Students who have a temperature of 99.6°, are suffering from diarrhea or vomiting, or who have been placed on antibiotics should remain at home until they are free of symptoms or until they have been on medication for 24 hours. Please note that the above-mentioned list is not all-inclusive. Children should not attend any school related activities, including parties and field trips, while contagious. Children should also not attend any school-related evening activities if they have been out of the school the same day for illness.

If you would like to read additional details about St. Mary's illness policy, please review pages 20-21 of the Family Handbook.

Officer Rick Hirshey was the school officer at St. Mary's for years, and one of the officers shot in Tuesday's violence. Officer Hirshey worked with Mrs. Lone's 5th Grade class, providing instruction, mentoring, and guidance to our students and staff over the years. Whenever the school needed guidance about an issue or his presence at school, Officer Hirshey was at St. Mary's providing any help we needed. He retired last year and was asked to come out of retirement due to the shortage of police officers that Joplin is experiencing. We are keeping Officer Hirshey and his family, and all police officers and their families, close in thought and prayer.

• Thursday, March 17: Conferences from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.
• Friday, March 18: NO SCHOOL- Conferences from 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Originally Friday, March 18 was a half-day of school with a noon dismissal. To allow adequate time for parents to meet with teachers, we have added an extra morning of conferences. St. Peter's and McAuley still have a school on Friday, March 18 and will be dismissing at noon. If you are not able to attend conferences during the scheduled days and times, please contact your child's teacher and she will do her best to find a time to meet with you. It is hard to believe we are moving into the last quarter of the school year!

Our fundraiser began on March 1 and will continue through the end of April. With every $25 dollars spent in gift card sales, Joplin Greenhouse will donate a generous percentage back to St. Mary's. Gift cards may be purchased for ANY amount in $25 dollar increments, and can be used for both Joplin Greenhouse and The Coffee Shop purchases. Gift cards will be delivered to families twice a month. Start thinking of spring flowers, landscaping projects, and delicious cups of coffee now!

Spring Auction Raffle Tickets are here and have been sent home with your child! Preschool students each received 5 raffle tickets to sell, Kindergarten - 5th grade students each received 10 tickets. Raffle tickets are $5 each or you can purchase 5 tickets for $20. You may send back raffle ticket money back to school with your child or drop it off at the school office. If you would like more raffle tickets, additional tickets are available in the school office.

This year's raffle tickets include these prizes:

• First Prize: $1,885 in cash
• Second Prize: $135
• Third Prize: $50 gift card

Students who sell raffle tickets may also earn prizes as a treat for helping to support the auction and our school system. Prizes are divided into Preschool and Elementary levels:

• Preschool Prizes: 5 tickets sold- ice cream or cold treat at school, 10 tickets sold-popcorn and M&M treat, 25 tickets sold- JACS drawstring bag
• Elementary Prizes: Every 5 tickets sold-1 Free Dress pass (not be used on Mass days), 20 tickets sold-5 Free Dress passes, 25 tickets sold-JACS drawstring bag, 30 tickets sold-Tropical Sno Shaved Ice
• When a family sells 25 tickets collectively, each student in the family will receive a JACS drawstring bag
• The student who sells the winning raffle ticket will also win a prize, so make sure your child writes their name on the back of each ticket he or she sells!

• Students may wear modest-length navy or khaki Bermuda or dress shorts to school. Shorts need to touch the bottom of finger tips to be considered dress code appropriate.
• Girls may start wearing ankle socks with jumpers, skirts, and skorts.
• As a reminder, ALL St. Mary's students (Preschool and Elementary) are required to wear closed-toe shoes to school. Sandals, crocs, open-backed shoes, etc. may not be worn to school to help ensure student safety.

We have been giving gentle reminders to several students who are out of dress code guidelines. Please make sure you are aware of the additional dress code guidelines found on page 18-19 in St. Mary's Family Handbook. Thank you for your help in ensuring that your child follows the guidelines.

• All students should wear their hair in a well-groomed manner. Boys’ hair must be out of the eyes, off the collar, and cover no more than half the ear. Girls’ hair should be out of the eyes. Student’s hair must be of a natural color.
  
• No jackets, coats, hoodies (exception of JACS), sunglasses, hats, caps, or scarves worn as hats may be worn indoors.
• No body piercing. Any jewelry or accessories (watches, etc.) must be in keeping with the conservative nature of the uniform. Girls may wear one pair of earrings (small hoop or stud only). Smart watches and/or any Fitbit style of device are not to be worn to school.
• No layering of clothing items. Only white T-shirts with no graphics may be worn under uniform shirts.
• Shirts must be tucked in at all times.

Sunday, March 13: Daylight Savings Time Begins, Spring Your Clocks Forward!

Tuesday, March 15: 5th Grade Route 66 Field Day

Wednesday, March 16: Charity Dress Day benefitting the Joplin Police

Thursday, March 17: St. Patrick's-Themed Free Dress Day

Thursday, March 17: Parent-Teacher Conferences, 3:30 - 6:00 p.m.

Friday, March 18: NO SCHOOL Parent-Teacher Conferences 7:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, March 19-Sunday, March 27: Spring Break

Monday, March 28: Classes Resume

Monday, April 4 - Friday, April 8: PENNY WARS benefitting Bishop Rice's Lenten Youth Mission

Tuesday, April 5: 1st and 2nd Grade Field Trip to Wonders of Wildlife

Tuesday, April 5: First Tuesday at Club 609

Wednesday, April 6: Charity Dress Day benefitting Bishop Rice's Lenten Youth Mission

Friday, April 8: 5th Grade Mass and Stations of the Cross at CMC

Sunday, April 10: Palm Sunday

Thursday, April 14: Holy Thursday- Noon Dismissal, No After School Care

Friday, April 15 - Monday, April 18: Easter Holiday

Tuesday, April 19: Classes Resume