Mrs. Mulvanerty's Update

November 1, 2026

Dear SKS,

As Fr. James Martin, S.J., often reminds us, "The saints were not statues made of marble or painted glass in a window—they were real human beings who laughed, worried, made mistakes, and struggled just like you and me."

That wonderful truth came to life in the most heartwarming way last week during one of our favorite annual SKS traditions: The First Grade Saints Presentation!

Our first graders worked so hard learning about the men and women who walked before us in faith. Standing up in their costumes, our students reminded us that holiness isn't about being born perfect or doing impossible things—it’s about choosing love, kindness, and faith in the everyday moments of life.

If you weren't able to make it to the presentation—or if you just want to experience a bit more of that joy—you have another chance! Please join us for the 9:30 AM Family Mass this week. Several of our first-grade "saints" will be right there in the church vestibule in full costume to greet you and your family as you arrive.

And, the celebration doesn't stop when Mass ends! Following the 9:30 Mass, we welcome all families to join us for an Open Play in the gym. It’s a wonderful opportunity for the kids to run around, for parents to catch up, and for our parish and school community to enjoy some time together.

Thank you to our first-grade parents and teachers: Mrs. Barausky, Mrs. Bondi, and Mrs. Coleman for helping our students prepare for this special tradition. We hope to see many of you in the pews (and at the gym) this Sunday!

G.B.Y.*,

Mrs. Mulvanerty

*God Bless You!

Would you be willing to share some candy treats with other people who must eat their meals at Life Center Shelters or Nursing Homes, or who shop for food from Food Pantries within our neighborhoods? Sweeten up the days of our less fortunate neighbors. Sacrifice some candy for those at places such as:

• Guiding Star Maternity Home (which provides shelter and assistance to pregnant women and their children)

• West Chester Food Cupboard (which commits to providing a variety of fresh and nonperishable food to West Chester low-income residents)

• Life Center Shelters in Delaware County (which serves meals every day to hundreds of homeless and poverty-stricken people who have nowhere else to have a meal—two of their shelters in Chester feed and house many children and their moms!)

Often, donated meals end without a dessert. You can help them out by giving some of your candy so that these poor people and small children can have a sweet dessert. A simple little candy bar is a special treat that they don’t often get to eat.

Take advantage of this easy and rewarding opportunity! Just empty your cabinets of the excess candy that you collected, or the types of candy that are not your favorites, or whatever candy you’d like to give out of the goodness of your heart. We will bring the candy to different local food pantries, shelters, crisis pregnancy centers, and ministries. In the past, we have partnered with Guiding Star Maternity Home, West Chester Food Cupboard, Life Center Shelters in Delaware County, the local food pantry at St. Mark’s Church, Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, City Team, Broad Street Ministries, Grands Stepping Up, Angel Food Pantry, and several other places.

Doesn’t it feel great when somebody offers you a sweet treat out of the blue? Share that little blessing with somebody else. Donate some candy today!! Please give generously. Your candy will be happily eaten and enjoyed!!

Candy donations will be accepted now through November 16 in the school vestibule.

Dear SKS Families,

It’s time to register for TuitionCare: a fantastic opportunity that directly benefits your family’s tuition bill!

Last year, 54 families participated in TuitionCare. Thanks to their participation, we were able to provide every SKS family with a credit of $225 towards tuition. However, if we get the number of contributors to our program to equal the number of families in our school (252), all families will receive a $1,000 credit towards tuition!

How does it work?

TuitionCare allows PA tax-paying families to redirect their state tax dollars to St. Katharine of Siena School through Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program.

• No Net Cost: You redirect PA state income tax dollars you already owe to support tuition assistance at SKS.

• Direct Credit to Families: By maximizing participation across our school, the resulting funds generate direct tuition credits distributed to all SKS families.

• Who Can Participate: Any parishioner, grandparent, or friend of SKS can participate as long as they pay PA state income taxes!

• The Goal & Impact: This year, our goal is to reach at least 100 participating families to build on last year's success.

Upcoming Information Sessions

We want to make signing up as simple as possible! Please join us for one of our upcoming informational events to learn more:

• Virtual Webinar: Thursday, November 5, at 12:00 PM (Zoom Link: Join Webinar)

• Parent Coffee & Q&A: Friday, November 6 (in-person after pickup)

Ready to sign up? Please see the flyer below to learn how!

Dear Parents,

Imagine a world where people look out for each other. Where we all pay it forward. Where success is measured in selfless acts. Where kindness is the philosophy of life. It’s easy to think of kindness as an innate talent, something you either possess... or don’t. But that’s not the case. Kindness is a skill – and like any skill, it can be developed with practice and repetition.

In honor of the month of love and friendship and World Kindness Day (November 13 th ), our school will be taking part in a kindness challenge. Every school day during the month of November, we will challenge our students to perform an act of kindness toward others. Every morning student council members will read the kindness tip of the day and challenge their peers to complete it before the end of school. Additionally, each classroom will be given a calendar of kindness acts and activities that can be completed throughout the month.

In recognition of World Kindness Day, SKS will be hosting a Blue and White Spirit wear day to support a family in our community facing significant challenges. This is an opportunity to put kindness into action and show how even small acts of generosity can make a big difference.

We will also be celebrating “Kolorful” Kindness Day on November 19 th . Show how committed you are to being kind by dressing in your most colorful socks and hair (students should adhere to SKS dress code other than socks, bows, hats, etc.) Students will participate in kindness themed bingo games in the cafeteria with their

buddies.

School Activities include:

 Classroom kindness calendars

 Classroom kindness activities

 Kindness challenge of the day

 Buddy Bingo

Dates to remember:

 November 13 th – World Kindness Day! Wear school colors or spirit wear in unity!

 November 19 th – Buddy Bingo – “Kolorful” Kindness Day! Show how committed you are to being kind by dressing in your most colorful socks and hair!

 November 24th – Last day to hand in your optional writing assignment.

As one last optional challenge, students may respond to a grade-level writing prompt (to be completed at home). We will be asking students to write about a recent act of kindness that they did, or received, and how it impacted them. Writing prompt pages will be given to the classroom teachers. All entries will be entered into a raffle, and winners will be chosen at random on Tuesday, November 24th. We ask that you encourage your child to take part in this challenge because as we always say; acts of kindness are not only special for the receiver, but also

make the doers feel great!

Here's to a super kind month at SKS!

Sincerely your school counselors,

Jess Ryan and Kate Hendrickson

At SKS, one of the things we do best is take care of those in our community. Some of you may know that one of our moms, Moira Barker, is working to support her sister's family, the McKnights. Please see more about the McKnight's story and learn how you can make a donation if you wish. Thank you for your support!

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The SKS Cub Scout Pack 219 is once again selling Christmas Wreaths. Wreaths are $30 each and can be ordered using the link below. All wreaths will be delivered to your door by 12/6/2026. Any questions, please email skspack219@gmail.com. Thank you for your support!

Home & School has some fun ideas for Middle School events over the next couple of months, but we would love your input! Could you please take a minute to complete this short survey? Your feedback will help us plan events our middle schoolers will enjoy! Thanks so much!

Link: https://forms.gle/DW6M37mVvNqcQmES6

Put your knowledge to the test at the SKS favorite, Trivia Night! Join us for a fun night of friendly competition, food, drinks, and plenty of laughs.

Parish Center
Doors Open: 6:30 PM | First Game: 7:00 PM
$30/person or $300/table of 10
BYO food, drinks & brains!

Parents only event. Individual and Table ticket sales close October 30! Don't delay!

Trivia sign up link

https://stkatharineofsiena.factsmgtadmin.com/form/SjZzNFaXy?authToken=__token__

November Parish Coffee & Service Project

Sunday, November 15 at the 9:30AM Mass

- Children's Choir
- Children's Liturgy of the Word
- Parish Coffee hosted by Walking with Purpose (A Women's Bible Study)
- Faithful Families Service Project

Annual Advent Wreath Workshop
Sunday, November 22 from 2-4pm
SKS cafeteria
BYO wine
$30/per person

Enjoy an afternoon of friends, fellowship and creativity! Come build a beautiful, hand crafted advent wreath to prepare you and your family for Christmas. Cost includes: candle ring, candles, construction materials, greenery, decorative elements for the wreath, and snack.

Visit sksparish.org/adventwreath for more details and to sign up.

A new federal tax credit has been created to provide funds for Pennsylvania students and families--but only if Governor Shapiro opts our state into the program by December 31st.

Want help for your K-12 student with education expenses like tuition and school supplies? Generous individuals can donate $1,700 a year to scholarship-granting organizations and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit. Those funds can then be made available to students in need. If our state doesn’t opt in, the funds will go to other states.

Urge Governor Shapiro to take action now and say "yes” for Pennsylvania students before the December 31st deadline to support our students in both public and non-public schools.

There are so many opportunities for afternoon clubs! Please click here to check them out.

November 1- All Saints Day - First grade saints can attend Mass as their saints; open play

Parish Spaghetti Dinner

November 2 - New student registration opens

November 4 - Fourth Grade Field Trip

November 6 - Trivia Night for Parents

November 8 - Family Mass, 9:30am

November 11 - 8th Grade Mass of Thanksgiving

November 12 - Monthly Admissions Open House, 9:15am

SKS Got Talent

November 13 - Blue and White Spiritwear Dress Down Day for World Kindness Day; proceeds benefitting the McKnight Family

November 15 - Family Mass, 9:30am and Parish Coffee

November 19 - Noon Dismissal; Parent Conferences Begin -- Kolorful Kindness socks and accessories!

November 20 - No School; Parent Conferences

November 22 - Family Mass, 9:30am

Advent Wreath Workshop

November 24 - School Penance

November 25 - Thanksgiving Break Begins!

November 26 - Thanksgiving

November 27 - No School

November 29 - Family Mass, 9:30

November 30 - Classes Resume; Santa Shop Begins

December 3 - Picture Retake Day

Congratulations to our co-ed CYO Varsity Soccer team for a big win today against St. Margaret's!

The JV girls' field hockey team came in second place during the Archdiocesan Championship at Bishop Shanahan!

Mr. Gavin hosted a Trading Club Field Trip to Wheelhouse!

The Halloween-a-thon was a blast! Thanks to all of our students and teachers for making it a great day!

Trunk or treat! Thanks to everyone who decorated a trunk!