St. Mary Catholic Schools News

Excitement is building as we are just days away from Zephyrs Connect: our annual Fun Run to benefit co-curricular activities at St. Mary Catholic Schools. Click here to register before Thursday at midnight if you're planning to run. Day of registration will be available with cash or check only.

But make no mistake, Zephyrs Connect isn't only for runners. This event is an evening of community building for the whole family. If running isn't your speed, come join us for kids games, live music, roasted sweet corn, all capped off by Friday night football on ZephyrS Field (those who register to run get free admission to the game)!

Planning to join us Friday? Here's a helpful timeline:

• 3:30 P.M. Check In or Register, Kids Games, Concessions and roasted sweet corn available
• 4:30 P.M. Kids Run on Zephyrs Field track
• 4:45 P.M. Welcome followed by SMCHS Choir singing National Anthem
• 5:00 P.M. Fun Run Starts
• 5:30 P.M. SMCHS Pep Band
• 7:00 P.M. SMCHS Football Game

See you this Friday!

Join us Saturday, October 15, 2022 starting at 5:00 P.M., for a casual evening of drinks, delicious food, and entertainment to support students at all five campuses of St. Mary Catholic Schools.

What can you expect at ALL ABOARD?

• Great Food and Drink: Parker Johns is serving up barbeque for dinner and Simple Simon is providing delicious desserts. Beer and wine are included with your registration.
• Live Entertainment: Two musical acts (Jedidiah and Pat Pedersen) will provide a musical backdrop for this enjoyable evening.
• Casual Atmosphere: We're planning to enjoy a beautiful fall evening in Wisconsin on the campus of St. Mary Catholic Middle School. Come dressed to be outside among friends.
• Raffles, Event Boards, and Silent Auction: whether you're hoping to win cash, surprise your family with a fun outing, or cross some people off your Christmas shopping list, our committees have been hard at work curating great opportunities for you to support St. Mary Catholic Schools. Speaking of Christmas gifts, Out of Dress Code passes make great stocking stuffers. You can order those when you register.

Tickets for All Aboard are $50 each. Registration closed on October 7, so make sure to sign up today.

Our After School Care Program is hiring! We have openings at our Elementary and Middle School Campuses. If you or someone you know is looking for a part-time job, join SMCS! The schedule will be Monday – Friday from 2:45 – 5/5:30 p.m.

This is a paid position that offers great benefits! If you have a child enrolled in our schools, you will receive 50% off their school tuition and while you work in the after school care program, you can bring your child with you for free!

If you are interested in learning more about the After School Care Provider position or would like to apply, please contact the Human Resources Department by calling 920-722-7796 and ask for HR or email pfoulks@smcatholicschools.org or ckind@smcatholicschools.org

A new government benefit, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), is providing eligible households with a discount on internet services and devices. There are several ways to qualify for the ACP: through participation in other government programs like free/reduced hot lunch, based on annual household income, or by participating in an internet service provider's low income plan.

Click here to find out if you qualify and for more information on the Affordable Connectivity Program.

In accordance with recommendations from the CDC and local health departments, St. Mary Catholic Schools has updated its COVID-19 policy.

Whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, students who test positive for COVID-19 should

• Stay home for 5 days from symptom onset, or if no symptoms, from the date tested.
  

• Day 0 is the first day of symptoms
• Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop
• Return to school on day 6 IF fever-free for 24 hours AND symptoms have largely resolved. If symptoms continue after 5 days, continue to stay home until fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms have largely resolved
• Wear a well-fitted mask while around others for 10 days.

Whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, students who are a close contact to a positive case may remain in school if symptom free. They should test for COVID-19 5 days after exposure.

The updated policy can be found on the COVID-19 resources page.

Earlier this month, Catholic Parishes of Neenah and Menasha, in partnership with St. Mary Catholic Schools, announced Steve Pable as the the new Director of Adult Discipleship formation. You can read more about Steve and his new role here. As part of our connection to our partner parishes, we will be sharing thoughts from Steve in our system wide newsletters. Read on for the first installment of the Discipleship Digest.

There is no quick way to summarize the life of a disciple. After all, each one of us is uniquely created by a loving Father, so the reflection of divine love shines forth differently in everyone. Yet as we consider our journey of following Jesus together, these qualities may act as guideposts on the way.

WELCOME * WORSHIP * WITNESS

How can we become a community of welcome? Hospitality is a gift from the heart, an act of love for neighbor. It begins with a greeting, but it is so much more! What concrete actions can I take to include and invite others, so they know the love of God through our parish community?

How do we enter our worship? The premiere experience of worship is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the source and summit of our faith. As we encounter Jesus there, He fashions our hearts so that we recognize Him and find Him elsewhere, especially in our care to those on the margins. (cf. Is. 1:11-17; Mt. 25)

Finally, how can we be disciples who witness to all that the Lord has done? As I reflect on the tender mercy of Jesus, the fruits of the Holy Spirit present in our lives, do I ever mention it? How can we nurture a parish culture where such conversations are natural and normal?

©Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation

Catholic Parishes of Neenah & Menasha