St. Mary’s School spaghetti fundraiser this evening

Friends of St. Mary’s School set a new Christopher Columbus Italian-American Society record Tuesday morning when they rolled approximately 2,000 meatballs in 45 minutes for a spaghetti dinner and 50/50 raffle scheduled to take place from 4:30 to 7 p.m. this Thursday evening at the Christopher Columbus Hall.

The group of alumni, teachers, friends and parents were driven by their dedication to the students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School.

“The CC Hall is doing this as a community service for us, and they're such good people to work with,” volunteer Marsha Mitchell said. “The school is just a wonderful place to learn. It has wonderful teachers. It has good basic education, but it also adds Christian values.”

Not every student attending St. Mary’s is a practicing Catholic. All children from preschool to Grade 8 are welcome to enroll. 

“The school is nothing short of fantastic, and I would recommend it to anyone,” 1668 Winery owner Ray Bauer said. “You don’t have to be Catholic to reap the benefits of that environment. I think, maybe, six out of the last eight Sault high valedictorians came out of St. Mary’s. It is like a valedictorian machine.”

Bauer’s wife, Joan, has taught elementary at St. Mary’s for several years. All their children attended to include Sault Area High School’s latest valedictorian, Magdalene Bauer, who graduated this spring with a GPA of 4.095. 

The prize student earned several scholarships over her high school career. She will attend Central University this fall in pursuit of a music education degree. 

“The teacher to student ratio is very low,” Mitchell said, highlighting one of the many benefits at St. Mary's. “The teachers are there for the kids, not the money.”

The funds collected at today’s dinner and 50/50 raffle will go directly to the school, so that it may continue offering its students a superior foundation.  

Spaghetti dinners will be available at $15 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. Take out dinners are optional.

The Christopher Columbus Hall is located at 201 Sheridan Dr, Sault Ste. Marie,

If one wishes to donate to help increase teacher salaries, they may do so through the St. Mary Catholic School Staff Support Fund of the Upper Peninsula Catholic Foundation. To make a donation to the St. Mary’s Catholic School endowment fund, visit the UPCF website at www.upcatholicfoundation.org, or mail a check made out in the endowment’s name to: 1004 Harbor Hills Dr, Marquette, MI 49855.