HSA

Philosophy of Volunteering

Mary of Nazareth School’s mission is to prepare students for lives of service to God and neighbor. The philosophy of the Mary of Nazareth Volunteer Program is that our families are an example to our students, living out the Gospel teachings by serving the school, parish and larger community. Through the school’s vibrant and comprehensive volunteer opportunities, each family is asked to give of their time and talent at a minimum of ten hours per year.

Why Do I Volunteer?

  • "To spend time with my son and to feel like a valuable member of the MoN community."
  • - Melinda Doss
  •  "It was clear from the start that MoN had such a strong community and that's due, in large part, to the wonderful parents who give their time to make our school excellent. I wanted to be a part of that. Helping out at the school made me feel like a part of the MoN community, it gave me a sense of comfort and familiarity with the school, teachers, and other parents...and that makes it feel more like home for our family."
  • - Krysia Novotny
  • "I volunteer at school to share moments with my children and meet new people and hear their stories."
  • - Stacey Seager
  • "I like to contribute any free time I have to our children school and my children enjoy me being there. I feel very lucky and fortunate that I’m able to do that."
  • - Dora Kessler
  • "The more involved we are, the more we become part of this school. I love catching glimpses of my kids in action with their friends at school."
  • - Jenny McQuiston
  • "I started it because I wanted to observe the school from the inside, to get to know kids, teachers, and staff better. I was impressed with the dedication professionalism. I keep volunteering to express my gratitude and to give help in a way that I can"
  • - Julia Tarakanova
  • "I volunteer because I love how excited my children are to teach me about the school environment that they know so much about (even more than me). They are the experts here and I like how they take pride in showing me the ropes of how things work. I also really enjoy meeting the other parents and having that shared experience and community. The laughing and sharing stories with other parents make the experience invaluable."
  •  - Lisa Dsouza

HSA Information

  • HSA Programs

    The Mary of Nazareth School HSA is able to support our community through several programs each year. We are thankful to all families for their participation in each area.


    Race for Scholars

    Our main event of the year is Race for Scholars. This activity involves a fun-filled afternoon where students run together through the beautiful Mary of Nazareth School campus. Funds are raised for the MoN Home and School Association, through family and business sponsorships, that provide for classroom activities and celebrations throughout the school year.


    Restaurant Nights

    Take a night off from cooking and enjoy dinner with friends from Mary of Nazareth School. On restaurant nights, which are held throughout the year, participating vendors donate a percentage of sales back to the HSA.

  • School Celebrations and Activities

    The goal of the Home School Association (HSA) is to enrich the experience of the children of MoN school and build and foster a sense of community. Our activities and efforts include:


    • Back to School Picnic
    • Breakfast with St. Nick
    • Catholic Schools Week Activities
    • Christmas Bingo
    • Communion Celebration
    • 8th Grade Graduation Celebration
    • Field Trips
    • Grandparents Day
    • Lunch Servers and Lunch Monitors
    • May Crowning
    • Restaurant Nights
    • Room Parent Classroom Support
    • School Dance
    • School Newsletter
    • Social Concerns Activities
    • Teacher Appreciation Efforts
    • Technology Purchases for the School
    • Used Uniform Sales

  • Child Protection Policy for Volunteers

    In order to volunteer at school, to coach a sports team, or to attend a field trip with your child’s class, you must be cleared through the Archdiocesan Child Protection system (VIRTUS).  If you are not already cleared, consider doing it now.  You do not have to complete the process every year.


    Please follow these steps for NEW volunteers (or see ADW Compliance Checklist):

    1. Go to www.virtus.org and click on the link for "registration".  Begin the registration process and choose "Washington, DC (Archdiocese).  Please note that the name on your account must match the legal name on your ID documents.  

    2. Create a user name and password, and register to attend an online child protection class.   Please choose "Mary of Nazareth School" as your location.  During the online registration, please read the Pastoral Code of Conduct and Contact with Minors.  

    3. Email to Mrs. Wray in the office the completed volunteer application and 2 forms of government-issued ID (driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, social security card, government employment ID- military ID’s are not accepted.)  Once those have been received, Mrs. Wray will email you the Archdiocesan fingerprint authorization form.  

    4. Schedule an appointment with any authorized fingerprint provider.  You must bring valid, government-issued ID to the appointment.

    5. Once you have attended the class, please sign page 56 of the green Child Protection Policy booklet you receive (Acknowledgement - Appendix E).   Please complete the bottom section, “Employee/Volunteer”, and email this page to Mrs. Wray in the office.  Your position is “volunteer”. 

     Individuals will be personally responsible for the costs (estimated to be approximately $40-$60 per person) associated with the fingerprinting process.

    All volunteers must be fingerprinted under these requirements, even if you have been previously fingerprinted for another company or position. 

     

    If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Wray at mwray@maryofnazareth.org


  • HSA General Meeting Minutes

    September 5, 2024 General Meeting Minutes  


  • Treasurer's Corner and Forms

    Current HSA Treasurer: Kirk Kincer 


    2025-26 HSA Proposed Budget - as of 8-20-2025

    2025-26 HSA Dues: $25 per family

    2025-26 Class Activity Fee (CAF): $20 per child


    To submit a Disbursement of Funds request:

    1. Complete Disbursement Request Form and attach your receipt(s).
    2. Submit completed form and receipts to HSA Treasurer through the main office.
    3. You will receive your check in backpack mail.

    Please note that reimbursement to individuals may not exceed $250 for out-of-pocket expenses. Individual expenses exceeding $250.00 will be paid by check directly to the vendor. The expense for a single item may not be divided into multiple reimbursements of smaller amounts.


    If you require a check in advance or have a bill that must be paid by the HSA, please submit a completed Disbursement Request Form and submit it to the HSA Treasurer with at least three day's notice. Please keep a copy of the bill for committee records. HSA checks must be co-signed by the HSA President and the Principal.


    To Submit a Notice of Deposit:

    If you are in charge of an activity that generates money, such as a fundraiser:


    1. Verify the total amount being turned in and complete a Deposit Notice Form.
    2. Two committee members must count cash before deposit can be completed.
    3. Deposit Notice Form and cash/checks must be submitted to the HSA President, Vice President, or Treasurer. This should be done at the end of the event or as soon as possible the next school day.

    Please note that the Deposit Notice Form may be submitted to the Treasurer as an attachment to an e-mail.

  • Nominating and Elections Committee

    This HSA committee is responsible for nominating candidates for officer positions and running the associated election.


    Committee Members:

    Daniela Diaz

    Natalia Godoy

Meet the HSA!

Krysia Novotny

- President

Krysia is once again serving as HSA President at Mary of Nazareth, a role she previously held for two years. She and her family have been active members of the MoN community for many years, consistently embodying the spirit of generosity and service. Alongside her husband, Jeff, and their children, Jeffery and Kasia, she has been a constant presence at school events and activities.

Whether leading major initiatives, supporting fellow parents, or volunteering behind the scenes, Krysia brings warmth, organization, and dedication to everything she does. Her leadership and commitment have been instrumental in the success of countless events, helping to strengthen the bonds that make Mary of Nazareth more than just a school, it’s a family.

Caitlin Mueller

- Vice President

Caitlin and her husband, Tim, are grateful to have all three of their children at MoN: a son in 5th grade, a daughter in 2nd grade, and another daughter in Kindergarten. Since joining the MoN community in 2023, Caitlin has been an active volunteer, serving as a Room Parent and co-chairing the 2024 First Communion Reception. The Mueller family are parishioners at OLVP in Darnestown. Caitlin works as a Construction Project Manager with JLL, specializing in Corporate Interior and Infrastructure projects. The Muellers deeply value MoN’s strong sense of community and charity and look forward to many wonderful years ahead at the school.

Kate Polcaro

- Vice President

Kate is excited to serve in her first year in this position, and proud to be a MoN mom for a fourth year! She has two children, Lilah (7th) grade and Hunter who (3rd). The Polcaro family are parishioners at St. Rose of Lima parish in Gaithersburg. She is a devoted volunteer at MoN lending helping hands at various events and even coaching soccer in her spare time. Kate also works part-time as a Physician Assistant at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. Her family enjoys the outdoors, camping, motorsports and the beach. They are very pleased that they joined the MoN community and family and hope that you will enjoy it as much as they do!

Megan Coughlin

- Secretary

Megan is a proud mom to three young children and has been a part of the MoN Community since 2022. She and her husband Drew have a daughter in third grade, a son in first grade and their youngest in the Kindergarten. The Coughlin Family are parishioners at Our Lady of Visitation in Darnestown. Since joining MoN, she has been a room mom, chaired the K-5 dance, and has coached K-1 and Cadet soccer. In her professional life, Megan oversees a compliance program for the Department of Defense in Bethesda. Megan and her family greatly value the MoN philosophy and look forward to sharing those values with others.

Kirk Kincer

- Treasurer

Kirk and his wife, Sole, are proud parents of a son in 2nd grade at MoN. They joined the MoN community in 2023 when their son entered Kindergarten. The Kincers also have two older children—one in college and another attending Quince Orchard High School. Since 2020, the family has made their home in Darnestown and are parishioners at St. Rose of Lima in Gaithersburg. Kirk is a CPA and serves as an Accounting and Finance Consulting Director at Andrews and Cole, a consulting, advisory, and executive search firm in Bethesda. Prior to that, he was an Audit Senior Manager at RSM. Originally from North Carolina, Kirk enjoys spending his free time with family, traveling, fishing, hiking, and BBQing. The Kincer family is proud to be part of MoN and looks forward to contributing to the school community for many years to come.