Saint Mary School Weekly Newsletter

A voice proclaims: In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord!”

Isaiah 40:3

Dear Parents,

It is hard to believe that this is the last school newsletter of 2024. With just six days left until Christmas, it is truly time to prepare the way of the Lord! Our homes may be decorated, our gifts wrapped, our hearts too, must be ready. Ready to welcome Jesus who came to us as a humble baby in the manger. Ready to open our hearts to His joy, peace and love. Ready to see Jesus Christ in those around us and to love and forgive others the way Jesus did. If we can commit ourselves to living in this way, our Christmas and our 2025 will be the most joyful and love filled of our lives.

Merry Christmas,

Rachel

• January 2 - Back to School
• January 3 - First Friday Mass/HSA Meeting
• January 6 - SMS Spirit Dress Down
• January 9 - K-5 Parent Coffee
• January 13-16 - Middle School Midterms
• January 17 - Middle School Breakfast
• January 17- Early Dismissal - MLK Weekend
• January 20 - No School - MLK Weekend
• January 22 - Grade 5 Parent Meeting
• January 26-31 - Catholic Schools Week
• January 31 -Father Daughter Dance

Parents are invited to join the K-8 students and staff at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday, December 20 at 9:30 in the Church. This is a devotional ceremony, whereby a bishop, priest or deacon blesses the congregation, with the Eucharist at the end of a period of adoration. All students should wear their Winter Uniforms.

Should you wish to pick your child up for the day afterwards, you must email attendance@smsridgefield.org ahead of time. All students will return to school to get their belongings and will be dismissed from school.

Just a reminder that there is an Early Dismissal on Friday, December 20 as we start the Christmas break. All K-8 students will be dismissed at 10:30. All preschool programs will dismiss at 11:00 am. There is no aftercare. We will return to school on Thursday, January 2, 2025.

Registration for our WInter Enrichment classes will close on Friday, December 20 at 10:30 am. Please click here for more information and to register.

Thanks to the HSA - we are excited to offer new Spiritwear options for purchase. Please click here to view the available items. We will take orders from today-December 20th. All items will be delivered to school by January 15, 2025.

Just a reminder, Spirtwear items may be worn on our monthly School Spirit Days, but are not daily uniform items.

• Students returning for 2025-2026 school year, please click here to complete enrollment
• Registration Fee deadline is January 10, 2025
• Remaining checklist items must be completed by January 31, 2025.

• Next HSA meeting is on Friday, January 3rd. Mrs. Ambrosio will give the State of the School at this meeting, so it will be an important one for parents to attend if able.
• Coffee and Conversation will resume in February.

The date for the dance is on Friday 1/31 (snow date 2/7). Thank you to everyone who RSVP’d! If you are interested in helping with Father Daughter Dance planning, please find a number of pre-event activities where help is needed. We are not sure of our event-evening volunteer needs at this point. If help is needed we will draw upon volunteers who have contributed the most to pre-event activities. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4EA9A72DABF49-53845786-2025

Immaculate High School is currently accepting applications to join the Class of 2029! Our Regular Decision Application Deadline is December 20, with admission decisions being made on January 15. Apply to join our Mustang Family at immaculatehs.org/apply. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Admissions Office at 203-744-1510 x148 or admissions@myimmaculatehs.org.

To help families spend time together and share common experiences, the Leadership Institute of the Diocese of Bridgeport provides recommendations for Family Movie Night. Each week, a new recommendation and explanation are available. Click here for recent suggestions, including this week's suggestions, "The Christmas Chronicles"

Ridgefield Boy Scout Troop 116 is recycling Christmas Trees on Saturday, January 11. Suggested donation is $20 per tree. Please register online at https://www.troopwebhost.org/troop116ridgefield/.

While most Open Houses are complete. below find links to High School Admissions Pages of schools

• Immaculate High School, Danbury
  
• Fairfield Prep (boys only), Fairfield
• Notre Dame Prep, Fairfield
  
• Convent of the Sacred Heart (girls only), Greenwich
  
• Canterbury School, New Milford
  
• Kennedy Catholic, Somers NY
  
• St. Joseph High School, Trumbull
  
• Cardinal Kung Academy, Stamford
  
• Lauralton Hall (girls only), Milford
• Iona Prep (boys only), New Rochelle
• Fordham Prep (boys only), Bronx

Email: dowdinga@smsridgefield.org
Website: www.smsridgefield.org
Location: 183 High Ridge Avenue, Ridgefield, CT, USA
Phone: 203 438 7288
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StMaryRidgefield/