St. Viator Parish School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we journey into the sacred season of Lent, our school community is embracing this time of reflection, prayer, and renewal with open hearts. Lent is a special season in the Church, calling us to grow closer to God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. It is a time to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter and to reflect on the sacrifices Jesus made for us.

At St. Viator School, our students will be actively learning about the significance of Lent and the ways they can deepen their faith. Throughout these 40 days, our classrooms will engage in meaningful discussions, prayers, and activities designed to help students reflect on the themes of sacrifice, gratitude, and service. Students in grades 2-8 will also have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, allowing them to experience God’s love and mercy in a profound way.

Each class will take part in special Lenten projects and activities that encourage spiritual growth and acts of kindness. We invite you to join us in fostering this spirit of faith at home by praying together, attending Mass, and encouraging small sacrifices that help our children appreciate the true meaning of this season.

May this Lent be a time of renewal and grace for your families, and may we all grow in faith as we walk with Christ toward Easter.

~ Dr. Katie Kiss & Mr. Paul Mertzman

Our students had an amazing time celebrating Nevada Reading Week! They embraced the joy of reading through a variety of fun activities, from dressing up as their favorite book characters to carrying a poem in their pocket and wearing shirts with writing. Students also participated in Nevada Reading Week Bingo, and many classes welcomed guest readers, making the week even more special. It was wonderful to see their enthusiasm and love for reading grow throughout the week! Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success!

Below are a few pictures of our proud Nevada Reading Week readers!

In honor of Nevada Reading Week 2025, St. Viator School will once again embark in a community wide shared reading event entitled: “One School, One Book.” Every student will receive a copy of the same book and students will read it together at school and at home over the next few weeks. We are inviting all families to make the time to participate in this special activity. Everyone—students, parents, teachers, and administration -- will be reading/listening to the story together.

Your child will be introduced to the program at the Prayer and Flag "One School, One Book Reveal Assembly", on Monday, March 10 at 1:15 p.m. Along with the book, students will receive a reading schedule so that families can join the fun! Students may be asked to read or reread about 5-15 minutes each night. Parents, this book is only available in hard copy format and our school is asking for a book donation of $10 per book (to help the school cover the cost of the program). Please send in $10 if you are able to sponsor the cost of your child's book.

Our sixth graders have just returned from an incredible week of outdoor education at Pali Science Camp in Running Springs, CA! Over the past five days and four nights, they immersed themselves in hands-on learning experiences that deepened their understanding of science and the natural world. From exploring ecosystems and engaging in rock climbing challenges to launching rockets and testing their survival skills, the students enthusiastically embraced every activity. Each evening, they gathered for a meaningful Campus Ministry component, reflecting on their experiences, strengthening their faith, and building a strong sense of community. This adventure was not only educational but also a time of personal growth, teamwork, and lasting memories. We are so proud of their curiosity, courage, and willingness to step outside their comfort zones. Welcome home, sixth grade!

Spring Photos: Students may wear free dress only if they are purchasing Spring photos.

Sports Photos: Students should wear their team jersey/uniform to school for the day. If your child is also taking spring photos, they will be able to change from their spring photo attire into their team jersey/uniform for their sports photos.

Club Photos: This year, club photos will be taken by the yearbook advisors during the first 5 minutes of each scheduled club meeting. Specific dates for each club’s photo session will be provided to the club moderators. Photos will be brief to stay within the meeting time.

Monday & Wednesday practices: 3:15pm - 4:15pm @ UNLV - Myron Partridge Track

Saturday practices:

9:00am - 10:00am @ Paradise Vista Park

Practice dates:

Saturday March 8th - Wednesday April 23rd.

Track Meet Friday, April 25th.

Track & Field Consent Form

Student Athlete Code of Conduct Form

Drop off your gently used school approved uniforms before the sale in the school office. Thank you!

Mrs. Berg, our Technology teacher, is available to assist parents with navigating school-related technology resources. If you need help with programs like myON, IXL, FACTS, Google Classroom, or other educational apps, Mrs. Berg is here to guide you! She can provide support in understanding these tools and how to use them to support your child’s learning.

If you're interested, please complete the Google Form, and Mrs. Berg will reach out to schedule an in-person meeting to go over the school’s technology resources. Meeting times will be available before and after school, as well as some times during the school day.

We’re excited to announce that the Fish Fry returns, and we need your help! Knight of Columbus are asking our St. Viator School Families to contribute to the Bake Sale by bringing in homemade or store-bought baked goods.

Please drop off your treats at the school office on the scheduled Friday mornings at drop-off or dismissal time listed below.

Dessert Drop-Off Schedule:

March 7: PreK & 8th Grade

March 14: Kindergarten & 7th Grade

March 28: 1st & 6th Grade

April 4: 2nd & 5th Grade

April 11: 3rd & 4th Grade

Your support, whether homemade or store-bought, makes a sweet difference! Thank you for helping make this event a success!

Dear St. Viator Families,

As we remain committed to providing a high-quality Catholic education rooted in faith, academic excellence, and service, we want to inform you of an upcoming tuition adjustment for the 2025-2026 school year. Each year, we carefully review tuition to ensure we can continue offering exceptional educational opportunities while maintaining financial sustainability.

Parishioner & Archdiocesan Categories: Tuition will increase to ensure we can continue providing excellent instruction and resources for our students.

Non-Parishioner/Non-Archdiocesan Category: Tuition will increase at a lower rate, as it is already nearly double the Parishioner rate.

Multi-Child Discount: The discount will be slightly reduced for additional children, as it has remained unchanged for over ten years and is no longer financially sustainable at its previous level.

New Requirement for Archdiocesan Tuition Category

Families receiving the Archdiocesan tuition rate must submit a signed affidavit from their parish pastor within the Archdiocese of Las Vegas. The school will provide the form, which must be submitted by June 1, 2025.

Payment Plan Options: To assist families in managing tuition costs, we are aligning our payment plans with those used throughout the Archdiocese. Families may now spread tuition payments over 10, 11, or 12 months, making tuition more manageable.

Important Deadlines & First Day of School: Registration fee for each child is due on Friday, March 28, 2025. Invoicing will begin on 2/21 and available to view in your FACTs account under “incidentals”.

The first day of school will be Monday, August 11, 2025. Please see the 2025-2026 school calendar linked below.

We understand that tuition increases impact families, and we remain deeply committed to making Catholic education accessible while ensuring our school remains strong for future generations. Your continued partnership and trust allow us to provide a faith-filled learning environment where students thrive. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your ongoing support of St. Viator Parish School.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Katie Kiss ~ Mr. Paul Mertzman ~ Fr. Richard Rinn, C.S.V.

As our school continues to prepare for the WCEA accreditation visit, we are asking for parents to complete a survey while helping to assess the quality of our programs. Thus far we have received responses from 50% of our families. Here are some of the wonderful comments from our community.

• At any time, I am happy to speak on “you cannot judge a book based on its cover.” SVS has heart, has the most caring and dedicated staff (they are old school tough which I treasure but they absolutely LOVE our children), has community, has humble children that are taught to be kind. You really don’t understand the priceless value of this until you leave for a couple years and come back. I’m grateful for this perspective!

• St. Viator welcomes a variety of students with behavioral and learning challenges that may not otherwise be given the opportunity to learn in a Catholic School. They are welcomed and supported in order to not affect the learning of others. The administration at St. Viator has an open door policy and listens to their teachers. They are always willing to hear new ideas.

• Overall, I think our school does a very good job for the children. I understand that you can’t make us all happy but I know they try their best.

As we continue this process, we are hoping to hear from 75% of our families. Please complete the survey (linked below) Your participation is vital in helping us to analyze the school, its programs and impact on student learning.

We realize this WCEA survey is rather lengthy and should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. We are most grateful for your time and assisting us in this process!

Click the link https://forms.gle/UP3FxWxVeozrPWgE7 or simply fill out the form below.

We are currently taking registrations and setting up testing appointments for new students entering PreKindergarten through 8th grade. If your family has a Pre-K or K student that will be new to the school next year, please contact Mrs. Drewes 702-732-4477 or email tdrewes@stviatorschool.org

Current SVS parents if you have friends or family interested in enrolling their children in our school please help us share that now is the time to tour and apply! Parents are our best spokespeople ands we are grateful for your continued support!

The most significant criteria to qualify for the Viator Parish rate is regular attendance at Sunday Mass using your envelopes. Remember, parents are a model of faith for their children and when families join us on a regular basis they are showing their children the priority faith and church has in their lives.

In order to qualify for the Viator rate you MUST:

1. Attend a minimum of 26 masses (Saturday or Sunday)
2. Use the envelopes sent to you from the church
3. Forgot your envelope? Remember your parish number and use a blank envelope provided at mass.

DO NOT

1. Mail in your envelopes to St. Viator church. These will not be counted.
2. Drop off your envelope in the church on a school mass day.
3. Forgetting the envelope and telling the church or school you went.

Tuition review occurred in December and you should have attended 13 masses by this time. All rates will be reviewed adjusted after the assessment. If your rate is adjusted it will be reflected on the February statement.

Reminder: Students should wear their Campus Ministry Shirts/Free Dress Bottoms on Campus Ministry Days

7A - March 11 at 9:30am (Project 150)

7B - March 25 at 9:30am (Project 150)

8A - April 1 at 9:30am (Project 150)

8B - April 15 at 9:30am (Project 150)

NET Retreat - April 29 (6th Grade), April 30 (7th Grade), May 1st (8th Grade)

Please consider becoming a volunteer and helping us with this invaluable experience for your children. CMG trained and fingerprinted adults welcome to sign up here:

Campus Ministry Volunteer Signups

We cannot do it without our volunteers. If you cannot volunteer during this time, consider making a donut donation. I appreciate you so much!

Thank you again for blessing our children with the gift of Campus ministry. I look forward to leading our children this year to help them realize their true potential through our Catholic teachings and traditions.

Jamie Reyburn

jreyburn@stviator.org

Please be reminded of the following important procedures:

Absences: If your child will be absent from school, per the handbook (pg. 11), parents should notify the school office immediately. This helps us ensure accurate attendance records.

Tardiness: If your child will be late due to an appointment, car issues, etc., please call the school office ahead of time to inform us of the delay.

Early Pickup: If your child needs to be picked up early, it is mandatory that you contact the school office as soon as possible—whether via phone call, email, or a note sent in with your child. Failure to do so can cause classroom disruption and may delay your child’s retrieval.

As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy school environment, we want to remind families of a few important lunch guidelines:

1. No Glass Containers: Please ensure that your child does not bring any glass containers in their lunchbox. Glass can easily fall and shatter, creating a safety hazard in the cafeteria and throughout the school campus. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep all students safe.

2. No Sharing of Food: While this policy is outlined in our school handbook and closely monitored by cafeteria staff, we have noticed that, from time to time, students are still sharing or gifting food to classmates. For the health and safety of all students, we kindly ask parents to reinforce this rule at home. Each child should eat only the lunch that has been packed from home or ordered through the school’s lunch program.

Your support in reinforcing these guidelines with your child is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and healthy school environment!

Sunday, March 9, 2025

• First Sunday of Lent

Monday, March 10, 2025

• Prayer & Flag by 3A

• 1:15 PM One School One Book Reveal Assembly in the Gym

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

• KB Community Outreach

• 9:30AM Grade 7A to Project 150

• Spring & Sports Photo Day

• 4:30PM-5:30PM 2nd Grade 1st Communion Zoom Meeting

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

• 8:15AM Mass PreK-8th (Dress Uniform)
• Honors Assembly after Mass

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Friday, March 14, 2025

• Noon Dismissal
• St. Patrick's Day Theme Free Dress Day

• 4-7PM Fish Fry in the Parish Center