Where Eagles Dare!
Newsletter 11/28/16
This newsletter will be on the website as well. www.stmarystaunton.com .
GO PATS, B’s and Celts
From the Principals Desk
As we transition from Thanksgiving to the Christmas Season, it is my hope that all of you and
your families are well. I am continually amazed by the extraordinary efforts, love and dedication
of our families and our staff towards the children of St. Mary’s and beyond. Please remember the
family of CC freshman Julia Byrne in your prayers. God Bless
Incentives
There are incentives for students/families to sell more calendars. For every student who sells 15
calendars, they will get a certificate from the Paw Sox, a free ticket to the game (May 14) and
will be recognized on the field before the game! For every 5 extra calendars above 10 sold the
student will get a raffle ticket (sell 15 calendars get 1 raffle, sell 20 get 2 raffles, etc.) for 4
Celtics (Loge level- great seats) on Friday March 4. Thanks to Gary and Peggy Enos! Let’s set a
record!!
Pancake Breakfast with SANTA!
Saturday 12/3 9-11am. Kids eat free, please bring your friends. Adults $5
Upcoming Events at a Glance
11/29/16
National Donation Day- Please consider giving to St. Mary's as your charity
of choice
12/2/16
Scrip Zone ends- Get some shopping done without leaving home and it helps
our students
12/2/16
12/2/16
4th Grade wreath making
5th Grade trip to La Salette Shrine
12/3/16
Breakfast with Santa- Kids eat free, adults $5. Bring your friends 9:00-11:00
am
12/4/16
Taunton Christmas Parade- we have a float in the parade
Christmas Gift Cards- Everyone uses them. We have a program that offers gift cards at face
value and we get a kick back to help the kids. Scrip Zone ends 12/2
St. Mary’s Giving Tree for My Brother’s Keeper–My Brothers’ Keeper is a Christian ministry
of service who delivers furniture, food and clothing to families in need. During the Christmas
season St. Mary’s School contributes to this organization by using star ornaments on the
Christmas tree in our foyer which suggests the toy, clothing item or special need that a child is
wishing for. The star ornaments can be removed from the tree in the foyer and returned
unwrapped in a Christmas bag with the star attached. This collection runs through December
19th.
Coyle & Cassidy Toy Drive –Every year Coyle & Cassidy provides families in need the
opportunity to make children’s Christmas dreams come true by turning their auditorium into a
mini Santa’s workshop. The children from the 4th and 5th grade represent St. Mary’s School at
the annual toy mass that takes place on December 6th. The toys should be brought to St. Mary’s
unwrapped. The collection for these toys will take place at St. Mary’s from now until December
5th.
PSFL
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is hard to believe that in a few short weeks our annual Christmas Fair will be here. December
16th is the day our auditorium transforms into a kid sized mall so that our students can do their
Christmas shopping for their loved ones. This is one of the top days of the year at St.
Mary’s. Items will be priced between $1.00 and $8.00. Keep an eye on Facebook starting
December 1st as we will be previewing some of the items in the 12 Days of the Christmas Fair. I
wanted to pass along some information as I know some people will be out shopping in the next
week or so. Times for each grade to shop will be sent out after Thanksgiving.
1. All gifts that the students buy are bagged and ready to be put under the tree! We ask that
each class bring in some wrapping supplies.
PreK-3, PreK-4, Kindergarten- ornament sized bags, we go through tons of these!
1st and 2nd grade: small bags
3rd and 4th grade: medium sized bags
5th grade: tissue paper and large bags
2.
Tags will be sent home as we get closer to the Christmas Fair. Each child will get a
group of name tags to address and sign so that when they get to the wrapping/bagging area the
tags are already filled out.
3.
VOLUNTEERS!!! This fair will not be a success without your help, we need many
hands to get through the day on the 16th, and any amount of time is greatly appreciated. Please
email me at [email protected] if you are available to help.
4.
Santa will be here for a visit from the North Pole for pictures!
5.
Volunteers…………….did I mention that already? I promise this is a really fun day!
6.
White Elephant Table will be making a return again this year. If you have something that
you know you won’t be using, please send it to school prior to the fair. The kids love to see what
is on this table.
7.
We are still accepting donations of crafts or items to sell at the fair. If you are interested
in making something or donating something please contact me or your room parent.
Finally, thank you to all the crafters who have worked so diligently for the last couple of months,
the fair would not be successful without you, and your help is greatly appreciated.
Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
Eryn McNearney
From the Health Office
Many parents ask, “When is my child sick enough to stay home from school?” This is not always
an easy question to answer! We hope that these guidelines can help!
A child who is sick will not be able to perform well in school and is likely to spread the illness to
other children and staff. We suggest making a plan for childcare ahead of time so you will not be
caught without a comforting place for your child to stay if he/she is ill.
Please keep your child home if they present with any of the symptoms below. Your child must
remain home until they are symptom free for 24 hours with no medications needed for any
symptoms.
• Fever of 100.0 or higher
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): A child should be excluded for bacterial conjunctivitis (red eyes,
green or yellow discharge) they may return after treatment has started.
• Impetigo: Exclude until 24 hours after treatment has begun.
• Pediculosis (Head Lice): Children should be sent home upon diagnosis and treated
immediately. The child cannot return to school until there are no nits present. An additional
treatment is needed 7 to 10 days later to kill the eggs that have hatched. Using a nit comb is the
most effective way to remove lice.
• Pertussis: (Whooping Cough) Children should be excluded until five days of appropriate
antibiotic has been completed or until local health department states patient is non-infectious.
• Rash: unexplained with or without fever.
• Streptococcal pharyngitis (Strep Throat), excluded until 24 hours after treatment has been
begun.
• Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis (TB) Exclude until the child’s physician or local health department
authority states the child is non-infectious.
• Varicella-zoster (Chicken pox): Exclude until all the lesions have dried and formed scabs,
usually within six days of onset of rash.
If your child becomes ill at school and the school nurse feels the child is too sick to benefit from
school or is he/she is contagious to other children, you will be contacted to pick them up from
school. Depending on the illness, further medical assessment or intervention may be required.
Therefore it is essential that the school has a current phone number to reach you during the day,
and an emergency number in the event that you cannot be reached. Please be sure that
arrangements can be made to transport your child home from school within a timely manner of
being notified by the school. If your daytime or emergency phone number changes during the
year, please notify us immediately.
From PE
We should have a turkey trot after Thanksgiving to work off those great meals.
Technology
We keep trying and advancing. Robotics is really fun and educational for the kids,
From the Art Room
If you during your holidays travel you should be by Mashpee Commons there is a small art store
there called Woodruff's Art Center. It is worth a stop in. It is an art store for children and adults
and an art gallery. They are having a small works of art exhibit and benefit sale running now
through December 31st. Proceeds from the sales of artwork benefit the Cape Cod Healthcare
Foundation. Over thirty local artists have their amazing small works of art displayed and for sale
from jewelry to watercolors. It's a fun small store.
From the Library
Read on!
From the Music Room
We are in full holiday swing in preparation for our Christmas Concert. Get ready for a show to
remember! December 13, Kids free, adults $3
Bring Your Empties (deposit bottles and cans only please)
Fifth grade will continue to collect any cans and bottles with a 5 cent deposit. We are saving the
money to help pay for our Gillette field trip bus.
A Christmas Prayer for those who have suffered the recent death of a loved one
God of compassion, there is such a hole in my heart! Today should be a day of joy, but I feel
only emptiness and loss. While the world celebrates around me, I remember Christmas
celebrations of the past and I long to have my loved one with me. I bring my sorrows to you,
Lord, like some odd gift of the magi and dump them at your feet. In my blind tears I wonder if
anyone can possibly understand the depth of my sadness.
I know, you can. You sent your son to be with us in our deepest sorrows and I know that even
though I might not feel it now, you are here with me, grieving with me, caring for me in my
sadness. Dearest lord, help me to turn to the one I miss so much today and speak. Help me heal
the loss of our parting and help me not to regret the things I didn't say. Sorrow tears at my heart,
but today I ask that my loss soften my heart and make me more compassionate with everyone I
meet, so that my loss may become a gift to others.
Revue, Like & Share
It would be great for our community if when you looked at things on our Fb page or Google
search St. Mary’s you would share our page and ask your friends to do the same. When you see
an opportunity to review, like and share, please do so, thanks.
Thank you
Your St. Mary’s Family
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong
Corinthians 16:13