Click Below to Make a Donation to SMS!
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Trunk or Treat
PTO School Spirit
Mentor New Families
CYO Sports Volunteers
Giving Garden
Current Surveys
Family Culture
Volunteer Requirements
Before volunteering in the school with children you must complete the safe parish program and background check for volunteer following these directions:
- Click the link: https://www.archindysafeparish.org/
- Select "register" in the bottom, right-hand corner of the log in box
- Use Archindy2021 for the organization's passcode
- Begin the course
- Request a Volunteer background check
THE GIVING GARDEN
Our Giving Garden provided over 1,500 pounds of fresh produce for our Witherspoon Food Pantry in 2019. We continue to prepare our garden for the 2020 production season. We need everyone to help with prep, maintenance, and harvesting.
Sign up to help us serve the poor and vulnerable: CLICK HERE TO VOLUNTEER
Here are some resources:
- General
- https://joegardener.com (He also has a weekly podcast and show on PBS called Growing a Greener World)
- Raised Bed Gardens
- Garden Soil Recipe
- Container & Straw Bale Gardening
- https://www.seattleurbanfarmco.com/blog/category/Container+gardening
- https://joegardener.com/video/how-to-get-the-best-drainage-for-your-container-and-why-what-youve-been-taught-is-all-wrong/
- https://joegardener.com/podcast/gardening-in-straw-bales/
- https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/straw-bale-gardens/8882.html
Fundraisers
The money raised from School FUNdraisers, sponsored by the SMS PTO, help to support our entire community of parents, teachers, and students. SMS family fundraising efforts last year allowed the PTO to provide opportunities for teachers to attend conferences, host Field Day and GrandFriends Day, order classroom supplies, install new classroom lighting, develop a robotics team, purchase a bus, and many other items.
Mulch & Firewood Delivery
Do you need mulch, soil, or firewood delivered? Please share this with your friends! Every order supports our mission. Click https://haulstr.com/stmonica/
Book Fair (Fall and Spring)
The Book Fair offers families an opportunity to purchase books at discounted rates. This event takes place just before Christmas break and in the Spring. To volunteer, please contact Audrey Maminta at ajmwesgen@gmail.com.
Meal Service
We are a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school. All students are offered a breakfast, lunch, and snack at no charge.
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS NOTICE
If your child has special dietary needs please go to the link below and get a copy of a special dietary needs form. Complete the form and have your child return it to his/her teacher. We will try to accommodate within reason. https://www.doe.in.gov/sites/default/files/nutrition/msf-pl-updated_0.pdf
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
Year-long Support Opportunities
SMS Spirit Wear - Show your school spirit by shopping year-round for spirit wear. Click here to shop! Village Custom Embroidery can add the school or athletic logo to any item in their catalog. Email them your order at info@villagecustomembroidery.com
Employee Matching Funds - Does your employer offer a matching grant/fund opportunity? If so, please contact the School Office at schooloffice@smsindy.org for more information about how you and your employer can financially help our school family.
Before-school Program
Students can be dropped off as early as 7:00 AM. We offer breakfast each morning, and the computer lab is open to everyone until 7:25 AM by appointment with a licensed teacher to help with homework. Other than breakfast, there is no additional cost for this service
After-care Program
Our after-care program is from 3:15 to 5:30 PM on regular days and 1:15-5:30PM on 1:00 dismissal days. The fee is $10 per child per day. Pre registration and prepayment are required. We offer snacks and homework support as well as time outside and in the gym. CLICK HERE to register. CLICK HERE to prepay or make a payment. For any questions or concerns please contact s.hoaglin@smsindy.org and she would be happy to help.
After-care Balances
Email Jessica Sinkovic at j.sinkovic@smsindy.org if you do not know your balance owed. Your account should not be in the negative. Aftercare is a preregister and prepay service.
St. Monica Catholic School Commission
Parish school commissions in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis are considered "advisory" to the local pastor. The Commission participates in the decision-making processes by formulating, adapting, and recommending policy to the pastor. Responsibilities include planning, policy development, financial leadership, institutional advancement, public relations/community relations, marketing and enrollment management. Members of the 2024-2025 School Commission are listed in the table below (year indicates beginning of service). Please direct your questions for the School Commission to sc@smsindy.org.
Chair | Fr. John McCaslin | 317-253-2193 | N/A |
Principal | Eric Schommer | 317-255-7153 | N/A |
President | Nora Burkhart | 2021 | |
Vice President | Jennifer Green | 2022 | |
Past President | Stephanie Gorman | 2021 | |
Secretary | Alyssa Preddie-Allen | 2019 | |
Member | Michael VerKamp | 2021 | |
Member | Nick Shanahan | 2020 | |
Member | YOU | 2024 | |
Member | YOU | 2024 | |
Community Representative | Greg Wright | 2018 |
Meetings are generally held at 6:30 PM on the third Tuesday of the month August through May; please email the current president at sc@smsindy.org if you wish to attend an upcoming meeting.
In addition to the SMS Mission and Vision statements, all Commissioners shall have familiarity with and understanding of the following resources:
School Commission and Board Guide
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form
SMS Strategic Plan - Updated August 2022
SMS School Improvement Plan - Updated June 2023
St. Monica Catholic Church Annual Stewardship Report
St. Monica Catholic School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The St. Monica Catholic School (SMS) PTO is committed to nurturing an atmosphere of academic enrichment and spiritual growth within our Catholic school community. This is achieved by:
- Facilitating communication among parents, teachers, administration, and students in our school family.
- Providing Christian support and encouragement for the parents, teachers, administration, and students in our school family.
- Sharing our time, talent, and treasure in classroom and extracurricular activities.
- Conveying a positive image of our school to the parish and the community.
- Identifying high priority, non-budgeted school needs and providing the resources to support them.
PTO Board Members
President |
Ruth Wolff |
Vice President |
Divina Reyes |
Secretary | Jasmin Otam |
Administrative Representative |
Eric Schommer |
Faculty Representative |
Kelsey Blanco |
Faculty Representative |
Stephanie Gorman |
Public Relations Coordinator |
Vacant |
Volunteer Coordinator |
You |
General Board Seat |
You |
Corporate Sponsorship Chair |
You |
Meetings are generally held on the second Monday each month from August through May; meeting details can be found on the family calendar at the bottom right of the home page.
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat is a well-attended social event consisting of Halloween activities and trick-or-treating. If you would like to volunteer please contact PTO at PTO@smsindy.org.
Catholic Schools Week
Catholic Schools Week kicks off with Sunday Mass and the SMS Open House. During Catholic Schools Week, students are invited to participate in a fun theme-of-the-day. SMS also shows appreciation for teachers, staff, students, and families during the festive week. To volunteer, please contact the School Office at schooloffice@smsindy.org.
Teacher Appreciation Luncheon
Volunteers staff classrooms, the cafeteria, and the School Office for a couple of hours, while teachers and staff attend an appreciation luncheon. Volunteers organize and serve the meal, provide entertainment, and shower our teachers and staff with donated gifts! To volunteer, please contact the PTO at PTO@smsindy.org.
Move-A-Thon
Move-A-Thon is the first fundraiser of the school year! Students, parents, and teachers walk, run, or roll through the St. Monica neighborhood. Students solicit donations from family and friends. The event includes a prayer path, encourages fitness, and offers up friendly competition. To volunteer, please contact the PTO at PTO@smsindy.org.
8th Grade Graduation and Reception
SMS proudly hosts a Commencement Mass and ceremony for 8th graders and their families. To volunteer, please contact PTO at PTO@smsindy.org.
St. Monica School wants to help our community connect with the support they need. Our community has abundant resources. We will continue to populate this page with supports for faith, family, & academics in service to you. The resources are available to the public and can be shared.
Community Support
Faith
Pope Francis invites every person, every Catholic, and every religious community to pray the rosary daily at 9:00 pm Italy time, 4pm for St. Monica. The Holy Father asks for reflection on the Luminous mysteries. CLICK HERE to learn how to pray the rosary.
Mass times: Live on Facebook @saintmonicaindy at 9AM Wednesday, & Friday, 10:30AM & 1PM on Sunday
Family
The Indy Hunger Network has done a great job compiling pantries and food banks that are open for drive-through or grab and go pick-up (by county) with information on their website in both English and Spanish here: https://www.indyhunger.org/find-help/
St. Monica School Facebook Page - For updates, stories, supports, and more
St. Monica School Breakfast and Lunch free for all students attending St. Monica School.
St. Vincent De Paul - Clothing, Food
Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek - Rental Assistance, utility assistance, food
Martin Luther King Community Center - Rental Assistance, utility assistance, food
Stopover, Inc - Shelter for youth
Outreach Inc - Support for teens experiencing homelessness
Crooked Creek Food Pantry - Food
Indy Hunger Network - Food
Gleaners Food Bank - Food
Popsie's Food Pantry - Food
Academics
School on Wheels - Academic support, mentoring, school supplies for children experiencing homelessness
Action for Healthy Kids - links to physical activities, nutritional resources, and online learning strategies