St. Mary Cathedral School

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END-OF-YEAR PACKETS will be sent home next Tuesday, May 22, with the oldest returning child in each family. The packet will include a copy of your 2012 - 2013 contract and payment envelopes, 2012 – 2013 school calendar, Student Supply List for next year, 2012 – 2013 Uniform Guidelines, and updated Bingo Team List and Bingo Schedule for the coming year. Please put this information in a safe place for the summer and the start of school.

Wednesday, May 23 – Mary Day 8^th Grade Graduation Awards Ceremony at 6:00 p.m. in Church followed by Dinner and Dance in the gym for graduates and their parents. (8^th Graders should be in the cafeteria no later than 5:45 p.m.) Many thanks to the Home & School Association for providing the food and entertainment. Thanks, too, to Mrs. Skaggs and the 7^th Grade parents for preparing and serving the dinner. **8^th Graders only will be dismissed at 1:00 – No earlier, please, so they can all be here for the final practice for graduation.

Thursday, May 24 – 8:00 a.m. All-School Graduation Mass. Graduation photos will be taken after Mass by Cheekwood Studio. Graduates will be dismissed after receiving their final report cards.

Kindergarten through 7^th Grade students will gather in the gym following 8:00 a.m. Mass for the end-of-year Awards Ceremony. Parents are invited to join us for Mass and the Awards Ceremony.

FAIR SHARE / TUITION / LUNCH STATEMENTS are being sent home one more time to families that still owe a balance for Fair Share/Tuition, lunches, or library. Parents are reminded that Report Cards will NOT be given to students unless all fees have been paid. We urge you to make sure that ALL payments are up-to-date by May 22 at the very latest. If you are unable to meet your contracted obligation, please call Mrs. Strattman as soon as possible to make arrangements. If we have not heard from you and payment has not been paid, student report cards will NOT be given to students on the last day of school. Also, registration for the 2012 – 2013 school year is contingent upon payment of the current fees. PLEASE call the school office if you need additional time or special arrangements. Note: Play Day lunch is charged as a regular cafeteria lunch. ***Overpayments to lunch accounts will be credited to next year.

PLAY DAY TOMORROW – Students should arrive at school at regular time and dismissal is at 1:00 p.m. Students may wear shorts and Play Day T-shirts. NO SANDALS, PLEASE. We will all celebrate 8:00 a.m. liturgy and then enjoy the many activities of the day. We sincerely thank Ashly Britton for planning the day for us… and we send thanks to the MANY parents and relatives who have volunteered to help with the day’s activities.

Reminder: The Frederick Street entrance will be blocked off in the morning for Play Day activities. Please come in to the parking lot from William Street directly behind the church to drop off students in the morning. At dismissal, the Frederick Street entrance will open no earlier than 12:45. After the street is open, you may pull into the parking lot and park as usual for pick up. DO NOT USE THE DRIVE BEHIND THE RECTORY FOR AFTERNOON PICKUP. Play Day Volunteers should be here by 8:30 and park in the parish parking areas across William St.

500-POINT CLUB MEMBERS ENJOYED A GREAT TRIP – Mrs. Strattman and the FOURTEEN 500-Point Club Members enjoyed lunch at Lambert’s Café in Sikeston followed by laser tag and arcade games as Blodgett Fun Factory on Wednesday afternoon. Congratulations to Hannah Lucas, Samartha Shrestha, Raymond Boos, Kylie Swain, Elizabeth Keene, Olivia Westbrook, Ashlyn Brown, Theo Nguyen, Kalli Yarbro, Hadeel Wadi, Lilly Edwards, Clayton Eftink, Luke Jones, and Lauren Landewee for EACH reading and passing tests on more than 500 points this school year. Special congrats to Theo Nguyen and Kylie Swain who EACH accumulated more than 1000 points this year – a school record!!!

ACCELERATED READER PROGRESS REPORT

As of May 16: 37,339.2 points earned in _14,365 books read and passed

SCHOOL GOAL FOR 2011 – 2012 = 31,000 POINTS

PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AND GRADUATION – Everyone is invited to join us as our youngest St. Mary’s students present an end-of-year program on Tuesday, May 22, at 6:00 p.m. in the gym.

“PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN” (VIRTUS) TRAINING REQUIRED FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS – EVERY volunteer who helps in ANY way with our children or volunteers at school in any capacity is REQUIRED by our Diocese to participate in a Virtus Training Workshop. This includes faculty and staff, coaches, library volunteers, cafeteria volunteers, coaches, assistant coaches, scout leaders and helpers, and Vacation Bible School helpers.

We thank ALL of you who have already participated in the training and submitted the required paperwork. The training only needs to be done once so anyone who has already had the Virtus training has met the requirement. If you are a volunteer who has not participated in the training or a NEW volunteer (who might be helping at Vacation Bible School this summer or who plans to coach for the first time next year), you MUST sign up for the training.

On Wednesday, June 20, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Cape

On Monday, July 9, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Cape

You can sign up online at virtus.org. Click on Registration, then “Begin Registration,” then click on “Springfield-Cape Girardeau MO,” then complete all of the needed information. You will also be asked to complete a Disclosure statement to allow a Background Check. This form can be brought or mailed to the school office.

**If you plan to help at Vacation Bible School this summer and have not completed Virtus training already, you MUST attend one of these sessions before you will be allowed to help. Also, if you plan to coach next year and have not yet participated in a training session, these are chances to get a headstart on the fall. If you have any questions or have trouble registering, call the school office for help.

YEARBOOK ORDERS – Yearbook orders are NOW being taken. Order now to insure that your copy will be waiting for you in the fall!!! YEARBOOK PICTURES NEEDED – If you have pictures from any events of this school year, please send them to Stephanie@cheekwoodstudio.com.

LOST & FOUND ITEMS – Please take some time at home to “inventory” uniform and “other” clothing items. If you think you are missing something, PLEASE check our Lost & Found selection in the main hallway of school. We have LOTS of sweatshirts, slacks, shorts, shirts, coats, jackets, socks, etc., If items are not claimed by May 24, the Uniform Items will join the “to sell” items for our next Uniform Re-Sale and the non-uniform items will be given to the Salvation Army.

PRACTICE DRUM SET FOR SALE, $25 – If interested, call Anita Layton at 275-3296.

BINGO NEWS -- Team 1 WORKS TONIGHT – *Debra/ T.J. Halter, Carrie George, Elizabeth Bertrand, Danette Ketcher, Brandon/Tami Williams, Kelly Roy, Gina Laurentius, Todd/Pam Kutz, Shawn/Alisha Reynolds, Shannon/Shannon Kutz

Team 2 works May 24 – *Jackie Farrow, Stuart Dohogne, Kelley/Crystal Swain, Jackie Porter, Allison Bomar, Herb Seyer, Jim/Kim Keusenkothen, Tim/Jennifer Renner, Tom/Kristin Emmendorfer, Steve/Angela Kapp, Lori Woeltje

**BINGO WORKERS URGENTLY NEEDED – We are “retiring” several workers who have helped us for many years and we need new recruits to fill in the gaps. If you are not currently a team member, PLEASE consider volunteering. AT LEAST ONE PARENT FROM EACH SCHOOL FAMILY SHOULD BE HELPING WITH BINGO. Bingo is a major source of income for our school – one which benefits EVERY FAMILY. If you are not doing your part, please start now by calling the school office to volunteer or send a note which includes your date of birth, social security number, and a copy of your driver’s license. You can choose which team you would like to join!!! Workers are scheduled only once every 10 weeks.

LUNCH MONEY for the week of May 21 - 24 -- 3 days ($6.00). Reduced cost = $1.20