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SMMAS Weekly News: August 24th - 28th

Greetings Spartan Families!

We are so excited that tomorrow is the day we will all be back together again! Teachers and staff cannot wait to hear the stories of summer adventures, to see how much the students have grown, and to feel the energy that comes when our community gathers together. There is so much to look forward to this year - we are so glad you are here!

Today we held a special ceremony for our new Middle School Team. Faculty and staff gathered as they officially cut the ribbon on their first SMMAS classrooms. We are so grateful to have such positive, creative, and talented educators on our team.

The 2026-2027 SMMAS Middle School Team

Weekly Schedule for August 24th - 28th:

Wednesday - First Day of School!

Thursday - Spartan Spirit Day - wear a Spirit shirt or PE shirt with your uniform bottoms.

Friday - First School Mass - sweaters are not required. Students need to wear white tops with their uniform bottoms.

.Important School Information:

Back to School Night is Thursday, September 10th, 2026 for Grades 1-8 from 6-8 pm. Stay tuned - a detailed schedule will be posted soon.
School Picture Day is Thursday, September 10th, 2026 @ 8:00 am. Information will be sent home in the last week of August.
Music Under the Stars is Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th. This is the annual Parish Fundraiser, and we hope you can join us. Raffle Tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 (Pay for 4 and get 1 free!). You can purchase tickets after Mass, at the Church office, and at the school office starting August 27th, 2026. More details to come. SMMAS will be hosting the Children's Area again! We will definitely need some help!

As per California State Law, all incoming 7th Graders must have their TDAP vaccine. Please provide a copy to the office before the start of the school year. For more information or if you would like to learn more about California school immunization requirement, please visit the Shots For Schools website.

2026-2027 SMMAS School Calendar

Click here to view the school calendar for the upcoming year. This is a work in progress right now, but all holidays and student-free days have been added. As planning progresses and dates are confirmed, we will update the calendar.

Did you know that you can subscribe to the calendar and get all dates synced with your personal calendar? Just click "SUBSCRIBE" on the calendar page so that you never miss a date!

Back To School Cartoon Illustration, School Clipart, Cartoon ...

August 26th, 2026

SMMAS First Day of School

Important Information & Reminders for the First Day of School:

1. The Eshelman Gate will be open by 6:45 am.

2. Morning Care is available from 7:00 am - 7:30 am.

*The Drop-In Rate for Morning Care is $5 per day.
Students can come in the front door and head to 8th Grade.

3. 7:30 am - Students can line up with their classes.

Take a photo by our fun backdrop to commemorate the first day!

4. Supply Drop-off - Please place supplies on the tables labelled with your child's grade. We will deliver the supplies to the classroom AFTER the morning assembly.

5. 7:45 am - We will begin the morning assembly and welcome our students, families, and friends back to school.

Father Long will give a special blessing for the new school year.
We will recognize and celebrate August birthdays as part of our first day assembly.
Student Council will help lead the daily prayers.
We will welcome our new families!
Mrs. Raad will lead the blessing of the backpacks.

6. Welcome Back, Parents!

Parents are invited to stay and enjoy some coffee and light refreshments in the Grotto.
This is a great opportunity to meet other families in our school.

7. This week we are getting back into the swing of things and as such, all days are half days (7:45 am - 12:30 pm).

8. After School Care is available Wednesday- Friday from 12:30 pm - 6:00 pm.

Mrs. Rita Flores will run the after-school program.
You can pick up the kids from the TK Classroom/lunch tables.
After-school Care rates will continue at $10 per hour; students do not get checked in until 3:15pm. Families will pay monthly. More information and details will come in the Blue Folders.

NOTE: Blue Folders (Family Communication) will go home on Friday this week only. Monday will continue to be the day the Blue folders are typically sent home.

NOTE: Students can bring their supplies on the first day of school. Please drop your items on the lunch tables; the tables will be labelled with the grade levels. The supplies will be delivered to the classroom after the morning assembly.

SMMAS Drop-off & Pick-up Procedures

PLEASE do not use your cell phone during drop-off and pick-up times. A lot is going on, AND we want everyone to arrive at school safely.

IN THE MORNING:

The Eshelman Gate will open by 6:45 am on school mornings.
Students may line up with their classes at 7:30am.
Please enter and drive slowly onto the lot, carefully paying attention to the driving lanes that will take you around the basketball courts. Note: Be mindful of our Christian Service volunteers who are already supporting our community.
There are two lanes:
- Use the left lane to turn before the crosswalk and find parking.
- Use the right lane to enter the drop-off zone in front of the barricades.
If you are parking and walking your student to their class:
- Please use the crosswalk to walk over to the school area.
- Walk your student to their class line.
- Students wait with their friends; they should be standing in line and not running around.
- Parents please gather behind the classes.
- When leaving for your day, use the crosswalk to return to your vehicle.
- Exit the lot through the 255th street gate.
If you are dropping off your student:
- Please move as far down the drop off zone as possible.
- Students should exit the vehicle from the right side so they do not enter the left lane where traffic is moving.
- Students should have their belongings with them when they exit, and they can move directly to their class lines.
- Students wait with their friends; they should be standing in line and not running around.
- Exit the lot through the 255th street gate.

NOTE: SMMAS Staff will be on the yard to supervise at 7:30 am.

7:45 Morning Assembling begins.
The Eshelman gate will close at 7:50 am.

IN THE AFTERNOON:

The Eshelman gate will open at 2:30 pm.
Please enter and drive slowly onto the lot, carefully paying attention to the driving lanes that will take you around the basketball courts.
There are two lanes:
- Use the left lane to find parking, in front of Christian Service, or in the lower lot.
- Use the right lane to enter the pickup zone in front of the barricades. **Keep the crosswalk area "clear".
If you are parking and will be picking up your student:
- Please use the crosswalk to walk over to the Parent Area( beside crosswalk.)
- Wait for your student to be dismissed and released by their teacher.
- They will walk over to you. Please do not join the classes or walk behind the classes. Stay in the parent area and your student will walk to you.
- Use the crosswalk to return your car. Pay attention to Mr. McCullagh's signals.
- Exit through the 255th Street gate.
If you are picking up your student:
- Drive carefully on the yard and pay attention to the signals from Mr. McCullagh in the crosswalk zone.
- Move your car as far as you can in the pick-up line when you are waved forward.
- Mrs. Becker will call out the family names.
- Students will walk to the cars and get into the car on the right-hand side. (Please move car seats to make this happen; we do not want students walking around vehicles to get in, as this moves them into traffic.)
- Please avoid stopping for your student in the middle of the lane; move forward so that we can keep the car line moving smoothly.
- Once your student is in your vehicle with their seatbelt on, please exit using the 255th Street gate.

Check out the map below!

Are you following us on Social Media? Please check out our Facebook Page at Smms_Spartans.

2026-2027 Spirit Wear is coming soon!

We have been working on a few new designs and merchandise.

We will have information for you soon.

Every Thursday is Spirit Day!

(Note: Jogathon shirts can be used for Spirit Days.)

PARENT SERVICE OPPORTUNITY - Keep checking the Spartan Family Space (under the Parents tab) for volunteer opportunities. I will always send an email when new opportunities are posted. Thank you in advance for your support of our school!

REMINDER - all parent volunteers must be fingerprinted with ADLA and have current Virtus certification on file to give service with student activities. Check out Spartan Family Space page for more information. We will be hosting two Virtus classes this fall:

September 15 - Keeping the Promise Alive (Recertification Class)

October 15 - Protecting God's Children (Original Certification)

To register for a class, please call the school office @ 310-326-9494.

ADLA Fingerprinting Opportunity:

October 17th - SMM Room (Please call the Church office at 31-326-3364 to make an appointment.

Let's go, Spartans! Faith Forward in service, action, and academic excellence!

"We walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7