St. Mary’s Spotlight: September 2, 2022

Week in Review:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Another successful week here at St. Mary’s!  Our students started their MAP assessments and everything seemed to go smoothly.  Please remember that we will be finishing our MAP assessments next week, so be sure to have your kiddos get lots of rest and come to school well rested and fed!

On Wednesday of this week, we were treated to a wonderful School Mass where our 7th-grade students did an amazing job helping out with the various Mass roles. Many thanks to Mrs. Bernal and the 7th-grade class who helped make our School Mass so meaningful! We also had the pleasure of seeing the many hot air balloons flying above the school at the end of the week which reminded me of the amazing events that take place in the Boise area and how blessed we are to be in a place with so much to offer.

In the warm/hot weeks ahead, please talk to your children to make sure that they are bringing and drinking lots of water throughout the school day.  We will continue to have various water breaks for our students because a well-hydrated child is in a much better place to be engaged and learn.  In addition to students’ physical needs, be sure to check in with your student(s) to see how their year is going and learn more about their start to the school year from an emotional perspective.  Like adults, students experience a wide range of emotions, and it is extremely beneficial that they have someone at home with a listening ear and an empathetic heart.  Parents can learn so much from simple open-ended questions that start deeper conversations.  This will help parents to be the most informed advocates for their children.  If there is anything that we can do here at school to make the entire learning experience better, please let us know.

See you all at Prayer Square!

Need to Know:

• Peaches, Peaches, PEACHES:
  The 5th and 6th-grade classes are selling peaches this year to raise money for their week at the MOSS camp in October 2022! Click HERE to view the flyer, order some tasty peaches, and support our students’ trip to MOSS.
• In-Person Safe Environment Training at School:
  On Thursday, September 8th, we will be holding a Safe Environment training at the school from 6:00-8:00 pm.  If you want to be a volunteer at our school, you must first complete an in-person Safe Environment training and a background check.  Please go to https://boise.cmgconnect.org/ create an account, and register for the event. If you have any questions, contact the school.
• Where does the school need volunteer help?:
  Currently, the school would love to have volunteers to help with Morning Recess, Lunch, and Lunch Recess.  If you are interested in helping with these, please contact the school.

 Nice to Know:

• School Lunches:
  If you are interested in ordering lunch or milk for your child, please click HERE and follow the instructions.  If you have questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the school.
• 4:00 pm Sunday Family Mass:
  The 4:00 pm Sunday Family Mass has been a successful addition to the Parish Mass lineup and will become a permanent fixture at St. Mary’s.  All are welcome, and we hope that lots of families will find this Mass a welcoming and calm environment to worship together with their children.

PTO Corner:

• Raise Right Fundraising Program:
  This incredible eGift card program pays back directly to the school PTO. Invitations went out to families Thursday via email. Flyers are coming home in folders soon. Follow this LINK to sign-up or learn more. St. Mary’s enrollment code is N6KQVMCPNFV9.
• Volunteer Opportunities:
  In the coming weeks, the PTO will be sharing their calendar of events as well as opportunities for families to volunteer.  Please look for information coming from the PTO.  Also, the school will be sending out information about how families can volunteer at the school and the training that needs to be completed to volunteer at school. Stay tuned!
• Next PTO meeting:
  Please join us for our next PTO meeting. The next PTO meeting will be on Wednesday, September 21st from 6:30-7:30 pm.  Click on the Zoom link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84496674504

Important Dates (Right around the Corner):

• Sept. 5             Labor Day (No School)
• Sept. 7             School Mass (Corpus Christi-Please bring toiletries for donation)

Important Dates (On the Horizon):

• Sept. 14           School Mass (Time)
• Sept. 25           Oktoberfest @ School (More details to come)

The complete School Calendar can be found on the Home Page or the Parents Quick Links Page. To have an event added to our School Calendar, email us at calendar@stmarys-boise.org.

Strategic Plan Updates

Click here to see the most recent updates on the Strategic Plan Projects, including the West Side Grounds Project, The Interior Project, and the Community Directory Project. We are currently looking for volunteers for these and other key initiatives. Whether you’re interested in helping lead a small project, or just have a few hours to help, please complete this quick form and we’ll contact you shortly about whatever you’re most interested in.

Wisdom from Our Young Scholars:

• From one of our 2nd graders: “What do you call a dog with a sweater? I Chili dog!” I love our students’ sense of humor