Year in Advance 2023-2024

As a Catholic Montessori school, St. Catherine’s is dedicated to an educational experience which awakens in our students the awareness of their gifts and responsibilities as individuals in relationship with Jesus Christ and as stewards of the global community.

Montessori Vision

Dr. Maria Montessori frequently described the inner wisdom inherent in all human beings and envisioned education as a spiritual mission to unleash each child’s inner potential. In The Secret of Childhood she writes, “Our care of the child should be governed, not by the desire to make [them] learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within [them] that light which is called intelligence.” Montessori believed that, properly nurtured, each child’s wisdom radiates outward to create a more peaceful world.

Catholic Roots

Our Catholic vocation is to nurture and reveal the Spirit of God within each child. Revealing one’s inner light is an aspect of service to God outlined in the Gospel of Matthew. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Our Philosophy: Bringing Wisdom to Light

The complementary messages of our Montessori and Catholic heritages are perhaps most simply summarized by our guiding philosophy: “Bringing Wisdom to Light.” As an AMI school, St. Catherine’s follows the curriculum and traditions established by Dr. Montessori more than 100 years ago. More than simply a method of education, the Montessori approach fosters the development of the whole child—intellectually, physically, socially, morally, and spiritually. As a Catholic community, St. Catherine’s additionally nurtures children’s spiritual development so that each student may experience the presence of God both individually and in community.

Greeting from St. Catherine's!

Welcome to a new school year. I hope you had a wonderful summer filled with lots of fun and time for rest and relaxation. I am always grateful for the summer as it provides more family time and the opportunity for traveling.

As another school year approaches, I am excited about all the possibilities the new beginning brings. We welcome new families and students to the St. Catherine's community. We also welcome new employees to our campus and look forward to the excitement and expertise they will bring and the relationships they will form with our students. It is a time, yet again, to renew the noble mission that St. Catherine's serves.

By now, you have received St. Catherine's new Strategic Plan. This plan, which we are thrilled to share with you, is critical to our school's ongoing success. Accomplishing a plan of this degree will require everyone pulling together to bring it to fruition. We are eager to press ahead and begin the accountability and action phase that will lead us into implementation.

We look forward to the Strategic Plan’s incredible impact on our students and their overall learning experience. We are already enthusiastically moving forward with expanding our offering of parent education programs, in addition to an expansion to our growing high school that was completed during the summer and construction kickoff at our Japhet campus!

As our students are getting ready to walk through the doors of St. Catherine's for another year, we hope this Year inAdvance:2023-2024 will serve as an initial guide You will find within these pages information on our new employees, key dates, as well as many other important things to be aware of as we embark on a new year.

Lastly, this summer, part of my professional development included the AMI Montessori 12-18 Orientation training, and it was a great joy learning alongside great professionals. I would like to share a quote with you as we pray for our teachers and students throughout the school year.

“Human teachers can only help the great work that is being done, as servants help the master. Doing so, they will be witnesses to the unfolding of the human soul and to the rising of a New Man, who will not be a victim of events but will have the clarity of vision to direct and shape the future of human society.” — Dr. Maria Montessori

Please enjoy the remaining days of your summer. I look forward to seeing you on the first day of Blessings for a great school year!

school.

Lina Delgado Head of School

ldelgado@stcathmont.org

eblackman@stcathmont.org

hcopeland@stcathmont.org

shemming@stcathmont.org

bmoses@stcathmont.org

itmanager@stcathmont.org

lray@stcathmont.org

awalz@stcathmont.org

Lina Delgado Head of School

Emily Blackman Campus Administrator

Holly Copeland Business Director

Sam Hemming Facilities & Athletics Director

Bruce Moses Director of Lower School & Technology Director

Lyndsey Ray Advancement Director

Dr. Brian Tucker Director of Upper School & High School Guide btucker@stcathmont.org

Amy Walz

Enrollment Management Director

Lower School (Infant Community – Elementary)

First and second planes of development

Renee Smith

Infant Community Guide & Primary Specialist

Erica Berwanger

Primary Guide

Kathy Richardi

Primary Guide

Jennifer Uitenbroek

Primary Guide

Hannah Engelke

Lower Elementary Guide

Jaime Hope

Lower Elementary Guide

Catherine McLachlan

Lower Elementary Guide

Tim Snow

Upper Elementary Guide

Meg Spesia

Upper Elementary Guide

Ely Marron

Infant Community Assistant

Kapila Sankaran

Primary Assistant

Denise Rodriguez

Primary Assistant & Elementary After-School Program

Ashley Melchor

Primary Assistant & Primary After-School Program

Lauren Lee

Lower Elementary Assistant

LuAnn Sanchez

Lower Elementary Assistant

Helene Lubel

Lower Elementary Associate Guide

Maria Diaz

Upper Elementary Assistant

Sharon Ortiz

Upper Elementary Assistant

Upper School (Adolescent Community and High School) Third plane of development

Veronica Harth

Adolescent Community Guide

Joy Jones

Adolescent Community Guide

Danielle Mouton

Adolescent Community Guide

Teresa Onofre

Adolescent Community & High School Guide

Gabriela Velez

Adolescent Community Guide & Japhet Liaison

Amy Lindsey

High School Guide

Todd Nies

High School Guide

Dr. Charles Novo

High School Guide

Dr. Brian Tucker

High School Guide

Kelley Bruso Naturalist

Student Support Sta

Sr. Theresa Josephine Do, O.P. Catechist

Jacinta Edussuriya

Primary & Elementary Consultant

Heidi Flores

Primary After-School Program & Substitute

Melissa Lopez Library Manager

Mindy Snow Creative Expression & Music Guide

Ricardo Vargas Athletics Associate

Sta

Samuel Garcia Facilities Associate

Sandra Espinosa, MSSW Counselor

Jocelyn Ochoa Communications Coordinator

Sarah Lewis

Director of College Counseling & Testing Coordinator

Sterling Richards Academic Support Specialist

Christian Sosa

Health Care Coordinator & Upper School After-School Program

Tom Mouton Facilities Associate

Grecia Parra Analyst

Kesley Rodriguez Registrar & Administrative Coordinator

Joy Jones

Adolescent Community Guide

Joy will join St. Catherine’s as a guide in the Adolescent Community. She received her undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University, focusing on English, Psychology, Sociology, and Kinesiology. She then earned her Master's in Education, moved to Houston, and spent a total of 23 years teaching Middle School and High School students. Joy holds a Texas Educator Certificate and received her AMI Montessori 12–18 Orientation training. Her passion for project- and inquiry-based learning has flourished over the years, and she has come to recognize its power to engage and empower students, encourage them to explore their curiosities, and apply their knowledge in real-world contexts. Joy is excited to join the St. Catherine’s community!

Todd Nies

High School Guide

Todd will join St. Catherine’s as a guide in the High School. He has taught a variety of subjects to a variety of age levels from 13-18, holds eight State Educator Certifications, and has received his AMI Montessori 12–18 Orientation training. His experience includes teaching in a small rural school in the Texas Panhandle and larger urban schools in Austin and Houston. The focus of his passion has always been the development of the whole child into a responsible, moral, productive, and kind adult. For Todd, it is simply not just about the content but instead it is how we learn and grow as complete individuals.

Kapila Sankaran Primary Assistant

Kapila will assist in Ms. Erica's Primary classroom. She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and a graduate degree in Library & Information Science. She has always loved working with families as a youth services librarian and early childhood music educator. Kapila adores native plant gardening, origami, family read-aloud, reading popular science, singing and playing the ukulele with humans of all sizes, writing, and yoga/exercise. She is especially drawn to Dr. Maria Montessori's emphasis on the development of the "whole child" and its broader significance for uplifting the whole world.

Christian Sosa

Health Care Coordinator

Christian will join us as our new health care coordinator. He is a Certified Medical Assistant with three years of experience working in school clinics. Christian most recently worked for CHRISTUS School Clinics in two Catholic schools. He received a certificate as nursing assistant from Houston Community College in 2018. He received his medical assistant certification from National Performance Specialist in 2020. He has worked in the medical field as a nursing assistant since 2018, working for various hospitals from Ben Taub Hospital, Houston Methodist, and St. Luke’s Hospital. He is First Aid and CPR certified, vision and hearing, acanthosis nigricans and spinal certified.

Helene Lubel

Lower Elementary Associate Guide (formerly Elementary Associate Guide)

Helene will join Ms. Catherine’s Lower Elementary classroom after spending last school year supporting our new Elementary guides and providing additional assistance to our Primary classrooms. She has decades of experience guiding AMI Montessori classrooms and implementing Montessori programs. Helene received her bachelor’s degree in education from The University of Texas at Austin and earned her AMI Elementary Diploma from the Centro Internazionale Studi Montessoriani in Bergamo, Italy.

Renee Smith

Infant Community Guide & Primary Specialist (formerly Part-time Primary Specialist)

Renee will guide our Infant Community this year. She has 15 years of experience in Montessori education, having served previously as a Primary guide here at St. Catherine's and at The Post Oak School. Renee has a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in studio art. She received her AMI Primary Diploma from the Montessori Institute of North Texas in 2010, and is currently completing the Assistants to Infancy (0-3) Diploma Course.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The primary charge of the St. Catherine’s Montessori Board of Directors is to maintain the institution’s essential character and integrity, and to ensure that it remains viable to serve the students of today, while being mindful of the boundary between board duty and day-to-day school operations and management. Collectively, the board is entrusted to ensure the financial integrity of the school, support the Head of School in their execution of operations and management, and ensure that the character and quality of the program and instruction remain consistent with the overall longterm commitment and mission of the school. In addition, in the appropriate years, the board directs the strategic planning process for the creation and implementation of the school’s five-year plan. Board members serve a three-year renewable term.

Chair, Officers of Corporation Committee

Chair, Head of School Support & Evaluation Committee

Board Category: Dominican Family Term 1 – Year 3

Vice President

Board Category: Parent Term 2 – Year 1

Chair, Committee on Directors

Board Category: Community Term 1 – Year 3

Board Category: Parent Term 2 – Year 1

Board Category: Parent Term 1 – Year 2

Chair, Finance Committee

Board Category: Dominican Family Term 1 – Year 3

Chair, Building & Grounds Committee

Board Category: Community Term 1 – Year 1

Denise Stasio President

Angie Gubitz

Sarah Scherschel Secretary

Lauren Wasielewski Treasurer

Misty Matin Chair, Advancement Committee

Chad Mavity Chair, Strategic Planning Committee

Sam McGlone

Eric Rodriguez

Board Category: Community Term 1 – Year 1

Kevin Smith

Board Category: Dominican Family Term 1 – Year 2

Lina Delgado Head of School Ex-Officio

PREPARING FOR THE FIRST DAYS OF SCHOOL

Required Forms

Required Medical Forms for the upcoming school year were due on Friday, July 21, 2023. These forms must be completed before your child’s first day of school. To access all forms, log in to your FACTS Family Portal account, available from the school website, and use district code “STCM-TX.”

Contact Christian Sosa at clinic@stcathmont.org or (713) 665-2195 with questions.

Healthy Community

It is important that every family conduct a daily assessment to determine whether their child is well enough to attend school. Students who are not well enough to attend must be kept at home

A child having one or more of the following symptoms at school will be sent home:

• Fever 100.0 degrees or above

• Chills

• Sore Throat

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• New loss of taste or smell

• Suspected contagious disease

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Does not feel well enough to participate in usual school activities

• Lice

If your child has any of the above symptoms in the morning before school, they may not come to school. Contact the Health Care Coordinator at clinic@stcathmont.org to inform us of the nature of your child’s illness and to receive guidance on when they might return to school. If the child sees a physician, please provide a Return to School note from that physician prior to returning to school.

Please inform the school of any communicable disease your child's doctor confirms, including COVID-19.

What to Bring to School

Christian Sosa Health Care Coordinator

Remember that all students must bring a reusable water bottle to school each day. Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook and communications from your child’s guide for additional and classroomspecific information on what to bring (and not to bring) to school.

Uniforms for Mass and Special Outings

Upper Elementary and Adolescent Community students are required to wear uniforms for Mass and special outings. Upper Elementary students wear SCM collared shirts with khaki slacks or khaki skirts. The SCM collared shirts can be purchased online at Lands’ End using the dedicated St. Catherine’s link located near the bottom of the school website main page. Adolescent Community students wear a navy-blue blazer, long-sleeve white dress shirt, and khaki slacks or khaki skirts. High School students wear church attire to Mass.

The first Mass of the school year is Wednesday, August 30 at 2:15 p.m. in the gym. All members of the St. Catherine’s community are invited to attend.

After-School Program

During the school year we offer an after-school program on a space-available basis. Students must be registered SCM students to participate, and the schedules are as follows:

• • Primary PM and Elementary students from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. (from 2:30 p.m. on Fridays) Adolescent Community and High School (Upper School) students from 3:45 to 6:00 p.m. (from 2:45 p.m. on Fridays)

The Primary PM after-school program opens on Friday, August 18. The Elementary after-school program opens on Tuesday, August 15. The Upper School after-school program opens on Monday, August 14 for High School students and on Wednesday, August 16 for AC students.

Parents received the after-school program registration form in July, and it is available online in the FACTS Family Portal.

Carpool Maps

Drop-off and pick-up are important transitions in your child’s day, and we make every effort to encourage your child’s confidence and independence. The following procedures are designed with your child’s needs in mind, along with the safety and efficiency of the carpool line.

Please use Link Valley Drive to queue up for the carpool line. This prevents the line from backing up on Timberside Drive and extending towards the 610 freeway. If you do enter Timberside from the freeway, DO NOT jump the line. Turn down Link Valley to join the end of the line forming there.

Primary – High School parents DO NOT park in the carpool lane during arrivals or dismissals.

We ask that all parents stay in their vehicles during morning arrival and all dismissals (except for Infant Community parents).

During arrival, all students enter through the Welcome Center entrance.

Infant Community parents park at the black cones in the carpool lane; walk their IC child to the classroom via the Welcome Center in the morning, and pick them up in the Welcome Center at dismissal.

Primary – High School parents pull all the way up to the first available cone (colors purple through red only) when dropping off your student.

BACK TO SCHOOL AND FIRST WEEKS ON CAMPUS

Parent Orientations

Wednesday, August 9

•5:00 – 6:00 p.m. High School

•6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Adolescent Community

Thursday, August 10

•5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Lower Elementary

•6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Upper Elementary

Monday, August 14

•5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Infant Community

•6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Primary

AC Goal-Setting Conferences

Friday, August 11; Monday, August 14; and Tuesday, August 15, by appointment only

First Days of School

Parents of NEW Infant Community and NEW Primary students consult your phasing in schedules.

Monday, August 14

•All NEW Lower and Upper Elementary students only, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (all 1st, all 4th, and all NEW to SCM 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th year students)

•Adolescent Community Goal-Setting Conferences, by appointment only

•All High School students on regular schedule, 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

After-School Program opens for enrolled High School students from 3:45 to 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 15

•Infant Community and Primary Looking Day for new students, by appointment only

• All Elementary (new and returning) on regular schedule, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

After-School Program opens for enrolled Elementary students from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m.

•Adolescent Community Goal-Setting Conferences, by appointment only

Wednesday, August 16

•Returning Infant Community only on regular schedule, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

•Returning Primary only, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. Primary after-school program closed.

•All 7th-years and all NEW to SCM 8th and 9th year students only, 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

After-School Program opens for enrolled AC students from 3:45 to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 17

•Returning Primary only, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. Primary after-school program closed.

•All Adolescent Community (new and returning) on regular schedule, 8:00 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Friday, August 18

•Returning Primary only on regular Friday schedules

After-School Program opens for enrolled Primary PM students from 2:30 to 6:00 p.m.

•Friday dismissal for Primary PM – High School students, 2:30/2:45 p.m.

AUGUST

5 9 10 11 14 14

14-15 15

PSO Ambassador Playdate for Infant Community – Elementary

Parent Orientations (Adolescent Community & High School)

Parent Orientations (Lower Elementary & Upper Elementary)

AC Goal-Setting Conferences

First Day of School

Parent Orientations (Infant Community & Primary)

AC Goal-Setting Conferences

Infant Community and Primary Looking Day

19-Sept. 30 Parent Potlucks 30 Mass

SEPTEMBER

1-30 4 8 15 18 20 22 23 30 TBD

OCTOBER

2-5

SCM Annual Fund campaign

SCM On a Whim sign-up for new families

PSO Welcome Back Event

Upper School student lunch

Enrollment applications for new families open

Mass

PSO Meeting

Primary Parent Education event

Upper Elementary Parent Education event

Parent Education: Who Are the Dominicans?

AC Spiritual Retreat

Blessing of the Animals

Parent Education: The Montessori Journey

Sociables Sign-up Day

PSO Garden Work Day

Mass

Open House

PSO Fall Fest

Parent Education: AC Information Night

Parent Education: High School Information Night

Picture Day

Current 6th-years visit Adolescent Community

Current 9th-years visit High School

NOVEMBER

Mass

Parent Education: Moving Up Night (Upper Elementary)

High School trip

PSO Meeting

Parent Education: Moving Up Night (Lower Elementary)

Mr. Snow’s UE class camping trip to Brazos Bend State Park

Conferences (Lower School); No school for IC-AC students

Ms. Spesia's UE class trip to NCI

Upper School student lunch

Parent Education: College Financial Aid

Book Fair

Giving Tuesday DECEMBER

Christmas Concert Mass

Conferences (High School); No school for HS students

PSO Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon

An Education for Life

Our care for the child should be governed, not by the desire to make [them] learn things, but by the endeavor always to keep burning within [them] that light which is called intelligence.

–Dr. Maria Montessori

Academic Support

Montessori is more than a method of education. It is an outlook on life with a deep reverence for the innate potential of each person. It is a spiritual mission to create a more peaceful and loving world.

Dr. Montessori believed that each child is born with a unique personality and gifts, along with a desire to learn and to experience the world. By encouraging children’s interests and cultivating their innate strengths, Montessori believed that children would develop into productive, community-minded adults. At heart, education must serve the whole child – intellectually, socially, physically, and spiritually.

At St. Catherine’s, academic progress is a crucial focus of our program, but it is only part of our goal. Our underlying mission is to help students develop the character, confidence, and resilience to handle whatever life brings.

St. Catherine’s is dedicated to meeting each student’s academic needs. Our AMI-trained academic support specialist works in partnership with Primary and Elementary guides, parents, and the administration to help students receive the support they need to succeed at the level appropriate to their learning development.

If parents believe that more academic support is needed for their child, their first step would be to consult with their child’s guide to discuss concerns and a course of action. Likewise, if a guide observes that support may be needed, they will first notify the student’s parents. As needed, the academic support specialist will assess and work with the student. They will also maintain communication about the student’s needs and progress. In the event support staff determines additional, perhaps outside, testing and support is warranted, St. Catherine’s will assist the family in locating these resources.

Sterling Richards Academic Support Specialist

Our Dominican foundresses, Sr. Edna Ann Hebert, O.P. and Sr. Shirley Owens, O.P., envisioned the rich potential of combining Montessori and Catholic principles to serve the hearts and minds of students. Children of all ages have a unique relationship with God, and assisting even the youngest children in spiritual and moral growth is a crucial aspect of our mission. In accordance with both our Montessori and Catholic beliefs, St. Catherine’s has adopted the teachings of “The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd” to support the spiritual life of our students. Inspired by the profound religious intuition of children, the Catechesis curriculum combines the self-teaching principles of Montessori with the theological moorings of Hebrew scholarship, scripture studies, and Roman Catholic liturgy and doctrine.

Beginning at the Primary level, students attend monthly Mass, and children in Primary and Elementary visit the school catechist in our Atrium weekly. The Atrium is a prepared environment specifically intended for the spiritual growth of children. The space helps to nourish each child’s relationship with God by allowing for a period of retreat that facilitates introspection and silence; encourages religious life through community and worship; provides concrete, tactile work through which children may converse with God; and prepares the child for involvement in the larger worshiping community.

In adolescence, students are encouraged to recognize the responsibilities that come with receiving God’s gifts and to envision themselves as collaborators in a life committed to spiritual work and understanding. Our Catholic Adolescent Community and High School students receive lessons in preparation for Confirmation. In their Theology course, students study each of the sacraments and their function and operation under a panoply of Catholic teaching and social practice.

Mass Schedule

Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Richard Hinkley, director of spiritual formation at St. Mary’s Seminary. Mass will be held in the SCM gym, and all members of our community are invited to attend.

Wednesday, August 30 at 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, September 20 at 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, October 18 at 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, November 1 at 2:15 p.m.

Friday, December 8 at 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday, January 17 at 2:15 p.m.

Wednesday, February 14 at 1:45 p.m.

Wednesday, March 20 at 2:15 p.m.

Monday, April 29 at 8:45 a.m.

Wednesday, May 15 at 8:45 a.m.

Fr. Richard Hinkley

PARENT EDUCATION

Students benefit the most from their journey at St. Catherine’s when families connect with Montessori philosophy and understand the workings of our classrooms. We understand that the Montessori approach may be new to parents who have grown up with more traditional schooling. Throughout the year we offer several Parent Education opportunities. We encourage you to attend to deepen your awareness of your child’s growth as they progress through the Planes of Development and transition from one classroom level to another. Our guides also use these opportunities to suggest practical applications of Montessori at home.

Additionally, our Parent Service Organization (PSO) maintains a Parent Library in the Welcome Center, which includes many resources on Montessori principles and parenting.

Classroom Orientations

Parents will meet their child’s guide and learn about the daily rhythms of the classroom. Orientations are adult-only gatherings.

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. High School

• 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Adolescent Community

Thursday, August 10, 2023

• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Lower Elementary

• 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Upper Elementary

Monday, August 14, 2023

• 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Infant Community

• 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Primary

Primary Parent Education event

Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Presented by Kathy Richardi and Jennifer Uitenbroek

Upper Elementary Parent Education event

Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Presented by Tim Snow and Meg Spesia

Who Are the Dominicans?

September 2023 (date and time TBD)

The Montessori Journey

Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7, 2023

A unique opportunity for current parents to experience Montessori education as a participant in the classroom. Designed by a Montessorian and guided by our faculty, this two-day event provides parents with a hands-on tour of each level from Infant Community through High School. The first evening is spent in silent observation of each level, followed by the second day when parents are presented with lessons and encouraged to work with classroom materials as their children do each day. Space is limited; registration will open in September. We recommend that every parent attend The Montessori Journey during their time at St. Catherine’s.

AC Information Night

Monday, October 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Parents of all levels are invited to join the Adolescent Community guides for a conversation about the classroom environment, integrated curriculum, and everything else about the AC that serves the needs of the early adolescent.

High School Information Night

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Families of all levels are invited to receive an overview of the High School's curriculum, three-year cycle, and assessment process. This event is led by students from the High School community. Guides will be available to answer questions.

Elementary Moving Up Nights

These evenings are designed to introduce parents to what they and their children can expect as they transition to the Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary levels.

Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

• Upper Elementary

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

• Lower Elementary

College Information Night

Monday, November 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

Sarah Lewis, SCM’s director of college counseling, will discuss the ins and outs of college financial aid.

Montessori Night School

Thursday, February 1, 2024 (time TBD)

This evening is an opportunity for parents to see Montessori work in action, as Primary and Lower Elementary children will show off their classrooms and demonstrate the lessons they are learning. Upper Elementary classrooms each host an academic fair in which students give presentations on a topic of their choosing.

Upper School Parent Education event

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 6:00 p.m.

Presented by guest speaker Laurie Ewert-Krocker, AMI Adolescent trainer and consultant

Lower Elementary Parent Education event

Friday, March 1, 2024 at 12:00 p.m.

Presented by Hannah Engelke, Jaime Hope, and Catherine McLachlan

Primary Parent Education event

Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

Presented by Erica Berwanger and Renee Smith

Dr. Montessori viewed humans as an integral part of nature, here to appreciate with awe and wonder all of God’s creations and to be stewards of the global community. In The Absorbent Mind she stated, “Only through freedom and environmental experience is it practically possible for human development to occur." From the Infant Community through High School, St. Catherine’s students learn to see how their actions impact those around them, understand the interdependency of the web of life, and recognize their responsibility to preserve and enhance the earth. Students of all ages maintain outdoor classroom gardens and harvest what they grow as part of snack and lunch. They care for classroom pets, studying their lifecycles and behavior.

Japhet Campus

Located in Houston’s Greater Fifth Ward, our Japhet Campus inspires the spiritual formation and intellectual development of the adolescent and provides our younger children, families, and friends with a pastoral gathering place to study, work, and practice living in community.

At Japhet our adolescent students experience land-based learning as envisioned by Dr. Montessori – delving into nature-related subjects and studying the relationship between nature and the human society around it. Care for the environment flows naturally from the adolescents’ interest in participating in their community and from their curiosity about how their farm experience fits into the bigger picture of societal living.

The three-acre property is currently undergoing a transformation to better serve the needs of our Adolescent Community, provide unique outdoor educational opportunities for our High School and Lower School, and give our greater SCM community a gathering place. Renovation of the main house and construction of a new outdoor classroom will be complete this spring.

SCHOOL TRIPS

Beginning in Lower Elementary, St. Catherine’s students take overnight trips with their class. The excursions support ongoing classroom work, foster independence as students learn to make connections with the world beyond their school community, and provide additional freedom within limits. Students take an active role in planning their trips by researching locations, selecting activities, and preparing itineraries.

Lower Elementary

March 7-8, 2024

Mr. Jaime’s, Ms. Hannah’s, and Ms. Catherine’s class trip to Camp Allen in Navasota, TX

Upper Elementary

November 8-10, 2023

Mr. Snow’s class camping trip to Brazos Bend State Park in Needville, TX

November 14-17, 2023

Ms. Spesia’s class trip to Nature's Classroom Institute (NCI) in New Ulm, TX

April 6-13, 2024

Ms. Spesia’s & Mr. Snow’s class trip to Crow Canyon Archeological Center in Cortez, CO

May 22-23, 2024

6th-year Rite of Passage trip (location TBD)

*Adolescent Community

October 2-5, 2023

AC Spiritual Retreat (location TBD)

February 5-8 2024

AC Peace Trip (tour of Texas)

April 14-17

AC trip to San Diego, CA

May 5-12, 2024

9th-year trip to Costa Rica

*High School

November 2-10, 2023

High School trip (location TBD)

May 13-14, 2024

High School Retreat (location TBD)

*Part of the third plane studies entails involving students in the trip planning process, therefore some trip locations are still undetermined at this time. More information will be provided throughout the school year.

Program Philosophy

St. Catherine's is dedicated to giving students the opportunity to develop and strengthen their athletic abilities. Our after-school sports program is committed to building an athletics tradition that provides opportunities for students of all skill levels to enjoy the excitement, community, and physical development of sports. Athletes make a commitment to themselves and their teammates when they join a team. This commitment includes always working hard, being a good teammate, and attending all team practices and games.

After-School Sports Oerings

The following after-school sports are offered for 4th-12th year students throughout the school year. Practices will begin on the dates listed below.

• Volleyball and Soccer – Monday, August 21, 2023

• Basketball – Monday, October 30, 2023

• Track & Field – Monday, February 26, 2024

Upper Elementary students will practice Monday – Thursday from 3:30 to 4:10 p.m. Adolescent Community students will practice Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. High School students will practice Wednesdays from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. and Fridays from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m.

Registration forms for all sports will be released in August.

St. Catherine’s competes against other area Catholic schools in the Greater Houston Catholic Athletic Association (GHCAA). All members of the St. Catherine’s community are invited to attend games.

Program Philosophy

The St. Catherine’s music program is dedicated to helping each student reach their maximum potential by teaching them to realize the significance of commitment, musicianship, loyalty, teamwork, and work ethic. We expect each musician to be a respectable representative of themselves, their ensemble, and their school.

Music Oerings

Registration details for the following music offerings will be released in August.

Instrumental

• Beginning Strings Lessons for all new or continuing 2nd- through 12th-year players on violin, viola, cello, or bass (electric or double). Lessons will be during the school day as part of the work period on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will move at their own pace on their instrument but will be expected to do some at-home practice.

• Chamber Orchestra for returning 4th- through 6th-year players on violin, viola, cello, or bass (electric or double). It is recommended that players have at least one year of experience on their instrument for this group. The Chamber Orchestra will play in small groups – “Chamber Music Style” – and meet after school on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Players will be arranged in small trios and quartets and work on balancing melody and harmony in their groups.

• Chamber Ensemble for Adolescent Community and High School players on violin, viola, cello, or bass (electric or double). It is recommended that players have at least two years of experience on their instrument for this group. This small ensemble will practice during the school day as part of their Creative Expression work period and will have numerous performance opportunities during the year.

Vocal

• Acapella Choir for 4th- through 6th-year singers. Acapella Choir is an opportunity for young singers to develop their musical skills and hold their own parts in harmony. Choir will meet after school on Thursdays from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Singers should have the desire to sing together and explore fun performance opportunities.

PARENT SERVICE ORGANIZATION (PSO)

The PSO is dedicated to enhancing the experience of St. Catherine’s students, staff, and parents by creating a community founded on parent involvement and warm hospitality. Parents are welcomed as PSO members as soon as their child is enrolled at St. Catherine’s, and are invited to participate in all PSO activities.

Volunteering your time is essential to sustaining the many activities that occur during the school year, and your time and involvement are essential to cultivating and maintaining a strong and vibrant community.

Below is a list of PSO meeting and major event dates, which represent only a small number of activities and volunteer opportunities that will occur this year. We encourage you to subscribe to the online calendar linked from the school home page (www.stcathmont.org), and volunteer with a PSO committee. Visit www.stcathmont.org/pso to learn more.

PSO Meeting and Major Events Schedule

Saturday, August 5, 2023

PSO Ambassador Playdate for Infant Community –Elementary

Saturday, August 19 – Saturday, September 30, 2023

Parent Potlucks

Friday, September 8, 2023

PSO Welcome Back Event

Friday, September 22, 2023

PSO Meeting

Thursday October 12, 2023

Sociables Sign-up Day

Saturday, October 14, 2023

PSO Garden Work Day

Saturday, October 21, 2023

PSO Fall Fest

Friday, November 3, 2023

PSO Meeting

Monday, November 27 – Friday, December 1, 2023

Book Fair

Friday, December 1, 2023

Christmas Concert

Friday, December 15, 2023

PSO Faculty/Staff Appreciation Luncheon

Friday, January 19, 2024

PSO Meeting

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Steps 4 Students 5K Run/Walk

Friday, March 22, 2024

PSO Meeting

Saturday, April 27, 2024

PSO Garden Work Day

Saturday, May 4, 2024

PSO Spring Fling

Thursday, May 9, 2024

PSO Faculty/Staff Dessert Soirée

Friday, May 10, 2024

PSO Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

This year the Friends of the Atrium committee will launch a study group committed to the four pillars of Dominican teaching: prayer, study, community, and preaching. Activities will include monthly meetings focused on prayer, study, discussion, and action; guest speakers from the Dominican Order and the Dominican Family; and special projects that support charitable organizations in the greater Houston community. Stay tuned for more details!

St. Catherine’s is blessed to have a community that is deeply committed to the school’s mission and gives generously in support of our advancement. As an independent, non-profit school, we rely on tuition income and philanthropic contributions to support our operating expenditures and capital projects (campus expansion). By design, tuition covers approximately 90% of the school’s operating expenses and fundraising covers the rest. St. Catherine’s has been able to grow and continue as an exceptional institution because of volunteer participation and a tradition of giving.

SCM Annual Fund

September 1 – 30, 2023

The SCM Annual Fund is the school’s primary fundraiser. It is designed to provide additional support to our operating budget; helping us fund our daily operations and accomplish immediate campus improvements and program updates. The September annual fund drive is the first and most important fundraiser for St. Catherine’s and benefits every member of our community.

The motto of the SCM Annual Fund is “Every Family for Every Child,” and we ask that 100% of our families make a meaningful contribution each year. Reaching 100% parent participation in the annual fund is just as important as reaching our financial goal of $200,000. This year, St. Catherine’s will prioritize these four areas for annual fund spending:

• Improving compensation packages for employees;

• Better meeting the financial aid needs of our families through tuition assistance;

• Enhancing the strength of our educational programs through increased professional development opportunities and AMI training for faculty and staff; and

• Maintaining campus facilities and prepared learning environments.

Great Conversations

Saturday, April 20, 2024

Every other spring, St. Catherine’s hosts a non-gala fundraising event to raise additional funds for school projects. This year we invite you to attend Great Conversations, an evening for adults to enjoy great food, great company, and (you guessed it) great conversations. The event will feature a dynamic guest speaker, and proceeds will fund improvements to the outdoor Elementary environment on our main campus. Save the date and stay tuned for more details.

SCHOO L CALENDA R 2023-202 4

August 9-10

Elementary, Adolescent Community, and High School Parent Orientations

August 11

AC Goal-setting Conferences

August 14

All NEW Lower and Upper Elementary, 8am-12pm (all 1st, all 4th, and NEW to SCM 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th year students). After-school program closed All High School, 8am-3:45pm

After-school program opens for enrolled High School students

AC Goal-setting Conferences

Infant Community and Primary Parent Orientations

August 15

Looking Day for Infant Community and Primary by appointment only

All Elementary (New and Returning) on Regular Schedule, 8am-3:30pm After-school program opens for enrolled Elementary students

AC Goal-setting Conferences

August 16

Returning Infant Community only, 8:30-11:20am

Returning Primary only, 8-11:30am. Primary after-school program closed

All NEW Adolescent Community, 8am-3:45pm (all 7th years and all NEW to SCM 8th and 9th year students)

After-school program opens for enrolled Adolescent Community students

August 17

Returning Primary only, 8-11:30am. All Adolescent Community (New and Returning), 8am-3:45pm

August 18

Returning Primary on Regular Friday schedules

After-school program opens for enrolled Primary PM students Friday Dismissal, 2:30/2:45pm

October 10-11

November

January 2

January 8-9

January 15

February 16

February 19

March 4-5

March 11-15

March 29

April 1

April 25-26

May 27

May 28-29

May 30

May 31

The Globe

Stay Informed Throughout the Year

The Globe is our biweekly e-newsletter that features upcoming school events, key deadlines, student and community stories, and engagement and volunteer opportunities. We email it every other Wednesday during the school year (except during school holidays) and post it on the school website under the What’s New tab. We encourage all parents to read The Globe to stay up to date on school happenings.

Social Media

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

www.facebook.com/stcathmont

Web Calendars

www.instagram.com/stcathmont

We regularly update our website calendars throughout the year and suggest that parents use the subscribe feature to sync them to their personal calendars.

1. Navigate to the events page from the school’s home page. 2. Select the calendar(s) you want to sync. 3. Click “subscribe” and choose your personal calendar application.

SNEAK PEEK OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL EXPANSION!

ShowYour SCMSpirit

St. Catherine's has a variety of items in adult and youth sizes, including t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and bags emblazoned with the school logo or mascot.

All can be purchased online and shipped directly to your home. Visit the school store to check out our selection and show your love for St. Catherine's!