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January 10, 2020
Happy New Year and welcome back!
Welcome to 2020! I hope all of you had a restful and meaningful time with your family and friends during the Christmas Break. As educators we at the School of St. Mary are thankful for all of the opportunities to impact young lives. Our students are the reason we're here. As they returned to school on Monday, the students were buzzing with excitement and the atmosphere was very positive. It's great to be back!
We are very proud to announce that the School of St. Mary has once again qualified to apply for the National Blue Ribbon as an exemplary high performing school.
High performing
means that the achievement of our students in the most recently completed school year places the school in the top 15 percent in the nation in reading (or English language arts) and mathematics, as measured by a nationally normed test
. Our scores are based on last year's ACT Aspire test. The School of St. Mary last won
the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education
in 2012.
The fact that the school ranks in the top 15% of all school nationwide and qualifies to apply for the award is an indication of the quality and dedication of our teachers and staff, and the efforts and learning of our students. Thank you to Mary Pat Fox, Ashley Rylander and Kathy Thompson who worked diligently to complete our application for the award. Schools selected as National Blue Ribbon Schools are announced in late spring/early summer. We are proud and honored to be recognized for being in the top 15% of schools nationwide!
Starting next week our students in Third through Eighth grades will be taking their practice ACT Aspire tests. ACT Aspire assesses student readiness in English, math, reading, science, and writing
. The Interim assessments are designed to help educators better understand students' learning needs throughout the school year. While these are just practice test, it is very important that your child arrives at school on time and has a good breakfast as testing will begin as soon as school starts.
The next regularly scheduled School Advisory Council meeting is Monday, January 13. The meeting is at 6:45 pm and will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Upper Grade Campus. The Council is established to assist the Parish Administrator and the Principal by providing advice and counsel particularly in the following areas: strategic planning; policy formulation; institutional advancement/development; financial planning/financial management; communication; and mission enhancement.
Our first Coffee with the Principal for 2020 is scheduled for next Friday, January 17. The Coffee will be held from 9:00 - 10:00 am at the Primary Grade Center. The coffees rotate between both campuses. I hope you find the time to drop in and discuss concerns as well as learn more about our
school and staff.
Please join us for our annual celebration of National Catholic Schools Week,
beginning
on Sunday, January 26. This year's theme, Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed!
This theme encompasses the core products and values that can be found in Catholic schools across the coun
try. Not only are we teaching our students to become future servant leaders, faith-filled disciples and enric
hed citizens in our communities, we, as educators, a
re growing with them. In Catholic schools, we are all learners, servants and leaders. These shared qualities are what make Catholic schools work. They are what make Catholic schools succeed.
The official CSW logo brings the theme to life. The open book made up of multi-colored pages symbolizes how all areas of Catholic schools blend together, with faith - symbolized by the cross - at the forefront. Catholic schools are vibrant, dynamic and excellent.
We've planned a variety of events to show how we're doing this as a community here at the School of St. Mary. Look for more information in our Catholic Schools' Week agenda in the upcoming newsletters and online.
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The Faculty and Staff of the School of St. Mary would graciously like to thank the following families for generously providing Christmas bonuses:
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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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Hello from Christ Church. I wanted to let you know about a community event we are hosting at Christ Church Lake Forest on
Friday evening, January 10 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
This event is called "Are My Kids on Track?" and will feature author/speaker David Thomas. David Thomas is a popular speaker for parenting events, a radio guest, and is the author of seven books. The event is for parents and those interested in how children (of all ages) develop emotionally, socially, and spiritually. It will answer such questions as:
- At what age should children be able to manage their emotions?
- When will they learn to empathize?
- How do they make their faith their own?
- Are there unique patterns of development for boys and girls and how can both genders flourish?
The event is free, and childcare is available by reservation.
We would love to have you join us and would appreciate your help in getting the word out to your congregation. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Allison Waggoner
Christ Church Lake Forest
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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 Father-Daughter Dance is February 7th, 7:00-9:00PM at the UGC
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Save the Date: Spring Gala!
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Register now... space in limited!
Click on the image to register!
Monday, January 13th is Register for the Spring Gala Day! Early Bird pricing ends Jan. 15th and all registrations end Feb. 7th, so reserve your spot now!
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Catholic Schools Week Day of Giving
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We are getting ready for a fun faith filled Catholic Schools Week!
Want to show your support for Catholic education? Click on the image to make a donation!
We hope you will join us for our all school Mass on Wednesday, January 29th at 10AM!
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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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Maggie Erhardt
Maggie graduated from Marquette University and has taught 1st grade for 8 years, ever since graduating. She worked as a nanny during the summers of her time in college. She attends St. Juliana Parish and went to school there from preschool-8th grade. My parents still live in the parish. When outside of school she enjoys Walking her Golden-doodle, traveling to Florida for sunshine and the beach, cooking, spending weekends with family and friends
When asked the following questions this is how she responded:
What do you find most inspiring about working at the School of St. Mary's?
I love the staff that I work with at the PGC! I became best friends with my first grade colleague, and we both stood up in each other's weddings :). The first graders that I teach bring joy to me each and every day! It is also so wonderful having previous students wave and say hello to me in the halls at the PGC and UGC. The parents at SOSM are extremely generous and supportive.
What do you hope your students come away with by the end of the year? I hope my first graders become strong readers who have a love for learning.
What is one piece of advice you'd like to give either the students in the grade(s) you teach or our graduating 8th grade class? The 8th grade class is the first class I taught, so my advice to them is to always remember the values and morals that they learned when they were at the PGC!
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Weekend Enrichment
FemInStem at Carmel Catholic High School
Join Carmel's FemInStem Club for a day of fun, instant challenges, science activities, and coding!
When: January 18, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Who: Girls in 2nd - 8th grades
Where: Carmel Catholic High School (Door H)
Fee: $10 for materials. Pizza and juice boxes will be provided.
Weekday Field Trip
The Carmel Catholic Fine Arts Department would like to invite your students (grades 6-88) to an exclusive junior high weekday showing of Peter Pan.
Synopsis:
Based on J.M. Barrie's classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris "Moose" Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Peter Pan is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favorites of all time. This high-flying Tony Award-winning musical has been performed around the world and delighted audiences for 60 years.
Peter and his mischievous fairy sidekick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey across the stars that none of them will ever forget. In the adventure of a lifetime, the travelers come face to face with a ticking crocodile, a fierce Indian tribe, a band of bungling pirates and, of course, the villainous Captain Hook.
Featuring the iconic songs, "I'm Flying," "I've Gotta Crow," "I Won't Grow Up" and "Never Never Land," and a rousing book full of magic, warmth and adventure, Peter Pan is the perfect show for the child in all of us... who dreamed of soaring high and never growing up. Peter Pan is a dream come true for theaters looking to spread their technical wings and entertain countless families.
When: April 2015, 2020 from 9 a.m. to noon (noon end time is approximate)
Who: Students in grades 6-8
Where: Carmel Catholic High School Auditorium
Fee: NO FEE
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Shadow Days for Carmel Catholic, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican & Woodlands Academy
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- Saturday, January 11th
- 5th grade girls vs OLPH, 9:00-10:00AM
- 5th grade boys vs SFX, 12:20-1:20PM
- 7th Grade Parent Gathering
- Sunday, January 12th
- Boys & Girls Basketball attend 10AM Mass
- Webelo Den Mtgs Dinner Group: UGC Gym, MPR, Kitchen, Cafeteria, 2:00-4:00PM
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4:30 - 6th boys
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5:30 - 7th boys
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6:30 - 8th boys
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7:30 - 8th Girls
- Tuesday, January 14th
- UGC Mass at 9:00AM
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- Wednesday, January 15th
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- PGC Mass at 9:10AM
- Early Dismissal Day: PGC - 2:00pm; UGC - 2:21 pm
- Thursday, January 16th
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- Plant a Billion Trees Bake Sale at UGC 11:49- 12:29PM
- SOSM Basketball at St. Norbert's
- 5pm- 8th Girls
- 6pm - 6th Girls
- SOSM Basketball vs St. Norbert's
- 5pm- 6th Boys
- 6pm 7th boys
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7pm 8th boys
- Cub Scout Pack Mtgs: MRP, UGC Cafeteria, 6:30- 7:30PM
- Friday, January 17th
- End of 2nd Quarter
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- Coffee with the Principal at PGC, 9:00-10:00AM
- Plant a Billion Trees Bake Sale at UGC 11:49- 12:29PM
- Monday, January 20th- No School MLK Jr. Holiday
- Tuesday, January 21st
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- UGC Mass 9:00AM
- Wednesday, January 22nd
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- PGC Mass at 9:10AM
- Hoops Fest at the UGC, 2:21-3:35PM
- Basketball at SCL
- 4:30 - 6th Girls
- 5:30 - 7th Boys
- Thursday, January 23rd
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- SOSM Open House at PGC, 6:00-8:00PM
- Basketball vs Pope John
- 4:30 - 6th Girls
- 5:30 - 7th Boys
- Friday, January 24th
- ACT Aspire Interim Testing
- Saturday, January 25th
- 2nd Grade 1st Reconciliation Service 11:00-Noon
- 2nd Grade 1st Reconciliation Service 1:00-2:00PM
- Sunday, January 26th
- Catholic Schools Week begins
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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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