ANNUAL REPORT

2011-2012

SAINT MARY SCHOOL

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CONTENTS

Principal’s Letter ……………......2

Mission and History …………..3

Good Works…………...…………..4

Academic Highlights ……....…5

Volunteers………………………….6

Annual Funds Results………....7

SAINT MARY

SCHOOL 183 HIGH RIDGE AVENUE

RIDGEFIELD, CT 06877

OUR PRINCIPALS

Dear Parents, Alumni, and Friends of

Saint Mary School,

When I am asked what is special about

Saint Mary School, and what makes us

different from other great schools, my

first answer is always the community,

the family that is SMS. Once you become a part of SMS,

you are a permanent part of our family. And we could not

do what we do without the tremendous support of each of

you. Whether you give us your time by volunteering in the

classroom, or contribute financially, or pray for our

students and teachers, each and every one of you is helping

us to achieve our mission.

This first ever Annual Report covers our achievements and

activities from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. When I reflect

back on the 2011-2012 school year, I am pleased about the

new events and programs we introduced. Our Preschool

offerings were expanded greatly, and were very well

received. We re-introduced French for all K-5 students, and

began an optional Strings Program for students in

Preschool - Grade 8. Our Middle School students gained

leadership experience by playing key parts in our first ever

Math Fair and at the end of year Carnival. We reached out

to members of our greater community with our first

Annual Young Alumni Event, and our re-introduced

Grandparents Mass.

I look forward to building on the momentum of the 2011-

2012 year, and thank you once again for all of your support!

Blessings and Peace!

Anna O’Rourke

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OUR M ISSION Our students are our mission.

Our students learn and practice our faith, ensuring that the love of God in their hearts

and souls will sustain them and remain the one constant in their ever-changing lives.

Our students are developing 21st century skills to lay the foundation for a lifetime of

learning and discovery.

Our students are supported by a community with common goals and values,

modeled in Christ. In this family atmosphere, they learn about love and compassion for

others, cultivated in service for those in need.

S a i n t M a r y S c h o o l p r o v i d e s a c a d e m i c s t o l a s t a l i f e t i m e ,

a n d f a i t h f o r a l l e t e r n i t y .

OUR H ISTORY In 1954, Saint Mary Parish purchased land on High Ridge Avenue for a school, and opened

Saint Mary School with first through third grades in temporary quarters. The new school

building, completed in 1956, was designed for 400 pupils. With an addition, it held 600

students by the late 1960’s. The school was closed due to a lack of teaching nuns in June,

1971.

After 25 years of dormancy, the Saint Mary Parish community had the courage and foresight

to reinvest in the future of our young people. In September 1996, 20 children entered

Kindergarten at the rededicated Saint Mary School. One grade was added each year, and in

2005 the first 8th grade class of the “new” Saint Mary School graduated. Those graduates

have just completed their third year of college.

Saint Mary School has achieved so much since its re-opening 15 years ago. SMS is one of the

highest performing schools in the country, and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon

Award winner. Our students are happy and thriving, with high testing performance, strong

high school and college placement, numerous academic and community service awards, and

a demonstrable commitment to Catholic values.

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OUR GOOD WORKS

Jump Rope for Heart Saint Mary students and our very generous community raised $3,275 for Jump Rope for Heart!

Our students learn and practice our faith, ensuring that the love of God in their hearts and souls will

sustain them and remain the one constant in their ever-changing lives.

Seven Service Club Bottle Drive The Seven Service Club collected uncrushed, recyclable bottles and used the proceeds from the deposit return to benefit Meals on Wheels.

SMS “Lights Up

Our School

Blue” Due to the success of “Light Up Your School Blue” SMS sent a check for

$200 to Autism Speaks!

Easter Treats for St. Peter’s Grade 5 students assembled 500 Easter bags for children in the St. Peter’s Parish with all the candy that was donated by SMS families.

El Salvador Penny Wars The El Salvador Penny Wars was created due to the thoughtfulness and compassion of three SMS students. With the help of Student Government and bottle collections, $461 was raised. This money was brought to El Salvador by a Ridgefield Nursing Student, who attends Sacred Heart University. Sacred Heart sponsors a school in El Salvador.

Talent Show at Ridgefield

Crossings The 7-Service Club visited Ridgefield Crossing and presented a mini-talent show. The production was received with great enthusiasm and gratitude!

Mens’ Hat and Gloves Drive The Seven Service Club sponsored a collection of gently used or new gloves and hats for the Dorothy Day Hospitality House.

Kindness Challenge Students participated in a Kindness Challenge during Catholic Schools week, and made chains to represent their deeds which were iden-tified by teachers and staff.

Bookshelf for Saint Peter’s Tutoring Center The SMS Student Government sponsored a Christmas themed dress down day, and used the proceeds to purchase a bookshelf for the Saint Peter’s Tutoring Center in Bridgeport. Former SMS Student Katie Jasminski collected books at

SMS and around Ridgefield for the Center as part of her Girl Scout Silver

award. She collected over 375 books.

Knights of Columbus

Thanksgiving Food Drive The SMS Student Government once again joined the Knights of Columbus in the Thanksgiving Food Drive. Food donated by SMS families was distributed to the elderly in Ballard Green and other Ridgefield and South Salem shut ins, St. Peter’s (Bridgeport) Rectory Pantry, Convent of Mary Immaculate in Bridgeport, and the Ridgefield Food Pantry.

Fourth Grade Donates Halloween Goodies The 4th grade class donated six cakes they made for their Senior Citizen party (which was cancelled due to weather) to the Dorothy Day House in Danbury. In addition, they donated Halloween Candy to Ridgefield Dentist Dr. Dana Jones to be sent to troops overseas. In appreciation, Dr. Jones gave each student a new, light up toothbrush.

Christmas Party at Congregate Housing Grade 4 students planned a Christmas Party complete with carols, games, and snacks at Congregate Housing in Ridgefield.

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OUR ACADEMIC H IGHLIGHTS

Knights of Columbus Geography Bee Saint Mary School students performed very well in the Knights of Columbus Connecticut State Geography Bee. Grade 7 student Freddy Rio came in First Place, after progressing through 16 elimination rounds! Kelly Martella, Grade 7, received Third Place, making it through 8 elimination rounds, and Clarisse Allehaut, Grade 6 came in Fifth Place, making it through four elimination rounds.

Our students are developing 21st century skills to lay the foundation for a lifetime of

learning and discovery.

SMS Honored for 2011 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge Saint Mary School was honored in Hartford along with 24 other elementary, middle, and high schools as a top performing school in the 2011 Governor’s Summer Reading Challenge. Gov-ernor Malloy presented Principal Anna O’Rourke and two students with a certificate. SMS K-Grade 5 students read a total of 2,512 books, and Grade 6-8 read a total of 97,618 pages. This is the second consecutive year that SMS has received this honor.

Grade 6 Students Published in Local Papers Mr. Alarcon’s Grade 6 Science students submitted Letters to the Editors of local papers regarding water conservation. Congratulations to Ian Ostrosky, Natalia Piwko, Veronica Galban, Colin Vecchiariello, Kaitlin Edwardson, Ben Lyons, Kerri Vecchiariello and Melissa Savoy.

St. Thomas Aquinas Award Grade 8 student Emily Spahn, was honored at the Breakfast of Champions, and received the St. Thomas Aquinas award for academics, service, and faith for Saint Mary School. The award was presented by Archbishop-elect Lori.

NASA Cassini Essay Contest SMS Middle School students participated in a NASA sponsored, Cassini Essay Contest, along with 800 students from across the country. Six of our students were honored. Matthew Giorgio was a finalist, and Kate McNicholas, Klauss Steinmann, Keri Vecchiariello, Ava Gustafson, and Jill Harrington received Honorable Mentions.

Knights of Columbus State Spelling Bee SMS Grade 6 student Veronica Galban placed Third in the Knights of Columbus Connecticut Statewide Spelling Bee! Grade 4 student Andrew Lee placed third and Grade 5 student Sofia Singer placed fourth in the Regional competition.

Knights of Columbus Essay Contest Winners Emily Spahn and Matthew Thaxter were the SMS winners of the Knights of Columbus Essay Contest this year. All SMS Grade 8 students participated. The topic was to define the role of a Catholic citizen in a free society. Matthew’s essay competed in the State Championship.

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OUR COMMUNITY OF VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are a vital part of so much

of what we do at Saint Mary School.

Listed below are some of the many

ways our families contributed their

time and talents during the 2011-2012

school year to the benefit of our

community. Thank you to all!

Annual Fund Committee

Art Show

Boxtop Coordinator

Cheerleading Coaches

Class Parents

Father Daughter Dance

Committee

HSA Board (Home School

Association)

Library Volunteers

Math Fair

Open House Ambassadors

Reading Group Leaders

SAB (School Advisory Board)

Science Enrichment

Scholastic Book Fairs

Scout Leaders

Stop and Shop A+

Coordinator

Track Coaches

Volleyball Coach

Website Design

Yearbook

Our students are supported by a community with common goals and values, modeled in Christ. In

this family atmosphere, they learn about love and compassion for others, cultivated in service for those in

need.

KELLIE ACKERMAN

BETSEY ALLEHAUT

SHERRY ANANDAPPA

LAURA ARNOLD

NORMA BERNARD

ALISON BROWN

BUD BROWN

AMY BRUCE

PATRICE BUTALA

PATTI CAPILLI

LESLIE CHIODI

CATHLEEN DEPUY

MARYELLEN DONOVAN

SEAN DONOVAN

BRIAN DOUGLAS

AMY DOWDING

DANIELLE EDWARDSON

SCOTT EDWARDSON

CAROL ANN GALBAN

MARY GILLESPIE

MARCIA GIORGIO

ANNE GREENLEAF

LISA GUSTAFSON KRATTER

JOHN HANTAK

KRIS HANTAK

WENDY HARCO

DANIELLE HARRINGTON

PETER HARRINGTON

JENNIFER JASMINSKI

ROBERT JASMINSKI

CINDY JEFFRIES

DON KAGER

MARY BRIDGET KAGER

JULIE KIMBROUGH

KATHLEEN KORNEK

ROULA LEE

LOURDES MAISONNET

COLLEEN MARTELLA

MARGARET MARTIN

LISY MARTINEZ

TOM MCNICHOLAS

VERONICA MCNICHOLAS

CLAUDIA MCVAY

DEVIN MEENAN

KATHLY MEENAN

PATTY MIDDLEBROOK

CARMEN MILLER

STEVE MILLER

JENNIFER MITCHELL

STACEY MULLINS

CHRISTINE MURPHY

CARLA MURPHY

LAURA O’HANLON

JOHN PAINTER

DIANE PINIELLA

RAY PINIELLA

CINDY RIO

VIVIAN ROBERT

PAMELA SIMONEAU

JENNIFER SLOVINSKI

MICHELLE SMITH

CHRISTOPHER SPAHN

GINA SPAHN

MICHELLE STEEN

LEILA STUHR

JOHN SZEWCZUK

KATE TAYLOR

MIKE TAYLOR

DIANE TERZIS

JEANNETTE THOMPSON

CINDY WHITEHOUSE

Interested in Volunteering?

Please contact HSA President Stacey

Mullins at mullinss@smsridgefield.org to

learn more.

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MAKING A

DIFFERENCE

2011-2012 ANNUAL FUND

We appreciate each and every gift made to the 2011-2012

Annual Fund, as each one contributes to our mission and

impacts the faith, learning, and community that is Saint

Mary School. Each of you is truly making a difference!

ANGEL SOCIETY

(GIFTS OF $5,000+) Anonymous

Mr. Patrick Brown and Ms. Mary

Gillespie

The Gram Family

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Edwardson

Mr. and Mrs. Wally Martinez

Mackenzie, Liam and Colin Mullins

Mr. and Mrs. George Samenuk

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Spahn

General Electric Foundation

Wells Fargo Foundation

BLUE RIBBON SOCIETY

(GIFTS OF $2,500 - $4,999) Anonymous (4)

Mr. and Mrs. Stefan Abbruzzese

Mr. and Mrs. Bud Brown

Mr. and Mrs. John Butala

Mr. and Mrs. Sean Donovan

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Eckardt

Dr. Carol Ann Galban

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Linekin

PRINCIPAL’S CIRCLE

(GIFTS OF $1,000 - $1,499) Anonymous (2)

Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Bell

Mr. and Mrs. Flor Brosnan

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Martin

Mr. and Mrs. John Mitchell

PEPSICO Foundation

GUARDIAN CIRCLE

(GIFTS OF $500 - $999) Anonymous (7)

Mr. and Mrs. Benoit Allehaut

Mr. Christopher Butz and Ms. Lourdes

Maisonet

Mr. and Mrs. Peter DiFabio

Mr. and Mrs. John Gasparrini

Mr. and Mrs. John Hantak

Mr. and Dr. Robert Hemley

Mr. and Mrs. Mark Piazza

Mr. and Mrs. Scott Robert

Mr. and Mrs. John Spera

Mr. and Mrs. James Sutton

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Thompson

Valerie Ann Luff Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Stuhr

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Taylor

CHAMPION SOCIETY

(GIFTS OF $1,500 - $2,499) Anonymous

Mr. Peter Alessi and Ms. Julie

Kimbrough

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Bonanni

Mr. and Mrs. James Bruce

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Chapleau

Mr. and Mrs. Robert DeGennaro

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Douglas

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Dowding

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Giorgio

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Harrington

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jasminski

Mr. and Mrs. John May

Mr. and Mrs. Lynn McVay

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Menapace

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Piniella

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Simoneau

Mr. and Mrs. David Whitehouse

Macy’s Foundation

TIAA-CREF

FROM THE ANNUAL FUND CHAIRMAN On behalf of the entire Saint Mary School community, thank you for your support. During the 2011-2012 school year, parents, staff, alumni, and

friends contributed $149,000. Additionally, we met our goal of increasing participation in the SMS Annual Fund with 75% of K-8 families contributing.

Your generous donations ensure the viability and sustainability of the school and advance the spiritual, moral, intellectual, and physical development of

all students.

The SMS Annual fund is the cornerstone of all fund raising for the School. Proceeds from the Fund are an essential component of the school's budget,

used for a variety of key operating expenses, capital expenditures, annual staff appreciation awards and future reserves. As part of our mission to make a

high quality Catholic education accessible to all, we strive to keep our tuition affordable and we offer significant financial assistance to those in need.

Therefore, we rely on the Annual Fund as a crucial component of our annual budget. I am encouraged by our continued fundraising progress and excited

about expanding the breadth and depth of our efforts during the 2012-2013 school year.

Thank you again for your generous support.

Scott Edwardson

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Ms. Kathy Backus

Mrs. Cathy Betesh

Mrs. Julie Buttrick

Ms. Cate Carroll

Ms. Catherine DaCruz

Mrs. Karen Fahey

Mr. Daniel Fox

Mrs. Pam Gismondi

Mrs. Lisa LeFebvre

Ms. Amanda Johnson

Ms. Jennifer Gallo

Ms. Jennifer Kasinskas

Mrs. Jody Lampasso

Mrs. Doreen Lodigiani

Mrs. Jean Lombardo

Mrs. Elizabeth Manno

Mrs. Andrea Mead

Mrs. Pam Moffat

Ms. Donna Montalto

Ms. Elizabeth Nesbitt

Mrs. Jessica O’Connell

Mrs. Anna O’Rourke

Mrs. Ann O’Leary

Mrs. Mary Ann Petrone

Mr. Michael Quinn

Mrs. Anne Marie

Richards

Mrs. Robin Rohrmann

Ms. Jennifer Santangelo

Ms. Natalie Schleisman

Mrs. Joanne Seavy

Mrs. Linda Silvers

Mrs. Mary Spera

Mrs. Nancy Szilagyi

Mrs. Debbie Tropsa

2 011-2012 Annual Fund Leadership ANNUAL FUND CHAIRMAN Scot t Edwardson PASTOR Msgr . Bronkiewicz PRINCIPAL Anna O’Rourke SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD Ray P inie l la - Cha ir Sean Donovan Br ian Doug las Scot t Edwardson Don Kager Dev in Meenan S tacey Mul l ins - HSA Cha ir Le i la S tuhr Mike Tay lor PARENT CLASS LEADERS PRESCHOOL John Hantak Chr i s topher Spahn KINDERGARTEN Ju l ie K imbroug h GRADE 1 S tacey Mul l ins GRADE 2 Amy Dowding GRADE 3 Le i la S tuhr GRADE 4 Danie l le Edwardson GRADE 5 Joe Murphy GRADE 6 Tom McNicho las GRADE 7 Ray P inie l la GRADE 8 Peter Harr ington

BENEFACTOR CIRCLE

(GIFTS OF $250 - $499) Anonymous (3)

Mr. and Mrs. Todd Ackerman

Mrs. Joan Driscoll

Dr. and Mrs. Steve Giannoutsos

Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gomez

Mrs. and Mrs. John Greenleaf

Mr. and Mrs. David Jarcho

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kager

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Lee

Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Moore

Mr. and Mrs. Mark O’Hanlon

Ms. Kirsten Salley

Mr. and Mrs. Steven Slovinski

Mr. and Mrs. Gene Staudt

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Steen

Morgan Stanley Foundation

UBS Foundation

Verizon Foundation

BLUE AND WHITE CIRCLE

(GIFTS OF $100 - $249) Anonymous (5)

Mr. and Mrs. Serge Bernard

Ms. Kathleen Budzik

Mr. and Mrs. Felix Cacciato

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Cuesta

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher DeVenuti

Mr. and Mrs. David Dwortz

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Egan

Mr. and Mrs. David Isaac

Mr. and Mrs. Konstantine

Karloutsos

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Kristan

Mr. and Mrs. David Kulo

Ms. Megan McCaughey

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Miller

Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Miller

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Murphy

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Neumann

Mr. and Mrs. James O’Rourke

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Ostrosky

Mr. and Mrs. John Painter

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rio

Mr. and Mrs. Rajat Sarup

Mr. and Mrs. John Szewczuk

Mr. and Mrs. David Thaxter

Dr. and Dr. George Uy

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Verilli

Mr. and Mrs. Yuwen Wang

Mr. and Mrs. Evan Zuckert

Hill Pet Nutrition, Inc.

Honeywell International

PENGUINS CIRCLE

(GIFTS OF $50 - $99) Anonymous (2)

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas LeFebvre

Mr. and Mrs. Philip Murphy

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pierelli

Mr. and Mrs. Terrence Sullivan

Ms. Barbara Tuccio

Ms. Janet Yanity

FRIENDS

(GIFTS OF $1- $49) Anonymous

Mrs. Leslie Chiodi

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Couri

Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hill

Dr. Nicole Gabriel

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Treschitta

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Weiskopf

STAFF AND FACULTY GIFTS

Mr. Patrick Alarcon

Mrs. Cindy Altman

HOW TO GIVE TO SMS

Please make check payable to SMS Annual Fund, and send

to

Saint Mary Annual Fund

183 High Ridge Avenue

Ridgefield, CT 06877

Or, visit www.smsridgefield.org / Support SMS and click the “Make a Gift” button to make an on-line donation.