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GoRiteway
414-249-5048
elmbrook@goriteway.com
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Thank you to Leo and his family for making 700 masks for Just One More Ministry thru Marquette High
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Miles and Abby are wearing their SMV spirit wear
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Save the Date
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May 13
Spirit Wear Day
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Landon in K4 is exploring outside
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8th Grade did some lesson work on Propaganda in World War II. One of their projects was to reenact a U.S. propaganda poster.
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Mission and Catholic Identity 2016-2021
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Use Amazon smile and help support SMV
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| Scott Family staying SMV Strong |
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Principal Notes April 23, 2020
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Dear Families,
Alleluia! Alleluia! He has risen indeed, Alleluia! Easter is a time of hope and of new beginnings.
We welcome the sights and sounds of springtime. The twittering of birds, the gentle patter of rain, yes even these last few rainy and cold days we are experiencing. We welcome the outdoor playing fields again; the crack of a bat and tennis shoes pounding on the driveway. We welcome longer hours of daylight. We welcome our students' learning year coming to its culmination. We welcome the new insights, facts, and concepts that have come together for them that broadened their mental and spiritual horizons. All of these little resurrections of spring remind us of the greatest resurrections of all when Jesus rose from the dead. He restored joy to his family and friends, and announced joy to the world!
I always go back and look at what I wrote the year before for Virtual Backpack. It is kind of a journal for me about what we were doing a year ago. This is the same thing I wrote last year. What I realized after reading this is that yes, we have a deadly pandemic raging throughout the world and yes, we can't go anywhere and yes, we are missing so many things, and yes, sometimes we feel overwhelming sadness and a total lack of control. Yet, we are moving forward with our lives. Spring has now arrived. Maybe, instead of dashing off to track or Little League practice or soccer, we are now taking walks or bike rides as a family and spending time together around the kitchen table. This is our resurrection like we have never experienced before and probably never will again. Let's rejoice in the newness of what we have found and the gift of time that has brought us together, not what we are missing.
At this point, school is closed for the remainder of the school year. That decision is out of all of our hands. We just don't know how this will play out, but I do know that as long as the physical school building is closed we will continue with virtual learning. Either way, we have five weeks until the end of the school year. You (the parents) and the teachers have done a great job with virtual learning. We have all learned new ways to deliver the curriculum. I think we found out we are all stronger than we thought we were. We know that we have some gaps to fill in the fall when we return. The teachers and I will be working on this. This is not unique to SMV. I do think though, with the outstanding teachers we have and you as partners, the curve will not be insurmountable. I have great faith in all of us! Last week I had Zoom meetings with the Archdiocese and the principles about how to wrap up the school year. As more information becomes available I will share that with you.
The teachers and I have heard from many of you. Every family has a different schedule and different needs. Some families want work the night before, some want work in the morning, some want all the work in the beginning of the week, some want a four day work week, some families want more work, some families are totally overwhelmed and some are not. We will continue to send work everyday. You decide when and how to do it. The due dates are flexible. At this point, there is no late work, but the work must be completed by the end of May. The teachers are accepting work all the time. The only time you will get an email about work is when we have not heard or seen anything from you or your child. It's important that we all work together.
To our 8th grade parents, this is hard, it's really hard, probably hardest on you and your graduate. This is the time of year we have been waiting for. It's a time to celebrate all the work of the last ten years. I want you to know that we are still planning to have a graduation ceremony. We want to celebrate, we need to celebrate, we need to look forward to something wonderful. The place we need to gather is in church like it has been done for so many graduates before. Right now, we are craving the traditions that bind us to others. We will gather as a faith community because that is who we are. We will honor the achievements of our students and our SMV Catholic education that is embedded in our mission statement. When will this happen? Again, hopefully in a few weeks we will know more about where this pandemic will lead us and we will be able to set a date. What we can tell you is that we are making plans for the 8th graders to design their brick for the hallway outside the art room and the tradition of making a journey cross will be coming in May. Also, a special package (including a yard sign) will be delivered to each 8th grader the week of May 4 hopefully by the 7th to start the graduation celebration. More information coming from their homeroom teachers.
I wanted to share this article with you that I found. It's called That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief. It really helped me discern some of the feelings I've had over the last month. Maybe you are feeling this way too?
I continue to keep you all in my prayers. One of my biggest blessings right now is you and the St. Mary's community. I cannot think of a better time to be part of a faith filled community like ours.
Stay SMV Strong!
Faithfully,
Mary Tretow
Principal
mtretow@stmaryeg.org
Brynn's wonderful chalk drawing
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Living Our Catholic Virtues: SMV Student Kindness Cards
Over the past weeks, Jr. High students have been steadfastly making homemade kindness cards for our 200-pls 85 and older SMV parishioners. Creating mailing cards out to each of them has been something our students and their parents took on with joy and vigor! This coming week, younger grade students will receive parishioner names so they, too, can send kindness cards of their making to these beloved fellow parishioners. Extending this virtue of kindness through cards sent to these people during this time of isolation is just one way we can continue to build the kingdom of God here on earth in real and appreciated ways. Pictured is one of the thank you notes from a card recipient. These same parishioners have supported through their stewardship generations of students in our school, some of them now parents of current SMV students themselves! God bless our families for their commitment to making these cards, and for living the virtue of kindness - from a distance - toward our not-so-young parishioners.
Gary Newman, Jr. High Theology and Catholic Moral Life Teacher
More Books to Read
Please follow the
link to find a list of more websites that provide fun books to read. Take a break from school work and enjoy some leisure time with a good book.
Photos Needed
Parents please keep sending photos of you and your child during this time. We would love to share them on Facebook.
K4 Buddie Time
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Mrs. Jamie Niederbaumer, mom to A.J. in k4, recently spread a ton of Easter cheer! Mrs. Niederbaumer spent the Saturday before Easter driving the Easter Bunny throughout Elm Grove. The Easter Bunny certainly brought many smiles to those he visited. In addition, Mrs. Niederbaumer and the Elm Grove Junior Guild were able to raise over $1,200 which was donated to The Food Pantry Serving Waukesha County. Thank you Mrs. Niederbaumer for sharing your time with our community, bringing smiles and joy to families and helping others who are in need of assistance at this time.
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The week of VBS for 2020 is cancelled.
HOWEVER...the theme is still relevant and we can sing!!!
Parish E-Bulletin
If you do not currently receive the parish E-Bulletin, please share your email by following the link below. Until SMV parishioners are able to gather for Mass in church again, Fr. Peter and Fr. John are recording a Mass for the upcoming weekends. The link to view the Mass is included in a special E-Bulletin which is sent to parishioners Saturday evening. If you know someone who would also like to receive this bulletin, please pass this along! Sign up
here.
Message from Josh Dietrich
Josh Dietrich, Director of Catholic Formation, is sharing his recordings of the study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church that has been offered at St. Mary's Visitation Parish. He began the study in the fall and now in the spring they are continuing on the second part of the Catechism which focuses on Liturgy and Sacraments. Each week he unpacked a portion of that section together in study, prayer, and discussion.
https://1drv.ms/p/s!AunoaykrBitHcxhPqulu_9pgdUE?e=zwycIG
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Concession Stand Duty
SMV Athletics is looking for someone to take over the concession stand duty assignment job starting in the fall of 2020. This is a great job for someone that does not want to have a concession stand duty assignment!! It requires creating a sign up genius for the volleyball and basketball seasons and filling the spots with athletic student's parents. You will also be part of the Athletic Board which meets 2 or 3 times throughout the school year. Katy Cornell will be happy to work with you on the transition. Please reach out to Katy if you are interested at 262.391.4044.
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