NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2017

St. Mary Catholic School

Challenging the Mind—Living the Faith www.stmarycatholicschool.org

Dear Parents:

Happy November! Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. MISSION STATEMENT (Psalm 106:1) This is the time of year we tend to focus on the many blessings we Saint Mary Catholic School have in our lives. As we get closer to the holidays, most of us look forward to empowers children in their faith spending time with family and friends. Planning, preparing, and eating Thanksgiving journey and promotes academic dinner, watching football, talking and joking with family, playing games, and perhaps heading out late for deals might be some common family traditions. excellence and life-long service Being together with people you care about, no matter what the activity, is truly a inspired by the Gospel of blessing. The same can most definitely be said about our school community, too. Christ in a nurturing community.

During this Thanksgiving season, we have so much to be thankful for to God. Being UPCOMING EVENTS named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence is such an honor. It's affirmation to our entire school community, students, parents, faculty & staff, HSA, November 1 School Board, Pastor, and Parishioners that SMCS offers academic excellence in an All Saints Day—10:30 Mass engaging and nurturing environment. Being a Catholic School we offer all of this to the glory of God. I hope you will join me in offering prayers of thanksgiving for the November 3 work ethic and enthusiasm of our students, the dedication of our faculty and staff, First Friday Mass the commitment of parents, the efforts of our HSA, the guidance of our School Board, and the support of our Pastor and Parishioners in making SMCS such a special November 8 place. We are truly blessed! Read-a-Thon

We begin this month with All Saints Day. Join us for Mass at 10:30 A.M. Our sixth November 9 graders will be representing our heroes of the Church, the Saints. Mrs. Barger and I Thanksgiving Lunch will be in Washington, D. C., for the official National Blue Ribbon Ceremonial events on November 5, 6, and 7. Our Thanksgiving Lunch is November 9. Our Thanksgiving November 22-November 26 break begins at 3:00 on November 21. When we return from break, there will be Thanksgiving Break many Blue Ribbon celebrations. November 30 will be a special day for our students! More details will be shared soon! November 30 Blue Ribbon Day for Students And finally, on behalf of the SMCS faculty and staff, I want to wish you a blessed Thanksgiving with your family and a relaxing mini-break! December 1 As always, I ask for your prayers to the Holy Spirit to give me the guidance and School will dismiss at 11:45 AM following our First Friday Mass in wisdom needed to serve as principal of Saint Mary Catholic School. celebration of our recognition as May God Bless you! A 2017 National Blue Ribbon School Patricia A. McDermott of Excellence

Page 1 of 8

FAITH ST. MARY PARISH NEWS SCHOOL LITURGIES SACRAMENTAL NEWS Please join us on Wednesday, November 1, at 10:30 A.M., Eighth graders who are members of for our school Mass. Our sixth graders will be making a St. Mary Parish have their special appearance as SAINTS. Our students look forward Confirmation Pilgrimage to the to this special Mass each year. This is a holy day of Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus obligation for Catholics. on November 10. Students are to meet at 8:00 A.M. in Fatima Hall. Please join us again on Friday, November 3, at 10:30 A.M., Students are to bring their own lunch for our First Friday Mass. Father Cibelli will be the celebrant. money. Cell phones are not permitted, but students may bring a TRIMESTER NEWS camera. Students will return to campus at 3:30 P.M. ACADEMICS St. Mary Parish second graders and their parents must attend a First Holy The first trimester of the 2017-2018 school year ends on Friday, December 1. Communion workshop on February Progress Reports will be distributed on Wednesday, December 6. 21, at 6:30 P.M. A GENTLE REMINDER

The Trimester I progress reports are scheduled to be distributed on Wednesday, ST. MARY PARISH MUSIC MINISTRY December 6. Please make sure that all your financial obligations (tuition through The St. Mary Parish Music Ministry is November, health & art fees, late fees, Phase I fundraiser, after-school care looking for more voices to enrich the through October, classroom fees, cafeteria expenses, etc.) are paid in full by that sound of the various Parish choirs at time. Otherwise, progress reports will be held until all financial obligations are weekend masses. If interested, please contact Trevor Rowland, met. Please refer to pages 50-51 of the handbook. Notifications will be sent [email protected]. home during the week of November 14 if you are still in arrears with anything at that time. C.H.E.R.I.S.H. FAMILY COMMITMENT HOURS Husbands and Wives! Join Rev. Collin The SMCS faculty and staff want to thank all our Poston and Rev. Matt Buening at the parents and grandparents who have been putting CHERISH married couples retreat on th in their volunteer hours. The extra help we are Saturday, Nov. 4 , from 5 – 9 PM at St. Mary Parish. CHERISH stands for receiving is truly amazing and very much Catholic Hearts Espoused Rejoice in appreciated! Please remember to log your hours Sacramental Hope and the theme of in HELPCOUNTER, the retreat is "Living Your Marriage (http://helpcounter.org/main/index.php). A Abundantly." Includes Saturday minimum of ten hours must be completed and Evening Vigil Mass at 5:15 PM, dinner logged in by midnight on Thursday, November 30. buffet, and more. Free-will donations accepted. RSVP by October 31 at Invoices for unfulfilled hours will be sent in cherishcouples.net or 301-797-6493. December.

Page 2 of 8

HOME & SCHOOL ASSOCIATION NEWS—H.S.A.

HSA EXECUTIVE BOARD

President: Mrs. Bella Barron Vice President: Mr. Jack Dill Corresponding Secretary: Mr. Jay Zuspan Recording Secretary: Ms. Aggie Cantave Bookkeeper: Mrs. Crystal Strother Treasurer: Mrs. April Nitzell

SMCS CASINO NIGHT AND SILENT AUCTION MANY HANDS MAKE LIGHT The SMCS Casino WORK VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Night and Auction The SMCS Volunteer Program hosted by our HSA continues to benefit our students was simply and our entire school community amazing! The HSA 1,679.17 volunteer hours have Executive been logged as of October 26! It is Committee (Bella, great having so many parents and Jack, Jay, Aggie, grandparents participating in the Crystal, and April), endless volunteer opportunities along with MJ that exist at SMCS and that are Sommerville, vital to the mission of our school. Stacey Stine, Thank you! Cassie Kinna, Our Top Ten Volunteers Candice Romsburg, per Hours Logged are: Kelly Byrne, Mo Bella Barron Tedeschi, and Carrie Stumpf, spent countless hours planning and organizing this April Nitzell spectacular event. Pangborn Hall, our cafeteria, was truly transformed. Everyone Cassandra Kinna who attended had a fabulous evening enjoying delicious food from 28 South, a Candice Romsburg cash bar, music, fabulous prizes, fun games, raffles, and silent and live auction Stacey Stine items. We appreciate all our guests who came out to support our SMCS Crystal Strother students. Jennifer & DJ Smallwood Keri & Jack Dill MARTINS A+ REWARDS Cathy Toothman MJ & Buddy Sommerville Please sign up for this great program that generates money and costs nothing to participate! Once you register, all you Remember to log into HelpCounter (http://helpcounter.org/main/index.php) need to do is shop and swipe your BONUS card every time you to track your hours. You will receive a shop. monthly summary from HelpCounter at the end of each month. Trimester I ends RUMMAGE SALE on December 1, so a minimum of 10 hours must be logged by midnight on The Rummage Sale was a great success, earning November 30, or notify the principal of $5,784.84. We appreciate Mrs. Mary Grove’s continued your plan to complete the required hours. dedication to SMCS. All the volunteers who made Questions can be emailed to [email protected]. donations, assisted with sales, worked in the kitchen, monitored our hallways, or helped with set-up and clean-up should be commended. This event not only earns money for our school but provides the community with a

Page 3 of 8

great service. If you were unable to help with October’s sale, please mark your calendars for our spring rummage sale on May 3, 2018, and become one of the SHIELD THE VULNERABLE rummage sale enthusiasts. The Archdiocese of Baltimore and Saint Mary Catholic School are committed to THANKSGIVING LUNCHEON providing a safe environment for children. Our procedures for volunteering Our Thanksgiving Lunch is scheduled for Tuesday, November 9. in schools require that a volunteer who Families are welcome to join in this SMCS tradition as we come will have substantial contact with together as a community and give thanks for all our blessings. The children must complete screening and deadline for reservations is November 1. Many thanks are training procedures that are outlined on extended to Jay Zuspan of 28 South for catering this special event. the www.archbalt.org website. The current and effective version of the Lunch Shift Schedule by last name: Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Child and Youth Protection Policies and Procedures, 11:00 A TO G 11:45 H TO O 12:30 P TO Z including the Statement of Policy for the Protection of Children &Youth and the SCRIP Code of Conduct for Church Personnel of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which Last year St. Mary families saved over $12,000 in tuition by incorporates any revisions to the participating in the SCRIP Program. SCRIP dates this month Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Child and are November 6, 13, and 27. Youth Protection Policies and Procedures that may be made from time to time, is available on the Child and Youth Protection page of the Archdiocese of MIDDLE SCHOOL SOCIAL Baltimore’s website and on the Middle School Social will be held from 3:00 to 4:30 on Archdiocese of Baltimore’s online compliance management system, Shield November 3. A dollar donation is required to help offset the Vulnerable. the cost of drinks and snacks. Please register as a St. Mary Catholic School Volunteer, at RESTAURANT NIGHT http://www.shieldthevulnerable.org/. All new volunteers should complete the HSA would like to thank all our families who participated in the restaurant night process as soon as possible. Please at Western Sizzlin. We also appreciate the Romsburg family for hosting this contact Jan McCarter, our screening coordinator, at fundraiser in support of SMCS. [email protected], or (301)739-0390, ext. 129, with any BAKE SALES questions or concerns. November 8: Eighth Grade Shield the Vulnerable training IS NOT complete until all parts of the process are November 15: Fifth Grade fulfilled including the background check. November 29: Kindergarten Just completing the online training itself DOES NOT fulfill the requirements for BOX TOPS Shield the Vulnerable. Thanks to Sister Corda, SMCS is able to profit from your BoxTops. Just send in the actual BoxTops to Sister Corda and she will take care of the rest. Remember to write your name on the envelope. Thank You!

Page 4 of 8

PIXIE SHOP With around the corner, Mrs. MJ Sommerville, assisted GENEROUS EVENT SPONSORS by many wonderful parent volunteer elves, will host the Pixie High Rollers ($1000) Shop on December 6, 7, and 8. Students from all grades will be Innovative invited to shop for those special people on their lists. Our Christine P. Lewis Varsity students (and staff) are always excited with the way the Gastroenterology The Parkway Neuroscience and Spine Monsignor Passarelli room looks like a real store filled with really Institute cool gifts at really low prices. A flyer is forthcoming. Jackpot Sponsors ($750) Antietam Broadband STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS Dixie Electric Full House Sponsors ($500) STUDENT COUNCIL OFFICERS St. James School Mercersburg Academy President: Matthew Stine St. Maria Goretti High School Vice President: Spencer Pentony Antietam Appraisals Secretary: Finn McGreevy Wantz Distributors Treasurer: Logan Flanagan Antietam Pediatrics Beachley Furniture

Parliamentarian: Ashley Kenny Doing Business Better Greene Turtle OCTOBER TAG DAY The Centers for Advanced Orthopedics Wild Cards ($250) Thank you is extended to all those students who supported the out-of-uniform Middletown Valley Bank day that benefitted Doey’s Hospice House of Washington County. $223.66 was Joel Rice Nationwide Insurance raised for this worthy cause. Students chose from a variety of colors to wear in The Columbia Bank order to show support of finding a cure for different forms of cancer. Digging & Rigging Rescue to Training North Paws CANNED FOOD DRIVE The McDermott Family Our student council is collecting cans of food The Tedeschi Family for the Hagerstown Food Bank from Century Sponsors ($100) The Nitzell Family November 13 through 16. Students who The Beck Family donate 3 canned goods will be able to come Dr. Shahid Mahmood Family Practice out of uniform on Tuesday, November 21. The theme for the TAG DAY is Psycho Billy Customs wear your favorite sports team jersey or shirt. The Barron Family The Strother Family READ-A-THON The Ndong-Cantave Family Lucky 7’s Club Sponsor On Wednesday, November 8, St. Mary Catholic School faculty St. Mary Catholic Church & Altar Society and students will read for 100 minutes in order to earn money Saint James Catholic Church Catholic Church to purchase Christmas gifts for needy families. Through total Saint Augustine Catholic Church school participation in this READ-A-THON, this worthy endeavor Saint Ann Catholic Church will enable our students to earn money that will be used to make this Christmas a Father Cibelli happier time for families adopted by each grade through the Salvation Army Father Jica Gibney Florist

Page 5 of 8

Angel program. Students will be receiving more information directly from their homeroom teachers. For now, just help your child gather enough good books to read for 100 minutes!

OTHER NEWSWORTHY ITEMS

MIDDLE SCHOOL SPELLING BEE

We are preparing for our annual SMCS Middle School Spelling Bee. Students were given a written test. From this test, eight to ten students from each grade (6th, 7th, and 8th) with the top scores are moving on to compete in the SMCS Spelling Bee, which will take place on November 21, at 8:30 A.M. From this contest, the top two students from each grade will move on to compete in the Washington County NATIONAL JUNIOR Spelling Bee. In addition, from the SMCS Spelling Bee, the top HONOR SOCIETY 6th, 7th, and 8th grade spellers will be named, plus an overall school champion will Our NJHS students have met both as be crowned, with prizes awarded to the top spellers in each grade and to the an executive committee and as a overall school champion! Thank you is extended to Mrs. Karn for organizing this whole group. Plans are underway for a contest! group t-shirt, which has been designed by several members. Eighth grade th 6 Grade Spelling Bee Contestants: Cardin Dang, Abigail Harman, Shanna Hall, students have submitted photos of Katelyn Hubbard, Ethan Knipple, Zachary Kumar, Mackenzie O’Berry, Henry Ortiz their service examples, and they are being turned into “Showcase Posters” th 7 Grade Spelling Bee Contestants: Phillip Aguila, Zachary Frey, Noah Karn, that will hang in the middle school Jesse Mangalapati, Connor McCardell, Spencer Pentony, Sofia Qaum, Lucy hallway – be sure to check them out Strama, and Daisy Zheng when you visit! We had a nice turnout of members who partnered with St. 8th Grade Spelling Bee Contestants: Ty Ambush, Daniel Duncan, Logan Flanagan, Ann’s Catholic Church for their fall Noah Hall, Saif Khan, Gabrielle McCafferty, Finn McGreevy, Rayan Shahid, and cleanup day, and once again, we are Zachary Zanetti going to be partnering with the American Red Cross to wrap presents DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME at Valley Mall! NJHS is signed up for a shift on Thursday, December 14, from Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, 3:30 to 6:00 P.M. Our NJHS members November 5, at 2:00 A.M. Remember to enjoy helping others! turn your clocks back one hour. NJHS EXECUTIVE BOARD

SMCS CROSS COUNTRY Daniel Duncan – President Noah Hall – Vice President The MD/DC Private Middle School Cross County Maxwell Larkin – Secretary Championship race will be held at the Landon School in Crownsville, MD, on November 2. SMCS runners, Susan Rayan Shahid – Treasurer Concordia, Lauren and Matthew Stine, and Sullivan and Zachary Zanetti – Parliamentarian Finn McGreevy will represent our school in this race. GO

CRUSADERS!

Page 6 of 8

SMCS KEYS FOR SUCCESS GOLD CELEBRATION

SMCS students celebrated receiving PBIS Gold Recognition for The SMCS Keys for

Success with balloons lining the fence, gold beads around their necks, and music blaring on the playground. Pre-K to eighth graders enjoyed dancing to popular tunes played by our DJ for the event, Adam Harbert. We appreciate Adam POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL donating his time to enable our students to celebrate this award. Thank you is INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS also extened to Ms. Balog for organizing another fun PBIS event! SMCS students have been earning keys SPECIAL ORDER FOR NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON T-SHIRTS throughout the month of October. We Place your order by Friday, November 10th, for your SPECIAL EDITION limited are truly blessed to have students who care about each other, who strive to SMCS National Blue Ribbon t-shirt. Order forms are being sent home with the excel in their academics, and who students. Each student will be provided a t-shirt at no charge as a thank you for greet each school day with a smile. being part of a National Blue Ribbon School. Parents, family, and friends may As of October 27, the Key Count for purchase a t-shirt for themselves or order an extra for your student for only $12 students by grade level is as follows: for youth sizes and $15 for adult sizes. This is a one-time printing. Do not miss out on this chance to own a piece of history! Pre-Kindergarten: 90 Keys PICTURE RETAKES Kindergarten: 239 keys

Lifetouch will be at SMCS on Friday, November 17, for picture retakes. If you First Grade: 397 keys would like your child’s picture retaken, please return the entire picture package Second Grade: 129 keys on that day. Students being photographed may come out of uniform following Third Grade: 205 keys the guidelines in the handbook. Fourth Grade: 104 keys Fifth Grade: 255 keys INCLEMENT WEATHER Sixth Grade:176 keys St. Mary Catholic School follows the announcement for Washington Seventh Grade: 166 keys County Public Schools. Please listen to your local radio stations or Eighth Grade: 242 keys NBC25 for possible school cancellations, late openings, or early dismissals. An email/text through Alert Solutions will be sent. A total of 2,003 keys has been earned CHRISTMAS SHOW DATES by SMCS students! WOW!!!!!

7:00 P.M. on December 14—Grades 2 through 5 Christmas Show 9:15 A.M. on December 15—Pre-Kindergarten Christmas Show 1:45 P.M. on December 15—First Grade Christmas Alphabet Play 1:45 P.M. on December 18—Kindergarten Christmas Show

Page 7 of 8

MUMMERS PARADE

Under the leadership of Mrs. Carrie Stumpf, SMCS had a float in the Alsatia Mummer’s Parade. Mrs. Stumpf had a stellar assembly team who constructed the float including Carrie and Dustin Stumpf, Cassandra Latimer, Cassie and Derrick Kinna, Anthony Echibe, Liz Ciucci, Jarid Gullickson, and Bella and Brad Barron. A special thank you is also extended to the Ambrose, Gullickson, Kinna, and Maciulla families for helping deconstruct the float at the end of the OCTOBER GOOD SAMS night. Thirteen adults and twenty students rode the float representing SMCS. I want to congratulate our Good The Honorable Governor Larry Hogan stopped by our float. Participating in this S.A.M.s for October: parade is a great way to let the community know about St. Mary Catholic School! Kindergarten – Monica Carroll First Grade – Isabella Martir-Lugo Second Grade – Dominic Corsi Third Grade – Corrina Byrne Fourth Grade – London Lawson Fifth Grade – Jonathan Shultz Sixth Grade – Evie Brauner Seventh Grade – Elise Bamforth Eighth Grade – Zofia Hochstrasser Thanks for your Service, Attitude, HEALTH NEWS and Manners!

Flu injections will be administered on November 20 to Pre-K to 5 PHASE I RAFFLE TICKET WINNERS students whose parents have signed consent forms. If you have any health-related questions, please contact Ms. Paula Radley at (301)733- Thank you is extended to Mrs. Jackie 1184, ext. 104, or by email, [email protected]. Swarner for coordinating this fundraiser and to Sister Aloysius for faithfully picking the winning ticket each week. PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL Congratulations to the following NEW ADORERS are needed for the Perpetual Adoration Chapel located at St. Maria Goretti High School. "The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament...will help October winners: bring about an everlasting peace on earth.” (Mother Teresa of Calcutta) Call Mr. or Mrs. ($50) Week 1: Brian Dankmeyer Ott for more information at 301-739-4167. ($50) Week 2: Denise Wilson IN YOUR PRAYERS ($50) Week 3: Audrey Horn Please remember Gloria Milagro Nolasco (grandmother of Diego, ($50) Week 4: Greg Maciulla Eric, and Nicholas Cabezas) who passed away this past month. ($100) Week 5: Dr. Phil Aguila May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Page 8 of 8