Take a look at an introduction to the Education in Virtue program we will be using school wide:  https://vimeo.com/220875178 . Our  next virtue beginning week of September 10th: PATRIOTISM 

We kicked off our Education in Virtue program this week.  We will be focusing on a Virtue each week during the school year.  This week's Virtue was "Affability".  Ask your children what this Virtue means and how they exhibited it this week.  Next week we will introduce "Patriotism" on Monday morning.  We will be recognizing students after Mass on Friday who are demonstrating the weekly Virtue.  The list of students will be posted on the St. Mary's School website and Facebook page.  We will also display their names in the Gathering Space each week so the parishioners can see them along with the Virtue of the Week.
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I'm pleased to announce that Mrs. Carol Payne has accepted the job as Secretary at St. Mary's School.  Mrs. Payne has been doing a wonderful job of filling in for Mrs. Mary Peel as she has moved over to Ms. Ann Pendery's Administrative Assistant position.  Please welcome Mrs. Payne to St. Mary's School.

I would also like to remind you of our Parish Festival being held on Saturday, September 15th, noon until 9:00 pm.  There are a few volunteers still needed.  You can sign up to volunteer in the Gathering Space.  Hopefully you received your envelope of Raffle Tickets to sell.  The raffle tickets can be picked up in the Gathering Space or if you need more to sell, Barb Wyant will have them in the Parish Office.  To complete our St. Mary's Parish Festival weekend, our St. Mary's School students will be leading Mass on Sunday, September 16th at 11:00 am.  All students and families planning to attend should be in their School Mass Uniforms.  I hope to see all of you next weekend.

Please be sure to read the important news and notes on the bottom of this page.

God Bless.
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Steve VanHammen, Principal
St. Mary's School, Spring Lake
Phone (616) 842-1282

Color Day  - Monday, September 10th
Color days fall on the first Monday of each month and on students' birthdays. Please refer to the School Dress Code/Color Days on page 3, or visit our school website for color day guidelines. https://www.stmarysl.org/dress-code---st-marys-school.html

School-Wide Education in Virtue Program
Visit our School facebook page and/or our School website NEWS for the latest on our school-wide education in virtue program.  Last week we learned about AFFABILITY - Check out the TV monitors in the school lobby to see who we caught practicing virtue ! This week we are introducing PATRIOTISM.
https://www.stmarysl.org/school-news

SCHOOL HOT LUNCH PROGRAM:
School Hot Lunch Program starts MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th. The school week of September 10th and 17th Hot Lunch Menu is attached. The rest of September and October Menu will be posted soon. School Menu's can be found on our website. Visit: https://www.stmarysl.org/lunch-calendar-menu.html

Lunch and Recess Help Still Needed:
If you're able to help supervise during lunch and/or recess from 11:45 AM to 12:30 PM, please contact Chris Fojtik at 616-215-3161

MAPs  Testing  (Measures of Academic Progress)
MAPs Testing for grades 2-8 begin Monday, September 10th.
Parents!  Please log in to Infinite Campus to make sure your login information still works. If you have never been on Infinite Campus, please contact the school office for instructions on how to register.
https://www.stmarysl.org/infinite-campus.html

Love One Another T-Shirts
Gear Group is going to open our storefront online for a limited time for families to order new Love One Another t-shirts if you want extra. New school families to this school year will receive 1 new FREE shirt per student by the end of this month.
https://stores.inksoft.com/st_marys_school/Products

St. Mary's Parish Festival - Saturday September 15
A FUN FAMILY EVENT - ALL ARE WELCOME
Saturday, September 15th
12:00 noon - 9:00 PM
Please see attached Festival flyer and spread the word!

St. Mary's Parish Junior Choir
Mrs. Diane Murray will be directing our St. Mary's Parish Junior Choir grades 1-8. The junior choir will meet in the Music Room on Wednesdays starting September 19th after school - 3:40 PM until 4:30 pm. The Parish Junior Choir leads the music at a weekend Mass 4 times during the year.

Want to save money on your School tuition?
    Scrip is an easy way to save money on your tuition account.  We have our Cash and Carry box in the parish office that is sold during business hours and after most weekend Masses at St. Mary's Parish, but we also have online access.  You can Reload Cards, order Physical Cards, or use ScripNow Cards.  
   ScripNow is an eCard that you can buy and receive instantly.  You can print off ScripNow, or redeem it on your mobile device for certain retailers.  They are immediately available when you pay with Presto-pay.  
For more information,or to sign up, please visit the School website at:  www.stmarysl.org/scrip.html

This Coming Week Birthdays:
September 10 - Mary Peel  Office
September 10 - Michael Markey  5th Grade
September 13 - Catherine Harris  Kindergarten
September 15 - Harper Sturt  3rd Grade

This Coming Week School Mass Liturgy Schedule:
September 14th - Prepared by 7th Grade
September 21st - Prepared by 6th Grade
9 AM School Mass - Join us!

Extension:
Families that would like to use the Extension Before and After School Care Program need to preregister and schedule with the Extension Coordinator Nicole Stroven 616-842-1282 ext. 232 nstroven@stmarysl.org. Visit: https://www.stmarysl.org/extention-program.html

School Drop-Of and Pick-Up Procedures:
Visit: https://www.stmarysl.org/transportation.html

Appointments During School Hours:
If your child has to leave the school during school hours, parent must come in the office to sign in/sign out. Please use North/Front entrance (4A) for pickups during school hours.

Car Rider or SL Bus Changes:
Call in by 3:15 PM for changes to your normal routine.

Student Absences:
Call in or email the office with any absences. If sick, please note if fever/sore throat/vomiting - for our weekly Health Department reporting.

Looking Ahead:
Picture Make-Up Day October 1st
Blessing of the Pets  October 4th
Daddy Daughter Dance October 13
(proceeds go to St. Mary's Athletics)

Thank you

​There will be an evening PTO Meeting on Wednesday, September 5th at the K2 Pizzeria/Kirby in Grand Haven at 6PM. All meetings are family friendly. The PTO needs your ideas! 😊