SMCS System Newsletter
08.16.2023
SMCHS NEWSLETTER
August 22, 2023
Upcoming Events
Monday, August 28: Orientation (see schedule below)
Tuesday, August 29: First day of classes
Wednesday, August 30: Parent Information Night (parents only, no students) | 6pm
Friday, September 1: First Friday Mass 7:25am | Adoration
Monday, September 4: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 5: Zephyrs Spirit Dress Day
Friday, September 8: All System Mass | 9am
Important Scrip Reminders
Please make sure the delivery method on your purchase order lists the school/parish you want your Scrip to go to starting Thursday, August 31 st for the 2023-24 school year. 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.
The last day of the SUMMER DELIVERY to St. Mary Catholic High School or a “summer” parish location is Thursday, August 24. Starting Thursday, August 31, your Scrip orders will go to your preferred school-year delivery location. There will be no Scrip the week of September 3 for Labor Day. Place your Labor Day Scrip orders by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 28, for delivery on August 31. 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!
Orientation / Schedules Grades 9-12
Monday, August 28 - MANDATORY for all students to attend
8:30am - 1:00pm (FRESHMEN and NEW STUDENT orientation/school pictures/schedules)
9:45am -10:30am (SOPHOMORE orientation/school pictures/schedules)
10:30am -11:15am (JUNIOR orientation/school pictures/schedules)
11:15am -12:00pm (SENIOR orientation/ID cards/schedules)
Due to security updates, SMC will be resetting all student passwords this week and returning students will lose access to PS until they reset their passwords at orientation.
Please contact Mr. Post or Mrs. Castagna with any questions regarding schedules.
Welcome New High School Staff!
Ms. Britni Adams - Drama Teacher
Mr. Jake Pederson - Business Teacher
Ms. Justine Semrow - Long-term Sub for English
Mr. Jared Swanson - Dean of Students
Fall Play Auditions
Students interested in being part of our theater production of Little Women, please email Mr. Conner. Auditions will be held the first week of school.
Spirit Stop Back-To-School Blowout Sale
60% off all items - All items must go!! The Spirit Stop (located in the SMCHS Commons) will be open the following days and times:
- August 28, 10am-2pm & 4pm-8pm
- August 30, 5:30-8pm
Watch for further details regarding online orders.
School Forms/PowerSchool Parent 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: 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.
Zephyrs Sports Updates
We have openings for volunteers this week. Please help us out with running our home events!
High School Fall Sport Volunteer Sign Up
Zephyrs Connect Volunteer Sign Up
Garrett Weninger has been nominated for the Post Crescent Athlete of the Week. Cast your vote here.
All required paperwork is completed online using this link. Contact Mr. Schoultz, SMCHS Athletic Director, if you need additional information.
Counseling News
College Visits
University of Portland - Wednesday, September 6 @8:00am
University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh - Thursday, September 21 @8:00am
Saint Louis University - Wednesday, September 27 @1:00pm
Marquette University - Wednesday, October 4 @1:00pm
St Olaf College (MN) - Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at 8:00am
Marian University - Fond du Lac - Friday, October 13 @1:00pm
Carroll University - Wednesday, October 18 @ 10:00am
Northern Michigan University - Tuesday, October 31 @8:00am
Counselor Assignments
All students will be working with Mrs. Julie Castagna this year. Her office has moved and is now located next to the IT office in the Resource Center.
CAPP/NWTC/Blended Ed Fees
Students taking CAPP and online courses through NWTC and Blended Education will be invoiced on their tuition statements. The cost for CAPP classes has increased to $105 per UWO credit.
Senior Meetings
Mrs. Castagna will be meeting with seniors in September to review senior year requirements/options, post high school planning, college applications, scholarships, and aid. Materials will be available in Naviance.
October 11 High School Testing Day
Students in grades 9-11 will have the option to take the PreACT or the PSAT/NMSQT. Students in grade 12 will be working on post-secondary planning. Details to follow.
AP Exams
AP exam registration for yearlong courses will take place online in the fall. Test orders will be confirmed with parents in October. Testing fees are $98 per test. Tests for AP classes which begin in the Spring will be ordered in the Spring. Watch for details.
Technical College Open Houses
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) – September 27 from 3-6pm
Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) – October 3 from 3-7pm. Application fees are waived at the event.
College Fairs
Wisconsin Education Fair (WEF) at UW Oshkosh on Thursday, September 28 from 9-11am. Over 100 colleges, universities, military branches, and specialty schools will be represented.
National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) hosts in-person and virtual fairs with 175-400 representatives.
Dress Code Reminders
Here is a link to the complete Dress Code (pp. 10-11).The following updates were made:
- 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.
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.
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.
Discipleship Digest
Discipleship Digest (vol. 1, iss. 48)
“I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18)
We usually hear this familiar passage describe how Jesus made Peter the first pope. But we overlook something really essential in Jesus’s words: What is the purpose of the Church?
We often think of the Church under attack. We know, of course, that Christian disciples have been persecuted in every age, including today. But Fr. John Riccardo asks us to look more closely at the language of this verse. Why does Jesus talk about “the gates of the netherworld”? Gates are meant to defend against an invader. So if our image of the Church is all about hunkering down, or keeping out unwanted people, we’ve got it completely backwards.
The Church is on offense! Jesus is on a rescue mission, pulling broken and captive people out of the clutches of Sin and Death. He enlists the Church – that is, all of us – to be a part of that mission. We don’t fight with the weapons of this world, but rather with prayer, fasting, works of mercy, and words of hope and life. How will I use those weapons today to combat darkness in my own life and for the sake of those around me?
©Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
Helpful Links
Follow us on social media!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/smcatholicschools
Instagram: www.instagram.com/smcszephyrs
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Zephyr_Sports