Principal's Newsletter
September 7, 2018
Dear School of St. Mary Parents,

The School of St. Mary and the Archdiocese of Chicago continue their efforts  to prevent wrongdoing and promote best practices for the well-being of all children. The Archdiocese has a comprehensive Safe Environment Training Program, which is entitled Virtus . All personnel and students in parishes and schools throughout the Archdiocese are educated in this curriculum. A ll of our teachers and staff receive ongoing training in recognizing and reporting child abuse. Anyone who work s with children  must undergo a state and federal criminal background check. All parish and school personnel, including clergy, are mandatory reporters of child abuse. Consultation and assistance regarding mandatory reporting requirements and procedures are provided to the staff. All students in Catholic school also receive age-appropriate education in recognizing, resisting and reporting abuse. More information can be found by going to the Archdiocese of Chicago 's website https://protect.archchicago.org/offices-and-services/safe-environment-office/child/youth-training

The Archdiocese mandates all volunteers, chaperones, coaches, scout leaders and anyone else who works with children to attend a training session. In fact, any parent (including one who may never volunteer at school or school-related functions) can bene fit from the program and should therefore attend.

To register for a session, please utilize the  Virtus Online Registration Instructions  han dout, which explains how to pre-register for a session prior to the training. Virtus prefer s that you pre-register for the session so that your information will already appear on the attendance verification sheet that will be provided at the session by the facilitator or local coordinator. Virtus Registration Instructions

The Church of St. Mary will be hosting two Virtus training sessions: One is on Monday, September 10 from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, and the other on Tuesday , September 25 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

The School of St. Mary Advisory Council will have their first meeting of the school year on Monday September 10that 6:45 pm in the in the UGC Library . The School Advisory Committee is a group of discerned parishioners who are dedicated to the welfare and promotion of our school. Their function is to serve as an advisory council for the operation and management of our school . They assist with policy development, identifying and expressing goals and objectives of the parish school community, budget planning and public relations. If you have a suggestion or concern with the school, this is the place to voice it.

Because the here-and-now is just as important as the hereafter, Catholic schools like the School of St. Mary teach eternal truths. Passing on the Catholic faith is one of our main reason s for existing, but helping students fulfill their God-given potential is an equally important part of our mission. To that end, Catholic schools deliver positive results:

* Grade school students achieve scores that are higher than the state and national
averages on standardized tests.
* 99% of high school students graduate; 94% go on to pursue higher education.
* Values-based education builds a foundation for moral decision-making throughout life.

If you're concerned about educating your child for today and tomorrow, Catholic education is the answer .

Dave Wieters
Principal

 
Parish Events
      
5:00pm Mass followed by Block Party Dinner, Music & Community!
Block Party Tickets:  $45 per person
Beer and Wine Drink Tickets:  $5 each or 10 Tickets/Drinks for $45
Must be age 21 or older to attend

Raffle Prizes up to $10,000!
Raffle Tickets may be Purchased at the Parish Center Front Office.


Generously Sponsored By:  
         

     
 

HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE PREPARATION COURSE - School of St. Mary's
Saturdays , September 22nd - November 10th 3:00-5:30
Entrance Exam is December 1 st - Classes begin shortly after school starts!

Entrance Exam Preparation : The PEACE program reviews all relevant content areas and specific format of the HSPT, the entrance exam used by most Catholic high schools including Loyola Academy, Carmel and Regina . The program helps students' full ability be reflected on their test results . Students' optimal results may be impaired by anxiety, unfamiliarity with the test format and timing, and the need to review material taught in previous years. The PEACE Program addresses all of these areas.

Summary Review of Important Junior High Skills : Skills acquired before 8th gra de will be tested, and we review these important building blocks for high school learning . Our curriculum includes review of:
Math Skills
- Exponents - Geometric and Non-geometric Sequencing
- Integer Operations - Order of Operations
- Basic Geometry - Roman Numerals
- Distributive Property - Absolute Value
- Place Value - Common and Prime Factorization
- Distance Formulas - Squares, Cubes , and Square Roots
- Scientific Notation - Reading Charts and Graphs
Fractions, decimals , and percentages
Language Arts Skills
- Analogies and logic problems - Capitalization, Punctuation, and Grammar
- Verbal C lassifications - Synonyms. Antonyms , and Inferences
- Major Spelling Rules - Reading Comprehension - Main Idea, Summarizing ,
Vocabulary in Context Key Details , and Timing

Confidence Building : We provide comprehensive test taking strategies and practice of timing and format , skills that increase students' confidence. In our PEAC E Skill Sessions, our teachers focus on valuable strategies that outlive test day such as goal setting, study skills , homework , and organization .

Registration begins NOW through September 6th on a first come first served basis. Class size is limited to 20 students . P lease visit our website: www.PeaceEdServices.com , or call Patti Smith (847) 567-7260. The cost is $55 0 plus materials .





School of St. Mary Calendar
September 8-22

Saturday, September 8, 2018
  • 2nd Annual Block Party, 6-10pm at the UGC
  • Food by Graffiti Grill & Pizzeria DeVille
  • Must be 21 or older to attend
  • CrusaderWear and a novelty 2018 Block Party t-shirt sales
  • School tours conducted by student council
  • Raffle Prizes up to $10,000
  • Raffle Tickets may be purchased at either campus Back to School Night or the Parish Center Front Office
ALL EVENT PROCEEDS GO DIRECTLY TO THE 2018-2019 ANNUAL FUND

    • Monday, September 10, 2018
      • School Advisory Council @ UGC MPR 6:45 pm
    • Tuesday, September 11, 2018
      • UGC School Mass @ 9:00 am in the Church of St. Mary
    • Wednesday, September 12, 2018
      • PGC School Mass @ 9:00 am in St. Patrick Church
     
  • Sunday, September 16, 2018
    • Catechetical Sunday
    • UGC Choir sings at 10:00 am Mass
  • Tuesday, September 18, 2018
    • 8th Grade Class Trip to Chicago
    • UGC School Mass 9:00 am in the Church of St. Mary
  • Wednesday, September 19, 2018
    • PGC School Mass @ 9:00 am in St. Patrick Church
    • Early Dismissal: 2:00 pm PGC, 2:19 pm UGC
  • Thursday, September 20, 2018
    • Bus Evacuation Drill @ the UGC
  • Friday, September 21, 2018
    • Coffee with the Principal @ the PGC 9:00 am





FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 4-6pm at the PGC

Food , Games & Activities for kids of all ages including live DJ, Magician, TasteBuds Kitchen cupcake decorating, carnival games, Bingo & more.

All families purchasing tickets will be entered into a raffle for a chance to receive a  $250 NVA Athletics Gift Certificate.

Purchase tickets online HERE


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