SMA Newsletter • January 11, 2024
Mission Statement
St. Martin of Tours Academy fosters confidence, curiosity, and independence through a climate of cooperation and trust by preserving dignity throughout the learning process, accentuating all children’s God-given gifts in a Catholic environment.
Dear SMA Community,

A beautiful rainbow greeted us today, along with our new marquis. This wonderful addition to our school is thanks to all the fundraising our students did at last year's walkathon and this year's turkey trot! Thank you, Aaron Clippinger, owner of Integrated Signs and parent to Zoe (grade 3) for creating a smooth experience with installation and training!

We will be showcasing our school community when we kick off Catholic Schools Week on Sunday, January 28th. Please save the date to join us at 9 am Mass (5th grade bake sale before and after Mass) and visit the Academy and Preschool Open House from 10 am-noon. Tours begin at 10 am and Prospective Parent Meeting begins at 11 am. Catholic Schools Week is always full of fun activities. This year is no exception. See below for more details.

Remember, there is no school on Monday, as we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. On Tuesday, progress reports open for viewing on Schoolspeak for 2 weeks. Students should be proud of their growth in academics and successful learner traits! Also, students begin the Winter Renaissance Star testing window (ELA & math). These assessments provide teachers with important data that is used in lesson planning, creating small groups, goal-setting and growth monitoring. I am truly grateful for all the time and effort our teachers put into reviewing formative and summative assessments so they can create plans for all students to grow.

Blessings,
Jennifer Miller, Principal
CELEBRATING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
January 28 - February 2
Sunday, 1/28 - Celebrate Parish
• 9 am school sponsored Mass with an Open House at 10 am. Enjoy a bake sale after morning Masses. Please wear Mass uniform.

Monday 1/29 Celebrate Community
• 8 am assembly honoring first responders, military, community leaders. We are inviting parents and community members to be recognized.


Tuesday 1/30 Celebrate Students
• Jeans for Jesus $1 and class color shirts.
• Big Friends/Little Friends read together.
• Talent Show 1-2:30 pm (parish hall)
Is your child interested in sharing their talents on stage during our annual talent show? Please sign up!  There will be a "Spotlight" on Jan. 17th to showcase a little bit of their talent so Mr. G. can organize for the show. SIGN UP HERE!

Wednesday 1/31 Celebrating Nation
• Cultural Heritage Day - students may wear clothing representative of their family's national heritage and share
bite-sized food samples representing their family's heritage.

Thursday, 2/1 Celebrate Vocations
• Enjoy time with Aux. Bishop Pham in the parish hall from 10-11 am (grs.3-8 & all parents welcome).
• 11:05-11:45 am- Lunch with a Loved One on the lawn.

Friday 2/2 Celebrate Faculty, Staff, Volunteers
• Silly socks day!
• Family Valentine's Dance 6-8 pm in the Parish Hall. PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
$35/FAMILY. Volunteer Sign Up Genius for dance.
• Sign up to go to their child's classroom to teach a specific skill or talk about their trade/life skills. Volunteers sign up HERE
Re-Registration 2024-2025
February 19 - 29th

Re-registration will open February 19th and will occur through FACTS. Tuition assistance is now open and closes on March 31st. Registration fees are discounted $100 if registering during the re-registration window. Fees will be charged via FACTS.

Registration fees:
Registration is discounted ($300 total per child) through 2/29 Families registering after the re-registration window will pay $400 through 3/1 and $450 after 3/1.
FACTS GRANT AND AID
Families are encouraged to apply for tuition assistance if family income is not sufficient to meet the total cost of a St. Martin of Tours Academy education. FACTS conducts a fair and confidential financial need assessments for families. There is a $35 processing fee. Applications are processed according to need from January 5, 2024 through March 31, 2024. Click HERE to learn and apply for aid.
Free Vision Screening - Last Chance to Opt Out
The California-Hawaii Elks Major Project is a non-profit organization that offers free vision screening to children throughout California. The purpose of this screening is to identify children who may be at risk for undetected vision abnormalities. The screening is not a substitute for a doctor’s eye examination. Students in grades K, 2, 5, 8 will be screened.

What parents need to know about their child's eyes? (information flyer) If you DO NOT desire that your child participate in this screening, please notify the school office prior to January 22, 2024.

Volunteers are needed each day. Please call the school office if you can volunteer on Mon. 1/22, Tues. 1/23, Wed. 1/24 from 9-11:00 AM
REMINDERS & LINKS
No school on Monday, 1/15 in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Winter Pep Rally Highlights
On Wednesday, the Student Council recognized the Winter Sports teams. GO SPARTANS!



CHEER YOUR CHILD'S TEAM
ON WITH SPIRIT WEAR! CLICK HERE
Trip to NY/DC
Fundraiser
Consider eating out on Saturday, 1/20 at Panda Express to help support students who are taking a trip to NY/Wash. DC. 20% of sales will be donated to the fundraiser.
Prayers for healing....

Please keep in your prayers Ray De Jesus. He is the Godfather to Oriana Cauchon, mother to Apolo, (gr. 1) and Valentina Osthimer (gr. 1) who is having surgery this week.
† Frank Flint

Frank Flint passed away at age 87. He was a grandfather to Matthew McMahon (gr. 8). They shared the same birthday. He was a surgeon and chief of staff at Grossmont Hospital and chief of surgery at Scripps East County, Grossmont Hospital and Alvarado hospital throughout his career. He died unexpectedly from pancreatic cancer. A burial will be held next week.

Please keep the Flint and McMahon family in your prayers.
Keep up with parish activities, programs and Mass schedules. Read the weekly bulletin HERE.

St. Martin of Tours Academy