Hawk Headlines

Dear Parents,

National Catholic Schools Week is just around the corner! We will kick it off on January 26 with our annual Open House. Please invite family and friends who may be interested in SMKCS. Each year, during Catholic Schools Week, the Archbishop leads Mass in downtown Indianapolis celebrating the faith, practices, and communities of all 68 schools within the Archdiocese. We have been invited to send a group from our school to participate in this celebration. I will be taking a group of selected students to Indianapolis on Wednesday, January 29 to join in the 10:30am Mass at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral representing SMKCS. After Mass, I will treat the students to lunch before heading back to SMK. If your child is interested in the opportunity to attend, I invite them to enter the essay contest that will be coming home this week for students in 2nd through 8th grade.

Look for the light blue registration form for the 2025-2026 school year to come home with your child this week. Thank you for your prompt response and return of the form. As always, contact the school office if you have any questions.

In Christ,

Tracy Jansen

Tuesday, January 14

Dog Haus Spirit Day

Wednesday, January 15

Out of uniform day for participating students

Thursday, January 16

Little Hawks Parent/Teacher Conferences

Book study for all SMKCS parents - 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory - GAC - 2:40pm (Every Thursday for 4 weeks)

Friday, January 17

Mass Led by Mrs. Naville’s Class (No Muffins)

No School for pre-k

Little Hawks Parent/Teacher Conferences

Upcoming Events

1/20 School in Session

1/23 Dr. Black Eye Exams for Kindergarten 9:30

1/24 Mass Led by 5h Grade Tevis (Muffins)

1/26 Open House - 12-2pm

1/26-1/31 - Catholic Schools Week

• Parents of students in grades K-8 should have received an email with their child's second quarter report card. Your electronic signature is needed.

• Mark your calendar, the first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year will be August 6.

All SMKCS parents are invited to join us for a Book Club @ 2:40 in Assumption Hall this Thursday to discuss Days 1-7 from our book, 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory! If you still need a copy stop by the school office to pick one up. Stop by before you pick up the kids for fellowship, discussion, and snacks!

St. Mary of the Knobs was chosen as one of the partner parishes in St. Meinrad's Children's Revival of Participation at Sunday Mass project. The project is funded by Lilly Foundation, Inc. and the goal is to increase children's participation in and understanding of Sunday Mass. As one of SMK's goals, we are implementing a Vocation Prayer Chalice and Prayer Kit box for First Communion families. Second grade families should see their email for more details.

As part of our Children's Revival of the Mass we have ordered a weekly liturgical guide for our 3rd - 6th graders. Look for these to be sent home this week! Put them in a special place where your child will grab them as they head out the door to Mass each Sunday. The guide does a beautiful job preparing our elementary students for the liturgy.

Our Friendzy focus for the month of January is Practice Makes Permanent! Watch the quick video below created by our school counselor, Michelle Frossard, to see how you can support this social and emotional skill at home.

Track and Field is open to 3rd grade to 8th grade. You can participate in up to 4 different events ranging from: TurboJav, 100 meter dash, the 1 mile, long jump, and many more in between! We also have 4 spots on our relay teams as well.

Parent Meeting:

Thursday, February 20, 6:00 in the middle school. Not required, but could be helpful, especially for new families.

Practices:

Track practices will start Monday, February 24 for 5th - 8th.

3rd and 4th grade can begin after they wrap up their basketball/volleyball season OR March if they don’t have anything.

WHEN: Practices will be Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 6:15 – 7:30 PM. This to allow some time for Highland Hills to finish up. You do not have to come to all 3 practices during the week, but I would like for everyone to try to make 2. If you are on a relay, I would like the full team to be at the same practice at least 1 time a week to practice handoffs.

WHERE: Practices are held at Highland Hills Middle School track. If the track is not available or it is storming, we will try to find an alternate location or just cancel.

Practice attendance is important and can influence if you are on a relay team or get to participate in certain events. Please try to make practices and be realistic with your athlete’s/family’s time. Many of you are trying to juggle a lot, please don't make it hard on your family.

We will NOT have practice on Holy Thursday or Spring Break.

Meets:

The Deanery meets generally last from 12-4 ish.

Providence is resurfacing their track, at this time I do not know when or where the meets will be. I have heard we will have them at Clarksville High School, but I do not have that officially yet.

We will probably have a few other meets added to the schedule for the Middle School, usually with Highland Hills, Silver Creek, and Borden. More info to follow.

This is a proposed schedule, based on last year. THIS IS JUST A GUESS! I will know more when we have the coaches meeting.

April 6: Deanery Meet 1

April 13: Deanery Meet 2

April 27: Deanery Meet 3

May 4: Deanery Championship

If you have any questions, please let me know. 43 days until practice!

• Basketball jerseys for 5th-8th grade should be returned and placed in the labeled blue locker in the school gym. Please make sure the jerseys are laundered and placed in a plastic bag labeled with your child’s name.

• Cheerleading form for 3rd/4th grade - Note that it is possible for students to do both cheerleading and basketball. We are hoping to have enough interest to form an SMK cheer team. Cheer sign ups close this Wednesday!

Attention all students needing service hours, house points, or just looking to do some good in our parish: We are in need of people to work 2 hour shifts in the concession stand during our youth basketball league. Please click the button below to help out. These games are on Saturday and Sunday the next four weekends. There are over 400 kids that play in this league so come wearing school spirit wear! Email Melanie Hartlage with questions at mhartlage@yoursmk.org

In Matthew Kelly's book, 33 Days to Eucharistic Glory, he suggests that some members of society are living as "Tourists", but we are called to live as "Pilgrims." Tourists want everything to go exactly the way they have planned and imagined. Seized by a fear of missing out, they rush around from one place to the next trying to cram anything in. They are constantly buying souvenirs and knickknacks. They are upset if there are delays. They demand prompt attention and service to all their needs and desires.

Pilgrims are different! They are on a spiritual journey to a sacred destination. They look for signs from God to guide them along their way. They focus on knowing God, loving God, and serving God. They trust in him always to lead them by the right road.

During this 2025 Year of Jubilee, let's live as Pilgrims of Hope!