SMCS Elementary Family Newsletter
11.29.2023
SMCS ELEMENTARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER
February 21, 2024
In This Email
Click here for St. Gabriel Elementary News - 02/21/24
Click here for St. Margaret Mary Elementary News - 02/21/24
Click here for St. Mary Elementary News - 02/21/24
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 SMCS families,
Our Lenten journey began last Wednesday with the distribution of ashes. Our students and staff will continue to observe Lent through Stations of the Cross, our coin collection to support our five-parish project for Rise Against Hunger, and many other activities in the classroom. We will also discover how we can become closer to Jesus through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It is my hope that our Lenten journey together strengthens us as a Catholic school community.
Prayer for Lent
Loving God,
During this season of Lent, send your Holy Spirit upon us and renew our faith in you. We thank you for the gift of your son Jesus and remember his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins. Through our Lenten promises, help us grow to be the people you call us to be - letting go of selfishness, growing in generosity, forgiving those who have hurt us, giving quality time to our families, and spending time in quiet prayer.
Amen.
God bless you,
Mrs. Anna Cihlar
Lenten Opportunity
Rise Against Hunger - a high energy event to package 50,000 nutritious meals - is a shared effort of our 5 Catholic parishes of Neenah-Menasha and St. Mary Catholic Schools. The event will take place at St. Gabriel on Saturday, May 4th. It costs just 40 cents per meal, so with your help, we plan to raise $20,000 during Lent. Change lives as you PRAY, FAST and GIVE this Lent. Thank you!
Start saving your coins! Students at all three SMCS elementary schools will have the option to participate in a coin collection drive from March 1-28 with all money collected going towards Rise Against Hunger!
Upcoming Spirit Days
Tuesday, March 5 is Zephyr Spirit Day! Go Zephyrs!
Elementary Music Update
I’m pleased to introduce you to our new SM/SMM music teacher, Ms. Haley Graves. Please see the bio below to learn more about Ms. Graves. Please join me in welcoming her to the SMCS community!
Hi everyone! My name is Haley Graves. I am so excited to be joining Saint Mary Catholic Schools as a general music teacher! I graduated in spring of 2021 with my bachelors degree in general and instrumental music from University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Besides music, I have a huge love of animals and the outdoors. I have two horses, Dyzni and Henry, a dog, Koda, and a cat, Rumor! I also really enjoy staying active and being outdoors. In the warmer months I love camping, hiking, showing my horses, and rock climbing, and in the colder months I enjoy skiing and I am also a ski instructor at Granite Peak on the weekends. I love to travel and my favorite places I’ve been are Ireland and Colorado!
Elementary Band Update
We are in the process of interviewing candidates for the elementary band teacher position. Elementary band will begin as soon as we are able to fill this position. Updates will be shared with families as soon as possible.
Excellence in Education Award Nominees from SMCS
Congratulations to the following SMCS teachers who were nominated for the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Shining Star Award:
*Ms. Lisa Kmichik, Reading Specialist at SM
*Ms. Michelle Lepak, Preschool Teacher at SG
*Ms. Judy Blaney, ELA Teacher at SMCS MS
Colder weather is here
Link to full SMCS Elementary Dress Code
Winter Weather Closings & Delays
To sign up for emergency and inclement weather notifications that are sent via text message, please text SMCS to (844) 947-5948. You will receive a confirmation text along with a text indicating how to stop the service, if needed. To learn about other ways to receive notifications visit: https://smcatholicschools.org/resources/emergency-notifications/.
Elementary Breakfast & Lunch Menus
Board of Trustees
Call for New Board Members: Looking to share your skills? Consider joining the SMCS Board of Trustees (BOT). The BOT helps to enhance SMCS with leadership, guidance, decision-making, financial support, and public relations. Each year we look for individuals with business, marketing, legal, Human Resources, or financial backgrounds; but most importantly, you must be ready to help our Catholic schools grow. We are seeking Catholic individuals who are alumni, parents, parish members, or anyone with a connection to our school system. Trustees are elected to one three-year term of office and may serve a subsequent term.
We are currently accepting candidates for consideration. Please contact Paul Seveska at paulpsev@aol.com if you are interested.
SMCS Parent & Student Directories
The 2023/24 SMCS Parent & Student Directory will be sent home Friday of this week with the youngest member of each family.
SMCS Summer Sports Camps
- Basketball, Girls – Grades 3-5(Fall of 2024), June 17-20, 10:00 am – 11:30 am (Middle School Gym)
- Basketball, Girls – Grades 6-8(Fall of 2024), June 17-20, 11:45 am – 1:15 pm (Middle School Gym)
- Basketball, Boys – Grades 3-6(Fall of 2024), June 24-27, 10:00am – 11:30am (High School Gym)
- Basketball, Boys – Grades 7-9(Fall of 2024), June 24-27, 12:00pm – 2:00pm (High School Gym)
- Football Camp – Grades 3-8(Fall of 2024), Mondays June 10, 17, 24, 5:00pm – 6:30pm (Zephyrs Field)
- Tennis – Grades 6-9(Fall of 2024), June 10-13, 12:45pm – 2:45pm (St. Mary HS Tennis Courts)
- Tennis – Grades 2-5(Fall of 2024), June 10-13, 3:00pm – 5:00pm (St. Mary HS Tennis Courts)
- Volleyball, Girls – Grades 4-6(Fall of 2024), July 16-18, 4:00pm – 5:30pm (High School Gym)
- Volleyball, Girls – Grades 7-8(Fall of 2024), July 16-18, 5:30pm – 7:00pm (High School Gym)
Camp Zephyr Registration
Click here to register for Camp Zephyr!
Click here to register for the Sweethearts Ball!
4th & 5th grade Girls Volleyball
Parents of 4th & 5th Grade Girls:
We are organizing our annual 4th & 5th grade volleyball program.
The intramural teams will be formed by combining a mix of students from our three SMCES campuses (St. Gabriel, St. Margaret Mary and St. Mary). This will allow us to balance the number of students on each team. Each student will receive a t-shirt for participating.
The program will begin on Tuesday, April 9 and will run through Thursday, May 16. The teams will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.). All practices/games will take place at SMC Middle School Gym
There is a participation fee of $25.00. Please register online:
St.Mary Catholic 4th/5th Grade Girls Volleyball
Deadline is Friday, March 31. No late registrations!
Neenah Soccer Club is committed to providing high-quality training and learning opportunities in a safe and positive environment for players at all levels to develop as individuals, teammates and leaders who leave a positive impact on their community. Click here to learn more.
Come learn about Chinese culture!
Sign up here!
Interested in Volunteering at SMCS?
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- background check, online Virtus annual retraining, and 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.
Discipleship Digest
Discipleship Digest (vol. 2, iss. 26)
What mountain are you climbing this Lent?
We ascend mountains for different reasons: to get a better vantage point, to look ahead, or simply to savor the challenge. Whatever the reason, some of us may be gazing up a mountain that seems insurmountable. I may be climbing with a heavy burden, like a habitual sin. Or I have lost a member
of my “expedition”, so I feel like I am climbing alone. Or I am battling illness or injury on the trail.
What better time to remember our need for Transfiguration? Follow Jesus up the mountain! Like the disciples, we’ll find something unexpected – an entirely new understanding of the rabbi from Galilee. Lent is a time to see Jesus in a new way. Maybe to glimpse His heavenly glory, or to marvel at His closeness and mercy. Our mountaintop pilgrimage brings fresh perspective. Each of us is called to be transfigured in Christ. Even in our questions and struggles, the Good News of the Transfiguration remains: not only is Jesus God’s beloved Son, but He shares that same identity with us! In baptism, we become sons and daughters of the Father (1 John 3:2).
The Holy Spirit equips and empowers us to turn away from the false gods that sap our life and distort the image of God in us. As we journey through Lent, in both mountain and valley, let us call on Jesus – our companion, Savior, and guide.
©Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Tuition Discount Opportunity
Our After School Care Program is hiring! If you or someone you know is looking for a part-time job, join SMCS! The schedule will be Monday – Friday from 2:45 – 5/5:30 p.m.
This is a paid position that offers great benefits! If you have a child enrolled in our schools, you will receive 50% off their school tuition and while you work in the after school care program, you can bring your child with you for free!
If you are interested in learning more about the After School Care Provider position or would like to apply, please contact the Human Resources Department by calling 920-722-7796 and ask for HR or email pfoulks@smcatholicschools.org or ckind@smcatholicschools.org
A Look Ahead...
Mar. 21 - End of Quarter 3
- Mar. 22 - No school, professional development day for teachers
- Mar. 29-Apr. 5 - No school, spring break
- Apr. 19 - No school for preschool through 8th grade students, professional development for elementary and middle school teachers. High school students do have classes.
- Apr. 27 - Zephyrfest
- May 3 - No school, professional development day for teachers
- May 27 - No school, Memorial Day
- June 6 - Last day of school, 11:00 a.m. dismissal for elementary
Helpful Links
Contact Information
St. Gabriel: 920-725-4161
St. Gabriel Associate Principal: Mrs. Giombetti, jgiombetti@smcatholicschools.org
St. Margaret Mary: 920-729-4565
St. Margaret Mary Associate Principal: Mrs. Lutz, jlutz@smcatholicschools.org
St. Mary: 920-725-5351
St. Mary Associate Principal: Mrs. Blahnik, cblahnik@smcatholicschools.org
Elementary Principal: Mrs. Cihlar, acihlar@smcatholicschools.org