ST. MARY’S NEWSLETTER FOR AUGUST 26, 2020 NEW NEWS THIS WEEK:
HOME & SCHOOL - The Home & School Association would like to invite all parents/guardians to join us in welcoming our new principal, Mrs. Melanie Selmi. Please join us Friday, August 28th from 2:15-2:45 to meet Mrs. Selmi and chat with her. We will meet in the parking lot on the west side of the school. Please wear a mask. If we have a group larger than 50 people, we will separate into smaller groups. At 2:45, the students will be joining us in welcoming Mrs. Selmi by walking by and waving with their class. The classes will be spaced out and the children will stay with their class the entire time. They will exit the building using the south staircase on 6th street, head west, turn right on Avenue B, enter the parking lot and go back in the building using the preschool doors and north staircase. Hope you can join us!!
Due to popular demand, the St. Mary’s Home & School Association will be offering families the option to order “Faith Over Fear” t-shirts. These are the same t-shirts we purchased for the staff for Teacher Appreciation week last year. What a great message to unite us during this unique time! The students will be able to wear the shirts on Spirit Wear Days and us a uniform shirt during warm months (i.e. August, September, October, April, May and June) per the parent/student handbook. The shirts are available in adult sizes for $12 and youth sizes for $10. Please look for the order form to come home tomorrow. Orders forms and money are due back by Thursday, September 3rd. Julie Penne and the St. Mary’s Home and School Association
FUNDRAISING - We would like to thank everyone for signing up for their fundraising shifts. Those that missed our table, please contact Michelle (815-441-8655) or Erica (312-339-5436) to get signed up for your Fruit Sale shifts. We will send out information about the remaining two fundraisers as soon as we have more details to share. Remember to save those dates: 5K - May 7, 2021 and Auction - May 8, 2021. Please be patient with our committee chairs as they are doing an amazing job navigating and organizing during this time. We couldn’t reach our fundraising goals without all of our dedicated chairs!!
OLD NEWS:
NO SCHOOL - Monday, September 7th in honor of Labor Day.
SCHOOL PICTURES - will be taken Tuesday, September 8th. Envelopes will be sent home on September 1st. Students need to be in uniform on picture day. This would be a polo shirt with a collar. NO spirit wear t-shirts on this day. Students will be able to dress down when spring pictures are taken
EARLY DISMISSAL - 11:15AM on Wednesday, September 16th for Professional Development.
EARLY DISMISSALS FOR HEAT - Hopefully, the weather will cooperate ~ nice and cool. However, in the past we have occasionally dismissed early because of the heat. We will send notification out by text and email if this is necessary. Please make sure you are signed up for our TEXT ALERTS. The directions are on the website.
TUITION - Statements were mailed for Annual, Semi-Annual and Quarterly tuition payments. They are due now. Monthly payments began this month.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT - Anyone who plans on being in contact with students at St. Mary’s School must sign safe environment papers, have an FBI background check and view the video Protecting God’s Children. Anyone who is a room parent, helper, coach or plans on attending field trips is required by the Diocese of Rockford to complete the Safe Environment guidelines. The verification packet is available in the office.
REMINDER!! - Please do NOT send food for lunch that has been purchased from fast food places or restaurants. Students may have MILK or WATER at lunch. Students that buy hot lunch must take milk ~ a rule with the ISBE lunch program. They don’t have to drink it, but it has to be placed on their tray. Students that have a milk allergy may bring juice; however, we must have a signed statement from the student’s physician.
INDIVIDUALIZED BIRTHDAY TREATS - Grades K-5 - please check with your child’s teacher prior to bringing in your individualized/store bought treats. Grades 6-8 individualized/store bought treats may be given to classmates during their lunch period which is 12:15-12:40.
MEDICATION - If your child takes medication that is required to be administered at school, please bring the medication in a prescription container, marked with the child’s name, Physician’s name, and dosage to be given. You will be required to sign a form giving us authorization to administer the medication. Also, if you would like to leave over-the-counter medication here for your child/children to take, you may bring it in a SMALL unopened container and sign an authorization form giving us permission to administer the medication to your child. Suggested medications to be brought in: Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, etc. We may NOT administer any medication that is not on the approved list and supplied by the parents.
PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS - Please notify the school/teacher at the beginning of the school year if your child has a pre-existing condition such as allergies, migraines, seizures, etc. Because COVID19 symptoms are so broad and other diseases can also mimic these symptoms, it will be helpful to know the context of your child’s symptoms.
EMERGENCY FORM - was sent home last Wednesday on the bright yellow paper. Please complete BOTH sides of this form and return it to the office as soon as possible. This form is necessary for us to be able to contact parents in case of an emergency, as well as have names of responsible adults that we could contact if unable to reach the parents. Please be sure and indicate M-Mom or D-Dad on the cell numbers provided. On the reverse side is the Driver’s Information form. Please complete this form so it is on file for any time you transport children. Once completed, it is good for the entire year, unless you make changes to your vehicle or insurance carrier. If you make changes, you need to update the form accordingly. Please get yours turned in as soon as possible. It’s so important for us to be able to get in touch with you in case of an emergency. I ONLY HAVE 14 FORMS OUT!! You guys have done a GREAT job!!
PRIVACY/PHOTO RELEASE FORM - is being sent home. Please complete the form, marking either YES or NO to each question and return it to the office as soon as possible. If a form is not submitted, we will assume permission is denied for all events. We will never submit a picture of any student for publication in a community or Diocesan paper without your permission. We do submit pictures without names throughout the year to highlight some of the activities we do here.
KROGER REWARDS PROGRAM - You must re-enroll each year. If the bottom of your receipt doesn’t have St. Mary’s School on it, you are not signed up. Please take a few minutes and go to Kroger.com to either re-enroll or enroll if you are new to the program. Our school code is 10605. If you need help, please stop by the school office and we will be glad to help you get registered! Please help your family and friends register with our school code.
EDUCATION COMMISSION - The Education Commission is an advisory board for St. Mary’s School. Meetings are held every other month, on a Wednesday night. The first meeting of the Education Commission will be held September 23rd at 6:00PM in the staff lounge. Future meeting dates will be published in the newsletter. All are welcome to attend.
FIRST COMMUNION - Please keep our 3rd graders and their families in your prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on Saturday, September 26th. These students are last year’s 2nd graders who were not able to celebrate this sacrament last year due to the school being closed for COVID.
YARD SIGNS - Official St. Mary’s Yard Signs are available for purchase for $10. They are double sided and come complete with a sturdy steel holder to keep the sign in place in the ground! Great way to market our school!
UNIFORM EXCHANGE - At this time, we are not taking donations, however, you may shop from the selection of donations we currently have.