It is no surprise that it takes many hands to make St. Mikes run as smoothly as it does, and this Thursday Note is just from me. I want to acknowledge four of our staff who impact this school every single day, in the most unobtrusive and efficient manner. As we celebrate Catholic schools, I want to celebrate four very significant members of the staff.

If you were here daily, you would be amazed at the number of student visits, Dr. Feldmann sees every day. The bumps, bruises, cuts, falls, sneezes, nosebleeds, and jammed thumbs he sees defies counting - and those are often just what he sees before noon. He also manages the sick room, calls to parents, reassuring assessments, education, record keeping and medication management. This week, he presided over all of that and vision and hearing screening as well. He treats every single one of his young patients as if he or she were his own child. The expertise, compassion and care visible as I sit across from his office hasn't really been officially acknowledged or appreciated. THANK YOU Dr. Feldmann.

The "flip side" of Dr. Feldmann is no less remarkable or appreciated. The wisdom, enthusiasm, energy, and attention Mrs. Feldmann brings daily to school is vital. With her years of actually being a principal, she brings an unlimited supply of advice, patience, faith, and knowledge to St. Mikes. There is a lot of love in this office, but that only goes so far! I cannot imagine keeping us as strong as we are without Roseann. Our bottom line is strong, our textbooks up to date and top notch, our staff well-cared for (candy at every staff meeting!), and her faith obvious and sincere.

Finally, our office depends on the invaluable contributions of our administrative assistants, Erika Hurd and Christy Hart. Not only do these two keep the very serious business of the office running smoothly, they do it with with humor and grace. If Dr. Feldmann is in the sick room, they drop everything to pitch in, no matter what they're knee-deep in, if the phone rings, they're present. Teachers need help ASAP - no problem. Parents here to pick up kids - on it. Myriad doesn't come close to capturing the day to day workings of the office, and that, again, is why St. Mikes is such a unique place.

When you see any of these truly God-given gifts, either during this celebratory week, or beyond, say a prayer of thanks for their presence in our lives, school and church, and ask God to continue to keep us "in the palm of His hand" for we truly feel that every day.

Kathi Rafferty

Co-Principal

JPII’s annual Take Flight Breakfast is fast approaching. Join us on Wednesday, February 15th at Saint Martin’s Worthington Center to celebrate the amazing young men and women of JPII High School, while raising support for tuition assistance. Doors open at 7:30am with the program beginning at 8am. Tickets are $30 per person or $240 for a table of 8. Seating is limited so register today. Our student keynote speaker is Joe Schumacher, a St. Michael Parish School graduate and current altar server at Saint Michael Parish.

If a student or staff member is ill or COVID-19 positive:

Students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19 are required to stay home and should get

tested. Any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at

home. Individuals may return to school on Day 6, if they have no symptoms and test negative

on that day (If there are symptoms, Day 0 is the first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day

after symptoms developed. If there are no symptoms, Day 0 is the date being tested. Day 1 is

the first full day after the specimen was collected for a positive test.). If the individual tests

positive on Day 6, the individual is likely still contagious, and should continue to isolate and wait

24-48 hours to test again. If the individual tests negative on two sequential tests each

performed 24-48 hours apart and has no symptoms, the individual can end isolation and return

to school.

If a student or staff member is exposed to COVID-19:

The Department of Health no longer requires exposed students and staff to quarantine. To

protect the school, students and staff, regardless of vaccination status, who are potentially

exposed to COVID-19 should:

• Monitor for symptoms, AND
• Test as soon as possible after exposure and then repeat testing every 24-48 hours through at least the first 5 days after exposure AND
• Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 days after exposure.

COVID-19 positive cases and exposure cases need to be reported to the St. Michael Health

Office (rfeldmann@stmikesolympia.org). COVID-19 testing is available through the Health Office, if home testing is not available.

POSSIBLE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Congestion or runny nose

Nausea or vomiting

Diarrhea

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Fatigue

Muscle or body aches

Headache

Ron Feldmann MD

St. Michael Parish School Health Office