St. Mary's School
Saturday, June 6, 2020
I hope you are all doing well. When we made the announcement in mid-March that we would move to remote learning for two weeks, few of us imagined we would be finishing the school year in such a manner. Next week marks the end of classes for the 2019-2020 school year, and our students, teachers, and you will certainly be welcoming a much-deserved break. I want to thank all in our school community for their flexibility, patience, and perseverance as they worked to adapt to this new way of learning.
As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, we are already in the planning process to ensure that the transition for students and teachers is safe and smooth when we return in the fall. Based on guidance from various local and national authorities regarding reopening of summer school and summer child care programs, we have a better idea of what will be required to ensure the safety and health of our students/faculty; this has informed our initial stages of planning. We look forward to the release of official guidance regarding school reopening for the fall from the Massachusetts Department of Education, Governor Baker, and the Catholic Schools Office. We will follow their guidance as we continue to develop and implement our reopening plan.
At this point, we have more questions than answers, but we will continue to work in conjunction with local, state, and federal leaders to find the best solutions available for the challenges we face. We are committed to reopening in September, in whatever format that may be, and we appreciate your partnership and continued prayers. Please know that we are praying for you as well.
Sincerely,
Mr. Beza
In This Issue
Congratulations, SMS Class of 2020!
SMS Virtual Talent Show
Students' Personal Belongings
Tuition for 2020-2021 School Year
Resources for Supporting Your Children
Congratulations, SMS Class of 2020!
On Tuesday, June 2, St. Mary of the Annunciation School celebrated its 108th Graduation Exercises for the Class of 2020. Due to the current health crisis, we were not able to conduct our traditional graduation Mass and ceremony, but we were able to gather all our grads and their families together at our first drive-in ceremony!
Our new alumni and their families joined in prayer together, led by our pastor, Fr. Shawn Allen, and then each graduate received a gift box which contained his/her diploma, awards, scholarships, sports awards, and gifts from our school community. The ceremony concluded with a beautiful and sentimental video, projected on a large open-air screen, which took our grads and their families on a reminiscent journey through their years at St. Mary's School. Although not "traditional," our graduation this year was truly "memorable!"
To view photos from the ceremony, click here.
SMS Virtual Talent Show
Congratulations to all our students who performed in the St. Mary's School Talent Show! From singing and dancing to everything in between, it's obvious our students have a lot of talent! Thank you to our student performers for sharing your wonderful gifts with us. And a special thank you to our Student Council and Lily Fix for collecting video submissions and creating the final product, which we are proud to share with you below.
Students' Personal Belongings
If you were not able to pick up items last week, please contact Ms. Mobilia to make arrangements.
Tuition for 2020-2021 School Year
As we prepare for the 2020-2021 school year, we are mindful of the many financial sacrifices our school families make to provide their children with a quality Catholic education. As stewards of the school’s finances, we continually reflect on and implement practices that position us to run our school efficiently and effectively.
Each year, our budget is developed by Fr. Shawn Allen (pastor), Mr. Christopher Beza (principal), and Mr. Frank Garvey (Parish Finance Council). In determining a tuition increase for the upcoming school year, we take into account several factors, including projected enrollment, projected income, and projected expenses. This year we are faced with the additional factor of the economic impact of the Covid-19 situation on our school families.
After reflection and discussion, we have made the decision that there will be no tuition increase for the upcoming school year. Additionally, we have decided to waive the $400 deposit. The deadline for financial aid applications has been extended to June 30. Click here for more information regarding the financial aid application process.
As we plan for the future of our school, the continued support of our entire community – parents, teachers, alumni and parishioners – is vital to our long-term viability. The single most important factor to our continued sustainability is enrollment. A fully enrolled school allows us to keep tuition costs affordable, while having the necessary funding to provide programs that strengthen the experience of our students. I hope you will share with others the wonderful opportunities St. Mary’s School provides and encourage them to explore St. Mary’s School as an option for their child’s education.
Thank you for your continued support as we advance the mission of Catholic education at St. Mary’s School. We are deeply grateful that you entrust us with the formation and education of your children. God bless!
Resources for Supporting Your Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Below please find a list of resources you may find helpful as you support your children through this difficult time.
- McLean Hospital, 4 Ways to Help Children Manage Emotions During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- Dr. Ashley Miller, Helping Children and Teens Cope with Social Isolation
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19
- Psychology Today, How to Talk to Kids and Teens About the Coronavirus
- Dr. Nancy Rappaport: What Cancer Taught Me About Navigating a Pandemic
- Dr. Robert Brooks: Resilience in the Face of COVID-19
- National Association of School Psychologists: Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-19
- Joanna's Place: Tips to Help Families through the Coronavirus Crisis
Contact Us
Email: mr.beza@stmaryschoolmelrose.org
Website: stmaryschoolmelrose.org
Location: 4 Myrtle Street, Melrose, MA, USA
Phone: (781)665-5037
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmaryschoolmelrose/