April 2006 Newsletter Joanne F. Gannon, Principal James T. Ferdella, Asst. Principal

Calendar

Honor Band Members

The St. Mary's Band recently had three of its members selected to participate in the 2006 Paul Effman Music Service Massachusetts State Honor Band.

Mary Brennan and Emma Stevenson on flute, and Jonathan Gilbert on saxophone will soon perform with 70 other students from around the state. Student musicians will be traveling to Framingham for four rehearsals at St. Tarcisius School and the concert at the beautifully modern Cameron Middle School Auditorium which will be held on Sunday, April 9th at 3:00.

Conducting the Honor Band is St. Mary's own director, Kellie Bartley along with Charlie Cook.

The Paul Effman Music Service branched out from New York in 1999 when it began offering instrumental music lessons to 5 Catholic schools in Boston. Since then, the P.E.M.S has grown to serve nearly 1000 students in Massachusetts from which only a select few are chosen for the Honor Band.

Congratulations Jon, Mary and Emma!

Thank you, Fr. Mike

The day has been chosen. As a reward for a job well done on our Christmas play, “Christmas in the Country”, we will not have school on Friday, May 26.

Enjoy an extra long weekend and remember to thank Fr. Mike when you see him.

May the peace, love, and joy of the risen Lord be with you and your family this Easter.

An Act of Contrition

by Amanda Morelli, Gr. 5

I’m sorry, Oh Lord
For the sins I’ve made.
Now tomorrow will be a new day.
So shall I spread my wings and fly with no sin?
Then shall my soul be yours, you win?

All my love goes to you.
I have faith in everything you do,
But if I shall choose wrong,
Then Reconciliation will be the right tool, the right note,
The right song.

So to fix this broken love,
Confess to the priest, that’s God up above.
Following every night is a new day.
Just like God’s forgiveness.

(A Grade five religion assignment.)

New Uniform Vendor

J.B. Edwards has been chosen as our new uniform vendor. They just opened their new store on Pullman St. in Worcester. The uniform committee will be putting out our new uniform policy soon. I would like to thank the committee for their work to improve and update our uniform.

Our uniform is part of attending a parochial school. Some benefits are instilling students with discipline, helping parents and students resist peer pressure, and helping students concentrate on their school work. Uniforms help us to get to know your child for who they are and focuses our energy and theirs on the gifts they have to share. Thank you for following and supporting the uniform policy at St. Mary School.

Technology Award

St. Mary School has been awarded a technology grant in the amount of $3500.00. These funds are made available to us through the Diocesan Forward in Faith funds through a competitive grant process. These funds will enable us to purchase video equipment, dissecting microscopes, graphing calculators, and Boardmaker software for the lower grades. These technology tools will enhance the curriculum and enrich student learning.

Internet Safety

It has been a few years since we last had a speaker from the District Attorney’s office at our school addressing internet safety. One site, myspace.com, has been in the newspapers and on the television news warning parents about the personal information young people are putting out on the site. The site states it is for people fourteen years and older. Some people on the site are not fourteen and the information on an individual’s page may include school information, hometown, and other identifiable, traceable information.

Take some time to go on line and look through the site. Help your children make good choices about their internet use.

In May we have invited Ellen Miller from the District Attorney’s office to speak to parents on Wednesday, May 17 @6:30 p.m. about internet safety. Ms. Miller will also be available May 25 to speak to the students in grades 5-8.