What's the Buzz?
4/18/2024
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.
April 19: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 1
April 19: 8th Grade Babysitting Night
April 20: Spring for Success Auction Gala
April 23&24: NYS ELA Assessment
April 26: Deadline for Sr. Sheila Scholarship
May 3: Mass of Hope
May 3: HSA Flower Sale orders due
May 4: Father/Daughter Dance
May 5: May Crowning - prior to 9am Mass
May 6: HSA Meeting, 7pm
May 7&8: NYS Math Assessment
May 9: Feast of the Ascension - 9am Mass
May 10: Mother's Day Tea - Montessori and Kindergarten
May 10: Early Dismissal - 11:30am
May 13-15: SMS hosting Diocesan Art Fair
May 17: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 4
May 19: Pentecost
May 23: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 2
May 24-27: NO SCHOOL, Memorial Day weekend
May 31: 9 am Mass - led by Grade 3 (First Communicants)
May 31: 10 am - First Communion Reception
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 4/29-5/3 is due on Monday, 4/22 by noon.
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR VIRTUS ACCOUNT
Every May there is an audit run for our VIRTUS Protecting God's Children Accounts. Please take a few minutes to be sure that you are current in reading your bulletins and that you have completed the Background Check information if it comes up when you sign in. Your account needs to be current in order to be able to volunteer at school.
There’s less than 48 hours left to bid in the Spring for Success Online Silent Auction!
Our online SILENT auction is going on now, and bids will close this Saturday at 8 pm! Any adult can participate and bid to win a wide variety of unique items & experiences! This year we are using a new, quality-assured software package, which makes it easier than ever to view and bid on our amazing silent auction items, and cash out once you’ve (hopefully) won some stunning prizes! Click here to register, view the many amazing items upon for bid, and get bidding if you haven’t already. Get in on the fun and support our school and parish community! There are tons of family friendly items up for bid, including items donated by each class & our HSA, also be sure to check out the experiences donated by SMS staff:
- Bubbles Half Day Camp with Miss Krista and Miss Lauren on Friday, May 10th. (Half-Day of School) - (Open to 6 students Montessori - Grade 2)
- Spend a Saturday with Mrs. Kotlik & her daughter at Explore & More Children’s Museum! One winner & a friend will enjoy the museum, lunch, & ice cream. Open to current & former students of Mrs. Kotlik.
- Grade 1- Glow in the Dark Neon Party! Wear your neon colors to school and enjoy an afternoon of painting under blacklights with Mrs. Schnackel!
- Grade 2 - Dine in the classroom with dessert! Eat lunch with a friend and Mrs. Wojtaszek will provide a special dessert and a game of choice. You may wear your favorite outfit on this day too!
- Wild About 3rd Grade! The winning student will be able to bring their favorite stuffed animal to school, dress down, enjoy fun animal-themed activities, & select an animal-related movie for the class to enjoy with a treat (Open to Miss Sanderson’s class only)
- Lunch with Miss Ziomek! Lunch & a sweet treat provided by Miss Ziomek, dress down pass for the day, and goodie bag included. You may also invite 1 friend to join the fun (friend can be from Miss Sanderson’s 3rd grade class).
- Grades K-1-2-3 - Mrs. Witkowski - Class Slime Party! Did somebody say “Slime-Time”?! Our winning Super Scientist will have a slime party with his/her whole class. But this isn’t just any ordinary slime….it’s fluorescent string slime!!
- Grade 4, 5, 6 - Miss Kerwin - "Junior Teacher" for the day. Your child will help Miss Kerwin with planning and teaching her daily classes, dress down, & enjoy lunch with Miss Kerwin, Mrs. Gengo and a friend. A "Junior Teacher" goodie bag will be given for your junior teacher's hard day of work.
- Grade 4, 5, 6 - Mrs. Gengo - "Junior Teacher" for the day. Your child will help Miss Kerwin with planning and teaching her daily classes, dress down, & enjoy lunch with Miss Kerwin, Mrs. Gengo and a friend. A "Junior Teacher" goodie bag will be given for your junior teacher's hard day of work.
- Middle School - Miss Reeves and Mrs. Whipple - Water Balloons and Recess and Treats… Oh My! - The winner and their classmates will be able to dress down and enjoy some fun water balloon games during recess followed by a yummy cool treat.
- K-8th Grade - Mrs. Leong - Playground and Popsicles - The winner is entitled to a 40 minute period with Mrs. Leong for their class on the playground. Popsicles of the students choice will be provided during their time outside.
- All Students - Mrs. Genovese - An afternoon at the AKG! Meet and enjoy an afternoon of exploring at the Albright Knox AKG gallery, Mrs. G will treat to admission! Open to one student and a guest of their choice (guest not restricted to students).
- All Students - Ms. Genovese - Clay all day! - After school clay activities, including our new clay wheels! Perfect for your child and 9 other students!
- Grade 1 - Grade 8 - Mr. Polen and Miss Sanderson - Hanging with Mario - A student and one friend will receive 1 Hour of Mario Kart or Mario Party with Mr. Polen and Miss Sanderson after school in the music room.
- All Students - Mr. Reeds - PE Teacher for the Day - Students will create PE lessons for the day with Mrs. Reeds, and enjoy their choice of lunch from a healthy area restaurant.
- Grade 2- Grade 5 - Mrs. Bishop- Ice Cream Sundae Party - The winning student and his/her classmates will enjoy “Make your own Sundaes” at the end of the school day, followed by some time outside on the playground!
- Middle School - Be on Mr. Dolan or Mr. Crouch’s team for an after-school pick-up basketball game- The winning student(s) will select 3 friends to join them and face off against the other team! May be held outside on the playground court, weather permitting. Mr. Crouch and Mr. Dolan will be playing on their respective teams!
- All Students - Mrs.Kisailus -”Be the Bee” for a Day - Dress up as our school mascot and wear the bee costume to class! Photos of you around campus for a commemorative album, a pep rally where you lead the school, a bee-themed snack & craft, a news article on the school website, an SMS/bee swag bag, and your very own column in the “Buzz” are included.
- All Students - Express Pick Up! - Drive up to the B1 door daily and pick up your children…no waiting in traffic, just door to door service! Valid from May 1, 2024 through March 31, 2025.
Montessori Summer Camp NEARLY FULL! (FOR AGE 3 - INCOMING 3rd GRADERS)
LIMITED SPOTS REMAIN for our three exciting sessions - 9:00am-12:00pm Monday - Friday. This year’s themes include: Nature & Insects, Under the Sea, and Water Adventures! Campers will have access to fun & creative Montessori activities, snack, and time outside each day. Camp is open to current SMS students and family members ages 3 - incoming 3rd graders, as well as new families. Click here to view the flyer and learn more. Montessori Summer camp is $175 per child per week. Click here to register online NOW & reserve your spot!
May Crowning –Our annual May Crowning devotion will take place on Sunday, May 5th before the 9:00 am Mass. We will begin at 8:45 around the statue of Mary in the back lot of the church. All are invited to meet outside and participate in the crowning. All First Communicants are invited to wear their First Communion outfits and bring a flower for Mary if you wish.
NYS ELA Testing
On Tuesday 4/23 and Wednesday 4/24 students in grades 3-8 will be taking the NYS ELA Assessment. Testing will begin by 8:15am. Please do not make Dr.'s appointments on these mornings. Once the assessment has begun, students will not be allowed to enter the classroom so please be sure to be on time.
Our students are well prepared for these tests, and we receive funding from the state for taking the tests. As with any test, we encourage our children to do their best! For these tests however, we let them know that it is not something that is on their report card as that is something that often concerns them. When they realize that it is just a way for us to find out what they know, their anxiety lessens.
Now when you buy participating products at Walmart in-store or online, you’ll earn Box Tops for SMS — no scanning required. All you have to do is connect your Box Tops and Walmart accounts, then use the saved payment method in your Walmart Wallet whenever you shop at Walmart. When you shop in-store, SMS will get credit when you check out. When you shop online, SMS will get credit when your items are picked up or delivered. Click here from your mobile device to get started (you must download the Box Tops App first).
6/7/8 grade Spring Dance at St. Greg’s - Friday, May 3rd
Tickets are $25 each (+fees) and can be purchased online through TicketSource through April 26th. There will be no tickets sold at the door. All students MUST attend a Diocesan school - all registrations will be verified through class rosters and Principal approval. Click here for a flyer. Refreshments will be available for purchase. St. Greg’s is asking each school to send someone to help with either Set-Up, Chaperoning, Security, or Clean-up. Parents please use this Signup Genius to volunteer. Proceeds will benefit BISON Children's Scholarship Fund.
Dive into friendship with God at “SCUBA” St. Mary’s 2024 Vacation Bible School, July 8th – 12th
Your "scuba diving students" will splash into undersea missions including one-of-a kind bible adventures & songs, swim over to fin-tastic crafts, feast on tidal treats, stretch their fins at reef rec., and buoy around learning about inspiring saints! Online registration is open to grades K through 5, & volunteers may be in grades 6 and up. Registration for participants & volunteers begins this Friday, April 19th, please visit the parish website to register. Contact: Heidi Sutt or Margaret Terrill at 688-0599 or VBS@stmaryswormville.org with any questions.
TEENAGERS – YOU’RE INVITED . . .
Young people in grades 8-12 are invited to Making Connections: A Day for Catholic
Teens on Sun., Apr. 28 th from 12-5pm at Villa Maria College in Buffalo!
Gather with teenagers from across the Diocese of Buffalo for an interactive day with
national speaker and musician ValLimar Jansen! ValLimar’s unique blend of
proclamation, reflection, storytelling, music, movement, insights and wisdom propels
faith to new heights. The day concludes with Mass with Bishop Michael Fisher.
Teens have the choice of different breakout topics and service activities during the
event. The cost is $20 and includes lunch. For more information, you may
contact Mr. Slish. This will be an experience you won’t want to miss!
Check out one of our SMS 8th graders in the promo video.
St. Joe’s HS will hold a SPRING OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, April 21, from 10:30 am-1 pm
All prospective students and their families are invited for private, self guided tours. Your tour map will direct you through campus to interact with our teachers, staff, coaches, and students. This a pre-registration event only with limited attendance and appointment slots. Your family is welcome to stay on campus for as long as you wish. Click here to register.
St. Joe’s SUMMER CAMPS
Embark on a summer of fun, sports, learning, and Brotherhood at St. Joe’s. Summer camps are designed to ignite the curiosity and passions of middle school students, offering a diverse array of activities led by St. Joe's teachers and Marauder coaches. Registration for 2024 summer camps is now open, click below to discover the complete list of camp dates and details.
Collegiate Summer!
Sports Camps
Jazz Band Camp
Innovation Camp
Check out our list below of exciting upcoming events that you WON’T want to miss!
May 1 or before: Spirit Wear Orders will be in and distributed to students to bring home
May 4: Father/Daughter Dance at Marygold Manor - see Below!
May 6: HSA Meeting, 7pm, all are welcome!
Mother Son Event: "Game On" night with carnival type games, bounce house, and snacks in a video game theme, more info to come!
June 18: School Picnic, sign up genius coming soon for volunteers!
REMINDER: Bidding is going on now for the Spring for Success Silent Auction! Click here to bid on items before the online auction closes THIS SATURDAY, April 20th at 8:00 pm!
RSVP for the Father Daughter Dance by May 1!
Join other SMS daughters and dads on Saturday, May 4th from 6:30pm - 9:30pm at Marygold Manor, 770 Maryvale Drive,Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Daughters/Dads in Montessori Pre-K through Grade 8 are invited! The cost is $20 per family. RSVP forms were sent home in backpacks, click here to print a new one. Questions? Reach out to Leigh Ann Urbanski, leighannurbanski@gmail.com, or Jill Papke, Zillybean@aol.com.
Step into spring with Weeks Nursery in Clarence Center!
Choose hanging baskets or annual flats as great gifts for Mother's Day, or to fill out your own flower beds. Here's how: fill out the order form linked here and send it into school, or submit an order form online here. Paper order forms (and all payments from paper and online orders) should be sent into the School Office in an envelope marked "Flower Sale" by May 3, 2024. St. Mary's HSA will send home a Floral Voucher with your name and order details on it. Head over to Weeks Nursery with your Floral Voucher to select your plants. Floral Vouchers are valid any time through the end of May and will be sent home May 3, 2024.
Reminder - CRS Rice Bowls are due back!
We hope your family remembered to donate spare change throughout Lent in your rice bowl! If you haven’t returned your rice bowl yet please send it into school as soon as possible. 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 more about the families locally and around the world who your donations impact.
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/