SAINT MARGARET SCHOOL
233 Spring Street
Reading, PA 19601-2121
Sister Michele Smith, IHM, Principal
Accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Since 1990
Phone: 610-375-1882
E-mail: stmargaretoffice@comcast.net
Fax: 610-376-2291
Web: http://www.smsreading.org
Dear Parent(s), Guardian(s),
It is hard to believe that we will soon begin a new year. I hope you have had a
pleasant and safe summer. As always, I am very excited about this new school
year.
We will have several changes in faculty this year. A complete list of the staff is
included in the summer mailing. Perhaps you can place a list in a prominent
place in your home so that it will be available to you.
Our school website is receiving a complete overhaul. Although it is live now, I
am still posting items to it. I am sure you will find it helpful. The school calendar
which is posted on the site will give you the opportunity to look ahead at events
so that you have more time to plan for them.
As you can imagine, we have had an extremely busy summer. It started with our
summer school/enrichment classes. Approximately forty students took
advantage of the program, which included Math, Reading and Computer Skills.
The maintenance staff has been very busy cleaning, painting, moving
classrooms, scrubbing and polishing the floors. There is still much to be done,
but I know the school will look beautiful when they are finished. This year we will
add another second grade. The new second grade will be located in the former
Aquinas Room. The Aquinas Room will move to the former Computer Room.
Miss Lonergan, our computer teacher, will teach the same Diocesan Curriculum
in the classrooms. We will purchase 80 chromebooks for use by the faculty and
students. The chromebooks will be housed in carts in the hallway on the first and
second floors. The carts will also be a way to charge the chromebooks. We
installed new wireless internet access throughout the school. The school
community will be able to access the internet from literally any place in the
building.
Students will once again purchase stationery packs from school. The stationery
packs, which were assembled by the school office, keep the cost at a minimum.
Please send cash, a check or money order to school the first day.
School Uniforms MUST be purchased from McGinn. This year, Pre-School
students are required to wear the St. Margaret gym uniform. This uniform
can be purchased from McGinn School Apparel. Feel free to call the store at
610-939-1503 for summer hours. The store accepts cash or credit cards.
The lunch program will begin on August 25th. If you are purchasing lunch tickets,
please send a check to school on the first day. Make your check payable to
Maschio’s Food. The school lunch and breakfast menu will be posted on the
school website August 1st. If you have any questions about the lunch program
you may call the school office or call Maschio’s directly. Our lunch program
meets or exceeds the federal nutrition guidelines. This year, if you are applying
for free or reduced lunch and have not done so, you will need to register online at
www.compass.state.pa.us.
There will be a new parent orientation meeting on Wednesday, August 13th at
6:30PM in the gym. Please enter the doors on Spring Street. Our first day of
school is August 25th. School begins at 8:00 and ends at 2:50. All students
should report to the gym. Pre-school and Kindergarten students should report to
their classrooms. We will have full days the first week of school. Our first school
holiday will be Friday, August 29th. School will resume Tuesday, September 2nd.
Our opening school liturgy will be on Friday, September 5th. Please join us for
11:00 Mass.
Communication folders(light blue) will be sent home the first day of school.
Please read the information, sign the envelope and return it to school on
Tuesday. The school and lunch calendars will be posted on the new school
website at www.smsreading.org beginning August 1st.
After the first week of school, communication envelopes will be sent home on
Friday and should be returned on Monday. We are trying to keep our printing
and copying costs down so only pertinent information will be copied and sent
home. Everything that you need to know will be posted online. If you do not
have access to the internet, please let the office know and we will send you
a hard copy of the information.
Students may wear the summer uniform until November 1st. Oversized clothing
is not permitted. Please refer to the uniform dress code which is enclosed. This
dress code includes acceptable hair for boys and girls. A mohawk is not
acceptable nor is any form of writing etched in the hair. Unnatural hair color is
not permitted(pink, blue, purple etc.). If you have any questions, call the school
office.
The sale of soft pretzels will begin after Labor Day. The cost for pretzels is
$8.00 for the month. The order form is enclosed. Please return it with your
payment to school the first day of school.
Our theme for this school year is “Catholic Schools: Communities of “Faith,
Knowledge and Service.” This theme encompasses several concepts at the
heart of Catholic education. First, schools are small communities, but we are
also members of the larger community of home, church, city and nation. Faith,
knowledge and service are three measures we can use to judge our school. We
will continue to develop this theme during the school year. Please continue to
reinforce this concept with your child(ren).
You can be sure of my continued prayer for you and your family. I look forward
to being of service to each of you. I hope that you will consider giving service to
our school. Anyone volunteering in school will need to complete a criminal
background check and attend the “Protecting God’s Children Class.” Please call
the school office for further information.
God bless you,
Sister Michele Smith I.H.M.