Principal's Newsletter
October 19, 2018
|
Dear School of St. Mary Parents,
This week we celebrated Homecoming with five full days of fun and excitement. We kicked off the week with a great pep-rally at the PGC and continued displaying our Crusader pride throughout the week, ending with a pep-rally at the UGC this morning Students and staff participated in fun dress up days such as comfy clothes day, sports day, homeroom wars, decade day and Crusader spirit wear day. The winner of the homeroom wars was Ms. Darraugh (a.k.a. Darth Vader) and her storm troopers. For their efforts, their homeroom won a pizza party and a casual dress day. Coming in a tie for second place, were Ms. Madsen and her things (from Cat in the Hat), and Mrs. Tazioli (don't call her Spuds) and her homeroom of potatoes. All of the second place homerooms won a casual dress day. The winners of the Spirit award at the Pep Rally were the 6th and 8th grades. They also won a casual dress day!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so here are some photos from the week to show you how great our 2018 Homecoming was.
Next week's dance is at 7:00pm in the UGC Gymnasium and is for 7th and 8th grades only. Student Council made the decision to have this be exclusive to those two grades. It will also be a regular dance and not a costume dance as well. Please plan accordingly.
Dave Wieters
Principal
|
 |
|
DID YOU KNOW? Children of parents who talk to their teens regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don't; yet, only a quarter of teens report having these conversations.
Red Ribbon Week® (October 23-31), the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation, is your opportunity to get the ongoing conversation started. This year's theme is Life Is Your Journey. Travel Drug Free.®
At School of St. Mary, students will engage in activities that promote a drug free and healthy lifestyle. Andy Duran, the Executive Director of LEAD, will provide an overview to our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention. We are also asking students to sign the pledge to abstain from drugs and alcohol.
Please partner with us and discuss this message at home, at the dinner table, at family outings, and with friends and extended family. Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week® and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a dear friend.
We appreciate your support; thank you for your help.
|
|
Parents Association Update
|
|
After an exciting presentation by the S.T.E.A.M. teacher Mrs. Spevacek at the
m
eeting on October 10, the Parents' Association has approved the purchase of a new addition to the S.T.E.A.M. Lab that will be utilized in the education of our students at both the UGC & PGC. Stay tuned for the exciting reveal!
If you would like to help support the school you can make a donation to the Annual Fund by clicking here. |
|
Blessings Recieved and Shared in Faith
|
How have you and/or your family felt blessed by our church community? What are you most grateful for in your life? Please share your answers to these questions and share them with Lore Nugent our Pastoral Associate and Fr. Mark our Associate Pastor. We look forward to including these in our Thanksgiving Mass on November 22
nd
! Please drop off at the Parish Office or email
lnugent@churchofstmary.org
or
maugustine@churchofstmary.org
your blessing by Wednesday, November 21.
|
 Please make sure you are placing your orders for hot lunch by clicking
here. We are happy to again be working with such a great organization to bring our students hot lunches, for more information on this great program please read this
story from the AP about how they are changing school lunches.
|
|
Support School of St. Mary with Amazon Smile
|
AmazonSmile
is a website operated by
Amazon
with the same products, prices, and shopping features as
Amazon
.com. The difference is that when you shop on
AmazonSmile
, the
AmazonSmile
Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the School of St. Mary.
To use amazon smile go to smile.amazon.com and then select School of St. Mary Lake Forest, IL as your organization of choice. Then just use amazon as you normally would you will be supporting the school without even thinking about it.
|
Needlepoint Club
Please join Miss Madsen and Mrs. Madsen for a canvas needlepoint club! You will make an ornament to put on your tree. Classes are Wednesday November 7, 28 and December 5, 12 and 19 from 3:45 until 5:15pm for students grades 3-8. The classes are $160 for the whole session and includes all materials and holiday snacks. To get the registration form please click here.
Craft Camp
Get your creative juices flowing and create a personalized wooden sign. Using an or iPad to print a stencil, then choose your paint colors to embellish your sign. Please join Ms. Darraugh Mondays in November from 3:45-5:15pm for students grade 4-8. Craft Camp is $150 for the whole month and includes all material costs. To get the registration form please click here. |
| School of St. Mary Sacrament Schedule |
|
Upper Grade Center Book Fair
|
| Community Events and resources for School of St. Mary Families |
Lake Forest High School PSAT testing
Dear Class of 2023 Family:
We are offering the assessment on the following two dates:
While actual testing time is 2 hours and 25 minutes, pre-administration, breaks, and the actual test amount to just over 3 hours. Drop-off and check-in should occur between 8:00am-8:25am by the entrance under the blue awning. The assessment will begin promptly at 8:30am. Students should bring #2 pencils and any calculator. Either a graphing or non-graphing calculator is acceptable. Those who qualify for special education or a 504 plan will receive their accommodations prior to the day of the assessment. To assist with planning for the assessment, please complete this form to let us know when you plan to attend the assessment. If you submit the form and need to make a change, after submitting it, please contact my office. Additionally, if you have an extenuating circumstance and are unable to attend the dates above, please contact me.
LFHS continues to utilize the suite of SAT assessments for grades 8 through 11. The PSAT 8/9 serves as one data point among several in making informed placement decisions for incoming 9th graders. Results of this exam will be shared with us and with you when they are received from the Collegeboard. Information regarding the PSAT 8/9 can be found by using the following link:
Our Instructional Directors (Math, Science, English, Social Studies, and World Language) will make placement decisions by early February 2019 based on multiple data points. Such data includes qualitative and quantitative indicators like grades, standardized assessments (the aforementioned PSAT as well as the MAP &/or ASPIRE tests), middle school teacher recommendations, and information on their readiness for their next level of challenge based on the student's acquired skills. This process also serves to assist us in identifying and providing supports to help your student succeed at their next level of challenge.
We have used many of these same data points in the past to inform placement. We have simply formalized the process, ensuring consistency while also discussing each child as an individual, being more explicit in our communication, and adding an assessment to support us in the process. The assessment will not only help to inform placement recommendations, but will also support the district in a more longitudinal analysis of student growth.
Other important components to support preparation for freshman year include the following:
- Class of 2023 'Scout Experience' at LFHS - January 2019 - details forthcoming
- Mid-February will mark the beginning of you and your child having individual appointments with your LFHS counselor.
- From mid-January to late-February, students with IEPs will have transition meetings with Special Education personnel from both LFHS and the middle school.
Ensuring that your student's freshman year is a smooth experience is our utmost priority. We are making concerted efforts to ensure that each student has a positive year of learning and engagement! We look forward to welcoming your student.
Feel free to contact my office with questions. We are happy to assist.
Director of Teaching & Learning
|
Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Learning Differences Association (LDA)
The Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Learning Differences Association (LDA) met on September 26, and invites you to join us for our monthly meetings. We regularly meet on the last Wednesday of every month at the West Campus of Lake Forest High School from 9:30-10:45.
All parents are welcome to come learn about the many resources, trends and issues our students with learning challenges experience. It is a friendly group that talks with District / school administrators, hears about grant and financial updates and provides support for families. We meet on the second floor of the West Campus of Lake Forest High School on the following days this year: October 31, November 28, January 30, February 27, April 24, and May 29.
|
Mobile Therapy Centers Trunk or Treat
Mobile Therapy Centers wishes everyone a Happy October!
We know that the season of pumpkins, spooky decorations, costumes,and candy is upon us, and this can be an overwhelming time for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who have sensory sensitivity.
On October 25th,
Mobile Therapy Centers will be hosting a Trunk or Treat event designed specifically for children with ASD in our office parking lot.
|
Saturday, October 20, 2018
- PSAT 8th grade Assessment for the LFHS class of 2023 @ 8:30am at Lake Forest High School
Sunday, October 21, 2018
- PGC Choir Sings @Church of St. Mary Mass @10:00am
- 2nd Grade First Communion Parents meeting @ Church of St. Mary @ 2:00pm
Red Ribbon Week October 22-26
Monday October 22, 2018
- 2nd Grade First Communion Parents meeting @ UGC @ 7:00pm
- 6th grade volleyball @ Our Lady of Perpetual Help @ 6:00pm
- 7th grade volleyball @ Our Lady of Perpetual Help @7:00pm
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
- UGC Mass @ 9:00am @ St. Mary Catholic Church
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
- PGC Mass @ 9:00am @ St. Patrick's Catholic Church
- Linking Efforts Against Drugs Presentation by Andy Duran @ 9:30am @ UGC
- 6th and 7th grade SING @ UGC @6:30pm
Friday, October 26, 2018
- 7th Grade Confirmation Retreat Holy Fire @ 7:15am
- UGC Students Pray the Rosary @ St. Mary Catholic Church @ 9:00am
- 7th and 8th Grade Halloween Dance @ UGC @ 7:00pm No Costumes
Sunday, October 28, 2018
- 7th Graders attend 10:00am Mass @ St. Mary Catholic Church
Monday, October 29, 2018
- Book fair @ UGC Multipurpose Room from 8:45am to 1:30pm
- 6th Grade Volleyball @ St. Norbert @ 6:00pm
- 8th Grade Volleyball @ St. Norbert @ 7:00pm
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
- Book fair @ UGC Multipurpose Room from 8:45am to 1:30pm
- Woodlands Academy 8th Grade Shadow Day
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
- Book fair @ UGC Multipurpose Room from 8:45am to 1:30pm
- Halloween Parade @ PGC @ 1:15pm followed by parties @ 1:45pm
- Halloween Parade @ UGC @ 2: 15pm followed by parties @ 2:45 pm
Thursday, November 1, 2018 - All Saints Day
- All School Mass @ 10:00am @ St. Mary Catholic Church
Friday November 2, 2018
- Regina Dominican 8th Grade Shadow Day
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
