SMS Family Newsletter – March 6, 2025

Our fundraising goal is $75,000 this year. Funds raised at Bluefest go toward both important operating expenses and necessary capital improvements.  We cannot do this without the support of every family! We are asking everyone to reach out to the businesses you frequent and support to ask for a donation or sponsorship. 

Grab your tickets now! Invite your friends, family and other members of the community to join us for a fun night out for a great cause! We also have Bluefest swag available to purchase! Click the links below for tickets and Bluefest merch.

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. E-mail hsa@smsnarberth.org to help!

St. Margaret School, in partnership with Live Vertical, will be holding two nights of Lenten prayer and reflection. All families are invited and encouraged to attend!

On Tuesday, March 18th, we will have an evening of prayer and guided Eucharistic adoration.  We will have pizza in the cafeteria from 6:00 – 6:45.  At 6:45, there will be a candlelight procession to the church for adoration and a talk by Father Charles Zlock. All families and their children can benefit from Eucharistic adoration which provides an opportunity for reflection and contemplation during our busy lives.

On 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 discussion is for adults-only. We encourage all parents to attend the presentation.

If you would like to learn more about Live Vertical, please click the button below. Live Vertical has been coming to SMS each month to speak to our students and to join them in Adoration.

Congratulations to Joseph Habich, Cameron Hilferty and Leila Hilferty for participating in the Philadelphia Archdiocese Honor and Festival Bands concert a few weeks ago at Archbishop Wood High School.  This was Leila’s first time playing in the festival band while Joseph and Cameron have many years of experience in playing with the Archdiocesan Festival, Honor, and Jazz Bands.   

Congratulations to Nick DiRico, Joseph Habich, Cameron Hilferty and Daniel Winward who will be participating in the Northeastern Music Programs Honor Band festival this coming weekend at Archbishop Ryan High School.  They have had several weeks of rehearsal leading up to the concert this weekend.  

We are so proud of our talented students!

• March 7 – Chick Fil A orders are due
• March 10–  Live Vertical coming to speak to students
• March 11– Last day for After School Chess Club – (there will be a new session in the Spring)
• March 12– First Reconciliation for Grade 2
• March 13 – Chick Fil A Day
• March 14 – 2nd Trimester Ends – Author of child’s book coming to present her new book (Preschool to Grade 3)
• March 17– Third Trimester begins
• March 18– Live Vertical event in the evening (7 pm) at St. Margaret Church for families (pizza will be served- 6 pm)
• March 25 – Live Vertical evening talk for parents-only about social media
• March 29 – Bluefest 2025: DISCO!

The Father-Daughter Dance was a huge success! The gym was decorated beautifully and all the girls and their special guests had a great time dancing, taking photos, enjoying dinner together and spending time together. 

We owe a HUGE thank you to Tava Odom (mother of Brooklyn, 2A), without whose help and vision, this event would not have happened. She worked tirelessly to make this a very special evening for our girls!. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped with setup and cleanup of the event and on the night of the dance to help the event run smoothly.

Chick Fil A – Thursday, March 13th

• 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 tomorrow, March 7th.

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.

Lent is a time when we prepare our hearts to be more like Jesus. St. Margaret’s School has many opportunities for our students to participate in service and prayer for Lent.
 

• St. Margaret Church and School have a goal of preparing approximately 100-200 lunches for homeless men who are served at St. John’s Hospice in Philadelphia. Our students are decorating lunch bags and writing kind notes and our oldest students will be helping to prepare the lunches. 
• Each student has been given a Rice Bowl. Each year, during Lent, Catholic Relief Services sponsor a Rice Bowl drive to raise funds to help end world hunger. Students are asked to save money and place it in their Rice Bowl which will be collected toward the end of the Lenten Season. For more information and to learn more about CRS and Operation Rice Bowl, please visit https://www.crsricebowl.org/.  
• Once again this year, students of SMS will receive a Prayer Partner. Our theme this year is “We walk in the footsteps of Jesus!” Each student (preschool-8) was given a picture of a footprint. Students colored their footprint and wrote their name. Each student was given a footprint with a name. They have it displayed and will now take the time each day to say a special prayer for their partner. Thank you to teachers, Miss Lopresti and Mrs. Schaffer, who coordinate this the Lenten Prayer Partners each year. 

Congratulations to all of our Read for the House participants!

Important Information on Donations: Payment should be made online. Visit RMHCphilly.org/Read to made a donation by debit or credit card. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law If donating by check, check should payable to Ronald McDonald House Charities and mail to RMHC Philly, 3925 Chestnut St, Phila 19104 (Attention Allysa McHugh/Read for the House –  include student name, school name  and Read for the House along with a check so your child gets proper credit for the donation. Email: alyssa@rmhcphillly.org notify her a check should be expected.

Did you know that you can use SCRIP to significantlyreduce your tuition! You can purchase and use gift cards in real time while shopping in the store! For example, does your child need new shoes? Head over to DSW, shop in the store and order an eGift Card through the app right on your phone when you are ready to pay at the cash register. It’s that simple!

Your credit for purchasing gift cards can be applied towards your tuition, CARES, Extended Day and much more! Your support is greatly appreciated and your purchases result in money back for you and for our school.

Questions on using SCRIP and the RaiseRight app? Contact Marques Storr at mstorr2481@gmail.com

Download the app and order e-Gift Cards while you shop: Raiseright – Enrollment code:6EL64A3F6L5

The IHM Office of Mission Advancement invites mothers, daughters, sisters and friends to join them for tea, “Sippin’ for the Sisters,” to benefit Camilla Hall, the retirement home of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

When: Sunday, March 9, 2025 —  2:30 – 4:30 PM

Where: Meehan Center, SS. Simon and Jude Parish, West Chester, PA    

For more information and registration, click the button below or visit www.ihmimmaculata.org.

All SMS Families are invited to the Family of Faith OCE Day Retreat

When: Sunday, March 16, 2025 12PM-7PM
Where: Malvern Retreat House, McShain-Horstmann Family Life Center, 315 S. Warren Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355

For more information and to register, please click the button below 

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!