St. Mary's High School Signal weekly newsletter

smpirates.org / Feb. 24, 2023

Weather/Sports/School Closure Text Notifications

If you would like to receive texts that the school sends out about weather and sports, please send an email to Mrs. Cichon (jcichon@smhscs.org) with your name and cell phone number. 

2023 Yearbooks & Parent Ads - DEADLINE Moved to March 18

The 2023 yearbook is now on sale at the following site:

https://www.jostens.com/apps/s...

Parents who wish to personalize their child's yearbook can go to the above Jostens' site and choose the link for Yearbook Recognition Ads. After creating an account, they then can create the ad using the tools in that menu. Parent ads must be submitted by Feb. 10. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Kavanaugh, mkavanaugh@smhscs.org.

The Annual Raffle is Underway

Students, please keep track of your raffle tickets and get them sold. The next drawing for students who have sold at least 25 tickets will be on March 3rd. Winners will receive a lunch of their choice and Dutch Bros delivered to them at school. Please return sold ticket stubs, funds, and parent acknowledgement sheets to the business office.

SMHS Gala 2023, Parent Volunteer Hours

Do you need volunteer hours? Are you interested in helping with the Gala on April 15 at The Antlers? Please come share your ideas and help us plan! We will meet at 7:30 am (zero hour) on Tuesday, February 21 in the "Old Business Office'' next to the Counseling Center. No need to sign up; just show up! Please contact Ramon Falt with any questions (rfalt@smhscs.org).

St. Peter Catholic Church (Monument):  A Radical Ride on the Wings of Prayer
June 19-23
8:45 am-12:00 pm daily
Parish Ministry Center
Registration deadline is April 30.
Spots will fill quickly - sign up today!

Would you like to volunteer? Register at the following links.
VBS Registration
VBS Volunteer Registration

For more information, contact Jilinda Dygert (jilinda.dygert@petertherock.org).

FREE SAT Prep Course 

FREE SAT PREP course is being offered at SMHS by Ms. Charity Peak, an educational consultant with the company Class101. The training will be held in the Cove on Saturday, March 11, 9:00 am to Noon. Please register for the event, so we know how many to plan for at: https://go.thryv.com/site/clas...  Remember to bring a calculator!

Junior Parent College Information Night 

There will be a junior parents College Information Night on Monday, March 20th from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm in the Cove. Parents, this will be a very informative presentation by Mr. Baxter and a college admission representative to answer all your questions about the admissions process.

RMACAC Spring College Fair, Saturday, March 4

All students are invited to attend the city-wide college fair on March 4 from 9:00-11:30 am.

Pine Creek High School 
10750 Thunder Mountain Ave
Colorado Springs, 80908

For more information and to register, please click here

Senior Scholarship Opportunities

The Kinnikinnik Chapter of the National Society DAR will be awarding a $1,500 scholarship to a Pikes Peak area high school senior. The application deadline is March 24. Students may pick up an application from Mr. Baxter in the Counseling Center.

The Colorado Council Volunteerism/Community Service Scholarship is now available.  This $1,500 scholarship will be awarded to students who have shown extraordinary service to their community. Follow the link to apply: https://www.coloradocouncil.or.... Deadline is March 1.

Current 10, 11, and 12 Grade Students Interested in Healthcare

Memorial Hospital is excited to announce that our Junior Medical School (JMS) program is back! JMS is a 4-day, immersive program designed to give your students a full view of the many different aspects of a healthcare career. From physicians to nurses, from rehab to palliative care, students will be exposed to professionals from their field to hear about what the job entails, the educational requirements, and the “typical day.” The program offers roundtable discussions, hands-on activities, department tours, and other engaging sessions to expand students’ understanding of the hospital environment. Please see or email Eric Baxter, SMHS Counselor, for more information and how to apply - ebaxter@smhscs.org

Attention Seniors: “Best & Brightest”

The Gazette recognizes the "Best & Brightest" seniors in the Colorado Springs region each year.  Applications will be reviewed for academic achievements and intellectual curiosity, outstanding character, evidence of leadership and community involvement. Go to https://gazettecharities.org/b... for more information and to download the application. The deadline is March 17.

Junior Students: College Visit Opportunity

Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania is offering a free fly-in program to visit their campus in the fall.  For more information please follow the link: https://www.swarthmore.edu/adm...

Please notify Mr. Baxter by the end of February if you would like to be nominated for the program.

UCCS GenCyber Day, Thursday, March 16

UCCS is assisting Tennessee Tech University in getting the word out on a full-day GenCyber Cybersecurity Camp for high school students. This is an amazing and engaging way to show high school students just how cool cybersecurity is, especially in light of the endless education and career opportunities.

 Here’s a quick rundown for GenCyber Day at WiCyS 2023:

  1. When: Thursday, March 16, 2023: 8:15am to 2:30pm

  2. Location: Gaylord of the Rockies

  3. Cost: Free

  4. For more information, CLICK HERE

  5. To register, CLICK HERE.  NOTE: Registration is limited to the first 120 students!  

Volunteer Opportunity, Catholic Charities Shamrock Shindig, Friday, March 17

8 to 10 SMHS volunteers have been requested for one shift from 5:30 - 9:00 pm. Dinner will be provided. Duties include greeting, check-in assistance, live auction assistance (scribes/runners). No silent auction this year. Dress code: white shirt and black pants.

Cheyenne Mountain Resort
3225 Broadmoor Valley Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Below is the link each individual must submit before volunteering. Once Catholic Charities receives or confirms applications, they will send more detailed instructions to the volunteer for the evening.

Catholic Charities/Marian House Group Member Application

Two of the questions included in the application are listed below:

“Please select your church/community group/company/military affiliation. If not included in the pick list please select “Other or Not Applicable”

→ Please select:  St. Mary’s High School 

“If you are registering for a prearranged group activity, please select it. If not listed, please email us at Volunteer@CCharitiesCC.org to let us know.” 

→ Please select: 2023-03-17 SMHS Shamrock Shindig Volunteer 5:30pm to 9:00 pm

Student Volunteer Opportunity, St. Paul Catholic Church ‘Parents Night Out’ 

St. Paul Catholic Church is hosting a Parents Night Out event on March 4 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm, and they are looking for volunteers! If you are interested or available to help out with this event, please sign up here - https://www.signupgenius.com/g…

All teen volunteers must have a parental consent form signed along with a quick training session before the event. 

If you have any questions - please contact Allison Reida in the Parish Office: areida@stpaulcos.org or 719-219-2710.

ACE Financial Assistance

ACE Financial Assistance applications for the 2023-2024 school year opened on Monday, February 6th at 9 am MT and will remain open through tax day, Tuesday, April 18 at 10:59 pm MT.

 The ACE Scholarships Colorado 2023-2024 Application is completed using your FACTS account used to apply for St. Mary’s High School Financial Assistance.

For more information, please click here

Sports Games, Feb. 24 - Mar. 3

Please come out in support of our many wonderful sports teams!

SPRING SPORTS START - Monday, February 27

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @smhscscolorado for the latest information!