IMPORTANT: for the news from a specific campus, click on the correct photo below.

Remember that you'll see news from St. Mary Catholic Schools every other Wednesday, except holiday weeks when school is not in session. (So the next edition will be Wednesday, January 8.)

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!

Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives,

rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition.

Nothing compares to the anticipation and joy of children in the days leading up to Christmas. School hallways are transformed with holiday artwork... classroom celebrations are planned... and concerts bring to life the sounds of the season. The eyes of students light up like the candles of the Advent wreath as they gather to raise their voices in prayer. And at this time of giving, our teachers, pastors, and parishes invite them to respond with generosity to those in need.

There is no greater gift than Jesus. The Lord of creation lays aside His divine glory to enter our cold and broken world. He doesn't come with fanfare or power, but in the most humble way possible, in the most unlikely place, to the most forgotten people. The greatest gift in the simplest wrapping - a helpless Child, swaddled in tattered blankets, cradled in a trough for feeding barnyard animals.

God's saving work begins in the tiniest ways. May the Lord show you the power and potential of small beginnings in this Christmas Season. At St. Mary Catholic Schools, we celebrate countless small beginnings, believing in all that God can accomplish in each one of our students. Know that those students - together with our staff and parishes - pray for you and your loved ones in this sacred time.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Grace-filled New Year!

Parents see firsthand the difference that St. Mary Catholic Schools makes with family and community. So many of you already support our schools through volunteering, sharing good news about SMCS on social media, and being our best ambassadors in your circle of friends and family!

For those who are able to support SMCS financially, now is a great time to do so! Current matching gifts and end-of-year options make an enormous difference. Perhaps there are grandparents or godparents in your child's life who are willing to support our mission. We invite you to tell others about the Zephyr Way, and to be part of the good work of St. Mary Catholic Schools.

• The Annual Fund supports the yearly operation expenses for our schools, most importantly our teachers.
• We also welcome gifts to Athletics, Fine Arts, STEM, or any area of Zephyr life that you are passionate about!
• Tuition Assistance is essential for making sure that education at SMCS is accessible and affordable for every student now and into the future. For a limited time, all gifts designated for Tuition Assistance will be matched by a generous donor up to $40,000! *

*Matching applies only to Tuition Assistance donations at this time.

Step through the secret doors and into the glitz and glamour of the Roaring 20's at our speakeasy soirée, elevating the Fine Arts at St. Mary Catholic Schools. Discreetly share the invite with your adult friends, so you can sneak away for a fun-filled night of vintage-inspired cocktails, canapés, and *amazing* entertainment! Dress to impress in your Gatsby suits and flapper dresses for this swanky underground speakeasy (1920's attire optional), and get ready for an unforgettable evening!

Seriously, space is limited, so you'll want to make your plans NOW! Remember - it's a hush-hush affair... let's keep the authorities off our tail. We'll see you there... if you know where to find the entrance!

You've never experienced anything like ZCabaret, the one-of-a-kind Fine Arts fundraiser for SMCS, held backstage in the Jane Bergstrom Theatre. There are TWO available nights, 6:00 pm on Friday, January 31 OR Saturday, February 1. You'll be supporting Zephyrs of all grade levels, helping them discover their talents at St. Mary Catholic Schools.

Check out the attached invitation for more details, and get your tickets here.

You can still join in any or all of the six different events that are being hosted by fellow SMCS families. Ask any of our long-time school parents - these become some of the most fun and memorable ways to grow friendships with other parents and students! These "Event Boards" are a fantastic Zephyrs tradition - they are a ton of fun, and they are not fundraisers... just great parties with great people! Be sure to sign up soon, because space is limited.

To join any or all of the events, please click this link! Not sure you know anyone? Reach out to some friends and sign up together!

Neenah Pool Party - $50 per family - one adult per family required to attend - Date TBD (Summer 2025)

Back to School Backyard Bash - $55 per person - adults only - September 5, 2025

Movie Night at the Middle School - $25 per family - March 1, 2025

March Madness Party - $50 per person - adults only - April 5, 2025

Turkey Bowling - $40 per person - adults only - January 25, 2025

Bay Beach Bash - $40 per family - Date TBD

Turkey Bowling Bonanza

Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025, 1 p.m.

Limit 60 people, adults only, $40/person

Get ready for some kid-free fun on the ice at Payne's Point Hook and Spear Club in Neenah! Bundle up and get ready to throw some frozen fowl on our turkey bowling ice lanes! Arrive at the Clubhouse at 1pm, and bowling will start promptly at 1:30.

Bowling is optional, cheering is required! Warm up in between matches in the cozy Clubhouse where there will be plenty of appetizers and drinks available. When darkness hits, the fun doesn't end! Head inside for dinner, games and entertainment.

Brought to you by:

Chris & Kristen Bergstrom

Erik & Caela Brenn

Todd & Hesper Swanlund

Gretchen & Jeff Cogswell

Peter & Kali Sawyer

Jeff & Maria Virlee

Paynes Point Hook and Spear Club

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.

Christmas Shopping with RaiseRight / Scrip is a WIN-WIN-WIN! You save on tuition, you support SMCS, and you have happy people for the holidays! Login to your RaiseRight app and shop, shop, shop those extra bonuses! This is a great time to stock up on some of your favorite eGift cards or to send an eGift card to a friend or family member.

Have you made the most of your Christmas Scrip opportunities? Check out the Holiday Gift Guide 2024 for scrip-inspiration! Explore the pages for shopping tips and review the list of scrip retailers that will make everyone on your gift list happy! Whether you love to hit the stores or prefer to shop online, think SCRIP for your holiday gifts, groceries, services and travel!

Are you new to RaiseRight? Here's how it works!

Last 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.***

December 20 - Boys Basketball vs. Sheboygan Area Lutheran

December 20 - Girls Basketball vs. Weyauwega-Fremont

January 3 - Girls Basketball vs. Brillion

- Dance Team at Varsity Game

Saturday, January 11 - VEX Robotics HOME TOURNAMENT at SMC

Sunday, January 26 - Friday, January 31 - Catholic Schools Week

Friday, January 31 - ZCabaret - Fine Arts Fundraiser Night 1

Saturday, February 1 - ZCabaret - Fine Arts Fundraiser Night 2

Saturday, May 3 - Save the Date for Zephyrfest!

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!