Dear Parents,

What a great week of celebrations here at SMA!  We began our week with our first Sunday parish family Mass.  We had a wonderful turnout of students and their parents.  Then came “Spirit Wear and Pizza Lunch” Tuesday, followed by today’s “Taco Fest”.  We will end our week with our annual “Family Fun Night” this Friday from 6:00-9:00 PM in the junior yard.  There will be music, dancing, pizza, and fellowship.  May we never forget to see and celebrate all the blessings we have in our beautiful school and parish communities.

A special thank you to Senora Pina and all her parent and student helpers for another successful Taco Fest today!  Senora Pina…. you sure know how to celebrate the beautiful Mexican culture!  Thank you for sharing your gifts and talents with our students and their families.  One thing for sure…students will be coming home with full tummies today!

See you all at Family Fun Night! 

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Now that we are well into our new school year, I’d like to address a topic that we see each year as our students experience “re-entry” into the school environment following their summer break. We acknowledge that the summer months are filled with time away and a more relaxed atmosphere with less structure and more relaxed rules and discipline.

Now that we are returning to the structure and rigor of classroom and school life, it is time for our students to transition back into the routines of our daily life here at SMA. This transition is easier for some students than others, no matter which grade they are in. We may occasionally see a child in the junior yard in tears following a long weekend. Or an older student may not realize the necessity of adhering to our uniform expectations or forgetting the importance of respect towards their teachers and classmates. It is our job to assist all our students in this time of change and transition. This task may occasionally take on the form of discipline. This is not just about consequences for their actions, but it assists children in gaining the skills they need to become responsible adults. Discipline can assist children in managing anxiety, encourages good choices, helps them to manage their emotions, and promotes physical and intellectual safety.

This is a period of time where your child’s teacher needs your cooperation and support more than ever. These next few weeks will help to “set the stage” for the remainder of this school year. Frequent communication is the key to a successful partnership between home and school. Please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns. Please note that we always have your child’s best interest at heart. Our priority is to promote respect in a safe, Christ-centered environment steeped in challenging academics. Success takes on many forms. We pray that your child finds success this school year and, in the years, to come.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. I look forward to seeing many of you at this evening’s internet safety presentation by the San Diego Police Department. The presentation will take place from 5:30-6:30 PM in the parish hall. This meeting should be attended by adults only please due to sensitive topics that may be addressed.

The safety of our children is a priority for all of us at Stella Maris Academy. Anything we can do to assist parents in this endeavor is our commitment to all our school families. Our students will also experience, age appropriate, presentations throughout the morning. As always, I thank you for your continued support and your trust in us to keep your children safe.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

We are well into our first week of full days. As expected, the weather decided to heat up a bit just in time for our return to classes. Please make sure your child brings a water bottle to school each day. We no longer have drinking fountains, although we do have water bottle filling stations in each yard and in the admin building. Keeping hydrated helps to keep our students alert and ready to learn.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you at our Back-to-School evening this week (TK-5/ Wednesday & 6-8/ Thursday). It has been a wonderful beginning to our new school year and the teachers are excited to share their year plans and daily expectations for your children. Please remember that we will begin the evenings promptly at 6:00 PM in the parish hall.

An additional reminder that we will observe the upcoming 3-day Labor Day weekend. Please note that there will be no aftercare this Friday due to the holiday. Regular aftercare hours will resume upon our return on Tuesday.

I hope your calendars are marked for Wednesday, September 6 at 5:30 PM in the parish hall for our Safety Net (Internet Safety) presentation for parents provided by the San Diego Police Department. Our students will participate in age-appropriate presentations throughout that day. This evening presentation is for adults only due to some sensitive topics that will be discussed. We are providing this opportunity for our parents to learn more about how to keep their children safe from the dangers of popular platforms and social media sites. This is just one more step we are taking to keep our students as safe as possible here at school and to assist you with safety at home.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Happy First Day of School! I saw all of you doing the “Happy Dance” this morning! What a joy it is to have our students back, joined by 21 new students as well. Welcome one and all to this wonderful school family!

Please know that we are aware of the many delays with the uniform orders from Dennis Uniform. We will work through this together. Please keep the lines of communication open with your child’s teacher. We may have what you need in the used uniform cupboards as well. Feel free to stop by the office to take a look.

Just a reminder that all three days this week will be 12:30 dismissal days. After care will be

available. Parents are welcome to attend our first school Mass this Friday at 11:20

I am looking forward to a great year filled with excitement and many engaging learning experiences at Stella Maris Academy, where….”Learning is Divine at Herschel and Kline”

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

The final countdown is on! We are preparing to welcome our students back in only one week! The staff has been in meetings and working in classrooms to make sure our school year gets off to a great start! We even received a special blessing from Fr. Pat at yesterday’s morning Mass.

I am looking forward to meeting with our new families on Monday, August 21 at 5:00 PM in the gym, located in the admin building (Building “A”). Please note the change of venue due to a different meeting scheduled in the parish hall.

Don’t forget to drop off student supplies this coming Tuesday between the hours of 9:00 and 11:00. This will help to make the first day of school less hectic. While you are here, feel free to stop by the office to check out our new “spirit wear”! We have some fun new styles.

Finally, please plan on joining us for coffee and sweet rolls in front of the school office on the first day of school after you drop your children off to their new classrooms. Let’s make this the best “first day of school” yet!

Blessings,

Francie Moss

We are excited to share with you the new digital forms to be used for this school year. No more printing out forms and remembering to bring them to the office!

You will find two types of forms, one is Google Forms and the other is payment forms through FACTS. You are now able to submit information online without the need to print the forms and walk them into the office. The payment forms will be used for Pizza Lunch and Cub Care/After School Care Registration. Click on the links below to complete all the forms.

Below you will find links to forms that will be due on or before the first day of school, Wednesday, August 23rd. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Mrs. Elicia Bailey in the front office, ebailey@stellamarisacademy.org or phone: 858-454-2461.

Emergency Form: Mandatory.

Walking Field Trip Permission Slip: Mandatory for all grades.

Cub Care/After School Care Registration and Fee Payment Form: Mandatory, for families who use Cub Care/After School Care. There is a $55.00 non-refundable registration fee per family. 2023-2024 Cub Care Extended Day Care Handbook

Pizza Lunch: Optional. We have an all-school pizza lunch almost every other Tuesday. Payment is made for the whole year upfront through FACTS. We are unable to accept payment on a lunch-by-lunch. Click the following link to sign up: Pizza Lunch Sign Up & Payment Form

F.I.S.H. (Family Involvement & Service Hours): Mandatory. Service Hours Tally (25 hours per family, or 12 for single parents) will be required from all families by the end of the school year. Please log in volunteer hours on School Speak throughout the school year. You will find this tool under the menu “FISH Hours“.

Walking Pass: Optional, for 6th 7th, and 8th grades only.

Medication: Only if applicable.

Allergy Packet: Only if your student has any food or other serious allergies. Please notify the office and teacher of your child(ren)’s allergy.

Thank You.

Dear Parents,

Tonight, is the big night …our first annual Spring Sing!  It will be wonderful to hear the uplifting music and see all our students performing one last time before our summer break.  Our program begins at 6PM.  Students should arrive no later than 5:45.

Please remember that tomorrow evening at 5:30 we will be hosting a special presentation for parents regarding social media and how to keep our children safe.  All parents of children in grades TK-8^th are welcome.  Please feel free to bring friends who want to learn more as well. PLEASE, NO CHILDREN.  There will be extremely sensitive topics addressed that may not be appropriate for children.

Aftercare reminder…because of the Memorial Day long weekend, there will be NO AFTERCARE this Friday.  All students should be picked up at the 12:30 dismissal time. 

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Many thanks to all of you who participated in today’s International Lunch! Another SMA tradition has returned!!! Special thanks to Senora Pina, Miss Debbie, and Mrs. Moreau for organizing this wonderful event celebrating our many cultures!

Speaking of delicious food…don’t forget to support SMA and a local business today beginning at 3:00 today. Please see the flier in today’s newsletter for American Pizza Manufacturing. A portion of the proceeds will go back to SMA! This is a great way to support our school as well as a great local business. Order online for quick and easy pick-up.

Coming up next week…

Wednesday, May 24 – Our 1st Annual Spring Sing! 6:00 PM in the parish hall. All students will be performing. You don’t want to mis this fun-filled evening of show tune music!

Thursday, May 25 – Parent presentation regarding the dangers of social media and how to keep our children safe. 5:30 in the parish hall. This is for parents only…please no children due to the sensitive content that will be discussed by our school therapist Kelly Dobelstein MA. Med. PPS. Al parents are welcome TK-8th grade.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Aloha and Mahalo to all our parents, friends, teachers, and parishioners that supported our “Aloha Nights” Gala last Saturday. What an enjoyable evening filled with music, food, beverages, and support for our wonderful school! We are currently running a “Second Chance Silent Auction” for items that were not bid on or for items that were purchased and re-donated for another round of bidding. Please note that this auction is located on the same site as the previous auction. It will be active through May 15. Special thanks to Bianka Escobedo, our gala chairperson as well as her committee members…Mayling Garrison, Karla Onstott, Elena Rubio, Shannon Mann, Jessica Duran, Meghan Matthews, Jessica Wackenstedt, Laurence Frost, and Lisa Greene. What an amazing team! Let’s not forget our auctioneer, Fr. Pat, and his assistant Jim Watson!

I hope to see many of you at this evening’s “Night of Art and Music”. Our school band will perform from 5:00-5:40 then our student art will be on display from 5:40-7:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity to come together to show our appreciation for the amazing fine arts opportunities our students participate in.

This is such a busy month! Summer will certainly be here before we know it! Please mark your calendars for the following events…

May 12 – Student of the Month Assembly (8:05)

Fr. Pat’s Birthday

May 13 – 1st Eucharist (11:00)

May 17 – International Lunch

May 23 – Parent Presentation Regarding Online Safety for Children (5:30)

May 24 – Spring Sing (6:00)

Whew! I am tired just looking at this list!

Blessings,

Francie Moss