Parents' Association 2009/2010 Events and Projects

School Calendar

Chair: Jennifer Colombo, Stacey Hughes

As a service to the school, SMPA creates a school calendar with photos of all classes Preschool through Grade 8. The calendar details Sunday coffee, vacations, school events, fundraisers, Sunday Coffee, Wednesday envelope schedule, school masses & much more!!

School Directory

Chair: Christine Mahoney, April Grandinetti

A listing of school families is included in the annual School Directory which is published in September. Families' names, address, phone numbers and email addresses are provided as well as class lists, Faculty names, Saint Mary's Parent's Association Board Members and Saint Mary School Advisory Board Members. Directory forms are sent home in June for the initial updates, then final update forms are sent home in September for changes which may occur over the summer.

Scrip Cards and ScripNow! Program

Chair: Chris Baril

A fundraising program selling Scrip! Scrip means “substitute money” – in other words, scrip is gift certificates from national and local retailers. They’re the same gift certificates that you buy at the store. Many popular retailers participate in our scrip program including Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, The Gap, Lands End, Mobil Gas, Dunkin Donuts and many, many others. These participating retailers agree to sell gift certificates to our organization at a discount. Member families buy the certificates for full face value, they redeem them for full face value, and our school keeps the difference as revenue. Visit www.shopwithscrip.com to learn more and to enroll. St. Mary School enrollment code is: 896CB1D316978. Orders are placed on the 5th and 20th of every months, and delivered to our families with in 4-6 days.

It's Here...Introducing ScripNow! ScripNow!™ is ShopWithScrip.com's newest and quickest way to purchase and use scrip. You can order, pay for, and print eCards for various retailers and use them within minutes.

• Click here to read how to get started in our scrip program, called Scrip Cards - also find out about ScripNow!
• Click here to go to the Shop With Scrip website, to order your Scrip Cards online, and to buy your ScriptNow! eCards.
• Click here to get your Scrip Cards holiday order-form
• Click here to see the list of companies particpating in the program

Note: You'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view any of the documents listed above. Click here to get it.

Sunday Coffee

Date: most Sundays, throughout the year
Chair: Christine Russo
h: 508-845-6923
c: 508-579-9003

Sunday Coffee is a responsibility of every family in the school. We serve coffee, pastries and juice after the 7:30am and 9:00am masses, most Sundays. Every school family will be assigned to run Sunday Coffee (along with another family) one weekend of the year. If the assigned date is not convenient, it is the responsibility of the assigned family to swap with another family and contact Christine, at one of the two numbers listed above, with all changes.

You will receive instructions at least a week prior to your scheduled assignment. The Parents' Association will bill any family unable to fulfill this obligation or find a replacement a fee of $150.00.

Click here for the setup and take-down instructions for Sunday Coffee.

Welcome Back Ice Cream Social

Date: September 9
Chair: Paula Hayeck, Tricia Kelly

This is an event held at the beginning of the year. It is a few hours that we spend with our friends and families at the school on a Friday night after a long summer out of touch. Also it is an event to meet new families and teachers and be able to socialize with everyone while having an ice cream sunday full of toppings, fudge and whipped cream!! YUMMY :)

Gift of Reading

Chair: Susan Lynch

The Gift of Reading Program allows you to buy a book for the school’s library ~ in your own name, in your child’s name, in honor of a teacher or a loved one. By buying a book, you help maintain a current and varied selection of reading material for our children. Click here for more information.

Family Festival

Date: September 17, 18, 19
Chair: Mike Lovelace

Committee Member(s) needed

Festival including rides, games, inflatables, children’s’ activities, food, silent auction, raffle, music, Irish pub, pub quiz, 5k road race, pancake breakfast, entertainment, Gerardo’s Italian Kitchen, Grand Raffle. Click here for more information!

Grandparents Day

Date: October 9
Chair: Micheline Freij, Lynn Grden

This is an event that honors Grandparents and their important role in our lives. We celebrate this day with them at the school to make them feel part of our daily life and to show them where the kids spend most of their day and what they do. The event starts with a mass celebration, followed by a tour of the school, and coffee and dessert in the church hall.

Family Portraits

Date: October 17/18
Chair: Shelia Plifka, Susan Lynch
Who: Photographer Francis Kavanagh
Where: Dean Park

• Sitting Fee is $20 and includes a free 8x10 portrait
• Packages and CD are available for your convenience
• Great for Christmas Cards and Gifts!

For available appointments please contact: Sheila Plifka at plifkas@yahoo.com or 508-845-5866

Senior Luncheon

Date: November 20
Chair: Kathy Canfield, Paula Hayeck

Service event. Parish seniors are invited to attend a “thanksgiving” style luncheon with entertainment provided by St. Mary School students

Elves Workshop

Date: December 4
Chair: Jen Zerwas, Mike Lovelace, Betsy Hudson, Christine Russo

School event. Parish hall set up in market style where students can shop for inexpensive Christmas gifs. Gifts are wrapped and labeled by school parents. A school favorite!

Jesse Tree

Date: November 29
Chair: Susan Lynch

The SMPA will be selling advent wreaths, candles and calendars to help the families of St. Mary’s celebrate this special time as we prepare for the birth of our Savior. Items can be purchased before and after Mass on Sunday, November 29th from 7am to 12pm Any questions please contact: Susan Lynch 508-845-8564 or e-mail at smlx2@townisp.com

Holly Fair

Date: December 5 & 6
Chair: Susan Lynch, Nancy Freud

Crafters

If you would like to sell your craft goods at our fair, please fill out an application and return it to Lynne Grden by October 31.

Click here for a crafter application.

Please fill out the application and return it to Lynne at the address shown on the form. Contact Lynne (ldgrden@yahoo.com) for more information.

Magazine Drive

Date: November 4 thru 17
Chair: Katie Palermo (ckpalermo@townisp.com), Dawn Nelson (md.jems@verizon.net), Maureen McCabe

This year the Magazine Drive Committee has made some changes as a result of feedback the SMPA has received from school families.

Here are a few of the exciting changes:

• New Time of Year: November 4th-17th Change of time period allows for families to use subscriptions as possible holiday presents for those challenging individuals on your list. Everyone loves to get mail that isn’t a bill! (previously the magazine drive kicked off in January)
• Out of Town family members and friends can support the Magazine Drive all year long by visiting the QSP website and registering, using the information shown below. St Mary school families can register online as well! We will get credit for those orders!

• Mailing Booklets: These were new last year and 50 booklets were received back and St. Mary’s made a profit of $1,200 towards our fundraising goal from the booklets alone. The booklets are meant to reach out of town family and friends (these are Not Required to be completed).
• Change in Prize Structure: We have changed the prize structure to have fewer levels and more incentives to be a class effort!

We appreciate your support and hope these changes will help to make the Magazine Drive an even bigger success!

St. Mary’s Winter Ball

Date: January 23
Chair: Maura Egan, Tricia Kelly, Committee Member(s) needed

Games of skill and chance, dinner, raffles, dancing and loads of fun for the grownups!

Family Fun Night

Date: t.b.d.
Chair: Lynne Grden, Committee Member(s) needed

The Brain Show - the hottest new interactive trivia game show in the country!! Bring your family - all ages welcome.

Catholic School Week Teacher Luncheon

Date: February 5
Chair: Paula Hayeck, Tricia Kelly

Open house, registration and luncheon for the St. Mary School teachers

Pasta Festival

Date: January 30
Chair: Micheline Feij, Colleen Clifford

Pasta dinner served in the Parish Hall

Mother/Son Event

Date: t.b.d.
Chair: Julie Belbin, Nancy Freud

Past events have included Worcester Tornadoes and Worcester Sharks

Girls Night Out

Date: April 9
Chair: Lynne Grden, Committee Member(s) needed

A night of shopping and fun for the Moms. New Format! Vendors, Fashion Show, Food, Beverages, Raffles, etc. Free Admission. Click here for more information.

Scholastic Book Fair

Date: February 8 thru 12
Chair:Betsy Hudson

Book fair in Parish Hall. Books are available for purchase at a discount

Golf Tournament

Date: June 4
Chair: Bill Sex (Men's Tournament) and Paula Hayeck (Women's Tournament)

St. Mary School Scholarship Golf Tournament
Friday, June 4, 2010
Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, Boylston, MA

Men's Tournament 18 Hole Championship Course: Registration: 10:00 am -- Shotgun start: 12:30 pm

Women's Tournament Par 3 9 Hold Course:
Registration: 3:00 pm -- Shotgun start: 4:00pm
This year the Women's Tournament is partnering with The Avon Foundation.
A portion from the Ladies registration will go directly to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Dinner and Awards Ceremony – 6:00 pm – Featuring the comedy of Mike McDonald!
Tournament sponsored by Favulli Electric. Proceeds to benefit St. Mary School Scholarship and Development Fund

Click here for information and the registration form (for both the Men's event and the Women's event)

Father/Daughter Dance

Date: April 30
Chair: Beth Farrell, Christine Ruggieri, Donna Drohan, Alana Rich, Colleen Clifford

Held in the Parish Hall. A semi-formal dance with DJ and other entertainment for St. Mary school girls.

Uniform Swap

Date: Early June and Late August
Chair: Chris Baril

The uniform swap is open to everyone in the school and is available at no cost. We accept any "gently used" current uniforms. If anyone finds themselves in need of any uniform item throughout the school year, they can e-mail me at cbaril@townisp.com. I will look to see if what you need is available. Donations are accepted year round.

We will have a swap during August, before school starts and again in June, before and after the general meeting.