What's the Buzz?
2/29/2024
Upcoming Events
Remember to utilize our SMS Google Calendar subscription (info on how to subscribe here), or view the “Events” page on the SMS website.
Mar. 1: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 6
Mar. 2: HSA Roller Rink Party, Rainbow Skateland, 5-7 pm
Mar. 4: HSA Meeting, 7 pm
Mar. 5: Fowlers Easter Candy Pick up - 7-9am or 2-4:30pm in room 108
Mar. 6: No Starpoint Bus Service
Mar. 7: 9 am Thursday Mass - led by Grade 5
Mar. 8: NO SCHOOL - Teacher Inservice Day
Mar. 15: Irish Dance Assembly - students may wear a green shirt with their uniform
Mar. 15: 9am Mass - Virtue Awards
Mar.15: Pray and Play
Mar. 22: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 3 (Sanderson)
Mar. 25-28: NO Starpoint Bus Services
Mar. 26: Optional Spring Pictures and Kindergarten Graduation Pictures
Mar. 27: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 3 (Ziomek) - This will be a Wednesday Mass
Mar. 28: Guest Speaker - Solar Eclipse
Mar. 29: Good Friday - NO SCHOOL
April 9: School back in Session
April 12&13: School Musical
April 12: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 2
April 19: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 1
April 20: Spring for Success Auction Gala
CAFETERIA
We'd love to have you help out during lunch
As the weather starts to change, some of our students would rather stay inside. In order to accommodate students who want to stay inside and others that would like to go outside, we will need to have three adults present for safety. Please consider helping out.
Thank you so much to those who have been able to volunteer and help out in the lunchroom. It is such a blessing to have dedicated family members who are willing to help out!
A Note from the Cafeteria
Lunch order for the week of 3/11-3/15 is due on Monday, 3/4 by noon.
There is no school on Friday, 3/8. Remember to send a snack with your child for the day.
If You Don’t Know Me By Now…
If you haven’t read all of our recent Staff Spotlight articles on the priests in our family of parishes, check them out at the links below. Take a moment and get to know Fr. Tom, Fr. Joe, Fr. Art and Fr. Walt - each one has a something quite surprising, interesting, or funny that you may not have known about them!
Apply Now for Tuition Assistance Available from the Bison Fund & Sister Sheila Grant
The BISON Children Scholarship Fund provides tuition assistance to economically eligible children in grades K-8. New families can now apply for scholarships for the 2024-25 school year. To start the process, families can complete a pre-application form online at http://bisonfund.com/our-scholarships. Deadline to apply is March 15. For more information, contact Cindy at 716-854-0869, ext. 1 or cmcdonald@bisonfund.com
Parish tuition assistance is also available via the Sr. Sheila Tuition Grant, based on donations from our St. Mary Church parishioners. Contact the parish Business Manager at 688-9380 for details, and click here for an application. Inquiries are confidential.
Save the Date (April 20th), Silent Auction Donations Still Needed, First Chance Raffle Tickets on Sale Now!
Book the babysitter now, tickets will be go on sale soon for the St. Mary’s Annual Spring for Success Dinner and Auction Gala on Sat. April 20, at Marygold Manor. This premier fundraiser will be extra special this year with our Parish celebrating its 175th year. The Gala will feature cocktails, a gourmet dinner, live auction, and online silent auction bidding for those in attendance and also those at home! There are a number of ways you can support the auction gala, including the following:
Have a business? Advertise in our program.
Purchase an Item off of our Amazon Wish List
Questions? Please contact the Parish Office at 716-688-9380 or email us at stmarysspringforsuccess@gmail.com.
Come cheer on our SMS “Bees” and enjoy some great youth Basketball!
Fri. 3/1/24, 5 pm: SMS Boys Varsity vs DeSales (DeSales Gym)
Fri. 3/1/24, 6 pm: SMS Boys Varsity vs Notre Dame (DeSales Gym)
Mon. 3/4/24, 7pm: SMS Boys Varsity vs Christ the King (SMS Gym)
St. Mary’s High School Lancaster Practice Entrance Exam & Spring Musical
Click here for information on a practice entrance exam for St. Mary’s HS, Lancaster available to current 7th graders on April 13th, as well as their Spring Musical, Beauty & the Beast on March 7th, 8th and 9th.
Help us make the “best schools list” - write a review of SMS on Niche.com and you could win $1,000!
Niche.com is a website that helps families discover the schools and neighborhoods that are right for them. Niche rigorously analyzes dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews to produce comprehensive rankings, report cards, and profiles for every K-12 school, college, and neighborhood in the U.S. Help us spread the word about our school! Review St. Mary's School and tell the world all about your experiences here. Niche also offers a monthly sweepstakes prize to students and parents who write reviews. Take a short survey and be entered for a chance to win $1,000! Open to students, parents, and recent alumni. Click here to write a review and enter the monthly $1,000 School Survey Sweepstakes.
CLICK HERE FOR A LIST OF ALL UPCOMING EVENTS!
The next HSA Meeting will be MONDAY, MARCH 4th at 7:00pm
SEE YOU SATURDAY FOR THE ROLLERSKATING PARTY!
We’ll see you Saturday, March 2nd from 5-7pm at Rainbow Rink Skateland (click here for directions). Proceeds will be used to purchase contributions to the Spring for Success Auction Gala from HSA on behalf of all school families. This is going to be a super fun event for the whole family with arcade games, prizes, glow-sticks, raffles, door prizes, great music, and of course roller skating!
FOWLER’S EASTER CANDY FUNDRAISER PICK UP INFORMATION:
Candy pick up will be on Tuesday March 5th for anyone who chose the Ship to School option, from 7:00 - 9:00 am or 2:00 - 4:30 pm in Room 108. Have questions? Contact Leah Valentine (leahvalentine09@gmail.com, 716-544-0609).
JOIN US for the annual Pray n' Play which will be held on Friday, March 15 at 6:30 pm!
5th Grade will begin with their presentation of "The Living Stations of the Cross”, followed by the 7th graders' "Play" part of the night with simple games and activities that cost .50 cents-$1.00 each. Ice cream sundaes and popsicles will be available for $1-3. The night will also include the PIE IN THE FACE activity and annual CAKE WALK! YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS this tradition for the school children and a beautiful time to reflect on our faith.
We are looking for volunteers to help that night, and donations of cakes, ice cream, and ice cream toppings! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Rice Bowls
Your students should have already brought home a CRS Rice Bowl kit. This kit includes a box to collect coins throughout Lent, as well as a calendar with recommended prayers, reflections, and acts of service. Remember to encourage your child(ren) to donate their spare change in the rice bowl throughout Lent, and then return the boxes to school after Easter break on Tuesday, April 9th. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our HSA Spiritual Chair, Margaret Terrill (mterrill44@yahoo.com, 716-908-7684). Click here to learn how your contributions directly impact families around the world, like Adolf and his wife, Florence, farmers in Akwangagwel, Uganda.
Scholarship Available for ALL Middle School Students
This year the St. Thomas More Scholarship is also being offered to 6th and 7th graders. If you have a middle school student, consider having them write this essay. SMS had a winner last year and we'd love to make it two in a row.
St. Mary School
Email: office@stmaryschoolswormville.org
Website: stmaryschoolswormville.org
Location: 6919 Transit Road, East Amherst, NY, USA
Phone: 716-689-8424
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMarySchoolSwormville/