Middle School News - 9/6/23
08.23.2023
SMCS MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
September 6, 2023
Message from Mr. Dahlberg, MS Dean of Students
Hello Families!
We are so glad to be back and are off to a great start this school year. With our all system Mass on Friday, we will return to our school Mass again next Wednesday. We wanted to take this time to formally invite you to celebrate the Eucharist with us on Wednesdays at 9:40. In order to celebrate with us, we ask that you please enter the FAEC doors rather than the front doors of the High School. The door will be unlocked close to 9:40 for our students to walk over. We also ask that when you enter, you sign the white binder that should be on the ticket counter. If it isn't out, please ask Mr. Conner or Mr. Dahlberg. You should sit on the left side of the auditorium facing the stage. When you leave, please sign the binder again to say that you are leaving. We really hope you join us and look forward to partnering with you in the faith formation of your children.
School Safety Information
The safety of our students is the top priority at all SMCS schools. Our administrators and safety team worked this summer to create Standard Response Protocol (SRP) across all campuses. While partnering with local police and fire departments, local high schools, and the "I love U Guys" Foundation, SMCS have launched standard language and response that all users and supporting agencies are familiar with. Please look for our safety posters as you visit our campuses. Additional information can be found here: https://iloveuguys.org.
Picture Ordering Information
A reminder to order your school pictures today. The deadline to order is quickly approaching,and if your order is not received within the first seven days following picture day your order may be delayed by up to eight weeks.
Your child received paperwork explaining how to view images online and order with their school password and student specific reference number. Here is that information again:
PASSWORD: STMARYNMS2023
REFERENCE NUMBER: FOUND ON THE SHEET RECEIVED AT PICTURE DAY
If you do not know your child’s reference number fill out the reference request form to have it emailed to you within one business day.
If you are unable to order online please contact Harmann Studios' customer care team and they will work with you to place an order in an alternative way.
Harmann Studios, 1-800-236-8910, customercare@harmann.com
Picture Retake Day: Friday, October 13 at 12:30
PowerSchool Access
All school forms, student schedules, and student grades are in the parent account of PowerSchool. Parents must have an updated and active PowerSchool account to sign and acknowledge forms, as well as access student schedules and student grades: https://gbdioc.powerschool.com/public/. The SMCS district code is MNJQ.
PowerSchool is our primary resource for emergency numbers and mailing addresses for important school documents. We are asking every family to log into their parent account in PowerSchool to view and sign all school documents. If you do not have a parent account, please create an account. PowerSchool can be accessed online and/or by downloading the PowerSchool app.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Martha Barraza at mbarraza@smcatholicschools.org.
Important Scrip Reminders
Please make sure the delivery method on your purchase order lists the school/parish you want your Scrip to go to. This is especially important for parents of 6th & 9th grade students who may need to change delivery to a different campus! If you need to change the delivery location to another campus, email Liz Uhlenbrauck at luhlenbrauck@smcatholicschools.org.
Scrip orders are now going to your preferred school-year delivery location. The next delivery will be September 14. Don't forget, all orders need to be placed online by 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning for pick up on Thursday, except those eCards or Reloads paid online. Those are available within minutes of purchasing, any day, any time!
Service Hours Requirement Update
Service hours are now faith involvement hours! Why did this change? Our mission at St. Mary Catholic Middle School is to form faithful disciples of Jesus. We want our students to engage in encounters with Jesus and others. As part of this mission, students are required to submit a minimum of 12 faith involvement hours a year (at least three per school quarter) as part of the requirements for religion class. Students submit hours in religion class using the faith involvement hour form. Students will earn bonus points in religion class for the completion of these hours.
What is a faith involvement hour?
Faith involvement hours include community service, along with participating in events that help you grow in your faith. Students can complete any combination of community service and faith activities hours.
What is not a faith involvement hour?
Service projects for a curricular class or in the leadership group do not qualify. Chores or babysitting siblings also do not qualify. Any required school retreats do not qualify.
Examples of Community Service
Help out at Mass by serving, singing in the choir, or reading
Help out at parish events
Serve the needy in the community at a food pantry or a nursing home
Participate in a mission trip
Help out at school system events
Examples of Faith Activities
Retreats (non-school)
Youth Ministry Events
Small Groups or Bible Studies
Parish Missions
Youth Conferences
What if my son or daughter completed community service or attended faith activities this summer?
Students can submit service or faith activities completed during the 2023 summer break by filling out the new faith involvement hours form!
VEX/VEXIQ
The MS and HS VEX/VEXIQ kick off meeting will be Wednesday, September 6 from 6-7pm in the Fine Arts Center. All registered and interested students/parents are encouraged to attend. This is an informational meeting to start the VEX/VEXIQ season.
Builder's Club (Service Club)
Builder's Club is our SMCMS service club sponsored by the Kiwanis Club. Students are invited to join as we live out our faith through service this school year! Most meetings will be on the first Tuesday of the month afterschool from 3:30 - 4:30. Our first meeting will be next Tuesday, September 12 in Room 208B.
Mark your calendars for:
September 12
October 3
November 7
December 5
Contact Maria Schmitz with any questions at mschmitz@smcatholicschools.org
Art "Fab Lab"
St. Mary Catholic Middle School's Art "Fab Lab" will start meeting Wednesdays after school. If you love art and want to have the opportunity to make cool projects with your art teacher and some of your schoolmates throughout the year, join us! The first meeting will be on September 20th. Meetings will start at 3:30 and end at 4:30. If you are interested in joining, please submit the $25 club fee to Mrs. Fieber in the office with a note saying it's for the Art Club. However, you must sign up quickly if you are interested. We can only have 20 students at most in Fab Lab. God Bless!
- Mrs. Carmany
Adoration at the Middle School
We are excited to bring our students to adoration on a monthly basis, but we need your help! Are you able to take an hour to spend with Jesus on Thursday, September 21? Sign up here.
Zephyrs Connect 2023
Zephyrs Connect 5K and Kids Fun Run
Join us on October 6 for Zephyrs Connect! This community run/walk raises funds for St. Mary Catholic Schools’ athletics, Booster Club, Fine Arts, and STEM, as well as supporting our five parishes (St. Gabriel Parish, St. John Parish, St. Margaret Mary Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Patrick Parish). It begins and finishes at St. Mary Catholic High/Middle School.
T-shirts available for pickup at event check-in. Prices increase after September 4 and participants are NOT guaranteed a t-shirt after that date.
Paid registration fee includes entry to the St. Mary Catholic High School varsity football game for the participant who signed up for the Fun Run/Walk or Kids Fun Run. Paid Kids Fun Run registration fee includes the 5K run/walk event for the participant who signed up for the Kids Fun Run.
Sign up for the event here.
After School Care
After School Care services are available for our middle school students. If your child is still awaiting pick up at 3:30 PM, they will be placed in our After School Care program, which costs $5.50 per hour per child.
Please use this link if your middle school child needs after school care, available 3:30-5:30.
Lunch Volunteers
We are in need of 1-2 volunteers for lunch duty each day to serve food, sanitize tables, and help with general lunchroom tasks. It is fun and easy to learn! No previous experience needed, must be Virtus trained.
New this year: Receive 1 free out of dress code pass the first time you volunteer. You will also receive 1 free out of dress code pass for every third time you volunteer after that. You can share that pass with any middle school student of your choice.
Virtus Training for Volunteers
We are so grateful to all our volunteers who contribute so much to our schools! If you are considering volunteering or chaperoning any school field trips or events, please complete Virtus training, a background check, and the code of conduct through the Diocese Green Bay. Visit our Volunteer Hub to get started.
Important Dates...
Wednesday, September 6: VEX/VEXIQ Kickoff Meeting 6-7pm (FAEC)
Friday, September 8: All System Mass | 9am (Zephyrs Spirit Wear); 7th & 8th grade teambuilding in the afternoon
Tuesday, September 12: First Builder's Club Meeting 3:30-4:30
Wednesday, September 13: Liturgy Day
Wednesday, September 20: Liturgy Day; First Art Fab Lab 3:30-4:30
Thursday, September 21: Adoration at the Middle School
Friday, September 22: No School
Friday, September 29: Homecoming Parade
Friday, October 6: Zephyrs Connect
Friday, October 13: Picture Retake Day
Helpful Links
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcatholicschools
Instagram: www.instagram.com/smcszephyrs
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Zephyr_Sports