Welcome Back!

Dear Families,

The summer may appear to be a sleepy time around St. Mary’s Visitation School. The parking lot is mostly empty. The bell schedule has been quieted. Gone are the days with all the different recesses going on, when the children spill out of their classrooms to run, yell, kick, and catch. During summer break, the joyful sea of activity on our playgrounds is gone. The only sign of life is a car or two, and the occasional moment when the Principal leaves the office to do a lunch hour walk or run. 

While things do appear sleepy, this respite is the time necessary to reflect and to recharge, and to work on implementing the new ideas that will fuel the sense of continuous improvement mentioned in our Mission Statement. 

As we start the year, there are several updates or changes to share with you. 

First, we will be bringing back monthly confession/reconciliation in third through eighth grades. The confessions will take place during a designated time after daily mass, and will allow our students further access and practice with this beautiful sacrament. Additionally, the Angelus prayer will enter into our rotation of daily prayer. 

The next big bit of news is our partnering with the food service Ordo to offer families a hot lunch option for the upcoming school year. We looked at several options, but felt that this one offered the best variety of food at a price that would be appealing to families. In particular, I am looking forward to the sandwich I ordered myself for the first day of school. No packing a lunch that day! Remember orders are due the Friday before an upcoming week. 

Finally, we are excited to be adding options to our already busy extracurricular slate. Chess scholars will be coming back, and the same organization will also be offering a Creative Writing course. Some enthusiastic parent volunteers will also be debuting a robotics club. Watch for more information about these offerings in upcoming newsletters.

So, from a deepening commitment to prayer, to steaming hot lunches, to programming robots, there is a lot that is new and worthwhile about to begin at SMV. We can’t wait to welcome you back!

God Bless,

Siggy Spelter

Principal

School Office Notes

Attendance

The first day of school is almost here! We hope to see everyone that day; however, if your child is sick or will be absent at any time, this is the procedure:

Email or call the Attendance line

Email: attendance@stmaryeg.org

or

Phone #: 262-901-1800

In order for the student absence to be excused, notice from a parent or guardian must be received by the school office via either of these channels of communication by 8:00am on the day of absence.

If sending an email, you may copy the teacher as well, if you'd like. Teacher email addresses are found here on our school website. No worries if you don't; we communicate the attendance information to teachers in daily morning notes. Also, phone calls get transcribed to an email, which is then forwarded to teachers.

Any appointments or changes to a student's schedule for a day should also be sent to the attendance email. Thank you!

Fill Out This Form!

Thank you to those who have already submitted the Start of School packet. I'm still waiting to hear from approximately 40 families.

Here is the link to the form.

Yes, I do need a new form submitted from each family each year. There are new questions and consent forms included this year. We appreciate your attention to this. Submit your form by Monday, August 26th.

Volunteering at SMV

Parents who would like to volunteer in any capacity (classroom, recess/lunch duty, field trips, coaching, etc...) MUST take a Safe Environment Training session, pass a background check, and sign the Code of Ethical Standards before they may do so. 

Information about these trainings and schedules can be found here .

Anyone with an expired status will not be able to volunteer. If you are unsure as to whether you've done the training, have an expired status, or have any other questions, please contact Chris Kinzy, our Parish Safeguarding Coordinator, at: ckinzy@stmaryeg.org

Medications

If your child needs to have medication that is to be kept at school, please make sure to fill out the correct forms (see the Permanent Links section). Bring the form along with the medications to the School Office.

Staff fun in the sun before the kids arrive!