St. Margaret Mary Newsletter
11.29.2023
St. Margaret Mary Newsletter
January 24, 2024
SMCS Mission
Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives, rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition.
Greetings from the Principal
Dear St. Margaret Mary families,
We are looking forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week! This is a special week where we get to celebrate our rich, Catholic heritage. We join 7500 other Catholic Schools across our nation to showcase our faith and academic excellence! Thank you for sending your child to St. Margaret Mary School and entrusting us with your child's academic and spiritual growth.
Dear Lord, continue to bless our Catholic Schools. Help them to be a source of wisdom, love, and peace. May all who enter their classrooms be filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit. May Catholic education grow so your good news can be taught to children around the world. Amen
Blessings,
Mrs. Jackie Lutz
Associate Principal ~ St. Margaret Mary School
Catholic Schools Week!
Sunday - Open House after masses from 8:30 - 11:30.
Service Project - January 28 - February 9 Fox Valley Humane Society collection
Monday - Mismatch Day
Sing-a-long in the gym
Tuesday - Dress like a teacher/student or twin day
Catholic crafts in classrooms
Wed. - PJ Day
Preschool/4K Preview Day
Parent Luncheon
Buddy Day (grade level or classroom buddy activity)
Thurs. - Dress like a Saint or wear Catholic college apparel
All School Bingo in gym
Friday - Zephyr Spirit Day
All System Mass at HS
Parent Teacher Conference Links
Elementary parent-teacher conferences will be on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 16 from 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Mr. Dummer will be at SMM on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 3:30-6:30 pm
Mrs. Greebe will be at SMM on Friday, Feb. 16 from 8:00-11:00 am
Mrs. Schneider will be at SMM on Tuesday, Feb. 13 until 5:00 pm
Ms. Loughrin will be at SMM for both days
3K Mrs. Bekkers - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460044-holly
4K Mrs. Schlieter - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460030-cathy
4K Mrs. Rivas - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460029-cheryl
K Mrs. Quick - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460043-heidi
K Mrs. Lamb - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460027-tracy
1 Mrs. Backman - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460033-andrea
1 Miss Ebert - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460038-olivia
2 Mrs. Zelinski - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460028-cari
2 Mrs. Dopp - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46459956-mary
3 Mrs. Oneacre - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460085-tammy
4 Mrs. Logemann -https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460032-halle
4 Mrs. Simon - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46459955-jenny
5 Mrs. Horan - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460041-kate
5 Ms. Stuber -https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460031-daana
Mrs. McKenna - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-47334529-talleri
Classroom Spotlight - Mrs. Dopp's 2nd Grade
As we grow in our faith leading up to First Communion, we have been discussing what it means to be followers of Jesus. Particularly, how to show love to our neighbors as we love ourselves.
We connected our faith to our language arts lesson of how can people help out their community? On Monday we celebrated the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his life's message of justice and peace for all of God's children. Afterwards, we traced our hands to create a wreath of unity to be a symbol of working together for change we dream to see.
3rd grade Math Activities
Miss Ortscheid's Last Day
Miss Ortscheid completed her student teaching in 3rd grade last Friday. The students loved her and we're looking forward to having her substitute teach at St. Margaret Mary School!
Ms. Rivas' 4K Classroom - Artic Animals
For the past two weeks our 4K students have been learning about Artic Animals. We learned what animals live in the artic and where the cold regions of the world are. The students learned many facts about the artic animals such as what they eat, if they have flippers or feet, and what other body parts they have. Mrs. Derks, our Instructional Technology Coach, did some awesome activities with the students. The students used foam pieces, cardboard pieces, white pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, and cotton balls to make shelters for the animals. They enjoyed these activities!
1st Graders visit Barlow Planetarium
Our First grade students visited Barlow Planetarium. They learned about the moon, constellations, stars and planets that are in the nighttime sky.
Yearbook Cover Winner!
Congratulations to Addie Auth, the winner of the 2023-24 yearbook cover! Every year the 5th grade students get to design the cover for the yearbook. We have so many talented students! There were so many creative covers this year!
Soup-er Bowl - Friday, Feb. 9
We will be participating in a Soup-er Bowl for the Neenah Food Pantry. We will be collecting cans of soup during the week of February 5 - 9. Students can wear their favorite football jerseys/apparel on Soup-er Bowl Friday, February 9! Each classroom will have a box for our collection so I hope we can fill them up! Thank you for your support!
SMM Fundraiser - Qdoba
St. Margaret Mary Parish Cold Cash Raffle
Teacher Wish List
If you would like to support your child's classroom and teacher, please check out how you can donate to our teacher wish lists here.
4K & Preschool Preview Day
Upcoming Field Trip
Feb. 2 - K-5 All System Mass at SMCS HS; 5th gr. shadows 6th gr.
Feb. 9 - 1st grade going to Building for Kids
Feb. 9 - Kindergarten going to PAC - Dot to Dot
Feb. 29 - 4K going to PAC - Very Hungry Caterpillar
March 5 - 4th/5th grades Capitol tour & Veterans Museum
Upcoming Masses
Friday, Feb. 2 - 9:00 am CSW All-System Mass at HS
Thursday, Feb. 8 - Mrs. Backman's 1st grade class
Ash Wednesday, Feb 14 - Mrs. Logemann's 4th grade class
Thursday, Feb. 22 - Miss Ebert's 1st grade class
Thursday, Feb. 29 - Mrs. Lamb's Kindergarten class
Staff Birthdays
Feb. 1st - Mrs. Dopp
Feb. 6th - Mrs. Quick
Feb. 7th - Mrs. Liddy (1/2 birthday)
Feb. 16th - Mrs. Grebe (1/2 birthday)
Feb. 24th - Mrs. Lee (1/2 birthday)
FACES Update
FACES (Faith and Community Enriching St. Margaret Mary Elementary) is our school’s official PTO group. We meet monthly and host many events throughout the school year. This year our officers are: President Gretchen Cogswell, VP Kiki McMillan, Treasurer Jen Hildahl, Secretary Kali Sawyer and Parish Liaison Deborah Scott. Please feel free to contact us at our email address: faces@smcatholicschools.org with any questions you may have.
- Coming up:
Friday, January 26th - Sock Hop from 5:30 - 7:30 in the SMM Gym
Sunday, January 28th after mass - Catholic Schools Week Open House
Monday, January 29th - Sunday, February 4th - Catholic Schools Week
Wednesday, January 31st - Preschool Preview Day (8:00 - 10:30 AM)
Thursday, February 1st at 8 am (no school mass) - FACES Meeting in the school cafeteria
Tuesday, February 13th & Friday, February 16th - Parent / Teacher Conferences
- Looking ahead:
Saturday, March 2nd - Sweetheart Ball at the SMCS Middle School
Thursday, March 7th at 9 am - FACES Meeting after School Mass
Thursday, April 11th at 9 am - FACES Meeting after School Mass
Monday, April 15th - Thursday, April 18th - Spring Book Fair
Thursday, April 18th - Grandparents Day
Sunday, April 21st - FACES Hosts Coffee and Doughnuts at SMM Parish
Wednesday, April 24th - Mother/Son Bowling
Saturday, April 27th - Zephyrfest
- FACES volunteering - We are always looking for parent volunteers! If you would like to help FACES with any of the fabulous events FACES sponsors, please sign up using the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-202324
- Lunchroom volunteers - Our school lunch program cannot run without the help of parent volunteers! Remember, you must be current with your VIRTUS documents to volunteer, and every three times you volunteer in a month you’ll get an out of dress code pass for one of your students! Please contact Justine Semrow at 920-209-5209 with questions about helping in the lunchroom, or sign up with the link below. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-20232024
- To stay up to date on all FACES events, and other important school updates, please follow and like the SMM FB group named “St. Margaret Mary Elementary”.
Order now to get your SMCS Hall of Fame T-shirt. This offer is only available until January 30th. This exclusive edition t-shirt is being offered to promote next month's Athletic Hall of Fame festivities.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held February 16th during the Varsity boys basketball game.
Click here to order today!
Zephyrs Gold Raffle
The Zephyrs Gold Raffle is your opportunity to offset the $200 per family fundraising fee. Tickets are $25 each. A family that buys or sells 8 tickets will not be assessed the fee, as the $200 minimum will be met.
If you choose not to participate in the raffle, the “Fundraising Fee (Z-Gold raffle)” charge of $200 will be placed on your Blackbaud tuition statement in March. The $200 fee will be reduced by your ticket sales up to $200.
Click here to request your tickets now.
Tickets should be requested no later than Friday, February 2, 2024. They must be returned to the school office with payment by Friday, March 1, 2024.
There will be one $1,000 winning ticket, which will be drawn via livestream on Friday, March 15th.
Any questions regarding the Zephyrs Gold Raffle can be directed to Kathleen McCurdy, Director of Advancement at kmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org
All Aboard for Turkey Bowling!
Don't wait... Registration closes January 25.
Date: Saturday, January 27, 2024, 1:00 p.m. Get ready for some kid-free fun on the ice at Payne's Point Hook and Spear Club in Neenah! Bundle up and get ready to throw some frozen foul on our turkey bowling ice lanes!
Arrive at the Clubhouse at 1pm, and bowling will start promptly at 1:30. Bowling is optional, cheering is required! Warm up in between matches in the cozy Clubhouse where there will be plenty of appetizers and drinks available. When darkness hits, the fun doesn’t end! Head inside for dinner, games and live entertainment by Pat Pedersen.
St. Margaret Mary Parish News
This Sunday, January 28 kicks off Catholic Schools Week! We hope you can join one of the masses this weekend! We would love to have our 5th grade students sing in the choir at our 9:30 mass. The school will be hosting an Open House from 8:30 - 11:30.
Elementary Breakfast/Lunch Menu for February
Helpful Links
Contact Information
Phone: 920-729-4565
Associate Principal: Mrs. Lutz, jlutz@smcatholicschools.org
Elementary Principal: Mrs. Cihlar, acihlar@smcatholicschools.org