Crusader Connection

September 3, 2025

Today, September 3rd, on the feast of St. Gregory the Great, our family of Parishes' namesake and the patron of teachers and students, please pray with me in solidarity for our community:



Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, help me to be “a servant to the servants of God”. Help me to keep my words and deeds in support of others and our SGG community, just as Pope Gregory the Great led by example as a servant leader. Guide our community to grant grace to those we encounter, find peace in your Word, and strive for a welcoming attitude in all we do. May we build up Hope on our journey together this school year. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours, now and forever. Amen.

St. Gregory the Great, pray for us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us,

Mrs. Pendergest

SAFETY ON CAMPUS

The safety of your children and our staff is of upmost importance. You may see media inquiries or be part of other discussions regarding school safety protocols. Please know that, for the protection of our students, we do not publicly share those protocols. We assure you that our safety measures are reviewed in collaboration with local community partners (including law enforcement), we hold regular safety drills addressing an array of emergency scenarios, and we strive to provide the safest possible environment throughout our school day.

DROP OFF AND DISMISSAL PARKING PROCEDURE

MORNING CAR LINE:

Morning Vehicle Drop-off has been going well!

• Please drive all the way up to the cone or to the car in front of you and stay in a single-file line, following the car in front of you.
• Do not drive around other vehicles in line, as this can be unsafe for pedestrians and cause accidents.
• Please use designated crosswalks when available, and be mindful of your speed.
• We cannot allow our drop-off procedure to obstruct Beechmont Avenue traffic flow, so slow and steady movement is critical.

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL:

Afternoon dismissal is a congested time in our parking lot, and it is imperative to follow our procedures to ensure everyone's safety.

• Please park in designated parking spots only.
• Parking in the Delivery Zone Alley or turning around in this area is not permitted. This is a safety concern as our buses use this route and have limited visibility around the building.
• Parking the Fire Lane is not permitted, as it limits First Responders ability to access the building in the case of an emergency.

Thank you for your teamwork!

6th GRADE BIBLE BLESSING

CHESS CLUB IS BACK!

We will be starting on Wednesday, September 17th. Returning students are welcome this Wednesday, September 3rd.

The format of Chess Club will stay the same as last year. We will have two groups (both on Wednesdays) - Group 1 for play & basics, and Group 2 for strategy & tournament prep. 

Please read the information at the top of this form fully before deciding which group to sign up for! 

This form will close Sunday, September 14th at noon. If you have any questions regarding Chess Club or the form, please contact Caroline Walsh - walsh.caroline@ihomschool.org. 

We look forward to seeing everyone on September 17th! We have missed you and Chess Club!

JOIN SCOUT NIGHT!

PRESCHOOL FALL MUM FUNDRAISER

Preschool Mum Buddies on sale now until September 15th! Use this link or ask an IHM Preschooler for their individual link. 

Pick up is on September 26th (12-5 pm) from the IHM parking lot. 

WELCOME TO OUR NEW STAFF!

We are pleased to welcome the following staff to our school campus this year: 

• Laura Case, Preschool Director 
• Ms. Kristen Kucia, Occupational Therapist Hamilton County ESC 
• Ms. Cindy Wilmes, Mathematics Specialist, Hamilton County ESC 
• Mrs. Lisa Baker, Kindergarten 
• Mrs. Savannah Augustyniak, 4th Grade Language Arts 
• Mr. Jackson Elberts, 5th Grade Language Arts 
• Mrs. Thalia (Lia) Conrady, Preschool Extended Day Teacher
• Ms. Sarah Richart, Educational Assistant
• Mrs. Regin Reenan, Health Aide

BEACON OF HOPE COMMUNITY FAIR IS SEPTEMBER 25TH

Come see how you can support Immaculate Heart of Mary School! Join us at the Beacon of Hope Community Fair on September 25th from 6-7 pm in the IHM Cafeteria (babysitting provided!). The Beacon of Hope Community Fair is a great opportunity to see all the organizations that help make Immaculate Heart of Mary School a flourishing environment for our community. There is an organization for everyone to help give back and keep IHM traditions strong. See where your gifts can make a difference — from the Winter Gala to the Booster Fish Fry, there is place for everyone!

CAFETERIA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are always in need of helpful hands to keep an eye on our students in grades K-8 during lunch. Please consider sharing a small part of your day to assist. All volunteers must be SafeParish trained. If you are interested, please sign up!

PARENT CHECKLIST AND FORMS TO COMPLETE

To ensure a smooth start to the school year, please submit the below documentation to the school office as soon as possible.

• Log into Option C to Complete:
• 25-26 SCHOOL DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
• 25-26 STUDENT K-8 HANDBOOK AGREEMENT
• 25-26 SKILLS GROUP ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
• 25-26 PHOTO PERMISSIONS
• 25-26 STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC & MEDICAL INFORMATION

eForms Guide for the Parent Portal.pdf

• Request for Medication by School Personnel
• OTC Medication Form
• Prescription Medication Form
• Updated Immunization Records
• 7th Grade: One dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) and one dose of Tdap vaccine must be administered on or after the 10th birthday
• All Kindergarten and New Families 1-8 MUST complete the following required Medical Forms
• StudentMedicalRecord
• A copy of the most current Immunization Record
• ORAL ASSESSMENT

SUMMER PRAYER CHALLENGE FROM FR. AARON

At the final school Mass last year, Fr. Aaron challenged all IHM students to try and pray every day over the summer, and if they did, he would have a reward for them. This is so important for all of us, as our relationship with God doesn’t just happen when we are at school or in church. We should always be trying to grow and deepen our friendship with Jesus Christ in our daily lives. 

If your child/children participated in this challenge, please respond this survey by Sept. 18th and Fr. Aaron will bring the reward to their homerooms.

IHM PLAYERS NEWS

This year’s fall production of James and the Giant Peach Jr. will be performed by our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade IHM Players this November at the Anderson Center Theater! We would love for you to see these students’ hard work and dedication to the arts. Performance schedule and ticket information will be posted at a later date. We hope to see you at the stage!

For all things IHM Players, please visit our IHM Players Facebook and Instagram pages @ihmplayers. For all inquiries, please email, ihmplayers@gmail.com

IHM PRESCHOOL IS HIRING!

Immaculate Heart of Mary Preschool seeks a caring and patient Preschool teacher to support our early learners. If you are a nurturing and love helping little ones grow in a faith-based environment, we would love to have you join our team. You are expected to plan age-appropriate activities, and work well with classroom aides. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 12-3:30 p.m.

Contact: Laura Case, Preschool Director – case.l@ihomschool.org.

Catholic Candidate: Preferred

ROOFING PROJECT UPDATE

The roofing project is still wrapping up on both the main school building and the Kindergarten annex building.  Please be mindful of door access, materials, and work overhead.  Thank you for giving space for them to wrap up as quickly as possible. 

CAFE CORNER

Welcome Back Crusaders! The Cafe Crew has been hard at work getting it all ready to go for you. Please see the attached flier for some reminders about adding money to your account and reviewing the menu. You can add money to your MySchool Bucks Account. Pricing is below.

PILGRIMS OF HOPE: TAKING CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The St. Gregory the Great Social Action Committee is educating and encouraging students to recycle plastic bottles and milk cartons during the school lunch periods. New recycling containers are in the school cafeteria. Volunteers are reminding students to empty the contents of the milk cartons and plastic bottles (water & Gatorade) into nearby buckets, to remove the straws, and then to recycle the containers. Encourage your child to be a good steward of the Earth and a Pilgrim of Hope as we care for our environment.  

JOIN OUR BOOSTERS

Interested in Athletics or Fine Arts? Please visit our respective parish-sponsored boosters groups for more details.

JON PETERSON SCHOLARSHIP

We are pleased to announce that IHM has partnered with Literacy Link, led by Michelle Orlando regarding Jon Peterson Scholarship applications and billing.  Please reach out to Michelle with questions and documents at jonpeterson@ihomschool.org. If your student receives special education funding through the John Peterson Scholarship, please see the Welcome Letter.

BAND STARTS IN SEPTEMBER

Beginning Band will start on Wednesday, September 10th from 3-3:45 p.m. in the choir room. The returning band students will start September 3rd from 3:45-4:30 p.m. They will report to the choir room at 3 p.m. and quietly study, read or help with the beginners. Please reach out to The Music Staff Company, band director, Chuck Lautenbach at 

513-284-9457 with questions.

Payment is via check only to “IHM School” as this contracted service is held on the IHM campus. All instrument and music book rentals are directly between family and rental company. 

WE ARE HIRING LONG-TERM SUBSTITURE TEACHERS!

IHM is in need of a few long-term substitute teachers this school year in both Preschool and K-8. If you are interested, please contact Mrs. Kelly Pendergest at pendergest.k@ihomschool.org.

WINTER GALA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Each year, the Winter Gala brings our community together to celebrate and support the heart of our school — our amazing teachers and staff. But this year, the Gala is at serious risk of being cancelled unless we find volunteers to step up as event chairs.  Contact Belinda at 513-328-3532  IHMgala@ihom.org  

THURSDAY PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES

FISH FRY LEAD VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Help us keep the tradition alive! The IHM Boosters are seeking a dedicated individual (or a dynamic team of 2) to take charge of the IHM Fish Fry next year. This important role involves ordering supplies, setting up each week, and overseeing the cooking team. This is the first time in 30 years we’ve had this opening, and it’s a critical opportunity to support our IHM community. Many may not know that the Fish Fry is the Boosters' top fundraiser, directly supporting uniforms, equipment, facility maintenance, and more. Without it, we risk having to increase yearly dues and sports participation fees.

WE ARE HIRING IHM FACULTY!

We are looking to hire for our team in the following roles:

• Certified Educational Assistant(s), Part time email Principal 
• Counselor, Full time email Principal 
• Substitute Teachers, email Principal 

If you know someone who can bring their skills to support our students on campus this year, please encourage them to apply!   

IHM PTO NEWS

JOIN THE PTO

PTO REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR

Download the Membership Toolkit App to pay for PTO dues, access a directory of IHM families, and pay for events quickly and securely. Volunteer opportunities are now open for sign ups here! Help is needed for weekday, evening, & weekend events! 

PTO FAITH, FAMILY, & FALL FUNDRAISING HAS BEGUN!

This year, we’re partnering with Charleston Wrap® for our Fall Fundraiser! Charleston Wrap offers hundreds of high-quality products. Packets went home with the students yesterday. Early turn in is next Thursday, September 11th to qualify for out of uniform passes. Start selling and collect donations to help raise money for our school! There is a progress meter in the café that will show the progress the students are making. Let’s work hard to reach our goal of $45,000 so we can celebrate with a paper airplane party!

Register today for our Charleston Wrap fundraiser at www.registercw.com! After registering, you can send email and text invitations to friends and family. Your shares will help us reach our fundraising goal. Would you help kick off our fundraiser by registering today and sharing with 10 friends and family?



We want to ensure you see the direct impact of your generosity, so we've outlined exactly how the money raised will benefit our students and programs in the pdf attached. Thank you for making our largest fundraiser of the year a success!

Questions: ihmpto@gmail.com

IHM BOOSTERS NEWS

IHM BOOSTERS GOLF OUTING IS OCTOBER 10TH!

IHM Boosters presents the 25th annual golf outing! Join us Friday, October 10th at 9 am for a Shotgun start at Ivy Hill Country Club.



Click here to register and for sponsorship opportunities.

For questions reach out to golfouting.ihm.crusader@gmail.com

GIRLS BASKETBALL REGISTRATION

Registration for Girls Basketball is now OPEN!

Go to ihomboosters.org and use the registration tab to register. Registration will close on Sunday, September 14th.  

Evaluation dates and time will be announced once registration closes.

Practices start October 13th and the season runs through January 18th.

JOIN US FOR MASS TOGETHER SUNDAY!

What is Together Sunday?

This year, we as a family of parishes are going to make a special effort to invite Catholics who do not attend church regularly to come back to Mass.

Sunday September 14, the Feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross, has been designated as Together Sunday. Personally invite someone back to Mass, pray for that person, and then invite him or her to join us for Mass on Sunday, September 14.

We will have donuts and coffee after certain Masses for Together Sunday.

Carve a little extra time into your Mass schedule to mix and mingle with fellow parishioners!

GA after the 8 am and 10 am Mass (moved from the third Sunday of the month)

IHM after the 9:30 am Mass

SJF after the 9 am and 11 am Mass

RITE OF ENROLLMENT MASSES FOR CONFIRMANDI

These masses are an opportunity for those being confirmed this year to make their own public statement about their desire to be Confirmed. They sign a scroll before Mass and, when called upon, stand up to state their intention to be Confirmed in their Catholic faith.

Fr. Steve will be the celebrant as these Masses. Here are the dates and times where this Rite will take place:

Guardian Angels

- Sept. 6th @ 3:30pm

- Sept. 7th @ 8:00am

Immaculate Heart of Mary

- Sept. 13th @ 5:00pm

- Sept. 14th @ 9:30am

- Sept. 14th @ 11:00am

- Sept. 14th @ 5:30pm

St. John Fisher

- Sept. 21st @ 9:00am

- Sept. 21st @ 11:00am

TOUCHING THE DIVINE BIBLE STUDY

If you have news to share with our community, please send it to communications@ihomschool.org. Information is due on Friday; the week before you would like the news to be included in our newsletter.

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL

7800 Beechmont Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45255

513-388-4086

ihomschool.org