School Dismissed at 11:00 on December 20th
       St. Mary's Visitation Parish School's Mission Statement 
St. Mary's Visitation Catholic Parish School exists to direct children toward God and toward Christian service to society through Catholic religious formation, academic challenge, and continuous improvement.
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5th graders putting together the Christmas bags for SMV's elderly Parish members
 

Slinky toys are fun AND educational!
Save the Date
December 13
Reconciliation for grades 3-8
St. Lucy visits

December 18
Ugly Sweater or Christmas colors day

December 19
Teacher Luncheon

December 20
Living Nativity
School Dismissed at 11:00

2nd graders helped to tell the story of Christmas during the concert
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6th graders trimming Mr. Seeberg's Christmas tree
Mission and Catholic Identity 2016-2021



K3 and the Polar Express
Home and School Links/ Community Links/ Athletic Links

How Scrip Works

 

Scrip Forms

 

Advent Family Movie

 

Box Tops

 

Christian Women Brochure

 

CMH

 

Concession Stand Subs

 

DARE Bucks Family Game

 

Jr. Hilltoppers

 

Pius XI

 

Prayer Request

 

Wauwatosa Children's Theatre


These 7th graders are simulating homeostasis in the excretory system.

Music Lessons at SMV

Band Lessons

Piano Lessons
Monday, Tuesday,  
and Fridays
9:00am to 4:00pm
  
Thursdays
9:00am to 7:00pm
  
Saturdays
9:00am to 12:00pm
  
Wednesdays Closed
Principal Notes                                                    December 12, 2019

Dear SMV Families,

This Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent.  The waiting and watching for us are almost over.  Perhaps God is waiting, too. Is God waiting for us to be light for the world, to make peace? Is God waiting for us to care more, to forgive, to love more? Is God waiting for us to recognize Him already with us?

Next Thursday, will be a Christmas dress down day.  Wear your ugly or beautiful Christmas sweaters or anything red or green to celebrate the season.

Thank you to those who returned your registration and fee for next year.  If you have not done this, please do so by tomorrow, December 13th. There is a $25.00 late fee after that date.  If for some reason you are unable to pay your registration fee, please call me to make arrangements. We would still like you to register. Planning for the 2019-2020 school year has started. Registration for parish members starts on Monday.  We are already getting calls about open spots for next year. Sunday, January 27th is the beginning of Catholic Schools Week and our Open House. More information will be coming in January. 

If you are shopping with Amazon, please use AmazonSmile. It is the same website operated by Amazon. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile their foundation will donate 0.5% back to St. Mary's. See the link on the left. 

Did you know that when you buy gift cards(physical cards or e-cards) from our SCRIP program you earn a rebate on every card you purchase. Then, 80% of that rebate  goes toward your tuition and 20% goes back to Home and School. It's a win, win for both of us. Also, if you have an 8th grader you can put that money toward your Catholic High School. There are many families here that get grandparents and friends involved in purchasing SCRIP and getting the tuition discount. More information is on the left side of the page.  Look for the word SCRIP.

The last day of school before Christmas vacation is Friday, December 20 th . We have 8:00 mass and directly after our 2nd graders will perform the Living Nativity.  Please join us. We are dismissed that day at 11:00.  We will return on Thursday,  January 2nd. 

Here is another installment of Standard Based Grading information.

STANDARDS BASED GRADING -Why are we moving away from letter grades?
The move to a standards based learning model is based on a wealth of educational research. Too often students become skilled at the "game" of school, which is to say that the priority becomes the acquisition of points rather than the development of transferable skills. Removing points and percentages allows the learning targets to take center stage; as a result, the conversations about student progress become centered on skill development instead of letter grades.

There are a number of advantages to using proficiency based grading rather than letter based grades.The use of letter based grades can often confuse students and parents as they don't clearly communicate the level of learning students are achieving. The criteria behind earning a particular letter grade can vary greatly among districts, schools, and even teachers within a school, leaving students and parents confused. In standards-based grading, the performance indicators clearly communicate the level of learning students have demonstrated on the standards during the grading period.


Faithfully Yours,
Mrs. Mary Tretow


                    Third graders at the SMV Christmas Concert
Office Notes                                                       

Lost and Found
The lost and found table is growing at St. Mary's. Please stop in and see if anything belongs to you and your child.  During the Christmas break the lost and found items will be donated to the SMV Thrift shop.  

A request from the school library
Unless your child is in the middle of a good novel, we would like all library books returned before Christmas. It is easy to misplace books over the long break.
Thank you!

Chess Scholars 
Chess Scholars will be starting on January 9th.  Chess helps develop your child's intellect. No previous experience is necessary.  To sign up please visit   https://www.learningmeansfun.com/signup

Spring Musical T-Shirt and Fan Appreciation T-shirts
We are excited to be offering A t-shirt for our spring musical The Sound of Music.  We encourage everyone who is planning on being involved with the show to purchase one.  There will be special days the students will wear their shirts.
Also, there is a fan appreciation shirt available.
Here is the link https://bsg.chipply.com/smv

SMV Office Christmas Tree
Every year we ask the parents to help decorate our Christmas Tree.  If you would like to donate an ornament please put your family name and the year on it. Then, come and look at all the ornaments on the SMV Christmas tree.  

    First Graders making Christmas ornaments in the makerspace
Auction News

The SMV Oktoberfest Annual Auction for Education planning is well underway! This premier annual event will be held on March 28, 2020.  Save the date! The auction committee needs your help in making this, SMV's largest fundraiser of the year, our most successful to date! Proceeds from past auctions have been used to support the purchase technology needs, instruments for the music program, air conditioning for the classrooms, a new gym floor, the art teacher salary, classroom spending money for the teachers, and a new playground for our students. 
 
Both Live and Silent Auction donations are needed.   We are looking for tickets (i.e. Packers, Brewers, Admirals, Bucks, Badgers and Marquette), condo stays (local or otherwise), hotel and airline points, concert and event tickets, gift cards, corporate sponsorships, and cash donations! We appreciate your consideration and generosity! 
 
 
If you would like to donate, but do not have any ideas, check out the Amazon Cart. These items will be used in the raffles and silent/live auction packages.
The auction website is also available for online donations, downloading auction forms, and finding additional information regarding the event. Visit www.stmaryeg.org/auction.html and also feel free to email the 2020 Auction Team with any questions you may have at auction@stmaryeg.org.  
 
With gratitude,
Elizabeth Hagman and Michelle Thomet  
2020 Auction Co-Chairs
   
Positively SMV

If you missed Breakfast with St. Nicholas this past weekend, be sure to mark your calendars for next year!  These two lovely moms, Andrea Stollenwerk and Monica Schmidt, had a vision to bring back the event which had been on a long hiatus.  St. Nicholas spent the morning with 200 guests, enjoying breakfast, reading a story and participating in several crafts.  Matthew Kirk, a seminarian working closely with our parish, was an amazing St. Nicholas.  Thank you Andrea and Monica for your passion and perseverance during this busy time of year.  It was a wonderful morning that the youngest of our school and parish
will certainly not forget!


Athletics at SMV

Basketball Update 12/14/2019
 
Some great games this past opening weekend! Congratulations to both 8th grade boys teams who came away with some nice victories against Brookfield Academy! Some more great Gladiator action this weekend! Don't forget your SUPERFAN shirt!
 
8:15 SMV 7th grade Boys (Gold)
9:15 SMV 8th C Grade Boys
10:15 SMV 8th B Grade Girls
11:15 SMV 6th Grade Girls
1:00 SMV 5th  Grade Girls
 
Good luck to all our teams Home and Away this weekend!
GO GLADIATORS!