December 7, 2018
Sunday, December 9
2nd weekend of Advent

St. Margaret Mary
School Newsletter
Afternoon  Carpool
Gate Information

Starting this week, we have reinstated closing the gate in the back parking lot during afternoon carpool. People who are not affiliated with SMM have tried to cut through the back parking lot which compromises our students' safety. The gate will close at 2:40 and any cars that arrive at this time or later will be part of 2nd carpool. The gate will be reopened when 2nd carpool is released into the parking lot for pick up. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

Family Night
Friday, December 7
Feast of the Immaculate Conception 

Friday, December 7 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 p.m. or after will be suspended for this night so that families may focus on time together.
Cafeteria Servers & Cook

We are currently hiring for Cafeteria Servers and a Cook. The server positions work Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; the cook's hours are 7:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m Monday - Friday. All positions provide paid holidays, but no medical benefits. 
Please contact Jason Kirby at   foodservice@stmm.org

Current School Families
Re-enrollment for
2019-2020
January 7 - 18, 2019

All Current school families will be required to re-enroll their child(ren) between Monday, January 7 and Friday, January 18, 2019. The Re-enrollment fee will be $65.00
(per child) and will be charged through Sycamore.

Re-enrollment must be completed for your child(ren) to guarantee a place for them in the 2019-2020 school year.

This applies ONLY to students already enrolled at SMM.
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 12. 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, IT director, cafeteria manager and cafeteria monitors, and administration. (We don't want them to be left out because they do not have homeroom classes.)

Teal Graeter 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 "Teal Graeter" by Wednesday, December 12. 
 
Let's show our staff that they are appreciated this holiday season! 
Snow Day Information

An email was sent to all school families on Tuesday, November 13 concerning school procedures in case of inclement weather. Please  click here  for the details. This information is also on the school
 website
  https://school.stmm.org/   under Parent Resources, then Snow Days.

Thank You!
   
Thank you to the generous volunteers and school families that made our Jesse Tree project so successful this year. St. Margaret Mary school and parish will bring joy to  almost 700 children  this Christmas. 

2019 Stewardship Cards 
Due NOW!

If you missed submitting your Stewardship Commitment Card at Mass before Thanksgiving, please drop it 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 2019-20 school year.

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


Mike Ayer, dad of Max (3S), Sophie (6Z), and Abby (8C) Ayer  as he undergoes chemo treatments.

Patrick McSweeney, SMM alum, as he continues his fight against cancer.

Jimmy Bowles , former route #6 bus driver, as he fights cancer. 
Please join us in 
sympathy . . . 

Sarah Bartley (6S/V) 
and her family  on the passing of her maternal great grandmother.

Mrs. Charlotte Colley (8C), Mrs. Julie Domzalski (1D), and Mrs. Dee Dee Walsh (Computer Teacher) and their families on the passing of their uncle.
Franciscan Kitchen Volunteers

On Tuesday, December 11, the following students will accompany Holly Ryan  to volunteer:  Liam Ryan, Bradan Ryan, & Devin Ryan.

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

News from Mrs. Sims

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!" Neal A. Maxwell
 
During the second trimester of school, we continue to explore the gifts in all of us. Students are learning how to work together in collaborative groups, how to be more independent learners at each level, and how to appreciate the gifts that each person brings to SMM. They continue to excel in academics, sports, and the arts. The whole school continues to focus on our attitude of gratitude. We can find blessings in every day and in all things. We are working on being kind and accepting of others, and the counselors are
 introducing new skills and language to support more positive peer interactions. I appreciate your continued support as we move forward in the school year. Happy Advent.

May God Bless You and Your Family,
Wendy Sims

St. Nicholas' Day FREE Pancake Breakfast 
Sunday, December 9
After the 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Masses
St. Margaret Mary Cafeteria
 
Come enjoy a delicious FREE pancake and sausage breakfast with excellent fellowship. St. Margaret Mary's Boy Scout Troop 306 will be hosting this community event as a thank you for supporting the troop. Everyone is welcome!  

St. Nicholas will be available from 10:45 a.m. - Noon for "Selfies with Santa"!

Knights of Columbus Poster Contest
for SMM Parish Youth
"Keep Christ in Christmas"
Deadline Monday, December 10

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 Monday, December 10 . Posters can be dropped off to the school or parish office. Recognition & Awards will be  Sunday, December 16 
following the 5:00 p.m. Mass. 
The initial contest is for SMM School and PREP students, and our winners will advance to district/state/regional and national competitions up to the international level. 


  
SMM Music 
Christmas Concert
Thursday, December 13
6:30 p.m.

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.
PTO News
PTO Poinsettia Sales
Last Call!
Deadline extended to
Monday, December 10

It that time of year again. Please  click here to print the 2-page order form to pre-order your PTO Poinsettias. Questions? Contact Jennifer Beem   beemsmm@gmail.com
Don't forget when shopping this holiday season to use your
Amazon SMILE account. Remember you must enter https://smile.amazon.com/ in your browser  in order for our school to receive credit. Thanks for your support of SMM!




Thank you to all who supported SMM by attending the  SMM Spirit Fundraiser Night at  Kendra Scott Jewelry in  Oxmoor Center on Tuesday evening. We made almost $400!  

Don't forget to mark your calendar!

SMM Gala
  
Saturday, February 9, 2019  
Louisville Marriott Downtown

SMM Gala
Please consider volunteering!

We are in dire need of volunteers (including a Gala Chair and/or Co-chairs) to ensure the Gala is a great event again this year. We are looking for help with all aspects of the gala, please click here to access the sign up genius.

Lastly, we need auction items to add to the silent auction. If you or your company can help with donations please complete this form and return it to Shannon Byrne at sbyrne@peaklevelmanagement.com

SMM Robotics Teams 
Team Atlantis is headed to the
state championships!

We would like to congratulate all of our robotics team members on their performance at the year-end Derby City FLL Regional Qualifier competition held this past weekend at Oldham 
County Middle School. Among 45 teams, SMM teams (Atlantis, Discovery, and Endeavor) each scored well in their research project, robot design, core values, and table competition. Students should be proud of their efforts! You all did great! Please click here to view a list of our hardworking SMM team members.
 
A special recognition goes out to Team Atlantis who earned a spot at the State Robotics Championship in February 2019. Congratulations!

Congratulations to our St. Margaret Mary Jr. High Students who have been named to the Principal List and Honor Roll for the 1st trimester. 


6th Grade Academic Showcase
Our 6th grade St. Margaret Mary students competed in the KAAC sponsored Academic Showcase on Saturday, December 1. Here are the SMM top winners:

Math 2nd  Toby Rouchka
Language Arts 5th Catherine Miller
Language Arts 6th Annie Pilbean
Arts & Humanities
6th Catherine Miller

Members of the Quick Recall Team that took 4th place were:
Grayson Boehm, Catherine Miller, Annie Pilbean, Brody Poole, and Toby Rouchka.
Invitation for Families:
Lighting the Advent Wreath
at Masses During Advent

We invite the families of the parish to  sign up t o light the Advent candles at each Mass during this joyful season of anticipation!

We ask that you arrive to your chosen Mass 15-minutes early to let the presider know your family is there, otherwise they will need to find others to fill in.
Click here to volunteer your family.
Winter Swim Clinic

Give the gift of swimming this Christmas, sign up for the Saint Xavier's winter swim clinic! These clinics are open to any child between ages 4-14 at any skill level.  Register soon, rates are discounted until Monday, December 10. Please click here to access the website.