Week in Review:
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Week 1 is in the books, and it was so wonderful to see your amazing children in our building. It made all of our hearts very happy to see the children in the classroom and every teacher commented that seeing them and their engagement in the class was the highlight of their week. Teachers were teaching lots of new and important protocols and procedures to make their classrooms and our school as safe and clean as possible. Washing hands, physical distancing, and reading people’s feelings behind a mask were just some of the things our teachers and students were doing. Teachers worked hard to make these activities fun and engaging, and our students happily and willingly participated. I know that by working together, this will be one of St. Mary’s best years!
As we move into Week #2, I want to share some information about the upcoming MAP testing. MAP tests are produced and delivered through the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). This is a non-profit organization that works to accurately assess students all over the world. If you would like to learn more about this organization, please click HERE. MAP, or the Measure of Academic Progress, is a computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child’s academic growth. In weeks #2 and #3, all of the students (except PreK) in the building will participate in MAP testing. The results from these tests will provide a baseline for teachers to help them develop lessons and learning opportunities that help each student maximize their potential. I realize that MAP testing is earlier than in years past, but we wanted to get some early data due to their extended absences from schools due to COVID-19.
Continue to stay plugged in by looking at the weekly slideshow. It has been a long time since we have seen their smiling faces. Click HERE to see the photos.
Need to Know:
- Change to Back to School Night: Due to the current status of the COVID-19 pandemic, we will be changing our Back to School Night to a virtual platform. It was originally scheduled for this coming Tuesday, August 25th. Although we will be changing the format, we still want to get the same information to you. The teachers and I will be creating welcome videos for families by introducing ourselves, showing off the classrooms, and sharing some important information about their class. These videos will be shared with families via email on Friday August 28th in the teachers’ weekly email that contains their class newsletter. My hope and prayer are that when conditions are better, we will be able to do an Open House sometime in the Fall.
- Clean Water Bottle and Mask: Please be sure to send your child to school with a clean water bottle and a clean mask. We are trying to do everything we can to keep our school and our students as clean and safe as possible.
- MAP Testing: We will be starting our MAP testing this week for all students coming to school and we will finish on September 3rd. For those students participating in our Distance Learning option, we will contact you individually about remote MAP testing.
Nice to Know:
- Used Uniform Swap: Friday August 28th from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm we will have our used uniforms in front of the school. Feel free to drop off your clean uniforms that you no longer need and see if there is anything that would work for your children. We are not excepting donations or payments for them, so take what you need!
PTO Corner:
- School Lunches: The PTO has some HUGE news to share with you regarding our lunch program. We have had many conversations about how to take our lunch program and make it easier for parents, teachers and students. We are thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with 3 Girls Catering to bring delicious, healthy meals that appeal to our parents and students alike. 3 Girls locally sources their produce and other ingredients whenever possible. This will lead to a big change in the way we place orders. Your lunch order will need to be completed each Wednesday for the following week. All ordering and paying will also take place on 3 Girls Website. Each day will offer a main meal (these include items like grilled chicken wraps, burritos, hamburgers on house made buns and so much more). You will then be able to add on items including a side dish, veggies, fruit and dessert! Plus there is a GLUTEN FREE and VEGETARIAN option each day!The menu may look strange because our kids are only in school 2 days a week! You will want to order either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday. If you have any questions please email me at meghan_goodwin13@hotmail.com SUBJECT- LUNCH ORDER.
Important Dates (Right around the Corner):
- August 24 – September 3 MAP Testing
- August 25 Back to School Night (Canceled and changing to a virtual format)
The complete School Calendar can be found on the Home Page or on the Parents Quick Links Page. To have an event added to our School Calendar, email us at calendar@stmarys-boise.org.
Important Dates (On the Horizon):
- September 7 Labor Day (No School)
- September 9 Student Mass (First Mass of the school year) at 8:30 am
The complete School Calendar can be found on the Home Page or on 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 on 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:
- I try to share some insightful and funny quotes from our young minds. They are priceless. Stay tuned…
