The Calendar

Today you are receiving the May Calendar.  Please be sure to study it and give careful attention to all events listed.  I call to your attention to a few:

  1. Next Thursday, May 1st is Ascension Thursday and a Holy Day of Obligation.  School will NOT be in session.   Friday, May 2nd is our second Spring Holiday and school will NOT be in session.

  2. Monday, May 5th, was originally scheduled as a Teacher In-service Day; however, about 2 months ago I notified you that school will be in session for all.

  3. I mentioned a few weeks ago that our May Faculty meeting will be on Thursday, May 15th and NOT on Friday, May 9th.   There will be 11:15 Dismissal on the 15th and not on May 9th.

  4. Friday, May 23rd has been on the calendar since last July as a “Snow Day” and since we did not use it for snow, we will be taking it as part of our Memorial Day celebration.   Therefore, school will be closed on Friday, May 23rd. 

  5. Of course school will be closed on Monday, May 26th in honor of Memorial Day.

A complete June calendar will be issued in mid-May.

A Special Day
This coming Saturday, April 26th is First Holy Communion Day for Jonathan Martinez here at Santa Maria Parish.  Brianna Calviat will be receiving First Holy Communion at St. Frances de Chantal Parish on May 3rd, Kevise Jenkins at St. Anthony Parish on May 10th and Michael Melendez, Melvin Molina and Sebastian Montero at St. Raymond Parish on May 17th.    We pray for and congratulate these students as they celebrate this special day in their religious formation!  

An Opportunity
We are giving you the opportunity to be a part of our 2008 graduation by making a donation or by sponsoring an award either in your name or in memory of a loved one.  Last year we had a terrific response to this chance to remember a loved one.  Included in the packet is the Donation Form and we ask you to return it by Friday, May 9th so that we can include your name in the program.  Thank you in advance for your generosity toward making our final graduation memorable for you and the students.

A Special Gift
As previously announced, The Home School Organization has purchased special colorful SHPS Commemorative T-shirts for each of the students.  These T-shirts will be given to the students tomorrow, Friday, May 25th.   Students may wear these T-shirts in place of the gym T-shirts on Gym Day from now until the end of the year.  Students must wear these T-shirts when we attend the NY Liberty Basketball Game at Madison Square Garden on May 8th and on our School Carnival Day on May 28th.   Thank you to our wonderful HSO!!Clergy speak with the pope, April 19

A Special Grace
I hope you had the opportunity to watch or attend some of the events surrounding the visit of Pope Benedict XVI last weekend.   As I mentioned last week, Sr. Estelle and I were blessed to be able to attend the mass for clergy and religious at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Sr. Estelle received a very special grace:  you may have seen her participate in the Offertory Procession and kneel in front of the Holy Father.  I know she remembered to pray for all of us in a very special way.


Mrs. Bertino and 8 of our seventh and eighth grade students were able to attend the Youth Rally at St. Joseph’s Seminary on Saturday – what a special event!!