February Newsletter

"Life is the school, love is the lesson, and relationships are assignments designed to further us into learning to live in a deeper state of love" ~Kate McGahan

We are looking forward to seeing many of you this afternoon & evening at parent teacher conferences! Conferences are today, Feb. 13th, in the afternoon (12:00-2:30 p.m.) and evening (5:00-7:30 p.m.) A reminder that K-8 conferences will still be held virtually or via phone calls from the teacher(s) if there is a snow day Thursday. Thank you!

During Catholic Schools Week, our students watched this short film based on the children's book "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse. The basis of the film is the journey of a boy and three animals, rooted in the virtues and everything we are called to be. A heartfelt story that is good for kids, adults, parents and teachers. Attached is the trailer for a sneak peek. The film is offered on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Youtube. Enjoy!

On Monday, April 28, 2025 we will hold an informational meeting on kindergarten for incoming kindergarten parents. Additional information is sent home to preschool families from Mrs. Gracik. On Monday, April 28th there will be no school for kindergarten students only. See you then!

As you have seen in our communicator for the last few weeks, for the 2025-2026 school year, the Diocese of Lansing is requiring St. Gerard to move to FACTS School Solutions for our Tuition(Currently Blackbaud) and Student Information System (Currently PowerSchool). You should have recieved an email last week from Sara Wade through FACTS. That email will give you instructions to reenroll your student for 2025-2026 in FACTS. The email will go to the email that you had with PowerSchool as we transferred information from PowerSchool to FACTS to make the progress go a little quicker. You will first make a Family Portal Account for FACTS, then you will fill out the Reenroll Form. The Enrollment form does have everything you need in the system, but to speed up the process for you, you may want to have some of these documents printed and filled out as you complete the enrollment form.

· Health Appraisal/Immunization – If your child is entering Kindergarten or the 7th Grade, you will need to submit one of these.

· Oral Health Assessment – If your child is entering Kindergarten, you will need to submit one of these.

· Child Information Record – If you plan to, or may use our Childcare, this form is required

· Volunteer Background Check – If you plan to volunteer at the School, all volunteers must submit these. If both parents want to volunteer, we need a form for each parent.

For help, you can also visit our new FACTS page on our School website - https://stgerardlansing.org/facts.

Lastly, if you do have any problems or would like some help enrolling, during Conferences we will have staff available to assist you in the process. Today, Feb. 13th from 12-2:00 & 5-7:00 staff are available during conference windows. Please stop in the library and we will be there to assist you.

The calendar is in the works for next school year~ however it will take a few months to finalize as dates are still coming in from the Diocese in regards to staff professional development, and routines we will iron out. Here is what we do know right now:

The first day of school will be the week of August 18th, exact date TBD.

Spring Break will be Friday, April 3 (Good Friday)-Friday, April 10, 2026.

Big thanks to Cory Krause and our PTO for helping us offer Mileage Club again this year! Mileage Club will begin after Spring Break in April, and will now be offered to our 7th & 8th students who would like to participate! Look for more information to come soon in order to make this program a success. Thank you Cory!

Lent begins on Wednesday, March 5th! Look for more communication as we get closer for opportunities to show prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as well as a school wide service project to give back to those in need. Join us for our Ash Wednesday all school mass on March 5th at 8:10. All are welcome!

Hi Parents,

If you are interested in helping support our 2025 March is Reading Month, we could really use your help!

We are building off of our Art theme we used on Fun Day to celebrate our favorite authors and illustrators. “Color Your World With Books!” Our hallways will be filled with paint colors and book characters!

If you would like to donate any decorations, please check out our Amazon wish list.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1HOFPRX5104KO?ref_=wl_share

There are also two main options to check out on our Sign Up Genius for volunteering.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080F4BA9AA2DA1F85-55032623-march

1. You could come in on Friday, Feb. 28th to help decorate! We need as many hands as possible for hanging premade decorations all around the school. The 9:00 am slot is to get started in the preschool/specials wing-this hallway is pretty empty on Fridays. The 3:00 pm slot is to do the rest of the school after the kids are gone. The kids will be SO excited when they walk in Monday morning thanks to all of this help!

2. You could get crafty and create a character (or two or three) for our hallways! We have our school mapped out to be filled with the kids’ favorite characters. Each character should be about 3-4 ft tall-the bigger the better! Email aprichard@stgerardlansing.org with any questions or if you want an example image of the character you signed up for. We have big rolls of white and tan butcher paper and many colors of bulletin board paper at school that you are welcome to use, or feel free to use any materials you have at home such as cardboard or poster board. Please drop off your character to the school office anytime before Feb. 28th, or bring it with you if you are coming to help decorate.

Thank you for helping make the month of March a magical time of year for our St. Gerard kiddos!

-March is Reading Month Committee

To file; you will need copies of your 2023 Federal Tax Return, including all Schedules, your 2024 W-2 (s), and copies of any supporting documents including, SSI, Workers Compensation, Unemployment and State or Federal Assistance, if applicable. If you have a family business, you will need your 2022 Federal Tax Return in addition to previously mentioned items.

All applications MUST be completed and filed by March 3, 2025 to be considered for financial aid, without exception. If you choose not to file or if your application is incomplete, you will not be eligible for any financial aid for the 2025-2026 school year.
The link to start your application is https://online.factsmgt.com/grant-aid/inst/3YZNQ/landing-page

If you have any questions, please email Shawn Macksood at smacksood@stgerardlansing.org

Quote from Chpt. 4; The Value of Being Known: Helping your child feel SEEN

"Notice that we're not describing some kind of super-parent here. You don't have to be able to read minds or transcend all your shortcomings or achieve some sort of spiritual enlightenment. You just have to show up. Show up with presence, and with the intention to let your kids feel that you get them and that you'll be there for them, no matter what. That's what it means to see- really see- your child" (Siegel, Bryson, p. 118).

Hello Parents! During the Catholic Schools Week, one of the fun activities we did was play a teacher trivia game as a whole school. We played the game using Kahoot, which you may or may not have heard of. Many of the younger kiddos asked me to share Kahoot with their parents. Kahoot is free (though they do try very hard to get you to buy into their paid versions!) and is a wonderful tool you can use to review topics in a game form. You can make your own or search their huge library that has multiple free options. At my house we just made a kahoot with my third grader to review her Michigan History for an upcoming unit test. We have also played Disney trivia and much more. Check it out by going to kahoot.com and let me know what you think!

Quality time refers to intentional and focused interaction between parents and children, where both are fully engaged and present in the moment. It’s more than just being physically together; it’s about building meaningful connections through shared experiences and positive communication. Whether it’s reading a book, playing a game, or simply talking, quality time strengthens the parent-child bond and fosters emotional security. In a world filled with distractions, setting aside time for meaningful activities with your child helps nurture a deeper relationship based on trust and understanding.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy for parents to become caught up in work, household tasks, and other responsibilities, leaving little room for meaningful connection with their children. However, research consistently shows that spending quality time with kids helps in their emotional development, self-esteem, and social skills. When children feel their parents' attention and love, they’re more likely to exhibit positive behaviors, excel in school, and build strong relationships with others. By prioritizing quality time, parents give their children the opportunity to feel valued, heard, and supported.

Finding ways to spend more quality time with your child can be simple and fun. Consider scheduling regular family activities, such as weekend outings, craft sessions, or cooking meals together. Turn everyday chores into bonding experiences by involving your child—like folding laundry together or gardening. Setting aside “no electronics” time, where all distractions are put away, ensures undivided attention. Additionally, plan one-on-one moments, whether it’s a walk after school or reading together before bed, to help build a strong, lasting connection. Quality time doesn’t have to be elaborate; it’s about consistency and being truly present.

• Thursday, 2/13: Parent Teacher Conferences PK-8th 12:00-2:30 & 5:00-7:30
• Friday, 2/14: NO SCHOOL; Childcare open
• Monday 2/17: NO SCHOOL; Childcare closed
• Tuesday, 2/18: NO WAVERLY AM OR PM BUS
• Friday, 2/21: 3rd grade to LCHS Cub Craze field trip
• Saturday, 2/22: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day!
• Sunday, 3/2: Grades 4-8 choir @ 9:00 a.m. mass
• Tuesday, 3/4: Virtue Assembly
• Wednesday, 3/5: Ash Wednesday & all school mass @ 8:10
• Lent Begins!
• Friday, 3/7: NO SCHOOL; Staff Lenten Retreat
• First Friday
• Maintenance worker Appreciation Day!
• Tuesday, 3/11: Book Fair
• Wednesday, 3/12: Book Fair & Staff floor hockey event *Details to come!
• 5th grade Visit Day to LCHS
• Thursday, 3/13: 6th grade play visit to LCHS
• Preschool field trip to Royal Scot
• Friday, 3/14: 2nd & 3rd graders: Reading with Kyle the Cougar
• Saturday, 3/15: 2nd grade First Eucharist Parent/Child workshop 10:30-11:30 a.m.

St. Gerard School, in partnership with family and church, provides a Catholic education that focuses on faith, academics, and service while living and sharing the light of Christ.