Happy New Year SKS families!

It is hard to believe that we have already turned the calendar into 2022 ~ it has been a difficult school year to be sure but not without it's bright spots. I was thankful to be able to watch on video ALL of the in-person Christmas Concerts ~ if you have not seen them yet I am sharing them below. Thank you to Danielle Hubbel, our parish Faith Formation Coordinator, for making herself available to videotape these events for those who could not attend.

As we are navigating this recent COVID surge it is important to remember that all of us have the same goal ~ to keep students and staff healthy and to keep our students learning in school. Mrs. Trimaldi has more detailed information below about COVID guidelines ~ she has worked hard to stay on top of the ever changing updates in order to provide you with proper guidance when you have a question. Saint Kateri School continues to implement our COVID safety procedures with an additional sanitizing of classrooms mid-week.

I am beyond grateful for this community and how they rallied around each other, supported each other, and pitched in wherever needed during my medical absence. Mr. Carney has done a great job of running the school in my absence ~ leaning heavily on the knowledge and expertise of our Main Office staff ~ Mrs. Messmer, Mrs. Felluca and Mrs. Trimaldi. I continue to work from home as I recuperate, with Mr. Carney as Teacher in Charge in the building. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers as I continue to fully recover.

God bless you and your family and may you have a Happy and Healthy 2022!

Mrs. Terri L. Morgan, Principal

Email: Terri.Morgan@dor.org

Website: www.saintkaterischool.org

Phone: (585) 467-8730

• February lunch orders close on January 12, 2022 at 9:30am
• Milk orders close on January 14, 2022 at 9:30am
• Please remember that toys from home should not be coming to school. The only exception is for full day preschoolers who are napping.
• A reminder that you need to put your child(ren) into PUP if they are absent. A phone call is appreciated but also needs to be followed up with the information updated into PUP.

God bless our students for sharing their Christmas JOY with us this holiday season.

• 1/11: Quiet Mass 4th/1st
• 1/12: February lunch orders close at 9:30am
• 1/12: Virtual Parent's Association Meeting 6:00pm - 7:30pm
• 1/14: Milk orders close at 9:30am
• 1/17: No School ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• 1/18: Quiet Mass 3rd/K
• 1/25: Quiet Mass 5th/2nd
• 1/26: FULL DAY of school ~ was initially a Half Day
• 1/28: Quarter 2 ends
• 1/30 - 1/5: Catholic Schools Week
• 1/31: Catholic Schools Week Prayer Service at 9:00am

We had a very fun and festive In-Person Parent's Association Meeting on December 1st ~ Thank you to everyone that attended or contacted Katie Stam that they were unable. After the meeting parents stayed for fellowship and Christmas Tea preparations ~ thank you for your help!

Volunteers must:

• Be CASE trained prior to volunteering (process can take up to two weeks)
• Follow 2021-2022 COVID guidelines (i.e., wear mask at all times, social distance and hand wash/sanitize frequently)
• Be fully vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID test

Our next Parent's Association meeting will be on Wednesday, January 12th from 6:00-7:30pm. This meeting will be Virtual ~ This year we are using the same link for all of our Virtual Meetings.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86085228244?pwd=S2lZSEpNTUMwcTU3Mk9BdldhaG1Idz09

Meeting ID: 860 8522 8244

Passcode: SKSRocks!

Email Katie (stam.kaitlyn@gmail.com) or Nicole (n_staebell@hotmail.com) with any questions or items to add to the agenda.

Late Friday, the Monroe County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) launched two new portals on their website that support the recently shortened isolation and quarantine periods.

After completing either form with all requested information, an electronic order is generated and emailed directly to you. This email will serve as your official release documentation and provide the date when the isolation or quarantine ends. This form must be provided to the school nurse, supervising administrator, or coordinator or your program at the end of the 5-day isolation or quarantine period to return to school. A copy of the email or a screenshot including the person's name and release date will suffice. The student/staff member must also have no fever and resolved or improving symptoms to return.

Monroe County, NY Positive COVID-19 Test Reporting & Isolation Order Request Form

Monroe County, NY COVID-19 Mandatory Quarantine Request

Please use the form below to request a quarantine order if you believe or suspect that you were exposed to COVID-19 by being a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. A close contact is defined as someone who has been within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or more when one or both were not wearing a properly fitting mask.

Hello families,

Many of you are reaching out regarding the newest guidelines for the Isolation and Quarantine procedures. At this time, we are going to follow the Monroe County Department of Public Health guidelines but please understand that these are again in the process of being updated. We should receive the newest revision early next week. I completely understand how frustrating and confusing all the changes have been and will continue to be. I realize I say this often, understand that I truly mean it, please do not hesitate to reach out to me to ask any questions. We are all trying to work through the changes and if I do not have an answer at that moment, I promise I will do my best to find an answer and I will get back to you. I am attaching the current guidelines to this newsletter.

Here are some positive updates that will not be changing:

• Thanks to Sharon Quinto, mom of Noah in 3rd grade, for applying for and receiving authorization to oversee our school running a Limited Service Laboratory (LSL). This will now allow us to test asymptotic students with the Rapid Antigen test that we have used in the past. Students will not be tested without consent ~ paperwork will be going home soon to get the process started.
• We have secured a rapid PCR machine and are now able to perform the PCR test on our students when necessary. If your child displays new symptoms while at school, we will now be able to test them in the Health Office and we will have the results in 30 minutes. These are being done on a case by case basis with consent obtained before testing. If

your child currently is in need of a PCR test to return to school, please contact me ASAP.

• COVID cases in Monroe County are at a record high. We want to be diligent and make sure that we are keeping our students and staff as safe as possible.

Please DO NOT send your child to school if they are experiencing any COVID symptoms. These include:

• Fever
• Shortness of Breath
• Sore throat
• Loss of taste or smell
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Cough
• Nasal Congestion/Runny nose
• Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches

If your child displays these symptoms at school, we will be contacting you to pick them up. I understand that it may not be convenient but for the safety of the students and staff, it is required by the Department of Health. It is important that we follow these guidelines so that we can keep school open and keep our kids healthy.

If your child is home sick or is sent home with COVID symptoms, one of the following must occur:

• Your child can get a COVID PCR, NAAT test or laboratory confirmed rapid antigen test. These results must be sent to school before your child can return. The PCR test can now be done at school at no cost to the family.
• Your child can be seen by a Medical Provider and given an alternate diagnosis. A letter explaining the alternate diagnosis must be sent to school before your child can return.
• Your child can quarantine for 5 days, with Day O, being the day of symptom onset. They must quarantine THROUGH Day 5, which means they are able to return to school on Day 6.

If you believe your child has been in contact with someone who has tested positive, please follow the attached guidelines.

I love paperwork!!! If your child receives any information regarding isolation/quarantine dates, please forward them to us!!

Flu season is also upon us. Flu symptoms and COVID symptoms are very similar. Please be cognizant of this when sending your child to school.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out. I am happy to answer any questions and help clarify any information. Thank you for your continued cooperation and support,

Elizabeth Trimaldi, RN

School Nurse Saint Kateri School

Elizabeth_Trimaldi@westiron.monroe.edu