Chloe Gardner
Kealy Fogarty
Lauren Demchak
Chris Bujak
Robert Newman III
Libby Isherwood

Second Honors:

Ethan Gould
Devin Murphy
Alexa Maeder
Amy Weber
Jason Beede
Jack Behmke
Conner Chaney
Marie de La Burgade
Mikayla Gill
Isabella Gukeisen
Evelyn Shield
Isabel Valdez
Caitlyn Wilkerson
Morgan Denhart
Hannah Leen
Daniel Vera
Brooke Wood
Megan Correa
Francesca Garcia
Samantha Hoeffer
Chloe Savoie

The school campus is alive with music, rides, food, and games as the annual St. Mary’s Carnival in place. Come out and enjoy the activities.

Registration is taking place for Pre K 3 – 8th Grade. Call 294-1031 for information.

We have reached the mid-year point in our volunteer hours program, and I would like to share some results with you. While we have had some great success stories (over 1250 hours equaling almost $25000.00), we  are experiencing significant short falls.

Quite a few of you have not managed any hours so far, and we need your help. As you already know it costs approximately $8000.00 to educate your child. This is significantly higher than the tuition your paying which is why we have asked your help in offsetting the cost. If you can volunteer a minimum of 20 hours, that would equal $400.00 per family. We know that our parents work (some more than one job) in order to live in “paradise”, and therefore can’t volunteer. Here’s a suggestion which some parents have already done: Write a check for $400.00 and send it in!

Then there is the issue of those of you who are on extended tuition assistance. Some of you are working like wild bringing your balance down every month. This ,of course, is absolutely marvelous! However, there are some of you who have done nothing at all. Please be aware of the fact that this will factor in if you seek assistance next year.

It ‘s not too late to get your hours in. We have several large events planned for the coming months, which will require a great deal of help on your parts!!!

We’re all in this together in providing a solid Catholic education for your child. We’re just asking all of you for your help as we go into the second half of this year and plan to “keep the doors open” for next year!

There is a very important PTSA meeting this coming Thursday, February 25 at 6:00PM in the cafeteria to line up volunteers for the school carnival; a golden opportunity for you to get involved. I will be happy to discuss any part of this letter with you and to get you signed up.

Another big fund raiser for April is a benefit performance by Harry Schroeder and the Key West Jazz Collective, “Ellington Under the Stars”. Again, we need volunteers for ticket sales and crowd control.

 Sincerely yours in Education,

 Bro. Bud Luks, SM

We are so excited about the upcoming Carnival on school grounds from March 11 – 14^th.  This is going to be a huge city-wide event and tremendous fundraiser for our school. 

We need your help in the following ways:

Pick up a poster in the school office and hang it at your business or a business where you think everyone in the city will see it.  We need to get the word out.

 Attend the PSTA meeting next Thursday February 23^rd at 6:00 for information about the Carnival and other important PTSA upcoming business. Child care available in the gym with Ms. Katie. $2 per child.

 Sign up to work the Carnival.  IT IS SO MUCH FUN.  The teachers in your child’s classroom will be assigning a room parent to coordinate your class participation.  WE NEED ALL PARENTS TO HELP WITH THIS EVENT.  It spans four days and there are many ways in which you can help out, from set-up, selling tickets, preparing and serving food to parking monitors, security and clean up.  There will also be sign-up sheets in the office at school.

 This carnival used to be a city-wide event and we now basically own it!  Never before have we had the opportunity to make so much money on a single event and it can only happen with your help.  AND THE KIDS LOVE BEING THERE…..ALL WEEKEND.  Let’s show this town who and what we at Mary Immaculate can do for our school and our community.  COME TO THE CARNIVAL.  HELP WITH THE CARNIVAL. 

Don’t Forget – The Knights of Columbus are sponsoring their annual Lenten Fish Dinners. They will be held every Friday of Lent from 4:30 to 7:30 in the cafeteria on Windsor Lane.

Adults:  $10.00  Children:  $5.00

Menu:  All You Can Eat Fish (Broiled or Fried), Black Beans and Rice, Cole Slaw, Conch Fritters, Desserts, and Beverages!

All proceeds to benefit Mary Immaculate School.  Please come out and support this worthy cause and enjoy a delicious meal!

Each class can help with the event by providing baked goods as well as clean up help at the end. 

Assigned Classes for HELP

Feb. 19 Pre K 3 and 4 
Feb. 26  1 and 2 
March 5 Grade 5 & 6 
March 12  K 
March 19  Gr. 3 & 7 
March 26  Gr. 4 & 8

Please come out and help with this fundraising event.  All proceeds from the Fish Frys comes directly to our school.

THANKS KNIGHTS!

Clean out your “good old stuff”  and drop it off at the Auditorium for the FLEA MARKET-YARD SALE to be held on Saturday March 6th from 8:00am to 2:00pm.

We will be having an indoor FLEA MARKET in the auditorium.   Don’t want to have a yard sale at your house, pay only $30 for the day and show your wares.

If you  want to sell your goods or know anyone who wants to display their wares please contact Tara Wood @ (797) 9225.

Please drop off any “good items”, Monday – Friday between 9:00am -2:00pm at the front steps of the auditorium. Last day to drop off items is Wednesday March 3rd.  If you have large  items such as furniture to donate please contact us and we can come and get it.  We are also looking for volunteers for the day of the event.  Please come out and help make this fundraiser a success.

 The Silent Auction, organized and run by Robin Beede, saw over 300 items donated.  The auction included everything from a sailboat to dinners, trips, dresses, jewelry, fishing supplies, and much more.   A special thank you to Rodger Levering for his contributions. 

 The music rocked the gym!  Music man, Henry Fuller, keep the bands coming!  Paul Cotton, former member of 60’s band Poco, was especially popular.  Dancing children delighted everyone with their “moves!”

 Words can not express the appreciation to each of you for your part in selling tickets, decorating, cooking and prep, cleaning up, serving, baking, advertising, turning in items for the Silent Auction, and all that you did as parents to support the education of your child. 

 We would also like to share with you some exciting new news.  The funding has been made available by a very generous donation, to allow us to hire someone who will work with students with special needs and gifted students.  Our teachers have identified this need within our school and are very happy at the possibilities this added service will provide.

Every family receives tuition assistance as the cost of tuition does not come close to covering the actual cost of educating each child.  Without the fund-raising efforts there would be no Mary Immaculate Star of the Sea School.  The school has grown this year and I am sure that it will grow even more in years to come.  The academics at Mary Immaculate excel. The standardized tests scores confirm this excellence.  The teachers are the BEST available and the most cohesive and dedicated staff I have ever worked with.  They are professional and give each child the attention they need to support their potential.

The Guidance Department has welcomed back Dr. Debbie Lippi. Dr. Lippi provides that “extra listening ear” for students that are in need.  Julia Orofino returned to enhance the Physical Education department.  Father John Baker, Deacon Peter Batty, and our beloved Sisters teach religion and guide us spiritually as we walk down our path of life.

 In closing, the parent participation in the school is extraordinary.  Keep coming! We need you and we welcome your help and imput. If you have not gotten in all the service hours you need for the year, the Carnival is coming up March 11^th – March 14^th.  Linda Shield is our coordinator and can use your help in many ways.  Check out our website soon for upcoming sign up sheets.

10 Pigs, 10 Bands and a 100+ Auction Items!

Saturday February 6th is our 3rd annual Rock n’ Roast fundraiser. For those who weren’t with us last year, this is a fun and profitable event for our school. We’ll have great music, a fabulous Pork Roast dinner as well as Roasted Chicken, Squash, Vegetable Medley and all the fixin’s prepared by Chef Correa from Cafe Sole. We’ll also have a 50/50 raffle and a huge Silent Action with well over 100 items. New this year are some great Sports Memorabilia items and Travel Vacation packages. The complete Silent Auction item list can be found HERE.

We are asking for all families to prepare a dessert for the event. Please bring it in on Friday to school or on Saturday to the event.  We also need volunteers to assist.  Please sign up in the office or call Cindy at 294-1031.

For more information please contact event coordinators; John Correa at 395-8770, or Robin Beede at 304-7451.

And, 7th grader Robert Newman was the winner of this year’s design contest.  Robert’s Rock ‘n’ Roast design will be featured on all on all printouts, advertising and T-shirts.  Way to go Robert!!

Thanks to all and see ya Saturday!

Check out pictures from Rock ‘n’ Roast 2009