Dear St. Mary’s Families,
Only 15 more sleeps until Christmas. The excitement is growing. I hope the season finds you able to stop, breath, and rejoice in the moment.
St. Mary’s celebrates many unique and special traditions during this holiday season. You are invited to be a part of these festivities:
- December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe – Please join us for a special Prayer Square
- December 16 – Christmas Program – 6:00 pm in the Church
- December 17 – Pastorela – 2:15 pm. – Everyone is invited to watch this annual production starring our middle school students
- December 18 – Last Day of School for the Semester
- December 19 – Teacher In-Service – No School
OUR MISSION:
St. Mary’s School is to provide a Catholic environment that instills academic excellence while preparing the whole child for life-long personal and spiritual growth, empowering them to become global citizens.
Our Lady of Guadalupe – Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe – December 12
The Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Mary’s is a remarkable event showcasing cultural traditions from Mexico. If you have the time and you are an early risers, I encourage you to attend:
- 5:00 am Mananitas for Our Lady of Guadalupe –
- 6:00 am Mass
- 7:00 am Reception
- 8:00 am Special Prayer Square including performances and our Mexican dancers
Spartaneers – After School STEM Program – Showcase December 16
The students who have been investing their time in Lego robotics in our after-school STEM program, are inviting you to witness all their hard work. You are invited to join them on Tuesday, December 16th at 3:30 to see first hand what they do and how they do it.
The Spartaneers are starting their next adventure into 3D printing beginning on January 13th. It will be every Tuesday thereafter. If you student is interested in participating in this after-school program on Tuesdays, please use the link above to register.
Thank you to Mr. Jason Jaszkowiak for giving his time and expertise to this program.
Idaho Tax Credit – Due December 31, 2025
St. Mary’s needs ongoing financial support from the community which helps us keep tuition reasonable and meet our operating expenses. The Idaho Tax Credit provides a tax credit for individuals, families, and corporations that are able to donate to the school. Below is additional information about the tax credit. You can also find information on our website at : Idaho Tax Credit
As we continue the school year, we always have an eye to the future. In the coming months we will be marketing the school in regular periodicals, digital billboards, attending the Private Education Fair – January 10, 2026 at JUMP, promotional spot with KTVB in January, and other engaging community events. While all of this is great, nothing beats word of mouth….
If you know anyone who might be curious about St. Mary’s – Here is a one page summary highlighting some of the great things about St. Mary’s.
Tuition and Registration 2026-27
Earlier this week, I shared the tuition and registration fee rates for the upcoming school year. If you did not get a chance to review, the information is linked above.
Building Our Future: Together in Faith – Capital Campaign
The capital campaign, Building Our Future: Together in Faith, is in full swing. The community has already pledged over $1.2 million dollars towards the cause.
If you are interested in learning more, please use the link above to the parish website which contains information about our plans, progress and how you can contribute.
Imagine If – St. Mary’s Gala – January 31, 2026
Buy your Tickets today! Make sure your calendar is marked for the greatest social event of the year. The St. Mary’s Annual Gala is being held Saturday, January 31, 2026. This is the largest and most significant fundraiser for St. Mary’s School.
Tuition Raffle
Only 250 tickets will be sold at a chance to win $5000! – Winnings can be used for tuition at any qualifying school including St. Mary’s, Bishop Kelly or colleges and universities. Click here for more details and a chance to enter – Imagine If Gala Tuition Raffle
Christmas Music Program – December 16 🧑🎄
- When: Tuesday, December 16th at 6:00pm. Students should arrive between 5:40 and 5:45 and go to their classrooms (Bands and Choir should meet in the church). THE SCHOOL/CHURCH WILL NOT BE OPEN UNTIL 5:40, so please plan accordingly. The program is expected to last about one hour.
- Where: St. Mary’s Church (Free!)
- Who: The program will feature students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade, as well as our Bands and Choir.
- What (to wear): Students should wear nice clothes – think “going to church with Grandma on Christmas.” Please help students not to wear anything that might become a distraction to others or prove challenging for them to move around in. When in doubt, they are more than welcome to wear their Mass Dress uniform.
- Why: We do this each year to bring in the Christmas Season, gather as a community, and celebrate that Music is a valued and integral part of our students’ education.
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me and I will try to get back to you quickly – mpeters@bk.org. Thank you for your time and I’m looking forward to seeing you there!
Recycled Textiles
St. Mary’s is going to be collecting used clothing, purses, bedding, towels, hats, bags and other used garments for recycling. We are entering into a partnership with Just Porch It to collect and recycle textiles. We will have a bag in the cafeteria beginning in January if you have any items to discard.
Mathnasium – Math extension Program
Perhaps you have seen the signs for Mathnasium. They are a supplemental math program administered by teachers and advanced students to help students identify and rectify trouble spots in their progression.
St. Mary’s will be providing space to Mathnasium and our students that are interested in extending their math knowledge in late January. Mrs. Russell sent an email today with a flyer. They flyer is linked above in case you missed it.
The Idaho Tax Commission is working to educate the public about House Bill 93, the bill designed t
o help families with the expense of non-public education. The link above will bring you to the latest information from the
Diocese. You are also encouraged to visit the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit page. It provides information about the bill along with courses to help families understand the finer details.
Thank you to the magical St. Nick who filled the shoes of students last Friday – Traditions can be incredible
Calendar of Events
- December 12 – Mexican Dance Group – Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Mary’s at 6:00 pm
- December 16 – Christmas Music Program – 6:00 pm at the church
- December 17 – Pastorela – School Cafeteria at 2:15
- December 19 – Teacher InService (No School)
- December 20- January 4 – Christmas Break
- January 5, 2026 – Teacher In-Service – No School for Students
- January 10, 2026 – Private Education Fair – at JUMP
- January 19, 2026 – MLK, Jr. Day – No School
- January 25, 2026 – Catholic Schools Week – Kick Off Mass
- January 26-30, 2026 – Catholic Schools Week
- January 27, 2026 – Alumni Breakfast
- January 28, 2026 – All Schools Mass @ St. Mark’s
- January 30, 2026 – Family Picnic & Ringing of the Bells
- January 30, 2026 – 7th and 8th Grade Dance @ St. Ignatius
- January 31, 2026 – St. Mary’s Annual Gala – Please save the date
God Bless and Take Care
Kevan Grant
St. Mary’s Catholic School – Principal
Go Spartans!
Other Things
- The 2026-27 School Academic Calendar has been set. I am excited to announce the first day of school in the Fall of 2026 will be August 19th. We still have a number of events to finalize, but the linked calendar gives you the days we are in and out of school.
- Nurse’s Notes: With the holidays approaching, December can be a stressful month. Primary care is especially important because it helps you stay healthy. Your doctor can check in on how your body is handling stress. They can also give you advice on sleep, nutrition, and ways to cope. Seeing a primary care provider helps catch small problems before they turn into big ones. Overall, primary care supports both your physical and mental well-being when life feels overwhelming. What better way to start the New Year than feeling refreshed, supported, and ready to take on anything.If you are looking for a provider here is a link that can assist you to finding the right doctor for you and your needs. – https://saintalphonsushealthalliance.org/providers
- Dress Code – As the weather becomes colder and the first semester comes to an end, it is important we reiterate our dress code expectations with you and the students. Please find the specifics in the link above. Please take a few minutes to review the dress code with your students. We would appreciate your support with:
- St. Mary’s Sweatshirts are the only sweatshirts permitted. All other sweatshirts are to stay at home.
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- Hair must be trimmed neatly and not fall into the students eyes.
- Partnership Page – St. Mary’s school initiated a partnership page on our website to share information about businesses that are associated with and support St. Mary’s. If you are looking for something, I encourage you to check out the directory. If you are interested in listing your business, please contact Mandy at the front office. We would love to continue to grow our partnerships and encourage support for our local businesses.
- Return to School Policy – Each year the nurses evaluate and provide a return to school policy to keep us as healthy as possible during the school year. Please be sure to review the linked letter.
- Bishop Kelly Athletics – Bishop Kelly has a plethora of athletics happening throughout the year. The BK website has a link to team pages with game schedules.
- Get your Uniforms and Spirit Wear from Educational Outfitters
