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January 31, 2020
Dear School of St. Mary Families,
The CAPE Private School Review Panel met in Washington, D.C. on January 8 and 9 to conduct the initial review of private school applications for the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. In all, CAPE identified 50 schools nationwide that they can nominate to the U.S. Department of Education for further consideration and review. The School of St. Mary was among those nominated by CAPE to the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), which will review our application in connection with the National Blue Ribbon Schools selection standards. The USDE makes the final decision about what schools are named National Blue Ribbon Schools.Our ACT Aspire scores place SOSM in the top ten percent of all schools nationwide, both public and private! We will keep everyone informed as we strive for National Blue Ribbon School exemplification.
Our annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week has come to a close. It has been a time filled with joy, learning, and the love of Christ. Father Mark, the faculty, staff and students would like to thank all of our families, parishioners and friends who helped make this week a success. The theme for National Catholic Schools Week this year was Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed. This theme encompasses the core products and values that can be found in our school and highlight our focus on academic excellence, high moral standards, leadership development, and faith formation.
Our students and staff took part in a number of activities and service projects this past week, renewing our commitment to raising the standards here at the School of St. Mary. This was also a great opportunity for us to develop the many skills and abilities God has given our students and teach them how to best use these in their later lives.
Highlights of our Catholic Schools Week projects include:
Robotics Presentation 2nd Grade Kindness Art Projects College Shirt Day
And for the first time in many years, the 8th grade beat the teachers
in a nail-biter of three games! Way to go 8th grade, you make the Crusader community proud!
I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to thank all the people who have helped and supported us during Catholic Schools Week. First and foremost, thank you to our professional and dedicated teachers and staff, who I have the pleasure to work with every day. They do an outstanding job and make the School of St. Mary the excellent school that it is! Having been in many different schools over the years, a school is not a brick and mortar building: It's a home characterized by the people in it. Our teachers truly are the heart and soul of the School of St. Mary.
Thanks also to the many parents who went above and beyond helping us prepare for and with many of the activities during Catholic Schools Week. Thank you to all of our parents who choose to send their children here to school, and assist and volunteer in so many ways. You really go above and beyond, be it helping with school work, transporting our students on field trips, lending a hand with our Parent Association fundraisers or serving on the School Advisory Counsel. Great schools have great parents and students and we are definitely blessed with both.
How would you like to receive a $1,000 tuition credit for the 2020-21 school year? Parents are the best promoters of Catholic education and we want to thank all of you that have recommended the School of St. Mary to your family and friends. Through our New Family Referral Program, you could receive a $1,000 tuition credit for each new family you refer to SOSM who enrolls a full-time student that is officially admitted to our school and meets all of the admission requirements as well as the rules and regulations listed below. For more information, see the New Family Referral Program information elsewhere in the newsletter!
We will be hosting a workshop for parents on Executive Functioning (EF) on Wednesday, February 12, beginning at 7:00 pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of the UGC. EF is a set of mental skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. We use these skills every day to learn, work, and manage everyday life. They are critical for the successful completion of tasks throughout our lifetimes. When a person has challenges with their EF, it can make it hard to focus, follow directions, and handle emotions, among other things. The presenters of the workshop are Dr. Lisa Novak, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and Dr. Noelle Pontarelli, who are co-founders of Illuminate Psychological Assessments, LLC, a private assessment practice in Wilmette. They will address the following questions:
- What specific skills encompass our executive functions?
- How do EF skills evolve at different stages of a child's development?
- How can parents and teachers determine whether a child's EF skills are adequately developed or are lagging behind?
- What interventions and resources are available for helping to strengthen a child's EF skills?
The workshop is being put on by the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Learning Differences Association free of charge. Please contact Mandy Castle
[email protected]
with any questions.
Dave Wieters
Principal
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New Family Referral Program
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New Family Referral Program:
Would you like to receive a $1,000 tuition credit?
Parents are the best promoters of Catholic education and we want to thank all of you that have recommended the School of St. Mary (SOSM) to your family and friends. Through our New Family Referral Program, you could receive a $1,000 tuition credit for each new family you refer to SOSM who enrolls a full-time student (see Rule #3 below) that is officially admitted to our school and meets all of the admission requirements as well as the rules and regulations listed below.
Here's How It Works!
Parents or guardians will receive a $1,000 tuition credit for each new family they formally refer to SOSM that is accepted based on our current admission requirements. Tuition credits will be applied to the referring family's account after the new student has successfully completed one semester. All referrals must adhere to the New Family Referral Program's rules and regulations.
Who is eligible/ineligible to participate?
- All current parents, guardians, teachers, and staff members who currently pay tuition at SOSM are eligible to participate in this program.
- Referrals of new families enrolling part-time students are very much appreciated but are not eligible for the referral incentive program.
Rules and Regulations
- It is your responsibility to submit a completed New Family Referral Form to SOSM for each new family you refer before the new family formally applies for admission. No exceptions will be made to this requirement. Referrals may not be made retroactively. Forms are available in the SOSM Office or online at www.schoolofstmary.org.
- The referred family cannot already be in our school's database concerning a previous enrollment inquiry, have had children previously enrolled, or currently have siblings at SOSM.
- The new family must enroll a full-time Kindergarten (5K) through 8th grade student at SOSM.
- Regular enrollment criteria must be met. Final decision for family acceptance rests with the recommendation of the Principal of SOSM.
- Students must enroll and successfully complete one semester before tuition credit will be awarded.
- If a new student begins attending school after the academic year has begun, the tuition credit awarded to the referring family will be prorated based on the student's first day of attendance.
- There is no limit to the number of families that you may refer; however, the total tuition credits received may not exceed your current tuition requirement in a given school year.
- If more than one family refers a student, the tuition credit will be divided equally among the referring families.
- The referral incentive program begins immediately; however, the tuition credit will be applied in the 2020-2021 school year, after the new student has successfully completed one semester.
- SOSM retains the right to reevaluate, revise or cancel this program at any time.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Mandy Castle at (847) 295-4830 or email at [email protected]
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Catholic Schools Week Day of Giving
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Thank You
so much for all those who donated to Catholic Schools Week, Day of Giving! We raised just under $6000! We are still accepting donations if you didn't have the opportunity to do so last week.
Click on the image to make a donation!
All donations go towards the Annual Fund.
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We are now accepting preschool applications for the upcoming 2020-21 school year!
We are excited to offer an additional section of our popular Little Angels Preschool Class. One section will meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and the other on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Families can select their preferred days in the application. Historically, this class has filled quickly, so please apply right away if you are interested.
We are also pleased to offer an All-Day Three-year-old Preschool Program next year. This class will, of course, be developmentally appropriate, including both lunch and a rest period. If you are interested in any of our preschool offerings, please follow these steps:
- Go to factsmgt.com
- Click on the Parent login on the top right corner
- Click on FACTS Family Portal (ParentsWeb) in the top right corner
- Enter our District Code: SOSM-IL
- Enter a user name
- Enter a password
If you are a current family, you already have a portal account as well as a password. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Mandy Castle at 847-295-4830.
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Click in the image to go to the site!
Donating to Empower Illinois
Next week (January 15) the Empower Illinois Scholarship application goes live to families interested in attending Catholic Schools but who need scholarship assistance. We have the opportunity to donate to help fund scholarships while also earning a 75% Illinois State tax credit; and through February 29, 2020 the 2-for-1 Tax Credit Scholarship (TCS) Gift Program is open. Any TCS donations designated to a school between now and February 29 (or until funds are depleted) are eligible for a 2-for-1 matching gift.
The process to donate is a four-phase process. It involves first requesting a letter ID from Illinois, activating your account at mytax.illinois.gov, reserving your credit and then making the donation. The details around the whole process may be found at this link:
How to Donate for Tax Credit Scholarship Program
.
We will be offering in-person guidance on how to donate from 7-8pm in the Multi-Purpose Room at the School of St. Mary on Monday evenings in February. However, to get started on the first phase, and therefore save 7-10 business days, please consider doing the following as soon as you decide to donate (to maximize potential of 2-for-1 matching gift award):
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Clic on "Request a Letter ID"; under the "Miscellaneous section:
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Enter your Social Security Number and one of the following:
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Click 'Submit' and enter and confirm your email address; then click 'OK' to submit and receive your confirmation.
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Your Letter ID will be mailed to the address on your last year's tax return. You should receive it within 7-10 business days.
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Then proceed to the second phase of the donation process: Activate Your Account
Please consider donating to Empower Illinois and designate School of St. Mary. We will be able to accept more families with generous donations, particularly if donations are completed by February 29, 2020. Please contact Mandy Castle with any questions on how to donate (
[email protected]
).
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The Lake Forest High School Hockey Association would like to notify community members that registration for 2020 Spring Hockey is now underway. Spring Hockey is open to current 8th grade boys through high school players. The 2020 Spring Program will consist of eight skill sessions and an interclub league all at Hot Shot Ice Arena in Lake Bluff from April 6th to May 27th. More information and online registration can be found at
scouthockey.com
.
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The Father-Daughter Dance is February 7th, 7:00-8:30PM at the UGC
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Thank you to everyone who has donated wine or a cash donation to help us
Stock the Wine Cellar for the St. Mary's Gala! We've started an eclectic collection of wonderful wines, but we still have some work to do! Please consider contributing in the following ways:
Visit
Courtyard Wines any time at
590 North Western Ave in Lake Forest
and let them know you are purchasing wine to be donated to the wine cellar. They are offering a 15% discount on any bottles you purchase.
You can also order wine from
Wine Brokers - call them
directly (
847-830-0501
) to select a bottle and use your credit card. Wine Brokers will hold the wine and provide it to the committee to add to the collection.
Give your cash donation to volunteers after Mass on
Sunday, February 9! The cash will be used to purchase wine on your behalf.
Look for volunteers in the school drop off lines at the
PGC and the UGC on February 7 and 14! Volunteers will be collecting wine donations and cash / checks.
Every contribution is meaningful and we thank you for your generosity!
Your 2020 Gala Planning Committee
#lovestmarys
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 Annual Senior Citizen Luncheon - "Luck of the Irish"
The Guild of St. Mary and the School of St.
Mary invite all Lake Bluff/Lake Forest Seniors for lunch, bingo, cookies, prizes and entertainment,
There is no charge for this event.
Please call the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Senior Center at Dickinson Hall at 847-234-2209 to make a reservation NO LATER THAN MARCH 3RD
Reservations are limited. No walk-ins.
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Alumni Committee
We are looking for parents to be a part of our Alumni Committee! Help us grow our Alumni database, you don't have to be an alum to be a part of this committee, just a willing parent! Sounds like you? Please contact John & Rose Hancir at:
[email protected] or [email protected]
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The Parent Association is looking for parents who volunteers for some end of the year volunteer activities!
We are always looking for parents who want to be a part of the Parents' Association who have ideas on how to bring the community together both socially as well as to raise funds for our Annual Fund
Interested!?! Please contact John or Rose Hancir at:
[email protected] or [email protected]
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Click on the image to register online.
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Shadow Days for Carmel Catholic, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican & Woodlands Academy
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- Friday, January 31st
- Sky Zone Vernon Hills 5:00-7:00PM, mention our school when purchasing tickets and 20% goes back to the school!
- Sunday, February 2nd
- 4th Graders attend 10AM Mass
- Webelo Den mtg Dinner Group: UGC Gym, MPR, Kitchen, Cafeteria, 2:00-4:00PM
- Monday, February 3rd
- Girls Basketball at St. A's
- 4:30 - 6th Girls
- 5:30 - 8th Girls
- Boys Basketball vs St. A's
- 4:30 6th Boys
- 5:30 7th Boys
- 6:30 8th Boys
- Wednesday, February 5th
- PGC Mass at 9:10AM
- Bake Sale Fundraiser for PAWS - UGC, 11:49-12:19PM
- Basketball vs SCL
- 4:30- 6th Girls
- 5:30 - 7th boys
- Parent Association Meeting 6:30PM at the UGC MPR
- Thursday, February 6th
- Bake Sale Fundraiser for PAWS - UGC, 11:49-12:19PM
- Basketball vs OLPH
- 4:30 - 6th Grade Girls
- 5:30 - 7th Grade Boys
- 6:30 - 8th Grade Girls
- 7:30 - 8th Grade Boys
- Friday, February 7th
- Casual Day for PAWS
- Kindergarten Field Trip- Lake Forest Open Lands, 9:00-11:30AM
- Used Uniform & Crusader Wear Closet Sale, 3:45-4:30PM
- Pinewood Derby Set Up: PGC Gym, Cafeteria, 6:00-8:00PM
- Father-Daughter Dance, 7:00-8:30PM
- Saturday, February 8th
- Pinewood Derby: PGC Gym, Cafeteria, 7:30AM-Noon
- 8th Grade Confirmation Retreat, UGC, 12:30-6:00PM
- Sunday, February 9th
- UGC Choir sings at 10AM Mass
- Wednesday, February 12th
- PGC Mass 9:10AM
- Executive Functioning Presentation, UGC 7:00-8:30PM
- Basketball at SFX
- 4:30 - 6th boys
- 5:30 - 7th boys
- 6:30 - 8th boys
- Basketball vs SFX
- 4:30 - 6th Girls
- 5:30 - 8th Girls
- Thursday February 13th
- Carmel Catholic High School: Spiritus Speaker Series, 6:30-8:30PM
- Friday, February 14th
- Valentines Day Classroom Parties PGC: 4th and 5th Grades 2:30pm
- Monday, February 17th
- No School- Presidents Day
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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.
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