SaberSpeak
Week of October 12, 2020
How to Submit News to SaberSpeak
Information to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following week. Information must be relevant to the St. Hilary School or St. Hilary Parish community, and cannot promote a personal interest or a school other than our own. The school reserves the right to determine what content will be included.
Need To Know Now
Click here for help with Gradelink
Click here for the School Faculty & Staff Directory
Click here for the 2020-2021 School Calendar, revised August 1
Click here for the 2020-2021 Dress Code
Click here for the 2020-2021 School Handbook and Amendments, including important health and safety information, school policies and procedures, updates due to COVID-19, and more
COVID-19 Updates
COVID-19 DASHBOARD
We have added a COVID-19 Dashboard to our school website to report up-to-the-minute positive case data for students and staff members. Click here for our COVID-19 Dashboard.
COVID-19 REPORTING UPDATE
Please see below for our September 15 update on COVID-19 reporting.
SAFER AT HOME GUIDE
Cleveland Clinic and Clorox have partnered to create a COVID-19 Safer at Home guide to keeping your family safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click the attachment below to view the guide.
SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CLARIFIES CONTACT TRACING
Summit County Public Health has issued a letter to parents that explains how contact tracing is handled in a school setting. Please click the attachment below to read the letter. Please keep in mind that our school policy remains "72 hours symptom-free" (not 24 hours) before a student may return to school.
Click here for all of our COVID-19 information
Hot Off The Press
DON'T FORGET TO SUPPORT OUR SISTER SCHOOL, ST. HILARY OF THE CONGO!
Click here for our special edition SaberSpeak with all the details about this amazing project!
UPDATE! HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES WEEK OF OCTOBER 26
Please click here for our SaberSpeak Spooky Special Edition with all the details about this year's Halloween festivities!
In addition, please note the following new details:
Pumpkin Contest Drop-Off: October 27 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Please drop off decorated pumpkins and contest entry form (see below) by the Jesus Statue. Students entering pumpkins in the contest will receive a participation certificate and a Halloween-themed bracelet to wear on October 29 to show their participation in the contest.
Pumpkin Contest Pick-Up: October 30 as students are dismissed. An area will be set up near the junior high doors so students can pick up their pumpkins as they go to the car line for dismissal. For your child's safety, if he or she will be bringing home a pumpkin, please plan for a car ride on October 30 or ask a friend to bring the pumpkin home to avoid pumpkins being carried onto buses.
Parent-teacher conferences will be held the week of November 9. Conferences will be held via Zoom, and appointments will be scheduled online via SignUpGenius. Click here to schedule. Only conferences with homeroom teachers will be scheduled online at this time. If you need to conference with another teacher or staff member, please email that individual directly. Click here for the School Faculty & Staff Directory.
SHS CAR WINDOW STICKERS FOR SALE
Help us celebrate St. Hilary School during this 60th anniversary year and beyond by displaying one of our new SHS window stickers on your car window! The 4" x 5" stickers feature a white background with red SHS lettering and 3 crossed sabers. (See photo below.) To purchase a sticker, please send $5 (cash or check payable to St. Hilary School) to the office in an envelope marked "Window Sticker" with your child's name and room number. Your sticker will be sent home to you in the same envelope.
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING PRESENTATION OCTOBER 16
Join Dr. Anne White, parishioner and fertility expert, for Catholicism 101: “GREEN SEX: Why More Young Couples Are Giving Natural Family Planning a Second Look!” Friday, October 16 from 6:30-8:30 pm. Dr. White, DO, is Associate Director of the Family Medicine Residency at the Summa Health Akron Campus. After years of caring for women and their growing families, she became convinced of the truth and brilliance of the Church’s teaching regarding family life. She recognizes the vital role of physicians in assisting couples to live out their vocation and plan their families in holiness and joy. She is working on establishing a clinic to provide state-of-the-art healthcare to women and families, specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, family, and adolescent health through evidence-based medicine. Bring in individual serving containers something to share: hors d'oeuvres, side dish, dessert. Wine and coffee will be served.
Register ASAP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/catholicism-101-tickets-123027690133 or contact Randy Malick rmalick@sthilarychurch.org.
The Main Event
This week's main event is School Picture Retake Day on October 15 for students who were absent on School Picture Day in September or who need to have photos retaken. Please see the Reminders section below for more information.
Plan Ahead
GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click here for the school Google calendar
~ October 15: School Picture Re-take Day
~ October 27: Pumpkin Contest Drop-off from 6:00 to 7:30 pm (Please see Halloween link in Reminders section below for complete information)
~ October 29: Students wear Halloween costumes to school (Simple costumes, please - Please see Halloween link in Reminders section below for complete information)
~ October 29: Halloween Parade at 1:45 pm (Students and staff only - Parents may join us virtually - Please see Halloween link in Reminders section below for complete information)
~ October 30: First Quarter ends
~ Students bring Pumpkin Contest pumpkins home at dismissal
Help Wanted
URGENT! HOT LUNCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our Hot Lunch program is in need of a few extra helping hands on various days throughout the month. Volunteering to help with Hot Lunch is a great way to meet other parents and get involved in our school! The time commitment is once per month, from approximately 10:30 - 11:00 am until approximately 1:15 pm. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org for more details!
URGENT! PLAYGROUND MONITORS NEEDED
Looking for a fun way to be involved at school, see your child during the school day, get some fresh air, and make some extra money? Consider being a playground monitor! Help is needed for the 2020-2021 school year in order to ensure that our students are properly supervised during recess. Monitors work just a couple of hours each day, so this is the perfect part-time job for those with limited time! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Playground Supervisor Laura Pszonowsky at laurakay54@gmail.com or 330-289-9678.
CLASSROOM VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS
There will be limited in-person volunteer opportunities this year, but sign-ups will be available via the classroom Sign-Up Genius. Watch for more information from teachers / room moms.
Growing Together in Faith
NEXT SCHOOL MASS THIS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
UPCOMING MASSES OCTOBER 23, 30
Our next school Mass will be THIS FRIDAY, October 16 at 9:30 a.m. The school Mass will be planned by grade 1, and will be live streamed and available to view at http://sthilarychurch.org/live/. This year’s liturgy schedule can be found in the Forms and Documents section under the Red Folder on the school website. Masses are also posted on the school Google calendar, with the grade level planning the Mass listed. Upcoming Masses are October 23 planned by grade 6 (NOTE GRADE LEVEL CHANGE) and October 30 planned by grade 3.
We will continue to celebrate Mass together each week and on holy days. Each grade level (1-8) will plan several Masses as usual, but only the grade level planning the Mass will attend in person. Parents and grandparents of participants may attend but must sit in the back of the Church away from students. Masses will be live streamed and available for all to watch, and students not attending Mass in person will watch live streamed Mass from their classrooms. Eucharistic ministers will come to the classrooms to distribute Holy Communion. We will handle other religious services and events in a similar way.
SCHOOL YEAR THEME PRAYER AND SONG
Please click the images below for our prayer and song for this school year, exemplifying our school theme, "Answer God's Call...Change The World"! These will be handy as you join us virtually for school Masses.
Student Life
AKRON AREA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS
YOU'RE INVITED! Zoom High School Nights Featuring Archbishop Hoban, Our Lady of The Elms, St. Vincent-St. Mary, and Walsh Jesuit High Schools
Cleveland Diocesan seventh and eighth grade families are invited to learn more about four of Summit County's most prestigious Catholic High Schools through a one-hour webinar from 6 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 14, Oct. 28, or Nov. 11. Learn more about the benefits of a Catholic high school education, including faith formation, academic rigor, support services, and student engagement. You will have opportunities to participate in breakout sessions with each school to learn more about taking the next steps to visit and apply for admission and financial assistance. To register for this event, please go to: Hoban.org/virtual-visits If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at 330.849.2149 and admissions@hoban.org.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
Afterschool Enrichment Solutions, our Chess Club and Engineering Club provider, is offering some virtual programs for students, covering six subjects throughout the week. Students may benefit from the social, engaging and fun lessons. Please click the links below for more information.
Click for more information and to register for Virtual All Access Pass!
Reminders
COPLEY BUS ALTERED SCHEDULE OCTOBER 12
On October 12, Copley-Fairlawn Schools will be closed but Copley bus transportation will be provided for St. Hilary School students as follows: For morning bus riders, there will only be one bus with a direct route to St. Hilary School. All buses will run for the afternoon pickups.
SECOND QUARTER DISTANCE LEARNING PLANS NEEDED BY OCTOBER 12
With the first quarter halfway over, we are looking ahead to planning for second quarter and need to know which students will continue to learn in person and which will continue to participate in distance learning. Please email Mrs. Woodman AND Mrs. Alexander at jwoodman@st-hilary.org AND dalexander@st-hilary.org by Monday, October 12 if:
~ Your child is currently participating in distance learning and you would like him/her to continue distance learning during the second quarter, OR
~ Your child is currently participating in distance learning but you would like him/her to attend in person during the second quarter, OR
~ Your child has been attending in person but you would like him/her to participate in distance learning during the second quarter.
You do NOT need to email if your child is learning in person and will continue to do so.
As a reminder, the second quarter will begin on November 2 and end on January 15.
SCHOOL PICTURE RETAKE DAY OCTOBER 15
School Picture Retake Day will be held October 15 for students who were absent on our picture day on September 2 or who need to have their picture retaken. Students having photos taken may dress up (out of uniform). No jeans, T-shirts or tennis shoes are permitted. As with our original picture day, all orders must be submitted online at www.mylifetouch.com using the ID code EVTFC4WG2. Click below for a flyer with details. Please note that this flyer cannot be accepted by the school as an order form. If your child is a distance learner who needs to be photographed on October 15, please email dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by October 5 so appropriate arrangements can be made.
2019-2020 SCHOOL YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE THROUGH OCTOBER 23
2019-2020 yearbooks for students who ordered them last year have been sent home. Yearbooks for last year’s eighth graders and students who have left the school are available for pick-up at the school office by appointment by calling 330-867-8720. If you have a record of ordering a yearbook (online payment receipt) and do not receive one, or if you believe the order you received is incorrect, please do not contact the school, but contact Lifetouch directly via www.lifetouch.com. If you did not order a yearbook but wish you had, a limited number of hard cover ($30) and soft cover ($25) books will be available for purchase through October 23 or until sold out. ONLY TWO HARD COVER BOOKS ARE LEFT! Cash or checks payable to St. Hilary Parents’ Association will be accepted. We cannot accept credit cards. We cannot hold books without payment. To purchase a yearbook please send a check in an envelope with your child’s name and room number marked on it so the book(s) can be sent via backpack. Due to COVID-19, please do not come to the school to purchase a yearbook.
VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS
The Ohio Department of Health requires that vision and hearing screenings be completed for all students currently in kindergarten and first grade and for every odd year thereafter, as well as for any students who are new to the school in other grades. Screening takes place September through December. Parents wishing to opt out of screening may do so by emailing Mrs. Hammersmith at chammersmith@st-hilary.org or Mrs. Laughlin at alaughlin@st-hilary.org to request an opt-out form to complete. Opting out must be done in writing using this form. If a student does not pass the screening, a referral letter will be sent home for follow-up. Parents may also request screening for their children if there is a concern. To request screening, please email Mrs. Hammersmith at chammersmith@st-hilary.org or Mrs. Laughlin at alaughlin@st-hilary.org.
MORNING DROP OFF SAFETY
We have noticed multiple occasions when parents have dropped off students, continued looking back at their children, but continued to pull forward. Please be sure that if you are not looking ahead, your car is not moving. If your car is moving, please be observant of everything around you. Especially on the parking lot side, we have parents and students using the crosswalk to walk from cars to the building, and safety is imperative. Thank you!
AFTERNOON PICK-UP REMINDER
Please continue to help us keep our pick-up line moving efficiently by displaying your family last name in the passenger side window of your vehicle. This helps us to quickly identify which students need to go to which cars.
OUTERWEAR REMINDER
As the weather gets cooler, please remember that only approved school uniform sweaters, sweatshirts and quarter-zip pullovers may be worn in classrooms during the school day.
MASKS AVAILABLE THROUGH ONLINE STORE
Is your child in need of additional masks for this school year? Don't forget that you can order our very own SABERS spirit masks through our online school uniform store!
PLAYGROUND ETIQUETTE
If you allow your children to play on our school playground after school hours, please supervise them carefully and be mindful that they should not venture past the tree border behind the playset or into the trees to hide or play. There are private residences behind our school property and we want to be respectful of our neighbors and their property at all times.
FUNDRAISERS
The Acme Community Cash Back program and Box Tops for Education benefit our school every time you shop or purchase qualifying products. Please see below and click here for more information.
ACME RECEIPTS
We are collecting Acme receipts again this year! Please save your Acme receipts from August 6 through December 26, 2020. Send them to school at anytime to Attn: Jamie Malick; c/o Caleb Malick Room 113. Or if you prefer, take a picture of your receipts (be sure to include the bottom portion of the receipt that includes the cash back amount) and email to jamiemalick@hotmail.com.
VERIFY & UPDATE ONE CALL NOW INFORMATION VIA SELF-UPDATE PORTAL
As the new year begins, please make sure we have your current telephone number(s) and email address(es) in our One Call Now database. Doing so will ensure you receive the latest mass email updates, as well as phone calls in the event of snow days or school emergencies.
New families: Please make sure you have returned the yellow One Call Now form contained in your child’s acceptance packet so your One Call Now account can be set up.
Returning families and new families who have returned yellow One Call Now forms: Please click the My School button at the top right corner of the school website, login, and click the One Call Now link to be directed to our new One Call Now Self-Update Portal. Click the green SIGN UP button as a first-time user to create your login for the secure portal. Users will be able to view only their own information. Follow the prompts to verify and update your information as needed. Please retain your login information so you can return to the portal and simply login to make any necessary future updates.
Please contact Mrs. Smith at msmith@st-hilary.org with questions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEDIA RELEASE FORM
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will be using live streaming as a tool to gather together as a school community in situations where we will not be able to have large in-person events: when we want to gather our community for prayer, for events where parents would normally be invited, and as a way to connect our community. When a student appears in a live stream, we will not identify the student by his or her full name so as to protect his or her identity. Any live stream with students on camera will only be viewable live and will not be recorded or available after the live stream is over. This will be to more readily ensure that the live image does not stay as something that can be downloaded. A live stream will simply be a way to “attend” as the event occurs, not to view it later.
For our weekly school Masses and any other live streamed events, only students whose parents have given consent on the Media Release form on Gradelink will be able to participate and appear on camera. To be clear, that means that if you do not give us permission to have your child participate as part of live streamed events, he or she will be unable to participate as a singer or reader at school Masses and other religious services, and unable to participate in school assemblies and academic contests, parades, and any other events we may choose to live stream. This would be done not to exclude any student, but to respect parents’ wishes. Similarly, if you have consented on this form, you now need to understand the additional implications of your consent for your child if he or she participates in an event that is live streamed.
IMPORTANT! Whatever choice of consent or lack of consent you have indicated on the Media Release form on Gradelink will apply to live streamed events as indicated above, unless we hear otherwise from you. You may change your consent at any time, even during the school year and even for only a particular event, by emailing Mrs. Smith at msmith@st-hilary.org.
Archives
Click here for 2020-2021 Back-to-School Forms to be completed now, with special attention to the Student COVID-19 Policy Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk Form
Click here and here for important Back-to-School information, including new arrival and dismissal procedures, the Kindergarten opening schedule, and more
Click here for important information for families considering distance learning, and here for the agreement that must be signed and returned in order to participate in distance learning
Click here for information about our drop-off and pick-up procedures (note exception for Kindergarteners as shown on opening schedule)
About Us
The Admission Policy of St. Hilary School is in accordance with the student acceptance regulations of the Diocese of Cleveland. St. Hilary School admits qualified students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Email: dsinopoli@st-hilary.org
Website: www.st-hilaryschool.org
Location: 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn, OH, USA
Phone: 330-867-8720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StHilarySchoolFairlawnOhio/