Monday Morning Memo

September 18, 2023

New Information

Letter from the Principal

Good afternoon St. Mary of the Assumption Community,

I am writing to notify you of a fire evacuation that took place this morning. All members of our community are safe and were throughout the incident.

At 10:20 a.m., there was a loud bang from one of the exterior HVAC units near the gym/Pre-K playground and it was accompanied by a small flame, which was contained within the unit, and smoke. While the fire was visibly contained and extinguished itself within 30 seconds, we evacuated the school building out of an abundance of caution. The staff and the students evacuated to the soccer field quickly and calmly and remained there until the fire department arrived and determined the building was safe to re-enter.

I spoke with all the students to let them know the details of what occurred to hopefully alleviate any worries. I wanted to share this with you in the event that your child has any remaining questions or concerns when they come home today.

Reminders

Fall Pictures

Fall Picture Day is Wednesday September 20th for Grades PK through 3 and Thursday September 21st for grades 4 through 8.

Fall pictures will be taken out of uniform. Students should arrive to school dressed out of uniform in their picture day outfit. Pictures will be available for purchase through the online portal. Information will be sent home with your child on the day of their pictures and emailed to the address in TADS.

Spring pictures will be taken in uniform for the yearbook, so this is the only opportunity for pictures out of uniform this year.

Dress Down Days (from the Family/Student Handbook)

Parents are asked to assist the students in choosing attire that reflects the dignity of their human body made in the image of God. Attire must be appropriate in size, fit, and coverage.

Shoulder straps must be at least the width of three fingers and shorts must go down to the mid-thigh. Arm holes are expected to fit the circumference of the arm and not expose torso skin or undergarments. Low-cut tops are not permitted. Students must be able to raise their arms and move freely without exposing any midriff skin.

Shorts must fall to the mid-thigh. Skirts must be no shorter than three inches above the knee. No inappropriate wording or images may be on any article of clothing worn. Bottoms should not be overly-tight. Leggings are permitted with a dress or a shirt that falls below the hips.

Pajamas are not acceptable dress-down day attire unless specifically indicated.

If the administration determines that a student’s attire is inappropriate or disruptive to classroom instruction and learning, a parent or guardian will be contacted to bring in a change of clothing. The student will be asked to change his/her attire before attending class and may have future dress-down day privileges revoked.

Reminder About Virtus

With field trips and the Halloween party coming up, please make sure you have started the process for Virtus certification. NO PARENT/GUARDIAN may attend the Halloween celebration unless they are Virtus certified. Please contact ncoates@stmaryum.org with any questions.

Catholic Schools Night at Audi Field

We are excited to participate in Catholic Schools Night at Audi Field, hosted by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Buy your tickets now to cheer on DC United with fellow ADW family and friends: https://fevogm.com/event/CatholicschoolsDCU

Service Hour Opportunities

Traffic Light Help: The traffic light outside of the school is manually changed during arrival and dismissal. We are looking for parents to assist with manning the light from 7:40-8:15 a.m. and 2:55-3:20 p.m. Please contact Mr. O'Brien at robrien@stmaryum.org with your availability.