Good luck to the OG Girls Basketball Team after their great win last night! Now it’s on to the Warriors. Best of luck to the team as they compete in the State Basketball Tournament!

This may be the most important Parent Update I send this year, so please take a few minutes to read the announcements below. We had a great conversation at the 3rd Quarter SFO Meeting on Tuesday. Thank you to everyone who attended in person and via Zoom. During the meeting we discussed several important topics, including the Playground Project, the 2026–2027 Parent Committees, and the 2026–2027 Fall Festival. If you were unable to attend the SFO meeting, I encourage you to take some time to watch the recording.

I would especially like everyone to review the 2026–2027 Fall Festival Survey and the St. Mary Parent Committee Chair and Co-Chair Sign-Up for 2026–2027 in this newsletter.

I am looking for your input regarding the future of the Fall Festival. The Fall Festival is a great tradition at St. Mary, but it requires a significant amount of volunteer support to make it successful. I need to know if we have enough support to continue hosting the Fall Festival in its current form or if changes need to be made. Your feedback will help us understand how valuable this event is to our families and whether you are willing to help make it happen. Please take a few minutes to complete the 2026-2027 St. Mary Fall Festival Survey. 

In addition, I am creating Chair and Co-Chair positions for the 2026–2027 Parent Committees. Establishing these roles now will help identify a direct contact for events such as the Fall Festival, Grandparents Day, Trunk-or-Treat, and many of the other wonderful parent-led activities at St. Mary. If you are not able to serve as a Chair or Co-Chair, each committee will still need volunteers. Families will have the opportunity to sign up as volunteers at the 2026–2027 Open House in August.

Please take some time to talk with other St. Mary families about these two important surveys. We will review the results and discuss next steps at the 4th Quarter SFO Meeting on May 4.

God Bless,

Drake Bachmeier

St. Mary Principal

dbachmeier@ogknights.org

605-334-9881

If you were not able to make the 3rd Quarter SFO Meeting you can watch it here:

St. Mary 3rd Quarter SFO Meeting 3/10/2026

Passcode: tZw9Y@Cz

he Fall Festival is a great tradition at St. Mary, but it requires a significant amount of volunteer support to make it successful. I need to know if we have enough support to continue hosting the Fall Festival in its current form or if changes need to be made. Your feedback will help us understand how valuable this event is to our families and whether you are willing to help make it happen.

Please fill out the following survey: 2026–2027 Fall Festival Survey

Our school runs on parent volunteers! Without their support, many of the great traditions we enjoy at St. Mary would not be possible.

Please consider signing up to serve as a Chair or Co-Chair for one of these events. Without volunteers in these roles, we are unable to make these events happen.

Chair:
A parent volunteer who leads and coordinates a committee or event and serves as the primary contact with the principal. This position is a one-year commitment. 

Co-Chair:
A parent volunteer who works alongside the Chair to help plan, organize, and coordinate a committee or event, assisting with communication and leadership as needed. After the Chair’s one-year term, the Co-Chair will step into the Chair role.

It is the responsibility of the Chair and Co-Chair to help identify and recruit a new Co-Chair to continue the cycle of leadership.

If you are not able to be a Chair or Co-Chair but would still like to volunteer for an event you can sign up as a Parent Volunteer during the Open House in August 2026

If you are interested in being a Chair or Co-Chair of event please fill out the following Good Form: St. Mary Parent Committee Chairs and Co Chairs 2026-2027

We have some exciting news coming soon! Please keep an eye on our Parent Updates in the weeks ahead.

For more information about the Playground and how to donate please click the following button: 

We have currently raised $213,479.30!

Money Pledged: $12,500!

Take a look at the St. Mary Playground FAQ and what the updated plans are for the playground. 

The St. Mary Alter Society is hosting their annual Father-Daughter Dance on Friday, April 10th. Please see the picture below for more details. 

If you need childcare on the early dismissal day of April 2nd or the No School Days of April 3rd and 4th please fill out the following form. 

No School Days/Early Dismissal Days Contract for 2025-2026

This is due by March 13th

At our last SFO Meeting, the Bishop O’Gorman Foundation shared information about the many scholarship opportunities available at St. Mary and through the Foundation. If you are interested, please review the attached documents.

Several scholarships are specifically designated for St. Mary families and often receive few or no applicants. We encourage you to take advantage of this great opportunity. Please note that some of these scholarships are awarded regardless of financial need.

St. Mary 2026-2027 Scholarship Information

2026-2027 Scholarship Information

Here is the Lenten Service Project we are having at St. Mary

On Tuesday, March 17th we will have a Green Dress Down Day. Students can dress down if they have a green or St. Patrick Day top. 

Our Girls on the Run team is full. We can't add more runners unless we get more Coaches! If you want to be a coach please reach out to Contact Molly Christianson at Molly@EmpoweredCoaching.com or (605)360-1759

Register to coach through EmBe:  Girls on the Run/Heart & Sole Spring 2026 Coach Application

Spring is on its way and your students class could be going on a Fieldtrip. If you want to help drive your students you will need to fill out some forms in the office. This usually takes a couple of week to complete. If you have any questions please reach out to Barb in the office. 

If you are interested in the Summer Achievement Academy for your student this summer the application is now open. The Summer Achievement Academy are a wide variety of classes in the summer taught by Bishop O'Gorman teachers to help your student with Preschool and Kindergarten Readiness, Direct Reading Instruction, Math Skills and Strengthening Social Skills. If you have any questions about the Achievement Academy please reach out to Amy Isaacson at aisaacson@ogknights.org

Registration Deadline April 1, 2026

If your son or daughter is interested in a $1,000 Scholarship for the 2026-2027 academic year please use the following links. They must be postmarked or hand delivered by Friday, March 20, 2026. You can also find a copy of the application in the office at St. Mary. 

Catholic Tuition Assistance Scholarship 6-12

Catholic Tuition Assistance Scholarship K-5

Here is a place where I will keep photos for you to download from our events at St. Mary!

St. Mary Dart Days

St. Mary Veterans Day Photos

Grandparent's Day 2025

St. Mary Christmas Program

PES Sisters at St. Mary

KOC Free Throw Contest (25-26)

Catholic Schools Week

Valentine Parties

There are still spots available for the St. Mary Community Events!

Spots available for the Private Brewery Tour + Tasting at Fernson. Date TBD. $75/person. Must be 21. Sign up here.

Spots available for the State Theatre St. Mary Night - Spring Movie. March 24, 2026, 6pm. Movie TBD. Adult supervision required. Sign up here

All event items are to be paid via cash or check (made out to St. Mary School and noted which event) to the St. Mary office.

Thank you and please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information,

Nikki Galloway
nikkibruner@gmail.com

Safe2Say South Dakota is a statewide tip line that allows South Dakota schools and students to remain safe by collecting anonymous reports regarding student safety concerns. South Dakota students, school staff, and community members can anonymously report sensitive information that concerns their safety or the safety of others, including mental health concerns. Safe2Say operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Anyone with information about a potentially dangerous situation can call the toll-free number: 1-844-373-7233, visit https://safe2say.sd.gov or download the safe2Say app to report safety concerns. A trained Safe2Say analyst will forward the information to a multi-disciplinary team for action.

Please see the schedule: St. Mary Donut Days

Class Ministers: 4th Gerdes

Preschool Classes Attending: LeGrand/Weisbecker

Donuts: 4th Gerdes

Please click on the documents below for important information about the school year!

6th Grade Immunization Flyer

Kindergarten Immunization Flyer

PS-6th Grade Handbook

Elementary Uniform Policy

Giftcard Program

School Supply List

Before & After School Care

No School / Early Dismissal Days

Community Resource Flyers

Bishop O'Gorman Community Events

Green Dress Down Day: March 17th

Buy it Now Dress Down Day: April 10th

Buy it Now Dress Down Day: May 1st

6th Grade Ceremony and Graduation: May 13th

1st-6th Grade Field Day: May 14th

Click here to view all Bishop O'Gorman Community Events

Community Resource Flyers

Community Business Directory

Gift Card Program

Counselor: Shared position between St. Katharine Drexel Elementary and St. Lambert Elementary. 
Orchestra Teacher: Shared position between the Junior High and St. Michael Elementary.
Physics/Chemistry Teacher: O'Gorman High School
Groundskeeper/Custodian: O'Gorman High School

Click here to check out all open positions or visit ogknights.org/careers to apply.