St. Margaret Mary Newsletter
11.29.2023
St. Margaret Mary Newsletter
February 7, 2024
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 St. Margaret Mary families,
We had a wonderful week celebrating Catholic Schools Week! We enjoyed so many fun activities last week! I am thankful for the opportunity to work at St. Mary Catholic Schools, and I appreciate our dedicated teachers who help instill excellence in our school.
Our 4th grade students from Mrs. Logemann's class will be leading our Ash Wednesday Mass on February 14 at 8:05am. During the 40 days of Lent, we will be concentrating on praying more, making sacrifices, and doing almsgiving. Lent allows us to open our hearts and focus on our relationship with God.
Parent-teacher conferences are just around the corner. Conferences will be held on Tuesday, February 13 from 3:30 - 6:30 pm and Friday, February 16 from 8:00 - 11:00 am. If you haven't signed up yet, the links are in this newsletter. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you need to schedule your conference for a different day.
Blessings,
Mrs. Jackie Lutz
Associate Principal ~ St. Margaret Mary School
Catholic Schools Week Activities!
4th grade Saints
Fox Valley Humane Society Collection
All-System Mass
Parent Teacher Conference Links
Elementary parent-teacher conferences will be on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 16 from 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Mr. Dummer will be at SMM on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 3:30-6:30 pm
Mrs. Greebe will be at SMM on Friday, Feb. 16 from 8:00-11:00 am
Mrs. Schneider will be at SMM on Tuesday, Feb. 13 until 5:00 pm
Ms. Loughrin will be at SMM for both days
3K Mrs. Bekkers - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460044-holly
4K Mrs. Schlieter - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460030-cathy
4K Mrs. Rivas - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460029-cheryl
K Mrs. Quick - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460043-heidi
K Mrs. Lamb - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460027-tracy
1 Mrs. Backman - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460033-andrea
1 Miss Ebert - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460038-olivia
2 Mrs. Zelinski - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460028-cari
2 Mrs. Dopp - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46459956-mary
3 Mrs. Oneacre - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460085-tammy
4 Mrs. Logemann -https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460032-halle
4 Mrs. Simon - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46459955-jenny
5 Mrs. Horan - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460041-kate
5 Ms. Stuber -https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-46460031-daana
Mrs. McKenna - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-47334529-talleri
Classroom Spotlight - Learning Specialists Mrs. Splittgerber & Mrs. Peterson
Learning new concepts can be a daunting task. We know that children learn best when learning is both engaging and fun! Mrs. Peterson and Mrs.Splittgerber are part of our learning community here at St. Margaret Mary. They work with students in and out of the classroom. As a team, they work hard to find engaging ways of teaching and learning. One way that is beneficial to everyone is through play!
When children are playing a game with a learning focus (such as Multiplication Memory or ABC Bingo) students are more relaxed, motivated to take chances, and are fully engaged in the learning. Also, the skill they are practicing is more likely to be converted to their long-term memory!
Students often ask to play a certain game over and over again! Just like reading the same book several times gives readers an opportunity to grow in their literacy skills, the same can be said for learning games. So grab out those board games, puzzles, and cards. Oftentimes learning is happening right in front of you as you play together. Happy learning!
National School Counseling Week
It's National School Counseling Week! We are celebrating Mrs. McKenna who works hard to ensure the social and emotional needs are met of our students. Thank you, Mrs. McKenna, for all you do for our students and staff! We appreciate you!!
5th grade Science
The 5th graders completed the classroom work of understanding the anatomy, structure, and function of the nervous system which led us into the excitement for our live dissection of a sheep brain last week. The students were able to identify the 4 lobes of the cerebrum, the medulla (brain stem), and cerebellum (tiny brain). They did GREAT!!
New Menu Item!
The students enjoyed a new lunch option on Monday, Kotu Roti (stir fried vegetables with chopped tortillas topped with diced chicken) in honor of Sri Lanka Independence Day.
NJSD Summer School
The Neenah Joint School District offers a variety of classes for a very low cost for students in 4K to high school. There are remedial courses available as well as fun courses. Registration takes place online and the registration date is March 26th. Here is the link to their website.
Soup-er Bowl Friday, Feb. 9
It is Soup-er Bowl week for the St. Joseph Food Pantry! We will be collecting cans of soup during the week of February 5 - 9. Students can wear their favorite football jerseys/apparel on Soup-er Bowl Friday, February 9! Each classroom will have a box for our collection so I hope we can fill them up! Thank you for your support!
SMM Fundraiser - Qdoba
Valentine's Day!
We will be celebrating Valentine's Day on Tuesday, February 13 for Kindergarten - 5th grade students. Our preschool and 4K students will celebrate on Monday, February 12. Students may be out of dress code and wear red or Valentine's Day colors on their party day.
American Heart Association ~ Wellness Week
We are excited to be celebrating Wellness Week through the American Heart Association! Wellness Week is a week-long, school-wide, family engagement opportunity that will walk your students and families through the messages of our heart heroes with a daily resource that aligns with this message. Students are invited to participate in the dress-up days and it will teach them how to get involved, make an impact and how to save a life. Thank you! We will be having a "Wellness Week Kick-Off" on February 13th. Your child will then bring home packets and more information.
* Please click HERE to register.
* Please click HERE to view wellness activities and to see the dress up days for Feb. 20 - 23.
Teacher Wish List
If you would like to support your child's classroom and teacher, please check out how you can donate to our teacher wish lists here.
Upcoming Events
4th grade Wisconsin State Fair ~ April 24
3rd grade Living Museum ~ May 31
Upcoming Field Trips
Feb. 9 - 1st grade going to Building for Kids
Feb. 9 - Kindergarten going to PAC - Dot to Dot
Feb. 29 - 4K going to PAC - Very Hungry Caterpillar
March 5 - 4th/5th grades Capitol tour & Veterans Museum
Upcoming Masses
Thursday, Feb. 8 - Mrs. Backman's 1st grade class
Ash Wednesday, Feb 14 - Mrs. Logemann's 4th grade class
Thursday, Feb. 22 - Miss Ebert's 1st grade class
Thursday, Feb. 29 - Mrs. Lamb's Kindergarten class
Thursday, March 7 - Mrs. Quick's Kindergarten class
Thursday, March 14 - Mrs. Dopp's 2nd grade class
Thursday, March 21 - Mrs. Simon's 4th grade class
Staff Birthdays
Feb. 7th - Mrs. Liddy (1/2 birthday)
Feb. 16th - Mrs. Grebe (1/2 birthday)
Feb. 24th - Mrs. Lee (1/2 birthday)
February Events
Feb. 5 - 9 Soup-er Bowl soup collection for St. Joseph Food Pantry; students may wear their favorite jersey on Friday, Feb. 9
Feb. 9 Last day to bring in donations for the Fox Valley Humane Society
Kindergarten field trip to PAC - Dot to Dot
1st grade field trip to Building for Kids
Last day to turn in SMM Cold Cash Winter Raffle tickets
Feb. 11 Preschool & 4K Valentines Day parties
Feb. 13 K-5 Valentines Day parties. Just a friendly reminder, if your child brings in valentine cards, they should be given to all students in the class (or all boys or all girls).
Qdoba Fundraiser for SMM Teacher Wishlists! 25% of sales donated 4pm-8pm
Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30pm
Feb. 14 Ash Wednesday
Feb. 16 Parent/Teacher Conferences 8:00-11:00am
Feb. 19 No School
Feb. 20 - 23 Wellness Week
Dress Up Days:
Feb. 20 - Hat Day
Feb. 21 - PJ Day
Feb. 22 - Dress up as your future self or purple day
Feb. 23 - Red and or Hearts Day
Feb. 29 4K field trip to PAC - Very Hungry Caterpillar
Sweetheart Ball
The Sweetheart Ball will be on Saturday, March 2nd from 3-5:30 pm in the SMCS MS Commons. Cost is $10/child (dads/adults no charge).
Here is the link to register: https://smcatholicschools.ejoinme.org/SweetheartBall2024
FACES Update
FACES (Faith and Community Enriching St. Margaret Mary Elementary) is our school’s official PTO group. We meet monthly and host many events throughout the school year. This year our officers are: President Gretchen Cogswell, VP Kiki McMillan, Treasurer Jen Hildahl, Secretary Kali Sawyer and Parish Liaison Deborah Scott. Please feel free to contact us at our email address: faces@smcatholicschools.org with any questions you may have.
- Coming up:
Tuesday, February 13th & Friday, February 16th - Parent / Teacher Conferences
Saturday, March 2nd - Sweetheart Ball at the SMCS Middle School
Thursday, March 7th at 9 am - FACES meeting after school mass
- Looking ahead:
Thursday, April 11th at 9 am - FACES meeting after school mass
Monday, April 15th - Thursday, April 18th - Spring Book Fair
Thursday, April 18th - Grandparents Day
Sunday, April 21st - FACES hosts coffee and doughnuts at SMM parish
Wednesday, April 24th - Mother/Son Bowling
Saturday, April 27th - Zephyrfest
Thursday, May 9th - May Crowning
- FACES volunteering - We are always looking for parent volunteers! If you would like to help FACES with any of the fabulous events FACES sponsors, please sign up using the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-202324
- Lunchroom volunteers - Our school lunch program cannot run without the help of parent volunteers! Remember, you must be current with your VIRTUS documents to volunteer, and every three times you volunteer you’ll get an out of dress code pass for one of your students! Please contact Justine Semrow at 920-209-5209 with questions about helping in the lunchroom, or sign up with the link below. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-20232024
- To stay up to date on all FACES events, and other important school updates, please follow and like the SMM FB group named “St. Margaret Mary Elementary”.
Zephyrs Gold Raffle Tickets
The Zephyrs Gold Raffle tickets will go home with students during the week of February 11. An email notification will be sent out on the day tickets are distributed.
Any questions regarding the Zephyrs Gold Raffle can be directed to Kathleen McCurdy, Director of Advancement at kmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org
Neenah Soccer Club
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.
Elementary Breakfast/Lunch Menu for February
Helpful Links
Contact Information
Phone: 920-729-4565
Associate Principal: Mrs. Lutz, jlutz@smcatholicschools.org
Elementary Principal: Mrs. Cihlar, acihlar@smcatholicschools.org