On Sunday, April 16 we had nine St. Mary's Elementary students make their First Communion at St. Mary's Church! They were surrounded by members of our school community, their families, friends, and our St. Mary's Parish. We are thrilled for these students and their faith journey. The joys of First Communion aren't over yet! Sacred Heart Parish has their First Communion Mass on Saturday, April 29 and St. Peter the Apostle has their First Communion Mass on Sunday, May 7. Please continue to keep these children and their families in your prayers.

Mrs. Mary Landreth will join our school as the new principal for the 2023-2024 school year beginning July 1. She is a legacy member of the Joplin Area Catholic Schools System attending St. Mary's Elementary, St. Peter's Middle and a graduate of McAuley Catholic High School. Mrs. Landreth is a member of St. Peter the Apostle Parish.

Thank you to the parents who helped with lunchroom responsibilities this week. We are looking for additional help for the rest of the year. You must be Virtus Certified to help in the lunchroom. Please call Marla Testerman, Virtus coordinator, at 417-624-5003 to get information on how to be Virtus Certified.

Please plan on arriving at 10:45 am, check in with Ms. Amy at the office. Duties include marking each student at lunch, helping wipe down tables between lunch periods, opening milk cartons, and having a fun time with fantastic kids!

Your shift will finish by 12 pm, please return the clipboard to Ms. Amy before leaving.

Sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444aba828a0f58-lunch/143274817#/

Thank you to those who supported our American Heart Association efforts this year. With your help we raised more than $14,000 for this worthy cause! For every $100 a student raised they were able to participate in this year's "Dragon Drool" where students could slime three guests. This year's guests included Rev. Brian, Rev. Paco and Mrs. Staton. Thank you to Mrs. Black for coordinating a successful fundraiser for the American Heart Association and for our guests who agreed to be slimed.

Our May Crowning is scheduled for Monday, May 1 in Mary's Garden at the front of St. Mary's. Please bring a flower or two for Mary. We will start at about 8:15 a.m. on May 1.

April 17-28 is a time to Uplift your Priest. We are blessed to have four local priests that support our schools. We are asking families to bring in gift cards, snacks, candy, and personal notes of affirmation or simply a kind note thanking them for all the things they do. Please bring items to school by Thursday, April 27.

Our students are busy preparing for their spring programs and project fair. Your student's program will begin at 6 p.m. on May 4 for Kindergarten - 2nd grade and on May 10 for 3rd-5th grade in St. Mary's Church. After the program, parents are invited to view the Project Fairs in the Parish Hall. Preschool will have their Spring Program beginning at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church on Tuesday, May 16.

Hours of the Book Fair this year:

Tuesday, May 2nd - 3-5 p.m.

Wednesday, May 3rd - 7:45-9 a.m. and 3-4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 4th - 6-7:30 p.m.

Monday, May 8th - 3-4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9th - 7:45-8:45 a.m.

Wednesday, May 10th - 6-7:30 p.m.

With the end of the school year approaching, please be sure to double check the Lost and Found for any items your child lost throughout the school year. Items left on the last day of school will be donated.

Our Preschool is hosting a Mommy & Me Night on Wednesday, April 26 from 5:30-7 p.m. The evening is JUST for current St. Mary's preschool students and their Mothers or Grandmothers. If a Mother or Grandmother is unable to attend, another female relative or family friend may attend with the student instead. We ask that older and/or younger siblings stay home this evening to keep the evening special for our students and their Mothers. The evening starts in the St. Mary's Preschool classrooms--Early Learners, Advanced Learners, and Pre-K. Everyone should dress comfortably and be prepared to make memories with your child!

The Auction is next weekend! Please keep our school system in your prayers during our event next Saturday evening. If you didn't buy tickets, you can still bid on silent auction items online at www.jacsauction.com, and pick up on Sunday, April 30 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. in the commons are of St. Mary’s school. If an alternative time is needed for pick-up, please contact Stephanie Bradshaw (auctionadmin@jacss.org). Thank you for your support of our schools.

CALENDAR FUNDRAISER: You can still turn in your child's calendar for our fundraiser. Please bring these to the office Monday, April 24. The calendar doesn't have to be full to turn it in. We are very close to the whole school earning a visit from an ice cream truck.

The Auction Committee needs your help in the days leading up to the auction, the day of the auction, and after the auction.

Sign up to volunteer and help with this fun event. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVJnh8bFXtMoJ4OhceUAAAO-5R4A-nwA-jK1VRVgdZKebyFQ/viewform

LAST YOUTH BREAKFAST THIS SUNDAY, April 23!!

Please join us as we wrap up this school year! Scrambled eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, fruit, coffee, milk, juice and good company! We serve from 8:30-9:30 am in the St. Mary's Parish Center.

Thank you for your generosity in supporting our youth as they try to raise funds to attend NCYC—the National Catholic Youth Conference in the fall in Indianapolis.

Sunday, April 23: St. Mary's and St. Peter's Youth Group Breakfast at St. Mary's Parish Hall, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, April 26: 4th grade field trip to Prairie State Park

Wednesday, April 26: Preschool's Mommy and Me Night, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 27: Diocesan 5th Grade Retreat

Thursday, April 27: Preschool field trip trip to Oceans Adventures

Saturday, April 29: First Communion at Sacred Heart, 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 29: JACS Annual Auction, bid online at www.JACSAuction.com

Monday, May 1-Friday, May 5: Staff Appreciation Week

Tuesday, May 2: First Tuesday at Club 609

Friday, May 5: Lunch Super Hero Day - honoring our lunch ladies

Sunday, May 7: 1st Communion for 2nd graders who attend St. Peter the Apostle

Monday, May 1: May Crowning and Rosary in St. Mary's School Courtyard, 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 3: Charity Dress Day benefitting Ronald McDonald House

Thursday, May 4: K-2nd grade Spring Program and Project Fair, 6 p.m.

Tuesday, May 9: 5th grade field trip Great Americans Day (parent drivers)

Wednesday, May 10: 3rd-5th grade Spring Program and Project Fair, 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 11: 5th grade class trip

Friday, May 12: Warrior Walk, ~10 a.m.

Monday, May 15: 3rd grade field trip to Bluff Dwellers

Tuesday, May 16: Preschool Spring Program, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, May 17: Preschool Big Wheel Day, 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, May 17: JACS School Board meeting at McAuley Catholic, 6 p.m.

Thursday, May 18: Field Day and Scoop Up (2 p.m.) - Free dress day socks must be worn

Thursday, May 18: Kindergarten Park Day, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Monday, May 22: Pre-Kindergarten Graduation, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, May 23: 4th grade field trip to George Washington Carver

Thursday, May 24: Last day of school - Half Day No After School Care