SMS Family Newsletter – March 20, 2025

EAGLES RAFFLE TICKETS 

Enter to win a 2 Club Seat Tickets to an Eagles Game next season! Lucky Winner will be announced at the Bluefest or will receive an email. Buy your tickets at Bluefest or pre-purchase using the form in this week’s Family Envelope.
 

50/50 Raffle

50/50 Raffle tickets are on sale now! You could win big at Bluefest! A form for purchasing tickets was sent home last week and is also on our website.  50/50 will also be sold the evening of Bluefest. 
 

 “N.U.T.” Passes For Sale   

Last week in the Family Envelope, there was a form for your chance to buy “N.U.T.” passes (No Uniform Today) for grades PK.-8. The passes benefit the SMS Bluefest Auction. Each pass allow the student to pass on wearing the school uniform to school on any chosen day (cannot be used on mass days). Limit 3 passes per student – $5.00 per pass.  If you have any questions, please e-mail hsa@smsnarberth.org

Volunteers are needed to help with setup and cleanup. Volunteer hours are available for 6th grade students who need them for Confirmation if they help with cleanup. Click the button below to sign up to help with setup or cleanup.

TERRA NOVA TESTING  Grades 2-7

Terranova testing will take place beginning tomorrow, Friday, March 21 (InView testing), through Thursday, March 27th for students in grades 2-7. Please have your child in the schoolyard promptly at 8:05. It is essential that the students are on time to school so they do not miss the testing period. We plan to begin testing as soon as morning prayers are over. To help your child do their best, please ensure they:

• Get a good night’s sleep before each testing day.

• Eat a healthy breakfast to stay focused.

• Bring a healthy snack for a quick energy boost.

• Have #2 pencils and erasers ready for testing.

No homework, including studying, will be assigned during the testing period to support students’ rest and preparation. Thank you for your support in helping our students succeed!

This week’s Live Vertical Eucharistic Adoration was a beautiful service which included a candelit procession by our students, prayer, reflection from Father Charles Zlock and music. Thank you to everyone who came to this special evening of Lenten prayer and adoration.

SAVE THE DATE – MARCH 25 – Live Vertical – For Adults Only

Next Tuesday, March 25th, we will host a presentation and conversation about smartphones and social media and how we can help our kids thrive in this technology-based culture. This will be very informative to all our SMS parents. We encourage at least one parent to attend. Feel free to bring a friend, neighbor or grandparent. This will be held in our gym.We encourage all parents to attend the presentation.

First Penance

Last week, our 2nd grade students at Saint Margaret School received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. This sacrament is the first step before they receive their Sacrament of First Holy Communion in May. Thank you to their teachers, Miss Lopresti and Miss Winterle, for their guidance and support in teaching the sacraments to their students.  
 

Keep Christ In Christmas

In December, the Knights of Columbus presented a contest to all of our students to design a poster with the saying “Keep Christ In Christmas”. There were many beautiful entries. We have a talented group of artists at SMS!

Congratulations to Cameron Hilferty (Gr 8), Olivia Santa (Gr 4B), Uriah Chavis (Gr 5), and Keira McVoy (Gr 1A) who received monetary awards from the Knights of Columbus for their outstanding artwork.

• Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake fundraiser – Orders due by March 28th!

• Friday, March 21st – Report Cards will be released

• Friday, March 21st to Friday, March 28th – Terra Nova Testing – (gr2-7)

• Tuesday, March 25th – Live Vertical Program in the Gym – adults only 

• Saturday, March 29th – Bluefest – Hope to see you there!

125TH PARISH ANNIVERSARY – Last week, SMS students participated in a parish-wide service project to make bagged lunches for the homeless men served by St. John’s Hospice in Philadelphia. Students in younger grades decorated lunch bags and wrote inspirational notes. Our 7th and 8th graders made 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in the cafeteria. Thank you to Mrs. Bellwoar, Mrs. Amaya and all the SMS teachers for their help. Thank you to Sister Mary Ann and the parish committee for organizing this important event.

On Friday March 14th, author Chrysa Smith visited our youngest students in preschool through grade 3. She talked about her life as an author, showed them her books, read one of her books to the students and did a book signing for any student who purchased a book. It was an exciting and fun day celebrating reading! 

We are looking forward to April when Children’s Poetry Theater “Time to Bloom” will be presented to grades  3 to 6 here St Margaret School. 

Chick Fil A – Thursday, April 24th

• Each family received the Chick FIl A Form last week in their family envelope.If you misplaced your form, please check our website smsnarberth.org under the Parent Info tab. Orders are due with payment by April 16th.

Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co.

• SMS Class of 2025 is sponsoring a Lenten Crab Cake sale. There is an order form in today’s Family Envelope. The order form is also posted on our website under Parent Info.  Please pass on to family and neighbors! It is a great option for dinner, especially during the Lenten Season. Please make checks payable to St Margaret School. All orders with payment are due by March 28th.

Important Notice on HOT LUNCHES and student absence

If your child will be absent and has ordered hot lunch for that day, please fill out the Absentee Lunch Form located on our website: https://jdmcgillicuddys.com/school-closure-absentee-form/ or click the link below                                             

St. Margaret School has overstocked SCRIP gift cards. If you are interested in purchasing any of these, please contact Marques Storr at mstorr2481@gmail.com.

• Dunkin Donuts $10 and $25 cards

• DSW $25 cards

• Kohl $10, $25 and $100 cards

• Domino’s $10 cards

• Panera $10 and $25 cards

• Uno $25 cards

• Sephora $25 cards

• Ulta $25 cards

• Wawa $25 and $100 cards

• Brooks Bros $25

• TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Homegoods/Sierra $25 and $100 cards

• Children’s Place $25 cards

• Olive Garden/Longhorn Steakhouse/Bahama Breeze/Yard House $25 cards

Scholarships & Grants for 2025-26 

Available scholarships and grants for families seeking support are encouraged each year.   All information remains confidential.  Funds vary year to year, based on support of our sponsors of Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program in Pennsylvania (EITC).  Everyone is encouraged to apply for BLOCS, as  individual circumstances are unique to each household.   Please note that ‘Household income’ for 2023 or 2024 are required for the applications with household income reporting of Federal Income Tax documents to the managing scholarship organization.  Applications are encouraged through 

BLOCS (Business Leaders Organized for Catholic Schools) 

 https://online.factsmgt.com/aid

Partial Scholarships to under-resourced families for Philadelphia Residents http://www.csfphiladelphia.org/

Early applications allow us to plan earlier with scholarship awards for families who have completed the process/application.  Questions:  Please contact Anne Becker, Advancement – info@smsnarberth.org

TO ALL SMS FAMILIES:

I am very excited to announce that registration for our Vacation Bible School (VBS) is officially open! We have an Alaskan theme this year, where Jesus serves as our True North and guide to Heaven! It will be filled with fun! We will have games, stories, crafts, music, and more for the children! VBS will be from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on June 23-27, in the St. Margaret’s School. Children from the ages of 4-10 are welcome into the program, and children a little older (11+) are welcome to serve as junior counselors. Being a junior counselor is especially welcome for children going into the 7th Grade in the Fall, as they must serve community service hours to receive Confirmation.

Please out the registration form and turn it in to me ASAP! Registration is capped at 75 children, and it is on a first come first serve basis. The fee is $65 per child for campers, and a discounted $25 per child for junior counselors. 

Additionally, we are still in need of adult volunteers to help out with the program! If you are a parent who would like to help out with the program, even if it is just for one day, please reach out to me here at prep@saintmarg.org. Registration closes May 1st or whenever the last slot is filled. Please send completed registration forms to me at the St. Margaret’s Rectory. 
 

God bless you all, and I look forward to going on this Alaskan adventure with you! Peace! 

The local youth Gaelic Football sports club Delaware County Gaels have two free, upcoming events for those interested in trying out a new sport! Saturday March 22 6:00PM-7:30PM is for Girls Ages 8 to 16 to try out Women’s Gaelic Football (which is like a mix of soccer and football) and Camogie (which is the women’s version of hurling).

The second event is a Spring Break Camp for boys and girls Gaelic Football, Camogie and Hurling on Friday April 18th from 9AM – noon with an easter egg hunt at noon! Sign up for either event using the QR Code above.