Dear St. Margaret Mary School families,

Hello! I hope this e-mail finds you well and enjoying the summer season. Here at St. Margaret Mary School, my summer staff and I have been busy preparing the school for another great year.

On the lastdayof school, a construction crew arrived with hammers and tool boxes to expand our transitional kindergarten room by several feet. The room is now finished and looks spectacular! I am now anxious to welcome our transitional kindergartners to their new academic home come August 16th!

Kindergarten through 8th grade classrooms also received many wonderful upgrades! With the help of Laura Nieto (mother of Patrick-kindergarten and Paulin-first grade), the school received anawesome donation of much needed whiteboards, desks and tables. Thank you-Laura!!! Last week, Andrew Aparicio (dad to Andrew Jr-first grade, Anthony-kindergarten, Angelina- transitional kindergarten), arrived with his construction team and installed the donatedwhite boards and corkboards to the classroom walls. Thank you, Andrew and South Bay Hardscapes, for generously donating your time to such an important improvement!

Although the interior of the school underwent a major renovation two years ago, some of the classrooms and hallwaysneededa fresh coat of paint. With 320 students trampling in and out of the school daily, the hallways, classrooms and closet walls took quite a beating. Nick Zimmerman (SMMS Class of 2011) and Nico Schwab (SMMS Class of 2013) have been busy for the last two weeks washing, repairing, sanding and painting the interior walls of our great school. Looks great boys!

The infrastructure to our existing technology also received major upgrades. For the past week, Mike K (SMMC parishioner), Mitel and Spectrum Cable have explored our classrooms, offices and attics to installfull system upgrades. The technologyrenovationwill provide students and faculty with technology that is responsive to their needs, easy to use, and reliable.It will also effectively prepare our students for 21st century learning. In August, our students will step into a new computer lab/program where they will be immersed in a curriculumthat offers theman education in technology that is comprehensive - covering everything from basic computing skills at the younger ages, to programming languages and mobile app development in middle school. In addition to our educational technology program, upgrades to our internet service will also provide uninterrupted wi-fi to our computers and newly installed classroom phones. Yes, classrooms now have phones!! This improvement serves two purposes:

1.Enhanced security – The new phones are equipped with an intercom. This intercom system is designed specifically to handle the communication needs of our school. Intercom systems are essential for providing secure methods of communication. These systems provide a range of audio communication advantages throughout an entire facility. They provide a two-way open voice communication from any remote speaker station to an Administrative Control Center (front office).

2.Enhanced Parent/Teacher Communication - not only do the phones serve as a security device, but they also enable parents to call their child’s teacher directly. All homeroom teachers will also have their own separate extension and voice mail.

  • New storage sheds will also be delivered to our campus next week. These sheds will be placed behind the third and fourth grade classrooms and will be for our Moms Club and Daycare programs.
  • Attached is the lunch menu for August. Mrs. Teresa Contreras, our new Director of S.M.M.S Lunches, has created a menu of delicious and healthy selections. If you would like your child to receive ‘hot lunch’ in August, please print the August lunch Form, circle your selections, scan it, then e-mail me the form (). You can also drop it by the school office if you prefer. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • On the last day of school, ‘summer packets’ were given to every returning student. Within these packets were handbooks, uniform information, school supply lists and most importantly SUMMER READING AND MATH. Summer assignments are due on the first day of school so please check your child’s backpack for the information.

There is about 29 days left till opening day. More news to follow as we approach closer to August 16th.

Blessings,

Mrs. Fernandez- Zimmerman

Principal