SMCMS News 10.12.22

• Message from Mr. Andy Dahlberg, dean of students
• Service hours due
• Friday for Florida
• Halloween Social
• Online assignment sheets
• Box of Joy
• Message from Mrs. Kalaus, Guidance Counselor
• Photo orders due
• After school care now available
  
• After school art club
• Lost and Found
• All Aboard
• Lion King
• Important dates for your calendar
  

With the changing of the leaves and the coolness in the air, I see the culture at the middle school changing right along with the season. The students seem happier, the interactions between students and staff are growing in grace, and discipleship groups seem to be bringing fruit to our school. Of course we are still working on some areas of growth that include moving from class to class in a timely manner, keeping our hands to ourselves, and using our time wisely. These are all usual behaviors that we work on year after year. As always we could use your help from the homefront by modeling that relationship with Christ, encouraging positive behaviors, and having conversations with your students about their school day. Thank you for all you do at home to support us at school. Together we will make disciples of Christ. .

We are just days away from the biggest event of fall at SMCS: ALL ABOARD 2022. This adult evening takes place on the SMCMS campus and features food, drink, games, and live music to support all five of our schools. Not registered yet? Click here to take care of that today. Interested in attending for free? Sign up as a volunteer.

There's a plethora of exciting items in this year's silent auction including a few you would label as priceless: like a reserved parking spot on the SMCMS Campus, the best seats at 8th grade recognition, and a chance for your student to have lunch with their favorite staff member. Click here to start your bidding!

1st Quarter Service Hours are due on Tuesday, October 25th. Students should turn these forms in to their religion teacher. Please email Christine Corrigan ccorrigan@smcatholicschools.org or Maria Schmitz mschmitz@smcatholicschools.org with any questions.

Students are needed to help run the Halloween Carnival next weekend at St. Margaret Mary Elementary. The Halloween Carnival takes place Saturday October 22 from 10am-12:30pm. If the weather is too cold or rainy the event will move inside to the SMM gym. Volunteers are needed to help run games, paint faces, and help serve lunch. Click here for details and to sign up.

We are having an out of dress code day on Friday to support those impacted by Hurricane Ian. For a donation of $2, students can wear Hawaiian, beach, or Disney themed shirts on this out of dress code day! (Beach themed clothing does not include swimsuits, or flip flops) The money collected will be donated to Catholic Charities Hurricane Ian fund.

Friday October 28th will be an after school social. 3:30-5:30. Please use the this form to sign your child up to participate in this school wide activity. Students may be out of dress code for the day if they are wearing Halloween colors; green, black, or purple. Students may bring a school appropriate costume to change into after school.

7th grade assignment sheet

6th grade assignment sheet

This month we will be participating in the Box of Joy ministry, a Christmas gift outreach organized Cross Catholic Outreach. Box of Joy blesses children in Latin America and the Caribbean suffering from extreme poverty by filling boxes with toys and other gifts, sharing the joy of Christmas and planting seeds of hope through the Gospel. Advisory groups will be packing Boxes of Joy! Students will receive more information about Box of Joy on Friday, October 14. We will fill the boxes on Friday, October 28. For more info, check out www.boxofjoy.org contact the Maria Schmitz at mschmitz@smcatholicschools.org. Boxes of Joy cost $9 each to ship overseas. If you are willing to contribute towards this expense, please send a check to the office. Checks can be written out to Cross Catholic Outreach.

Beginning this week, our Character Strong Program is providing weekly Character Dares to both students and teachers. There are also DARES that are for families. There are four kinds of DARES: 1. Conversation starters; 2. Acts of Kindness; 3. Recreation and Rest; 4. Expressions of Love. Each Family Dare offers parents, guardians, and families the opportunity to increase connection and conversation at home as well as providing students with more opportunity to practice habits discussed in class. I have provided the following two DARES from the Character Strong Curriculum for your consideration at home.

1. No Tech Table Time

- Have no technology during dinner tonight.

- Have everyone store phones and other distractions away and enjoy a meal or snack together.

2. Kind Conference Call

- Call a family member or friend, as a family, you haven’t talked to in a while. Try it “out of the blue” and surprise them by having everyone on the line say hello, catch up and share why you miss them.

- If they don’t pick up, leave an epic voicemail filled with some kind words from each person!

Please keep in mind the three goals of the Character Strong Program: to increase and support well-being and mental health; increase the feeling of safety and belonging; increase how we care about and engage at school and the world around us. Doing the Family Character Dares at home helps to meet those goals. It is also a great way to support this new program and help your child get the most out of classroom sessions. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Tickets are now on sale for the SMCMS production of Lion King Jr. October 21-23 at the Jane Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center. Click the image above to purchase yours!

October 13th picture orders are due to the school office. Last call for picture orders, they are due in the office Thursday October 13 th.

Middle School after school care now available! Starting Monday October 17th. Please use this link to sign your child up for after school care.

Starting next Wednesday October 19th. Art club will meet every Wednesday after school from 3:30-4:30. Cost to participate is $25.00. You can sign up and pay in the middle school office.

Lost and Found

Our lost and found table is growing, do you recognize anything?

Congratulations to the St. Mary Catholic 7/8 Zephyrs Football team on their recent hard earned win. This is an exciting conclusion to the team's outstanding undefeated 7-0 season! Go Zephyrs!

Wednesday Ocotber 12th: 9:40 liturgy celebration

Thursday Ocotber 13th: Picture orders due

Thursday October 13th: School wide rosary prayer service at 2:30. Students please bring your rosaries.

Saturday October 15th: All Aboard

Friday Ocotber 28th: End of qurater, and after school social

Monday Ocotber 31st: Professional development day for staff, no school for students

View our monthly calendar here.

A printable system calendar is available here.