Upon learning of Pope Francis’ passing, Dr. Kiss contacted Mr. Mertzman to discuss organizing an immediate all-school prayer service following the Easter break. Mr. Mertzman recommended praying a decade of the Rosary. Dr. Kiss created the prayer service, invited Fr. Dan to participate, and enlisted the help of a 7th grade Student Government leader, our Commissioner of Religious Affairs, to assist. Our students are well-versed in praying the Rosary, as it is an important part of their religious education. During the prayer service, the Principal led the school in a decade of the Rosary—the Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. In moments of collective sorrow and spiritual significance, Catholic schools play a vital role in guiding students through faith-based reflection, prayer, and unity. At St. Viator, we are blessed to share our faith openly and to support one another through both joyful and difficult times. Prayer is not just a practice—it is a lived expression of our Catholic identity. Our hope is that these experiences spark ongoing dialogue at home and within our parish community about the life and legacy of Pope Francis, and the enduring values he championed. The Principal encouraged teachers and students to reflect throughout the week on Pope Francis’ legacy, and to share what they know and appreciate about him. She also shared her own favorite message from Pope Francis—his emphasis on inclusion and care for the marginalized. This message resonates deeply at St. Viator, especially as we uphold the mission of our inclusive Micah 6:8 Program, which affirms the dignity and value of every child.

As you may recall, St. Viator Parish School was fortunate to receive new classroom and cafeteria furniture last school year. Rather than discard the furniture we had used so faithfully for many years, we sought a way to give it a second life—one that would continue to serve students in need. Thanks to the incredible generosity of a local solar company, who donated and covered the full cost of a shipping container, we were able to send our gently used desks, chairs, and classroom items to Kolej Bon Samariten (Good Samaritan Schools) in Haiti. Holistic Haitian Alliance supports both a primary school (Pre-K through 6th grade) and a secondary school (currently serving grades 7 and 8, with 9th grade beginning this September). These schools are located just outside of Limonade, in a village called Decle. The furniture from St. Viator has now found a new home where it is making a daily impact on the lives of children who are eager to learn and grow in a safe, faith-filled environment. We are proud of the way our school community continues to answer the call to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Thank you for supporting initiatives like this that allow our school to live out its mission not only here in Las Vegas, but around the world.

Dear St. Viator Families,

As we approach the close of another busy school year, I write to share with you news that is both joyful and bittersweet. Two beloved educators, Mrs. Kris Miller (Grade 8) and Mrs. Mary Ellen Dorough (Grade 5), have announced their retirement at the conclusion of this school year.

Mrs. Miller has been a steadfast presence in our junior high for many years, guiding our eighth graders with wisdom, faith, and a commitment to academic excellence. Her work preparing students for high school—and for life beyond the classroom—has left a lasting impact on generations of St. Viator graduates.

Mrs. Dorough, equally cherished, has brought warmth, structure, and an infectious love of learning to our fifth-grade students. Her classroom has been a place where students grow not only academically, but spiritually and emotionally. Her contributions to our community extend far beyond the curriculum.

As a Catholic school, we give thanks for the vocations of these two dedicated teachers. Their ministry in Catholic education has touched countless lives and exemplified our mission to form disciples of Christ. While we will deeply miss their daily presence, we also celebrate their well-earned retirements and the next chapters of their lives.

We will be posting the openings for both positions on the Archdiocesan website in the coming days, and we look forward to welcoming two new teachers to our faculty for the 2025–2026 school year. With God's guidance, we trust that the right individuals will be called to continue the legacy of excellence, faith, and service that defines our school. We will have opportunities later this spring to honor Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Dorough as a school community, and I hope you will join us in expressing your appreciation. Please keep both of them in your prayers during this time of transition. We are so grateful for their many years of service to St. Viator School and the legacy they leave behind.

Congratulations to all of our amazing SVS student-athletes who placed and participated at the recent track meet! Your commitment and effort—especially waking up early every Saturday to train—truly paid off. We are so proud of you! A special thank you to Cristo Rey St. Viator High School for graciously hosting the event, and to Coach Lisowski for the time, energy, and passion you poured into preparing our team. Go Stallions!

Dear Parents,

We are always looking for ways to enhance the experience we provide for our students—including their lunch options.

To that end, we are exploring the possibility of switching our daily hot lunch provider to Better Lunch (www.mybetterlunch.com). Better Lunch offers freshly prepared, kid-approved meals with flexible online ordering, healthy choices, and accommodations for a variety of dietary needs.

Before moving forward, we want to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey and share your thoughts on our current lunch program and whether a change to Better Lunch would better serve your family’s needs:

👉 [Survey Link Here] https://forms.gle/sgfb4ARhsEsSy4Qr5

Your feedback is essential in helping us make an informed decision that supports our students and families. Thank you in advance for your time and input!

Sincerely,

Dr. Katie Kiss

Join us each Thursday morning at 7:10 AM for our St. Viator School walking community. Parent participants are always welcome. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me at mdiaz@stviatorschool.org.

Blessings,

Monica Diaz

St. Viator School Guidance Counselor

We’re getting ready for a fantastic day of fun and school spirit! Here’s what you need to know to help your student have the best Field Day ever:

🔷 Team Assignments:

• A Classes – Blue Team 💙

• B Classes – Yellow Team 💛

• Pre-K Classes – Will be split between Blue and Yellow Teams (teachers will inform families)

Students are encouraged to dress in their team colors:
Team-color shirts, shorts, hats, wristbands, and ribbons are welcome!
Please remember: all outfits must follow the St. Viator Handbook:

• No hair coloring or highlights

• No makeup (including mascara)

• No jewelry

💧 Water Balloon Donations Needed!

We’re asking families to donate filled water balloons (about the size of a softball).

Drop-off details:

• Thursday, May 1st after school or Friday, May 2nd before school by 7:30 AM

• Please bring your water-filled balloons to the SVS gym in ice chests or coolers. Be sure to label your ice chests or coolers with your name so we can return it to you.

🙌 Volunteer Opportunities:

Field Day can’t happen without your help!

• Sign-Up to Volunteer Link

• Volunteers should arrive by 7:30 AM and stay through 11:35 AM

📝 Don’t Forget:

• Towels – Water stations will be in use!

• Personal water bottles – Stay hydrated!

• Sunscreen – Apply before arriving and reapply as needed

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Wells. Let’s make Field Day 2025 a fun, safe, and unforgettable experience!

Go Blue Team! 💙 Go Yellow Team! 💛

The ticket order form for our highly anticipated SVS Talent Show was sent home in your student’s yellow communication folder. Be sure to fill it out and return it to reserve your seats today! (Invoiced through FACTS)

This fun-filled evening will showcase incredible performances by SVS teachers, staff, parents, alumni—and even some unforgettable acts featuring students sharing the stage with a parent or teacher!

It’s a heartwarming celebration of the creativity, spirit, and talent that make our SVS community truly one of a kind. You won’t want to miss it!

All proceeds from the Talent Show will benefit the Micah 6:8 Program, helping us continue to serve others with compassion, humility, and justice. Thank you for your support!

Advertising & Sponsorship Opportunities Available!
Would you or your business like to be part of this special event in a bigger way? We’re offering sponsorship and ad space in our event program.

Click here to learn more and apply — support a great cause while gaining meaningful exposure!

🎶 P.S. We’re on the lookout for a Banjo player!
If you—or someone you know—can bring the twang, let us know!
Contact Staci Fason at (702) 343-9481 or Joaquin Crame at (702) 349-4444.

Please join us in supporting CF Mom Jeanne Santamaria, St. Viator parent mother of these three beautiful boys. Walk with us to support Jeanne on Saturday, April 26th.

Registration: Saturday, April 26th at 8:00am

Walk: 9:00am walk

Cornerstone Park

1600 Wigwam Pkwy

Henderson, NV 89074

There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis and too many people with CF die young. I’m walking to help change that reality.

CF is a genetic, life-shortening disease that devastates the lungs, pancreas, and other vital organs. CF makes it difficult to breathe and fight life-threatening infections, often leading to extensive lung damage and respiratory failure.

Every person born with cystic fibrosis is on a unique journey and experiences this challenging disease differently. While progress has been made, a long road lies ahead for far too many people fighting this terrible disease. We need a cure so that everyone with CF has a better chance to live a long, healthy life.

Will you help us end cystic fibrosis?

Mrs. Berg, our Technology teacher, is available to assist parents with navigating school-related technology resources. If you need help with programs like myON, IXL, FACTS, Google Classroom, or other educational apps, Mrs. Berg is here to guide you! She can provide support in understanding these tools and how to use them to support your child’s learning.

If you're interested, please complete the Google Form, and Mrs. Berg will reach out to schedule an in-person meeting to go over the school’s technology resources. Meeting times will be available before and after school, as well as some times during the school day.

Reminder: Students should wear their Campus Ministry Shirts/Free Dress Bottoms on Campus Ministry Days

NET Retreat - April 29 (6th Grade), April 30 (7th Grade), May 1st (8th Grade)

Please consider becoming a volunteer and helping us with this invaluable experience for your children. CMG trained and fingerprinted adults welcome to sign up here:

Campus Ministry Volunteer Signups

We cannot do it without our volunteers. If you cannot volunteer during this time, consider making a donut donation. I appreciate you so much!

Thank you again for blessing our children with the gift of Campus ministry. I look forward to leading our children this year to help them realize their true potential through our Catholic teachings and traditions.

Jamie Reyburn

jreyburn@stviator.org

• At any time, I am happy to speak on “you cannot judge a book based on its cover.” SVS has heart, has the most caring and dedicated staff (they are old school tough which I treasure but they absolutely LOVE our children), has community, has humble children that are taught to be kind. You really don’t understand the priceless value of this until you leave for a couple years and come back. I’m grateful for this perspective!

• St. Viator welcomes a variety of students with behavioral and learning challenges that may not otherwise be given the opportunity to learn in a Catholic School. They are welcomed and supported in order to not affect the learning of others. The administration at St. Viator has an open door policy and listens to their teachers. They are always willing to hear new ideas.

• Overall, I think our school does a very good job for the children. I understand that you can’t make us all happy but I know they try their best.

As we continue this process, we are hoping to hear from 75% of our families. Please complete the survey (linked below) Your participation is vital in helping us to analyze the school, its programs and impact on student learning.

We realize this WCEA survey is rather lengthy and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We are most grateful for your time and assisting us in this process!

Click the link https://forms.gle/UP3FxWxVeozrPWgE7

We are currently taking registrations and setting up testing appointments for new students entering PreKindergarten through 8th grade. If your family has a Pre-K or K student that will be new to the school next year, please contact Mrs. Drewes 702-732-4477 or email tdrewes@stviatorschool.org

Current SVS parents if you have friends or family interested in enrolling their children in our school please help us share that now is the time to tour and apply! Parents are our best spokespeople ands we are grateful for your continued support!

February 1 Scholarship Application Window OPENS - 9:00 AM EST

March 15 Have you completed / submitted your application yet?

March 31 Scholarship Application Window CLOSES – 6:00 PM EST

July 31 Scholarship Award Offer Notifications Emailed (TBD – by end of July)

July 31 Scholarship Acceptance / Check-in 1 OPENS - shortly after award notifications are sent

September 15 Scholarship Acceptance / Check-in 1 DEADLINE

https://foldsofhonor.org/scholarships/

Educational Scholarship applications are now open for Summer 2025 and Fall/Spring 2025-2026 school year! Click the link below to apply! Summer applications will close April 15th, 2025, and Fall/Spring applications will close May 15th, 2025. For questions. Please contact Scholarships@FoldedFlagFoundation.org and call 702-960-7660.

2025-2026 School Year applications from RETURNING families will open on May 1, 2025 and close on May 14,2025. You must complete the 2025- 2026 application when you apply, we will not accept last year’s application. It is important that you review the Instructions for Grant Qualification carefully and follow all directions. Early, late and incomplete applications will not be accepted.

We anticipate scholarship awards to be finalized by the end of July 2025.

The most significant criteria to qualify for the Viator Parish rate is regular attendance at Sunday Mass using your envelopes. Remember, parents are a model of faith for their children and when families join us on a regular basis they are showing their children the priority faith and church has in their lives.

In order to qualify for the Viator rate you MUST:

1. Attend a minimum of 26 masses (Saturday or Sunday)
2. Use the envelopes sent to you from the church
3. Forgot your envelope? Remember your parish number and use a blank envelope provided at mass.

DO NOT

1. Mail in your envelopes to St. Viator church. These will not be counted.
2. Drop off your envelope in the church on a school mass day.
3. Forgetting the envelope and telling the church or school you went.

Tuition review occurred in December and you should have attended 13 masses by this time. All rates will be reviewed adjusted after the assessment. If your rate is adjusted it will be reflected on the February statement.

If your family is registered with a parish other than St. Viator, please submit a signed affidavit from your parish priest. This document must be turned in to Mrs. Alex no later than June 1st.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Please be reminded of the following important procedures:

Absences: If your child will be absent from school, per the handbook (pg. 11), parents should notify the school office immediately. This helps us ensure accurate attendance records.

Tardiness: If your child will be late due to an appointment, car issues, etc., please call the school office ahead of time to inform us of the delay.

Early Pickup: If your child needs to be picked up early, it is mandatory that you contact the school office as soon as possible—whether via phone call, email, or a note sent in with your child. Failure to do so can cause classroom disruption and may delay your child’s retrieval.

All outstanding tuition and fees were due in full April 15. All outstanding tuition and fees not paid now must be paid in full by May 15.

Failure to make full payment will result in your student(s) being removed from enrollment and ineligibility for reregistration for the 2025–2026 school year. Additionally, report cards, transcripts and diplomas will be withheld until the balance is settled in full. No exceptions will be made.

We strongly advise you to log into your FACTS account to review your balance and confirm all payments have been made. If you encounter any issues or have any questions, please contact Mrs. Alex or Dr. Kiss immediately.

For assistance with your FACTS account contact 866-441-4637.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Monday, April 28, 2025

• Prayer & Flag by 1A
• Carlo Acutis Movie 4th, 6th, 5th

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

• Carlo Acutis Movie 7th, 8th, 5th
• NET Retreat for 6th Grade
• ADOLV Geography Bee at SVS

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

• 8:15 AM Mass Pre-K to 8th Grade (Dress Uniform)
• NET Retreat for 7th Grade

Thursday, May 1, 2025

• NET Retreat for 8th Grade

Friday, May 2, 2025

• Noon Dismissal

• Field Day

• 1-3 PM Faculty Religion

Saturday, May 3, 2025

• 10 AM 2nd Grade First Communion