Blue Jay Flyer
August 26, 2020
From the Principal's Desk...
take up you cross, and follow me
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are getting very close to our reopening for the 2020-2021 school year. The entire faculty and staff have been working nonstop to prepare for our first half-day on Thursday, September 3. We are all looking forward to seeing your daughters and sons in person next week. Our faculty met again today for another full day of professional development to review, discuss and plan for the critical learning that will take place when our students return.
As you will see in the attachment to this newsletter, we are also preparing for all of the health and safety measures that have been recommend to us by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the local health department. Please carefully review this important document. We are also revising our protocol for students entering the building. Faculty and staff will be taking student’s temperature prior to entering the building. This will take place for car riders before they are permitted to exit their car, for bus riders as they exit the buses, and for walkers at a different entrance before they can enter the building. We recognize that this will cause some delays, but our first concern is for everyone’s health and safety.
You will be receiving a bullet point letter with important reminders this Friday. Given the ongoing changes and the volume of information we are sending to everyone, we are working to provide it in manageable increments. The information from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital will also be provided in hard copy on Monday when you arrive.
This Sunday’s Gospel (MT 16:21-27), Jesus tells His disciples the hard truth. He wants them to know and understand that if they are His followers, they will be required to make real sacrifices. He says to them, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
In order for school to resume and for us to protect the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and families, we will all be called upon to make real sacrifices. I am well aware that some of the things which will be required of everyone are not what we have done in the past, not what is preferred and perhaps not well received. I ask that we all pray for strength and guidance from the Lord and take to heart is words, “take up his(your) cross and follow me.”
Peace,
Dan Minelli
Calendar of Events
Modified Open House Monday, August 31
Modified Open House (Preschool-8th grade)
Computer Orientation (Grades 4-8 only)
Monday, August 31, 2020
In order to follow social distancing guidelines, there will be three sessions by alphabetical last name, each divided into two groups.
If you cannot attend your assigned session, you can attend one of the other sessions. Most importantly, if you have a student in grades 4-8, please arrive promptly for the computer orientations.
4:00-5:15 LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH A-J
Group 1: A to E begin with homeroom visits (Preschool - 8th grade). If you do not need to attend computer orientation because your student(s) are all younger than 4th grade, you may leave after visiting your homeroom(s).
Group 2: F to J families with any student(s) in grades 4-8 will begin in the cafeteria promptly at 4:00 pm. Younger students in grades K-3 can attend the computer orientation with their older siblings. For those families with only students in preschool-3rd grade, you may leave after visiting your homeroom(s).
**Groups 1 and 2 will switch at approximately 4:35 pm and the second computer orientation will begin promptly at 4:40 pm.
5:30-6:45 LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH K-R
Group 1: K to M begin with homeroom visits (Preschool - 8th grade). If you do not need to attend computer orientation because your student(s) are all younger than 4th grade, you may leave after visiting your homeroom(s).
Group 2: N to R families with any student(s) in grades 4-8 will begin in the cafeteria promptly at 5:30 pm. Younger students in grades K-3 can attend the computer orientation with their older siblings. For those families with only students in preschool-3rd grade, you may leave after visiting your homeroom(s).
*Groups 1 and 2 will switch at approximately 6:05 pm and the second computer orientation will begin promptly at 6:10 pm.
7:00-8:15 LAST NAMES BEGINNING WITH S-Z
Group 1: S to U begin with homeroom visits (Preschool - 8th grade). If you do not need to attend computer orientation because your student(s) are all younger than 4th grade, you may leave after visiting your homeroom(s).
Group 2: V to Z families with any student(s) in grades 4-8 will begin in the cafeteria promptly at 7:00 pm. Younger students in grades K-3 can attend the computer orientation with their older siblings. For those families with only students in preschool-3rd grade, you may leave after visiting your homeroom(s).
**Groups 1 and 2 will switch at approximately 7:35 pm and the second computer orientation will begin promptly at 7:40 pm.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
* Masks will be required for students and adults.
* In an effort to keep traffic flow in the building in a one way direction, if you are visiting homerooms first, please enter through the main entrance (blue awning). For those that have their computer orientation first, please enter through the gym doors.
* Students must be accompanied by an adult.
* Visits will be to HOMEROOMS ONLY in order to maintain social distance in the building. Please do not visit any other classrooms, gym, art room, etc.
* Any school supplies being dropped off in classrooms must be in some form of container (i.e. pencil bag, pencil box, large plastic bag, etc.) with the student’s name on it.
* School uniform spirit wear and mask samples will be available to view/place orders in the
parish center (gym) lobby as you exit the building.
* Our school nurse, Mrs. Hochhausler, will be in the parish center (gym) lobby to receive any medications for your student(s).
A copy of this information is attached below for your convenience.
navigating COVID-19
St. John the Baptist School will be following guidance from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital for isolation and exclusion to help us in Navigating COVID-19. Our priority is the safety of our students and staff. Guidance from local health organizations indicates that daily symptom monitoring is one of the most effective measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Each day prior to school, please take the time to complete this at –home wellness check for each of your children.
If your child has a fever, has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (defined below), is awaiting initial COVID-19 testing results, has tested positive for COVID-19, or has been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, please keep them home.
We understand the need for flexibility in attendance guidelines and that many parents are concerned their child will be penalized for missing school for illness. Once your child is well enough to complete school work, your students’ teacher will provide instructions on how to complete any missed assignments remotely during their absence.
1. What is your child’s temperature?
Take your child’s temperature with an appropriate thermometer. Readings of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit more require your child to stay home today and until 2 full days after the fever has resolved without the use of fever reducing medications such as Acetaminophen(Tylenol), aspirin, Ibuprofen(Motrin/Advil) or Naproxen (Aleve).
2. Are there any symptoms of illness present?
Individuals with COVID-19 and other infectious illnesses have reported a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild and manageable at home to severe and requiring hospitalization. If your child currently has or has had within the last 2 days (48 hours) any of the following symptoms, even if mild, please keep them home from school:
- Fever or chills - New loss of taste or smell
- New or worsening cough - Sore throat
- Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing - Congestion or runny nose
- Fatigue - Nausea or vomiting
- Headache - Diarrhea
Students who stay home for symptoms and have not been in contact with anyone who has COVID-19 and have not traveled to a hotspot within the last 14 days should remain home until 48 hours after the symptoms have resolved without the use of any medications. Upon the return to school, students who have been absent for iness will be directed to the screening station for a health assessment. Any additional or reoccurring symptom discovery will qualify the student for a ten calendar day at home exclusion for illness.
**Note – If your child has any underlying medical conditions that may produce symptoms consistent with COVID 19, please be sure that the nurse has documentation of this condition from the physician. These conditions may include but are not limited to: seasonal allergies, asthma, reflux, migraines or stomach/bowel issues. Considerations will be made on a case by case basis for students with
pre-existing health conditions
3. Has your child been tested for COVID-19 and the result is still pending or positive?
If the initial test result has not been received, please keep your child home until test results are confirmed to be negative. If results are Positive, please notify the school and keep your child(ren) quarantined at home until he/she is cleared by a physician or health department for return. Siblings of students who test positive for COVID- must also quarantine and will not be permitted to attend school until released from the physician or health department.
4. Within the past 14 days has your child been in close physical contact (defined as 6 feet or closer for at least 15 minutes) with a person who is known to have COVID 19?
If yes, your child(ren) should stay home and self-isolate for a period of 14 days from that close contact experience. Symptoms of a COVID-19 infection can take 2-14 days to develop. Notify the school of your child(ren)’s absence and then contact your healthcare provider for further guidance.
If your child has a fever or answered “YES” to any of the above questions, Please keep them home. Report the absence to the school’s attendance line as soon as possible. Guidelines related to illness are rapidly changing as more is learned about COVID-19. We ask that our staff and families remain flexible as these change. Symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should always be evaluated by a physician and students may return upon medical clearance. If your child is symptomatic, but not evaluated by a healthcare provider, he/she will need to quarantine based on current public health guidelines.
We appreciate your cooperation with the above daily screening and the mandates listed as we navigate these unprecedented situations together.
A copy of this information is attached below for your convenience.
Revised 2020-21 School Calendar
Blue Jay Masks
Samples will be available to view during Open House in the lobby of the gym.
Click here to print an order form: Blue Jay Mask Order Form
Please e-mail order forms to Laura Heidorn at lheidorn@stjohnsdrschool.org or drop off at the school office.
Preschool Openings
SJB Athletic Boosters
Girls Volleyball Sign Ups Open
St. John's Girls Volleyball Sign-ups will be held from August 15th through September 7th.
Please click here to register your daughter Girls Volleyball Sign Ups.
We will be sending out information on clinics and tryout dates in the near future to those who sign up or express interest in playing volleyball this season. If you have any questions please contact the volleyball coordinators at stjohnsvolleyball1@gmail.com.
At this point the GWAC has not released any guidelines for the upcoming season. However, they have discussed limiting the number of spectators, requiring masks for all spectators and clearing and cleaning the gym and equipment between each game. Rules will be discussed and voted on in September and we will keep everyone posted about the expectations.
If we are unable to have a season money will be refunded for registration costs. However, if the season starts and we are forced to shut down the season early, parents will be refunded a prorated amount. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Thanks,
St. John's Volleyball Coordinators
St. John's Athletic Boosters Golf Outing
When: October 3rd, 2020
Time: 11:00AM shotgun start, please arrive no later than 10:30AM to sign-in
Where: Pebble Creek Golf Course (9799 Prechtel Road; Cincinnati, OH 45252)
Cost: $80/person (Includes Golf, Lunch ticket w/drinks, Skins game, Prizes, and more)
Hole Sponsorship $150
Company Sponsorship (hole sponsorship and foursome) $450
Click here to register: 2020 St. John's Athletic Boosters Annual Golf Outing