11/14/2022

Good afternoon! See below for some preparedness notes as we approach the winter weather season. Our SMS News is also out, and although it is sent through email, you may also find it on our website. Have a wonderful week albeit cold weather!

by Saundra Kennison on November 14, 2022

 

Christ Be Our Light…through C.L.O.V.E.R.

 

Dear parents,

It seems that winter is upon us even though it doesn’t actually begin until December 21. This means that we need to be prepared for weather that may impact us all arriving at school safely. If the weather reports indicate that driving conditions might be impacted, I follow a process to determine if St. Malachy should:

  • Start on time, or

  • Delay the start to school (to allow the department of transportation time to plow and/or salt the roads and roads conditions to improve after morning rush), or 

  • Close school using an E-Learning Day (this would mean that students will learn virtually rather than coming to school). The department of education only allows 3 E-Learning Days and we used one for Country Fair.

The process I follow to help me make the decision is as follows:

  • Stay informed about weather and road conditions through local news. I try to make the call early enough to help with childcare. Teachers may send items home in preparation of E-Learning. If we have a 2-hour delay, morning care opens at 8:45am.  Cost is $1 per child.

  • I consult with Brownsburg Community School Corporation as they drive the roads at 4am.  However, I am cognizant that we have many families and staff that don’t live in Brownsburg, and our location is impacted more by the wind and drifting snow. 

  • Check in with the DOT. There have been times they have asked schools to stay off the roads to allow them to clear the roads.

  • I discuss options with my administrative team and Father Danda to make the best decision for the safety of all.  

If the decision is to delay or close with an E-Learning day, the information is communicated to all through a School Messenger call, news stations, and email. 

I will be doing a test call this evening at 6pm. I will follow up with a verification email this evening at 8pm. 

If you ever feel that the road conditions are unsafe, please know that I respect your decision and judgment to stay off the roads, but please call the office so we know you are safe. 

In Christ,

Mrs. Saundra Kennison, Principal

 

Next Mass Days and Times

All school Mass: Wednesday, November 16 at 8:15am. 

Vocations Cross: 6T

Servers: Mason Hoekstra , Elijah Wright, Damien Cain, Peter Rushenberg

Reader: Cole Capps

Petitions: Emma Coleman

Sacristans: Eileen Ellis and Mya Richer

Class Mass: 4th grade in the church  Thursday, Nov. 17th at 8:15am

 

Reminders and/or New Information 

  • Nov. 22 is a 1pm dismissal - Yes we have Extended Day

  • No School on Nov. 23 - 25.

  • Take the St. Malachy Parish Annual Ministry Survey :

https://stmalachy.org/resources/st-malachy-news/detail/2022-clover-survey--550552/

Happenings at Cardinal Ritter High School

  • High School Placement Test is on Dec. 3rd.

St. Malachy Student Advent Reconciliation

WED 11/30 –    3A@945 &  3K@1030

TUES 12/6 – 8th grade @ 940 &  8th grade @ 1030

WED 12/7 – 7TH @ 1130 &  7TH @ 1215

TUES 12/13 – 4C@930  & 4W@1020

WED 12/14  6TH@ 920  & 6TH@ 1010

THUR 12/15  5M@ 930 &  5W@ 1020

St. Malachy Save the Dates

  • Toy Drive: December 5 - 9. Toys are donated to the Catholic Charities Christmas Store.

  • Christmas program - PreK - 2nd grade - December 15 at 7pm in the church. Dress rehearsal is December 14 at 1pm.

  • Social Media and Internet Safety presented by presentation: January 18 for students in 4th - 8th grade. Evening presentation for parents 6:45pm - 8:45pm.

  • St. Malachy Family Night - February 3, 2023: Pacers vs. Kings.  See the Newsletter for information.

  • Shamrock Spectacular Dinner April 20, 2023 at 6pm at St. Malachy Catholic School.

Purchase Spirit Wear

School Needs

  • If you are interested in volunteering in the Cafeteria use this link https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AAFA62AA7FCC34-cafeteria

  • We need Substitute Teachers! If you are interested or available please contact Lori Koontz or Kim Baldini. 

  • Help needed! Extended day is looking to hire a few people to supervise students after school until 4:00 pm or 4:30 pm. How much does it pay? Can you get a tuition discount? Does it count toward service hours? All good questions! Contact Mrs. Kennison. 

  • If you are interested in volunteering for recess, use this link. St. Malachy Recess Volunteers

Safety 

  • Morning Drop off - If you drop off at the back in the mornings, please park in a yellow parking spot. Then walk your child to the sidewalk. Please do not pull up to the sidewalk, to drop off in the back. 

  • Dismissal - Please make sure you turn your engines off once you park in your parking spot and keep your engine off until we begin dismissing.  This prevents accidentally shifting the vehicle in gear. We close the parking lot at 2:54pm everyday, except on Wednesdays it closes at 2:24pm.

Information you may need at some point this school year

  • ASAP is for middle school students to complete homework, study, and meet with teachers about assignments.  If a student is not using this program as stated above or becomes a behavior issue, they will be sent to Extended Day. 

  • If your child is absent from school, call the office or email us at  

  • COVID-19 information  – if a child tests positive, they must stay home for 5 full days. Then Parents and/or guardians have two options, 1) the child returns to school masked for the next five days or 2) the child remains home for five more days, if they don't want to mask. 

  • ProLife Shirt Day is every Thursday with uniform bottoms. 

  • Spiritwear and Jeans day is every Friday. Students can wear uniform bottoms or jeans. Spirit wear shirts should be school spirit wear promoting St. Malachy Shamrocks school pride.  

  • Middle school casual attire - I want to clarify that spandex bottoms, leggings, athletic leggings, or running shorts are NOT acceptable attire at school. In addition, pants should not have holes in them. Also shorts (including uniform shorts) should be no more than 3 inches above the knee. I know it is challenging for girls to find longer shorts, especially for taller students; therefore, I did change the length from 2 inches to 3 inches.  We know that we were not consistent last year in correcting inappropriate casual attire, and this caused confusion among students. As a middle school team, we will be more diligent in correcting inappropriate casual attire this year. Instead of giving infractions for unacceptable attire, we will have students call home for appropriate attire to change. Crop tops are not appropriate. Please contact me if you have questions. 

  • After school activities - Parents should communicate to the office, if their child is staying after school for activities such as chess, football practice, cheerleading, golf, etc. Also if someone other than the parent, such as a coach or sponsor, will be checking their child out or back into Extended Day, please let the office know.  The office will communicate with the homeroom teacher and Extended Day. 

  • Cell phone policy - parents must sign the Cell phone policy for students to bring their phone to school. Cell phones can not be used at ASAP (middle school students only), Extended Day, or Morning Care.

  • Smartwatches - I want to clarify that the concern with Smartwatches is their ability to text and email. In order to do this, the watch must have an internet connection.  Therefore, if the texting and emailing features are only enabled with an internet connection through the phone, the Smartwatch can be worn.  However, if the Smartwatch has its own internet connection through an independent cellular line, it cannot be worn.  If the watch can receive or send messages during the school day, it should not be worn. If you have questions, please email me so we can talk through this.  My intent is to get ahead of this cool technology and mitigate distractions in class along with protecting kids from the temptation to use their Smartwatches and cell phones at school. 

  •  Don’t forget to log your family service hours. https://stmalachy.org/service-hours/

  • If you utilize Extended Day or are in the late line, do NOT text us. You will come in to let the office know you are here and then check them out. 

    • Only  TEXT(463)209-9650 if you need to get information to Extended Day staff. 

Extracurricular Activities and CYO Games - Go Shamrocks!

Monday, Nov. 14

Congratulations to all of our St. Malachy Girls’ Basketball Teams.  While their tournament play ended this past weekend, all girls represented SMS, in a way that we all would be proud of!

Art Lessons 3-4pm

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Choir Rehearsal 3-4pm 

Art Lessons 3-4pm

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Woodwind Sectional 2:30pm-3pm

Thursday, Nov. 17

 Band Full Rehearsal 3-4pm 

Art Lessons 3-4pm

Friday, Nov. 18

Art Lessons 3-4pm

School Mission Statement

“Today we will be Learning, Loving and Living with Christ

”May God bless and keep you,

Mrs. Saundra Kennison
Principal
About the Author
Saundra Kennison

Confirmation name

Sarah Ann

My background

BS in Physical Education and Health - IUPUI; MS in School Administration – Indiana Wesleyan

Why do I work at St. Malachy 

I truly believe that God called me to St. Malachy; it’s in His plan for me. I love working with all the students and staff at St. Malachy.

Where do I usually sit in Church

Well at school mass, I sit with Mrs. Prahl’s class because Mrs. Prahl was my sponsor when I went through RCIA. However, when I attend mass with my husband, we usually sit in the back not so we can sneak out but because we can sit down quickly and see Jesus in the stained glass.

How would I describe St. Malachy to someone who has never been here

It’s home…where my other family comes to grow.  St. Malachy is a family that has very high expectations and students and staff sometimes experience growing pains, but when their time comes to leave St. Malachy they are more than prepared to meet and conquer the next challenge knowing that they can calls us if they ever need help because we are family!

Home, family, pets

I’ve been married to my amazing husband, George, for 27 years. We have three children and one princess (Macy our 2 year old boxer).

Favorite scripture passage

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13.  This is the reason I am capable of doing anything and all praise goes to God.

One memory of church growing up

I didn’t like going to church because it seemed so long, but now as an adult, I love going to mass to celebrate!

Favorite quote

"If you take care of the small things, the big things take care of themselves” Emily Dickinson

Favorite Team

Indianapolis Colts and Notre Dame Fighting Irish –Football of course!

Favorite Movie

Gone with the Wind

Favorite Book

Dean Koontz and John Grisham my favorite authors

Favorite Color

Coral

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