Principal's Pad (2/20/22)
Updates for the St. Stan's Community
What's in this Newsletter?
Haga clic aquí para leer el boletín en español
Here is what's new...
- A Few Words
- Gentle Reminders
- Weekly Parent Survey
- Home-Learning Hub
What's still here from last week?
- Lil' Wildcat Sports Club
- Afterschool Opportunities: Science Club
- Important Dates
- Covid-19 Protocols
A Few Words On...
As the leader of St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy, I would just like to share a few words and thoughts on several topics and happenings in our school community.
Enrollment Contracts
Last week each family should have received an enrollment contract via email or in your child's take-home folder. If you have not received these forms, please contact Ms. Abby Torres in the main office immediately at atorres@ststanschicago.org or by calling 773-278-4560. You can submit your enrollment contract by sending it to school with your child to be given to their classroom teacher or by emailing an electronic copy to either myself or Ms. Torres.
We ask that you submit your contracts no later than Tuesday, March 1. We would like to get started on considering financial aid options for families as well as potential staffing needs for the 2022-23 school year. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
3-C's Parent Survey
The University of Chicago and the Archdiocese of Chicago are collaborating to bring the Climate, Culture, & Catholic Identity (3-C's) Survey to the students, teachers, and parents of St. Stan's Academy. This survey (also known as the 5-Essentials Survey) is a critical data collecting tool for our school and will give us valuable insight into vital areas of our school. These topics include academics, faith life, and school climate.
Please click here to access the survey
Our 4th-8th grade students will be given a chance to complete the survey in school, but we hope that parents will take the 10 minutes necessary to complete the survey at home. This is your opportunity to let us know what we have been doing well and where we have room for growth. We need at least 20% of our families to take the survey in order for the results to be considered valid and of any use to us. Families who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle drawing for an Amazon gift card.
End of 2nd Trimester
Our 2nd Trimester will be ending on Friday, March 4. We hope that there has been open communication between parents and classroom teachers throughout the trimester so that there are no surprises at the end of the term. I encourage you to check PowerSchool (if your child is in grades 3-8) for updated grades and information on the progress of your child. Please reach out to classroom teachers if there is any confusion or if you would like to know how best to support your child's learning. If you do not have your PowerSchool login information, please reach out to Ms. Abby Torres in the Main Office and she will provide it for you.
Gentle Reminders
No School - February 21
School will be out of session tomorrow (Monday, February 21) in observance of Presidents' Day.
Severe Weather Notifications
Whenever there is a likelihood of severe weather, please be sure to check your email as well as WGN's Emergency Closing Center or news broadcast for updates on the open or closed status of St. Stan's Academy. Teachers will include additional information on their Class Dojo and Google Classroom websites. The Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts for St. Stan's Academy will also post open/closed updates.
It is important that parents/guardians do what they can to seek out this information so that students do not arrive to school when it is closed or get picked up late if there is an early dismissal.
Weekly Parent Survey - 3C's Survey
Lil' Wildcat Sports Club
St Stan’s Academy is excited to revive the Lil’ Wildcat Sports Club for PreK - 2nd Grade students. The first meeting for students will be on Thursday, February 24 since the weather forced us to cancel the program last week.
Times & Schedule
PreK - Kindergarten students will participate from 2:45 - 3:45pm
1st - 2nd Grade students will participate from 3:00 - 4:00pm
If you have any questions, please email our Athletic Director, Mr. Ryan Reed, at rreed@ststanschicago.org.
After School Science Club: 3rd-6th Grade
Home-Learning Hub
Upcoming Events & Important Dates at St. Stan's
No School: Presidents' Day - February 21
Monday, February 21 will be a day off of school in observance of the Presidents' Day holiday.
End of 2nd Trimester - March 4
Friday, March 4 will mark the end of the 2nd academic trimester at St. Stan's Academy.
First Reconciliation - March 9
Our students wishing to receive their First Communion later this spring will participate in the sacrament of First Reconciliation on Wednesday, March 9. Parents should expect to attend the proceedings with their child beginning at 5pm in St. Stanislaus Kostka Church.
Parent/Teacher Conferences - March 11
Parents and guardians will be able to discuss their student's progress with teachers on Friday, March 11. There will be no classes on this day so that teachers can meet with as many families as possible.
Athletics
If you are interested in helping coach or in having your son/daughter involved in athletics at St. Stan's, please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Ryan Reed, via email at rreed@ststanschicago.org
Champions Afterschool Program
All K-8 families wishing to use aftercare services must register with CHAMPIONS as soon as possible. Use this link to enroll and begin the registration process. For a look at the CHAMPIONS program and what it has to offer, please click on this link. Any other questions should be directed to the CHAMPIONS Area Manager, Paula Short. She can be contacted at pshort@discoverchampions.com or 847-850-9817.
All families of a PK student should contact Ms. Abby Torres at atorres@ststanschicago.org to schedule your days of care and plan for payment. Tuition rates will be the same as the CHAMPIONS program since all students will have similar access to the same resources.
Covid-19 Protocols & Guidelines (as of 1/30/22)
Fully Vaccinated Status
The CDC defines fully vaccinated individuals as those who have done either of the following:- have received a booster of vaccine
- have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months
- have completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months.
5-Day Isolation/Quarantine
The updated CDC quarantine guidance requires the following:
- If someone tests positive for COVID, regardless of vaccination status, the individual must:
- Isolate for a full 5 days regardless if symptoms are present or not and regardless if symptoms resolve before the 5 days are complete.
- For symptomatic people, Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop.
- For asymptomatic people, Day 1 is the first full day after the positive test is administered.
- The individual must be fever-free for 24 hours before leaving isolation. The 5-day rule still applies, but if a fever is present after 5 days, the individual must remain isolated until fever-free for 24 hours.
- There is no need to test before leaving isolation. While individuals could remain COVID positive for some time, they are no longer contagious.
- Isolate for a full 5 days regardless if symptoms are present or not and regardless if symptoms resolve before the 5 days are complete.
- If a vaccinated individual is a close contact with a positive individual:
- There is no need to quarantine at home as long as the vaccinated individual is not symptomatic.
- Testing is recommended 5 days after exposure OR if symptoms develop.
- If an unvaccinated individual is a close contact with a COVID-19 positive person:
- The individual must quarantine at home for 5 days.
- Testing is recommended 5 days after exposure OR if symptoms develop.
Test to Stay Option
Students who are deemed to be "close contacts" to positive Covid-19 cases have the option to either quarantine for 5 days or "test-to-stay" in school. This is being done in the interest of allowing our students the best opportunity to continue their learning uninterrupted while also providing safety measures to prevent virus transmission. Please note the important details below:
- Any test being used as part of the "test-to-stay" protocol must be administered by a clinic, doctor's office, or pharmacy such as Walgreen's or CVS. Home tests administered at home will not count as valid.
- A home test may be used only if it is conducted in the presence of a school official (the Principal or Administrative Assistant) at the beginning of the school day. If the test shows a negative result, the student may remain at school so long as they are not showing any symptoms.
- The "Test-to-Stay" protocol will not apply should I see it necessary to quarantine an entire classroom due to overt spread of the virus.
We continue to follow the state classifications designated in the City of Chicago Travel Advisory.
- Domestic Travel to an “Orange” State:
- Fully vaccinated students/teachers/staff do not need post-travel COVID-19 testing or self-quarantine as long as they are not symptomatic and provide proof of vaccination.
- Unvaccinated students/teachers/staff must quarantine for 5 days OR provide proof of a negative test, taken after travel and as close to the start of school as practical, but no earlier than 72 hours prior to returning home. Persons must quarantine until a negative test is received. If the test result is negative, no further quarantine is required.
- International Travel:
- The CDC currently requires a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery to board a plane to the United States. Because of this requirement, no quarantine is required upon arrival, regardless of vaccination status.
Contact Us
Email: Office@StStansChicago.org
Website: https://ststanschicago.org/
Location: 1255 North Noble Street, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: (773) 278-4560