Dear St. Mary’s Families,
It has been another fantastic week at St. Mary’s. I am exceptionally proud of the students. They have adjusted so well and so quickly to school. Please join us in giving them a pat on the back.
We had a successful evacuation drill from the Church after Mass. Everyone did an exceptional job. As I reminded them, in every drill or emergency, it is critical to be calm, be orderly, and be silent. They listened and did incredibly well.
We are focusing on being FRIENDS this month. While it may not be possible to be friends with everyone we meet, we can always be friendly. A smile, using manners, or even holding the door for someone can go a long way to making others feel welcome and valued.
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.
Back to School Bash – September 6, 2025 – at 5:00 pm
Our annual student-led Mass and Back to School Bash is scheduled for Saturday, September 6th.
We will begin with a student-led Mass at 5:00 on Saturday, September 6th. Afterwards, the PTO is sponsoring the Bash including food, music, games and comradery. If you would like to help out, please let the PTO know. Whether or not you can volunteer, we would love for everyone to be there.
Baptism
A number of our families have been reaching out to inquire about baptism. Please contact the Parish office (208) 344-2597 to discuss this or any other questions about the church and ways to explore your faith. 
MAP Testing – September 8 – 17
Twice a year students in grades 1-8 take MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) tests in Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. NWEA provides extensive resources to families to improve their understanding of the assessments and their purpose. Please refer to the Family Toolkit for more information.
Each year our 8th grade families lead the charge on a peach sale. The peaches are amazing. A box of 25 lbs is sold for $40. The proceeds help with all types of student activities including the 8th grade’s retreat to Cottonwood. Orders are due by September 11, 2025. For those of you who order, you can pick them up at the school on September 16 from 3:00-5:50. Please see the linked flyer for more information including how to order.
The St. Mary’s Foodbank is hosting its annual Oktoberfest at Payette Brewery on September 22nd. This is a fun event bringing the parish, the school and the foodbank together in community in support of the foodbank. It is a night full of beer, brats, and friendship. Please see the flyers around the school and parish for more information.
Mexican Dance – Wednesdays – Open to All Students
Gloria Munoz at the Parish office graciously donates her time and expertise to our aspiring dancers. The group practices weekly on Wednesdays after school. No experience necessary. The group performs at events at St. Mary’s and throughout the city, including Dia de los Muertos, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Festival of Trees.
After-School Stem Club – Spartaneers – Tuesdays
Jason Jaszkowiak is giving his time and experience to lead students in an after-school STEM program after school at St. Mary’s. Please refer to the link above for more information.
2025-26 is quickly becoming a remarkable year for St. Mary’s, our students, families, staff, and community. Thank you for being a part of St. Mary’s.
Calendar of Events
- September 6 – Students Led Mass – Back to School Bash – 5:00 pm
- September 8 – 17 – MAP Testing
- September 13 – Altar Server Training – 10:00 am
- September 19 – Teacher In-Service – No School
- September 19 – TVCS 7th and 8th Grade Dance at St. Mary’s
- September 22 – Oktoberfest – Payette Brewery
- September 26 – Hispanic Heritage Fair – More details to follow
- October 6-10 – MOSS 5th and 6th Graders
- October 8 – Picture Retakes
- October 17 – Spartan Run
- 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
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School Counselor Information – St. Mary’s is very blessed to have Mrs. Brooke Maritt join us this year. Mrs. Maritt is actively getting to know the students, teachers, and school. Below is additional information about Mrs. Maritt
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- Counselor Corner
- About the School Counselor
- School Counselor Pamphlet
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School Choice – The Idaho Tax Commission is working to educate the public about House Bill 93, the bill designed to help families with the expense of non-public education. The link above will bring you to the Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit page. It provides information about the bill along with courses to help families understand the finer details.
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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.
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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.
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Technology and Social Media Last year, I sent this linked letter to our families about some of the struggles we have experienced using technology, social media, or even gaming. As we enter into a new school year, it is a good idea to review or establish the necessary controls with respect to home technology usage. In addition to the tips provided in the letter, St. Mary’s has invested in the Social Institute to provide meaningful lessons to our students. The website allows for family access to the vast resources of tips, tricks, settings, and other controls to help families keep their children safe.
To sign up for access, you can use the QR code on the document ( The Social Institute – Family Tool Kit ) or you can access the website directly to sign up to access the family resources. Please use the following school code: Code 3d1bC5B9403C65
The site provides families resources to spark engaging conversations as well as application playbooks, which help you understand and set the necessary controls to restrict usage and/or functionality.
Nationwide and statewide there are a number of programs supporting families and providing best practices to help keep our children safe. One initiative is Wait Until Eighth. Below is information concerning students in Idaho and nationally with respect to smartphone usage.
- Wait Until 8th Idaho
- Meet Kate Henwood – Local Advocate
- Wait Until 8th National\
- 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.
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