The event we all have been waiting for, "OKTOBERFEST", our Auction for Education, is this weekend. When the planning started months ago we never could have imagined what would be happening in our world today. Well, the show must go on! Eventually, schools will open again, parents will go back to work and churches will be full with people praying in thanksgiving for the graces that God has shown us through this difficult time.
This year's auction really will be a silent auction. We need your help. The money that we raise at the auction has now become part of our operating budget. Did you know that each teacher receives money to supplement things for their classrooms. That means that instead of just dropping it in their cart at Target and paying if for themselves they get reimbursed for what they are buying. I receive money too. That money has gone to having Sunset Playhouse come to school or a guest speaker or frogs to dissect in science class.
It also pays for our art teacher, Ms. Marina Lee, who is not just a teacher of art, but an artist that has a studio in the Riverwest neighborhood. What she brings to our students is amazing. Look for a permanent display that is coming to the cafeteria walls when we return to school in the fall. It is a true work of art made by our students with her leading them.
Money is also used for supporting the spring musical, the library, two scholarships for 8th graders going to Catholic High school, paying for the parish picnic, classroom updates, like new carpeting and technology. Without the funds from past auctions, teachers would never have been able to bring you virtual school. The auction has paid for laptops and ipads for the teachers so they could do their job.
I'm asking for your help, please bid in our silent auction. School will open and children and parents will be back. We will have stories to tell and new memories made. We are all going to be okay with a little help from all of us. (How about that Mother Mary Katherine and Sister Elizabeth Ann visiting the school. That is one memory that I think will live on for quite a while, I'm afraid! If you haven't seen them, check Facebook. They have been very busy in the school and will be making more appearances.)
Calendar Note: We will be taking our Spring Break this year, starting Holy Thursday, April 9th through Sunday, April 19. We will be off from school and no Virtual Learning will take place.
Thank you for all your support in this new way of delivering instruction. It means a lot to all of us. The teachers and I talk often through email, phone and we have weekly faculty and unit level meetings through Google Meets. I also have a weekly meeting with the principals to stay on top of things. I'm learning something new every day.
I am now officially working from home and the school has been locked and closed. Everything will be cleaned before we come back. If you have any questions, please email me at
mtretow@stmaryeg.org
.
We are all here to help.
Faithfully,
