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Dear SOSM Parents,
Happy New Year! Whether 2024 was joyful or challenging, we pray that 2025 brings bright days to both our families and the world. New beginnings are filled with promise and optimism. Our teachers and your children are embarking on another year of making memories, developing their faith foundation, learning new ways to compute, mastering reading strategies, collaborating in the classroom and playing field, and building friendships!
On January 15, 2025, Mr. Greg Richmond, the Superintendent of the Archdiocese of Chicago, will spend time at both School of St. Mary campuses. As part of his visit, Mr. Richmond will recognize that our learning community earned the highest Family Engagement Score among all Catholic schools in Lake County as measured on a survey taken by parents, faculty, and students last spring. Everyone knows it takes students and teachers to create a school. However, parents' investment in their children’s school is essential to increase academic performance, social skills, motivation, and overall positive student outcomes. Your efforts as parents lay the foundation for the future success of our Catholic
school. So, this award is for you!
If you would like to see Mr. Richmond, he will welcome the children to the Primary Grade Center next Wednesday and attend Mass with our Junior Kindergarten through third-grade students. He will also visit several PGC and UGC classrooms.
Introducing a New Faculty Member
Please help us welcome Fran Chana to the Upper Grade Center. She earned a teaching degree from the University of Iowa with a concentration in mild to moderate Special Education and is a Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS1). Fran has worked in Evanston and Lake Forest public schools. A local resident and parishioner, Fran and her husband are raising three school-age children. We are delighted Fran will share her vast experience and expertise with our students and teachers.
Respectfully,
Kathy Thompson
Principal, School of St. Mary
Sometimes, we do not appreciate the blessings around us until we walk into a different environment. On Monday, January 6th, our entire faculty attended an in-service training day. We learned how to help students with ADHD, and the teachers met in small groups with teachers from all the other schools at their grade level or specialty. What we learned was important. However, what came out of this meeting was an expressed appreciation of our teachers for the abundance of resources and support they enjoy from parents, co-workers, the parish, and the overall community.
Deerpath Streetscape Project Starts Next Week
We want to inform you of an upcoming road construction project impacting your commute to and from school. Starting the week of January 13, the City of Lake Forest will begin Phase 1 of the Deerpath Streetscape Project, which will affect traffic patterns along Deerpath Road. During this phase, traffic will be limited to one-way eastbound only between Green Bay Road and Western Avenue.
This may add a few extra minutes to your morning and afternoon routines, so please allow additional time in the morning. The City of Lake Forest is working collaboratively to minimize disruption during school drop-off and pickup times.
For your reference, here are some key details about the two-phase project:
For more information, please visit the City of Lake Forest website.
School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting
The next SAC meeting is on Wednesday, January 15th, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at the UGC. The SAC advises and supports Father Mike, Kathy, and Clare as they lead SOSM in achieving its mission. All parents are welcome to attend SAC meetings to hear how your fellow parents provide their expertise and share insights as we all work together to help SOSM students, staff, and leadership grow and succeed. You can see future meeting dates and learn more about the SAC committees here. Please don’t hesitate to contact the Executive Committee with questions or ideas.
SAC Meet & Greet
Mark your calendars for a SAC “Meet & Greet” on Thursday, February 6th, 6:30-7:30 p.m., immediately before the PA mtg at the UGC. The SAC Executive Committee and several Committee leads will be available to share more about their goals and key action steps, answer any questions, and discuss ideas parents may have for the SAC. Join us to learn more about SAC -- and stay for the PA meeting. All parents are members of the PA, so please join us to learn how you can get involved!
Bee Helpful Bag Drive
Start saving your grocery bags! We will collect plastic, paper, or reusable shopping bags during Catholic Schools Week. These bags will be donated to the Roberti House and the Most Blessed Trinity Food Pantry to give their patrons a reliable way to transport groceries. Boxes will be set up in the lobby of both buildings from January 26th - February 1st.
Dental Exams
By State law, all Kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 6th grade children must submit a dental form completed by a licensed dentist by May 15, 2025. If your child saw the dentist over Christmas break, please get a copy of the completed dental form from your dentist and send a copy to the school nurse.
CLUBS may be CANCELED!
Board Game Club - will be canceled without 1 more registration!
Calling all 4th and 5th-grade gamers! Join Mrs. Giannelli for a 5 week board game and directed drawing club. We will play Monopoly, Clue, Yahtzee, and your other favorites! Please bring a snack, and if you would like your favorite game to share. Open to 4th & 5th Grade.
Thursdays, 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. January 16th, 23rd, 30th and February 20th, 27th
Revolution Robotics with STEAM Academy - will be canceled without 4 more registrations!
Explore engaging engineering concepts by building robots with our own Revolution Robotics kits and PROgramming them with text-based blocks, all within an action-packed storyline. Each week students build and code a robot with STEAM Academy's own Revolution Robotics kits, alongside an immersive curriculum designed specifically for preteens that fosters their resilience and problem-solving skills while also teaching them about engineering and coding. Open to 4th - 6th Grade - minimum of 8 students required!
Wednesdays, 3:45 - 5:15 p.m. January 15th - February 26th
Lake Forest High School Freshman Registration Meetings
If you are planning to register your student at LFHS for the 2025-26 school year, please contact Di Scholz, Department Assistant for Counseling, at sscholz@lfschools.net to make a registration appointment. Course selection meetings for Private School families will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm at Lake Forest High School, East Campus. Please see the letter with registration details sent to all eighth-grade families on January 7th.
LFHS Pre-Registration
The first step in the LFHS registration process is to pre-register your student by Tuesday, January 14, 2025. The data you provide will be imported into our student information system, allowing us to begin planning for the upcoming school year. Visit the Class of 2029 Page to get started. Please see the letter with registration details sent to all eighth-grade families on January 7th.
LFHS Theater Fun Day for 7th & 8th Graders
7th and 8th graders from Deer Path, LFCDS, Lake Bluff, and the School of St. Mary are invited to explore LFHS theater on Saturday, January 25, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm! Join LFHS theater teachers, directors, and students to observe a play rehearsal, help the tech crew, learn about theater classes, and tour our spaces. Lunch is provided, and pick-up is at 12:00 p.m. in the RMA Lobby. Questions? Email Sara Dreiling at sdreiling@lfschools.net. This free event has limited spots—RSVP HERE to secure your spot!
Tuition Raffle
Get Your Crusader Annual Fund Raffle Tickets TODAY!: Once again, a parishioner has generously donated a K-8 2025-26 tuition scholarship (or $5,000 cash) for our Crusader Annual Fund Raffle. This year, the raffle takes place in January, and the winning ticket will be drawn on the last day of Catholic Schools Week: Friday, January 31st. Tickets are $100 each or 3 for $250. Only 200 tickets will be sold so buy your tickets TODAY at this link. Anyone can buy a ticket, so please share this link with family & friends who would like to contribute to the Crusader Annual Fund to help the PA support our teachers with year-end bonuses and classroom resources that enable a Blue Ribbon education. Please contact Michelle Kijek (312.952.0220) with any questions or visit LoveStMarys.com. Thank you for your support!
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ANNUAL CRUSADER GALA (MARCH 1)
If you didn’t get your tickets yet for the Gala, please email Michelle Kijek (mfricke@live.com) or Maria Vernon (mfc811@gmail.com). We also have lots of fun opportunities for volunteering, to support event planning, auction outreach, and more. Reach out to Michelle or Maria if you’d like to help!
Can We Count on You? Host a 2025 Count Me In Party for the Crusader Fund!
Support the Crusader Fund by hosting a Count Me In Party during this year’s silent auction! Count Me In Parties are exciting events for students or adults with a set ticket price, designed to raise funds while strengthening community connections. You can host a party of any size, theme, or time of year, with the hosts generously covering all expenses so that 100% of the proceeds directly benefit the Crusader Fund.
Interested in hosting a Count Me In Party in 2025? Reach out to Kate Burke for more details! kateburke1119@gmail.com
District 67 Preschool Screenings
District 67 offers an early childhood behavioral and developmental screening for families with children aged 3–5 years old residing within District 67 school boundaries, free of charge. All students at the School of St. Mary qualify for these screenings. The next one is February 4, with more dates to come! Appointments are required. Click here to register.
Bandits Spring Lacrosse
Bandits Spring Lacrosse for girls 1st - 8th grades is OPEN! We are your Lake Forest/Lake Bluff community youth lacrosse program. Come and join the fun! All skill levels are welcome. For more program information or to join, visit us today at www.banditslacrosseclub.org
