Parents who enroll their children at SME are, in general, expected to be supporting parishioners who are assist [by example and encouragement] in the intellectual, spiritual and character formation of the children. Parent/school communication is regularly main-tained through a weekly NewsNote containing items which impact on children or parents. Parents are invited to take part in weekly liturgies with the whole school. Involvement in any of the numerous activities involving parents and/or children is encouraged. Since our goal is service-oriented, the example of generous parents is needed and appreciated. Students follow the NYS Guidelines in all subjects [except Religion]. A strong primary level prepares children for intermediate and junior high studies, including advanced math, Spanish and French at the 7th and 8th Grade levels. Students have various opportunities to experience success in non-academic areas including athletics, art, ministry at the weekly Masses and music lessons. Since an "all work and no play" approach to life is unrealistic and not much fun, extra-classroom activities including field trips are provided throughout the year. This is made possible by the dedicated funding of the Home School Association, which is totally supportive of the school. St. Mary's Elementary School, Lancaster, NY, is an experience to be remembered. For over a hundred years, the tradition of Catholic schooling has enabled thousands to enter the work place and the community, gifted to serve. We commit ourselves to continuing that tradition as we approach and enter the 21st century. FIVE YEAR TECHNOLOGY PLAN With the availability of Universal E-rate funding, and the site-driven intent to continually be a part of the "cutting edge" in technology, a Five Year Technology Plan has been drawn up. Its main components include (1) extending the computer pool to 25 Mac computers, to be housed in the Computer Room of the proposed addition to the school; (2) purchasing/acquiring enough computers [Macs] to provide one for each existing and proposed classroom; (3) installing Internet access to all classrooms, the existing computer room and library, the proposed computer room and library [Resource Center], the proposed Faculty Room and the existing and proposed offices; (4) selecting software that will provide remediation and review for pupils qualifying for Title I services in reading, writing and math, and acquired through Title I finding. These programs include a management program for teachers and immediate feedback to students, with the possibility of moving through performance levels at the child's own pace; (5) wiring the respective sites to make access possible.Of course, all of this is contingent upon the availability of funds, grants and donations. Through the donor program of IBM, an alumni of St. Mary's Elementary School, Roger Krebs, provided the school with four processors, two printers, and a Think Pad. The four processors form the heart of our new Title I remedial program, a new direction for SME. Any alumni who wish to contribute to the development and implementation of the Five Year Technology Plan of SME through equipment or financial donations, please contact Sister Barbara Jean, 0SF, principal, by phone or facsimile. FORMATION OF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The rich history of St. Mary's School, which, in its formative years included St. Mary's High School [the first parochial high school in the United States], provides a solid foundation for an Alumni Association. Alumni have been supportive of St. Mary's Elementary School in a more-or-less informal ways over the years. Donations have been sent in, services rendered and reunions have been held, keeping alumni in touch with the school and one another. When a school can boast of a Fifty Year Reunion, and alumni who have graduated seventy years ago still being active members of the parish, a strong sense of connectedness prevails. Many of the students presently at SME have parents, grandparents or great-grandparents who have attended here. With this in mind, the establishment of an Alumni Association is under way.Parents of SME alumni have brought up the reality that, although they themselves have not attended SME, the bonds that have been formed over the years of being a "St. Mary's Parent" make them feel just as much a part of SME as their children who attended. With this in mind, the Alumni Association will include Honorary Alumni, those who have had close contact with the school by virtue of their teaching at SME, their volunteer service, or being parents of alumni. Your membership in this branch of the Alumni Association is valued. Please contact Sister Barbara Jean, 0SF, if interested. Research has begun on assembling a mailing list, by year of graduation, of alumni across the country. This initial data gathering is being done in conjunction with plans for celebrating the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville coming to the school on September 6, 1898. ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY September 6, 1998 marks the one hundredth year that the Sisters of St. Francis of Williamsville have worked at St. Mary's School and Parish. At the end of August in 1898, five sisters arrived at St. Mary's. Three, Sisters Antoinette, Leo and Veronica, taught in the school Sisters Monica and Anastasia did housework and cooking in the convent. At present, there are three Sisters at SME: Sister Margaret Smith [Grade 8], Sister Barbara Whelan [PreK] and Sister Barbara Jean [Principal].The convent chronicle records some of the notable events which occurred, including the opening of the "new school" on November 6, 1904; the mandate of Pope Pius X that children receive Holy Communion at an earlier age, resulting in 222 Communions on January 13, 1911 and 41 that June; the death of Bishop Colton on the day he was to celebrate confirmation in the parish in May of 1915; the closing of the school in 1918 [October-November] due to the Spanish Influenza, which claimed the lives of some Sisters and the pastor, Father Hoernschmeyer, who contracted meningitis; the quelling of a fire in February of 1919 which caused $500 in damages; celebrations of various anniversaries of the parish and school. The celebration of the anniversary is slated for Thursday, September 24, 1998 at Salvatore's Italian Gardens. Dinner will be served at 6 PM, followed by an informative and entertaining program Tickets are $35 [single] and $60/couple. It is the intent of the Celebration Committee to give the Sisters of St. Francis a purse in acknowledgement of their one hundred years of service at the parish, and to have the Sisters who have served at SME, together with the leadership of the congregation be the guests of the parish. If you are an alum of St. Mary's, and wish to attend or make a donation, please contact Msgr. Frederick Leising, Pastor |
