School mascot with text

St. Mary's Families,  

Saint Stephen of Mar Saba, pray for us.
- More about St. Stephen: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-stephen-of-mar-saba/   
- Daily Mass readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/033120.cfm      

Updates...
- My apologies to all the DOCTORS in our community.  I forgot to mention in the previous daily update that yesterday was NATIONAL DOCTORS DAY.  And as the father of a St. Mary's alum who is a nurse, a big shout out to all those medical professionals who are working to keep us healthy, and risking their own health to do so.  You are all appreciated.
- Parents.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will add your STUDENTS to the e-mail distribution for these daily e-mails.  I probably should have done that a while ago.  If there is something important in these e-mails for the students, and in the highly unlikely event that they don't read it themselves...  instead of reading it to them or forwarding it to them, you can just say, "Go read your e-mail."  Speaking of students:
- Video Contest results.  Announcement of FINALISTS tomorrow (Wednesday).  Announcement of winners no later than FRIDAY.  

COVID-19 coronavirus.  
- Lots of rumblings in the community about what our local, state and federal governments are going to do.  We're planning for everything, but waiting to take action until it makes sense to do so.  In the meantime, we're still looking to the CDC web site for truth data. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html    

What's Next?  
- Make sure your students are paying close attention to their teacher communications.  This is only the seventh day of distance learning and we are evolving rapidly.  There will likely be some added schedule structure and some more "live" time with teachers inserted into the distance learning program.  

How you can help
- Keep an eye peeled for your ANNUAL FUND letter.  To those of you that have already received the letter and already made a gift and/or pledge, THANK YOU.  

How are you doing?  
- Did you know that you are in the middle of an OPPORTUNITY?  The Church clings to the truth that parents have the duty and responsibility to ensure the children entrusted them by God are faithfully educated.  We are honored that you have invited St. Mary's High School to walk that education journey with you.  Your role in that education journey is more important than ever, so please take the time to experience the joyful parts of the journey.  Those of us that have St. Mary's grads who are out of the house and on their own TREASURE the time we get with those grown children.  Let's remember to take time to TREASURE the time with the children still at home.  

Did You Know?
- Words are important.  We are living in something like a quarantine right now.  The origins of the word quarantine are multifold.  The word has a French spelling (in French the word means "about forty"), with an Italian meaning (quarantena, "isolate ships to protect the port from disease"), with Latin roots (quadraginta, "forty").  The original importance of the "forty-ish-ness" of these words came from the forty days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert, and that experience of Jesus is where our tradition of the forty days of Lent comes to us.  So here we are, in the middle of the forty days of Lent, while we are also in the middle of something akin to a quarantine, which means forty days of isolation.  Just another reminder to always see with fresh eyes and recognize God's fingerprints on everything around us. (With thanks to the Merriam-Webster website)  

Prayer.  Please continue to pray with us and pray with our community:  

THE MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.

Respectfully,
Rob Rysavy
President
St. Mary's High School