Remember that you'll see news from St. Mary Catholic Schools every other Wednesday, except holiday weeks when school is not in session. (Next edition will be Wednesday, November 13.)

Please take time to discover our system-wide news in this email. You'll find important dates, links, and upcoming events. Then click the photo below for news and information from your child(ren)'s specific campus. If there is something you can't find, please let us know, and please "follow" and "like" SMCS social media. It's a great way to stay current on all the good news from our schools!

Find specific news for each campus by clicking on the photo below.

There is great enthusiasm for All Aboard, and tickets are selling fast! Be sure to get yours now! Tickets will NOT be available at the door.

Can't be there in person? You can still bid on silent auction items, get out of dress code passes, and sign up for Event Boards, and even vote for your campus's Masked Singer! All this and more at: https://onecau.se/allaboard2024

Remember, it's a casual event for adults - and the theme is a Masquerade Party. You're going to love the first ever Zephyrs Masked Singer competition! Food, drinks, laughter, and building friendships to support St. Mary Catholic Schools - can't wait to see you there!

Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives,

rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition.

With the enormous popularity of Halloween, it's easy to forget the faith focus of these three days. One of the reasons that Halloween involves "scary" costumes is because Christians can laugh at death. For those brought to new life in Christ, death holds no more fear. Jesus is victorious over the grave!

All Saints' Day - or "All Hallows", as it was called - is November 1st. ("Hallow E'en" refers to the "evening" before All Hallows.) On All Saints' Day, we honor the example of countless holy men and women who have gone before us as witnesses to God's love. In the Mass this day, we celebrate our connection to them, and seek to follow where they have gone.

All Souls' Day - November 2nd - is the third of these holy days. It is a special time to remember all those who have died. We visit cemeteries and churches to pray for and with family members and friends. We recall the example of the faithful departed, and we await the day when we will be with them in glory.

Check out your local campuses and parishes for Mass times and other commemorations. We are grateful to join as a community in prayer!

All New Zephyrs Webstore

IMPORTANT NOTE - if you are just adding lunch money for the first time to your child's account, you need to access the webstore through PowerSchool. This will ensure that your family record stays together for PowerSchool and lunch.

All other transactions can be done directly by clicking on the new Zephyrs Webstore! It is your one stop shopping site for Athletics registrations, Enrichment Program registrations, putting money on your child's lunch account, visiting our online clothing store, and for making additional payments for events throughout the year. The first time you use the Webstore you will have to make your own account but rest assured that it is simple and easy. Click on the link below to see the Zephyrs Webstore! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Terry Frase in the Advancement Office at tfrase@smcatholicschools.org

You can still put money in your child's lunch account through the school office with cash or check.

Questions about Free & Reduced meals? (Breakfast and Lunch) Please see the forms below.

Tuition payments are still made via Blackbaud.

Quarterly RaiseRight (Scrip) credits were applied in October to tuition bills. This quarter 175 SMCS families earned $23,000 off tuition! If you aren’t using RaiseRight (Scrip), it’s not too late to start earning tuition credit. It is a year-long fundraiser that directly benefits YOU and there is no max to amount you can earn!

Click here to see a video on how easy it is to get started. You'll find additional tutorial videos here. (Scroll down the page for the "Participant Videos".)

It's easy to purchase electronic or physical cards for all your necessities - groceries, gas, restaurants, home goods, travel, and so much more!

~ You can purchase physical gift cards by placing your orders online or on the RaiseRight app before 9am Monday mornings for Thursday availability.

~ Purchase e-cards on the RaiseRight app for immediate access; right from the checkout line or while shopping online day or night!

RaiseRight Scrip offers a wide range of cards from both local businesses, such as Weather Vane, Globe Coffee & The Plaza, Gunderson Cleaners and Krueger True Value Hardware.

Kwik Trip has always been our biggest seller. Did you know Kwik Trip offers a Grocery Only card, with a higher 15% rebate back to you? Get all your favorite goodies inside, while you earn even more money back towards tuition. And don't forget the Kwik Trip Ultimate Car Wash Card. Purchase this card for $36 and you will receive 5 ultimate car washes and earn 44.44%, that’s $16 in tuition credit per car wash card! Happy Scripping!

Facebook

Instagram

SMCS Athletics

SMCS Fine Arts

SMCS Alumni

YouTube for Livestream Events

Like & Follow St. Mary Catholic Schools on social media... and please help elevate our profile in the community by reacting to and sharing posts often!

***Keep in mind that your specific campus may also have a parent group for Facebook that can be a helpful resource. Contact your school office for more information.***

Great News, the tours of our church and her renowned restoration by Conrad Schmitt Studios have been so popular, we are continuing them! Tours available Tuesdays and Thursdays 2-4 pm, or contact the parish offices for more information at 920-725-7714. Weekend Mass times are 6:00 pm Saturdays and 11:00 am Sundays. Many of you have a connection to St. Mary Church and St. Mary Catholic Schools since the church has been a part of the Menasha Community for over 150 years. Stop in and check us out now that the church has been restored to its former glory! Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Pray for us!

Friday, November 1 - HOLY DAY - All Saints' Day - Masses at all campuses

Monday, November 4 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Learning Day

Saturday, November 2 - All Aboard!

November 15-17 - High School Play - "My Brother's Gift"

Monday, Nov. 25 - Friday, Nov. 29 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Saturday, May 3 - Save the Date for Zephyrfest!

Come see the talented and dedicated Zephyr actors bring a powerful story to life on stage!

"Based on the remarkable true story of Heinz Geiringer -- neighbor and friend of Anne Frank -- we follow the story of a young artist and loving brother living in unconscionable circumstances. A trained musician at only 15 and now forced to live in hiding and silence, Heinz turns to painting and poetry to express his everyday terror but hope of the future. Through Heinz's inspired paintings, nostalgic love of life, and his sister Eva's remembrances, we are shown the power of art to offer hope and healing."

https://www.onthestage.tickets/st-mary-catholic-schools

The Spirit Stop is located at the St. Mary Catholic High School Commons, adjacent to the Ralph "Cyclone" McClone Gymnasium. The Spirit Stop will also have hours of availability during the school year, and that schedule will be released shortly. The Spirit Stop has a variety of adult-sized clothing, as well as baseball caps, winter beanies, and blankets available for sale. Unfortunately, we do not carry small kids clothing in stock in the store, but we do have several options online. For this and more, be sure to check out our online store here: St. Mary Catholic Schools Online Store | Silly Toast Designs | powered by OrderMyGear (itemorder.com)

Visit the online store frequently, as we will be adding new styles throughout the different seasons. We can't wait to see you sporting your Zephyrs pride!

We are in search of our next Elementary Music Teacher to join the St. Margaret Mary and St. Mary campuses! Reach out to Human Resources at HR@smcatholicschools.org if you know someone that could be a great fit. We are growing, and looking for amazing people who believe in our mission of "Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives, rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition." Click here to view this and any other current employment opportunities for St. Mary Catholic Schools.

We are excited to welcome a couple of additional students to attend St. Mary Catholic High School for the second semester on our exchange program. Becoming a host family for an international student for St. Mary Catholic Schools makes the world smaller and your heart bigger! You get the joy of sharing culture, traditions, and everyday life with a young person from another country. You'll develop relationships that last a lifetime, and your hospitality creates a welcoming environment for a student to absorb the American experience beyond the classroom! To help support room and board, the ABC Education exchange program offers a stipend of $600 per month for a host family, and in addition, you can receive a $1,000 tuition credit for St. Mary Catholic Schools for your own child for making this one semester commitment. To learn more, contact Kelly Beisenstein-Weiss at kbweiss@smcatholicschools.org

• SMCS 2024-25 systemwide calendar
• SMCS Staff & Teacher Directory

*** If you have changes to your email address or other updates, please click on "Contact" at the very bottom of this newsletter, but ALSO be sure to update any changes in your PowerSchool account!