The SPIRIT of SKS
Saint Kateri School's Weekly Newsletter ~ September 23, 2020
Hello Saint Kateri School families,
What beautiful weather we are having as we begin our Fall season! It sure does make the Car Line Drop-Off and Pick-Up a great excuse to get outside!
Thank you to everyone that has helped make our Car Lines run so smoothly, both in the morning and in the afternoon. This has made all the difference in helping our students begin and end their day on a positive note. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the growth in our Preschoolers coming in so easily ~ already! Kudos to Moms, Dads, Grandmas and Grandpas ~ it has been a joy to begin my day with you!
A reminder that we are going GREEN this school year with our Wednesday Envelope! This year all classes (Preschool - grade 5) are sending home an "Everyday Folder". In your child's Wednesday Everyday Folder will be any paper copies of current forms/paperwork that need to be completed by you and returned to school. Included in my Principal Newsletter each Wednesday will be a list of the papers sent home in your child's Everyday Folder that day. (see below ~) All Newsletters will be uploaded to the website and copies of any papers sent home on Wednesday will be uploaded to the website as well.
- Newsletters can be found under the Parents tab
- Electronic copies of any papers sent home on Wednesday will be uploaded under the Parents tab - SKS Forms and Flyers
This year you will notice a change to the content areas that are being taught and assessed during each quarter. In order to have the time to really dig deeper into the learning of Science and Social Studies, teachers will focus on Social Studies in Q1 and Q3 and Science in Q2 and Q4. All the required Next Gen standards will be taught, but teachers will now have more time to spend on supporting students in their understanding. There will be some adjustments will be made to the Report Card to reflect that. Please see your child's teacher if you have any questions.
God is good ~ all the time! All the time ~ God is good!
Peace and Light!
Mrs. Terri L. Morgan, Principal
Email: Terri.Morgan@dor.org
Phone: (585) 467-8730
Wednesday Communication papers sent home included:
- School Store (attached below)
Pick Up Patrol (PUP)
This is a new program this year that will allow our school to track Daily Health Screening as well as Daily Dismissal Information. Thank you to the DOR Department of Catholic Schools for securing it for all of our Catholic Schools at no cost to Saint Kateri School! Click the link below to learn a little bit about this new feature. We will be starting this on Monday, October 5th for all of our students.
Reminders from the Main Office
- Please continue to return any beginning of the year forms and supply fees to the Main Office.
UPDATED School Calendar
Saint Kateri School will not be a Polling Site for this years Presidential Election. Therefore, we are updating November 3rd as a regular in-school learning day. Below you will find the updated 2020-2021 SKS School Calendar
Please note:
- There WILL be school in the building on NOVEMBER 3rd
- There will be No School on Friday, October 9th for the Superintendent's Conference Day
Upcoming Calendar Dates:
SEPTEMBER:
- 9/23: Spanish begins for Kindergarten-5th grade
- 9/25: Milk order forms due
- 9/28: Milk will begin for Preschool - 5th grade students
- 9/29: Quiet Mass at 9:00am: 3rd/K
OCTOBER:
- 10/6: K-5 School Mass at 9:00: 4th grade leading
- 10/9: NO SCHOOL ~ Superintendent's Day
- 10/12: NO SCHOOL ~ Columbus Day
- 10/13: Quiet Mass at 9:00am: 5th/2nd
- 10/14: School Pictures (more info coming)
- 10/15: School Pictures (more info coming)
- 10/20: Quiet Mass at 9:00am: 4th/1st
- 10:21: Saint Kateri Prayer Service at 9:00am
- 10/27: Quiet Mass at 9:00am: 3rd/K
Thank you for SLOWING DOWN and being extra vigilant as cars are crossing into the two lane drop-off/pick-up OR cars crossing into the Intermediate Car Line from the PK, Primary and Sibling Car Line. We are walking children to individual cars but would appreciate this extra level of caution too.
FYI: While we are greeting cars and taking temperatures, it is also necessary to sometimes hold a little ones hand as they navigate the steps with their backpacks and nap mat bags. Adults are hand sanitizing between escorting students in order to make this transition as safe as possible.
Our Top Priority is to keep our students and staff as healthy as possible
As a private school located in the West Irondequoit School District we are required to follow the health guidelines set forth by West Irondequoit. The school district provides us with a part time nurse (Mrs. Striffolino) to support our Saint Kateri School students. We have gained clarifying information from West Irondequoit as well as the Monroe County Department of Health and that is what we will follow.
We have had many of our usual seasonal symptoms as the school year has begun ~ these typical symptoms would have been handled differently in past years but this year it's different and the need for heightened safety measures continues to remain in effect. Please know that we are all doing the very best we can to navigate all the many details, and we know our Saint Kateri School family is doing better than their best!
I imagine there will be further updates as the year continues, especially in light of the number of COVID-19 tests that are being required. Any changes to guidelines that affect our health protocols will be communicated to you as soon as possible.
Does my child need a COVID-19 test? UPDATE
This year has been one of change and learning ~ and the necessity of a COVID-19 test has been no exception. Information we were using to determine next steps when a child is absent has been clarified both through West Irondequoit and the Monroe County Department of Health. I am attaching the guidelines below that were updated on September 18th.
To clarify:
- A child has a POSITIVE SCREENING if they are called in sick to the office/or sent home from school with any of the current COVID-19 symptoms.
- If a child has their Daily Health Screen at school (i.e. they arrived on a bus) and has a temperature above 100.0, they will be taken to the Raphael Room to await pick up by a parent/guardian.
- If a child has a POSITIVE SCREENING (i.e. temperature) they will either remain home, stay in their car and return home or be sent home from the Raphael Room and be referred to a health care provider.
Then either of the following will occur:
- There is an Alternative Diagnosis or No Diagnosis
- There will be a Confirmed Positive Test Result
Next steps to return to school for students with an
Alternative Diagnosis or
No Diagnosis:- Student must be symptom free
- Must have an evaluation document from a health care provider, clearing the student
- Must have a lab-confirmed negative COVID-19 test result
Next steps to return to school for students with a Confirmed Positive Test Result:
- Monroe County Department of Public Health will place the student in isolation for a minimum of 10 days
- Student can return to school after being released from isolation by the MCDPH
- Student must be symptom free
If your child is sick and will not be attending school that day, please call the office at (585) 467-8730 after 7:30am. You can call before 7:30am and leave a message for office staff when they arrive.
We saw Boy Scouts in uniforms TODAY!
Now is the time to join scouts! Cub Scout Pack #233 meets 3-4 times a month. Sometimes we meet as the whole group of scouts from K-5, and sometimes just with our grade level group. We have a variety of activities and adventures, and get a chance to do many of the "classic" scouting things - hikes, woodworking and crafts, camping, service projects, pinewood derby, learning about science, nature and history.
This year we will be meeting for safe outdoor activities, working on scouting activities with our families and connecting periodically with our group.
More info:
- Pack website: pack233.org
- Facebook: @SKTCubPack233
- Contact Philip Schroeder: pschro1@gmail.com
Here is a chance to "come and see" what it is like and see if you would like to join.
Saturday, September 26, 3:00 pm – Pack Hike at Durand Eastman Park (Peace Garden area) https://www.facebook.com/events/738077060083909
Or stop by our booth at the Irondequoit Farmers market on Oct 1 Popcorn Show and Sell at Irondequoit Farmers Market
Share with your friends ~
We have availability in Preschool 3's and Kindergarten - 5th grade
We are available for 5 full days in-person instruction! Registration paperwork can be found on our website,
https://www.saintkaterischool.org/
Want to get $500 off your tuition? Click the link below to find out how ~
Ambassador Program
Please contact us with any questions you may have regarding the Registration or Financial Aid process.
