August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Greetings, Falcon Faithful. This is Principal Poletti with a routine update.

• All Systems Go: Amazingly, for such a small school, we are actually four schools in one. It has to do with developmental ages: PreK - Gr 1, Lower Elem, Upper Elem, and Middle. Accordingly, we must look through different prisms for each developmental age group.
  
• Enrollment: We are stabilizing at 195, which is a 49 student increase over two years. This is a positive result on many levels. However, it will add new pressures to which we must adapt.
  
• New Student Orientations: Last night's PreK - K New Student Orientation was a smashing success. Thank you to the 33 new students and families who attended. This evening is the Grade 1 - 8 New Student Orientation. We look forward to meeting the 32 new students and families in those grades.
  
• Open House: On Friday (1:00-3:00), the schoolhouse doors will be open to new and returning students alike. We will have no formal large group or classroom presentations. Instead, teachers and staff will be working in their rooms. They will have handout guidance for you. Please feel free to roam the halls and darken their doors.
  
• Student Handbook: Please review and consult this year's version.
  
• Attendance and Punctuality: As you may have heard, we have shifted math and English/language arts to the first two periods of the day for all except Kindergarten. After a week of acclimation, we will not be interrupting those classes to admit tardy students unless due to the infrequent traffic accidents and/or bridge closures. Students tardy to first period will have to wait until second period to get into the flow. Habitually late students and families will be counseled. Please schedule all medical appts for afternoons...the later the better.
  
• Home and School Association: Please reach out to Karson Reed (Karsonreed@gmail.com) for inquiries about and offers to support our school.
  
• First Day of School: Hard to believe it is Tuesday! I know the students are ready. I know that you are ready. I guarantee that our teachers and staff are ready. Drop-off normally begins at 7:30. PreK - Gr 5 drop-off will be at the 4th St. asphalt playground / parking lot adjacent to the Priests' residence. Parents are welcome to stay, chat and join in the announcements, prayer and pledge at 8am. Middle school drop-off is at the corner of Tileston adjacent to the gym parking lot. On Day One, Fr Jairo and Fr Cong will be meeting with the various grade levels. Day One is an 11:30 dismissal for students. Day Two is a full day, including our first weekly school mass and lunch. Parents / Guardians are welcome to attend school masses which recur at 8:30 on Wednesdays.

I cannot thank you enough for choosing Catholic education and for making St Mary your education partner. We look forward to bringing out excellence and the radiance of Jesus in all of God's children.

Yours in His Holy Name,

Joseph R Poletti, principal