February 14, 2024

Thank you to everyone who joined us this afternoon for Ash Wednesday Mass to mark the beginning of the Lenten season. It is a blessing for us to come together in prayer and reflection as we begin this period of spiritual renewal.

Click here to view a photo gallery of today's Mass.

All are invited to attend our next Mass on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 2:15 PM in the gym.

Early Dismissal Friday, February 16 and No School Monday, February 19

A reminder that all full-day students will dismiss at 12:00 PM this Friday, February 16. The After-school program will be closed.

Additionally, St. Catherine's will be closed Monday, February 19 in observance of Presidents' Day.

Please review the following dismissal procedures for Friday.

• Infant Community will be dismissed between 11:15 and 11:30 AM with their older SCM siblings. Siblings will meet parents in the Welcome Center.  
• All ½ day Primary will be dismissed at 11:30 AM with their older SCM siblings in the carpool line.  
• All full-day Primary, Elementary and High School will be dismissed at 12:00 PM (unless they have an Infant sibling or ½ day Primary sibling, in which case they will be dismissed at times stated above).  
• Please do not arrive before 11:50 AM for the 12:00 PM dismissal. In the event you arrive while 11:30 AM dismissal is in process, we will ask you to circle the line until our 11:30 AM dismissal is complete.  

As a reminder, all SCM parents must use Link Valley to access the carpool line. If you arrive onto Timberside from 610, you will need to join the carpool line by turning on to Link Valley and going to the end of the line.

We appreciate your patience with this process!

Update Grandparent Contact Information by Wednesday, February 21

On Thursday, March 28 we will welcome grandparents and special friends to share the school day morning and celebrate the love and support they give to the children of St. Catherine’s Montessori. 

Grandparents will soon receive printed invitations in the mail. We are asking parents to please make sure that grandparent contact information (names and mailing and email addresses) is up-to-date by reviewing the information you have on file in FACTS Family Portal. Please review the records and make any updates by Wednesday, February 21.

2024-2025 School Calendar

The calendar for the 2024-2025 school year is available online under the Parents tab.

Parent Education Event: What Does it Mean to be an Adolescent Montessori Parent? is Tuesday, February 20

Join us in the high school on Tuesday, February 20 from

6:00 to 7:30 PM. Our guest, Laurie Ewert Krocker, is an AMI Adolescent trainer and consultant. Her presentation will discuss the meaning of “freedom with limits” at home and serve as a guide to help parents raise Montessori adolescents (ages 12-18) at home.

Parents will leave feeling capable of empowering their adolescent to use the skills that are implemented in the Montessori classroom to thrive in various aspects of their personal and professional lives. You will understand that even though “grades” start to enter the picture in the Upper School, the focus is still on the holistic development of the adolescent. Further you will recognize that each adolescent is a unique individual with distinctive strengths, needs, and potential.

Click here to learn more about Laurie and to RSVP by tomorrow, February 15.

SCM Summer Camps for Elementary-High School Students

This summer St. Catherine's is hosting camps for our current Elementary-High School students. Online registration is open. Space, age groups and enrollment fees vary by camp, and enrollment fees are due at the time of registration.

• WITS Summer Camp for current 4th-12th grade students | June 3-7 & July 22-26 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

• Garden Summer Camp for current 1st-3rd grade students | June 10-14 | 9:00-11:30 AM

• Volleyball Summer Camp for current 4th-12th grade students | June 10-14 & July 15-19 | 9:00-11:30 AM

• Soccer Summer Camp for current 4th-12th grade students | June 24-28 & July 22-26 | 9:00-11:30 AM

Paney Family Meal Train

Lydia (LE) and Elise (Primary) have a younger sister, Kit (now 18 months), who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B late last year. Her prognosis is good. Treatment will be over 2.5-3 years at Texas Children's. Please consider signing up to provide a meal or restaurant gift card, which can be brought to school on the date of sign-up. Prayers or good wishes are also very much appreciated. 

Every other year, the High School performs a play of the students' choosing as a part of their Creative Expressions class. This year, they are are excited to present Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic. Join us Thursday, February 29 at 6:00 PM at Houston Christian University's Mabee Teaching Theater (7502 Fondren Rd.). Tickets are $20/person ($25 for reserved seating).

Click here to to learn more and purchase your tickets today!

Order Your 2023-2024 Yearbook and Recognition Ad!

Capture the memories, cherish the moments! Don't let your child's school year pass by without a yearbook - order now and relive the memories for years to come. You can order your yearbook and recognition ads through the Herff Jones website. Our school order number is: 25676.

Click here for more information on pricing and designing recognition ads.

The deadline to create and purchase ads is Friday, March 1. The deadline to order a yearbook is Monday, March 25. 

INSIDE THE CLASSROOMS

Thank you again to everyone who attended Montessori Night School earlier this month. It is always a joy to welcome families into the classroom. Click here to view the photo gallery.

The AC's Tour of Texas Field Trip

Last week, the Adolescent Community traveled through Texas to present their Humanities research about Indigenous People of Texas and the History of Immigration in Texas. They began their trip in San Marcos, where they took a glass-bottom boat tour of Spring Lake and learned about the Coahuiltecan people, who believe that the springs are the birthplace of their people. They traveled to Lockhart, where they heard presentations on the Comanche wars and Mexican immigration.

The next day, the students visited the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg, where they learned about the struggles of German immigrants in the 1800s. They hiked to the top of Enchanted Rock, a Sacred Site for the Comanche and Tonkawa people, where they enjoyed the views and the opportunity to bond with each other.

Wednesday, the students visited the Witte Museum in San Antonio, where they learned about Texas history and the native Pecos people. They also visited the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, where they explored the missions and learned about Spanish colonial history.

The last day of the trip, they started by touring The Alamo, where they learned more about the battle of The Alamo and the Coahuiltecan sacred site. They then drove to Panna Maria to learn more about the first Polish immigrants to Texas, then Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, one of the earliest Czech settlements in Dubina, TX before making the final trek home to SCM.

Click here to view a photo gallery of their field trip.

PARENT SERVICE ORGANIZATION (PSO)

Steps 4 Students Thank You

On Saturday, February 10th the St. Catherine’s community joined other Catholic school families to participate in the annual Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston's Steps 4 Students 5K Run/Walk. Team SCM ran, walked, and snoozed, all in support of St. Catherine’s.

Many thanks to everyone who supported Team SCM for Steps 4 Students 2024, and to those who enjoyed the post-race tradition of attending the Annual Pancake Breakfast! This year, the breakfast was hosted by our high school students in support of their travel fund.

Click here to check the race results and here to view a photo gallery from the event and breakfast.

Dominican Study Group Meeting Thursday, February 22

The PSO Friends of the Atrium invites you to the next session of the Dominican Study Group - Thursday, February 22 at St. Catherine's after drop-off. Our guest presenter is Sr. Carol Mayes, OP, a Dominican Sister and member of the Dominican Family leadership. Parents of all beliefs are welcome, and refreshments will be served! Please email pso@stcathmont.org with questions.

Chili Lunch for Faculty and Staff

Thank you to all the families who contributed to yesterday's chili lunch for our faculty and staff! We feel truly blessed to have such a caring community.

- Faculty and Staff Appreciation Committee

SPORTS

Basketball Season Update

The C-Teams will play their last few games today and tomorrow to wrap up their season. Each of the teams has had great outings and some fantastic performances. Click here to view a photo gallery of last week's C-Team basketball games.

Boys Varsity currently is tied second in their division. Tonight they make the trip down to Sugar Land to play their last game with designs on ending the season on a high.

Girls Varsity wrapped up their regular season schedule last night with a great win against Sacred Heart. This victory placed them second in the division and clinched a playoff spot! They will hit the court in the playoffs next week. 

Go Owls!

Coach Sam

HIGH SCHOOL CORNER

Wednesday, February 14

• Boys Varsity Basketball Game @ Saint Theresa Catholic School, 4:30 PM (Saint Theresa; 705 St. Theresa Blvd., Sugar Land, TX) 
• Coed C-Team Basketball Game vs. Holy Rosary Catholic School, 4:30 PM (SCM Gym) 
• Coed C-Team Basketball Game vs. Holy Rosary Catholic School, 5:30 PM (SCM Gym) 

Thursday, February 15

• Girls C-Team Basketball Game vs. St. Ambrose Catholic School, 4:30 PM (SCM Gym) 
• Boys C-Team Basketball Game vs. St. Ambrose Catholic School, 5:30 PM (SCM Gym) 

Friday, February 16

• AMI Refresher Course for employees
• Garden Work Day, 8:00 AM 
• Early Dismissal, 12:00 PM. In-service Afternoon. After-School Program Closed

Saturday, February 17

• AMI Refresher Course for employees

Sunday, February 18

• AMI Refresher Course for employees
• Sociables: Lunar New Year, 2:30 – 5:00 PM (SCM Gym) See host communications

Monday, February 19

• No School – President’s Day Holiday
• AMI Refresher Course for employees

Tuesday, February 20

• Friends of the Library Workday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM 
• Girls Varsity Basketball Playoff Game, 4:30 PM (Location TBD)
• Parent Education Event: "What Does it Mean to be an Adolescent Montessori Parent?", 6:00 – 7:30 PM (SCM High School)

Wednesday, February 21

• Deadline: Update Grandparents information in FACTS Family Portal
• Track & Field Practice Begins for Upper El – HS (SCM Athletic Field) 
• Parent Meditation Group, 8:15 – 8:35 AM 

Thursday, February 22

• Dominican Study Group, 8:00 AM (Primary Nap Room) 

Friday, February 23

• Sports Registration Deadline: Track & Field
• Garden Work Day, 8:00 AM 
• Sociables: Swiftie Soirée, 5:00 – 11:00 PM (SCM Gym) See host communications

Saturday, February 24

• Sociables: Parent-Tween/Teen Tea and Scone Making, 1:00 – 3:30 PM (Gremillion Residence) See host communications 
• Sociables: Night Owls at Last! 7:00 – 10:00 PM (Lewis Residence) See host communications

Monday, February 26

• Men's High School Basketball Game @ Cathedral High School, 4:30 PM (Cathedral; 7726 Westview Dr., Houston, TX) 

Tuesday, February 27

• Friends of the Library Workday, 8:00 – 9:00 AM 

Wednesday, February 28

• Parent Meditation Group, 8:15 – 8:35 AM  
• Men's High School Basketball Game vs. Cathedral High School, 4:30 PM (SCM Gym)
• Mandatory Track & Field Parent Meeting, 5:00 PM (SCM Athletic Field) 

Thursday, February 29

• High School Play: Puffs, 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Houston Christian University; 7502 Fondren Rd., Houston, TX) 

For more calendar events please check our website.