October 25, 2024
Send questions to administration@stvm.com
Be sure to check the tabs in this newsletter for more detailed information (updated weekly) from the Counseling Department, Athletics, Campus Ministry, and our school cafeteria. (PC browsers - tabs along the top, cell phone browsers - tabs in drop-down menu,. Tabs are also repeated at the bottom of this newsletter.)
NEW! You can also access an archive of Irish Weekly newsletters by clicking on the "Previous Editions" tab.
DID YOU KNOW? The Counselor's Corner is updated weekly with timely information, and it also has links to a wealth of college planning information, including STVM's website, which has timelines and college planning sections for each grade level. You can also find information for how students can connect with the health and wellness counselors, academic tutors and other resources to help them succeed. New this week: MEET THE COLLEGE COUNSELOR.
Come join us as we cheer on the Buckeyes and the Irish at Ohio State's Skull Session this Saturday, October 26, 2024. The STVM Fighting Irish Marching Band will perform at St. John's Arena during the Skull Session, a time-honored tradition that serves as The Ohio State University Marching Band's pre-game performance. Plan to arrive early as we anticipate our band will play in the 9 o'clock hour! If you can't make the Skull Session, scan the QR code to the left to watch a live stream beginning at 9:30 AM.
We will be celebrating Halloween on Wednesday, October 30th. We will be kicking off Adopt-a-Family 2024 and asking for a $2 donation as part of the Halloween Dress Down Day. Halloween Contest and Prizes will be awarded a the end of the day.
Please review the Important Halloween Costume Guidelines here.
We are excited to announce this year's Grandparent's Day will take place on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
Mass will begin at: 10:00 AM
Please use this link to register for Grandparent's Day: Register here.
As a reminder, PSAT and IOWA testing is on Tuesday, October 29th. Click here to review the detailed email that came out on Thursday, 10/24 with more details.
St. Vincent-St. Mary will once again be participating in the #weGIVECATHOLIC Campaign! Please save the date for December 3rd to support the mission of Catholic education at STVM and continue building a bright future for the Irish community. Stay tuned for more details!
An email went out earlier today with a Sign-Up Genius. Click here to view the email and sign up for conferences., As a reminder, these will be held at the school on the following days and times:
Wednesday, October 30th
3:00 PM - 5:10 PM
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (dinner break from 5:10 PM to 6:00 PM)
Thursday, October 31st
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
There will be no school for students on Thursday, October 31, or Friday, November 1, 2024.
Be sure to check out the Campus Ministry page for all the latest on Kairos.
Dress Code: As we move into the winter months and the school building gets cooler we will allow students to wear BSN team shop crewnecks and ¼ zips. These are the items that are approved by athletics, purchased through the BSN team shop and have the STVM logo. Students may also wear STVM approved club, ensemble, etc. apparel. These items are purchased through a club, ensemble, etc., and approved by the school. Full zip warm-up jackets and hoodies are NOT permitted.
IDs: Students MUST wear their personal ID at all times around their neck during the school day. This is extremely important for school safety and will be strictly enforced.
October is National Bullying Awareness Month! Let's Raise Awareness Together.
October marks National Bullying Awareness Month and is a good time to draw attention to bullying prevention and for our community to come together and foster a safe, inclusive environment for all students. At St. Vincent-St. Mary High School], we are committed to ensuring that every student feels respected and supported, both in and out of the classroom
We encourage all parents and guardians to take this opportunity to discuss bullying prevention with their children. Below are some helpful resources, including guidelines on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying. Reviewing these documents together with your children is an excellent way to reinforce the importance of kindness, empathy, and standing up against bullying.
Warning signs for Bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov/bullying/warning-signs
How to Talk about Bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/how-to-talk-about-bullying
Digital Awareness: https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/digital-awareness-for-parents
Together, we can create a safe and supportive community for every student. Let’s make October a month of awareness, action to prevent all forms of bullying in our community.
As part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe and secure learning environment, we conducted lockdown training this past Monday using the "I Love You Guys" Standard Response Protocol (SRP). This training is designed to help both students and staff prepare for emergency situations in a calm and effective manner by focusing on the necessary skills to respond to emergency situations.
We ask that parents take a few moments to review the video and documents below with their students at home. Your support in reinforcing the importance of these drills will help ensure that everyone knows what to do during an emergency.
Below are a few resources from the "I Love You Guys Foundation":
Our goal is to ensure that everyone is prepared and confident in their ability to respond in an emergency. Regular practice of these drills is crucial, and we will continue to incorporate them into our school safety plan.
Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school community safe.
If you haven’t received an award letter from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, there might be an issue with your student’s scholarship. Scholarships that go unawarded will be billed back to your tuition account, so don’t miss out on this financial opportunity!
EdChoice Expansion Scholarships: Ensure your income verification is complete.
EdChoice Traditional Scholarships: If you qualify based on income (200% below the Federal Poverty Limit) and expect to receive EdChoice Financial Aid to bridge the gap between your tuition and the scholarship amount, you must complete the Income Verification and submit it along with a copy of your 2023 IRS Form 1040.
JPSN and Autism Scholarships: Remember, scholarships must be accepted within thirty days; otherwise, they will lose eligibility.
Additionally, if you haven’t submitted an application for any of these scholarships for the 2024-2025 school year, time is running out! Please send in your application and supporting documents as soon as possible. There will be a State Scholarship table at the conferences on October 30. We encourage you to stop by with any questions and to drop off any paperwork.
Students in Honors Art are requesting material/supply donations for a Wearable Art project they will be working on during the school year. This project will be showcased at the annual Fine Art Festival in May. Any donation of supplies on this list will be greatly appreciated and will allow the students to complete their creations. Your donations can be dropped off at the school's main office. Thank you in advance for being a contributor to our Design Thinking Process in the Visual Art department! Click here for the list of supplies. Or if you wish to shop from the Amazon Wish List, click here.
Check out the flyer for more information. Click here.
Mrs. Llerena is excited to announce plans for an international student trip to Peru from July 7-14, 2025! Students will have the opportunity to explore Cusco and Lima, visit historic sites, and immerse themselves in the rich Inca heritage they've studied in class. This experience will help students grow, stand out on college applications, and earn a quarter credit in Spanish.
The deadline to sign up is October 31st. For more details, visit Explorica Peru Trip. For questions, please email tllerena@stvm.com.
STVM's annual Career Connections will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 8-10:30 am in the LeBron James Arena. Professionals from a wide variety of fields will be on hand to showcase their work and talk with students about their careers. Anyone interested in participating and sharing their career journey with our students should contact Anne Jorgensen at ajorgensen@stvm.com or 330-253-9113 ext. 165
STVM Parents Club Hosts
Hocus Pocus Tricks and Treats
It's that spooky time of year! The STVM Parents Club is hosting a Hocus Pocus Tricks and Treats Day for all the STVM Faculty and Staff! Your donations are always appreciated to make this a success! Please review the available slots using the SignUp Genius link below. Please drop off all donations to the school front office by Tuesday, October 29th. If you are bringing donuts, feel free to drop them off on the morning of the event, on Wednesday, October 30th, by 8 am! Click here for the SignUp Genius.
Tissues and AntiBacterial Wipes Needed
We are coming into that season and calling upon our families to kindly donate tissues and antibacterial wipes to help keep our students and teachers healthy. If you can spare an extra box of tissues or wipes, please send them in with your student. We will be collecting them in the LRC space. As always, thank you so much for your help in keeping our students and teachers safe and healthy!
Attendance Line Reminders
Parents: If your child 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.
This year's Mothers' Night Out will be on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at St. George Fellowship Hall. Buffet dinner will begin at 6:00 PM. The cost is $25. Please review the flyer and sign-up form here.
The 2024 yearbooks are available for pick up and purchase. There is a limited number of extras available for $65. Books will be distributed to current students soon. Graduates may pick their copy up in the front office or have a sibling or family friend pick them up for them. If you have any questions, contact Beth Dolan at bdolan@stvm.com.
Parents and students are encouraged to submit photos to the yearbook for us to use. Review this flyer or click on this link: eShare photo for Yearbook.
The Semester Exam Schedule has been published. View and download the schedule here.
Kindergarten through 8th grade students are invited to join Club Irish! This fun club is FREE and grants special offers and privileges to our young members. Simply sign up your child by filling out this form. JOIN HERE
Benefits of being a Club Irish member include:
Personalized voucher for free admission to non-playoff, on-campus STVM sporting events with an accompanying adult
Special mail sent to your child's home
Updates and exciting announcements via our quarterly "Club Irish" e-newsletter
Early registration for the STVM summer enrichment programs and camps
Special discounts for online purchases at our STVM Spirit Store
Personalized voucher for a free “Club Irish” t-shirt from the on-campus STVM spirit store
Exclusive access to contests to win STVM swag
Registration for shadowing is now open to 8th graders! Register here: SHADOWING AT STVM
The revamped shadowing experience is unlike anything you've seen in years past!
Tell your friends and siblings to check out what makes STVM a cut above the rest!
IMPORTANT DATES
October 29: PSAT/IOWA Test
October 30/31: Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 31 - November 1: No School
November 7: Career Connections 8:30 - 10:30 AM
November 13: Late Start 9:00 AM
November 26: Grandparents Day & Early Release 1:00 PM
November 27 - December 2: Thanksgiving Break
December 3: #weGiveCatholic
December 16 - 19: Semester Exams
December 20 - January 3: Christmas Break
IMPORTANT ENROLLMENT EVENTS
November 6: Open House 6:00 - 8:00 PM
November 16: HSPT for 8th Graders
December 14: HSPT for 8th Graders (accommodations)
January 2: 8th Grade High School Application Available
January 10: 8th Grade High School Application Deadline
February 5: 8th Grade Acceptance Letters Postmarked
March 20: 7th Grade Visitation Day
April 2: Open House