Weekly Newsletter – August 16, 2024
Dear Parents,
We start tomorrow! It is mind blowing to consider we are through the summer and back to school. It is shaping up to be an exciting and positive year already.
At the start of the year, it is important we reflect on the mission of St. Mary’s.
Our mission:
St. Mary’s School is to provide a Catholic environment that instills academic excellence while preparing the whole child for life-long personal and spiritual growth, empowering them to become global citizens.
As with any school year, it will feel frantic as we adjust our habits and patterns for life with school. The students, families, and teachers may have moments of exhaustion and a feeling of being overwhelmed. We will work together to help each other through this transitional time.
Our first day, August 15, is a half day and a Mass day. We will begin the day at 8:00 am in the cafeteria for Prayer Square. You are always welcome to join us for prayer. We will have Mass at 8:30. August 15th is the feast of the assumption, a holy day of obligation. You are welcomed to join us for Mass tomorrow and eerie Wednesday thereafter.
YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO JOIN US AT SCHOOL – WE LOVE HAVING FAMILIES AROUND
Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten will start Monday August 19th – They will have a half a day on the 19th as they get adjusted to school. Pre-Kindergarten will start the year with half days on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Please plan on attending our Back to School night Tuesday, August 20th from 6:00-7:30. Please come to hear about our goals and dreams for the upcoming year and meet your students’ teachers. PTO will be there to talk about the events for the year.
We are also excited about our bi-lingual Mass and Back to School Bash on August 24th. Please plan on attending the student-led Mass at 5:00 pm, followed by the Back to School Bash at 6:00 pm sponsored by the PTO.
In addition to our St. Mary’s Special Events, this year we are celebrating our 75th anniversary as a school. St. Mary’s School has been an important part of the Boise and Catholic community since 1949. We are in the process of planning a number of special events to recognize and celebrate this milestone which not only includes our current families and parish, but the thousands of alumni who had their lives shaped by being a Spartan. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Important Pick Up Information – Friday, August 16 – On Friday the parking lot is being re-striped. The plan provides a better traffic pattern and allows for most spots. Unfortunately, the work is happening during the school day. For pick up, we are requesting parents enter the alley from the Church side (East side). We will have the students lined up behind the school for speedy loading.
Please mark your calendars for important dates:
- August 15 – First day of School – 1st through 8th (Mass dress) – Noon Release
- August 19 – First day of School – Pre-K and Kindergarten. Half day for them, full day for everyone else – Pre Kindergarten will also have a half day on August 20th and 21st – Everyone else is full time.
- August 20 – 6:00-7:30 pm – Back to School Night –
- August 24 – 5:00 pm – Student led Mass, Bilingual
- August 24 – 6:00 pm – Back to School Bash – Sponsored by the PTO following Mass
Important Announcements and Events:
- Partnership Page – St. Mary’s School is starting a new page on our website to highlight businesses in our community. If you are looking for local businesses for reasons ranging from carpet cleaning, mortgage lending or even auto purchases, please check out our partnership page first. I would encourage you to mark the page as a favorite to review the business listing as needed. If you are interested in having your business highlighted, please submit your information through the webpage.
- Calendar- 2024-25 – We have been working at completing the calendar for the upcoming year. In addition to our special events, you can view other activities including first day of school, breaks, etc on the school website
God bless.
Kevan Grant
St. Mary’s Catholic School- Principal
Other Items of Interest
- St. Mary’s & Niche – Niche is the top online school search platform in the country. St. Mary’s subscribed to the platform in October of 2023. Each month Niche has a $1000 sweepstakes to families, alumni, or students willing to complete a review of the school. Click here to leave a review and enter the sweepstakes.
- 13 Reasons to Send Your Kids to Catholic Schools – If you are out and about and want to share with friends and family reasons to send your child to a Catholic school, here you go…
- Get your Uniforms and Spirit Wear from Educational Outfitters
