The SPIRIT of SKS
Saint Kateri School's Weekly Newsletter ~ March 19, 2021
5th grade prays our St. Joseph prayer for Saint Kateri School
SKS ends every day in praying our St. Joseph prayer ~ today, in honor of St. Joseph Day, our 5th graders led this prayer for our school. Great job 5th grade!
Principal Newsletter
Saint Kateri School families ~
Learning and appreciating the lives of the Saints ~ this week at school has included activities and discussions about the stories of St. Patrick and St. Joseph. Religion classes this week have provided our students with ways to learn and make connections with these saints to their everyday life. Jim Tauzel, our Superintendent of Catholic Schools, has created a St. Joseph Retreat for our school families that I am including below ~ these resources can be used all year as we celebrate the Year of St. Joseph.
This week we are collecting CANNED BEANS and next week we will be collecting CANNED PASTA for our CANerpillar for Can-Struction! Let's grow our caterpillar ~ all donations collected will be given to the St. Joseph's House of Hospitality.
Thank you to everyone that donated to the House of Mercy on Wednesday ~ we also loved to see the sea of green on our students and staff.
I am happy to report that the Niagara Candy Sale was very popular with our families and we raised $6,888 for our school! Our top selling students (one in Preschool and one in K-5th grade) will be receiving a BIG chocolate bunny. The top selling class (a Preschool class and a K-5th grade class) will be celebrating with a Pizza Party in their classroom. Way to go!
Top selling Preschool student: Eliana in Mrs. Gasic's Preschool 4 year old class
Top selling K-5th grade student: Jax in Miss Garbach's 1st grade class
Top selling Preschool classroom: Mrs. Moore's Preschool Class
Top selling K-5th grade classroom: Mrs. D'Aprix's 2nd grade Class
The Reddington Scholarship is accepting applications for the 2021-2022 school year. Information was sent home in the Registration packet and can also be found on our website: http://www.saintkaterischool.org/wp-content/uploads/Reddington-Scholarship-2021-2022.pdf Please return completed application to Mrs. Connor, our School Counselor, prior to the deadline as she has information to provide. The application deadline is April 30, 2021.
Thank you for continuing to support our students and our school!
Mrs. Terri L. Morgan, Principal
Email: Terri.Morgan@dor.org
Phone: (585) 467-8730
Upcoming Calendar Dates:
MARCH:
- 3/23: Quiet Mass (3rd/K)
- 3/26: Stations of the Cross at 8:45am
- 3/29-4/2: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
APRIL:- 4/5: Return to school
- 4/6: School Mass (2nd grade)
- 4/7: Spirit Shirt Day
- 4/7: Parent's Association (6-7:30)
- 4/13: QM Kindergarten -2nd grade
- 4/14: Half Day Dismissal (PK @ 11:00 and K-5 @ 11:30)
- 4/16: Q3 ends
- 4/20: No Quiet Mass
- 4/20-4/22: NYS ELA Assessments grade 3-5
- 4/26: Yearbook Order DUE
- 4/27: QM 3rd - 5th grade
- 4/29: Q3 Report Cards go home
- 4/30: NO SCHOOL Superintendent's Day
Busing Transportation Deadline
April 1st
Please be aware that NYS sets an April 1st deadline for families of private schools to request transportation for our K-5th grade students. Families will need to work with their public school of residence in order to complete the required paperwork. Paperwork can usually be found on the District website.
Most private and public schools will be on Spring Break when the deadline passes so be sure to call before Friday, March 26th if you have any questions.
From the Desk of the Principal
Toys from home
We have seen a huge increase in the number of students bringing in toys from home. Toys from home are too enticing not to touch and share, and with COVID we are highly limiting how materials are used and shared. As a school we have always discouraged the practice of bringing in toys from home, as items get broken or lost. Not to mention the toys are very distracting to the learning happening in the classroom. Bringing in a toy from home should be saved for special occasions or a classroom reward, not an everyday occurrence.
Please talk with your child(ren) about keeping their toys at home ~ teachers will be reinforcing this in the classroom and I will also address it at Monday Morning Prayer Service.
Electronic Devices
At Saint Kateri School we have a "No Electronic Device" policy, which includes anything worn on your wrist that had an internet connection or that could be used for texting or making/receiving phone calls. In the past, if a student came to school with such a device they were required to hand it into the Main Office at the beginning of the day and pick it up at the end. Due to COVID we are not collecting devices/watches/fitness trackers to hold in the Main Office but the policy has not changed.
While we are not encouraging it (see above paragraph in regards to items being lost or broken) this year we are allowing students to bring in their devices if they are kept in their back pack while at school; that includes the hallway while waiting for buses or pick-up or in Before/After Care, etc. It is one thing for you to have to replace a broken stuffed animal from home if anything were to happen to it at school and another to replace an iPhone or tablet.
Thank you for your support on both of these reminders ~
Reminders from the Main Office:
- COVID test results and Doctor Release paperwork should be sent to the SCHOOL email rather than an individual's school email. This will allow access for the staff that need that information. Please do not send it to your child's teacher or to the Main Office staff emails.
Please use: sksdcs@dor.org
- A note for the PK-2nd grade Car Line: Please have your child wait in the car until you are directed by a Car Line teacher (usually Mrs. Payne) to either move up in the line or that you are able to have your child exit the vehicle. Typically we are able to unload only three cars at a time due to unloading, temperature checks and monitoring children walking to the door. Please wait until you get the OK for your child to get out of the car, or the car line has moved ahead to wear you are one of the three cars in the front.
Travel changes since last week's update
Since the information that was sent out last week, New York State has issued an updated guideline for travelers returning to New York State.
Starting April 1st: Domestic travelers will no longer be required to quarantine after entering New York from another U.S. State or U.S. Territory. While no longer required, the NYS Department of Health still recommends quarantine after domestic travel as an added precaution. Mandatory quarantine remains in effect for international travelers. Individuals should continue strict adherence to all safety guidelines to stop the spread - wearing masks, socially distancing and avoiding gatherings.
If you arrive back into NYS before April 1st you will need to follow the current guidelines stated in the newsletter last week.
Thank you to the families that have already notified us regarding upcoming travel. Please continue to keep Saint Kateri School in the know about any travel plans ~ Thank you!
Saint Kateri School Walk-A-Thon
The Walk-A-Thon is our biggest fundraiser of the year at Saint Kateri School and we are hoping to celebrate our school community with a BANG this year while raising much needed funds for our school. This year's Walk-A-Thon will be a family event and students will walk as Family Groups. The Parent's Association is working to provide other activities on our school campus in addition to walking!
DATE: Saturday, May 22nd
SPONSORSHIP: Sponsoring our Walk-A-Thon helps to raise funds for our school and showcases some amazing local businesses that are connected to our SKS Family. If you are a business owner ~ we would love your support! If you know a business owner ~ please pass the information on to them. Thank you!
CLASS RAFFLE BASKETS: New this year - each Classroom will put together a themed Raffle Basket! Theme selection and coordination of basket items will done through the Room Parents and the Classroom Teacher. Stay tuned for more information!
FOOD TRUCKS will be on campus for snacks, lunch and sweets!
If you would like to be a part of the planning committee please call me and plan on attending the next Parent's Association Meeting on Wednesday, April 7th 6:00-7:30pm! (585) 467-8730
Share our NEW Virtual School Tour!
2021-2022 Registration is well underway!
YOU ARE OUR BEST ADVERTISEMENT!
Please share your love of Saint Kateri School in the upcoming weeks as we begin our enrollment process for next school year. We have already begun to get phone calls for tours which is great BUT...
- Reach out to family and friends who are looking for a school for their children next year
- Post on your social media accounts
- Share our school posts
- Comment on local Irondequoit groups your recommendations about attending SKS
- Recommend Saint Kateri School as part of a Google review
Our CAN-erpillar is growing!
Amazon Smile Program
Attention Amazon shoppers! We are continuing to use the AmazonSmile program for our school and church community. It’s very easy and of no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, our school community will receive a portion of the proceeds from each eligible purchase as a donation from Amazon.
Simply search for “Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Roman Catholic Parish in Irondequoit, NY” and select it as your charity. Then shop as usual! Amazon will remember your charity when it is time to check out and our community will receive a portion of your eligible purchases! Thank you for participating and happy shopping! Feel free to pass this information on to family members and friends looking to help out our school!
