SMA Weekly Newsletter

October 31, 2024

✍🏻 Principal's Letter

Dear SMA Community,

Happy Halloween! We’re blessed to join together for Mass each week with our classmates and broader community. Our school welcomes students and families of all backgrounds; many attend SMA for its inclusive Christian environment, and all are welcome at church, including family and friends. Students often sit with their “big” or “little” buddies, but if you'd like to join your child, please coordinate with them beforehand so they can look out for you.

This Friday, we celebrate All Saints' Day, one of the six holy days of obligation in the U.S., which calls Catholics to attend Mass. These holy days are a chance to deepen our faith and grow closer to God. A little history: in 1642, there were 36 such days of obligation, reduced to 10 by 1917, and later to 6 in 1991 as some feast days were shifted to Sundays.

Following Mass tomorrow, students will have the chance to meet junior high saint presenters stationed throughout the hall. Our junior high students have been working diligently on saint reports in religion class for this special feast day. To celebrate, all students from K-8 are encouraged to dress as their favorite saint on Friday.

**In case you missed it:**

Our third annual Fall Festival was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who attended and volunteered—special thanks to Jeni and Chris Bartel for their incredible organization and leadership in making this night memorable. Fr. Ignatius was also delighted with his birthday gift from SMA students and staff (see photo below). Meanwhile, the Knights from St. Martin of Tours Parish hosted a penalty kick contest for the upper grades, with many of our students participating and even taking home championships! Winners were recognized at Monday’s assembly.

Lastly, thank you for your patience as we transition to our new FACTS Student Information System. We've encountered some technical challenges, but we’re working diligently with FACTS programmers to resolve them. You should no longer receive multiple conference invitations, and grade access will soon be available. I anticipate grades opening by tomorrow, and you’ll receive an alert on the FACTS app as soon as they’re ready.

Fall Blessings,

Jennifer Miller

Principal

🕛 Midnight Tonight - Tallies Close for Top 3 Fundraising Classes

Today is the last day to have pledges, sponsorships, bids, or purchases count towards classroom totals. The top 3 classrooms will be announced at the assembly on Monday, 11/4. These classes will each choose a superhero that will attend the Turkey Trot on 11/15 with them.

Still on (contest ends 11/14/24 at midnight)..........the top earning upper and lower grade classes will choose 2 faculty or staff members to silly string!! Faculty/staff members can pass (except for Mrs. Miller and Ms. Wilson). 😜

Still open - bidding! The front row Jesus side for the 12/18/24 Advent Program is currently up to $810! The top reserved parking bid is currently $80. Bidding closes at the end of the Turkey Trot when the DJ announces final call.

We have almost raised $30,000! Go SPARTANS!

🦃 Turkey Trot - Bid, Donate, Purchase, Volunteer......Everything Turkey Trot

🍗 Click here to bid on Advent Program Seating & Reserved Parking for 12/18/24 @ 5 pm

🍗 99 Pledges - Donate to the 11/15/24 SMA Superhero Turkey Trot by clicking here

🍗 Turkey Trot FACTS Page - click here (requires FACTS login)

🍗 Volunteer here for the Turkey Trot - earn some of your required volunteer hours.

👉 St. Martin of Tours App Tutorial of the Week

St. Martin of Tours Academy App

How do I sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences?

We have received a lot of calls in the office about how to do this so we are keeping this tutorial up again this week. You can always come in with your phone and we will walk you through the process.😀

Log in to the SMA app follow the directions below.

🍏Students in grades 1-8 lead conferences. They show work they are proud of and tell how they are progressing in their studies and with their life skills.

🍏Please contact teachers directly if you are unable to make any of the remaining times available.

🍏The Scholastic Book Sale will be taking place in the library during conferences.

Open the SMA app and click on CALENDAR.

Click on MY CLASSROOMS.

Pick your preferred conference date and available times will show.

🏀⚽ Winter Sports Sign Ups are Open Until 10/31/24

Winter Sports Sign Ups are Open!

🏀⚽ Click here to sign up for SMA 2024 Winter Sports! ⚽🏀

The last day to sign up 10/31/24, signup ASAP to help teams form

(if there is not enough interest, the sports fee will be reimbursed)

Here are the details:

JV Boys Basketball: Open to 5th and 6th graders
Varsity Boys Basketball: Open to 7th and 8th graders
Kindergarten Co-Ed Soccer: Open to Kindergarten
Boys Soccer: Open to 1st through 4th graders
Girls Soccer: Open to 1st through 4th graders

Practices will be held after school. For further questions, contact Athletic Director Coach Yeats at: athletics@stmartinoftoursacademy.org.

We look forward to a fantastic sports season and hope to see your students on the field!

🙋🏽 Important Dates

11/1/24 8:30 am All Saints' Day Mass
11/4/24 ☕8:15 am - 9:15 am Coffee with the Principal ☕Hot Bevs Coffee in the Parking Lot
11/6724 4-5 pm PTG Executive Officer & Chairpersons Meeting
⛺11/7/24 6th Grade Camp Parent Meeting - 5 pm Zoom
11/8/24 End of 1st Trimester
11/10/24 St. Martin's Feast Day (observed)
11/11/24-11/1/24 Coat, blanket, & gloves drive w/Knights of Columbus
11/11/24 No School- Veterans Day
11/15/24 Turkey Trot
11/17/24 Academy-sponsored 9 am Mass & 5th grade bake sale
11/17/24 Fair Trade Gift Faire
11/20/24- 11/22/24 Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences / 12:00 pm Minimum Days
11/20/24- 11/22/24 Scholastic Book fair
11/23/24 2:30 - 4:00 pm Blessing of the Advent Wreaths (All families welcome)
11/25/24- 11/29/24 No School- Thanksgiving break
12/1/24 1st Sunday of Advent