April 27, 2024
Dear Parents & Families,
What a beautiful celebration together today! Thank you to all of our grand friends that traveled near and far to make this tradition so special. The students brought joyful noise to commemorate the approaching month of our Blessed Mother and our patron. Our middle schoolers continue to celebrate with their dance last evening and our 2nd graders will celebrate their Sacrament of First Communion on Sunday. We also look forward to Muffins with Moms on May 2nd and the May Crowning on Friday, May 3rd after our all school mass. More events will be included in the newsletter below.
Thank you for your continued support for our Race for Education! With your help, we are getting closer to our goal each day. The students have recently earned their third incentive of an “Ice Cream Cart!” We will take time in the afternoon on our Race Day to make all things FUN with their earned incentives for our St. Mary’s students!
Blessings,
Maureen Turner, Principal
Notable Dates
- April 28 - First Communion
- April 29 - Color Day - Race for Education Incentive Color Day
- May 1 - Returnable can/bottle drive at morning drop-off
- May 2 - Muffins with Mom
- May 3 - May Crowning after 9 a.m. Mass
- May 3-4 - Art Show at the Cathedral Square - See St. Mary's Contributions!
- May 21 - Early Release
- May 16 - Race for Education - details below
- May 29 - Talent Show - details below
- May 30 - 8th grade last day and Graduation
- June 4 - Field Day
- June 6 - Aquastar Famly Afternoon - Save the Date - details below
- June 18 - June 21 - VBS
We are looking for lunch helpers on:
- Thursdays from 11:25 - 11:50 and 11:55 - 12:20
- Friday 11:25-11:50 a.m.
Please contact the school office if you can help - thank you.
Parishioners, school families, and students seeking a Catholic therapy option: Colleen Dills of the Counseling Center of West Michigan comes highly recommended. She will be available for appointments starting April 29th. Please contact her through their website: Colleen Dills at https://www.counselingcenterwm.org/
RACE TO RAISE UPDATE
We’ve passed our 1st, 2nd and 3rd mini goals, and as of the 27th, we're at $30,109. A huge thanks to our school families for utilizing our online pledge system, turning in your labels, and to our office team for sending out the student handwritten letters. We are grateful for our success so far.
Every stride we take contributes to the St. Mary’s School Annual Fund for operations, tuition assistance, and tech upgrades for science and computers.
As of today: $30,109
Stay tuned for further updates
—Let’s keep rising together—
Our $35,000 goal is in sight!
- ALL SCHOOL ROSARY
Join us before the race at 9 AM for a schoolwide Rosary in the south campus parking lot area. - SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
We are looking for volunteers to help on race day
Volunteers are needed at:
Water Stations - First Aid Stations - Along the Race Route
Volunteers should arrive at 9 am to help familiarize themselves with the race route and job duties.
Contact the school office if you'd like to help.
schooloffice@slstm.org - 616-842-1282 - BECOME A TSHIRT SPONSOR - Details linked HERE
Your name or business on the back of all our race day shirts
View the linked sponsorship options and contact the school office if you'd like to sponsor (616)842-1282 schooloffice@slstm.org
Catholic Schools Art Show
Mrs. Cook has been working with our students getting artwork ready for this event!
Mark your calendars for the first Catholic Schools Art Show sponsored by the Office of Catholic schools! Student artwork from 20 participating schools will be on display at Cathedral Square Center on Friday, May 3 from 3:30pm-7:00pm and Saturday, May 4 from 10am-3:00pm.
- Parking is available in the parking garage next to the building- 360 Division Ave. S.
- The event is free and open to all! Plan to attend and view the artistic talent of the Diocese of Grand Rapids Catholic school students!
Mrs. Cook has been working with our students getting artwork ready for this event
You’re Invited!
Student Council Sponsored Spring Talent Show!
Wednesday, May 29
1:00 PM in the Gym
— Kindergarten - 8th Grade Open House —
Tuesday, May 7 from 6-8 p.m.
-- PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS --
Visit our website for enrollment information at
Preschool: Rachel Mouradian, Preschool Director 616-842-1282 ext. 230 or rmouradian@slstm.org
K-8: School office at 616-842-1282 or schooloffice@slstm.org
Maureen Turner, Principal at 616-842-1282 ext. 201 or principal@slstm.org
Maureen Turner, Principal at 616-842-1282 ext. 201 or principal@slstm.org
--- We are a "bubble," and that's a good thing! ---
The Middle School Advantage!
#YouBelongHere
#YouBelongHere
HAVE YOU APPLIED? Round 3 of Bishop Scholarship
St. Mary’s School and the Diocese of Grand Rapids work with Blackbaud Financial Aid Management to provide the needs assessment for all scholarship and tuition assistance awards.
- View Bishop Scholarship Application and instructions linked HERE
If you need assistance with your financial aid application, please contact Mary Peel at 616-842-1282 ext. 202.
Refer a new family to St. Mary's School K-8 grade and receive $1000!
We invite all current St. Mary's School families to help support our enrollment growth by referring your family and friends to join St. Mary's School.
Personal recommendations and sharing your positive school experiences with the community is the best form of marketing. We are excited to announce the New Student Referral Incentive Program to recognize and honor the excellent work our families do with word-of-mouth referrals resulting in a new family joining St. Mary's School. We encourage you to partner with us and receive a $1000 incentive, redeemable through tuition credit.
The matching campaign will conclude on June 1.
During Catholic Schools Week, Father Bill Vander Werff announced that a generous and anonymous donor offered a $50,000 challenge gift to our school's endowment. This opportunity invites the community to participate, ensuring that Catholic education will be financially sustainable and affordable into the future.
Pictured above: Greg Deja, Executive Director of the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan, Rev. Anthony Vainavicz (Father Tony), and Rev. William R. Vander Werff, pastor St. Mary's Church and School
Leave a legacy of love and faith.
Consider including St. Mary's School in your Will or Trust.
- St. Mary’s School endowment was started in 1992 by Rev. Anthony Vainavicz (Father Tony) to ensure Catholic education would be financially sustainable and affordable into the future.
- The endowment is managed by the Catholic Foundation in a fiscally responsible manner consistent with our Catholic faith, serving as a dependable force for good regardless of market fluctuations.
To learn more about the endowment,
visit our website slstm.org
IMMEDIATE LUNCHROOM HELP NEEEDED
Fridays at early lunch 11:25 - 11:50
Please reach out to schooloffice@slstm.org if you are willing to help out.
Please reach out to schooloffice@slstm.org if you are willing to help out.
Any bit of commitment is appreciated
CONFESSIONS
Confessions will be offered T-F from 8:30-9 throughout the school year
St. Mary's School 6th-8th grade Middle School Spring Dance was Friday.
Thank you Mrs. Kval and all the parent volunteers for putting on a beautiful and FUN event for our middle schoolers!
Thank you Mrs. Kval and all the parent volunteers for putting on a beautiful and FUN event for our middle schoolers!
Next CHAMPS meeting is
Tuesday, May 7, 6:30-7 Abbey
Right before the school
OPEN HOUSE!
Tuesday, May 7, 6:30-7 Abbey
Right before the school
OPEN HOUSE!
Please reach out to Katie at kjfpetersen@gmail.com with questions.
What's coming up?
- April 30, 5-8pm Culver’s Share Night
- May 2: Muffins with Mom! 8:10am in the gym.
- May 22: Final CHAMPS meeting of the year at 3pm in the Abbey - please join us to share your feedback and help us start planning for next year!
- June 6: Start summer off right with lunch followed by an Aquastar Cruise! Additional details coming soon.
Scan your receipts and earn money for St. Mary's School! It's easier than ever with the mobile app. Simply download the FREE box Tops app on yoru mobile device.
- CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
- CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
SLSTM Gala 2023: Help us pick the theme!
Gala planning for 2025 is already underway, so SAVE THE DATE for February 15, 2025!
- We'll have dinner, drinks, dancing, a live auction, and music by local band Brena...but we need your help to finalize the theme!
- Please vote at link below by May 7:
Drop Us a Line:
What would you like to see next year?
CHAMPS is starting the planning process for next school year, and we'd love your feedback!
- Please take this 5-minute survey by May 17 to share your thoughts
- We'd also love to have you join us to review results and share any live feedback at our last meeting of the year on May 22 at 3pm.
No cooking? No dishes? No brainer!
Eat family dinner at Culver's in Grand Haven
on April 30, 5-8pm!
A portion of all dollars spent go to SLSTM, so join us for dinner! Volunteers are also needed to work this event, if you've got some time to help, we'd love to have you
GOTR girls are practicing Tuesday and Thursday in preparation for the 5K scheduled for June 1 in coopersville.
Calling all Volunteers for VBS 2024, June 18-21
All must be Virtus trained.
If you are interested in serving your parish in this capacity,
contact Cynthia, clarson@slstm.org
Vacation Bible School helps kids develop a personal relationship with Jesus.
Don’t we want our children to really know Jesus?
It’s so important that we give kids the opportunity to experience the faith as something alive and exciting.VBS can do that. It makes the Sacraments, the Eucharist, the Saints, Mary, Prayer, the Scriptures and the Church something more real and accessible. Ignite the faith at a young age and get to watch kids transform into saints in training.
SAVE THE DATE June 18-21
DID YOU KNOW? St. Mary's school vintage Cyclone is BACK!
Now available as an option in our online school spirit store -- All 5 options available for customization!
- Wednesday, May 1 at school drop-off
If unable to drop-off on designated dates, Dan Artibee has generously offered to pick up. Call 616-402-4052
It's open every day all year!
Community Paper Recycling - Right here on our St. Mary's campus!
What can go in the bin?
School/Office Paper - News Paper - Junk Mail - Hard & Soft Cover Books - Magazines - Shredded Paper (Bagged in Clear Plastic) - Paperboard (Cereal Type Boxes) - * Cardboard (12″ x 12″ or smaller) - Wrapping Paper (no foil or sparkles)
What can't go in the bin?
Plastic - Metal - Glass - Garbage
