What's the Buzz?
10/3/2024
Upcoming Dates
Remember to utilize our SMS Google Calendar subscription (click here to view), or view the “Events” page on the SMS website.
Oct. 4: 9am School Mass led by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Faith Family (Mrs. Whipple)
Oct. 4: Blessing of the “stuffed” animals (Montessori and Kindergarten)
Oct. 4: Bring in a picture of your pet to be blessed (Grades 1-8)
Oct. 4: Williamsville buses will pick up 15 minutes early, all others regular dismissal
Oct. 4: Blessing of the Animals - 6pm in front of the school
Oct. 5: St. Mary’s Parish Oktoberfest! Click here for more info.
Oct. 7: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)
Oct. 8: HSA Meeting, all are welcome! 7 pm, Cafeteria
Oct. 10: 9am School Mass led by St. Sebastian Faith Family (Mr. Reeds)
Oct. 11: NO SCHOOL, Superintendent's Conference Day
Oct. 12: HSA Family Tailgate Party
Oct. 14: NO SCHOOL, Columbus Day & Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Oct. 18: 9am School Mass led by St. Thomas Aquinas Faith Family (Mrs. Baker)
Oct. 21: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)
Oct. 22: 8th Grade Mass at the Cathedral
Oct. 23: School Picture Day
Oct. 25: 9am School Mass led by St. Scholastica Faith Family (Mrs. Laderer)
Oct. 25: 6pm Trunk or Treat
Oct. 28: HSA Bills Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)
Oct. 28: SMS Pumpkin Carving Party at Spoth's
Oct. 31: Halloween
Nov. 1: All Sants' Day - 9am School Mass led by grade 3 students, reception for 3rd grade students and parents to follow
Nov. 2: HSA Meat Raffle
Nov. 4: HSA Bulls Dress Down Day (bring $2 or purchase pass)
Nov. 4: HSA Meeting, all are welcome! 7pm, Cafeteria
Nov. 8: HERO BOX Dress Down Day for Veterans
Nov. 8: Early Dismissal at 11:30am
News from the Cafe
Lunch Room Volunteers
If you are interested in helping out in the lunchroom and are VIRTUS trained please sign up below using the buttons. If you have any questions, you can email Mr. Mangione at attendance@st.maryschoolswormville.org.
Welcome to SMS
Williamsville Students will be dismissed 15 Mins. Earlier on 10/4/24:
TOMORROW, Friday, October 4, 2024 has been designated as the annual test of the Emergency Go Home Procedures for Williamsville Central Schools. SMS students who receive transportation service from Williamsville will be dismissed 15 minutes earlier than usual. Students who normally remain at school for after school child care or other after school activities will remain in school as usual. Please note, students riding the Williamsville busses home on this day will arrive home approximately 15 minutes ahead of schedule, please plan accordingly.
Special Guest in Montessori
Miss Krista's family just got a new Golden Retriever puppy. Since tomorrow is the Feast of St. Francis, she will be bringing "Benny" in for a quick visit. She will be bringing him to all of the classrooms for a quick visit. If your child has allergies, we will be sure that they are out of the room at the time. Please let your teacher know if they are allergic to dogs.
Student Drop Off
Please remember that when you are dropping off students in the morning, the drive up is for students who are able to get out of the car on their own. If you need to bring students to the door, or unfasten car seats and give them their backpack, please park and bring them to the door so that we can keep the "rolling drop off" moving.
Don’t throw out those old shoes, save them for the 8th Grade and send in starting 10/14!
Our 8th grade class is hosting a shoe collection beginning October 14. Bins will be placed outside the school office. They have a goal of 2500 shoes so our 8th graders appreciate all the support they can get! Shoes, sneakers, cleats, hiking boots, rain boots, water shoes & sandals are acceptable. They will not accept single shoes, ice skates, roller skates, wet or moldy shoes, or shoes with holes or tears. The company that we are collecting for, Funds2Orgs, works to support individuals who create micro-businesses in developing countries to combat the effects of systemic poverty and a lack of education and economic opportunity.
Montessori & Kindergarten students, bring in your favorite stuffed animal for a blessing TOMORROW, Fri. Oct. 4!
Father Art is excited to continue this tradition at St. Mary's! On October 4th our Montessori and Kindergarten students are invited to bring a stuffed animal to school. In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Father Art will give a special blessing to these precious stuffed pets in the classroom after 9 am school Mass. He will be coming to Grade 1-8 classes as well for students who bring a photo of their animal and say a blessing over their pets as well.
Support the SMS Drama Club - Sponsorship Packages Now Available!
Sponsorships are now available to purchase online for the SMS Drama Club! Sign up your family or business for year long patronage and receive exposure in both our Fall Play & Spring Musical programs. PLUS, receive online exposure as a “Spotlight” sponsor! Multiple sponsorship levels are available, choose the package that best fits your family or business’s needs. Your generous, tax-deductible gift will help purchase costumes for our students & help refurbish sets! Click here to view the 2024-5 Sponsorship Flyer.
Get ready to Trunk or Treat on 10/25!
All SMS students, Montessori - Grade 8, and immediate family members are invited to dress up in Halloween costumes and join us for trunk-or-treating in the school parking lot! Click here to view the flyer being sent home this week with more information, and here to sign up to decorate a trunk!
Sign up for the Pumpkin Carving Party at Spoth’s on 10/28!
For over 20 years, Spoth’s Farm Market has generously hosted, and Dengler, Roberts, Perna Funeral Home have generously sponsored a pumpkin carving party for SMS students! Cider, treats, pumpkins & carving tools are all provided, you just bring the creative carving ideas & get ready to have some fun! This yearly tradition is one of the highlights of the fall for our students. If your students would like to attend, click here to sign up for a time slot.
Stay up to date with all the exciting things the HSA has planned for this Fall!
The Back to School Spirit Wear Sale has closed, thank you to those who purchased items! Stay tuned to the “Buzz” for your item(s) expected delivery date during the first few weeks of October. We will run the sale again in Spring of 2025.
Thank You Donors and Volunteers!
The annual Sister Sheila Marathon was a great success yesterday with all of our students having fun, participating, and raising money for our school! Click here to see photos from the day, and watch future “Buzz” newsletters for the grand total we raised!
Purchase Tickets Now & Join Us for Family Tailgate Fun on Sat. Oct. 12th!
The St. Mary’s HSA & the UB Bulls invite SMS families to “Kids Day” on Sat. Oct. 12th. Discounted tickets in section 306 are available for the Bulls vs. Toledo Football game (kick-off time is at 12 noon), and pre-game entertainment will include a Reptile Show, Inflatables, “Dress Like a Bull”, Photo Ops, Yard Games & more! Purchase discounted tickets to the game, enjoy the pre-game entertainment, & hang out with other SMS families at the game. Families can meet in the field house at 10:30 am for the pre-game entertainment. Questions on tickets? Please call Steph Bielec: 716-645-6759. Click here to purchase tickets.
Tickets are now available for our Meat Raffle on Nov. 2!
Click here to purchase tickets and have the most fun you’ve ever had at a Meat Raffle! Join us in the gym on 11/2/24, from 6-10 PM for chances to win delicious cuts of meat, a 50/50 Split, & theme basket and gift card raffles. Bring singles & all your friends! “Chuck Roast” (aka Adam Kisailus) returns as your zany, fun-loving host. Ticket price includes open bar of unlimited soda, draft beer & wine. Pesci’s pizza, seltzers & craft beer will be available for purchase, snacks welcome. First spin at 7 pm. No outside alcohol permitted, this event is strictly 21 & older. Tickets are $15 Pre-Sale, or $100 for a table of 8. Pre-Sale Ends Oct. 23rd, so don’t delay! Tickets will be $20 at the door. All proceeds support St. Mary School Swormville, funds raised are restricted to St. Mary School Swormville HSA.
Many hands and donations are needed to make this event a success, click here to sign up to volunteer or donate items for our gift baskets.
If your family participated in the “All In” HSA Family Commitment at the beginning of this school year you automatically receive 2 tickets to the Meat Raffle. Please email Kim Chilcott, event chairperson, at kimmer923@aol.com, to RSVP.
Click here to see photos of the great time we had last year!
Fall Into Reading!
Last year SMS partnered with local, independent book seller “Monkey See… Monkey Do” for our book fairs. This year we are expanding the program to include a Fall & Spring Book Order Form option as well so you can keep your students reading new, interesting books that are hand-picked for their grade level all year long! Click here for the flyer with curated book selections based on teacher recommendations and Monkey See, Monkey Do... picks. Families may also special order any book title (children and adult titles) by simplying adding the title/s to the online form in the “SPECIAL ORDER” section or by calling 716-204-8417. NYS sales tax will be added to the total shown on the form. Please place all orders via this link, or by scanning the QR code from the flyer. All book orders will be delivered to St. Mary School and sent home with students. If you would like to pick up your book order instead, please call the school office to let us know at 716-689-8424.
Community Opportunities
Annual Pet Blessing - to celebrate The Feast of St. Francis will be held at St. Mary's on Friday, October 4th at 6:00PM on the front steps of the school, facing Transit Road. All furry, feathered and scaly pets are welcome! Please bring pets on a leash or in a pet carrier.
Cool Weather, Pumpkins, Homecoming and more! Come to Breakthrough to unwind and share!
- An opportunity for Middle School through High School teens to grow in faith through games, interactive activities, prayer, food and conversation.
- Build a connection between scripture and living our faith while getting to know other teens in our parish and community.
- Gatherings are scheduled from 6:30 pm - 8 pm on 1 Friday and 1 Monday each month. Check the white board inside the parish center for gathering locations.
Contact St Mary's Youth Ministry for further details or with questions: (716) 688-0599, youth@stmaryswormville.org
Sign Up to attend and Invite a Friend. | Are you Confirmed and looking for Volunteer Hours? Sign Up Here.
Let the Children Come to Me
Parents with children ages birth through 4 are encouraged to borrow this specially packed bag filled with many ways to help you teach and share our faith at home as a family.
What's in the bag? Hands on activities to share as a family and ways for parents to continue to grow in faith.
Contact the Catholic Education office for more details (716) 688-0599
WNY Catholic High School Open Houses
A number of our local Catholic high schools are holding Open Houses & offering shadow day experiences this Fall. Click the links below for more information.
Bishop Timon - St. Jude High School
Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart