December 1, 2017
Sunday, December 3:
1st weekend of Advent


St. Margaret Mary
School Newsletter
Cafeteria Cashier

We are currently hiring for a Cafeteria Cashier/ Food Prep position to work Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. There is a bit of flexibility with the hours for this position. Please contact Jason Kirby at  foodservice@stmm.org
Stewardship Commitment Cards for 2018
Due NOW!

If you missed submitting your Stewardship Commitment Card at Mass before Thanksgiving, please drop it off at the parish office or send it into the school office. 

Please remember that all parish school families must return a completed stewardship card in order to enroll for the 2018-19 school year.

If you have misplaced yours, additional cards will be in the parish office.

St. Margaret Mary Library is hosting a
BOGO FREE BOOK FAIR
December 4-8
7:30 am-3:30 pm
 
All items are eligible for 
"buy one, get one free"!

Students will be able to make purchases during their library class time, as well as before and after school. This is a great opportunity for students to purchase Christmas gifts for friends and family. 
Parents - Please be sure to put your child's money in an envelope labeled with their name, the amount, and Book Fair noted on the envelope.

Please click here for the details!
Family Night
Friday, December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Friday, December 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, which is a Holy Day of Obligation. It has been designated as a SMM Family Night. All school, parish, and athletic activities that begin at 6:00 pm or after will be suspended for this night so that families may focus on time together.
School Guidelines on Illness

Please remember that your child should be fever and vomit free without medication for 24-hours before returning to school. This information can be found on page 16 of the Parent/Student Handbook, located on the school website school.stmm.org, under Parent Resources.
Priests' Christmas Gifts 
 
As in the past years, we would like to give the priests a monetary gift from the students and school families for all they do in the religious education of our children.  If you would like to contribute, please send cash (if possible) in an envelope to the school office marked "Priests' Gifts" by Wednesday, December 13. Thank you!


Special Area Teachers 
&  School Staff

It's time to show our
appreciation at Christmas to our amazing special area teachers who teach drama, art, music, Spanish (2 teachers), PE (2 teachers), computer, and our school librarian. This collection will also be shared with our school support staff that includes our maintenance, office staff, cafeteria manager and cafeteria monitors, and administration. (We don't want them to be left out because they do not have homeroom classes.)

Lindsey Phelps  is taking up the collection this year. If you would like to  donate (any amount), please send cash or check in a sealed envelope to the school office marked "Lindsey Phelps" by Wednesday, December 13. 
 
Let's show our staff that they are appreciated this holiday season! 
December & January Offerings

Check out all of the new, fun, after school offerings by clicking here. Many of our teachers will begin a new set of offerings such as  Arts & Crafts, Tiny Techies, and a 3-D printing class.  This information is posted on our school website under the  Student Academic tab, then  After School Enrichment or by clicking here

Sophie Ayre (5G) will be  performing as a jockey in The Brown-Forman Nutcracker at The Kentucky Center from December 9 - 23.

'Tis the Season to be Caroling!

The St. Margaret Mary Single Mom's Club is hosting an event for ALL women and their children. We will be caroling through the neighborhood and have refreshments to follow on Saturday, December 2 from 6-8 pm.  Click here  to RSVP. To view the flyer, please  click here .
Franciscan Kitchen Volunteers

On Tuesday, December 5, the following students will accompany  Lisa Pelle  to volunteer:  Stephen Pelle, Jack Pilbean, and Quinn Nickell .

This volunteer opportunity is available for 6-8th grade students. To access a permission slip, please  click here.
News from Mrs. Sims

Advent is a wonderful time of year, full of joy and anticipation.  There is no better place to be than surrounded by children as they wait, hope and wish. We have added a prayer for Advent to our afternoon dismissal procedures. My prayer for you is that you are able to take time to enjoy the season of Advent.  Yes, your to-do list is long, but Advent is a season of hope and a time for quiet reflection. Don't forget to keep Christ in Christmas.

Afternoon Prayer for Advent
God of Love,
Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
As we wait and prepare for His coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Savior.
Amen.

May God Bless You and Your Family,
Wendy Sims

Congratulations to our St. Margaret Mary Jr. High Students who have been named to the Principal List and Honor Roll for the 1st trimester. 
Jesse Tree Donation Deadline:
Sunday, December 3, 11:00 am

Don't forget all donations are due to the church by 11:00 am on Sunday, December 3.  Thank you to all of the students and families who selected an ornament.  Please  click here  for more details. 
PTO Poinsettia Sales
Deadline  Monday, December 4

It that time of year again. Please click here to print the order form to pre-order your PTO Poinsettias. The homeroom with the most pre-orders will receive a party! Questions? Contact Jennifer Beem  beemsmm@gmail.com
Join us for Reconciliation

The following grades will be attending the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Advent. Parents and family members are welcome to join our students in the church. There will be many priests available.

Tuesday, December 5 5th & 6th grades 1:15 pm
Wednesday, December 6 7th & 8th grades 1:15 pm
SMM Music Christmas Concert
Thursday, December 7
6:30 pm

Join us on Thursday evening as the SMM beginning and advanced bands, Encore show  choir,  Supernova choir and Resonare' youth handbell choir perform in the PAC.

Knights of Columbus Poster Contest
for SMM Parish Youth
"Keep Christ in Christmas"
Deadline Thursday, December 7

Posters must reflect a slogan on this topic and an original visual image.  Age groups are 5-7, 8-10, and 11-14.  Deadline is Thursday, December 7 . Posters can be dropped off to the school or parish office.  Recognition & Awards will be  Sunday, December 17 following the 5:00 pm Mass.
St. Nicholas' Day Pancake Breakfast
Sunday, December 10
After the 8:00 & 10:00 am Masses
St. Margaret Mary Cafeteria
 
Come enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast with excellent fellowship. St. Margaret Mary's Boy Scouts will be hosting this community event. Everyone is welcome!  Santa will be available from 8:00 - 11:30 am for "Selfies with Santa"!
 
St. Nicholas, a.k.a the original St. Nick, was a 4th century bishop of Myra and devoted himself to helping the poor. St. Nicholas is best known for secretly leaving small bags of gold on the window sills of the poor in his community. His feast day is December 6. 
PTO Assistant Treasurer Needed
2018-19 School Year
 
The PTO is in need of an assistant treasurer for the 2018-19 School Year. This would be a wonderful opportunity to share your talents with SMM while being part of an active and integral part of student life! Please contact Mara Legere if interested:  maraslegere@gmail.com
SMM Step by Step and Catholic Life Issues present:

Care for God's Creation
6 of 6 in a video series p roduced by USCCB and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic Social Teaching
 
In recently celebrating Thanksgiving, we were reminded of God's bounty. In his encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home, Pope Francis reminds us we can all "do more" to care for our common home.  Watch Care for God's Creation by clicking here . This is the last of the 6-part series on Catholic Social Teaching.
The Girl Scouts are excited to announce the dates of their upcoming all-school dances: 

Father-Daughter Dance 
Saturday,January 27, 2018
7:00-9:00 pm PAC 

Mom Prom 
(Mother-Son Dance) 
Saturday, March 24, 2018
7:00-9:00 pm PAC 


Please wish SMM Girl Scout, Morgan Lewis (3J), luck as she competes as a junior baker in the Girl Scout Cookielicious baking competition on  Saturday,  December 2. T heir original
creations will be judged on taste, creative use of a Girl Scout Cookie, and plating.  Click here for more information.
In Sympathy . . .

Please join us in prayers for:

Hadley Snyder (8S)  and her family on the passing of her almost 106-year old paternal great grandmother.

Lorelai Miller (1C) and her family on the death of her great grandmother.


Please keep in your prayers special intentions for school staff.  
Volunteering? 
  
Click here to access the calendar of dates of when the Honor Thy Children/Safe Environment training is offered at various parishes throughout the Archdiocese.  
Questions? 
Contact our parish office at 426-1588.
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