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March 4, 2025
March 4, 2025 Dear Falcon Family,A HUGE shoutout goes to all the students and adults who participated in the PSIA contest this past Saturday. I am happy to see so many students compete. I am incredibly proud of how our students tried their best and represented their school in such a becoming manner. I hope they have expressed gratitude to all the adults who coached them and enabled them to attend.The world gives us many reasons to be anxious and afraid. But God gives us plenty more reasons to have hope and joy. Our biggest reason: These young people and their families who grace this school daily. These young men and women are not just living their faith but living it in community. Encountering each other, learning together, playing together, praying together—it’s so important! We were made to be in relationship, to grow in relationship with God and one another.With Ash Wednesday tomorrow, may we all grow in Christian friendship with those around us this Lent. Then we, too, can become a true “community of believers” (Acts 4:32).Peace,February 25, 2025 Dear Falcons,It’s that time of year again when the lost and found starts overflowing. If your child is missing something, please feel free to browse it. There is even a book from the Lena Armstrong Public Library. Below is a summary of the results from the community survey we sent out last month. Kudos need to go to our fantastic faculty!St. Mary's Catholic School needs you to share your time and talent with our students. School families are asked to volunteer 25 hours of service to the school throughout the year. These volunteer hours help the school maximize our value and keep tuition as low as possible. Grandparents, extended family, and parishioners are always welcomed and encouraged to get involved. We can always use help:- sell raffle tickets
- lunchroom monitors
- nursing duty
- library/book fair help
- parish festival help
- field trip drivers and chaperones
- technology support
- help in the classrooms or special projects
If you have a business and/or other talents, here is a quick Community Talent & Business Survey https://forms.gle/tCUcxXcWRjbGTxaFA Peace,February 18, 2025 Dear Falcon Family,Being part of a generous and giving community is such a joy. However, so far, we are low in our raffle ticket sales. This puts us in a financial bind because this is our primary fundraiser this year. The good news is we have a generous donor who has agreed to donate an additional $100 for each book of raffle tickets our families sell. We have 142 families, and we are asking each family to sell at least two books of raffle tickets. Each ticket is $10, and each book holds 20 tickets. We have some great prizes worth $11,500, so help us sell these tickets and raise some needed funds for our school. We only have two months left to sell so PLEASE get out into your community and help the effort. FYI, I am not excusing myself or even Father Will from this challenge.Peace,February 11, 2025 Dear Falcon Family,One of the many reasons I love Catholic education is because we strive to partner with parents to transform students' lives: their understanding of who they are, what they were made for, and how to live well. Catholic education can offer families and communities “eyes to see and ears to hear” the marvelous gifts our Creator has given us. A recent article in The Atlantic has highlighted concerns about the decreasing presence of full-length novels in American school curricula. The piece suggests that students are finding it more challenging to read entire books, which could significantly impact their intellectual and moral growth. We invite you to join us in promoting a love for reading as we focus on "Cultivating Wonder." Be sure to seize every opportunity to engage your children during their journey through education. Novels help students rationally understand human nature, inspire wonder, and nourish creativity. Students gain an enriched perspective on the human experience that fosters intellectual and moral growth by engaging with literary characters and their complex narratives. There is no better way to help foster a love of reading than reading with them, modeling for them, and discussing it with them.Peace,
February 4, 2025Dear Falcon Family,We often don't realize the amount of goodness we can do in the world through a simple act of generosity. I tend to get caught up in myself and my own feelings sometimes. God has placed us to be His hands and feet in this exact moment. He calls each of us to be generous. How has someone been generous towards you in the past? How did it make you feel? Make a commitment to help someone this week. Each time you are gracious to another, you show your love and thanksgiving to God.Pray - Lord, teach me to be kind in heart, so that love, grace, and generosity flow from me like a river. Give me a generosity that reflects Your own, through Christ, our Lord. AmenPeace,January 28, 2025 Dear Falcon Family,We often don't realize the amount of goodness we can do in the world through a simple act of generosity. I tend to get caught up in myself and my own feelings sometimes. God has placed us to be His hands and feet in this exact moment. He calls each of us to be generous. How has someone been generous towards you in the past? How did it make you feel? Make a commitment to help someone this week. Each time you are gracious to another, you show your love and thanksgiving to God.Pray - Lord, teach me to be kind in heart, so that love, grace, and generosity flow from me like a river. Give me a generosity that reflects Your own, through Christ, our Lord. AmenPeace,January 21, 2025 Dear Falcons,As we approach the end of January, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support and send my blessings for Catholic Schools Week next week, from January 26 to February 1, 2025. This week is an excellent opportunity for our school to celebrate the many blessings we receive as part of the vibrant Catholic school community across Texas.This year’s Catholic Schools Week theme is “Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community.” This theme highlights the powerful unity we share in our faith and our commitment to fostering a strong sense of community. We are called to unite as one, united by our faith, and dedicated to serving one another, especially our students.We will celebrate Catholic Schools Week with Masses, events, and activities that engage not only your students but also the families, parishioners, and members of our local community. This is a fantastic chance for us to showcase what makes Catholic schools exceptional—our academic excellence, commitment to faith formation, and emphasis on moral development.On behalf of all of us at St. Mary’s, I want you to know that we will continue to pray for your student's success during this special week and throughout the year. May Catholic Schools Week be a time of joy, reflection, and deepened commitment to our shared mission.Thank you for your unwavering dedication to Catholic education. We look forward to celebrating with you!Peace,January 14, 2025 Dear Falcon family,Quarterly awards, Honor Roll, Advanced Readers, and December virtues will be recognized on Thursday morning after Mass. You are always welcome to join us at Mass. Mr. Robert LeGros the principal of Holy Trinity, will be joining us Thursday morning. Help us give him a warm welcome.
At St. Mary’s, we emphasize virtue development as key to personal growth and a healthy society. While young people often prioritize individual success and happiness, we aim to instill a moral mission, emphasizing becoming the best version of yourself over your career path.
*Moral Skill-Building: Treating others well requires skills that can be taught, like carpentry or tennis. These include understanding—listening and recognizing others' stories—and consideration, such as offering criticism kindly and practicing forgiveness. Many young people lack these skills, so let's collaborate to equip them with these essential life skills.
*Exemplars: Admiration is a powerful moral emotion. Historical figures like Nelson Mandela admired Mahatma Gandhi, and Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton respected each other. Children should learn from such examples of greatness. As Warren Buffett said, "Tell me who your heroes are, and I’ll tell you how you’re going to turn out."
*Moral Traditions: We inherit a rich Catholic moral tradition, which helps individuals become their best selves by embodying its virtues.
*Self-Confrontation: Everyone has flaws to address. For instance, Dwight Eisenhower struggled with temper. Parents and schools can help young people recognize and overcome their shortcomings.
*Public Service: Community service, like feeding the poor or supporting a cause, transforms the individual serving. It fosters emotional understanding, teaching how to work with people, not just for them.Peace,
January 7, 2025Dear Falcon family,Happy New Year, and welcome back to school.
It was nice to see the students back this morning, and there is no better way to start the year than with a school Mass. You are always welcome to join us at Mass. It is genuinely a beautiful thing to watch our students lead the liturgy. Your active participation in our community will strengthen our bond and make us a stronger, more united school.
I've been Catholic for 27 years. I was intensely drawn to the liturgy and sacraments' depth and beauty. When we worship in mass, we teach our students to be mindful of the two primary parts: the first part, God is speaking to us. It’s not just a retelling of events that happened long ago. He wants to talk to us here and now. So be attentive and ask God “What are you trying to say to me?” He wants to calm our anxieties and bring peace and joy into our hearts.
In the second part of Mass, God does something spectacular, scandalous even. He gives himself to us, body, soul, and divinity. We present to him simple gifts of bread and wine and ask God to send down his Holy Spirit, to transform it into what is most precious to him: His son. We ask him to transcend time and space, heaven and earth, and join us here and now in the transubstantiation.
We have been asked dozens of times if we will close on Thursday or Friday. We will cancel or delay following Belton ISD or Temple ISD. Since we have students coming from both areas, if either one delays or cancels, we will too. If one delays and one cancels, we will cancel.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBA
Principal, St. Mary's Catholic School
stmarys-temple.orgDecember 10, 2024 Dear Falcon family,During the month of November, in Pre-K through 8th-grade, we studied the virtue of Prayerfulness. Additionally, students from 1st to 8th grade delved into the virtue of Loyalty, while those in 6th to 8th grade also studied Gratitude.At SMCS, we believe instilling virtues in the next generation is paramount. While academic knowledge like calculus is valuable, navigating today's increasingly secular world requires a strong foundation in personal virtue.**Prayerfulness** involves being still, listening, and engaging in a friendly dialogue with God. It embodies all that Jesus taught about prayer and reflects His constant communion with God the Father (John 10:30).**Loyalty** emphasizes faithfulness to the Catholic Church, God, family, and friends, even when it involves personal sacrifice. It is the commitment to follow Jesus, regardless of others' actions.**Gratitude** is about giving thanks to God for our many blessings, appreciating each day, focusing on the good in our lives and others, and refraining from lamenting what we lack.Here are the students recognized for embodying these virtues:**Pre-K:**- Prayerfulness: Luka Llyod, Sara Cartagena, MayLynn Schutz, Claire Thompson**Kindergarten:**- Prayerfulness: Anya Sanchez, Euan Winner**1st Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Luke Swoda, Emmy Lloyd- Loyalty: Kipkorir Setanei**2nd Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Mirianna Gaza- Loyalty: McCrea Guerra**3rd Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Dorothy Mosmeyer, Allison Wright, Jolie Depaz- Loyalty: LP Clevenger, Ariana Soto, Emily Ramirez**4th Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Cameron Collins- Loyalty: Ximena Martinez**5th Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Claire Allton, John Taylor- Loyalty: Joey Schutz, Federico Sanchez**6th Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Ava Knoke- Loyalty: Joseph Von Achen- Gratitude: Duran Valdez**7th Grade:**- Prayerfulness: Catherine Leurs- Loyalty: Matias Castillo, Jazlynn Cooper- Gratitude: Michael Mulch**8th Grade:**- Prayerfulness: TinTin Villanueva, Alexis Sandoval- Loyalty: Kaylan Tran, Dani Holst, Harper Lee, Anvitha Dileep, Alexis Sandoval- Gratitude: Harper Lee, Alexis Sandoval, Anvitha Dileep, Gabriel Aviles, James WrightCongratulations to these students, who were excellent examples of the virtues we studied last month.For Catholic educators, each day in the classroom is an opportunity to recognize God's presence in those we work with and in the truth we impart to our students. As we prepare for the birth of Jesus this Advent, may we and those entrusted to our care be attuned to the presence of Christ in all aspects of our lives, recognizing that He is always coming, ready to speak to us in the silence of our hearts.In Christ the Teacher,Sean A. Warfield
December 3, 2024
Dear Falcon family,My last Thanksgiving message received highly positive feedback. However, multiple parents have asked me how to foster gratitude in preteens and teenagers. The answer is easy: If all the adults the teenager looks up to are modeling it for them, they will know what it looks like. It also means trying to insulate and spare them from adult stressors, especially social media. We see over and over that the children who get addicted to things like gaming platforms and social media are the ones who struggle the most. As Dr Ben Carson says, “The person who has the most to do with what happens to you is you.”As we embark on this journey into the Advent season, I want to reflect on the incredible start to this school year. Our teachers' dedication, hard work, and perseverance have set the tone for a positive and enriching semester for our students. I am deeply grateful for their commitment to St. Mary’s. Each day, they inspire your students and the whole community with their presence and assistance in nurturing a faith-filled atmosphere. Their efforts are making a profound difference in the lives of our students.As we approach Christmas break, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on the blessings you and your children bring to this community. May this season of gratitude remind us of the joy and hope we bring our students and each other. Wishing you abundant blessings and peace during this special time. Let us embrace the spirit of Advent together, preparing our hearts and minds for the joy of the coming season. Thank you for trusting your children with us. We are grateful to you and your family.With gratitude and blessings,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic SchoolNovember 19, 2024 Dear Falcon family,As we prepare for the Thanksgiving break, I am reminded that we have much to be thankful for. Each year feels like a special place and time for St. Mary’s. Looking back on the 127th year of SMCS, the 2024 school year has been filled with ups and downs, mostly ups. I pray that we will all remember how God guided us to help us support each other and grow closer to Him. As the years go by, remember these classmates, teachers, and family members who came together to support St. Mary’s and helped us create a place where Christ’s light shines brightly through us all.This is the genius of catholic schools: Faith, God, virtue, character, honesty, hard work, love & service to others, bible, and prayer, are as important as math, science, history, and reading. We teach that we are the happiest when we use our God-given talents. When we are trying to be the person God created us to be. We sense our talents in the small recurring patterns of thoughts, feelings & behavior. When using our talents to accomplish tasks, we do things easily while others might struggle with the same task. When using our God-given talents, others notice! We strive to cultivate grateful hearts in our students. These are the things we can teach better than any public school. We cannot do it alone; however, we must partner with you to reinforce an attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving.Abe said it better than I can:
Peace,“The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.”
– Abraham Lincoln, Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1863
Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic SchoolPs. It would help your school if we had more positive and updated online reviews.November 12, 2024
Dear Falcon family,Saturday's Casino Night was an absolute delight, and we are immensely grateful to the dedicated volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring it to life. It was fun to see everyone having a good time and enjoying themselves and each other. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to the generous donors whose contributions played a crucial role in making this event a resounding success for our children and our school.This time of year is particularly busy:- The Middle School Choir performed at St. Luke’s Veterans Day program last week with Holly Tucker from The Voice.
- Yesterday morning, we had a beautiful Veterans Day ceremony hosted by our outstanding Student Council and the Scouts.
- Our theater kids will perform Into the Woods this Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Be sure to come to support our theater kids.
- Next week is the Literati Book Fair, and Monday is Dress as Your Favorite Book Character Day.
- Friday is Grandparents Day, and we're having our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon. Get your lunch orders in by tomorrow so you won’t miss out.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Jeff Jones, a member of our SMCS School Board, and the father of our 4th grader, Blaise Jones. This family has been a decades-long supporter of our school. Dr. Jones' funeral will be held on Friday, Nov. 15th, at 11:00 am at St. Luke’s Catholic Church (2807 Oakdale Dr, Temple, TX 76502). We invite everyone to join us in celebrating his life and offering support to his family during this difficult time. Please wear your St. Mary’s uniform to the funeral to show solidarity with Blaise.Please note that all absences to attend the funeral will be excused. Click here to read Dr. Jeff Jones's Obituary.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic SchoolPs. It would help your school if we had more positive and updated online reviewOctober 29, 2024 Falcon family,Wednesday and Thursday are parent-teacher conferences. We encourage you to bring your children to the conference. They need to learn to profess and take ownership of their own academic goals.In honor of the pro-life month of October, we are having a rosary walk tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. All are invited to join us. Please arrive by 8:50 to sign in and get a visitor badge.I think many of our students understand how lucky they are. They see their parents sacrifice so much to send them to a school that loves and cares about them as students and beautifully made children of God. I pray that all students come to see and appreciate how much the adults in their lives sacrifice. I pray they learn to cultivate gratitude in their hearts. We try to teach them gratitude, but that is a lesson and a virtue that takes some of us longer to grow than others.Being a small part of the 6th-grade retreat was an honor. I was blown away by the beautiful way the students overcame their anxieties and insecurities, became vulnerable to each other, grew closer as a group, and recognized that God made each of us unique. We were able to truly show them that He loves us enough to hold us to standards of greatness. They learned about different types of prayer.
They prayed together, prayed separately, played together, shared meals, hiked in nature and saw cacti of every shape and size, and prayed together some more. I am continually impressed by the generosity of the parents of this school, and I was particularly impressed by the handful of adults who paused their lives to give several days to allow us to have a great retreat. Their ever-present witness to the children the whole time was spectacular. They showed the kids what it looks like to sacrifice for others without complaint, and how to be a happy, healthy adult who is not addicted to social media.We saw each child exhibit leadership in their unique way. I witnessed several incredible examples of servant leadership in action. Many kids picked up after themselves without being asked. I saw one boy cleaning up after his classmates when nobody else wanted to. I witnessed many kids show beautiful concern and empathy when a classmate accidentally got hurt. I saw several people jump up to lead their peers in worship. Juju was happy to lead us in morning prayer, and Ava was an excellent leader at evening vespers and Adoration.On the last night of the retreat, as we did thorns and roses, it was beautiful to hear from the mouths of eleven-year-olds just how many roses they have in their hearts.It was palpable to see each child grow closer to God and each other as they witnessed the adults who were proud to show them and the world their deep and profound love of Christ.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic SchoolOctober 22,2014 Dear Falcons,
We hope to see everyone this Saturday for our fabulous Fall Festival! This event is all about coming together as a community to celebrate the season and enjoy a day filled with fun and laughter. It's not a fundraiser, but rather an excellent opportunity to strengthen our bonds and create lasting memories for our kids.
We need your support and enthusiasm to make this day special for our children. Whether you help with activities, set up, or simply cheer on the kids, every little bit counts. Your involvement will ensure that the festival is a joyful and memorable experience for everyone. We look forward to seeing you there!The true genius of Catholic schools is that Faith, God, virtue, character, bible, prayer, honesty, hard work, love, and service to others are as important as math, science, history, and reading.In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Our Father, who made us and gave us everything, thank you for this holy school that has blessed this community for 127 years. Help us to be consecrated, dedicated, and motivated on our quest to share our best, to share Your love, and to spread Your joy. Help us to live our creed: the harder we work, the more blessings we find. Guide us on our mission to see the good in this world, the good in each other, and especially the good in ourselves. Help us always to turn away from sin, especially selfish sin, and help us bring peace into our hearts, our homes, and our classrooms. Bless us and our day as we go forth to do Your work in Your school with Your children. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic SchoolOctober 15, 2024Dear Falcon Family,It has been so much fun watching our volleyball and football teams. We need more 4th through 8th grade boys and girls to sign up for basketball. Team sports are excellent for our students.
Team sports offer a wide range of benefits, both physically and mentally:
1. **Physical Fitness**: improve cardiovascular health, build muscle strength, enhance flexibility, and boost overall physical endurance. Sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball require constant movement.
2. **Social Skills**: excellent opportunity to develop social skills. Players learn to communicate, collaborate, and work towards a common goal. This can lead to improved interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in group settings.
3. **Discipline and Time Management**: requires adhering to a schedule for practices and games. This helps players develop discipline and time management skills.
4. **Mental Health**: it can boost mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. The physical activity involved releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters. Additionally, the camaraderie and support from teammates can provide a sense of belonging and improve self-esteem.
5. **Leadership and Teamwork**: present opportunities for players to take on leadership roles by setting a positive example for others. Players learn the importance of teamwork, trust, and supporting one another, which are valuable skills both on and off the field.
6. **Problem-Solving and Strategic Thinking**: require players to think on their feet and make quick decisions. This can enhance problem-solving skills and strategic thinking, as players must analyze situations and adapt their strategies.
7. **Cultural Awareness**: can bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds, promoting cultural awareness and understanding. This exposure helps players appreciate different perspectives and foster inclusivity.
Overall, team sports can be a fun and rewarding way to stay active while developing important life skills.Along with our high expectations for academic performance, we have high expectations of behavior, manners, and respect at St. Mary’s. I talked with some of our students today, who were bickering and arguing about something inconsequential. It occurred to me that it is human nature to look for the faults in others while ignoring our own. I asked them to envision a school where everyone was always pointing out the small mistakes everyone made. Then, imagine another school where everyone complimented each other on the small things they were doing right every day. Which one of those schools sounds like a great school you would love to be a part of? Everyone said the “nice school” or the “second” school.Parents are the primary educators of children. We can only reinforce the values of the home if we work together. Let’s work together to teach our kids to break this cycle and consciously look for the good in each other. Everyone has virtue, and everyone can grow. Everyone has made mistakes and deserves a chance to grow.The virtues we are studying in October:Trustworthiness- Acting in a way that inspires confidence and trust; being reliable. Prayer for Trustworthiness: Dear Jesus, help me to be faithful in even the little things of each day. In Your eyes, nothing is little when done with great love!Courtesy- treating others respectfully and recognizing that all are made in God's image and likeness. Prayer for Courtesy: Dear Jesus, help me show respect toward others in my words, manners, actions, and body language.Foresight- Consideration of the consequences of one's actions; thinking ahead.Circumspection- Careful consideration of the circumstances and one's options to determine the best course of action. Prayer: Dear Jesus, I trust that You love me and that everything is in Your hands.We will recognize those students who were particularly good examples of these October virtues after the November 7th Mass.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic SchoolPs. It would help your school if we had more positive and updated online Google reviews.October 8, 2024
Falcon Family,
This week, we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, a feast that reminds us of the incredible power of prayer and Our Lady’s intercession. We ask that Our Lady will once again intercede for Classical Catholic Education, as she did at the battle of Lepanto. May all Catholic educators be brave in proclaiming the truth and passing on the faith, that we might transform our culture and lead our children to eternal life through Jesus Christ, Our Lord.
In September, we studied the virtues of Moderation, Orderliness, Generosity, and Obedience.Moderation means balancing your life, not being excessive, and setting healthy limits for yourself. Living this virtue could mean setting a time limit for video games or limiting how often you have sweets. Prayer for Moderation: Dear Jesus, help me balance my life by using created things correctly and in the right amount that is best for me. I need Your help to set my limits when doing things I enjoy.
Orderliness means keeping oneself physically clean and neat and belongings in good order. An example may be keeping your homework neatly in a folder that won’t get wrinkled or folded and putting away your laundry. Prayer for Orderliness: Oh Infinite Beauty, in Your wisdom, You created all things with perfect order. Orderliness brings peace, beauty, harmony, and joy!
Generosity goes with the corporal work of mercy of giving food to the hungry. It means to share with others joyfully and freely. An example of this is offering to help cook dinner for your family or serving food at a soup kitchen. It is a special grace to give of self or personal resources in a very generous or sacrificial way to give all glory to God. One offers their time, talent, and treasure out of the love of God and others.
Obedience is submitting one's own will to the will of God or another person out of love for God. An example is to complete a task you were asked to do without complaint or trying to follow God’s will for your life. Obedience is not a virtue promoted by modern culture.At the end of Mass last Thursday, we highlighted the students who were particularly good examples of these virtues.
Pre-K -Moderation: Savannah Hill
Moderation: Brianna Scioli
Moderation: Camila Williams
Moderation: Jose Partida
Kinder:
Moderation: James Murphy
Moderation: Gabriella Wright
1st grade:
Moderation: Jetson Wood
Orderliness: Marla Hebert
2nd grade:
Moderation: Juliette Cruz
Orderliness: Abigail Wright
3rd grade:
Generosity: Allison Wright
Orderliness: Jameson Wood
4th grade
Moderation: Rebeca Cruz
Orderliness: Davis Nguyen
5th grade
Moderation: Elizabeth Britt
Orderliness: Dylan Flores
6th grade
Obedience: Mia Thomas
Generosity: Danica Whitzel
7th Grade:
Obedience: Jaslyn Paz & Amiyah Terry
Moderation: Maggie Von Achen
Generosity: KaEun Edwards
Orderliness: Paulina Martinez
8th grade
Obedience: Gianna Murphy
Moderation: Gabe Aviles
Generosity: Harper Lee
Orderliness: Emily Luke
In Christ the Teacher,
Sean A. Warfield, MBA
Principal, St. Mary's Catholic School
stmarys-temple.org
Ps. It would help your school if we had more positive and updated online Google reviews.
October 1, 2024Fabulous Falcon Family,St. Thérèse of Lisieux never had an easy life but lived with great peace and joy. As Fr. Zack Rodriguez said at Mass this morning, she constantly gave spiritual flowers to those around her. She said, “Despite my littleness, I can aim to be a saint.” She is known for her idea of the “Little Way,” which means seeking to show God’s love in ordinary, everyday things, giving a spiritual “flower” like a smile, kind word, or prayer to someone who is having a hard time. She was small, but her ideas about how to show God’s love were big. We all, big and small, can learn from her wisdom.If we all take this to heart, it will help us create a culture of belonging for all students and families. Please help us ensure this message is reinforced at home. All students at SMCS are invited, welcomed, known, accepted, heard, befriended, needed, and loved. We teach that each child is uniquely and unrepeatedly made and has a purpose for God’s kingdom here in Temple. If we don’t teach them and model for them the Catholic Virtues and the St. Mary’s Way, the world and social media will teach them the opposite. A strong symbiotic culture of belonging is challenging to build and easy to tear down with gossip. Let’s teach our children to be more like our saint of the day. Of course, to teach them, we must model it for them, too.On this same note, here is a shout-out and KUDOS to the adults in our family who have shown up to help build, make, raise, and boost our Parent Association. Our PA has four pillars, each working hard to ensure our Falcon Family is truly fabulous:
1) Fundraising, 2) Teacher support, 3) Boosters, sports, & spirit, 4) Community, prayer warriors, and ministry. I also commend the countless acts of charity and community service we witness when families help each other with rides to games, practices, and tournaments. Your active participation in our community models for the children what a community can be, strengthens our bond, and makes us a stronger, more united school. The classroom projects for Casino Night are coming along. We will report more on them as November draws near.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic School
September 24, 2024Dear Families,Think back to a recent compliment you received. Can you recall it easily? Often, it's not easy. Now, try to remember a hurtful comment someone said about you. That probably comes to mind more quickly. Proverbs 18:21 says, 'The tongue has the power of life and death.' Unkind words tend to linger. We all have an opportunity and responsibility to teach our children about the power of positive words. Words not only have the potential to cause pain but also have the power to uplift and inspire, a potential we should all strive to harness. Rumors can spiral out of control quickly, becoming a force of evil, trying to destroy and tear down. Help us model the power of positive words for our children and our community.In that same spirit, in today's modern world, one negative review can do more damage to a business than a dozen positive ones. Be mindful of the impressions you leave behind. Please check out our niche listing and consider leaving us some positive reviews. It may help us get the word out about some of the great things happening here at St. Mary's and, at the same time, increase our clickthrough rate above 10%. https://www.niche.com/k12/st-marys-catholic-school-temple- tx/ I hope to see you at the Holy Trinity festival on Saturday. If you are coming out to help, wear your SMCS spirit gear and remember to log your volunteer hours.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic School
September 17, 2024Dear Falcon Families,Mrs. Stolp was honored with the Advancing Our Mission Grant for our new sensory learning lab. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the parents who contributed to assembling the new Pre-K equipment and storage shed. This significant project required several days to complete, and we sincerely appreciate your dedication and hard work in making it happen for the kids. It truly takes a team to make our school the best it can be. We will post pictures of the kids utilizing the equipment in the coming weeks.Our 9/11 tribute last week was touching. Several middle school students assembled a table; others wrote and delivered a ceremony with bells and bagpipes by Mr. Fix. You can hear the recording of the bell ceremony HERE.The kids and teachers get excited when they talk about some of the class projects for Casino Night. Please contribute however you can, and be sure to join the fun on the evening of November 9th.We encourage you to visit this page, https://stmarys-temple.org/principals-corner , to learn more about the St. Mary's Way, our shared values, and guiding principles. It's a great way to foster a sense of unity and understanding within our community. Your active participation in our community will strengthen our bond and make us a stronger, more united community.Peace,Sean A. Warfield
September 10, 2024Falcons,Our fire drill last week went well. Our new security-enabled PA system covered the entire campus and worked very well. All students were out of the building in just over four minutes. We will practice again next month without warning the students and see if we can improve. We will utilize our new system to run other drills throughout the year.To the many parents who have reached out to me following the most recent school shooting in GA. Thank you for your concerns about campus security. The safety of our students is our top priority. We are proud to be the first school in the Diocese to implement and start training with the Texas School Guardian program. When this program is fully implemented in a few months, it will include four armed employees on campus with ongoing training with the Police Department. These employees have previous military experience and/or Texas permits to carry firearms, have passed rigorous background checks, and must regularly refresh their training and practice on their own time. Due to confidentiality, only Fr. Will, Misty Poe, our superintendent, the police, and myself are privy to their identity. In addition to our Guardian employees, all staff and several volunteer parents and board members actively monitor the campus and its entrances to ensure overall safety.Furthermore, I know a few board members and parents who often attend Mass and are armed. Two have personally expressed their willingness to protect our students at any cost. We are committed to maintaining a secure environment for our students. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. I would be happy to speak with you.We are excited to announce that our current student enrollment is at 200. While we are saddened to lose a cherished part of our family to Round Rock and Florida, we have enrolled eight new students over the last few weeks! Last month, we started our referral program to encourage continued enrollment, and we are thrilled to share that it has been successful. With your support, we will continue the program for at least six months. We still have empty seats in first through eighth grade and would welcome new students to join our family, so help spread the word about all the awesomeness that goes on here at SMCS. We should warn new parents that SMCS is more academically challenging than public schools, and we will be testing new students to see if they will be a good fit for us.I have heard the term "Dream Team" several times in the past month, and I am humbled and inspired by how our teachers use their talents and strong faith to motivate students and repeatedly harness their critical role in shaping the next generation. The way they seize opportunities to turn negative interactions into positive teachable moments is commendable and borders on heroic. Too often, schools do not value soft skills like teaching virtue but are hyper-focused on more easily measured rubrics. While we pride ourselves on our commendable academic accomplishments, we can value, encourage, and teach hard and soft skills equally.
We will recognize the August virtues at the end of Mass on Thursday:Pre-K and Kinder-Faith
1st-5th-Faith and Honesty
Middle School-Faith, Honesty, DocilityWe encourage you to visit this page, https://stmarys-temple.org/principals-corner, and learn more about the St. Mary's Way, our shared values, and guiding principles. It's a great way to foster a sense of unity and understanding within our community. Your active participation in our community will strengthen our bond and make us a stronger, more united school.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic School
September 3, 2024
Dear Falcon Family,
What is education for? Education is never neutral! It is always oriented toward a set of goals. St. Mary's Catholic School, with its unique mission of encountering Christ in education, stands apart from other schools and districts. As a community, we must understand our distinct purpose and why we exist.
As Catholics and Christians, we are called to know, love, and serve Jesus and proclaim him to others.
Have you encountered Christ? If you are a St. Mary’s Catholic school member and haven’t encountered Christ, then we are failing in our mission. Where and how can you encounter Christ? Invite him into your heart! He is patiently waiting for you, in your prayer time, at mass, adoration, and in the confessional booth. He is in the Eucharist, which we believe is the source and summit of our faith.
For our students, Christ is not just a historical figure but the ever-present teacher in each classroom. He is in our daily encounters with each other. We, as a community, are the hands and feet of Christ doing His work here in Temple, TX. Our model of classical Catholic education is not just about academic preparation but about preparing students for eternal life AND for the fullness of life in the here and now.
Catholic education strives to transform students into people who know they are made for greatness.
All schools will teach similar curricula, but St. Mary's Catholic School takes a unique approach. We teach each subject as an exploration of the beauty and order of creation that can teach us something about the Creator. This is why we exist, what sets us apart from every other school in this part of Texas. We equip students not just to succeed in the world but to change it, not by being consumed by the world but by becoming who they are called to be in Christ. Authentic Catholic education forms people who can change the world, not despite their faith but because of it. Becoming who God calls us to be is where eternity touches this world right now.
To truly assess the success of Catholic education, we must look beyond tangible measures such as income, fame, or status. Success in Catholic education is reflected in the patient and gentle parent, the faithful spouse, the generous neighbor, the just employer, the honest politician, the humble public figure, and the person who can navigate difficult relationships with freedom, rooted in their understanding of their own value and dignity. Conversely, education has failed when someone possesses all the outward signs of success but whose inner life is barren, whose relationships are shallow or exploitative, and who is neither free nor truly happy. A person with great knowledge and skill, yet lacking virtue, can be a danger. However, a person of virtue can lead a fulfilling life, regardless of whether they earn five figures or six.
A person with character and virtue is both free and joyful. And a free and joyful person can live a good life in almost any occupation.
You can read more about the St. Mary's Way on this page: https://stmarys-temple.org/principals-corner
Peace,
Sean A. Warfield, MBA
Principal, St. Mary's Catholic School
stmarys-temple.org
August 27, 2024Dear Falcons,I hope this letter finds you well. As we continue our journey through the school year, I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts and wishes I have for our students. These are not just academic aspirations, but heartfelt hopes for their personal growth and well-being.1. **Embracing Their Unique Voices**: I wish every student knew that their singing voice is beautiful, even if they feel intimidated by their peers during mass. Each voice is unique and adds to the harmony of our community.2. **The Joy of Reading**: In a world dominated by screens, I wish they understood the joy and future success that can come from turning off electronics and diving into a good book.3. **Continued Care**: I want them to know that my care and prayers for them do not end when they leave the classroom. I often feel like I can never do enough for them, but my support is unwavering.4. **Self-Love**: To be lovable, one must first love themselves. This is a fundamental truth I hope they always carry with them.5. **Beyond Popularity**: Life is about so much more than who likes you and who doesn’t. The effort put into the popularity contest often doesn’t pay off. Instead, focusing on virtues, good manners, and good grades will lead to a more fulfilling life.6. **True Friendship**: One true friend who values and builds you up is far better than a dozen shallow friends who tear you down. Positive peer pressure is three times more potent and much more satisfying than negative peer pressure.7. **Being a Friend**: To have a friend, you must be a friend. This simple truth can lead to meaningful and lasting relationships.8. **Virtue and Education**: Virtue is its own reward, and education is more than just sitting in a classroom. While school and qualifications are important, they are merely doors to our future. The real accomplishments lie ahead, and I hope they seize every opportunity to develop skills, qualities, and knowledge for the big adventure of life.9. **School as a Partnership**: School is not a battle. We are on your side, working together for their success. The perception that teachers are against them is a myth. Respect and understanding go a long way in creating a positive learning environment.10. **Thinking for Themselves**: We want them to think for themselves. Education is not a commodity to be received but an achievement to be earned. Authentic teaching happens when students are given the tools and strategies to problem-solve and are pushed to get stuck and find their way out.Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. Together, we can help them grow into well-rounded, thoughtful, virtuous, and successful individuals—in short, to become the best versions of themselves.Friday will be a day of celebration at SMCS. It's a spirit day, so wear your St. Marys gear or favorite sports jerseys to show your unity and pride.Join us for Catholic Night at the Round Rock Express in the evening. We hope to see you there! Wear your St. Mary’s spirit shirts to help find each other cheering and celebrating our community! Please take pictures of the kids enjoying the evening and share them with us.Peace,Sean A. Warfield, MBAPrincipal, St. Mary's Catholic School
August 18, 2024
Have you ever seen something like this, a plant growing out of a crack in the middle of a rock? It makes me marvel at how, seemingly against all odds, a tiny seed can take hold and grow! Surely, it would have grown better in a garden with a skilled gardener nurturing it, ensuring it had what it needed to succeed. At SMCS, our teachers are “gardeners.”What does this mean? It means that education isn’t something we do to children. This truth runs contrary to most thinking these days. Maybe you’ve heard schools compared to factories that churn out children ready for social activism—but are they equipped to lead happy lives? Too many schools mandate exactly what children read and write, controlling every aspect of what happens inside and even outside the classroom to teach toward a test.
You can read Dr. Arnn’s op-ed here:
In short, Dr. Arnn explains that children are not widgets, and a school is not a factory. Kids grow independently but need help and cultivation from teachers and parents who love them to thrive and become the best version of themselves. This is a part of what we call the St. Mary's Way. We bring “gardeners” back into the classroom to help our children grow in knowledge, virtue, and character.
August 13, 2024
Falcon Families!It has been wonderful watching everyone get back into the swing of school. During the first few weeks of school, teachers work on teaching the routines and rules. Once things get settled, the hard work begins. Help us teach the virtues of perseverance, grit, and friendliness. Help us teach the power of setting goals and the tips for students that can be found here: https://stmarys-temple.org/principals-corner I have been asked dozens of times What Classical Catholic Education at SMCS means. Our classrooms operate on simple yet profound principles:
We foster wonder and awe at the true, the beautiful, and the good. We strive to foster a love of learning and teach students to think for themselves. We emphasize the importance of working hard, being friendly, and doing the right thing: paying attention, participating, and being respectful.
Inspired by the wisdom of past generations, we teach our students to work diligently and stay focused on what truly matters. We are dedicated to nurturing the timeless virtues that my grandparents cherished. We cultivate quality human beings who excel in character and faith. We emphasize the importance of hard work, good manners, and active participation in the world around us. A healthy culture at home and school is the cornerstone of a child's success. Our supportive community of educators and students is committed to watching out for one another, offering encouragement, and sharing valuable insights. Join us in fostering a generation of excellent individuals and strong Christians grounded in the Catholic virtues.More on the St. Marys Way: https://stmarys-temple.org/the-st-marys-way Peace,Sean Warfield
July 30, 2024Welcome back, Falcon Family!We are so excited to have you back for another year of learning and growing in love for Jesus. I wanted to take a moment to share some important updates with you as we prepare to begin school. We are expecting a wonderful school year, and we have hope in the power of prayer and God’s guidance.Over the past year, I have listened to and learned much about our community. We have a truly remarkable community of families, faculty, staff, and parishioners who are passionate about our mission of academic excellence and the spiritual development of our students toward a life of prayer, service, and love. As we begin a new year, we are planning many wonderful things. We will undoubtedly witness daily examples of God’s presence in our school, particularly in our student’s growth in virtue. Like any year, we will face many challenges. Both challenges and accomplishments need our attention, discernment, and prayerful response.As we begin a new year, we also recognize that change is part of every school year. As changes occur, we often feel excitement, uncertainty, and sadness. We might wonder why certain things occurred and did not occur. We hope that this letter will help answer some of those questions. At the same time, out of respect for the people involved, we may be unable to answer every question thoroughly. This is particularly true in the area of staff-related changes. As Principal, I am committed to always speaking the truth in charity, while maintaining confidentiality and avoiding gossip. Similarly, I ask all members of our Falcon Family to do the same.One goal for SMCS is to strengthen the quality and consistency of our communication and build connections. This is not to say that there are not already consistent and collaborative relationships. Many of you have shared your positive experiences and appreciation in this area. As we enhance what is working and strengthen where we may be disjointed, I pray that we all do so respectfully and gracefully.Each family is responsible for keeping their RenWeb contact lists updated. Ensure you add FlockNote to your safe senders list so it doesn’t go to the spam or junk folders. With FlockNote, you can also add your cellphone number if you prefer to receive text messages.May God bless you, your families, and our entire school community. May God also provide the hope and grace needed for this year and continue to guide us as we do His work with the children he sends us here at SMCS.Peace,Sean Warfield
May 22, 2024
The 8th-grade promotion ceremony was emotional for many people. Fr. Will told them not to let anyone or anything steal their joy as they journey through life, the 8th-graders honored their parents and the teachers who poured years of their lives into forming them into fine young people, our Valedictorian (Anuki) gave a heartfelt speech, and Mr. Fix imparted some final words of wisdom passed down through generations.
Are they deserving of being called "adult” yet? I dare say most of them exhibit traits, virtues, and values more adult than many adults. As Heying and Weinstein say, true adults should observe themselves carefully and skeptically and regularly ask themselves questions like these: Am I taking responsibility for my own actions? Am I being closed-minded? Am I coming to conclusions independently, or have I accepted a political ideology I allow to do my thinking for me? Do I avoid collaboration that would be valuable if it would be challenging? Am I letting intense emotions make decisions for me? Am I ceding my responsibilities, and do I make excuses when I do? These questions ask: Am I doing as well as l should or could be doing? This is what we push as the "St. Mary's Way" (SMW), which asks, "Am I always working on becoming the best version of myself?" The SMW strives to teach these very truths and to lay a firm foundation of a life lived with virtue and purpose based on what is true, what is beautiful, and what is good so that they will not depart from it as they grow.
My grandparents never returned to school as students after their 8th-grade graduation. They were truly adults at this age. Our increasingly consumer-based, hyper-novelty-obsessed world makes it harder to be an adult than 80 years ago. Selling delayed gratification is not a successful business strategy. Instead, junk everything is available and marketed- junk food, junk entertainment, junk news... The narratives and algorithms are tailored to selling infantile values that make desirable consumers but poor adults, and they are designed to push what they want us to believe rather than what we need to know. Social media algorithms are designed to steal the joy that Fr. Will warned you to hold onto in his sermon. The SMW is to partner with the parents to teach what is true and lay a firm foundation for these students to build for a lifetime. We encourage them to hold fast to the SMW values, virtues, and lessons on their journey through life. They will remain in our prayers as they go and grow into their next chapter.
May 20, 2024
Dear Families,
Today was fun, even though the weather changed our outdoor plans for color games. We will have our last award ceremony immediately after Mass tomorrow. All are invited.
To the many parents who have asked what to do this summer, your students should have an IXL login that will work all summer. They should be able to use this login from anywhere. We encourage them to continue to advance through all of their IXL lessons.
Thank you to those who responded to our survey about expanding our after-school activities. We had enough interest and will begin offering the expanded menu of activities through "iKids U" on August 8th. We will no longer be offering "Falcon Care," all after-school arrangements must be made through iKids U. See the flyer below for more details.
Peace,
Sean Warfield
May 9. 2024Dear Families,
Listening to the whole school sing to Mary was powerfully moving, as was watching the thousands of flowers brought to our Blessed Mother by the student body. Click here for some fun pictures and Two beautiful letters to Mary written by 8th graders.
Please complete this form if you want to sign your student up for summer music lessons with Mr. Knoke. Once we know how many students are interested in lessons, he will email you more information regarding available times, etc. Thank you for your response.
Thank you to those who have already responded to our survey about expanding our offerings at after-school/Falcon Care. Popular enrichment choices Included chess, art, sports, robotics, photography, cooking, drama, and science.
-Days for After-School Care: Monday through Thursday were the most popular, with more than half the respondents still wanting Fridays.
-Summer Camp Interest 2025/26 school year: Most parents expressed interest in summer camps for 2025.
It's interesting to note: that several respondents were from grades 6-8.
If you haven't already, please take this survey and give us feedback on your after-school care needs for next year.As a parent or guardian, you are automatically a member of our Parent Association. Thank you to those who donated talent and treasure and worked hard to make this "Teacher Appreciation Week" enjoyable for our faculty and staff. It is fun to watch the smiles on the teacher's faces as the PA serves them breakfast and lunch every day. If you haven't donated to our teacher appreciation effort yet, we are still $536 short of our goal. You can Venmo, PayPal, or drop cash in the PA mailbox in the office.
You are also our most significant asset when it comes to increasing enrollment. Word of mouth is more powerful (and much less expensive) than all other marketing efforts combined.
If you want to volunteer to help advance our mission, you can attend the Summer Advancement Workshop. Registration is now open! Advancing the Mission: A Call to Lead is a one-day workshop focused on advancing Catholic schools.
This day of professional development will offer sessions in advancement and enrollment management. This day is open to pastors, school leaders, admission/ advancement/ marketing/ communication directors, board members, and volunteers.
Please join us on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Diocese of Austin Pastoral Center.
The workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. (light breakfast and registration will open at 8:30 a.m.), and the day concludes at 3:30 p.m.
Peace,
Sean A. Warfield
May 8, 2024
All things are possible through Christ who strengthens us:We would love to double our school enrollment and have two sections for each class.
(This is probably at least a ten-year goal.)
We could fill the Reagan building with PK through 5th grade, Make the ORilley building our middle school, and then fill up Holy Trinity High School with outstanding St. Mary's students. Please pray with us for more than 100 new students over the next two years. If we could fill our school, we could do many great things for our students. At the same time, we would feed Holy Trinity a larger freshman class each year. I know it's a big ask, but our God is in the miracle business, so be bold with us and help us pray for a miracle while you also help spread the word about all the great things happening here at SMCS.
Our faculty and staff genuinely strive to adhere to our mission: commitment to academic excellence, and the spiritual development of our students toward a life of prayer, service, and love. The St. Mary's Way is a multi-pronged approach to not just academic excellence (IQ) but challenging each student to become the best version of themselves with a well-rounded intelligence that includes EQ, emotional intelligence, MQ, moral intelligence, and (evidenced by our outstanding NJHS and Student Council) LQ, leadership intelligence.
EQ - help our students develop self-awareness, self-management, relationship management, and social awareness.
MQ - Build a robust character, personal discipline, strong positive values, and a secure sense of self.
LQ - includes a clear vision, courage, priorities, big-picture perspective, others mindset, and planning skills.
What our teachers do here matters. Our teachers view their job as so much more than a job—it is a ministry. The three "R's" at St. Mary's include Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships. We all believe that our students are capable of doing great things! Some people juxtapose high expectations and rigor with compassion and empathy. I argue that true compassion and empathy do not lower standards for laziness. They aren't contradictory, they actually complement each other. To set high expectations means you highly value relationships; expecting students to improve in EQ, MQ, and LQ at the same time we work on IQ is exactly what will help them to find the best version of themselves. Expecting students to achieve things that require grit doesn't mean we are taskmasters and don't value them, but quite the opposite. We become their cheerleaders for their untapped potential. Otherwise, why are we even doing this work?
Why do we look at a Michelangelo painting and actually say "WOW" out loud? Why and how do we appreciate what's amazing around us? The education system seems to be laser-focused on academic knowledge and test scores. Why? Because those are easy to measure. The St. Mary's way is to focus on leading students to become the best version of themselves while actually enjoying learning, and enjoying education. This is much harder to measure. We exist as educators to hear our students say WOW, that book was amazing, or WOW, that classical music performance moved me, and WOW, that math formula makes sense; it's so elegant. Our ideal graduates understand so much more than just reading, writing, and arithmetic, and they graduate with more than just getting that diploma or certificate to move on to the next stage; they actually leave here valuing the experience and cherishing their memories. This is the ideal, but how do you measure or encapsulate that? If we could bottle and sell it, thousands would surely sacrifice a new car to buy it for their kid. It would be flying off the shelves. Many parents dream of a school experience that helps their child graduate with a passion for their faith and a life-long love of learning after ten happy years of education. This is why our families make the sacrifices necessary.
I’m not claiming that we do this perfectly, but I can assure you that this is our ideal. I can assure you that our school teaches the Catholic virtues while the staff strives to model these virtues. Most parents appreciate that we are partnering with them in trying to teach personal responsibility, manners, and respect. Parents truly are the primary educators of their children, and most parents appreciate that we have high standards of conduct for our students. If these standards aren't first taught in the home, it is very difficult for us to reinforce a non-existing structure. We cannot unteach the culture of the home. We work to reinforce a culture of virtue, love of God, love of reading, learning, and respect for math. Some may misinterpret our high standards as "nit-picking," however, we view it as maintaining the "St. Mary's Way" of high standards of excellence in all things and challenging each student to become the best version of themselves.
The preceding paragraphs, along with the fact that Jesus Christ is the ever-present teacher in every classroom, are precisely why most of our families sacrifice so much to ensure their children are at a school where they are loved more than they can ever imagine. What if we could post this on billboards in front of every public school within driving distance? If we could get this message out to the Catholic community in central Texas, we would have too many students and a waitlist for every classroom.