Welcome to the 2018-2019 School Year!
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Excitement about the new school year is palpable, as our guides, assistants, and staff are busy working on the many details that will lend wonderful aesthetics and functionality to each St. Catherine’s environment. Dr. Montessori taught that the way to show our love for the child is through the dedicated preparation of the environment. The school looks beautiful, and the efforts to make it so have been a labor of love for the children of St. Catherine’s.
During the summer, the majority of our faculty and staff took some form of training or had an experience that will enhance their work with the children. We are truly blessed to have employees who view their work as a calling rather than as a job.
We look forward to seeing and reconnecting with you all soon!
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Thursday, August 9
Monday, August 13
- First Day of School for All NEW Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary only (all 1st, all 4th and NEW to SCM 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th year levels), 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM only (No aftercare available)
- First Day of School for Adolescent Community and High School, 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Infant Community Parent Orientation, 5:00 - 6:00 PM
- Adolescent Community Parent Orientation, 5:00 - 6:00 PM
- Primary Parent Orientation, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
- High School Parent Orientation, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Tuesday, August 14
- All Elementary (New and Returning) on Regular Schedule, 8:00 AM - 3:15 PM (Elementary & Adolescent aftercare available)
- Looking Day for All Primary and All Infant Community, 9:00 - 11:00 AM
- Lower Elementary Parent Orientation, 5:00 - 6:00 PM
- Upper Elementary Parent Orientation, 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Wednesday, August 15
- First Day of School for Returning Primary only, 8:30 - 11:30 AM only (No Primary aftercare available)
- Registration Form Due for Fall Sports
Thursday, August 16
- Returning Primary only, 8:30 - 11:30 AM only (No Primary aftercare available)
Friday, August 17
- All Returning Primary on Regular Schedule (Primary aftercare available)
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Required Forms due August 9
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As a reminder, all required forms (whether printed or submitted online) are due to the school by Thursday, August 9. View the Forms Checklist on
ParentsWeb
under the Announcements heading. Forms can be found under the heading, Resource Documents.
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Dominican Sisters Celebrate 60th Jubilee
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Congratulations to Sr. Julie Greig, O.P.; Sr. Mary Magdalen Hanel, O.P.; and Sr. Carletta LaCour, O.P. – all of whom marked the 60th anniversary of taking their vows this past Sunday. Archbishop Fiorenza celebrated mass at the Dominican Villa in their honor. All three sisters have served on St. Catherine’s board of directors in the past, and Sr. Mary Magdalen still comes to school on a weekly basis to help with
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
. It is a privilege to have these women, who have dedicated their lives to God, offer their loving support to the St. Catherine’s community.
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We’d love to see what our families have been up to this summer! If you’d like to share your adventures with the St. Catherine’s community, please send one photo of your family having fun during summer break – whether away on vacation or out and about here in Houston. We’ll post these pictures on our Summer Fun bulletin board in the Welcome Center hallway, so make sure to take a look to see where SCM families have been this summer.
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Opportunities to Give in 2018-2019
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St. Catherine’s Montessori is blessed to have a community of parents, grandparents, alumni, and friends who share a deep commitment to the school’s mission, and promote a culture of philanthropy. As we do not receive support from state or local agencies, the Catholic Archdiocese, or a parish, SCM relies on tuition income and charitable support to fund our operations and capital projects. It is because of the dedicated participation of our parent volunteers and a tradition of generous giving that St. Catherine’s has been able to grow and continue as an exceptional institution.
Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, the Advancement Office will coordinate the following four fundraising opportunities. We invite you to participate in the philanthropic life of St. Catherine’s in the manner that makes the most sense for your family.
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The most important philanthropic contribution a family can make to St. Catherine’s, the SCM Fund allows us to fully fund the operational costs of the school while keeping tuition affordable. The Fund’s motto is, “Every Family for Every Child,” and we ask that every family make an annual contribution. A pledge card will be mailed in
September
, and we request pledges be fulfilled by
May 31
.
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SCM 2018 Gala: Night Owl Soirée
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St. Catherine’s hosts a biennial gala to raise funds in support of the school’s greatest current and future needs. This year’s event will be held on
Saturday, November 3
at SCM, and will feature dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, and a biergarten. We invite all members of the St. Catherine’s community to join in on the fun as a table sponsor, event underwriter, auction donor, guest, and/or volunteer.
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Sociables are parent-sponsored parties and activities hosted throughout the school year that raise funds for the school’s needs through ticket sales. They are designed as fun community-building opportunities and, like the SCM Fund, support the school’s operational costs. A few select events will take place in December to delight you for the holiday season. Those tickets will be available online
mid-November.
The majority of Sociables will take place spring 2019,
and tickets will be sold at school on
January 11
during Sociables Sign-Up Day.
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Held every
February
, Steps 4 Students is a 5K Fun Run/Walk that raises awareness for Catholic education and supports the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. St. Catherine’s organizes a team and raises funds for the school via registration fees and pledges made in support of team members. All proceeds – less a $3 processing fee for every registrant – come back to St. Catherine’s.
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St. Catherine’s Montessori as your charitable organization, and give back to SCM with every purchase!
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PSO S
potlight: Casa de Esperanza Committee
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Thank you for supporting the children of
Casa de Esperanza
through the July Back-to-School Supplies Drive! Casa de Esperanza is an organization with strong ties to the St. Catherine's community. Co-founded in 1982 by SCM alumni parent Kathy Foster, this non-profit organization strives to break the cycle of child abuse and neglect for at-risk infants, children, and their families by providing comprehensive residential and family support programs that transform people and communities. Over the years, the PSO’s Casa de Esperanza Committee has coordinated our community’s support efforts by organizing supply, clothing, and basic needs drives at school.
Your generous donation of school supplies will help many children start the school year on a positive note. There will be another opportunity to support Casa de Esperanza in December with the annual Pajama and Basic Needs Drive. If you would like to get involved with the PSO Casa de Esperanza Committee, please contact Mary Tysor.
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This September, parents will have the opportunity to gather and meet with other parents in their child's class. One family in each class hosts a Parent Potluck, and everyone brings a special dish to share. These adults-only meals are a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect with each other and with each class guide. Many long-lasting friendships have started at a Parent Potluck.
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The PSO Book Club has selected
How to Raise an Adult
by Julie Lythcott-Haims as the first book of the new school year. A copy is available for check-out in the SCM Parent Library, and a date to discuss the book will be announced soon.
The PSO Book Club chooses books, usually around parenting or Montessori practices, that would be of interest to the SCM community. All are welcome to join the discussions, which are hosted throughout the year.
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If you would like to submit something to be considered for inclusion in the Globe on Wednesdays, please send it for approval by noon on Mondays to
globe@stcathmont.org
.
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