Red Ribbon Week

Today marks the end of Red Ribbon Week at Saint Mary School. Yesterday we had a performance called The Power of One that exposed us to different types of bullying (verbal, physical, cyber) and taught us how to stop the cycle of bullying. Today, as a school, we "Chalked the Walk" with anti-drug and anti-bullying messages. We participated in several other activities, including wearing red, wearing ribbons and Minute-to-Win-it games during the lunch periods, that allowed us to stop and think about all the great things we have in our lives BECAUSE of the safe and healthy choices that we make. HUGE THANKS to our student council officers Alycia, Natalie, John and Claire, and the classroom representatives, for decorating our school and organizing and running the games at lunch time. You helped deliver a very successful Red Ribbon Week!

CALLING ALL DESIGNERS!

The Kindergarten Garden that we planted last year has been the source of much learning over the past 5 months. Over the summer, Kindergarteners signed up for watering duty and journaled about their experiences. This year our new Kindergarteners have learned about things that plants need to grow and how to harvest. Now we have the opportunity to expand our garden and Mrs. Olsen is calling on 5-8th graders to design our new garden space. Tomorrow teachers will pass out a Garden Design Challenge. Students will be able to work independently or in small groups to use critical thinking, geometry and math application skills, to help our Kindergarteners design our new garden space. I hope that many of you will participate in this challenge! There will be prizes awarded and I am really excited by the prospect of our SMS "big kids" using their talents to help our SMS "little kids". I can't wait to see your designs!!

Congratulations Peacekeepers!

After Mass on Friday we honored 12 students with the September Peacekeeper Award. This award recognizes behaviors and actions that are in Christ's image. Congratulations to Will M., Charlie D., Emily Y., Theresa T., Ryan L., Linsey B., Andrew L., George Y., John A., Ryan F., Max K., and John I. The way that you treat your classmates and the special effort that you put forth to make sure our school community is strong, welcoming and inclusive, is truly something to be proud of!

Camp Edwards

September 9, 2011
I was so happy to be able to participate in part of our 7th graders' trip to Camp Edwards! The growth, both academically and spiritually, that happened in the context of God's beautiful landscape was nothing short of amazing. In addition to the teaching and learning that took place, there was also time for a lot of FUN! How about that zipline?! (Thanks for taking this video, Wyatt!) The very best part for me was getting to know more about the seventh graders, as people and thinkers. What an impressive group! Seventh graders - I hope that the kindness and support that I witnessed from you at Camp Edwards is transferred to our school as you model Christian behavior for our younger students. Your junior high years are certainly off to a great start!

BEST STUDENTS IN THE WORLD

September 2, 2011

Just a message for the BEST students in the world:  What a week!  We've had many "firsts" together this week ... our first All School Mass, our first Special Foods Day, many of you had your first test or quiz of the year, there is certainly a lot to be thankful for. I want to thank you for being such great kids!  It was hot these last couple days - really hot - and you were amazing. There was no complaining or begrudging the grades that have A/C. I saw students (and teachers!) making the best of their time together, being creative and flexible (it's amazing how many types of lessons can be taught from the air-conditioned writing lab or lunchroom!) and using instructional minutes in very meaningful ways. I've said it before and it really is true: There is absolutely NO LIMIT to what we can achieve together!

WELCOME GREETING FROM MRS. RAFTERY

August 22, 2011

Good morning teachers, boys and girls.  Welcome back to Saint Mary on our first day of school!

This is a special day for us - we are starting a new journey together.  Over the next 10 months we will think, wonder, discover, learn and grow ... together.  We will explore new ideas, make mistakes, try again, and have huge successes ... together.  I am so happy to be here with all of you!  Your teachers have worked so hard to make this year a great one for you, so be good to them, and make sure you thank your parents because they have prepared you so well for today.

 

This year I want all of us to try our best everyday.  I want us to enjoy the year together and be proud  of our accomplishments.  The year starts today!  So put on your thinking caps and get ready to work hard - there is no limit to what we can achieve together!  We ask for God's blessings on our journey in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.