SMCS Elementary Family Newsletter
02.15.23
SMCS ELEMENTARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER - February 15, 2023
In This Email
Click here for St. Gabriel Elementary News
Click here for St. Mary Elementary News
Click here for St. Margaret Mary 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,
Happy Valentine’s Day (one day late)! As a child, Valentine’s Day was always one of my favorite days, as we shared Valentines in class. I know our students have enjoyed that very much this week, as well! St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Let all that you do be done with love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). During this week in which we celebrate love and friendship, my prayer is that we all may be inspired by St. Paul and act out of true Christian love for everyone in every circumstance.
God bless you,
Mrs. Anna Cihlar
Principal ~ St. Gabriel, St. Margaret Mary, St. Mary
Sock Hop Success!
Thank you to the St. Margaret Mary FACES group for hosting the sock hop for all SMCS schools! Our students and families danced the night away and had fun playing games and hula hooping. The hot dogs, hamburgers, and of course milk shakes were delicious! A good time was had by all!
Sweetheart Ball
If you are able to contribute time, treats or drinks to help make this event a success, please sign up using this link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20F0C44AAAE22A0FF2-20232
Planning for the 2023-2024 School Year
Registration
Existing students do not need to do anything to register for next year. The non-refundable $75 registration fee will appear on existing tuition accounts in March.
New Students: If you have a new student entering the system in 2023-2024, you can begin the registration process here. Please feel free to share that link with anyone looking to learn whether SMCS is the right choice for their family.
Tuition
Tuition rates for 2023-2024 have been announced. Click here to view the rate sheet. Tuition assistance is available. Click here for the application.
You can read more about this year's Cost to Educate invitation in this email sent recently.
WPCP
SMCS participates in the state of Wisconsin Parental Choice Program (WPCP). The state application period runs from February 1 to April 20. Please review eligibility requirements at: dpi.wi.gov/choice or contact Shelley Wautlet in the Business Office for more information. Being awarded the WPCP grant can mean free tuition for your child grades 4K-12 at SMCS!
For Tax Purposes- filing year 2022
Parents may claim the tuition payments for 5-year-old kindergarten through grade 12 on the state of WI Schedule PS tax form. To access payments made from 1/1/22 to 12/31/22, log in to Blackbaud/Tuition Management: https://parent.smarttuition.com/ and select Family Year End Statement at the right. Please consult a tax professional to inquire about claiming payments on P3/4K tuition. For Part 1 on the PS Form you will enter: St. Mary Catholic Schools, 1050 Zephyr Drive, Neenah, WI 54956. The federal ID will print on your statement as the School Tax ID. Contact Shelley Wautlet if you need help with logging in to your tuition account. swautlet@smcatholicschools.org
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent~Teacher Conferences will be on February 17 from 8:00-11:30 a.m. and February 21 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Please see the SignUp Genius for your school in the campus specific link at the top of this newsletter. Please sign up for a 15-minute time slot to meet with your child's teacher. Art, music, PE, technology, library, counseling, and learning/reading specialists will be available in an "open house" format and it is not necessary to sign up to meet these teachers in advance. If this time frame does not work for your family, please contact your child's teacher to schedule a time that works. Thank you!
There is no school for students on February 17 due to parent-teacher conferences.
Si Usted necesite intérprete durante las conferencias por favor, llame a su escuela.
No school on February 17 due to parent-teacher conferences
Thank you, Seven Thymes Floral
We want to extend a huge thank you to Joelle Miller, SMCS parent and owner of Seven Thymes Floral Boutique & Atelier in Neenah, for donating beautiful roses for all of our elementary staff members this Valentine's Day! Our staff felt the love!
Save-the-date for 5th grade recognition
Save the date for 5th grade recognition:
St. Gabriel: 5/24/23
St. Margaret Mary: 5/25/23
St. Mary: 5/26/23
Camp Zephyr
Click on flyer below to register!
Elementary Breakfast
Our elementary breakfast program started Tuesday of this week and was a hit with many of our students! As a reminder, if you are interested in having your child eat breakfast at school, here are the details:
- Breakfast is from 7:30-7:45 a.m. in the cafeteria. No late arrivals, please, with the exception of students who arrive late due to bussing. These students will receive a "breakfast to go" bag and will eat in the classroom.
- Breakfast costs $2.00 for three items. Students may also just take individual items (one breakfast bar, for example). There will be an itemized charge for those individual items.
- Please see link below for the February breakfast menu.
Winter Reminders:
This time of year illness may keep your student from school, or weather might keep us from being able to safely open school for the day.
Here are some helpful reminders as we enter the winter season.
Weather Closures and Delays: SMCS utilizes a text message notification system for emergency notifications, weather-related closures and delays, and other information. If you are new to the SMCS system, or have not previously received our text messages, please enroll your phone number, at no cost, to the SMCS emergency alert system. To enroll your phone number, please text SMCS to (844) 947-5948. You will receive a confirmation text and a text indicating that when you want to opt out of this service you simply need to reply STOP. You may enroll multiple cell phone numbers using that same process.
With winter nearly here, a reminder that as soon as a weather-related delay or cancellation is determined for school day or activities, information is posted on the SMCS Facebook page, SMCS email, text notification mentioned above, and local TV and radio stations.
Absences from School: If your student will not be in attendance on a day school is in session, please call your school office as soon as possible to make staff aware, and please let the campus administrative assistant know the reason for the absence. It is required that students are fever free for 24 hours and symptoms are mostly resolved before returning to school.
Outerwear: Please send students with coats, snow pants, hat, waterproof mittens or gloves, and boots to play in the snow. If they do not have snow pants or boots, they must stay on the blacktop.
Snow: Students are encouraged to enjoy the snow. They can make snowmen, forts, snow angels, etc. Students will not be allowed to throw snow at each other or have snowball fights.
Indoor recess: If the "feels like" temperature is 0 degrees or colder, students will stay inside for recess.
SMCS Covid Protocol 2022-23
Please click here to review the SMCS 2022-23 Covid protocol.
Girls Softball Camp
Girls from Kindergarten-8th grade are invited to a one day Softball Camp on March 4th. This fun camp is designed to teach the proper skills and fundamentals of the game of softball. Throwing, fielding, base running and hitting will be developed at this camp. The cost is $20 and you can register here.
SMC Intramural Volleyball: 4th and 5th Grade Girls
Parents of 4th & 5th Grade Girls:
We are organizing our annual 4th & 5th grade volleyball program.
The intramural teams will be formed by combining a mix of students from our three SMCES campuses (St. Gabriel, St. Margaret Mary and St. Mary). This will allow us to balance the number of students on each team. Each student will receive a t-shirt for participating.
The program will begin on Tuesday, April 11 and will run through Thursday, May 18. The teams will practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.). All practices/games will take place at SMC Middle School Gym
There is a participation fee of $25.00. Please register online:
St. Mary Catholic 4th/5th Grade Girls Volleyball
Deadline is Friday, March 31. No late registrations!
Tuition Discount Opportunity
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
Virtus Training for Volunteers
We are so grateful to all our volunteers who contribute so much to our schools! If you are considering volunteering or chaperoning any school field trips or events, please complete Virtus training, a background check, and the code of conduct through the Diocese Green Bay. Please contact your schools' administrative assistant to get the process started. Thank you!
St. Gabriel contact Mrs. Richards, srichards@smcatholicschools.org
St. Margaret Mary contact Mrs. Schira, kschira@smcatholicschools.org
St. Mary contact Mrs. Barraza, dbarraza@smcatholicschools.org
A Look Ahead...
Feb. 17: No school for students. Parent-teacher conferences 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Feb. 20: No school
Feb. 21: Parent-teacher conferences 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Feb. 22: Ash Wednesday
Feb. 25: Middle school solo & ensemble
Mar. 7: Zephyrs Spirit Day
Mar. 16: End of quarter 3
Mar. 17: No school (staff development day)
Mar. 20-24: No school - spring break
Helpful Links
Contact Information
St. Gabriel: 920-725-4161
St. Margaret Mary: 920-729-4565
St. Mary: 920-725-5351
Elementary Principal: Mrs. Cihlar, acihlar@smcatholicschools.org
St. Gabriel Associate Principal: Mrs. Giombetti, jgiombetti@smcatholicschools.org
St. Margaret Mary Associate Principal: Mrs. Lutz, jlutz@smcatholicschools.org
St. Mary Associate Principal: Mrs. Cendejas, acendejas-ruiz@smcatholicschools.org