Summer has begun. Thank you for making the 2020-2021 school year a success. The rules for Indiana School Choice Scholarship are changing to include more families! Submit your 1040 today to j.sinkovic@smsindy.org. It can be a scan or picture of your 1040 with the adjusted gross income.
Please continue reading to find out what academic improvements St. Monica is making for the new school year.
Tuition Statements
We will send out tuition statements at the beginning of July. With the new School Choice Scholarship changes, many more families will qualify in the future for this benefit and that may affect this year’s tuition in the form of scholarships. Send us your tax return today. If you have questions, please contact Mrs. Sinkovic at j.sinkovic@smsindy.org.
Report Cards
Final report cards will be sent through Harmony by Friday afternoon. We are migrating to Powerschool, a new and more functional student management system. No student data will be available from June 20th through August 5th.
Professional Development & Additional Title 1 Teacher
We have hired a new staff member for training and resources to be developed and implemented for staff to impact student success for the 2021-2022 school year in the following areas: classroom environment, culturally responsive pedagogy, differentiation, creating authentic assessments, and parent engagement.
Shawnta S. (Shawn-tay) S. Barnes is a married mother of identical twin boys. She is an education consultant for Blazing Brilliance LLC, an adjunct college professor, an education writer and editor-in-chief for Indy K12, hosts the podcast Brazen Education, and moderates Indianapolis Recorder’s EdGems. Previously, she has served as a school administrator, English teacher, English learners teacher, literacy coach, and librarian.
Shawnta is a member of the Washington Township Community Coalition, IUPUI Committee on Teacher Education, and the IDOE Cultural Competency Advisory Council. Previously, she served on the IPS Superintendent Advisory Council and was an executive board member of The STEM Connection. She participated in the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs Writing grades 6-12 Bias and Sensitivity Review, the IDOE ESSA Students Supports Technical Working Group, and served as a Teach Plus Policy Fellow.
Shawnta was also the winner of the 2019 Indiana Black Expo Excellence in Education Journalism Award and was a Hubbard Life-Changing Teacher Award Semi-Finalist.
In her spare time, she is an urban gardener and writes about her harvest to table journey at www.gardenershicole.com. To learn more about Shawnta, visit www.educatorbarnes.com.
Middle School Math for 2021
This Fall we are partnering with Marian University's Residency program to offer a resident and additional teacher for our 6th & 7th grade math classes. The team’s professional development will be focused on data driven individualized growth. Caleb Hernandez and Audrey Wilcox will be able to provide small groupings and more aggressive focus on state standards. Mrs. Adams will still be teaching our advanced classes and our partnership with Cardinal Ritter for Algebra 2 & Geometry will not change. If you would like more information, please schedule a time to meet with Mr. Schommer, e.schommer@smsindy.org
Writing Enhancements for 2021
We are adopting a new writing program to be implemented in the 2nd through 8th grade this Fall. Empowering Writers will enable our students to master writing standards across various subjects and domains. Professional development for our staff will begin prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year.
Staff Changes
This has been a challenging year for all of us and a more difficult year to say goodbye to some of our staff. Please keep the following staff members in your prayers and they continue their best fit journey: Paula Koval, Laurie Fischer, Sara Hammer, Mikaela Strahm, Gina Bidmead, Ted Bourke, Dyllan Kalnajs, Tim Bush, and Susan Rose. They have all made an impact on our students and will be missed.
We would like to welcome our new Middle School Language Arts teacher, Lizzy Hackl, who brings a strong background in writing and culturally diverse literature experience. In addition, we would like to introduce you to your new Marian Universty Middle School Math team Caleb Hernandez and Audry Wilcox. They will be teaming up to provide targetted insturction for your 6th and 7th grade math students.
Lindsey Scott has accepted the role of Middle School Religion teacher as well as Saint awareness throughout the school. Kaitlyn Stratemeier has accepted a second grade teaching position and brings with her a plethora of differentiated instructional startegies as well as a keen sense of student social emotional awareness. She is joined in second grade by Monica Eaton.
We Need Your Help All Summer in the Garden
No gardening skills necessary. Come to support our community. This is a great time for individuals and families. We will use the same SignUp Genius link all season. We will work 1-2 days during the week and on weekends. Dates will be added to the sign-up every week so check back often. If your family can help water this summer please contact Melanie Kuester at peteandmelanie.kuester@gmail.com.
Summer Reading Program at the Library
CLICK HERE for information on the Marion County Summer Reading Program.
CYO HELP REQUIRED
St. Monica Parents,
It has been my absolute pleasure to serve as Athletic Director for the past 3 years. I strongly believe being involved in extracurricular activities such as sports have a lasting positive impact on children. Next year our family will have 2 children at St. Monica and our oldest will move on to high school. This will bring challenges to my role as Athletic Director and I need other parents to step in and help. We need to develop a group of parents willing to dedicate their time to the sports program. The following positions need to be filled for next year:
1) Girls Sports Coordinator - Responsible for communication with parents though all school methods to notify of sports deadlines, recruit players and coaches for the various teams including cross country, kickball, basketball, volleyball, soccer and cheerleading. Other responsibilities would be to prepare uniform orders and/or distribute/collect/put away basketball or cheerleading uniforms, as well as manage other equipment.
2) Boys Sports Coordinator - Responsible for communication with parents though all school methods to notify of sports deadlines, recruit players and coaches for the various teams including cross country, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Other responsibilities would be to prepare uniform orders and/or distribute/collect/put away basketball uniforms as well as manage other equipment.
3) Basketball Gym Manager - Responsibilities include recruiting volunteers to collect gate entry money, running the score board during games, gym setup prior to games and gym cleanup following games.
4) Volleyball Gym Manager - Responsibilities include recruiting volunteers to collect gate entry money, running the score board during games, gym setup prior to games and gym cleanup following games.
5) Concessions Manager - Responsibilities include shopping for items to be sold, managing inventory, recruiting volunteers, setup and cleanup for each games.
All volunteers will need to complete the Safe & Sacred Certification process and need to pass a background check.
Please sign up here: https://forms.gle/1raXTEWi89ksYUZz6
Thank you,
Joe A.
St. Monica Parish Athletic Director
St. Monica scouts from Troop and Pack 514 honored veterans on Memorial Day weekend by