Meeting of the Parents for Student Life – St. Mary’s Primary School
January 17, 2012
In attendance were: Brian Cote, Debbie Smith, April Reis, Lou Reis, Vicki Goetz, Carrie Nadeau, Shauna O’Connell, Erin MacMullen, Rose Vaglica, Cindy Bernard, Dartha Flaherty, Karen Pemberton, and Brian Foster.
Mr. Cote opened the meeting with a prayer. The purpose for this meeting was to discuss Catholic Schools week – Catholic Schools week will run from Sunday, January 29th through Saturday February 4th.
Mr. Cote stated that this year’s Catholic Schools week will be slightly different than in years past. We have toned down a few events due to bad winter and a lot of cancellations that had to be made last year. We will have some of the events that would normally take place during this week at other times during the year.
The Catholic Schools Week theme this year is Faith, Academics and Service. The week will begin on Sunday, January 29, 2012 with the Annual Open House and Registration for new students. (PreK3 through grade 5) and will go from 11am to 1pm. There will be an Information Session where Mr. Cote and some others will speak and then will be followed by School Tours. It is a great opportunity to see the school as well as meet some of the faculty and parents. We will be looking for students to give tours as well as some parents who may be able to help out. There will be coffee, juice and munchkins in the teacher’s room for those who attend.
It was also discussed that there are still lawn signs available. If you are interested in putting a sign on your lawn or if you own a business – we ask that you kindly put out a sign. Please see Mrs. Smith or Mr. Cote if you would like to put out a sign. The Taunton Gazette will also be running an ad for the open house.
The school will also be running its Second Book Fair of the year during this week. We have passed out a sign-up sheet for volunteers who would like to help with the book fair.
Monday, January 30, 2012 will be a formal uniform day and the school will have Mass at 10am. Representative Shaunna O’Connell will have a Catholic Schools week presentation in the auditorium at 1:30 pm. The school will also have its Cookie Kick-Off Rally for the Otis Spunkmeyer Cookie Drive following that presentation. The students will then participate in a Community Service Project which will be to make fruit baskets to be given to the Morton Hospital and local nursing homes. Information will go home regarding this Community Service Project.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 will be Student Pride Day! Wear your blue and white attire to school today. Show your appreciation to our awesome faculty and staff. There will be a Volleyball game in the auditorium at 1:30pm between the faculty and 5th grade students! Come and cheer on either your favorite teacher or favorite 5th grade student. It is sure to be a lot of fun. The Talent show will also be this evening at 6:30pm in the auditorium. Students are welcome to do group or individual performances. They will last about 3 minutes long. Currently there are 20 students signed up to perform. If you are interested please return your slip or let your teacher know.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Sports Day – Wear your favorite sports attire to school that day. There will be a Magic Show for all Students at 1:30pm in the auditorium.
Thursday, February 2, 2012 Wear your red, white and/or blue attire to school today! There will be an Ice Cream Social for the students at 12:30pm today in the auditorium. The school is in need of donations for the Ice cream – needed are 12 gallons of vanilla and 2 gallons of chocolate and whip cream. The school has the other supplies needed. Karen Pemberton stated she will see if she can get any ice cream donated – information on what is needed will be sent home as the time gets closer.
At the end of the school day on Thursday is when volunteers will be needed for the set-up of Student Appreciation Day (formally known as FUN DAY). Volunteers are needed and all are welcome to stay at the end of the day to help set-up and decorate.
Friday, February 3, 2012 - Student Appreciation Day!!! (a.k.a. FUN DAY) Mis-match Day – Wear your mis-matched clothes to school today! This is one of the best day’s on the St. Mary’s Calendar every year – it is the Student Appreciation Day where the kids come to the auditorium, play games, eat popcorn, and cotton candy get their faces painted or maybe a tattoo and when all is said and done – leave with a fun grab bag and some candy.
The Theme for this year’s Student Appreciation Day is “Peace Lives Here”. The auditorium will be decorated with peace signs and funky construction paper t-shirts which will be designed by some of the older grade students. Volunteers are needed for this great day and are asked to participate in the wearing of the mis-matched clothes – in order to make it a lot of fun for the kids. This year it will be run a little differently. There will be no tickets to purchase and no redemption table. For a fee of $5 per student, this $5 will entitle them to do everything for their allotted time slot. It was decided to move away from all the prizes, and get back to the basics of just playing games and having some fun.
This year for each time slot – there will be a “winner” for the best-mis-matched dressed student. Each of these students will receive a McDonald’s Chicken Nugget lunch with Mr. Cote and Mrs. Parker. So encourage your kids to dress their wackiest!
There were two additional items for quick discussion. They were that Mr. Cote stated that Historical Perspectives will be coming to the school and perform a demonstration on Amelia Earhart. As well as Bridgewater State University will be doing an awesome presentation on the earth with a huge balloon that the students will be able to walk inside. They will be do great presentations for the children to enjoy. Also the Rhythm Room will be coming back in April to do another presentation.
Mrs. Smith passed around a book for discussion as a fundraiser for the school. It is called Kids Stuff Books – and they are loaded with various coupons, of local stores, etc. The cost is $25 and the school will received $12.50 per book sold. There is no obligation to buy. It was decided that it was worth a look and that the school will most likely proceed in this fundraiser.
Mrs. Smith also brought up that she has received a “free” roller skating party at Carousel Roller Skating. She will look into it and information will be sent home. It was discussed as a “family night” activity.
Dartha Flaherty also advised that 5th grade parents are in need to get to the school the baby photos of their children so that Mr. Flaherty can begin to prepare the video. It was also brought up that any photos and or videos you have of your children’s time at St. Mary’s be sent in to him to help with the video. He does a wonderful job and has for the past few years during the 5th grade graduation reception.
Meeting adjourned 7:50pm.
