September 9, 2022

Parent Memo

From Ms. Lorie

St. Mary’s Grade School

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Friday, September 9

Dear St. Mary’s Families:

It is hard to believe that fall is upon us and soon we will be looking towards Homecoming events and Halloween! Please see the reminders and notes below to keep up to date on upcoming events. Next Friday, Sept 16, has been changed to a Tech Day because our faculty will be participating in professional development. Students will be given assignments to complete at home.

Notes of Interest:

Grandparents Mass: Thank you to all of the families that participated in our Grandparents Day celebration today! It was wonderful to host so many grandparents at our mass and share one of the many things that make attending St. Mary’s Grade School so special. A big thank you to the following people:

Father Chris Turner for leading our mass while Father Casey is out of town this week,

Rose of Sharon for their generous flower donation that allowed our students to honor their grandmothers today, and

Pam Leonard for suggesting, organizing and hosting this special event.

We are blessed beyond measure.

Tuition Assistance Program: All families who received assistance from Phase II and III have been notified by email. Adaire Snyder, the finance officer, has been notified of awards. Please contact her if you have questions at 304-517-9519.

COVID-19 Protocols

The following procedures for COVID-19 are in place for this year. The school will not be conducting contact tracing at this time. Please note, all protocols regarding COVID-19 are subject to change.

Masks are optional
If a student tests positive for COVID-19, please contact the office as soon as possible.
If a student tests positive, he/she must stay home for 5 days. The student may return to school on day 6 if he/she has been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and symptoms are improving.
A student who tests positive must wear a well-fitting mask on days 6 through 10.
While the school will not be conducting contact tracing, we encourage families to monitor students for symptoms if they have a known exposure to COVID-19.

Summer Reading Challenge: Winners announced soon!!!

21-22 Yearbooks: We have Yearbooks from last year available for sale from the office. The cost is $15. You may send cash or check made payable to St. Mary’s in an envelope and we will send a Yearbook home with your child.

Keepers: Please send SNACK with your child if they attend the afterschool program.

PUMPKIN DROP DONATIONS:

Parents/Guardians-

Saint Mary’s Grade school will be hosting our annual pumpkin drop in the back parking lot of our school on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 9 a.m. Families are invited to watch!

We are in need of the following:

Tents (will be returned)

Donations of bottled water
Donations of snacks (any pre-packaged items will work!)
Parent volunteers to help during the event

If you are able to help in any way, please contact Mrs. Morris at armorris@stmaryswv.org. As always, we are grateful for your continued generosity and support!

Blessings,

Rosie Morris

SMS Science Teacher

Tech Day: September 16 is an added Tech Day for students. Out faculty will be participating in professional development that day. Students will have school work that will need to be completed at home and returned to school.

T-Shirt Orders: Uniform approved SMS t-shirts (worn during summer uniform) and crewneck sweatshirts are available through the HandS (Home and School) organization. Order forms were sent home in student folders. Last call for orders is Monday, September 12. Call Natalie (304.629.3379) or Carisa (304.838.2323) with any questions. Items will be delivered around three weeks.

Service Projects:

Below is a message from Emma and Nico Yates’ mother, Kary. She is requesting our help as she embarks on helping her friends. I know our support will be a blessing for many.

Book Drive: The small town of Whitesburg Kentucky is home to our family; where Nico was born and where Emma took her first steps. The devastation caused by the flood is immeasurable, our friends are struggling to rebuild. Kids remain home at this time as teachers, volunteers and parents help clean up schools that were submerged. Kids will see empty library shelves and classroom bookcases when they return to their schools. I am hoping we can lend a helping hand by sharing our love of reading; we will be collecting and personally delivering books to Martha Jane Potter Elementary School and Whitesburg Elementary and Middle School. It is a great time to make extra room for our upcoming Book Fair by donating your used books to a great cause. Please send books by September 23^rd.

Our school has a huge heart and I know our Kentucky friends will thank you! “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss

Empty Bowls for Harrison County: Harrison County 4-H invites you to the Empty Bowl Soup-er Luncheon on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at the First United Methodist Church from 11:00am to 2:30pm. Tickets are:

$15 with a bowl

$10 without a bowl

$5 child under 5 without a bowl

Call 304-624-8650

Elizabeth.skidmore@mail.wvu.edu

Benefits The Mustard Seed and The Clarksburg Mission

A Note From HandS:

OH no, I missed the first HandS meeting!!! Don’t be discouraged – please just complete the membership form that was sent home this week in the student folders along with your $10 membership fee. Remember to include your best ideas on the form! We will work together to make good things happen for our school.

If you have any questions, contact Natalie at 304.629.3379. The agenda from this week’s meeting is also attached below. Text Natalie if you would like to assist with any upcoming events listed.

******CALENDAR ******

Watch for changes each week!

Upcoming Dates and Events:

September 16: Tech Day- students work from home

September 22: Mid-term Progress Reports go home

September 23: Pumpkin Drop at school, 9:00 am. This event is open to families.

Books due for Book Drive for Kentucky

September 25- October 1: Homecoming Week

September 29: Homecoming Mass at 1:00, Formal Uniforms, Families invited to attend

September 30: Homecoming Parade in Clarksburg

October 7-14: Scholastic Book Fair

October 10: Tech Day- students work from home