January Newsletter

Financial Aid is OPEN! The Diocese of Lansing awarded $745,000 last year to families for Catholic Education! The link to the application is here:

https://online.factsmgt.com/signin/3YZNQ

All applications MUST be completed by March 3rd 2025(usually it's the 1st but the 1st is a weekend day).

If you run into issues or have questions, contact Shawn Macksood in the parish office at smacksood@stgerardlansing.org

If your child is being dropped off by car, please use the carline or the lower lot until 8:00 a.m. Please do not drop off your child(ren) before 7:30 a.m. There is no supervision before 7:30 a.m. When you are picking up your child after school, please move ahead as far as possible along the sidewalk. Students should wait until the car has stopped to enter the vehicle. Also, please use Clark Road off of Willow Highway to enter the carline. All vehicles are expected to travel SLOWLY as the safety of our students, staff, and families is paramount. Thank you for your cooperation!

Decisions regarding closing the schools are not made lightly, however, the safety of our students, staff and families is top priority. In the event that school will need to be closed, we have a number of ways to communicate this with you as quickly and efficiently as possible. If Waverly Schools are closed due to inclement weather, we along with our Child Care program, will close as well due to their bussing and transportation of our students. Please be sure your Schoolmessenger settings are set to receive text, email, and voice message phone calls as all will be used to alert you of a school closure. You can also check WILX, channel 10 & WLNS, channel 6 for updates.

*Reminder: Our students will go outside as long as the wind chill is above zero. As the weather gets colder and colder, please send students with appropriate clothing for the weather.

It was brought to our attention over Christmas break that My APlus Uniforms will be closing their Saginaw Highway, Lansing location. They are merging with their Grand Rapids location and online orders will still be available. They expect to close the Lansing store by the end of this month.

More details and information on the uniform to come as we gather more information. Thank you!

Parent Teacher Conferences for second semester are scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 13th. School will dismiss at 11:00 a.m. on the 13th, with afternoon and evening conferences to follow; 12:00-2:30 p.m. and 5:00-7:30 p.m. Winter conferences are not required unless requested by your child's teacher(s). A sign up link will be shared with you as conferences approach.

Our Peace & Justice Mass to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is Friday, Jan. 17th at 8:10 a.m. All are welcome!

Catholic Schools Week begins this year on Sunday, Jan. 26th and runs through Friday, Jan. 31st when we will conclude with an all school mass at 8:10. The final details are being arranged for many fun events and activities that will be taking place. Please consider donating your time or items needed to make this week a success (tie blanket fundraiser, Fun Day, etc.!) Thank you!

NWEA testing for 3rd-8th grade opens on Wednesday, Jan. 15th. A healthy breakfast & good night's sleep is the best preparation for our students before they test.

Junior high (7th/8th grade) exams are Wednesday, 1/15 through Friday, 1/17. It will be early dismissal at 11:00 a.m. for 7th & 8th graders only. No hot lunch will be provided for junior high students on exam days.

Prospective Family Night is Wednesday, 1/15 at 6:30 p.m. Join LCHS for an open house style event to learn about the school.

Quote from Chpt. 5; Presence Joins Us as Part of a Calming Whole: Helping your child feel SOOTHED

"..We want them to receive a consistent message of support: "If you find yourself in a situation where you are overwhelmed and out of control, I will help you", and together we'll get you back to calm. You might not get what you want right now, but it will be okay. I'm here for you". Soothing comes from joining. And joining comes from our being present. That's how we show up to soothe" (Siegel, Bryson, p. 153).

• Saturday, 1/11: 2nd grade First Reconciliation Parent/Child Workshop 10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, 1/15: Junior high exams; 7/8th dismissal at 11:00 a.m.
• Thursday, 1/16: Junior high exams; 7/8th dismissal at 11:00 a.m.
• Friday, 1/17: End of second quarter
• All school peace & justice mass @ 8:10
• Junior high exams; 7/8th dismissal at 11:00 a.m. (no mass for junior high)
• Monday, 1/20: NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Childcare closed
• Thursday, 1/23: 5th-8th grade Band Concert @ 6:30 p.m. at Lansing Catholic High School
• Friday, 1/24: All school St. Francis de Sales mass @ 8:10
• Drama play
• Saturday, 1/25: 2nd grade presentation masses
• Sunday, 1/26: Catholic Schools Week begins
• Grades 4-8 choir @ 9:00 mass
• 2nd grade presentation masses
• Wednesday, 1/29: 7th/8th grade field trip to Royal Scot (no hot lunch for 7th/8th)
• Thursday, 1/30: 6th grade field trip to Edru (no hot lunch for 6th)
• Fun Day for grades K-5
• Talent Show run through after school in the gym (parents are welcome to attend)
• Friday, 1/31: All school Catholic Schools Week mass @ 8:10
• School-wide assembly to end the day
• Monday, 2/3: Feast of St. Blase, blessing of the throats
• Virtues Assembly
• Tuesday, 2/4: 2nd grade First Reconciliation @ 6:00 p.m. in the Church
• Blue Lake Camp Scholarship Auditions
• Wednesday, 2/5: NO WAVERLY BUS (PM ONLY)
• Friday, 2/7: Adoration & First Friday
• Saturday, 2/8: 2nd grade First Reconciliation @ 10:30 a.m. in the Church
• Euchre tournament (8th grade DC fundraiser)
• Tuesday, 2/11: Daddy Daughter Dance (8th grade DC fundraiser) in Fr. Weber Hall
• Wednesday, 2/12: Preschool parent teacher conferences 5:00 p.m.
• Thursday, 2/13: Dismiss at 11:00; grades K-8 parent teacher conferences 12:00-2:30 & 5:00-7:30
• Childcare open
• No preschool; preschool parent teacher conferences all day
• Friday, 2/14: NO SCHOOL, Childcare open
• Monday, 2/17: NO SCHOOL, Childcare closed
• Tuesday, 2/18: NO WAVERLY BUS (AM & PM)

St. Gerard School, in partnership with family and church, provides a Catholic education that focuses on faith, academics, and service while living and sharing the light of Christ.