|
|
|
|
(To view photos from earlier in the year click on the Photo Archive Tab.)
|
|
Final Honor Rolls for 2009 -- 2010 are posted on the Honor Roll page.
Information regarding the Summer Bridge Activities Program for all children entering Kindergarten to Grade 5 in September, plus reading lists for Grades 6, 7 and 8 are posted on the Parents News page.
Information regarding Supply Lists for Back-to-School in September are also posted on the Parents News page.
|
|
Keep the date open!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Back-to-School Family Mass & BBQ
|
|
Here's What's Happening at SMMS
|
| -- July 18, 2010
As the lazy, hazy days of summer pass us by, we have been busy here at SMMS sprucing the building up so that it will be shining when the new academic year begins in a few short weeks.
This year the summer work project has focused primarily on refurbishing all of the old student desks. Over 300 desks have had their wooden frames sanded down and refinished. The metal bases have also been sanded down and repainted. In addition to the desk project, the wooden floors in every classroom have been refinished, cubbies ha ve been painted and ceilings too.
Mr. Mansfield oversees each day about a dozen SMMS students who volunteer their time and talent as well as several employed SMMS graduates who are now attending Kellenberg Memorial High School.
 On Wednesday evening, July 7th, 73 of our 260 alumni returned for the Third Annual Alumni BBQ. That is an amazing 28% turnout. The alumni enjoyed an evening of fine food and good conversation, catching up with old classmates and former teachers.
More Alumni Pictures
Please read the letters that Mr. Holian has sent to our alumni and alumni parents announcing our Alumni Appeal.
Alumni Appeal Letter
Alumni Parents Appeal Letter
This past week, the official diocesan investigation of the cause of Fr. Chaminade’s canonization as a saint ended in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Fr. Chaminade’s cause for canonization now moves to the Vatican for the last stages of investigation. Let us all continue to pray for his canonization as a saint. Please read the articles from St. Louis’ Channel 4, KMOV which tell the story of a young girl’s miraculous cure from cancer due to Fr. Chaminade’s intercession.
Fr. Chaminade
-- July 2, 2010
The dust from the hectic pace of the end of the school year has finally settled! We look back over the 2009 – 2010 school year and give God thanks for the wonderful year we all had.
 Twenty-nine kindergarteners graduated on Thursday, June 10th. The gym was nicely decorated and packed to capacity with moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles all watching as these little ones sang, recited poetry and celebrated their year of learning.
On Friday evening, June 18th, this year’s 52 graduates of the Class of 2010 celebrated a beautiful Baccalaureate Mass in St. Martha’s Church. Families and friends were gathered together to enjoy this momentous occasion with them. After Mass, the Commencement Exercises took place. Each 8th grader had his/her academic credentials read by Mr. Holian and Mrs. Nordquist and then were presented with his/her diploma by Bro. Kenneth, the Principal of St. Martin de Porres Marianist School. A reception followed the ceremony in the school gymnasium.
During the ceremony Darryl Edouard was awarded the St. Martin de Porres, Apostle of Charity Scholarship for his outstanding service to school and communtiy.
After six years, the SMMS Alumni Association is proud to have 260 members.
Click on the link below for the Graduation Booklet to read about all the accomplishments of the 8th graders and to see which high schools they will be attending in September.
Click on the photo link to see the graduation pictures of the Class of 2010.
Graduation Booklet
Graduate Photos 1
Graduate Photos 2
-- May 8, 2010
The Third Trimester is zipping by at a rapid pace and so many wonderful events have occurred over these past four weeks.
On Tuesday, April 13th Krista Sowkey was crowned as the Math Bee Queen, while two weeks later on Wednesday, April 28th, Maura Zaccaria was victorious in becoming the champion in the Religion Bee.
On Friday, April 16th the faculty enjoyed their annual Day of Recollection at Meribah, Chaminade High School’s retreat house located in Muttontown. Of course the boys and girls enjoyed an added day of no school.
Saturday evening, April 17th drew art lovers to the gymnasium for the Christian Art Exhibition this year featuring icons of angels. Besides all of the SMMS 8th graders writing an icon, there were many other participants from the Catholic elementary schools throughout the diocese.
 One of the highlights for sure of the month of April was the Garden Party for third, fourth, and fifth grade girls and their moms. On Saturday, April 24th, over 100 girls and their moms gathered in the gym for a time of special mother/daughter bonding as they participated in various craft making, a little tap production and a very heart warming photo up with mom!
Over 60 parents gathered on Friday evening, April 30th to share good food, fine conversation, and a wonderful fellowship at the Parents Spring Social. The evening was topped off with many going home as winners of the many delightful raffle prizes.
May 1st was a first for SMMS. This year we were asked by St. Martha’s Parish to conduct our own First Holy Communion ceremony. Forty-eight boys and girls were privileged to make their First Holy Communion that morning in a church which was packed with family and friends. Following the Mass coffee, juice, cake and cookies was served in the gymnasium as everyone had the opportunity to have their picture taken with Fr. Garrett who was the Mass celebrant.
-- April 11, 2010
Divine Mercy Sunday
Winter has passed into spring. The Secon d Trimester has ended and the Third Trimester begins tomorrow. The daffodils are up and the trees are blossoming. The season of Lent is completed and we are now in the midst of our wonderful celebration of Eastertide! Let us rejoice and always give God praise for His Son’s Glorious Resurrection!
The closing days of the Second Trimester were busy ones. On Wednesday, March 24th grade Pre-K to fifth celebrated the musical talents of each other during our annual March is Music Appreciation Month Festival.
During the school mass celebrating Mary’s Annunciation, second grader Ajana Downs was welcomed into the Catholic Church. Ajana will be receiving her First Communion with the rest of her classmates on Saturday, May 1st.
Well the rest of the children were taking trimester exams, the first graders participated in their annual Spelling Bee. Congratulations to Cassidy Shillingford and Brendan Carr for their outstanding achievement. Mrs. Haller’s first grade class also invited Fr. Tom to join them in re-enacting Jesus’ Last Supper.
-- March 21, 2010
The orchestra from KMHS made a special trip over to SMMS on Wednesday, March 17th. During two performances in the afternoon, the orchestra played first for the 8th graders and then grades 1 to 5. For many children, this was the first time they ever heard a live performance of classical music.
 Did you ever wish that you had the “golden touch?” King Midas did! On Friday evening, March 19th the fourth graders performed a wonderful rendition of King Midas and the Golden Touch.
The gymnasium was filled with many enthusiastic theater goers of all ages. Congratulations to the entire 4th grade class who spent many weeks during the after school program preparing for this spectacular performance.
-- March 14, 2010
 On Monday of this past week, some of the members of Kellenberg’s Latin School CROSS came to join our CROSS mem bers in a Lenten
project. They spent their time together crafting for each homeroom at SMMS and for each Latin School homeroom a “Footprints In the Sand Cross.”
Wednesday afternoon the gymnasium was a Science Hall of Fame, filled with quite a variety of crafty science fair projects. The winners are to be announced this upcoming week. The winners will be competing on Saturday, March 20th in the Chaminade High School Invitational Science Fair.
During Friday’s Lenten Prayer Service the children participated in Jesus’ final journey from Jerusalem to Calvary down the Via Dolorosa. After reflecting on each station, in a solemn procession one by one, each of the 14 candles which were lighting the church was extinguished recalling the darkness of that Good Friday over 2,000 years ago when Jesus died on the cross.
Well by far the most anticipated event of this past week was the Junior High Drama Club’s performance of the musical, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Kellenberg’s auditorium was filled with an audience of nearly 300 theater goers who braved the terrible storm to see the delightful singing and the dancing.
 On Sunday afternoon a group of 16 CROSS members boarded the school bus for a trip to Mineola to share in the Mineola Junior Firefighters Annual Pasta Dinner. This dinner maybe a fund raising event for the Junior Firefighters, but for our members of CROSS it is a fun afternoon of fine dining and good conversation with friends and classmates.
-- March 7, 2010
The snows of February have left us for now but the March winds have blown in a flurry of activity!
The Cub Scouts held their annual Pine Wood Derby race in the gymnasium on Tuesday afternoon, March 2nd. The scouts were all excited to watch the races and to see their handiwork zoom down the track.
 As a Catholic school community we took time out of our academic schedule to go across the parking lot to St. Martha’s Church on Wednesday to celebrate a Lenten Mass. Fr. Tom called upon some assistants from Pre-K to help him during his homily to explain the truly Christian way to be a giver and a sharer.
 While we are reminded of the traditional Lenten practice of sharing with those less fortunate than we are, we should point out that our Lenten Project 2010, Pennies for Bricks, Rebuilding Haiti One Brick At A Time, is going very well. During the first week of Lent, the children traded in nearly $400.00 in exchange for their good deeds performed during the week. The collection of the change deposited in the heart-
shaped boxes during the second week of Lent is being counted over this weekend. At the cost of one dollar per brick, if the weight of the container is to be any indication, it looks like the children are well on their way to having donating nearly 1,000 bricks to the cause.
 Our second graders will be receiving their First Holy Communion on Saturday, May 1st.
In preparation for this very special day,
Fr. Tom came on Thursday afternoon to celebrate with them the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
 Well the snows of early February may have postponed the Pajama Night Reading Party, but they couldn’t keep this fun-filled evening from ultimately happening. On Friday night nearly 90 little ones from Pre-K to 2nd grade joined with their parents to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss , the renowned children’s author. Dr. Seuss was born on March 2, 1904 so he would have been 106 years old this year. In honor of his birthday the children were treated to a very special visit by the Cat in the Hat!
-- February 27, 2010
February – The Month That Was, But Wasn’t!
Despite having 4 snow days this month and a week off for Winter Recess, a lot of events did take place during this past month.
 On the very first day of February, the first graders packed into a school bus first thing in the morning and headed over to KMHS for their annual retreat. The first graders spent the morning in Emmanuel, Kellenberg’s retreat house, where they saw videos, did activities, played games all that focused in on the topic of forgiveness. They enjoyed their time on retreat, especially the opportunity to pray in Emmanuel’s beautiful chapel.
This was the beginning of our retreat season. Between now and May, all children from grades 1 to 8 will have the opportunity to go on retreat at KMHS. The second graders had their retreat on February 9th and as long as there is no more snow, the 3rd graders will have their retreat this upcoming week on Tuesday, March 2nd.
February 3rd was the Feast Day of St. Blaise. During the day, Bro. James visited each classroom explaining to the children the life of St. Blaise. Each visit concluded with the Blessing of the Throats.
 The Sixth Annual Ladies Tea and Fashion Show was held in the Millennium Room at KHMS on Saturday, February 6th. Despite the forecasts of a major snow storm which luckily didn’t occur, this year’s Tea and Fashion Show was the largest ever. One hundred and eight Jr High girls and their moms attended. The 8th grade models donned beautiful fashions provided for us by Designing Dreams of Mineola. Everyone enjoyed the delicious cakes, cookies and other goodies. Of course the most popular station was the chocolate fountain! Many, many girls went home as winners of some really fantastic prizes such as Vera Bradley bags, Coach wristlets, or Apple ipods.
The Cub Scouts celebrated their annual Blue and Gold Mass on Sunday, February 7th. After Mass the gym was packed with scouts and their families to celebrate together all of the accomplishments this year of our young scouts.
Unfortunately due to the snow storm Mass for Our Lady of Lourdes feast day was cancelled as were our Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year Celebrations. The Pajama Party Reading Night for grades Pre-K to 2nd has been rescheduled for Friday, March 5th.
Visit the Activities page to see pictures from the Boy Scouts retreat at Meribah and their trip to Battleship Cove.
During the Winter Recess the season of Lent began. This year’s the school’s Lenten project is Pennies for Bricks. Through this project we hope to help in the rebuilding Haiti not just for the immediate future but for many years to come. Please read the letter above regarding this project.
-- January 31, 2010
Well it was just another quiet week at SMMS. Just kidding!
 On Wednesday contestants from grades 4 to 8 battled it out to see who would be this year’s Geography Bee champion. Mr. Holian battered them with some grueling questions ranging from state capitals to names of rivers, state mottos and even continental environmental issues. Congratulations to Kristy Revolus who came in 2nd Place and to Taylor Wilson for his victorious first place finish.
On Thursday, members of CROSS joined the members of CROSS from the Latin School for a pilgrimage to St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre. The rector of the cathedral gave the children a tour lasting over an hour. The children learned the story of the young girl Agnes who was martyred in the earliest day of Christianity and after whom the cathedral is named. They then toured each nook and cranny of the cathedral, even the choir loft for an up close visit of one of the cathedral’s stained glass windows.
On Saturday over 100 people visited SMMS during the annual Open House. As many of our own children were on hand to show visitors around the school and to enthusiastically share stories of their classroom experiences.
-- January 24, 2010
This past week was a celebration of the life and work of Blessed William Joseph Chaminade. Fr. Chaminade is the Founder of the Society of Mary, the religious order of priests and Brothers who operate here on Long Island three schools. Chaminade High School located in Mineola, Kellenberg Memorial High School located in Uniondale, and our very own St. Martin de Porres Marianist School. Fr. Chaminade lived in the time of the French Revolution when it was illegal to be a Catholic and many Catholics were put to death. After the Revolution ended he devoted his life to the service of Mary, working at the mission she entrusted to him. The mission was to re-Christianize France. Very soon Fr. Chaminade gathered around him men and women who joined him in this mission and thus was born the Marianist Family of priests, Brothers and sisters working alongside our lay collaborators in building in Christian society.
This year’s celebration was very special. The children spent the week praying for the canonization of Blessed William Joseph. During this week the official investigation into a miracle attributed to Blessed William Joseph began. The miracle took place in St. Louis in the year 2004. It is our hope that all the investigations will be completed and that Pope Benedict XVI will recognize Blessed William Joseph as a saint in time for the 250th Anniversary Celebration of his birth in 2011!
As part of this week’s celebration Pre-K to 5th Grade celebrated Mass dedicated to our Founder in St. Martha’s Church on Thursday morning. The Junior High traveled to Chaminade to join the students there in remembering our Founder.
The 8th Grade Brothers and Sisters journeyed to Founder’s Hollow in Ulster County, NY on Wednesday and Thursday for a retreat program. Founder’s Hollow is a Marianist Residence dedicated to the memory of Blessed William Joseph.
-- January 17, 2010
 The past two weeks have seen the Second Trimester get off to a very good start. On January 4th all the children gathered in St. Martha’s Church for an Epiphany Prayer Service. During the prayer service, Bro. Tim explained the greatest gift that we can give to God is our own hearts in love and our hands in service.
On Friday, January 8th the eighth graders took their class trip to NYC where they went on pilgrimage to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. After a very special tour of the cathedral where they had the rare opportunity to go into the cathedral’s crypt they joined in celebrating Mass at noon. The crypt is where many of the diocese’s bishops, archbishops and cardinals are buried. Pierre Toussaint, who hopefully will be canonized soon, is also buried in the cathedral’s crypt.
After lunch the 8th graders traveled through Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art where they visited such displays as Egyptian Art and Medieval Art. Both Mrs. Bello and Bro. Tim were superb guides as they explored the museum’s many displays.
 Members of CROSS spent Monday afternoon, January 11th making nearly 100 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be distributed through the Outreach Program to the needy in the area.
-- December 24, 2009
The Marianist Community and the Faculty of St. Martin de Porres Marianist School wish you all a Merry Christmas!
May Mary, our Mother, watch over all of us!
-- December 6, 2009
The children of SMMS ushered in the Advent Season with several special events this past week. On Friday, everyone entered into the spirit of the season as we decked the halls of our school with Christm as cheer.
 On Saturday, December 5th, over 100 children and 200 adults eagerly awaited the arrival of Santa himself. Our first Breakfast With Santa was hosted at KMHS. The school’s cafeteria was transformed Friday evening into the North Pole and Santa’s Workshop. On Saturday morning when the children arrived for breakfast they couldn’t believe their eyes as they entered a winter’s wonderland. Just as they finished eating their breakfast of French toast, pancakes, bagels, munkins and coffee cake; Santa arrived ringing his sleigh bells and then praying before the Nativity Scene of Jesus’ birth. Every child had the opportunity of not only mailing his/her Christmas list to Santa, but Santa sat and chatted with each child that came up to see him in his workshop.
-- Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009
All of us here at SMMS wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving Day! We all have so much to be thankful for! During the month of November, each morning during the Daily Morning Gathering in the gym, children in Pre-K to Grade 5 have been reflecting upon the things for which they have been grateful. From faces, hands, feelings, mistakes, the past to creation, light, feelings, the Spirit of God in our lives, we have so many gifts for which to be thankful. Each morning, a leaf representing one of these blessings fell from our Tree of Thanksgiving. Pictured are First Graders, Joshua Abraham and Kendall Riley at the Tree of Thanksgiving.
One of things we are grateful for this Thanksgiving is the completion of the new school sign. On Tuesday, November 24, 2009 the two medallions depicting the school seal and the Marianist Cross were added to the new sign that was erected in early September.
 
-- November 15, 2009
Our annual St. Martin’s Day Celebration began on Tuesday, November 3rd with a school Mass in St. Martha’s Church. There were many highlights to the day’s festivitie s. Mid-morning, the bagpipe band from Chaminade High School lead a parade down the school’s hallways, through the front doors and around the block to the field. After a picnic lunch in St. Rose of Lima Courtyard, the afternoon was filled with performances by the Chaminade Jazz Band, the Kellenberg Firebird Swing and with scenes from the upcoming KMHS Drama Club’s production of Music Man. It was surely a fitting way to celebrate the life of our patron saint.
Over 100 parents, faculty and guests gathered on Friday evening, November 6th for the Parents Fall Cocktail Party. There were lots of nice raffle prizes, plenty of tasty food and a wide variety of good conversations.
 We were privileged to have several Veterans from the Catholic Veterans of War Council in Bethpage join us Wednesday morning November 10th. During our Veterans Day Celebration the entire school from Pre-K to 8th grade gathered  outside around the flag pole for a flag raising ceremony and the singing of patriotic songs. The children listened filled with awe as the Vets introduced themselves and expl ained when and where they served.
Congratulations goes to Celeena Carrington of the 8th grade for being this year’s Spelling Bee champion. Way to go girl!
-- November 1, 2009
Nearly the entire school stayed for the Annual Halloween Party this past Friday. The children enjoyed hayrides, pumpkin picking and even the witches took time out for some candy, cupcakes and cookies too!
 
-- October 25, 2009
The month of October is nearly over and we are all well settled into the new school year. The early weeks of October, besides the normal classroom routine, were devoted to the 4th and 7th graders taking the CogAT tests and then grades 2 to 8 taking their annual IOWA exams. These standardized tests allow us to track the academic development of the children over the years.
More importantly though, the daily classroom routine has been established and the vast majority of the children did very well on their 1st Trimester Progress Reports. For those children who were experiencing some academic difficulties, teachers during the Parent-Teacher-Student Night offered them guidance on how to get academically on the right track again.
Our 8th graders are now doing their final preparations for the Catholic High School Entrance Exam which is on Saturday, October 31st. Let us all pray for their success!
Everyone else in school is eagerly looking forward to two upcoming celebrations. On Friday, October 30th we will have our Annual Pumpkin Festival and Halloween Party. For the younger children there will be hay rides, pumpkin picking and decorating, and of course lots of candy and other goodies too.
On Tuesday, November 3rd, all classroom activities will pause as we spend the day celebrating the life and work of St. Martin de Porres. All are invited to join us as we begin this day’s celebration with Mass.
For all you moms and dads, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas; we are looking forward to seeing you all at the Parents Fall Cocktail Party on Friday, November 6th.
-- October 4, 2009
September has just zipped by and so much has happened.
 On Monday, September 14th everyone from 1st grade to 8th grade traveled to KMHS for the annual Triumph of the Cross prayer service. It was a splendid late summer’s day as we gathered out in the front of the school to join the 2,500 students from KMHS in offering thanks for the wonderful gift of Jesus’ death on the cross for each one of us.
 Sunday, September 20th was the Williston Park Street Fair. Once again through the generosity of the Williston Park Chamber of Commerce we had a booth where we sold cotton candy, popcorn, water, iced tea, lemonade and soda. We also did face painting. It was lots of hard work, but a great day. We raised $1,000.00 to help support the after school program.
 The highlight of September though was the Family Mass and Back-to-School BBQ on Saturday, September 26th. Over 500 people and 37% of all of our families joined us for this fun filled evening. After Mass we all gathered in the playground and on the field for pony rides, bouncy houses, popcorn, cotton candy, hamburgers and hot dogs.
 
October was ushered in on Friday with Mass for the Feast of the Guardian Angels. This year marked the 192nd anniversary of the foundation of the Society of Mary. Fr. Chaminade began the Society on October 2, 1817. After Mass Fr. Tom blessed all of the animals which gathered for the St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals.
-- Se ptember 13, 2009
Our sixth year has gotten off to a very fine start. With nearly 450 children in the building there is lots of excitement and tons of high energy!
On Thursday, the junior high students participated in the ABC Program designed to help them get accustomed to the different style of life in junior high. In the morning they had an orientation program th at presented such topics as locker organization, how to use a lock and the proper way to use an academic planner for the 6th graders and for the 8th graders preparation for the Catholic High School Entrance Exam. After lunch they had the opportunity to go through an abbreviated day of changing classes where they got to meet each of their teachers for 10 minutes a piece.
On Friday, Fr. Tom came from KMHS to celebrate with us our back-to-school opening Mass. He encouraged us all to imitate Mary, the one full of grace and to run the race just as she did!
After Communion, the new 7th and 8th grade members of the St. Martin Honor Society were inducted. Congratulations to all of them for their academic success last year!
Tomorrow as the Pre-K and Kindergarten children return for their first day of classes, the children in grades 1 to 8 will be participating in the annual pilgrimage to KMHS for the celebration of the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross.
Good beginnings are only a sign of the many wonderful things yet to come this academic year!
-- September 5, 2009
Feast of Mary, Queen of the Apostles
We hope you are all enjoying this unofficial last weekend of the Summer! We are eagerly looking forward to the beginning of school next Wednesday!
 On Thursday, September 4th, the old sign on the front of the building finally came down and in celebration of our fifth anniversary a new sign was mounted over the entrance to the school building. The sign was crafted in the KMHS carpenter shop. Two additions yet need to be made to the sign. On one end will go the emblem of the school seal while on the other side will appear a medallion depicting the Marianist Cross. As we embark upon our sixth year, we are looking forward to providing quality Catholic education for grade school children in the Uniondale/Hempstead area for many more generations yet to come!
To read about events from the rest of the 2008 -- 2009 school year and for the events of the 2007 -- 2008 school year and the summer of 2008 go to the Photo Archive tab and scroll to the bottom of the page. Enjoy!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|