SMCHS Back to School Update
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Additional Information for the 2023-24 School Year
Detailed back to school information regarding orientation, school supplies, pictures, forms, etc. was sent on August 1. Please use this LINK for that information. In this newsletter we would like to highlight:
- Changes for the 2023-24 School Year
- PARENT PowerSchool Access Information
- STUDENT PowerSchool / Schedules
- Upcoming Events
- Volunteering
Changes for the 2023-24 School Year
- The 8 Block schedule will now be on Monday.
- We will have a Community Block in the morning and in the afternoon.
Z BLOCK: Z-Block is an intervention block/advisory time built into the daily schedule. Students will be assigned to an advisory classroom for Z-Block. During advisory time, students can meet with teachers, make up assessments, and work collaboratively with classmates. Z-Block will also be used for class level meetings, club meetings, and all school assemblies. On Thursdays and on Holy days, Z-Block will be used for our all-school Mass. Z-Block is mandatory for all students. Seniors with release before, or after, Z-Block are required to stay on campus for Z-Block.
COMMUNITY BLOCK: This is time in our day for connecting and building relationships between students and staff. We will also have food available to purchase in the commons during Community Block.
First Day of School - Monday, August 28
August 28th is a mandatory, scheduled school-day. All students must be in attendance during the times listed below. Students unable to attend must be excused through the attendance office.
- 8:30am - 1:00pm FRESHMEN and NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION/ SCHOOL PICTURES
- 9:45am-10:30am SOPHOMORE ORIENTATION/ SCHOOL PICTURES
- 10:30am-11:15am JUNIOR ORIENTATION/ SCHOOL PICTURES
- 11:15am-12:30pm SENIOR ORIENTATION/ ID CARDS
First Day of Classes - Tuesday, August 29
Dress Code
Here is a link to the complete DRESS CODE.The following updates were made for the 2023-24 school year:
- Skirts and dresses are only allowed on special occasion days (ie Holy days, Graduation)
- Shirts must be full length with no skin showing at the waist.
- Crop shirts are never allowed.
- Males with pierced ears must wear stud earrings only.
- Boys must be clean shaven.
- Jeans, sweatpants, athletic shorts, leggings, and other shorts may be worn on OODC days. Shorts of any type must be no shorter than the student’s fingertips when fully extended down the leg.
PARENT PowerSchool Access Information
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.
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. https://gbdioc.powerschool.com/public/
STUDENT PowerSchool/Schedules
New students will receive PowerSchool passwords/usernames at orientation on Monday, August 28.
Returning SMCHS students - due to security updates, SMC will be resetting all student passwords between August 23 - 28. As a result, returning students will lose access to PS until they return for orientation and reset their passwords. Seniors who need a copy of their schedule for August college applications, please save a copy before August 23.
Schedules: All students will receive their schedules on August 28. Questions should be directed to Mr. Post at ppost@smcatholicschools.org.
School Office Hours
Upcoming Events
Monday, August 14: Boys Soccer, Cross Country & Volleyball begin
Wednesday, August 16: Board of Trustees meeting
Monday August 28: Orientation
Tuesday, August 29: First Day of Classes
Wednesday, August 30: SMCS Parent Information Night
Friday, September 1: First Friday Mass 7:25am | Adoration
Monday, September 4: No School--Labor Day
Tuesday, September 5: Zephyrs Spirit Dress Day
Wednesday, September 6: ZFAB meeting
Friday, September 8: System Wide Mass
For a complete calendar listing, view our Google calendar online.
View the 2023-24 SMCS Calendar at a Glance.
For schedules of SMC sports, visit thebigeast.org
Volunteers Needed
We are so grateful for our volunteers and are always looking for new and returning faces to help out in our schools! Please visit the Volunteer Hub on our website to learn more about how you can complete the required steps to volunteer with SMCS.
If you are already a volunteer with SMCS, please ensure you have completed all Safe Environment requirements through Virtus Online which include:
- a background check
- annual online Virtus retraining
- annual acknowledgment form
If you have any questions on the Safe Environment process, please reach out to the Human Resources department: pfoulks@smcatholicschools.org and ckind@smcatholicschools.org
Athletics
Volunteering at our home high school athletic events is mandatory for families that have students participating in sports.
- Each spot you fill gives opportunity to meet new people.
- Our volunteers make SMC events memorable and first-class!
SMCS Booster Club has more than 2,000 volunteer slots to fill each year. Because every co-curricular athletic activity benefits from Booster Club funds, f:amilies of participants in every athletic activity are required to help. Families are required to help fill five volunteer spots per student-athlete, per co-curricular athletic activity (to a maximum of 20 spots per family annually).
High School Fall Sport Volunteer Sign Up
2022-23 Yearbook Inserts
Yearbook inserts for the 2022-23 school year have arrived and may be picked up in the school office starting Monday, August 21. Please reach out to Ms. Sirstins if you need to make special arrangements for pickup.
Counseling News
St. Mary Catholic High School
Email: chall@smcatholicschools.org
Website: www.smcatholicschools.org
Location: 1050 Zephyr Drive, Neenah, WI, USA
Phone: 920-722-7796
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcatholicschools/