.We.Are.Cougar.
The Nerve Center of All Things 8th Grade
Grad Week and All Those Memories
It's hard to believe that your children are nearing the end of their elementary school journey! I am so grateful to have been a small part of it. I learned so much about myself as you allowed me to restart my love affair with Catholic schools by entrusting your children in my care.
Here are some of the last few precious moments that you will want to make a note of:
Students may wear their High School Sweatshirts to school starting tomorrow.
Friday, May 27 | A Day of Reflection & Capstone Presentations
Come to school at 8A ready to reflect and find joy in every moment. Dismissed at 3P.
DRESS: Come in business attire for presentations. Bring a change of clothes to appropriate, Catholic elementary school beach wear with appropriate cover up. No see-through or thin, solid white tops or clothes that might be sensitive to washable color. If wearing shorts: long board shorts, Bermuda shorts, or athletic shorts (at least 7" inseam). Students may change once they have presented.
BRING: bean bags, large pillows to sit upon while in the gym. Change of clothes (above) and a towel for the end of the day.
FOOD: Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be served. Students may still get burritos if they pre-ordered that for lunch. Mrs. Chavez has coupons for students to claim ice cream during lunch as well.
ACTIVITIES: There will be activities throughout the morning that will give students a chance to look back, look ahead, and engage in conversation, as well as just hang-out with friends and share in the wisdom of the youth and young adults joining us that day. In the afternoon, they will have outdoor activities that involve some water play.
CAPSTONE PRESENTATIONS: We will record them and share them with you. I will share the schedule with you under separate cover.
Monday, May 30 | Memorial Day - No School
For all the events below, see "The Final Countdown" document in SchoolSpeak.
Tuesday, May 31 | 8 - Noon
DRESS: Appropriate Fee Dress.
BRING: Girls bring graduation shoes. Any school textbooks to return. Yearbooks.
ACTIVITIES: Finalize mass plans, practice for Baccalaureate Mass, check books in.
Wednesday, June 1 | 8 - Noon
DRESS: Appropriate Free Dress. High School Sweatshirts.
BRING: Girls bring graduation shoes. Yearbooks.
ACTIVITIES: 8th Grade Farewell Assembly. Baccalaureate Mass practice.
Thursday, June 2 | 8 - Noon
DRESS: Appropriate formal attire.
BRING: Pressed graduation gowns in hangers with names/ID tags. Gowns will stay at school after Baccalaureate Mass.
ACTIVITIES: Baccalaureate Mass at 9. Practice for Graduation follows.
SEATING: Parents will have reserved seating right behind the Graduates' pews and the first few rows on the left-most section facing the sanctuary.
Thursday, June 2 | 6 - 10P
DRESS: Appropriate attire.
ACTIVITY: Awards Dinner/Dance. Hors d'oeuvres, Autobiography display and family photos.
Friday, June 3 | 10A - Noon
DRESS: Appropriate free dress.
ACTIVITY: Final Graduation practice.
Friday, June 3 | 4:30P (be in the classroom by this time)
DRESS: Appropriate formal attire.
ACTIVITY: Graduation begins at 5P. Reception follows in Hofmann.
AT GRADUATION:
- Parents will have special seating closest to the front right behind the Graduates' and Faculty's pews and the first few pews on the left-most section of the Church (facing sanctuary).
- Please: no adornments on gowns except for school awarded medals and cords until AFTER the graduates process out of the Church.
- Because the ceremony will be held in the Church in front of the Blessed Sacrament (Tabernacle), we ask that you advise family members and guests to refrain from bringing sound-making devices more appropriate for sporting events or graduation ceremonies held outdoors.Instead, make a joyful noise with what God has given you! We thank you for your cooperation in this area.
More importantly, please know that we are doing everything we can to make these events meaningful for all the Graduates. They will be selecting the readings, songs, writing the prayers, and enhancing the celebrations with their own personal style. This is a group of very determined, creative, intelligent leaders and they will most definitely put their own stamp in these last few days at St. Mary. When done tastefully and in joyful celebration, the heavens will rejoice!
Blessings to you these last few days. I can't thank you enough for your support throughout the year. If you see the following parents, please give them a hearty thank you for being the greatest bunch of room parents a homeroom teacher could ever ask: Nannette Kern, Alicia Nequist, Sue Bozzini, Maureen Mahoney, Paula Mastropolo and Teresa Johnson, as class treasurer for all these years. Thank you, thank you, a thousand times, thank you!
With gratitude for the gift you have been to me,
Cecile Mantecón