What a Year!

Dear Families, 

One year ago, I knew none of you. I had never been to a Padre Serra tournament game, or seen a team full of SMV gladiators in action. I had never walked from my office to the church through the shadows of the SMV tunnel, or prayed through a First Friday adoration in Latin. I certainly had no clue what a Spook and Spoof was, or tried twenty-five different types of chili in one evening and lived to tell the tale. I’ve never felt the pure rush of buying a roughly 1-in-60 chance at winning a trip to Hawaii, failing, but coming away happy anyway, with a Lil’ Kickers gift certificate to try out on the two-year-old at home. 

I didn’t know Elm Grove at all, and had never spent a bright spring day running alongside the pond in the park, or strolled through one of its many pleasant neighborhoods after mass, drinking a coffee and munching on a croissant from Fresh Baked Cafe. The teachers, parents and children were just blurs, things that I had to guess at based on some outdated pictures and videos on a website.

So much can change in just one year. This is especially noticeable in children, who grow and develop so much in the span of one calendar. That is one of the best parts of working with children - their growth is so obvious and so rewarding to see.  

The changes aren’t always good though; we have seen some of that. Yet, you know you’re in a good place when people support you when you’re down, and are frequently kind, often for no reason at all. That happens at SMV quite a bit.

One year ago, I knew none of you, yet now my phone is full of pictures of your smiling children, and my memories have been tinted warm by the experiences we have all shared together. Thank you for your welcome, thank you for your support, thank you for your participation. We say a warm farewell to all of those leaving us. Please know that you can always return to SMV, and we look forward to cheering you on from afar. For those returning, I hope everyone is able to enjoy a blessed summer, and we look forward to welcoming you all back in the fall, with everyone a little taller, a little tanner, and eager to embark on another journey as one SMV community.

God Bless,

Siggy Spelter

Principal

School Office Notes

No After School Care - May 31st

Our After School Care program will be closed on Friday, May 31st. Please make alternative dismissal and care arrangements for your children that day.

Yearbooks

The yearbooks for the 2023-24 school year arrived! Most students will receive their copy in class next week. Our K3 students and our graduating students will receive their copies by this Friday. 

The listing with the yearbook orders received by Lifetouch was sent in an email to parents yesterday. If you forgot to order, or would now like to purchase a book for your child, we have a limited number available to sell. 

If you'd like to purchase a yearbook, please see this signup. You may place a copy on hold, but payment must be received by Friday or it will no longer be reserved. Once paid, your child's copy will be given to the respective homeroom teacher for distribution.

School Office - Summer Hours

Between June 17 - August 12, the school office will be in summer mode with limited hours. Please reach out via email with any needs during this time. Happy summer!