2 OCT 2026

Dear Jesus, you are always faithful, and we can trust you with everything.

Help me be someone others can count on.

Help me tell the truth, even when it is hard,
keep my promises, big and small,
and take good care of what belongs to others.

When no one is watching, help me choose what is right,
because you are always with me.

Make my words and my actions match,
so that my family, my friends and my teachers can trust me, just as I trust you.

Amen.

"The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones." (Luke 16:10)

This month our school focuses on the virtue of trustworthiness. A trustworthy person tells the truth, keeps promises, and does what is right even when no one is watching. Jesus tells us that "the person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones" (Luke 16:10).

Our trustworthiness begins with God's. Pope Francis reminds us in Lumen Fidei that because Christ rose from the dead, "Christ is the trustworthy witness, deserving of faith." God never breaks his promises, and when we keep ours, we reflect his faithfulness to the people around us.

October opened with the feast of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose favorite word was confidence: total trust in God. In his letter on St. Thérèse, C'est la Confiance, Pope Francis writes, "It is trust that brings us to love and thus sets us free from fear." Children who know they are loved and trusted are freer to tell the truth, admit mistakes, and do the right thing.

Students can read stories like The Empty Pot by Demi and A Day's Work by Eve Bunting, pray together, and talk about what it means to be someone others can count on. Support this at home by:

• Noticing it. When your child tells the truth about something hard, say so: "Thank you for being honest. That helps me trust you."
• Giving small responsibilities. Feeding a pet, packing a backpack, or keeping a promise to a sibling are all chances to practice.
• Talking about repair. When trust is broken, show your child how to make it right: own the mistake, apologize, and fix what can be fixed.

October is also the month of the Holy Rosary. Mary's faithful "yes" to God is a beautiful example of a trustworthy heart. Thank you for partnering with us in forming children of faith and character.

Our uniform exchange is running low! If your child has outgrown any St. Mary's uniform pieces, please pass them on to another family. Cooler weather is coming, so sweaters, cardigans and long pants are especially welcome.

To donate: Drop off clean uniform items in good condition at the front office any school day.

Thank you for helping our school families. Your hand-me-downs make a real difference!

Click on the link below and complete the form. Thank you in advance for your interest.

Your St. Mary's School Advisory Board.

Dear Parents,

The St. Mary’s Music Department has several big events every year that depend on the help of families - think Homecoming Parade, Christmas Nativity, and the much-loved Spring Musical! This year we would like to form a Music Volunteer Committee to coordinate volunteers to help put on these events.

We’d love to have as many helpers as possible, and there are large and small volunteer roles available. Please fill out the following form to indicate your availability - whether you are interested in being a regular member of the Music Volunteer Committee, or would like to help with a single event.

With great appreciation!
Carolee Fairbanks, Music Teacher

Music Volunteer Form

🏃 Jog-a-thon Update

Thank you! We had a great turnout at the Jog Shop this week. Thank you for supporting our students and our school!

• The Jog Shop is open again next week.
• Pledge forms are due Thursday, October 8. Please send them in with your child.
• Please keep all money at home. Students should not bring cash to school.

One important request about pledges: A flat-rate pledge from one family counts as one pledge. Please don't split it into several smaller $1 or $5 pledges. Splitting pledges multiplies the prizes and raffle entries far beyond what the fundraiser can support. If that keeps happening, we won't be able to offer the Jog Shop and raffle again. Thank you for helping us keep them going for every student!

Questions? Email fundraisers@stmarysmoscow.org.

🙏 This Week at St. Mary's

Tuesday, October 6
School Rosary at 7:30 AM. All are welcome!

Friday, October 9

No Mass this Friday. We'll gather for an extended morning assembly and prayer service instead.

This fall, our students took three assessments: MAP Growth (reading and math), the IXL Diagnostic, and Star CBM, a one-minute reading check. Each one shows us something different, and together they help our teachers see where every child is starting and how best to help them grow.

Highlights:

• Reading: Half of our students in grades 1–7 scored at or above the 71st percentile nationally on MAP Reading. On IXL, 84% are reading on or above grade level.
• Math: Every grade, K–7, scored at or above the national average on MAP Math. Half of our students scored at or above the 70th percentile.

What we're working on:

• Reading fluency. Our students understand what they read very well. Many are still building speed and smoothness when reading aloud, and we'll be practicing this across grades 3–5.
• Early skills. In kindergarten and first grade, we're strengthening letter knowledge, letter sounds, and early number sense.
• Small-group support. Students who need extra help in reading will begin working in small groups this month.
• Challenge. We'll also stretch our strongest students with deeper problem-solving.

How you can help at home: Read aloud together for 15–20 minutes a day. Take turns, reread favorite books, and let your child read to you. This is one of the best ways to build fluency.

Your child's individual results will be shared at parent-teacher conferences on October 29 and 30. We'll test again in winter to measure each student's growth.

We are so proud of our students and teachers. These results reflect our students' hard work and our teachers' dedication, care, and skill in the classroom every day. Strong scores are a beginning, not a finish line. At St. Mary's, we remain committed to academic excellence: helping every child grow, meeting each student where they are, and challenging all of them to reach their God-given potential. Thank you for partnering with us in this important work!