Information to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following week. Information must be relevant to the St. Hilary School or St. Hilary Parish community, and cannot promote a personal interest or a school other than our own. The school reserves the right to determine what content will be included.

Dear Parents,

We are halfway through the first quarter and this school year is off to a great start! We move into October observing the Month of the Holy Rosary and honoring the Blessed Mother Mary. We will say the Rosary as a school community on October 7 at 9:30 am, in lieu of Mass, as all Diocesan priests will be participating in a convocation that day. In addition to growing in our faith by honoring Mary during this month, we continue to follow our school theme, You are Beloved…Be Love. We are proud of our students for living out our school theme daily, putting into practice the teachings of their faith.

Along with developing the spiritual sides of our students, we also strive daily to raise the bar in academic progress. Students in grades K-8 have completed the first round of Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing, which monitors academic progress throughout the school year. These brief online assessments will be administered to students a total of three times during the school year and will provide valuable insight into students’ depth of knowledge across multiple subject areas. Feedback from this round of testing will be shared soon, and testing will take place again in January and April-May. This will enable us to ensure that each student is learning and progressing as he or she should be. We continually work to improve the learning experience your children receive each day.

First quarter interim progress reports were issued on September 30. Please continue to monitor your child’s progress in Digital Academy and help him or her set goals to make this a productive year. Establishing good study habits and organizational skills now will help your student achieve throughout the school year. If your child is experiencing difficulty, now is the time to address issues with his or her teachers. First quarter progress reports will be available on November 4, and formal conferences will be scheduled November 3 and 4 (or other dates as arranged with teachers). Please watch for conference scheduling information to be emailed shortly. Conferences may also be requested any time a need arises.

Our Parents’ Night Out events are in full swing, with kindergarten parents having met last month, our first grade parents’ event coming up this week, and many more to follow. We are excited to provide this forum to connect with parents and enable parents to connect with each other! With our focus on parents as partners, I would like to take a moment to recap Fr. Steve’s presentation from our Curriculum Nights last month for those who missed it. Fr. Steve reminded everyone that we are all here with the common goal of getting our children to Heaven, in other words, sharing a common call to discipleship. Solidarity in our unified mission is key and needs to be at the core of all of our actions and words. This is very different from the consumer mindset often perceived in private schools. Fr. Steve used the example of a country club, with dues-paying members believing they are entitled to demand whatever they want in exchange for their money. This is not the case at St. Hilary School, where no one should be demanding anything of anyone, and respect and kindness are expected in interactions with one another. Finally, Fr. Steve spoke of the principle of subsidiarity, in which the first line of communication at our school is directly with the teacher, moving up to school or even parish administration only if the issue is not resolved. Emails directly to administration about issues at the classroom level require administrative time to investigate, when in most cases, a teacher with all the facts can resolve a matter quickly. Please also keep in mind that lengthy emails require time to read, which takes our time away from the children who are our focus. Please be respectful of your recipient and his or her time, and state your concern politely and concisely. We appreciate your cooperation, and are grateful to have you as our partners!

The approach of the second quarter on October 31 brings a few changes. Shorts are not permitted during the second and third quarters, but turtlenecks may be worn during both quarters. As a reminder, with the weather turning cooler, sweaters may be plain knit, buttoned cardigans, crew necks or V-necks that are a solid color navy, grey, white, or true red. Sweaters should not be oversized or cropped. They should not have ornamentation, logos, hoods or turtlenecks. Also, the uniform sweatshirts that may be worn are grey or navy can be purchased here. Red or navy quarter zip sweatshirts are permitted for 6th, 7th and 8th graders, and may be purchased here, as well. No other sweatshirts are permitted. Finally, coats, jackets and other outerwear may not be worn during the school day. For more specific dress code information, please see the School Handbook.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during arrival and dismissal. By now, all the students, even our kindergarteners, are into a daily routine. We are committed to providing the safest possible environment for your children in every way. Please remember to drive slowly in our parking lot and around the school, avoid parking on sidewalks, and obey the signs and supervisors on duty. Please be especially careful near our crosswalk areas - please do not stop or park on crosswalks, and do not pull forward unless you are looking forward.

With our first month of school in the books, let’s make the rest of the year the best it can be!

Wishing you all the blessings and beauty of autumn!

Mrs. Woodman

Principal

Fr. Steve visited Mrs. Kovarik in her hospital room last week and delivered our school-wide prayer chain and blessings jar, a special "jar of flowers" picture created by her fourth grade students, and many cards and well wishes from all of you. He also delivered the gift cards and financial support so many of you contributed to for Mrs. Kovarik and her family. Together, through the overwhelming generosity of our school community, we were able to provide significant support for Mrs. Kovarik and her family for meals, gas, and even airfare for Mrs. Kovarik's out-of-town daughter to visit. It was truly humbling to see the outpouring of both large donations and small donations that represented piggy banks, allowances and lemonade stands. This is yet another example of the Christ-centered heart of our school.

For all of this, and especially for all of your prayers, Mrs. Kovarik sends her thanks, in her words:

"I love all the awesome cards, floral spiritual bouquet notes, and the beautiful pitcher of flowers! So much hope, joy, kindness, prayers, and love came right through! I've always said children's prayers are immensely powerful. Your prayers have stormed the Heavens with the Archangels, Blessed Carlo, and St. Therese and have helped me turn a sharp and difficult corner. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. My nurses and docs can't wait to see how it all fits in my room! Thank you, my prayer warriors! I love each of you!

~ Mrs. Kovarik"

Through the power of prayer and the wisdom of modern medicine, Mrs. Kovarik's course of chemotherapy has done its job in attacking her leukemia and she is now in a period of rest and recovery, preparing to receive a bone marrow transplant in the weeks ahead. Her oncology and transplant teams have begun the process of finding a match for donated bone marrow for her. If you (or someone you know) would like to help, you can join the Be The Match Bone Marrow Donor Registry. Donors between the ages of 18 and 40 who meet the health guidelines and are willing to help any patient in need are always sought. The process is simple, and you could end up helping Mrs. Kovarik or another patient with a blood cancer.

Some students have asked how they can help in other ways, such as lemonade stands or other small fundraisers. Anyone interested in raising funds to support research and services for patients with leukemia and other cancers can contact Krysta Michorczyk at the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, at krysta.michorczyk@lls.org.

We are also continuing to collect cards in the office, so if you missed our first collection or would like to reach out again, you can still send cards to be delivered at a later visit. Mrs. Kovarik is able to read only a few cards at a time, but they are a welcome diversion and mean so much to her.

We will continue to keep you updated, and in the meantime, please keep the prayers coming!

Click here for the School Faculty & Staff Directory

Click here for information about our drop-off and pick-up procedures

Click here for the latest COVID-19 information and related school policies

Click here for the 2022-2023 School Calendar, revised August 15

Click here for the 2022-2023 Dress Code

Click here for the 2022-2023 School Handbook

Click here for the Parents as Partners Code of Conduct

Click here for the Daily Schedule

Click here for the Diocese of Cleveland Curriculum Guides

NOVEMBER HOT LUNCH ORDERING OPEN OCTOBER 1-10

Hot Lunch ordering for November will be open through October 1-10.

• NO LATE ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED.

• Payment must be made online as the final step in the ordering process before your order will be submitted.

• Please contact Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org with questions.

TO ORDER:

Orders for lunches will be placed on Digital Academy.
To place your order, login to Digital Academy.

On the right side of the screen, you will see “Cafeteria Calendar” and an ORDER button to click.

If you have trouble, please contact Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org.

***Please see special notes below before ordering.***

***FOR THOSE NEW TO OUR HOT LUNCH PROGRAM, please note that all lunches include sides, so if you order extras you will be ordering extras of the main meal item (i.e., extra slice of pizza, extra order of nachos, etc.).

***SPECIAL NOTE FOR GRADE 8: 8th Grade students have no school on Monday, November 14 following their weekend Damascus retreat. Please do not order lunch this day.

***SPECIAL NOTE FOR GRADES 7 & 8: Grades 7 & 8 will be on a field trip to Top Golf with lunch there on Monday, November 21. Please do not order lunch this day.

SCHOOL PICTURE RETAKE DAY OCTOBER 20

Students who were absent or not yet enrolled on school picture day (September 7) or whose original photos were unsatisfactory may have photos retaken on October 20. Students having photos taken / retaken may dress up. For retakes, students need to bring the original packet of photos to turn in to the photographer. Photos taken on October 20 can be purchased online at www.mylifetouch.com using code EVTFTHZFZ. Questions about photo orders need to be directed to Lifetouch at 1-800-736-4753. The school does not process orders and has no records of orders.

HELP NEEDED TO PAINT STAGE BACKDROP

Dear Parents,

It is wonderful to get back to "normal" with teaching and other activities. I am realizing, however, as I am getting older, that some activities are not as easy as they used to be. It is now time for me to ask others for help. The first thing that I need is someone to whitewash the backdrop on the stage in Horning Hall. This means simply painting the backdrop white. It usually takes two coats. I have an extension pole for a roller and some drop cloths. I will get the house paint for you. Please let me know if you are able.

Please email me at luannetoth@st-hilary.

Thank you!

Mrs. Toth

INVITATION TO GET AWAY TO “CHRIST RENEWS HIS PARISH” RETREAT

Men and Women, You are Invited to Christ Renews His Parish weekend, Nov 12 & 13, to get away from the noise and busyness of everyday life and strengthen your relationship with Jesus, and get to know others in the parish who will support your faith. This year both the men and women’s retreat fall on the same weekend and at the same location! This provides an interesting opportunity for not only single people to attend, but also for couples to make CRHP, albeit in different parts of the campus, at the same time, and potentially give younger children a weekend with the grandparents! While all the retreatants will share meals, as well as Reconciliation and Mass, each gender will have separate sleeping quarters and meeting space.

Sign-up on the parish website https://sthilarychurch.org/ or via the parish office while there is still room. See the brochures below for details about both retreats.

Our main event this week is our Parents' Night Out for Grade 1 on October 5!

HOT LUNCH HELP NEEDED

Our Hot Lunch program is in need of parent and grandparent volunteers to fill open spots to ensure we can offer Hot Lunch every day. There are still a few spots open, especially on Tuesdays, as well as a few other various days. The shift is approximately 10:50 am to 1:10 pm. This is a great way to meet new friends and the kids love seeing you in the kitchen! If you can help, please email Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org with your availability.

PLAYGROUND MONITORS NEEDED

Looking for a fun way to be involved at school, see your child during the school day, get some fresh air, and make some extra money? Consider being a playground monitor! Help is needed for the 2022-2023 school year in order to ensure that our students are properly supervised during recess. Monitors work just a couple of hours each day, so this is the perfect part-time job for those with limited time! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Cassie Samaan at csamaan@st-hilary.org.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED

We are always in need of individuals to serve as substitute teachers. A summary of requirements would include the following: a bachelor's degree in any subject, Virtus training, a background check including fingerprinting, and a substitute teaching certificate. If you meet (or are able to complete) these requirements and are interested in being added to our pool of substitute teachers, please email a current resume to Miss Malick at smalick@st-hilary.org as soon as possible.

NEXT SCHOOL MASS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21

Our next school Mass will be FRIDAY, October 21 at 9:30 am. The school Mass will be planned by Grade 4. The 2022-2023 Liturgy Schedule can be found here. Masses are also posted on the school Google calendar. Upcoming Masses include October 21 (Student Council Induction) planned by Grade 4, and October 28 (All Saints Day observed) planned by Grade 3. There will be a Rosary Prayer Service in lieu of Mass on October 7 and there is no school on October 14.

Space is limited, but parents may attend school Masses.

USE FORMED TO ENHANCE FAITH FORMATION

Make faith a priority and enhance your children's faith formation by using FORMED. Click below for complete instructions on how you can access this valuable tool for your family.

Information about sports, clubs and other activities for students will be published here as it becomes available.

SCOUT TROOP OPEN HOUSE

Middle Schoolers - Are you interested in the outdoors, learning fun skills like camping and cooking outside, and having fantastic outdoor adventures? Scouts BSA Troops 390 (boys) and 7390 (girls) invite you to our annual Open House to learn more about the Scouting program. The Open House is 10/11 from 7:30-8:30 at Faith Lutheran Church. If you can’t make that date, we invite you come to any of our meetings. We meet every Tuesday from 7-8:30 year round at Faith Lutheran Church. Boys and girls in fifth grade (age 11) and up are invited. Questions? Please contact Mrs Nester 330-730-8007 or emnester1@gmail.com.

CHESS CLUB NOW REGISTERING

We are excited to bring back our clubs this school year, and the first club we have to announce is our Chess Club! This club is open to students in grades K-8 and will meet from 3:10 to 4:10 pm in the Spanish Room on the following Mondays: October 3, 10, 17, and 24, and November 7, 21 and 28. Chess Club will be offered again in the second semester for those who are not able to participate in the fall or who would like to continue in the club. Please click the flyer below for complete details and registration information.

NEW FIRE FOR GRADES 6-8 - NOTE NEW END TIME AT 4:30 PM!

New Fire, our youth ministry program for students in grades 6-8, will meet twice a month during the school year! Students who would like to participate should meet Mr. Schechter in the main hall at 3:15 pm to walk to the meeting location. Students should be picked up at Yahner Field promptly at 4:305 pm.

Meetings will be held on the following dates: October 6 and 20, November 3 and 17, December 1 and 15, January 12 and 26, February 9 and 23, March 9, April 20, and May 4 and 18. The group will continue to meet on Yahner Field as weather permits, but when weather is inclement / wintry, meetings will be held in the Spiritual Center and students should be picked up at the Spiritual Center doors adjacent to the parking lot.

BASKETBALL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

St. Hilary Grade School Basketball registration for Grade School Students in Grades 3rd through 8th and High School Basketball is now open.

• There will be another communication regarding the opening of Munchkin Registration and the expected dates for those sessions.

Registration opens today for Grade School Basketball; early registration will close on 10/18. This gives families (3) weeks to review and decide on their child’s participation. Late registrations will be accepted up until 10/25 with a $50 late registration fee.

• This timeline will allow players to register, coaches to develop rosters and attend our 10/27 St. Hilary CYO BBall Coaches Meeting. Details to follow.

• St. Hilary CYO Basketball is open for children of ALL SKILL LEVELS, however, know that by registering your child you are committing to the season and consistent attendance at all practices and games. As a reminder, Academic Issues, Family Obligations, and Illness are always acceptable reason for absence. Last season we had some teams that had smaller rosters to allow for ample playing time but had issues getting a complete roster at practice and games due to poor turnout. Please consider this commitment prior to registering your child.

Link below.

https://reg.sportspilot.com/106409/leagues

We are looking forward to a fun season on the court!

Please register early and contact me with any questions.

Tim Beringer, Jr

St. Hilary Basketball Commissioner

330-697-8357

tberinger@ceecoequipment.com

FALL INTO NATURE EVENT FOR FAMILIES OCTOBER 8

Please click below for details about this family-friendly fall event.

AN EVENING WITH DR. MARCIA MCEVOY OCTOBER 20

We are excited to announce that Dr. Marcia McEvoy is coming to St. Hilary School to present a workshop for parents on how to help children get along! The workshop will be held October 20 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in Horning Hall. Our staff had the transformative experience of participating in a day-long workshop with Dr. McEvoy in August, and she will return to St. Hilary for a week in October to work with your children. Her visit will culminate with her evening for parents, and we hope you will join us!

During the 90-minute workshop, parents will be presented with a framework for working collaboratively with the school to establish nonviolence as a school norm. The psychological dynamics and consequences of mean and aggressive behavior, including bullying, will be presented. The kinds of temperament issues and family dynamics that contribute to children acting as aggressors or becoming targets will be shared. The research on how to reduce school-based aggression, bullying, and harassment will be discussed, as well as how to increase empathy, compassion, and tolerance.

Parents will be shown how to intervene when they see aggressive behavior. Parents will also be given strategies to empower their children when they are targets or bystanders, and how to modify/mitigate aggressive behaviors. During Dr. McEvoy’s presentation, a particular emphasis is placed on how parents can encourage and teach their children to be positive bystanders when aggression is occurring.

Marcia McEvoy received her Ph.D. in School Psychology in 1985 from the University of Cincinnati. As a Licensed Psychologist, she has worked in a variety of settings including public schools, community mental health centers, child diagnostic clinics, and two universities. She presently owns her own consulting business.

On the topic of preventing peer mistreatment and bullying, Dr. McEvoy is sought as a consultant to schools all over the Midwest. She has trained thousands of administrators, teachers, parents, and students, and is currently writing a book on this topic.

Dr. McEvoy is also an expert in the prevention of youth suicide. She has trained numerous school-based crisis response teams in the areas of crisis intervention, and suicide assessment, intervention, and prevention. She is the co-author of a book entitled, Preventing Youth Suicide: A Handbook for Educators and Human Service Professionals, published by Learning Publications.

Dr. McEvoy has developed a number of prevention programs for youth, including the Peer Assistant Leadership (PAL) Program, which won a national award as an outstanding prevention program. Other school-based curricula she has developed include the prevention of peer mistreatment and bullying, abusive dating relationships, and youth suicide.

PARENTS' NIGHTS OUT CONTINUE THIS MONTH!

We are excited to offer something new this year - Parents' Nights Out! By popular request for a forum to foster community in each grade level, these evening events will feature an opportunity to socialize with other parents from your child(ren)'s grade level over adult beverages and snacks, as well as discussion about a topic or topics of interest. We will begin with the grade levels that have had the least opportunity to get to know each other, due to COVID or just being new to the school, and work our way up. All events will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the Spiritual Center Gathering Area, and RSVPs will be required. Please save the date(s) for your child(ren)'s grade level(s) and watch for details!

October 5 - Grade 1

November 8 - Grade 2

November 15 - Grade 3

December 7 - Grade 4

January 18 - Grade 5

February 15 - Grade 6

March 1 - Grade 8

March 14 - Grade 7

SAVE THE DATE! FIRST ANNUAL SABER CUP COMING NOVEMBER 11 & 12!

A Moms & Pops Basketball Tournament will take place on Friday, November 11th & Saturday, November 12, 2022 in Horning Hall. All current 1st-8th grade dads are invited to play in this fun filled weekend basketball tournament that will bring together the St. Hilary School community to raise money for St. Hilary Athletic Association. There will also be a Friday night Moms Game and a Saturday night Alumni Game. Click the flyer below for details.

If you are interested in sponsorship or helping with this fundraising event, please reach out to Luke Taylor at lukejtaylor@tradermanwines.com Go Sabers!

2022-2023 YEARBOOK ORDERING NOW OPEN

Ordering is now open for our 2022-2023 school yearbook! This beautiful full-color book is available in a soft cover format for $30 or a hard cover format for $35. All ordering must be done directly through Lifetouch at ybpay.lifetouch.com. The order code is 3685723. The deadline to order is June 2, 2023. Please keep a record of your order - the school has no access to or record of orders.

ACME RECEIPTS BENEFIT OUR SCHOOL

We are collecting Acme receipts again this year! Please save your Acme receipts from August 1, 2022 through December 24, 2022. We are only accepting receipts from 2022. Any others are not eligible. Send them to school to Attn: Tara Reuscher; c/o Alex Reuscher Room 209. Or if you prefer, take a picture of your receipts (be sure to include the bottom portion of the receipt that includes the cash back amount) and email to tarareuscher@gmail.com.

NEW ANGEL SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS WIN-WIN-WIN OPPORTUNITY!

The new Angel Scholarship established by the Catholic Community Foundation offers a win-win-win opportunity for taxpayers, scholarship recipients, and our school! Click here and see the infographic at the end of this section to learn how you can turn your taxes into tuition!

SCHOOL HANDBOOK HIGHLIGHTS

The complete family handbook for 2022-2023 is available here on the school website.

Please take note of the following policies/procedures:

• We will revert to our original 24-hour-symptom-free policy for students returning to school following an illness. This means that a full 24 hours must elapse from the last symptom, not 24 hours from when the symptoms began, before a student may return to school.

• Our absence policy has been updated to reflect greater detail about how absences will be addressed. Please note that parents of students absent 20 or more days per semester will be required to have a conference with administration. Please refer to page 3 of the school handbook for details.

• Families using the playground outside of school hours are expected to follow the same rules in effect during the school day. Children must be actively supervised by an adult who is present on the playground - not waiting in a car - at all times. We ask that you be respectful of our equipment and the rules we follow at school during the day. Running up the slide is not permitted, and older students are not permitted on the bridge. Your cooperation in following these rules will help us to maintain consistency in playground expectations.

• School rules also apply to the Latchkey program, as this program is an extension of the school day. Please refer to page 18 of the handbook.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS CODE OF CONDUCT

We have implemented a new Parents as Partners Code of Conduct that will guide all actions and interactions in our school community. You can read the Parents as Partners Code of Conduct here. All parents will be expected to abide by this code. The code has been established to foster the partnership between parents and the school, as well as among parents themselves, and is grounded in respectful actions and interactions that align with our school mission. Please note that behavior that undermines our mission will not be tolerated and violations of the code may cause a family to be removed from the school. We trust that all of you will be true partners with us and with each other so that none of you will find yourselves in that situation.

LATCHKEY REGISTRATION AVAILABLE IN DIGITAL ACADEMY

St. Hilary School Latchkey (before- and after-school care) registration is available in Digital Academy. The option to register will appear on your dashboard when you log in. If you do not plan to use Latchkey and want to remove the form from your dashboard, you can click the form and then click the “No Latchkey” option. Please keep in mind that if your needs may change in the future, you may want to keep the form visible just in case.

You can also access the form directly here.

Only credit card and ACH payments can be accepted - no checks or cash.

If you have questions about the Latchkey program, please email latchkey@st-hilary.org. If you have questions about Latchkey billing or payments, please contact Lou Camerato, Business Manager, at lcamerato@sthilarychurch.org until September 30, or Trey Baker, Business Manager, at jbaker@sthilarychurch.org beginning October 1.

ARRIVAL AND PICK-UP TIME REMINDER

Please remember that students may not be dropped off earlier than 8:00 am unless they are using our fee-based Latchkey before-school care program. Please also remember that students not picked up by 3:15 pm will be taken to our fee-based Latchkey after-school care program. These policies do not apply to bus riders.

DIGITAL ACADEMY WEEKLY SATURDAY EMAILS

Digital Academy will be sending weekly emails on Saturdays to each parent with information about their child. Please be sure to open these emails and access the information they contain.

SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Mass emails containing school news will be sent on Monday mornings when school is in session. Information to be included in these emails must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following Monday.

DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP ITEMS

The drop-off and pick-up bins are located on the Moorfield Road side of the building to allow 24/7 access. If a lunch or other forgotten item needs to be dropped off to a student in a time-sensitive manner, please call the school office at 330-867-8720 or ring the bell at the Moorfield entrance door, let the secretaries know what you are dropping off and for whom, and leave the item – clearly labeled with the student’s name and room number or teacher – in the drop-off bin. A staff member will retrieve the item and get it to the student. Items you may need to pick up can be left for you in the pick-up bin.

DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP REMINDERS

Dear Parents,

Thank you for helping us get off to a great start with the new school year! With a few days under our belts, we want to clarify some important things about morning drop-off and afternoon dismissal.

MORNING DROP-OFF

• Students may not be dropped off before 8 am unless they are attending our fee-based Latchkey program. Otherwise, supervision is not available. Students who continue to be dropped off before 8 am will be sent to Latchkey and parents will be charged accordingly.

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL

• We are still fine-tuning our afternoon dismissal. Here are a few reminders:

• Dismissal times:

2:55 pm - Kindergarteners and siblings

3:00 pm - Last names A-M

3:05 pm - Last names N-Z

• Our dismissal plan only works if parents follow the rules. Please adhere to your designated time frame. No child will be left unattended, so there is no need to be first in line and cause a back-up if your last name falls in the second half of the alphabet.

• Please do not leave car lengths of space in the line, also causing a back-up.

• If you do not want to wait in the pick-up line, you can enter from Blue Ribbon Drive, park in the back lot, and meet your child(ren) in the Red Box (red square painted on asphalt).

• Per the Fairlawn Police Department, our dismissal traffic cannot back up onto West Market Street. If you are unable to enter the line and enter our driveway, you must go around the block and enter the line only when you are able to enter the driveway.

• Those turning right into the driveway, please be courteous to those turning left into the driveway. If the entire driveway is filled to West Market Street with those turning right, those who need to turn left have no opportunity to do so even when they have the turn arrow.

• Cutting through the Citizens Bank parking lot to enter the pick-up line is not only prohibited, it is rude to your fellow parents and will not be tolerated.

• Students are being trained to walk to the front of the line and enter cars at the furthest point forward in order to keep traffic moving. You may see your child(ren) on the sidewalk, but we ask that you keep pulling forward to keep the traffic flowing. Your cooperation with this and with instructions of our staff members on duty who are working to keep your children safe is greatly appreciated.

• Please remember that there is Adoration in the Church on Wednesdays, so there will likely be additional traffic and people walking through the parking lot on those days.

• You can also help us help you! Remind your child(ren) how they are being picked up each day. Students should come straight out of the school building (not stopping to talk to friends and teachers along the way) and walk to their pick-up area. Students should be paying attention and listening to the staff members on duty. Students should not have their cell phones out (unless given permission by a staff member) per our student handbook guidelines. Additionally, students should not be eating while waiting on the sidewalk.

We appreciate your help and support! We know the pick-up line can be more efficient, and following these guidelines can help everyone have a safer and less stressful experience at the end of the school day! Thank you!

ARRIVAL, DISMISSAL, LATCHKEY, AND BUSING

PLEASE SHARE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH CAREGIVERS!

Please note: We are a cell phone-free campus during drop-off and pick-up. For the safety of the children, please refrain from using your phone during this time.

ARRIVAL

• Students not attending morning Latchkey should arrive no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Families using Latchkey pay for this service. Supervision for all other students is not available until 8:00 am.

• Our tardy bell rings and homeroom period begins at 8:25 a.m. Students arriving after 8:25 am will be marked tardy.

• Students will report directly to classrooms upon arrival.

• Please help your child prepare for the school day in a stress-free manner by ensuring that he or she arrives at school by 8:25 a.m. each day.
  

Traffic Safety Logistics for Morning Arrival:

On Both Sides:

• When pulling forward, please make sure you are looking forward and that the path in front of and around your vehicle is clear before moving the vehicle.
  

• Please pull up to the sign at the end of the drop-off area. This allows more cars to stop between the two signs. Three to four cars can fit in the drop-off zone. All cars that fit within the zone between the signs may unload at the same time to help keep the lines moving.

• Please make sure students are ready to exit the car when they arrive. Seatbelts need to be unfastened, backpacks need to be loaded and zipped, masks and winter gear need to be ready, and last minute discussions about the day need to be handled before the point where students need to exit so as not to hold up the line.

• Please do not put your car in park and get out of the car in the drop off lines. If your child needs assistance getting out of a car seat or unbuckling, please park in the lot, help your child get out, and walk him or her to the building.
  

• Please be sure your child is completely clear of your car before pulling away. Water bottles are often dropped and may roll under cars. Please instruct your child not to reach under the car or run back to the car for a forgotten item. Adults on duty will assist.
  

• Please remember that students should never get out of the driver's side of the car and cross in front of the car during morning drop-off. There have been tragic accidents resulting from this practice and we want to make sure all of our children are safe. If your child is unable to get out of the passenger side in the car line, please park and walk him or her to the building.

On The Moorfield Road Side:

• Please do not pull around stopped cars when they are dropping off students. Occasionally, a driver may need to exit from the non-curb side, and passing creates a dangerous situation.

On The Parking Lot Side:

• Please do not pull up to areas other than the designated car line to drop off. If you do not want to wait in the line, you may park in the lot and walk your child to the building.

• Please do not pull beyond the sign at the end of the drop-off area or stop on the cross walk to drop off. Please keep the crosswalk clear for pedestrians.

DISMISSAL

• We will follow a staggered dismissal schedule:

• 2:55 pm - Kindergarten students and their siblings

• 3:00 pm - Non-Kindergarten Last names A-M
• 3:05 pm - Non-Kindergarten Last names N-Z

• Students will not be released until their designated time, so it is important that you make every effort to arrive as close to that time as possible, rather than lining up far in advance. We also ask for your cooperation in picking up your child on time, or calling the office in advance if you will be a few minutes late.

• If you prefer not to go through the car line, you may park in the far back parking lot and stand in the red “box” painted on the parking lot where you can safely reunite with your child.

• All kindergarteners and siblings will be walked to the red "box" by school staff rather than being picked up at the car line.

• Students should go directly to their car or bus – no loitering.

LATCHKEY

• Morning Latchkey will be available beginning at 6:50 a.m. Students being dropped off for morning Latchkey will be dropped off at the Art Room Door.

• Afternoon Latchkey will be available until 6:00 p.m. Students being picked up from evening Latchkey will be picked up at the Art Room Door.

BUSING

Four districts provide bus transportation for our students who reside in those districts: Copley-Fairlawn, Highland, Revere, and Woodridge. We anticipate that these districts will provide transportation for St. Hilary School students barring driver shortages. In that case, there is the potential that bus transportation for St. Hilary School students who ride the affected district’s bus may be lost. We encourage all families to have an alternate transportation plan in place. For more information, you may contact the transportation departments listed below:

Copley-Fairlawn: 330-664-4820
Highland: 330-239-1901, ext. 1235
Revere: 330-523-3118 or 3119
Woodridge: 330-928-6312

Please also visit our Bus Transportation page on the school website.

COVID-19, ILLNESS/ABSENCE AND MEDICATION

COVID-19 POLICIES

PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION BELOW REFLECTS WHAT WAS ISSUED LATE LAST WEEK BY THE CDC AND ODH. WE EXPECT SCPH TO ADOPT THIS GUIDANCE THIS WEEK AND WE ANTICIPATE THAT THIS IS WHAT WE WILL BE FOLLOWING AS WE BEGIN THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.

CURRENT GUIDANCE:
On August 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on how people can protect themselves and others from COVID-19, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19, and what actions to take if you have symptoms or test positive with the virus.

As a result, on August 12, ODH also updated its guidance for Ohio K-12 schools and recommended the CDC’s general guidance to best protect Ohio’s students in the school setting.

• First, because contact tracing and case investigation has shifted to focus on high-risk environments, such as long-term care facilities and healthcare settings, ODH is no longer recommending the Mask to Stay, Test to Play quarantine alternative for schools.
• Instead, ODH recommends schools follow general isolation procedures from the CDC for confirmed cases. If students or staff feel sick or suspect they might have COVID-19, they should stay home and take a rapid test. If positive, students and staff should stay home from school for at least 5 days and longer if necessary until fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and symptoms are improving. Additionally, after isolation ends, students and staff should continue to take precautions as they resume normal activities by wearing a mask for 5 days (or after two negative tests 48 hours apart).

In addition, it is recommended that schools continue to work closely with their local health departments to monitor community spread and make decisions about the best measures to protect students and staff based on what is happening in their communities.

REPORTING:

Like all schools, St. Hilary School is no longer required to contact trace or report positive individual cases to SCPH, but we are still required to seek guidance in the case of cluster cases. Parents still need to state that a student has tested positive for COVID-19 if applicable as the reason for an absence when reporting the student absent on the attendance line. If you have a COVID-19 situation in your household, please contact school administration or nurses to help determine next steps for your child.

Jennifer Woodman, Principal - jwoodman@st-hilary.org

Darcy Alexander, Assistant Principal - dalexander@st-hilary.org
Julie Bauman, School Nurse - jbauman@st-hilary.org

Abby Laughlin, School Nurse - alaughlin@st-hilary.org

MASKING:

Masking is optional at this time and we will follow the updated guidance issued August 11-12 by the CDC and ODH, and expected to be adopted by SCPH. However, students may be asked to wear masks in the school clinic at the discretion of the school nurses, if there is an outbreak within the school, or in other limited situations as warranted.

All four school districts that provide busing for St. Hilary School students have communicated to us that students are no longer required to wear masks on their buses, but may do so if they choose. In some cases, drivers may continue to wear masks. Please note that in relation to school field trips involving buses, while students will not be required to wear masks on the buses, we will respect the mask policy of the field trip location during our time there.

All students, staff, and parents are expected to respect the masking decisions an individual or family chooses.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

We continue to be mindful of social distancing where appropriate, proper hand washing, sanitizing of highly touched areas, and symptom monitoring at home. Students are encouraged to bring water bottles to school. These may be refilled at our bottle filler stations.

SCHOOL RESPONSE SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

The CDC has stated that COVID-19 community levels and public health prevention strategies can be increased when communities are experiencing more severe conditions and decreased when things are more stable. Our school response will continue to follow the guidance we are given as conditions change and if more restrictive measures are warranted. For more information and resources to monitor community spread, read more about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Community Levels here.

REPORTING AN ABSENCE, TARDY OR EARLY PICK-UP

If your child will be absent, tardy or picked up early for any reason, please contact the school office. We have two options:

1. Call our school attendance line at 330-867-8720, ext. 350 and leave a message 24/7, or
2. Email attendance@st-hilary.org. Although not necessary, you may also notify your child's teacher and Latchkey as a courtesy. Please do not email other school staff regarding absences, as our dedicated attendance email inbox is checked each morning, but other emails may not be immediately received.

• Whether calling or emailing, please state your child's name, grade, and the reason for the absence, tardy or early pick-up, including specific symptoms if due to an illness. Absences must be reported to the school office by 10:00 am on the day of the absence. We are required by law to follow up with families who do not do so.

• If a student needs to be picked up for an appointment or is ill and being picked up to go home, please pull up to the Moorfield Road door, call the school office at 330-867-8720, and your child will be signed out with your permission and released to your car under staff supervision.

• Students who are ill may not return to school until they are symptom free for a full 24 hours without fever reducing medication. There is no perfect attendance award or other incentive to come to school when ill.

• Please contact teachers directly regarding requests for homework; however, please understand that requests may not be able to be filled until the next day if the teacher does not see your request until late in the day. Thank you for understanding that our teachers' first priority during the day is teaching.

• Please refer to the school handbook and our table detailing the procedure for handling excessive absences.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS / MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

If your child has a medical condition or will need medication, an Epi-pen, etc. stored or administered in the clinic this school year, please be sure to complete the necessary forms (see below). NEW FORMS FOR MEDICATION, WHETHER PRESCRIPTION OR OVER-THE-COUNTER, ARE REQUIRED EVERY SCHOOL YEAR... SO EVEN IF YOU FILLED OUT FORMS FOR LAST SCHOOL YEAR, WE MUST HAVE NEW FORMS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

The forms below are provided for your convenience. These may or may not apply to your child, and may or may not be necessary for you to complete. All students have a physical exam form on file from the date of initial enrollment so it is not necessary to complete this again for enrolled students. Immunizations are also on file from the date of initial enrollment and need to be updated only if there has been a change. Students who have medical conditions or need medication administered at school will need to have the appropriate forms completed and submitted to the school nurses. In the event that you missed these forms, forgot to complete them if applicable, or your child's health situation has changed, they are attached here for your convenience.

• Allergy Action Plan.pdf
• Asthma School Medication Plan.pdf
• Diabetes Health Care Plan.pdf
• Immunization Report.pdf
• Physical Exam Form.pdf
• Required Immunizations.pdf
• Seizure Action Plan.pdf
• Request for Administration of Medication Form.pdf