HAPPY HOMECOMING WEEK!!!

Remember that you'll see news from St. Mary Catholic Schools every other Wednesday, except holiday weeks when school is not in session.

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.

Chaperone for the Homecoming Dance on Saturday? Sign up here!

Preparing and inspiring students to lead meaningful lives,

rooted in the teachings of Christ and our Catholic tradition.

Don't be left standing on the platform! You'll want to be a part of the fun at All Aboard! Where else can you have such a great time for such a great cause? Here's what you need to know:

All Aboard supports all five campuses and all grade levels for St. Mary Catholic Schools, so we have a broad range of families and supporters from across the community. There are games, great food and drinks, a silent auction, event boards, and more! And you definitely won't want to miss the first ever Zephyrs Masked Singer competition!

Learn more about All Aboard and get event tickets here.

All Aboard features a great audience for sponsors and silent auction donations. Would you like to showcase your SMCS support and amplify your business? All sponsorships come with free event tickets! Or do you have an item or service you would like to contribute for the silent auction? Click on the links, or reach out for more information.

You'll see All Aboard cash raffle tickets coming home soon; by selling them you can also be entered in a drawing for a $400 tuition credit!

Finally, if you are willing to help before or during the event, you can also get a discounted ticket to All Aboard! Contact Kathleen McCurdy, Director of Advancement, at kmccurdy@smcatholicschools.org

No matter how you participate, you will love the chance to connect with families and Zephyrs supporters in the St. Mary Catholic Schools community as we celebrate together! And you can leave your gowns and tuxedos in the closet - this is a CASUAL Masquerade Party!

5:00 pm - Parade from Schildt Park, down Cold Spring Road, to Zephyr Fields

5:45 pm - Tailgate with concessions and food truck

7:00 pm - Watch the Zephyrs roll to victory over the Roncalli Jets!

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.

Internationally renowned composer and speaker Eric Genuis will be doing several limited engagements next week here in the Fox Valley. Accompanied by several other world-class musicians, Eric will bring his stirring message of hope to the students of St. Mary Catholic Middle School and High School in the Jane F. Bergstrom Fine Arts Education Center on Wednesday, October 9 at 9:45 am. He will be doing a free public concert the following night, Thursday, October 10, at the Xavier High School Theatre at 6:30 pm.

Eric brings his life-giving performances to a wide range of venues - from prisons and shelters to concert halls and gala fundraisers. In every case, his moving music and stories elevate the hearts and spirits of his audience. Please take advantage of this rare and unforgettable opportunity! Click here to reserve a spot for the free concert on Thursday, 10/10.

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.***

Adel Schneider, a junior at St. Mary Catholic High School, has been living with severe Food Allergies since her first anaphylactic reaction at 9 months. For much of her life, she has advocated for legislation and funding at both the state and national level, conducted dozens of school or workplace educational presentations, and raised over $50,000 for Food Allergy Research and Education. "One of the main reasons we chose St. Mary Catholic Schools for Adel’s education over ten years ago was the attention to her safety and inclusion," said Kara Schneider.

This year will be Adel's 11th year holding an allergy friendly Teal Bucket event. Teal is the color of Food Allergy Awareness, and Halloween can be a very challenging time for those living with Food Allergies. See the details below to enjoy this celebration. St. Mary Catholic Schools salutes you, Adel, for your Zephyrs leadership!

Friday, October 4 - 5:00 pm - Homecoming Parade from Schildt Park to Zephyr Fields

October 8 - 11 - Parent Teacher Conferences - see campus details

Friday, October 11 - No School

Friday, October 18 - No School - Diocesan Professional Learning Day

Friday, October 18 - 1:00 - 6:00 pm - Open House at St. Mary Elementary & Parish

October 18-20 - Middle School Musical - "Finding Nemo"

Saturday, November 2 - All Aboard!

Saturday, May 3 - Save the Date for Zephyrfest!

Tickets are on sale starting at 3:00 p.m. today. Scan the QR code, or visit smcsfinearts.org to buy ahead. Tickets are also available at the door.

If you want to see what's happening at SMCS right on your own calendar, all you have to do is "Subscribe" by clicking on the +GoogleCalendar in the lower right-hand corner of our calendar page. This works best for the System, High School, or Middle School calendars.

For complete listing of all SMCS sporting events, check out the Big East Calendar

Please remember that no dogs/pets are allowed on the SMCS campuses, with the exception of licensed service dogs.

Wednesday, 10/2– MS Volleyball

Thursday, 10/3 at 6:00 pm – Boys Soccer vs. Oostburg

Friday, 10/4 at 5:00 pm - HOMECOMING PARADE & TAILGATE PARTY

Friday, 10/4 at 7:00 pm - HOMECOMING FOOTBALL vs. Roncalli

Monday, 10/7 at 9:00 am - Girls Varsity Tennis Sub-sectional

Monday, 10/7 at 4:30 pm - JV Football vs. Roncalli

Monday, 10/7 - MS Volleyball

Tuesday, 10/8 at 7:00 pm Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Howards Grove

Thursday, 10/10 at 5:30 & 7:00 pm – JV2, JV, & Varsity Volleyball vs. Iola-Scandinavia

Thursday, 10/10 at 6:00 pm - MS Soccer

Tuesday, 10/15 at 5:30 pm - MS Football vs. Brillion

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 our 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!