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ANNUAL REPORT
2011-2012
SAINT MARY SCHOOL
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CONTENTS
Principal’s Letter ……………......2
Mission and History …………..3
Good Works…………...…………..4
Academic Highlights ……....…5
Volunteers………………………….6
Annual Funds Results………....7
SAINT MARY
SCHOOL 183 HIGH RIDGE AVENUE
RIDGEFIELD, CT 06877
OUR PRINCIPALS
Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends of
Saint Mary School,
When I am asked what is special about
Saint Mary School, and what makes us
different from other great schools, my
first answer is always the community,
the family that is SMS. Once you become a part of SMS,
you are a permanent part of our family. And we could not
do what we do without the tremendous support of each of
you. Whether you give us your time by volunteering in the
classroom, or contribute financially, or pray for our
students and teachers, each and every one of you is helping
us to achieve our mission.
This first ever Annual Report covers our achievements and
activities from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. When I reflect
back on the 2011-2012 school year, I am pleased about the
new events and programs we introduced. Our Preschool
offerings were expanded greatly, and were very well
received. We re-introduced French for all K-5 students, and
began an optional Strings Program for students in
Preschool - Grade 8. Our Middle School students gained
leadership experience by playing key parts in our first ever
Math Fair and at the end of year Carnival. We reached out
to members of our greater community with our first
Annual Young Alumni Event, and our re-introduced
Grandparents Mass.
I look forward to building on the momentum of the 2011-
2012 year, and thank you once again for all of your support!
Blessings and Peace!
Anna O’Rourke
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OUR M ISSION Our students are our mission.
Our students learn and practice our faith, ensuring that the love of God in their hearts
and souls will sustain them and remain the one constant in their ever-changing lives.
Our students are developing 21st century skills to lay the foundation for a lifetime of
learning and discovery.
Our students are supported by a community with common goals and values,
modeled in Christ. In this family atmosphere, they learn about love and compassion for
others, cultivated in service for those in need.
S a i n t M a r y S c h o o l p r o v i d e s a c a d e m i c s t o l a s t a l i f e t i m e ,
a n d f a i t h f o r a l l e t e r n i t y .
OUR H ISTORY In 1954, Saint Mary Parish purchased land on High Ridge Avenue for a school, and opened
Saint Mary School with first through third grades in temporary quarters. The new school
building, completed in 1956, was designed for 400 pupils. With an addition, it held 600
students by the late 1960’s. The school was closed due to a lack of teaching nuns in June,
1971.
After 25 years of dormancy, the Saint Mary Parish community had the courage and foresight
to reinvest in the future of our young people. In September 1996, 20 children entered
Kindergarten at the rededicated Saint Mary School. One grade was added each year, and in
2005 the first 8th grade class of the “new” Saint Mary School graduated. Those graduates
have just completed their third year of college.
Saint Mary School has achieved so much since its re-opening 15 years ago. SMS is one of the
highest performing schools in the country, and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon
Award winner. Our students are happy and thriving, with high testing performance, strong
high school and college placement, numerous academic and community service awards, and
a demonstrable commitment to Catholic values.
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OUR GOOD WORKS
Jump Rope for Heart Saint Mary students and our very generous community raised $3,275 for Jump Rope for Heart!
Our students learn and practice our faith, ensuring that the love of God in their hearts and souls will
sustain them and remain the one constant in their ever-changing lives.
Seven Service Club Bottle Drive The Seven Service Club collected uncrushed, recyclable bottles and used the proceeds from the deposit return to benefit Meals on Wheels.
SMS “Lights Up
Our School
Blue” Due to the success of “Light Up Your School Blue” SMS sent a check for
$200 to Autism Speaks!
Easter Treats for St. Peter’s Grade 5 students assembled 500 Easter bags for children in the St. Peter’s Parish with all the candy that was donated by SMS families.
El Salvador Penny Wars The El Salvador Penny Wars was created due to the thoughtfulness and compassion of three SMS students. With the help of Student Government and bottle collections, $461 was raised. This money was brought to El Salvador by a Ridgefield Nursing Student, who attends Sacred Heart University. Sacred Heart sponsors a school in El Salvador.
Talent Show at Ridgefield
Crossings The 7-Service Club visited Ridgefield Crossing and presented a mini-talent show. The production was received with great enthusiasm and gratitude!
Mens’ Hat and Gloves Drive The Seven Service Club sponsored a collection of gently used or new gloves and hats for the Dorothy Day Hospitality House.
Kindness Challenge Students participated in a Kindness Challenge during Catholic Schools week, and made chains to represent their deeds which were iden-tified by teachers and staff.
Bookshelf for Saint Peter’s Tutoring Center The SMS Student Government sponsored a Christmas themed dress down day, and used the proceeds to purchase a bookshelf for the Saint Peter’s Tutoring Center in Bridgeport. Former SMS Student Katie Jasminski collected books at
SMS and around Ridgefield for the Center as part of her Girl Scout Silver
award. She collected over 375 books.
Knights of Columbus
Thanksgiving Food Drive The SMS Student Government once again joined the Knights of Columbus in the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Food donated by SMS families was distributed to the elderly in Ballard Green and other Ridgefield and South Salem shut ins, St. Peter’s (Bridgeport) Rectory Pantry, Convent of Mary Immaculate in Bridgeport, and the Ridgefield Food Pantry.
Fourth Grade Donates Halloween Goodies The 4th grade class donated six cakes they made for their Senior Citizen party (which was cancelled due to weather) to the Dorothy Day House in Danbury. In addition, they donated Halloween Candy to Ridgefield Dentist Dr. Dana Jones to be sent to troops overseas. In appreciation, Dr. Jones gave each student a new, light up toothbrush.
Christmas Party at Congregate Housing Grade 4 students planned a Christmas Party complete with carols, games, and snacks at Congregate Housing in Ridgefield.
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OUR ACADEMIC H IGHLIGHTS
Knights of Columbus Geography Bee Saint Mary School students performed very well in the Knights of Columbus Connecticut State Geography Bee. Grade 7 student Freddy Rio came in First Place, after progressing through 16 elimination rounds! Kelly Martella, Grade 7, received Third Place, making it through 8 elimination rounds, and Clarisse Allehaut, Grade 6 came in Fifth Place, making it through four elimination rounds.
Our students are developing 21st century skills to lay the foundation for a lifetime of
learning and discovery.
SMS Honored for 2011 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge Saint Mary School was honored in Hartford along with 24 other elementary, middle, and high schools as a top performing school in the 2011 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. Gov-ernor Malloy presented Principal Anna O’Rourke and two students with a certificate. SMS K-Grade 5 students read a total of 2,512 books, and Grade 6-8 read a total of 97,618 pages. This is the second consecutive year that SMS has received this honor.
Grade 6 Students Published in Local Papers Mr. Alarcon’s Grade 6 Science students submitted Letters to the Editors of local papers regarding water conservation. Congratulations to Ian Ostrosky, Natalia Piwko, Veronica Galban, Colin Vecchiariello, Kaitlin Edwardson, Ben Lyons, Kerri Vecchiariello and Melissa Savoy.
St. Thomas Aquinas Award Grade 8 student Emily Spahn, was honored at the Breakfast of Champions, and received the St. Thomas Aquinas award for academics, service, and faith for Saint Mary School. The award was presented by Archbishop-elect Lori.
NASA Cassini Essay Contest SMS Middle School students participated in a NASA sponsored, Cassini Essay Contest, along with 800 students from across the country. Six of our students were honored. Matthew Giorgio was a finalist, and Kate McNicholas, Klauss Steinmann, Keri Vecchiariello, Ava Gustafson, and Jill Harrington received Honorable Mentions.
Knights of Columbus State Spelling Bee SMS Grade 6 student Veronica Galban placed Third in the Knights of Columbus Connecticut Statewide Spelling Bee! Grade 4 student Andrew Lee placed third and Grade 5 student Sofia Singer placed fourth in the Regional competition.
Knights of Columbus Essay Contest Winners Emily Spahn and Matthew Thaxter were the SMS winners of the Knights of Columbus Essay Contest this year. All SMS Grade 8 students participated. The topic was to define the role of a Catholic citizen in a free society. Matthew’s essay competed in the State Championship.
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OUR COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers are a vital part of so much
of what we do at Saint Mary School.
Listed below are some of the many
ways our families contributed their
time and talents during the 2011-2012
school year to the benefit of our
community. Thank you to all!
Annual Fund Committee
Art Show
Boxtop Coordinator
Cheerleading Coaches
Class Parents
Father Daughter Dance
Committee
HSA Board (Home School
Association)
Library Volunteers
Math Fair
Open House Ambassadors
Reading Group Leaders
SAB (School Advisory Board)
Science Enrichment
Scholastic Book Fairs
Scout Leaders
Stop and Shop A+
Coordinator
Track Coaches
Volleyball Coach
Website Design
Yearbook
Our students are supported by a community with common goals and values, modeled in Christ. In
this family atmosphere, they learn about love and compassion for others, cultivated in service for those in
need.
KELLIE ACKERMAN
BETSEY ALLEHAUT
SHERRY ANANDAPPA
LAURA ARNOLD
NORMA BERNARD
ALISON BROWN
BUD BROWN
AMY BRUCE
PATRICE BUTALA
PATTI CAPILLI
LESLIE CHIODI
CATHLEEN DEPUY
MARYELLEN DONOVAN
SEAN DONOVAN
BRIAN DOUGLAS
AMY DOWDING
DANIELLE EDWARDSON
SCOTT EDWARDSON
CAROL ANN GALBAN
MARY GILLESPIE
MARCIA GIORGIO
ANNE GREENLEAF
LISA GUSTAFSON KRATTER
JOHN HANTAK
KRIS HANTAK
WENDY HARCO
DANIELLE HARRINGTON
PETER HARRINGTON
JENNIFER JASMINSKI
ROBERT JASMINSKI
CINDY JEFFRIES
DON KAGER
MARY BRIDGET KAGER
JULIE KIMBROUGH
KATHLEEN KORNEK
ROULA LEE
LOURDES MAISONNET
COLLEEN MARTELLA
MARGARET MARTIN
LISY MARTINEZ
TOM MCNICHOLAS
VERONICA MCNICHOLAS
CLAUDIA MCVAY
DEVIN MEENAN
KATHLY MEENAN
PATTY MIDDLEBROOK
CARMEN MILLER
STEVE MILLER
JENNIFER MITCHELL
STACEY MULLINS
CHRISTINE MURPHY
CARLA MURPHY
LAURA O’HANLON
JOHN PAINTER
DIANE PINIELLA
RAY PINIELLA
CINDY RIO
VIVIAN ROBERT
PAMELA SIMONEAU
JENNIFER SLOVINSKI
MICHELLE SMITH
CHRISTOPHER SPAHN
GINA SPAHN
MICHELLE STEEN
LEILA STUHR
JOHN SZEWCZUK
KATE TAYLOR
MIKE TAYLOR
DIANE TERZIS
JEANNETTE THOMPSON
CINDY WHITEHOUSE
Interested in Volunteering?
Please contact HSA President Stacey
Mullins at [email protected] to
learn more.
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MAKING A
DIFFERENCE
2011-2012 ANNUAL FUND
We appreciate each and every gift made to the 2011-2012
Annual Fund, as each one contributes to our mission and
impacts the faith, learning, and community that is Saint
Mary School. Each of you is truly making a difference!
ANGEL SOCIETY
(GIFTS OF $5,000+) Anonymous
Mr. Patrick Brown and Ms. Mary
Gillespie
The Gram Family
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Edwardson
Mr. and Mrs. Wally Martinez
Mackenzie, Liam and Colin Mullins
Mr. and Mrs. George Samenuk
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Spahn
General Electric Foundation
Wells Fargo Foundation
BLUE RIBBON SOCIETY
(GIFTS OF $2,500 - $4,999) Anonymous (4)
Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Abbruzzese
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Brown
Mr. and Mrs. John Butala
Mr. and Mrs. Sean Donovan
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Eckardt
Dr. Carol Ann Galban
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Linekin
PRINCIPAL’S CIRCLE
(GIFTS OF $1,000 - $1,499) Anonymous (2)
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Bell
Mr. and Mrs. Flor Brosnan
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Martin
Mr. and Mrs. John Mitchell
PEPSICO Foundation
GUARDIAN CIRCLE
(GIFTS OF $500 - $999) Anonymous (7)
Mr. and Mrs. Benoit Allehaut
Mr. Christopher Butz and Ms. Lourdes
Maisonet
Mr. and Mrs. Peter DiFabio
Mr. and Mrs. John Gasparrini
Mr. and Mrs. John Hantak
Mr. and Dr. Robert Hemley
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Piazza
Mr. and Mrs. Scott Robert
Mr. and Mrs. John Spera
Mr. and Mrs. James Sutton
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Thompson
Valerie Ann Luff Foundation
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stuhr
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Taylor
CHAMPION SOCIETY
(GIFTS OF $1,500 - $2,499) Anonymous
Mr. Peter Alessi and Ms. Julie
Kimbrough
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bonanni
Mr. and Mrs. James Bruce
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Chapleau
Mr. and Mrs. Robert DeGennaro
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Douglas
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Dowding
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Giorgio
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Harrington
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jasminski
Mr. and Mrs. John May
Mr. and Mrs. Lynn McVay
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Menapace
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Piniella
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Simoneau
Mr. and Mrs. David Whitehouse
Macy’s Foundation
TIAA-CREF
FROM THE ANNUAL FUND CHAIRMAN On behalf of the entire Saint Mary School community, thank you for your support. During the 2011-2012 school year, parents, staff, alumni, and
friends contributed $149,000. Additionally, we met our goal of increasing participation in the SMS Annual Fund with 75% of K-8 families contributing.
Your generous donations ensure the viability and sustainability of the school and advance the spiritual, moral, intellectual, and physical development of
all students.
The SMS Annual fund is the cornerstone of all fund raising for the School. Proceeds from the Fund are an essential component of the school's budget,
used for a variety of key operating expenses, capital expenditures, annual staff appreciation awards and future reserves. As part of our mission to make a
high quality Catholic education accessible to all, we strive to keep our tuition affordable and we offer significant financial assistance to those in need.
Therefore, we rely on the Annual Fund as a crucial component of our annual budget. I am encouraged by our continued fundraising progress and excited
about expanding the breadth and depth of our efforts during the 2012-2013 school year.
Thank you again for your generous support.
Scott Edwardson
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Ms. Kathy Backus
Mrs. Cathy Betesh
Mrs. Julie Buttrick
Ms. Cate Carroll
Ms. Catherine DaCruz
Mrs. Karen Fahey
Mr. Daniel Fox
Mrs. Pam Gismondi
Mrs. Lisa LeFebvre
Ms. Amanda Johnson
Ms. Jennifer Gallo
Ms. Jennifer Kasinskas
Mrs. Jody Lampasso
Mrs. Doreen Lodigiani
Mrs. Jean Lombardo
Mrs. Elizabeth Manno
Mrs. Andrea Mead
Mrs. Pam Moffat
Ms. Donna Montalto
Ms. Elizabeth Nesbitt
Mrs. Jessica O’Connell
Mrs. Anna O’Rourke
Mrs. Ann O’Leary
Mrs. Mary Ann Petrone
Mr. Michael Quinn
Mrs. Anne Marie
Richards
Mrs. Robin Rohrmann
Ms. Jennifer Santangelo
Ms. Natalie Schleisman
Mrs. Joanne Seavy
Mrs. Linda Silvers
Mrs. Mary Spera
Mrs. Nancy Szilagyi
Mrs. Debbie Tropsa
2 011-2012 Annual Fund Leadership ANNUAL FUND CHAIRMAN Scot t Edwardson PASTOR Msgr . Bronkiewicz PRINCIPAL Anna O’Rourke SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD Ray P inie l la - Cha ir Sean Donovan Br ian Doug las Scot t Edwardson Don Kager Dev in Meenan S tacey Mul l ins - HSA Cha ir Le i la S tuhr Mike Tay lor PARENT CLASS LEADERS PRESCHOOL John Hantak Chr i s topher Spahn KINDERGARTEN Ju l ie K imbroug h GRADE 1 S tacey Mul l ins GRADE 2 Amy Dowding GRADE 3 Le i la S tuhr GRADE 4 Danie l le Edwardson GRADE 5 Joe Murphy GRADE 6 Tom McNicho las GRADE 7 Ray P inie l la GRADE 8 Peter Harr ington
BENEFACTOR CIRCLE
(GIFTS OF $250 - $499) Anonymous (3)
Mr. and Mrs. Todd Ackerman
Mrs. Joan Driscoll
Dr. and Mrs. Steve Giannoutsos
Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gomez
Mrs. and Mrs. John Greenleaf
Mr. and Mrs. David Jarcho
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kager
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Lee
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Mark O’Hanlon
Ms. Kirsten Salley
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Slovinski
Mr. and Mrs. Gene Staudt
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Steen
Morgan Stanley Foundation
UBS Foundation
Verizon Foundation
BLUE AND WHITE CIRCLE
(GIFTS OF $100 - $249) Anonymous (5)
Mr. and Mrs. Serge Bernard
Ms. Kathleen Budzik
Mr. and Mrs. Felix Cacciato
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cuesta
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher DeVenuti
Mr. and Mrs. David Dwortz
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Egan
Mr. and Mrs. David Isaac
Mr. and Mrs. Konstantine
Karloutsos
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kristan
Mr. and Mrs. David Kulo
Ms. Megan McCaughey
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Miller
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Murphy
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Neumann
Mr. and Mrs. James O’Rourke
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Ostrosky
Mr. and Mrs. John Painter
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rio
Mr. and Mrs. Rajat Sarup
Mr. and Mrs. John Szewczuk
Mr. and Mrs. David Thaxter
Dr. and Dr. George Uy
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Verilli
Mr. and Mrs. Yuwen Wang
Mr. and Mrs. Evan Zuckert
Hill Pet Nutrition, Inc.
Honeywell International
PENGUINS CIRCLE
(GIFTS OF $50 - $99) Anonymous (2)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas LeFebvre
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Murphy
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pierelli
Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Sullivan
Ms. Barbara Tuccio
Ms. Janet Yanity
FRIENDS
(GIFTS OF $1- $49) Anonymous
Mrs. Leslie Chiodi
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Couri
Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hill
Dr. Nicole Gabriel
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Treschitta
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Weiskopf
STAFF AND FACULTY GIFTS
Mr. Patrick Alarcon
Mrs. Cindy Altman
HOW TO GIVE TO SMS
Please make check payable to SMS Annual Fund, and send
to
Saint Mary Annual Fund
183 High Ridge Avenue
Ridgefield, CT 06877
Or, visit www.smsridgefield.org / Support SMS and click the “Make a Gift” button to make an on-line donation.