SMCS Elementary Family Newsletter
08.23.2023
SMCS ELEMENTARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER
August 23, 2023
In This Email
Click here for St. Gabriel Elementary News
Click here for St. Margaret Mary Elementary News
Click here for St. Mary Elementary News
You can always visit the news page on our website for past newsletters.
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 SMCS families,
Today I was reading psalm 66:1 and found it so fitting as I pray for all of you: Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God: "How tremendous are your deeds! I praise God for the gift of all of our SMCS students, families, staff, and parishes. I pray that you all are joyfully proclaiming God’s praises throughout the summer months as you spend time relaxing and making special memories with family and friends. The teachers and staff have also been enjoying their summer and are busy preparing their classrooms for the students’ arrival in a few short weeks. I hope you all have a fantastic last few days of summer break and I can’t wait to see you on the 28th!
Mrs. Anna Cihlar
Principal ~ St. Gabriel, St. Margaret Mary, St. Mary
Orientation Day - Monday, August 28
You're Invited!
Who? All SMCS elementary students and their families are invited - we are so excited to see you!
What? Meet your teacher, drop off school supplies, reconnect with friends, meet new people
When? Monday, Aug. 28 - There will be two sessions: session 1 from 8:00-11:00 a.m. and session 2 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Both sessions are "open house" style, so please feel free to drop in when it is most convenient for you.
First Day of School - Tuesday, August 29
We can't wait for our students to return! We are so excited to see you!
Parent Information Night
Zephyrs Connect 2023
Zephyrs Connect 5K and Kids Fun Run
Join us on October 6 for Zephyrs Connect! This community run/walk raises funds for St. Mary Catholic Schools’ athletics, Booster Club, Fine Arts, and STEM, as well as supporting our five parishes (St. Gabriel Parish, St. John Parish, St. Margaret Mary Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Patrick Parish). It begins and finishes at St. Mary Catholic High/Middle School.
T-shirts available for pickup at event check-in. Prices increase after September 4 and participants are NOT guaranteed a t-shirt after that date.
Paid registration fee includes entry to the St. Mary Catholic High School varsity football game for the participant who signed up for the Fun Run/Walk or Kids Fun Run. Paid Kids Fun Run registration fee includes the 5K run/walk event for the participant who signed up for the Kids Fun Run.
Sign up for the event here.
Powerschool Access
PowerSchool is our primary resource for emergency numbers and mailing addresses for important school documents. We are asking every family to log into their parent account in PowerSchool to view and sign all school documents. If you do not have a parent account, please create an account. PowerSchool can be accessed online and/or by downloading the PowerSchool app.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Martha Barraza at mbarraza@smcatholicschools.org.
Please complete the following forms in the Powerschool app or online for elementary students:
Back to school
School district
SMCS elementary handbook acknowledge
SMCS media image opt-out (optional)
SMCS technology agreement
Demographics:
Student demographics
Student address
Student contacts
Faith information
Equity indicators 23-24
Health
Health authorizations
Health information
Student Screening
Home language survey
Student services history
Immunization Records
The state of Wisconsin requires all schools to submit immunization record reports annually. We kindly ask that all preschool, 4K, kindergarten, and new students submit immunization records to the school office prior to the first day of school. Parents who do not wish to have their child(ren) receive immunizations must complete the waiver section form and return it to the school office.
Please click the link below for the immunization reporting/waiver form. Paper copies are also available in the school office.
Thank you!
A letter from Director of Technology & Innovation, Mrs. Justina Plemon
We are excited to share with you an important update regarding the integration of technology in the curriculum at St. Mary Catholic Schools. As you know, technology has become an increasingly integral part of our daily lives, and it is essential that our students are prepared for the rapidly changing technological landscape.
With this in mind, we are transitioning to having technology integrated into the curriculum content rather than being a separate class. This means that our students will be exposed to technology in any subject, not just in a dedicated technology class. Our aim is to ensure that our students are comfortable with technology and can use it confidently and effectively to support their learning.
Our desire is to be innovative and propel our students to success by giving them the tools and skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly digital world. We are confident that this change will better prepare our students for the future and provide them with a competitive edge.
We are also excited to announce that we are adding a new position to our staff - the Instructional Technology Coach. This role will be responsible for supporting our faculty and staff as we make this transition to integrating technology into the curriculum. The Instructional Technology Coach will provide training, guidance, and support to our teachers to ensure that they are comfortable with technology and can effectively integrate it into their lessons. We believe that this role will be essential in ensuring the success of this transition, and we look forward to welcoming a new Instructional Technology Coach to our team.
We believe that this change will benefit our students in several ways. By integrating technology into the daily curriculum, our students will have more opportunities to practice using technology in a meaningful and relevant context. Additionally, by having technology integrated into the curriculum, we can better ensure that our students are meeting the technological standards set forth by the Diocese of Green Bay.
We understand that change can be challenging, but we are confident that this shift will be beneficial for our students. Our faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that this transition is smooth and that our students receive the best education possible.
We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to work together to provide the best education for our students.
Welcome, Mrs. Kari Derks, Instructional Technology Coach
I graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a degree in Elementary Education and Learning Technologies. I started my teaching career in 2006 when I was the Technology Liaison for a remote village in Alaska. I then moved back to Wisconsin and was the technology teacher for St. Mary Springs Academy in Fond du Lac. I then joined the St. Mary Catholic Schools as the 4K/4th grade teacher at St. Mary’s Elementary School. After taking some time off to raise my family and work part-time for an Innovation company, I am excited to return to St. Mary Catholic Schools as the Instructional Technology Coach.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three kids. Our kids are active in sports, music, Scouts, and everything in-between. I enjoy reading, biking, and crafting and visiting family and friends.
Elementary Principal / Associate Principal Roles
Last year, SMCS made changes to the elementary administration structure. Based on the needs of our students and families, we have made a few additional clarifying changes this year. The associate principals will focus on the day-to-day operations of each individual campus such as attendance, discipline, etc. The principal will be focusing on elementary-wide initiatives including curriculum, professional development, etc.
Renaissance Star 360 Assessment
The Diocese of Green Bay has decided that beginning with the 2023-24 school year all schools will be using the Renaissance Star 360 assessment in place of MAP assessment for students in grades K-5. More information will be shared as it becomes available.
Elementary Band Update
We are in the process of interviewing candidates for the elementary band teacher position. Elementary band will begin as soon as we are able to fill this position. Updates will be shared with families as soon as possible.
Spirit Stop Back-To-School Blowout Sale
60% off all items - All items must go!!
The Spirit Stop (located in the SMCHS Commons) will be open the following days and times:
- Monday, August 28, 10am-2pm & 4pm-8pm
- Wednesday, August 30, 5:30-8pm
The new online Spirit Stop website will be coming soon. Stay tuned!
Important Scrip Information
Please make sure the delivery method on your purchase order lists the school/parish you want your Scrip to go to starting Thursday, August 31 st for the 2023-24 school year. This is especially important for parents of 6th & 9th grade students who may need to change delivery to a different campus! If you need to change the delivery location to another campus, email Liz Uhlenbrauck at luhlenbrauck@smcatholicschools.org.
The last day of the SUMMER DELIVERY to St. Mary Catholic High School or a “summer” parish location is Thursday, August 24. Starting Thursday, August 31, your Scrip orders will go to your preferred school-year delivery location. There will be no Scrip the week of September 3 for Labor Day. Place your Labor Day Scrip orders by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 28, for delivery on August 31. The next delivery will be September 14. Don't forget, all orders need to be placed online by 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning for pick up on Thursday, except those eCards or Reloads paid online. Those are available within minutes of purchasing, any day, any time!
Dress Code Reminders
A few reminders from the SMCS Elementary Dress Code:
- Navy blue or khaki shorts and capris in solid color may be worn in August & September and May & June.
- Dress shorts must be 3” above the knee or longer (no athletic shorts).
- Navy blue or khaki skorts, skirts, or jumpers must be 3” above the knee or longer.
- Navy blue and light blue solid-colored polo dresses must be 3” above the knee or longer.
- Jumpers must be worn with a dress-code approved collared shirt underneath.
- Sandals may be worn in May & June and August & September. Sandals must have a strap across the ankle. Flip-flops of any kind are not allowed. “Crocs” or similar style shoes are not allowed.
- An additional pair of tied or Velcro tennis shoes that are non-marking or light-bottomed need to be left at school at all times for physical education.
- On Zephyr Spirit day, students may wear Zephyr t-shirts, apparel, and/or school colors. Students may wear casual pants or leggings.
- On out-of-dress code days, students may wear leggings.
- On a student’s birthday or half-birthday he/she may be out of dress code. If the birthday falls on a weekend, the student may choose the Friday before or Monday after.
- When a student is out of uniform for an approved reason, he/she must dress modestly for a Catholic School setting. School administrator has the right to determine what is appropriate.
Link to full SMCS Elementary Dress Code
Elementary Breakfast & Lunch Menu for August & September
Interested in Volunteering at SMCS?
We are so grateful for our volunteers and are always looking for new and returning faces to help out in our schools!
Please visit the Volunteer Hub on our website to learn more about how you can complete the required steps to volunteer with SMCS.
If you are already a volunteer with SMCS, please ensure you have completed all Safe Environment requirements through Virtus Online- background check, online Virtus annual retraining, and annual acknowledgment form.
If you have any questions on the Safe Environment process, please reach out to the Human Resources department: pfoulks@smcatholicschools.org and ckind@smcatholicschools.org.
Discipleship Digest
“I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt. 16:18)
We usually hear this familiar passage describe how Jesus made Peter the first pope. But we overlooksomething really essential in Jesus’s words: What is the purpose of the Church?
We often think of the Church under attack. We know, of course, that Christian disciples have been persecuted in every age, including today. But Fr. John Riccardo asks us to look more closely at the language of this verse. Why does Jesus talk about “the gates of the netherworld”? Gates are meant to defend against an invader. So if our image of the Church is all about hunkering down, or keeping out unwanted people, we’ve got it completely backwards.
The Church is on offense! Jesus is on a rescue mission, pulling broken and captive people out of the clutches of sin and death. He enlists the Church – that is, all of us – to be a part of that mission. We don’t fight with the weapons of this world, but rather with prayer, fasting, works of mercy, and words of hope and life. How will I use those weapons today to combat darkness in my own life and for the sake of those around me?
©Steve Pable, Director of Adult Discipleship Formation
Welcome – Worship – Witness
Tuition Discount Opportunity
Our After School Care Program is hiring! 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
Sports & Fine Arts Events
We invite all families to attend our co-curricular athletic and fine arts events!
Click here for the SMCS Big East Sports Calendar
Click here for the SMCS Fine Arts Calendar
As a reminder, all students must be accompanied by an adult.
A Look Ahead...
Aug. 29 - First day of school
Aug. 30 - Parent Information Night
Sept. 4 - No school (Labor Day)
Sept. 5 - Zephyr Spirit Day
Sept. 8 - SMCS all-system Mass (grades K-12) at SMCHS
Sept. 22 - No school (Professional Development day)
Sept. 29 - Homecoming Parade and Football Game
Parents are welcome to attend!
Helpful Links
Contact Information
St. Gabriel: 920-725-4161
St. Gabriel Associate Principal: Mrs. Giombetti, jgiombetti@smcatholicschools.org
St. Margaret Mary: 920-729-4565
St. Margaret Mary Associate Principal: Mrs. Lutz, jlutz@smcatholicschools.org
St. Mary: 920-725-5351
St. Mary Associate Principal: Mrs. Blahnik, cblahnik@smcatholicschools.org
Elementary Principal: Mrs. Cihlar, acihlar@smcatholicschools.org