Special Events and Activities
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School is part of a rich and vibrant community with a long history of tradition. There are numerous activities and special events which occur throughout the year and are repeated annually.
grandparents day
Grandparents Day is celebrated in the fall so students may share with them just a bit of their everyday life during the school year. On this day, grandparents or other significant family members are invited to theirs students' classrooms to join in a short activity before going to mass together. Following mass, a picnic lunch is served for all.
living gospel values
“The Father will honor whoever serves me,” (John 12:26) is the bible verse on the back of the 8th grade students’ Living Gospel Values shirts. Three times during the school year, the St. Mary Magdalen 8th grade students travel to different sites in the Orlando community to spread God’s love. The students go to organizations such as the Coalition for the Homeless, Salvation Army, Second Harvest Food Bank, Christian Sharing Center, Ronald McDonald House, and schools like Morning Star School. The Living Gospel Values program provides the opportunity to put into practice the morals and values the students learn at home and school.
catholic schools week
Sponsored by NCEA, CSW is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States which occurs usually in late January. The week is filled with celebration and activities including a powder-puff football game fundraiser for charity, an opening prayer service, an open house for prospective new families, a pep rally, a family picnic, and many more fun activities and themes each day. Through these events, our school focuses on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to the Church, our parish, local communities and the nation.
all saints celebration
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School celebrates All Hallow's Eve with a parade of saints! Students in grades K through 4 learn about and choose a favorite saint to dress up as. The parade goes throughout the school grounds and the parish offices. Following the parade, all grades gather for Halloween parties.
christmas programS
A highlight of our school year includes our annual Nativity program. Our 8th Graders along with their Kindergarten buddies re-enact the story of Jesus's birth - a beautiful and moving reminder of the story of Christmas to begin the season. We also host a Christmas Concert, featuring Grades 1 and 2 singing festive Christmas songs, our musical groups performing, and our school band joining in with holiday tunes!
Kindergarten-8th grade buddies
Eighth graders probably look forward to this tradition most! The 8th graders are paired with a Kindergarten buddy. The buddy program begins with a ceremony where they meet and learn about each other. Throughout the school year they get together for various activities including a field trip. This friendship provides an opportunity for both 8th graders and Kindergarteners to learn from each other and develops into a bond that continues for years to come.
MUSIC PROGRAMS
In addition to Music as a special subject area class for all students in Grades K-5, our music program includes our Mustang Music Ensemble, Show Choir, and Cantor Choir. The students in these programs have many opportunities to perform including an evening concert, pep rallies, Christmas concerts, and even Disney World.
band and drumline
St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School offers a beginner and advanced band program as well as a separate drum-line program for grades 4 through 8. We are blessed to have our band director, Mr. James Barker, who also directs the Bishop Moore Catholic High School marching band and is involved in many musical endeavors in the Central Florida Area.
may crowning
At the beginning of May, the month of Mary, our fourth graders prepare a special prayer service in Mary's honor. The service includes readings, song and prayer, but also depictions of the many images of the Virgin Mary and a crowning of the Queen Mother and presentation of flowers from all of the classes.
Mothers day tea
The Mothers Day Tea is a highlight of the Kindergarten year. First Grade mothers and their students help host the event which includes students dressing up, being escorted to the cafeteria which has been transformed into a quaint tea room, portraits, a presentation on what they love most about their moms and song by the Kindergarteners!
first communion breakfast
The sacrament of First Holy Communion is certainly one of the most significant and meaningful events in the lives of our elementary students. Students are prepared both through their religion classes in second grade and through parish religious education classes. Following First Holy Communion at Sunday Masses, students then are celebrated by the entire student body at a school Mass wearing their special outfits. Following Mass, the students enjoy a small treat, along with their parents.
Field day
One of the culminating events of every school year is Field Day! Fun for all grades organized by our PE staff with the helping hands of many parents, students rotate through numerous stations on our vast campus, enjoying games and competitions while usually ending up a little wet, which is a relief in the warm Florida sunshine!
MANY tRADITIONS AT smm
One of the appealing characteristics of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic School is the sense of history and tradition. There are many more activities that occur throughout the school year that bring joy and excitement. Some of these include the Spelling Bee, the Geography Bee, the Greek Festival, special Masses on Holy Days, Stations of the Cross during Lent, the Altar Server program, and many, many more.