Jesus promises his disciples that the Father will send the

Holy Spirit (John 14:23-29)

Our celebration of the Easter season is coming to an end. Liturgy reminds us that Jesus remains with us through the Holy Spirit, who teaches us everything we need to know, reminds us of all that Jesus taught, and brings us peace. The Christian's life is not shaped by Jesus' absence but by God's abiding presence; God's presence overcomes anxiety about God's absence; and the present holds in it the seeds of a fresh future shaped by love, not fear.

The gospel of John, read during this Easter Season, contains glimpses of some of the other themes of the farewell discourse or Jesus. Jesus' relationship with the Father and the disciples' relationship to Jesus connect the disciples to the Father as well. Jesus promises to send an Advocate or intercessor who will remind the disciples of everything that Jesus taught them and bring them peace.

Jesus is preparing his disciples in advance for his absence so that they will continue to believe in him and not feel all alone after his return to the Father. After the initial excitement of his Easter appearances, Jesus will remain with his followers in a very different way throughout the centuries.

© Copyright 2016 Loyola Press. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

Mary our Patron and Mother of us all. Pray for us. Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.

April

28 SMCMS Prayer Service 9:37 a.m.

28 Power Hour

29 6th Grade Retreat

May

2-6 Faculty and Staff Appreciation Week

5 SMCMS Liturgy in FAEC 9:37 a.m.

5 Power Hour

6 7th Grade Retreat

9 Spring 2017 Student-Parent Washington DC info meeting 6:30-7:30 p.m.

10 Band/Choir Concert 6:30 p.m.

12 SMCMS Prayer Service 9:37 a.m.

12 Power Hour

13 No School – Staff Development

16-20 SMCMS Book Fair

19 SMCMS Final Liturgy in FAEC 9:37 a.m.

19 Power Hour

20 SMCMS Social/Dance 3:30-5:30 6th & 7th Grade 3:30-6:30 8th Grade

25 Battle of the Books

26 8th Grade Retreat Pick up at 4:30 p.m.

26 Power Hour

27 SMCMS Final Prayer Service 9:37 a.m.

27 7th Grade Flashback Friday Speeches

30 Memorial Day-7-12 Grade Band Marches in Parade

31 SMCMS Academic/Band Awards 8:15 a.m. FAEC

31 8th Grade Recognition Practice

April 27, 2016

School News ********************************************

Forensics

Congratulations to the St. Mary Catholic Middle School forensics team for another successful year. The team consisted of 46 students this year. March 1 with 26 entries during the in-house tournament the team earned 18 blue (1st place) ribbons, 5 red (2nd place) ribbons, and three white (3rd place) ribbons. A team of 25 entries competed March 22 at St. Mary Catholic High School winning a 1st place trophy for large teams (based on the number of entries). The team earned 22 blue (1st place ribbons) and 3 red (2nd place) ribbons. The March 23 Xavier competition was cancelled because of the snow storm and will not be rescheduled. Thank you to the judges and coaches who helped make this a very successful season.

Judges and coaches – Mrs. Taubel, Mrs. Sturgell, Mrs. Pociask, Mrs. Vanden Acker, Mrs. DeWitt, Mrs. Ladish, Mrs. Olsen, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Coggins, Mrs. McCurdy, Mrs. Serwatt, Mrs. Bonertz, Mrs. Sampe, Mrs. Curran, Miss McCann, Mrs. Koskinen, Mrs. Kalaus, Mrs. Hayes, Ms. Wetzel.

Students: 6th grade – Noelle Anderson, Ethan Campbell, Claire Coggins, Ellie DeWitt, Grant Hansen, Kenzie Hayes, Catie Higgins, Ben Jochman, Agii Kerwin, Ava Krema, Eden Marshall, Madeline Molchany, Conner Olsen, Anthony Peters, Lauryn Serwatt, Miley Sickels, Lauren Sturgell, Anna Vanden Acker, Myles Vanden Wyngaard, Jaydin Vosters, Billy Walsh, Frank Whiting.

7th grade – Ethan Collins, Lilly Foster, Henry Ladish, Tessa Long, Sam Pingel, Bailey Schroeder, Ava Staehler, Sophie Taubel, Trey Uhlenbrauck

8th grade – Elliot Becker, Ellie Dimmer, Gwyneth Ellenberger, Gianna Gallucci, Emma Hageman, Annie Higgins, Jack McCurdy, Emma Murray, Elizabeth Rosiejka, Katya Schumacher, Caiti Shrofe, Sam Snyder, Alex Ullrich, Lydia VanRossum, Annalise Zwicky.

******************************************** Spring 2017 Washington DC trip meeting

On May 9th we will be having a meeting at 6:30 p.m. at SMCMS for all current 7th grade students & parents who are planning to attend Washington D.C. next year. ********************************************

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MATH LEAGUE

The Math League is a statewide competition held throughout the United States. All St. Mary Catholic Middle School students took the test February 16. Based on their scores the following students represented St. Mary Catholic Middle School: 8th grade – (16th place out of 42 competing schools) Jack Bogner, Teresa Dold, Wesley Blashka, Megan Berg, Reid Sickels 7th grade – (26th place out of 46 competing schools) Michael Weninger, Lauren Meyer, Ava Staehler, Tessa Long, Elizabeth Vitale 6th grade – (20th place of out 56 competing schools) Paul Nutini, William Walsh, Casey Goethel, Lauren Sturgell, Anna Porter

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Parent Involvement Opportunity

If you are looking for some parent involvement hours, here is an opportunity to help. Just a friendly reminder that SMCMS requires 40 hours of parent involvement as part of having a child enrolled at SMCMS. Parents are billed $200 as a parent involvement fee. This fee may be worked off through volunteer activities ($5.00 per hour). Parents are responsible for keeping track of the hours they work and hours are credited on a quarterly basis. We will be working in Jane’s Woods (behind SMCMS) removing the invasive buckthorn. Here is the plan:

Cut and spray new buckthorn growth in the woods.

Cut and spray mature buckthorn along the SMCS East border with Outlook Graphics. This will be a major effort as it is important to remove all of this invasive brush in or near the woods.

Larry Plaia and Pat Hickey will be working on this effort every Tuesday morning from 9:00-11:30 a.m. One or two helpers on those days would be appreciated. Ideally we would also need a trailer/truck with a bed that is 16-20 feet. We have a 10 foot trailer, but some of the buckthorn branches are 12-18 feet in length.

The volume is going to be substantial. Anyone interested can contact Pat Hickey at 850-2718 (voice or text) for more details. Thanks for your help.

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Book Fair

We are excited to offer a book fair this school year at the middle school, per request of the students. The students were hoping to have some new books for their required reading over the summer. The book fair will be available to shop the week of May 16. More details will come at a later date. If you are interested in helping out for service hours, please let me know: tschneider@smcatholicschools.org. We will need help with setup on Thursday, May 12, take down on Friday, May 20 and checkout during the week it is open. I will create a sign up genius with exact dates and times. Thanks! -Trisha Schneider, librarian

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Class for Credit

Upcoming eighth graders and high school students, would you love to produce beautiful works of photographic art, but don't have time during the school year? Now, you have the opportunity to be creative and stress-free this summer in the new for-credit photography class at St. Mary Catholic High School. Learn more about this and other for-credit classes including health, computer coding and personal finance, then sign up online. Click on Summer Academics under the SUMMER PROGRAMS box on the gold bar.

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Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Reading Club

Once again this year, SMCMS is participating in the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Reading Club. Each student has the opportunity to earn a free Timber Rattlers game ticket and a voucher for a free hot dog and soda. The game will be on Sunday, June 5 at 1:05 p.m. A flyer with more information is attached. Please encourage your child to attain their reading goals.

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Zephyr Fields of Dreams

SMCS is pleased to announce the Zephyr Fields of Dreams project, slated to begin soon! Among the exciting developments on the SMCS campus will be a new softball field, the creation of a football & soccer practice field and future construction of an equipment storage building with room for team gatherings. Please consider supporting the project with your online donation!

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Invention Project

New this year – SMCMS is offering a week-long, half-day (morning) STEM camp, Invention Project! You will find out how inventions get real - from generating a concept to building prototypes to marketing a brand. Our business deals are simulated, but the skills, friendships and fun are all real. This Invention Project will be

offered June 20-June 24. Register today! *********************************************

6th & 7th Grade Retreat

On Friday, April 29th, our sixth graders will go on their spring retreat, and the following Friday, May 6th our seventh graders will do so. Teachers and students will travel to St. Paul’s in Combined Locks for a day of reflection and spiritual growth. The sixth grade focus will be on being peacemakers. As students grow in maturity and learn to advocate for themselves, empowering them to handle their own conflicts can be a very important life skill. To do so as a peacemaker and with the influence of God’s great commandment (to love one another) is an important piece for growing in faith.

The theme for 7th grade is Self-Esteem. Middle school years (and 7th grade in particular) can be a time of change and full of questions, which can have an impact on a student’s self-image. By bringing self-esteem into focus, we can help students recognize and appreciate their own giftedness and to celebrate one another’s differences. Please keep staff and students in prayer those days for a good and holy retreat.

Permission slips and payment for the retreats were taken care of in the beginning of the school year.

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SMCS Summer Sports Camps

Online registration for the SMCS summer athletic camps is now available! Read about the camps your child can attend this summer to maintain and improve his or her skills in a positive, challenging environment, all while having fun with friends! Then, simply click on the registration link to sign up.

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SMCS Updates

Lots of congratulations are in order this week for SMCS students!

*SMCHS Students Melissa Srnka, Julia Jarosinski, Jacob Romnek and Bryce Kalaus received gold medals at the State Forensic Meet; Ignas Mickevicius, Taylor Schmidt and Holley Steffen received silver medals and Rachel Dulcamara received a bronze medal.

*Congratulations to the fifth grade boys Zephyr Basketball Club team on a 2nd place finish at the Wisconsin State Invitational Championship Tournament! The boys earned a #1 seed in pool play on Saturday and reached the finals on Sunday by coming from behind by 12 points to win it in the last seconds! The boys won five straight games to get to the championship game. After the tournament, Alex Sherwood was named to the 10-player state all-tournament team, selected by team coaches.

*The SMCHS Concert Band participated in the WSMA Concert Festival on Wednesday, performing three challenging pieces of music for a panel of judges. We are excited to share that the band was awarded 1st ratings from all three of the judges on the panel, the highest possible rating for this type of festival. Click on the link to Enjoy the beautiful sounds of our melodic Zephyrs. Don’t miss The Elementary Enrichment Showcase will be held on Thursday, April 28 at the FAEC. *An SMCS parent is helping to promote the campaign to install traffic controls at the corner of Highway CB and Oakridge Road in Neenah. Our community has been impacted by the danger of this intersection in the past, and it is a road that is frequently traveled by many SMCS families. If you support this initiative, please read and sign the petition. Contact Patti Purcell for more info.

Read the SMCS Email News Updates for information about the following:

Spotlight on SMCS Summer Soccer Host Families Needed Zephyrfest 2016 Z-Fest Auction Books Theology of the Body Family Directory Enrichment Update Substitute Teacher Training Calendar Updates SMCS Summer Day Camp Win Big Money! Mark Your Calendar for GZO Nominate for the BOT Of Interest to our Community ***************************************************************************************************************************************

Zephyrfest 2016

A Black & White Ball. This year's fundraiser for St. Mary Catholic High School, which actually benefits all of our schools, is going to be a night to remember. You'll enjoy a delicious dinner and an exciting live auction, have the chance to win one of many enticing raffles and bid on numerous fabulous silent auction items, and enjoy live entertainment. All this while enjoying the company of others who believe in the value of Catholic education.

Make your dinner reservations today by calling 920-722-7796 ext 803 or reserve your spots online!

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Zephyrfest 2016 Key Club Raffle

Zephyrfest will be celebrating its 31st anniversary this year! One of the most talked about features of Zephyrfest is the opportunity to walk away from the event with a new car. This year’s Key Club is raffling off three fabulous vehicles: 2016 Lexus RX350, a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado and a 2016 Honda Odyssey. The goal is to have all 600 key club memberships purchased before the event on May 7, 2016.

Keep in mind, there will only be 600 total Key Club memberships sold, so your chances are great, but the memberships will sell quickly. Once you have your Key Club membership purchased, all you will have to think about is which fabulous vehicle you will choose! Without question, having the chance to be a winner in the Zephyrfest car raffle is exciting! However, the true excitement is in knowing that your contribution helps support the outstanding Catholic education and quest for academic excellence for so many students within the St. Mary Catholic Schools.Key Club raffle flyers are available in your school office, or simply go to stmarycatholicschools.org, click Zephyrfest, and print an opportunity from your home. For more information, please contact Robin Gallucci at SMC at 920-722-7796 ext. 803.

St. Mary Catholic Middle School

Highest Honors – March 18, 2016

Highest Honors = 3.75 – 4.00 Grade point average 3rd Quarter

Grade 6

Ava Bergstrom

Claire Coggins

Ellie DeWitt

Catherine Higgins

Agiimaa Kerwin

Julia Marti

Madeline Molchany

Paul Nutini

Anna Porter

Megan Roloff

Peyton Schroeder

Lauren Sturgell

Anna Vanden Acker

Sylvia Walentowski

William Walsh III

Frank Whiting

Grade 7

Natalie Chakar

Emma Jares

Haley Jensen

Drew Korth

Henry Ladish

Lauren Meyer

Fatima Muniz

Samuel Pingel

Bailey Schroeder

Antonina Schumacher

Laura Seidl

Hannah Sherwood

Ava Staehler

John Staner

Elizabeth Vitale

Michael Weninger

Elise Wierzbicki

Coly Young

Grade 8

Ava Aldag

Elliott Becker

Megan Berg

Wesley Blashka

Kianna Butler

Ellie Dimmer

Teresa Dold

Emma Hageman

Anna Higgins

Claire Krautkramer

Emma Murray

Madelynn Parks

Samuel Peters

Elizabeth Rosiejka

Reid Sickels

Christina Trzasko

Holly Trzasko

Alexander Ullrich

Madison Wogernese

Rachel Zimmerman

Annalise Zwicky

St. Mary Catholic Middle School High Honors – March 18, 2016

High Honors = 3.5-3.74 Grade point average 3rd Quarter

Grade 6

Nyla Albrecht

Ethan Campbell

Jaiden Campbell

Kimberli Jo Dorsey

Emmalie Engle

Sophia Engle

Taylor Foord

Brecken Harrmann

Ava Krema

Eden Marshall

Conner Olsen

Ryan Ortscheid

Rebecca Schulltz

Miley Sickels

Jaydin Vosters

Nicholas Zimmer

Grade 7

Olivia Bahn

Gavin Bergstrom

Olivia Broderick

Emily Finch

Thomas Hogerty

Aniah Holbrook

Joseph Hopwood

Theodore Kotchen

Tessa Long

Olivia Pable

Willem Snyder

Trey Uhlenbrauck

Will Volkman

Grade 8

Gwyneth Ellenberger

Gianna Gallucci

Emma Kotchen

Mitchell Lambert

Jackson Lescamela

Jane Rogers

Lydia Van Rossum

St. Mary Catholic Middle School

Honors – March 18, 2016

Honors = 3.0 – 3.49 Grade point average 3rd Quarter

Grade 6

Noelle Anderson

Graham Collins

Abygale Garvey

Casey Goethel

Lilly Griffith

Mackenzie Hayes

Benjamin Jochman

William Kyles-Werth

Annagrace McCurdy

Greta Norville

Anthony Peters

Robert Riesterer

Lauryn Serwatt

Julia Shrofe

Myles Vanden Wyngaard

Grecia Vera

Henry Werner

Grade 7

Aidan Anderson

Wyatt Bittner

Ethan Collins

Lillian Foster

Ava Goss

Kaley Keddell

Zachary Leonardi

Cooper Moss

Luke Peters

Frank Rasmus

Tyler Schraven

Brianna Schultz

Sophie Taubel

Nathaniel Ubben

Anna Zelinski

Grade 8

Jack McCurdy

Caitlin Shrofe

Samuel Snyder

Janel Underwood

Elizabeth Whiting

St. Mary Zephyrs Junior Optimist Club’s

“CHANGE FOR A CURE”

SPRING SERVICE PROJECT

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency

dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease

and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds

lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support

services.

On April 27, a presentation will be made to the entire school about LLS, and a challenge will

be made for S.M.C.M.S. to raise $1000. We have decided to take part in the “Pasta for Pennies” activity in which each of S.M.C.M.S.’s 11 S.T.A.R. groups collects money to reach

our goal. To motivate participation in a “Change Challenge” (a.k.a. Coin War) Olive Garden

will treat the two S.T.A.R. groups with the highest final total of money to a salad, pasta and

bread sticks lunch. The two S.T.A.R. group winners will be announced at the end of the day

on May 6.

THE CHANGE CHALLENGE: LET’S RAISE $1000! (100,000 points)

The challenge officially starts on Thursday, April 28 and ends on Friday, May 6. Each

morning, a group’s “Designated Counters”, or D.C.s will take their room’s box, count the

amount, and post the results on a tally sheet outside the school office, and leave the box in

the office with the money inside. All coins and bills will be counted toward a group’s total; each cent equals 1 point. The empty box will be returned to the S.T.A.R. group by

day’s end. Money put into the boxes after 8:05 AM, May 6, will not be counted toward the

room’s total. If S.T.A.R. teachers wish to participate, they may share in the rewards of their

S.T.A.R. group. Non-S.T.A.R. staff may “adopt” a group if they choose to participate.

S.T.A.R. ROOM “OUT-OF-DRESS-CODE” DAY

Any S.T.A.R. group that reaches a total of 8,500 points ($85.00) by Wednesday, May 4 will

be awarded an out-of-dress-code day in May. Once a group attains an “out-of-dress-code” day, they will keep that award no matter what the final results are at the end of day on May

6 when the Olive Garden lunch winners are announced.

OLIVE GARDEN LUNCH WINNERS

On Thursday and Friday, May 5 and 6, the empty S.T.A.R. room boxes will be on tables near

the chapel doors. Any money put into the boxes during lunch time will be counted and

DEDUCTED from that room’s total points. On Friday morning, May 6, before school begins,

the balances of each S.T.A.R. room will be posted outside the office. After the money is

collected in S.T.A.R. and brought to the office with the morning attendance to be ADDED to

the group’s total, the empty boxes will again be on tables near the chapel doors. Any money

put into the boxes during lunch will be DEDUCTED from that room’s total and will be

considered that room’s FINAL TALLY. During Friday’s end-of-the-day announcements, the

final tallies will be read, with the two highest room tallies being recognized as winners of the

Olive Garden lunch.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS ACCEPTED

Outside donations will be accepted into our school’s total money raised at:

STUDENTSERIES.ORG/WI

Click on “DONATE” button and find “St. Mary Catholic Middle School, Neenah WI”. Follow

the prompts to donate toward our school goal. Please note that any online contribution will

not be credited toward any particular S.T.A.R. room’s total. Thank you for your generous

support!