WELCOME to St. Mary’s School!

1. WELCOMEto St. Mary’s School! I’ve enrolled my child. NOW what?

2. What is expected of parents? • Some of your time. Please volunteer! • Parents and families make St. Mary’s work • Each family’s minimum requirement: 35 hours (5 for the ball and auction) • Track your St. Mary’s volunteer hours and record them in the 3-ring binder in the office • Hours are audited in the spring

3. What is expected of parents? Opportunities to volunteer: • PTO-sponsored events • Parish activities • In the classroom (ask your child’s teacher) • Field trips • Library assistance • Lunch servers & monitors • After-School Activities Program

4. What is expected of parents? ALL volunteers are required to take the SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING! • Includes training class + background check • Opportunities to attend are limited so RSVP and attend ASAP! • Required before volunteering in classroom, on field trips, at events

5. What is expected of parents? Know the field trip driver rules: • Take the Safe Environment Training • Leave a copy of your valid driver’s license and car insurance with the office • NO texts or calls! • No videos • No unauthorized stops

6. How do I know what’s going on? READ THE SPARTAN SPOTLIGHT! • Weekly newsletter e-mailed on Mondays • Contact Roni Pratt if you don’t receive it! rpratt@stmarys-boise.org

7. How do I know what’s going on? • Check out the St. Mary’s School website: http://www.stmarys-boise.org • Friend the St. Mary’s Boise Facebook page • Call the school: 208-342-7476 • Ask your child’s teacher • Find a buddy – ask around or ask the PTO to connect you with a mentor

8. What is the dress code? • Complete information is in the uniform policy • Shorts OK until Thanksgiving (except mass day) • Fridays are MASS days! • Girls: White dress shirt + skirt or jumper • Boys: White dress shirt + tie + pants (no shorts)

9. What is the dress code? • Every Monday is Spirit Shirt Day • St. Mary’s t-shirt OK for top • Uniform bottoms (shorts, pants, or skirt) • Buy spirit shirts from Student Council - sale soon • Jeans Day is the LAST Monday of every month. • Choice of top OK as long as it is neat and modest • It’s not “casual day” – it’s JEANS day • Blue jeans only – no other colors • No jeggings, skinny or ripped jeans

10. What time does school start? • The day starts with prayer in the gym. • Students must be in the gym by 8:05 a.m. • The school day starts at 8:10 a.m. sharp! • At 8:10 a.m. the gym door is locked and you have to check your student in at the office.

11. How does drop off work? • Please drive slowly in parking lot! • Turn into the parking lot from the 28th Street gate entrance • Avoid using the alley • Avoid parking in front of the school • Parents are welcome to join morning prayer in the gym

12. What is the morning routine? • Prayer Square every day: 8:10 a.m. in the gym • Students stand with their class • Mrs. White rings the bell to start the day! • Announcements • Birthdays • Prayer and song • Pledge of Allegiance • Students & teachers to classrooms • Fridays: Students & teachers go to 8:30 mass

13. What’s for lunch? When is it? • Lunch schedule: • Grades K-5th:11:40 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. • Grades 6th-8th: 12:15 to 12:35 p.m. • Please pack nut-free foods only! • Allergy-free table available • Healthy Hot Lunch program available • WTCafe.com • Place orders online!

14. What happens after school? • School ends at 3:10 p.m. • Half-day kindergarten ends at 11:20 a.m. • All students must be picked up by 3:30 p.m. • Each class leaves together and comes to the front of the school • Students in the School Enrichment Program meet at the gate between the Parish Hall and School.

15. What is the “Parish Hall”? This is St. Mary’s Parish Hall Inside: Parish and clergy offices, meeting rooms

16. What happens at Friday Mass? • Parents are welcome to attend • On Fridays students bring gifts to mass • Spartan Spotlight tells you what to bring: • Food = Non-perishable food for Food Bank • Corpus Christi = Toiletries for shelter • Treasure = Monetary offering • Time = Personal commitment

17. What is the Buddy Program? • Students in grades K-4th are paired up with a buddy in grades 5th-8th • Buddies sit together at mass, work together in classroom • Buddy serves as: • Mentor • Cheerleader • Support system • Role model • Friend

18. What if I have a question? • Ask your child’s teacher about: • Your child’s schoolwork and progress • How you can help in the classroom • Ask the principal about: • School programming and administration • How you can make our school better • Ask the PTO about: • How you can help • Advice from other parents

19. What is the PTO? • PTO is charged with covering the difference between tuition and operating expenses • PTO Board makes decisions about how to raise this money • All parents and teachers are members of the PTO! • Board elections are in the spring • PLEASE consider volunteering!

20. Who is on the PTO Board? • President: Megan Griffin • President-Elect: Rondee Blessing • Treasurer: Eric Thomson • Secretary: Annie Granvall • Past President: Emily Kane

21. What is the Governing Board? • Our Parish Priest, Father Faucher, oversees the Parish and its ministries (Church, School, Food Bank) • Fr. Faucher has delegated oversight of the School to the School Governing Board • SGB makes big-picture decisions on budget, programming, sustainability, faculty, etc. • SGB includes parishioners, parents of present and former students

22. What is the Creegan Foundation? • Long-term endowment that makes annual contribution to St. Mary’s School • Annual contribution is based on success of portfolio performance • Keep in mind for estate planning, large gifts • To donate or learn more, contact the school

23. We’re glad you’re here! • You’re at St. Mary’s because you believe in the value of a Catholic education • Please ask questions and share your ideas about how we can make our school even better!