakfast STVM Student Center

All freshman students and their families are cordially invited to a morning of fellowship and fun. Celebrate Mass, enjoy breakfast, meet fellow students, visit the bookstore, and learn about the year ahead.

Freshman & New Student Orientation

Freshman and New Student Orientation - ALL Freshmen and students new to STVM for the 2024-2025 school year are invited to Irish Orientation Day on Tuesday, August 20 from 8:00-11:30 AM. Please follow regular school day drop-off and pick-up routines. Watch for an email with more specific details. Freshman - please wear your Class of 2028 t-shirt on Orientation Day.

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures

Because we believe safety of our students is paramount. We work with Akron Police to ensure the safest arrival and dismissal procedures given our unique location along high traffic roads. Please help us keep all students, staff and visitors safe by following the procedures outlined below.

Arrival:

Students arriving at school by car should enter campus from Maple Street at the bottom of the hill. If you are dropping a student off, follow the orange cones on the far right of the parking lot to Walnut Street ( which runs between the school and the Cosgrove building.) Students may exit cars at Door 6 located on Walnut Street.

Vehicles will exit to West Market Street using either Walnut Street or Bates Avenue (located near the football stadium). No cars are permitted to circle back to exit via Maple Street as students will be entering the lot to park in their assigned spots. At no time are students permitted to be dropped off on Maple Street.

Pick up

Dismissal follows the same procedures as arrival. Additionally, students may be picked up at Door 12 located on Maple Street. The Visitor Parking Lot on the corner of Maple Street and Market Street is also available at dismissal. Parking in the bus lane or on Maple Street is prohibited.

**Early and Late Arrival procedures will be detailed in next week's Irish Weekly.

NEW INITIATIVES & CHANGES

Late start instead of early release

The safety of our students is our top priority. To address concerns about students being unsupervised on early release days, we will be shifting our monthly staff Professional Development days from early release to late start days. Previously, when students were released at 1:00 PM, many remained at school until practices began at 3:00 PM, leading to unsupervised and unproductive time.

With the new late start schedule, students will stay at home and likely get a little more time to sleep in. We recognize that this change may impact work schedules for some families. To accommodate this, students may arrive at the Student Center by 8:00 AM where they will be supervised. Please note that once students arrive and check in with the supervising adult, they will not be allowed to leave campus. Breakfast will not be provided on late start days.

Students should report by 10:00 AM on the following dates: 9/11, 10/9, 11/13, 1/15, 2/12, 3/12, and 4/9.

Morning meetings & procedures

Faith and learning are foundational to our community, so this year students and faculty will gather each day in the arena for prayer and morning announcements. Students should arrive by 8:00 AM and report directly to their first period class. Attendance will be taken, and then students will proceed to the arena for the daily morning meeting.

We are excited to begin each day together, grounded in our faith and committed to a shared expectation of learning.

Cell Phone Policy Changes

In line with Ohio law, STVM will implement a cell phone-free policy starting this fall. During school hours (8:00 AM - 3:00 PM), students will not be allowed to have their cell phones, smartwatches, or other personal electronic devices visible or active. These devices must remain silent and stored in lockers. If you need to reach your child in an emergency, please contact the school, and we will ensure your message is delivered promptly. Students will have access to school phones if they need to make a call or get in touch with an adult. At STVM, we believe that focusing on face-to-face interactions enhances our community. By keeping devices secure during the school day, we help students concentrate on their studies and build important relational skills for becoming engaged and productive citizens. Please review the Ohio Cell Phone Law and complete STVM Cell Phone Policy.

Dress code policy updates

This school year, we are introducing a new "Dress Uniform" option. These items are an optional addition for the 2024-2025 school year. Students may choose to wear all or part of the dress uniform at any time throughout the year. Additionally, the Dress Code Policy will be enforced. Please take time to review the complete 2024-2025 STVM Uniform Policy.

SAVE THE DATE! SCHOOL PICTURE DAY IS THURSDAY, AUGUST 22ND!

Parking Permits

Parking permits for the 2024-2025 school year are currently available in the STVM Bookstore. Permits are distributed on a first come, first served basis, and there are 200 spots available. The cost is $70. This form, a valid copy of the student's driver's license and insurance card is required to purchase a permit. Students must purchase their parking permit prior to the first day of school (Wednesday, August 21st). Cash, check or credit card are accepted. If you have any questions please email Bookstore Manager Kylie Berlin at bookstore@stvm.com.

Bookstore Hours

Now - August 16:
Mon - Thurs:
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Beginning August 19:
Mon, Wed, Fri:
8:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Tues & Thurs:
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Watch for pop-ups at home football games and Curriculum Night on Sept 4th 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Schedules & Chromebooks

The student schedules in Blackbaud are not official. We will notify you once student schedules have been finalized.

Chromebooks will be distributed the first week of school.

Classroom/Office Location Changes:

Principal’s Office - Erin Faetanini will move to the former Dean’s Den
The Dean’s Den will be located in room 234
Admissions/Enrollment office in the student center will be moving into the former Principal’s office
Campus Ministry will be moving to the former Admissions/Enrollment office in the Student Center
Dean of Academics, Becky Busey will be moving to the former Campus Ministry office
Director of Marketing and Communications - Rebecca Fleming will be moving to Becky Busey's former office
Director of Transportation - Tanner Ross will be moving to the front office
School Administrative Assistant - Brenda Palinkas will be moving to the former Attendance office
Mental Health and Wellness Counselors will be located in 230 & 232
College and Career Counselor, Jessica Henry will be located in the CCRC
Gary Shadie & Doran Grant will be located in room 258
The Intervention office will be in room 238

Please welcome these new staff members:

President: David Vitatoe
Principal: Erin Faetanini
CFO: Lori Tomaszewski
Dean of Students: David Cochrane
College & Career Counseling: Jessica Henry
Mental Health and Wellness: Amy Gay and Tara McCants
Chorus: Jacob Young
Science: Samantha Francis and Todd Rickel
Social Studies: Hunter Sally and James Rollins
Foreign Language: Geraldo Garcia and Tamula Drumm
Special Education: Annie Taylor, Amir Greenwood and Sarah Badawi
Language Arts: Alec Plumley and Chelsea Young
Bookstore Manager: Kylie Berlin
Maintenance Crew: Demetrius Jones
Interim Director of Advancement: Michelle Schaeffer
Director of Marketing and Communications: Rebecca Fleming
Director of Enrollment: Jess Jurevicius