Dear Parents and Guardians,
Dear Parents and Guardians,
This coming Sunday we begin our annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week. The faculty and staff have met to discuss plans for each day and we're excited to celebrate ALL who make Catholic education a reality and a success.
Sunday: Celebrating Our Parishes
Students attend Mass in their uniforms. Please encourage your child to wear their school uniform to whichever Mass you attend.
Thank You’s from students in the bulletins.
Monday: Celebrating Your Community
Students will create thank you cards for the Fire, Police, EMS, Doctors, Veterans, Temple City Leaders, maternity shelter and Sheriff’s Department. Each class will choose a group in our community to celebrate.
Tuesday: Celebrating our Nation:
History lessons will focus on Our Nation and what we, as Americans, hold dear.
Wednesday: Celebrating Our Students and Parents/Guardians
Ice cream for all classes from the school
Coffee and Donuts in the cul de sac and in the front. Stop by for a yummy donut and coffee from our Student Council and NJHS.
Thursday: Celebrating our Vocations
Vocation Mass at 8:15 with Holy Trinity High School
Student Confessions
Friday: Celebrating Our Faculty and Staff
Please see email from Mrs. Ghergherehchi below my letter.
If you have walked past my office, I am sure you have seen the chocolate located there. There is still a great deal left, which is unusual for this far into the chocolate sale. I know that last year we had an incentive of free dress. However, Father Kurtis would prefer our students wear their uniforms. We have been brainstorming other incentive ideas and feel we have a great one. Ms. Giannotti has outlined the logistics below.
Each year the Diocese sends us guidelines for budgeting purposes. We call these the Assumptions, and they include such line items as increases in: cost of living, health insurance, liability insurance, and workman's compensation. Other areas we address from in-house information are increases in: salaries, student expenses, development expenses, maintenance and utilities. Once we have these in hand we begin the budgeting process. We can not determine tuition until all line items in the budget have been entered.
I was anticipating the determination of tuition for the 2022-2023 school year by the end of the month, but we have not received the information from the Diocese at this time. We do have our in-house information so once the Assumptions arrive we will begin. Until this process is complete tuition for 2022-2023 cannot be finalized. You can anticipate a 3%-5% increase.
If you find that you are in need of tuition assistance to help you with the cost of tuition, Tuition Assistance applications will be open on February 28th. More information on this process will be provided before then. If you have logged onto FACTS Grant Management, and tried to apply, please call Ms. Giannotti. The system may have taken your information but it was not in fact ready.
I have noticed that not all families have signed up for the Remind emergency notification system. Please, if you have not signed up, it is so important that you do, especially if you do not check emails regularly. If I need to reach parents for an emergency or a very important notice I will use Remind and an email. The directions are below.
Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Wyles
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Remind Information
This year we will continue using the emergency notification system Remind.com. We will use this system for important messages only, such as school closures. You must sign up for this on your phone. Please see the directions below. These directions are also on the website under Important Information. If you signed up last year you are still active. However, we did go through and update the listings. Some who may not have had complete profile information, may have been deleted. Please check on your status. Thanks to our new families who have already signed up. We will have a practice notification Friday, September 3rd.
Signing up for Remind.com
Sign up for Text Alerts to keep you updated about school events, schedule changes, or unexpected situations (such as ice days)
St. Mary's Catholic School Class Code Is @smcste
If you have a smartphone, get push notifications. On your iPhone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to the following link: rmd.at/smcste. Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You’ll be prompted to download the mobile app.
iPhone Users:
Use the Remind: Fast, Efficient School, Remind 101 (requires IOS 9.0 or later and requires 59.2 MB) Download the app. Use your phone number or email address (preferably attached to the school as a contact, or google) and follow the steps. Remember to scroll down and select St. Mary’s Catholic School Temple
If you already have a remind account Join the class, “smcste”
Android Users:
Use the Remind: Simple Classroom Communication App. Download the app.
You will have to allow access or it will freeze up on you and not work (it is a windows phone, needs permissions to access everything, you will not be hacked). Join the class, “smcste”
Remember to scroll down to the St. Mary’s Catholic School Temple (about 5th one down)
If you don’t have a smartphone, get text notifications. Text the message @smcste to the number 81010. If you’re having trouble with 81010, try texting @smcste to (512) 351-3848. * Standard text message rates apply.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
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Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
The SMCS PAC is putting together a special day to thank the Faculty and Staff. Please click on the link to get more information.
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Information Link
Paypal Link: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8GyTi7mrv2
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Chocolate Raffle
Thank you to all those who have been participating in our World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser, but we still have plenty of chocolate left.
For every box of chocolate sold, your name will be entered into a drawing to win one of three holiday themed raffle baskets!
Themes will include:
- Mardi Gras Basket
- Easter Basket
- Summertime Basket
This fundraiser is not mandatory but a great way to help support the school. All proceeds from the sale go to our general operating fund. This is also one of two major fundraisers to help those who received tuition assistance fulfill their obligation of helping refill that fund.
Stop by the office to check out your boxes!
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Free Throw Contest Results
The following the students participated in the Free Throw Contest
Colin Hawkins
Devansh Katragadda
Siana Schoepf
Eli Kuriger
William Baker
Reno Schoepf
Thomas Adams
Matthew Hannon
The following moved onto regional in Buda on the 6th of February.
Devansh Katragadda
Siana Schoepf
Eli Kuriger
William Baker
Matthew Hannon
Harper Lee
Congratulations to all!!!
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Save these Dates and Help us Spread the Good News at all Masses
We know that word of mouth is the best advertiser there is. So as we begin 2022, we will be spreading the good news of St. Mary’s to families who are seeking quality Catholic Education in the Classical Tradition. We ask for your help.
Father Kurtis will be sharing the good news of St. Mary’s to the parishioners of our neighboring parishes. He is asking, as are we, for help from our parents, faculty and staff, grandparents and students to help him share this good news.
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February 5th and 6th at Christ the King Church in Belton
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February 12th and 13th at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Temple
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February 26th and 27th at St. Luke Church in Temple
Please let Ms. Giannotti know where/when you can help (mgiannotti@stmarys-temple.org). It is very important that we share with others the opportunity to join our family.
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Sacrament Information
St. Mary’s School Parents, if you are parishioners of St. Mary Parish and your child has yet to celebrate Baptism or Holy Communion, please contact Patricia St. Amour at the Parish Office for information about your child celebrating either Sacrament or any other questions you may have. 254-773-4541 or patricia.stamour@stmarytempletx.org. If you attend a different Catholic Church contact your parish’s Parish Office. Thank You!
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PSIA News
We are so excited to host this year’s District 6A Meet at St. Mary’s. The meet will be on our campus on Saturday, March 26th. Because we are the host school, there will be much preparation above and beyond the coaching aspects. I will be asking for parent volunteers and hope that you will help us create a successful event. Coaches will be asked to submit final names at the end of January. Please ensure your student is attending practices and completing assigned work.
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Classroom Spotlight: This week is Kindergarten
Kindergarten's Latin lesson this week was all about making friends. To help them out, they learned a song in Latin to introduce themselves and ask friends their names.
Click the link and use the lyrics below to follow along with Kindergarten!
Quid est tuum praenomen-Tell me what your name is
Meum praenomen est - My name is _____
https://youtu.be/ZpUZNprsKFc
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Yearbook Sale and AD information
SMCS Yearbooks are on sale. Please click the link to purchase your yearbook. Yearbook ADs are on sale until January 31st. To purchase and AD please go to www.balfour.com to purchase an AD directly from Balfour. Click on the link below for yearbook prices and information.
https://forms.gle/yAYywaaiZaQyEazF8
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EIM Information
All parents and guardians who want to volunteer at St. Mary's Catholic School must be EIM compliant. All information regarding EIM can be found on our website ( https://stmarys-temple.org/ethics-and-integrity-ministry-eim ). If you have a specific question about EIM or your your EIM status please contact Mrs. Cayce at dcayce@stmarys-temple.org
**EIM workshops are in seat only**
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Important Dates to Remember
Fri. Jan. 28th
8th graders to visit Holy Trinity Catholic High School
Sun. Jan. 30th
Catholic Schools Week begins
Mon. Jan 31st
Yearbook AD Sale Ends
Tues. Feb. 1st
8th Grade to St. Joseph Catholic Academy
Looking Ahead
February 1st-4th - Catholics Schools Week
February 7th-25th - Winter Testing - Information to come
February 9th (Wednesday) - Spring Conferences - No School
February 14th (Monday) Inclement Weather Day - No School
February 27th (Sunday) Annual SMCS Open House
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