April 26, 2018 GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY! Vol. 30

WHAT A NIGHT AT THE AUCTION!

The Spring for Success Auction Gala was a grand success, thanks to the efforts of Amy Jensen,

our Auction Chairperson, and her outstanding team of volunteers from the school and parish; our

incredibly generous sponsors and auction goers; our room parents, who coordinated gift

gathering parties; and all those who donated the incredible gifts and prizes! Our Raise the Paddle

for school projects (including a new volley ball set up for PE, flexible classroom items, and

Maker Space tools) raised $8,800.00 – with a promised dollar-for-dollar match from a staunch

and endlessly generous supporter of SMS! These are dollars that enable you to see many of the

changes and updates that take place at SMS!

HOW DO WE LOVE THEE?

S A I N T MARY ’ S BU Z Z

APRIL’S VIRTUE: PERSEVERENCE

Lord, teach our children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to run with

perseverance the race marked out for them.

Heb. 12:1

OUR APRIL SERVICE PROJECT:

SHELTER THE HOMELESS:

Parish CARE CASES for foster children

…There simply is not enough room to count the ways!

This week we celebrated Administrative Assistant Day,

with special recognition for all the collegiality, support,

talent, effort, warmth, spirit, and love that Mrs.

Stephanie States and her assistant, Ms. Maria Suchyna,

bring to our mission!

Mrs. States is our mainstay for coordination of school-

wide activities; nurturing comfort for sick children;

support for faculty and administration; advancement

and development work; and a role model of Christian

charity for all. We are a better school, because of her

tireless and unselfish efforts. Thank you, today and

every day, Steph!

RAIN BARREL ART

TROUT RELEASE

Our little babies have now grown to fingerling size and are ready to be released and grow to

adulthood! Many thanks to Mrs. Lougen and Grades 4 & 5 for their diligent work in raising trout

from eggs, and deepening our understanding and appreciation for local watersheds and

resources! The fingerlings are being released today in a field trip adventure!

CALLING ALL BAKERS AND VOLUNTEERS!

Please help make the Father-Daughter Dance a wonderful evening for your daughters and their

dads! We are in need of volunteers and people to donate desserts. Please go to SignUp Genius

and help any way you are able to. Any questions please call or text Maryellen Burger at

(716)994 -1029.Thank you!

TRANSITIONING TO HIGH SCHOOL

Moving on to the unknowns of high school can be incredibly intimidating. Amy Schule, a teen

life coach, is offering a workshop for young ladies making this transition. This workshop will

provide skills and tools as well as a safe place to talk about concerns and issues. The workshop

will take place on Wednesdays, beginning May 23rd

. See the flyer below for details and contact

information.

REGENTS REVIEW VIDEOS FROM NYSED

The New York State Regents exams are just around the corner, and educators and parents can

help students prepare for them with Regents Review 2.0, a free service presented by New York's

public broadcasters. Regents Review 2.0 includes specially prepared television episodes, online

videos, and resources. The programs are also being broadcast on most New York State public

television stations. Check with your local PBS station for dates and times.

OUR APRIL SERVICE

As April winds to a close, please remember that we are collecting CARE CASES for foster

children – a service near and dear to the heart of our Deacon Paul Snyder. So many foster care

children move into their homes with few or no personal items, and we’d like to change that by

collecting not only essential hygiene items, but also markers, crayons, coloring books, journals,

pens, books, small games, decks of cards, teddy bears, and other items that can brighten a

child’s day. It takes so little to make a big difference in the lives of others! Donations may be

collected in the classrooms and/or placed on the table outside the office. For more inspiration,

see the attached flyer about CARE CASES. Thank you for your support during this brief month!!

Saint Mary School has finished 3rd

in the K-4 division

of the 2018 Erie County Rain Barrel Painting

Contest! Our design focused on storm water pollution

prevention and recycling rain water. Winning barrels

(including Saint Mary’s) were on display at the Earth

Day awards ceremony (seen here) and press event,

held at the Buffalo Museum of Science. The rain

barrels, along with other pieces of art, will remain for

an art exhibition through May 31st, 2018.

Congratulations to all!!

DIOCESAN ART EXHIBITION HERE!!

Get ready for the best Diocesan Art Exhibition yet! Saint Mary School is hosting the event with

opening night on May 14th

, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Our theme is God’s Tapestry of Talent and

we’ll be celebrating with an ice cream social, two- and three-dimensional art exhibits, living art,

performance art (a presentation by the cast of Peter Pan ), creative interactive art in the Art

Room, and more!! With over 20 schools (including high schools!) participating, we’re expecting

some great attendance! Come see what your children have created!!

…FOLLOWED BY PETER PAN!!!!

Mr. Delagrange, Mrs. Weis, our art crew, stage hands and performers will be presenting our

Spring Musical, Peter Pan in two performances at the end of our Art Show week! Be sure to

circle your calendar for either Friday, May 18th

at 7:00 p.m. or Saturday May 19th

at 1:00

p.m. for an absolutely charming presentation of the Broadway hit!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please consider volunteering at lunch time (10:45 – 12:45)! We’ve been short-staffed lately and

the children have not been able to go outside without the required three monitors! If you can

help, please contact Connie Masci at bam211@roadrunner.com or go directly to SignUp Genius.

Thank you SO much!!!

HSA NEWS FOLLOWS

UP AND COMING AT SMS :

8th

Grade Class Trip to D.C. …………………………………………………………….Thurs. April 26-29

Father/Daughter Dance…………………………………………………………………..Sat. May 5

Open House for New Enrollment in K-8 from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. ………………………Mon. May 7

Mass of Hope at 9:00 and Reception following…………………………………………Fri. May 11

Montessori and Kindergarten Mother’s Day Tea……………………………………...Fri. May 11

Noon Dismissal……………………………………………………………………………Fri. May 11

Diocesan Art Exhibition HERE 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. ………………………………………Mon. May 14

SPRING MUSICAL: Peter Pan at 7:00 p.m. …………………………………………...Fri. May 18

SPRING MUSICAL: Peter Pan at 1:00 p.m. …………………………………………...Sat. May 19

Bald for Bucks @ SMS after school……………………………………………………...Wed. May 23

Memorial Day Holiday……………………………………………………………………Fri. May 25 and

Mon. May 28

HSA NEWS

What a fabulous Spring for Success Auction Gala on Saturday evening! It was an amazing night for our entire St. Mary’s Parish Community to come together and enjoy socializing, a fabulous dinner and LOTS of amazing items to bid on. The live auction portion of the evening was exciting, with the “Raise the Paddle” segment bringing in funds especially for the brand new Maker’s Space and flexible classroom seating and desks. Thank you to everyone who attended – your support means so much to the School and the Parish Community!

We must say a very special THANK YOU to all of the volunteers, behind the scenes helpers, those who donated items or attended gift gathering parties, and the room parents who coordinated classroom gift baskets and gift gathering events. You all are the core of this Auction and your time and generosity are appreciated! Thank you also to Lisa Pender and Jennifer Pepe for organizing the class projects – we look forward to seeing (and bidding on!!) those priceless items every year! Special thanks to Amy Jensen, Auction Chair, and the Auction Committee who put in countless hours to make this Auction a huge success. This event would not have been possible without the time and efforts of each and every one of you!!!! Thank you! :)

PRINCIPAL APPRECIATION DAY: May 1st is Nation School Principal’s Day! Make sure you thank Mrs. Aiken for her endless dedication to St. Mary’s School if you see her that day!!!

FATHER – DAUGHTER DANCE – MAY 5, 2018: All St. Mary’s girls (Montessori 4 year old through 8th Grade) and their fathers are invited to the Father-Daughter Dance on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. In honor of the Kentucky Derby, the theme is “Hats, Roses and Race Horses”! The cost is $10 per family. Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 2, 2018 by sending payment in an envelope marked “Father-Daughter Dance” to the Office. Please see the attached flyer for more information.

SQUARE ONE ART: Catalogues have come home featuring your little artists’ special creations!! Make sure you take a look so you can order your child’s keepsake art! Makes great gifts, too! Orders are due by May 9th. Please go online or turn in your order form to the office labeled “Square One Art – Attn: Virginia Zgoda” no later than May 9, 2018.

HSA MEETING: Please join us for the HSA meeting on May 14, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Because of the Diocesan Art Show, this meeting will be held in the Faculty Lounge.

HSA NOMINATION FORMS: Nominations forms for open officer positions and/or committee chairs went home last week. Please consider serving in one of the following positions for the 2018-2019 school year:

President (2 year term) Vice President (2 year term)

Treasurer (2 year term) Volunteer Committee Chair (1 year term)

Communications Committee Chair (1 year term) Spiritual Committee Chair (1 year term)

Nomination forms are due by Thursday, May 31, 2018. If you have any questions about any of these positions, please feel free to reach out to Kristen Lewis - hsa@stmaryschoolswormville.org or Donna Zgoda, Volunteer Chair, at donnazgoda@gmail.com. MAY TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK: Teacher Appreciation Week begins on May 7, 2018! Help us show our teachers how much their efforts are appreciated by signing up to bring a contribution for this special week. Please visit Sign Up Genius (www.stmaryschoolswormville.org/signups/) and sign up to bring a treat or two for our incredibly dedicated teachers!

ART SHOW: We are so excited that St. Mary’s will be hosting the Diocesan Art Show this year! Please join us on opening night May 14 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. for an ice cream social, two and three-dimensional art exhibits, live art, performance art (a presentation by the cast of Peter Pan), creative interactive art in the Art Room, and much more!

SPRING MUSICAL: “All you need is faith, and trust, and a little bit of pixie dust.” Join us in Neverland as St. Mary’s Drama Club presents “Peter Pan” on Friday, May 18 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 19 at 1 p.m. Mr. Delagrange, Mrs. Weis, our art crew, stage hands and performers have spent many hours rehearsing for this charming presentation of the Broadway hit!

LOOKING AHEAD: Please mark your calendar for these upcoming events.

Open House – May 7, 2018 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Mass of Hope – May 11, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

Kindergarten Mother’s Day Tea – May 11, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.

Mass for Sister Sheila – June 1, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

Band and Chorus Concert - June 1, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.

Volunteer Appreciation Night – June 2018

School Kids Supply Kits – Order forms in June 2018

Mother-Son Event – June 2, 2018

Kindergarten Graduation – June 15, 2018

Eighth Grade Dinner Dance - June 16, 2018

Moving Up Day and Talent Show – June 18, 2018

School Picnic – June 19, 2018

Last Day of School – Mass & Awards in Church – June 20, 2018

Graduation – June 22, 2018

HSA is seeking NOMINATIONS for the St. Mary's Home School Association 2018-2019 school year

The HSA is our parent-based organization dedicated to exchanging information with parents, principal, pastor and school community; sharing & building ideas and dreams for our school. HSA members attend our monthly meetings (usually the 1

st

Monday of each month @7pm).

Executive Officer (2 year term) responsibilities:

President: presides at all meetings and sets the HSA agenda, oversees all HSA functions, chairs the Fall into Cash raffle, and

collaborates with the Principal and Pastor on the school event calendar

Vice-President: runs in-school activities such as Picture Day, hosts the annual Teacher Luncheon in December, oversees HSA

meetings in the absence of the President, and is in charge of the Sunshine Committee responsibilities

Treasurer: responsible of all monies, prepares annual budget, and provides regular financial reports

Committee Chairperson (one year term) responsibilities:

Communications: responsible for press releases for the Fall into Cash raffle, the communication of school activities in weekly

newsletters, church bulletins and other media sources

Volunteers: coordinates volunteer sign-ups for all school events, identifies room parents and next year's HSA committee,

provides event details to HSA social event chairs, and assists with Sign-up Genius

Spiritual: establishes prayer partners, coordinates an Advent and Lent activity for students, prepares opening and closing

prayers at HSA meetings, chairs the Catholic School’s Week breakfast

Questions? Contact Volunteer chair Donna Zgoda at donnazgoda@gmail.com or 716-578-1951

.......................................................................................................................................................................

HSA 2018-2019 Nomination Ballot

___ I would like to nominate myself ___ I would like to nominate: ___________________________

For the position of:____________________________________________________________________

Your name: _______________________________________________ Phone:____________________

Please fill out the above nomination ballot; return to the school office in an envelope marked:

HSA NOMINATION BALLOT –Donna Zgoda by Thursday, May 31st.

Hats, Roses and Race Horses

St. Mary’s cordially invites all Montessori 4year old Girls through

Eighth Grade Girls and their Fathers

to our Kentucky Derby Themed Father – Daughter Dance

Saturday, May 5, 2018

6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Desserts, Photos, Music and Memories to Last a Lifetime!

The cost is $10.00 per family

Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Please send payment to the office marked “Father-Daughter Dance”

Any questions, please call Maryellen Burger 636-0422.

Girls should be dressed properly with respect to proper skirt length, no

strapless, spaghetti straps, backless dresses, halter type styles or

revealing necklines are permitted. When in doubt, wear a shrug or

a white sweater. Thank you.

Name___________________________________________ Total Attending_________