Divine Providence School
December 17, 2020 Home and School Connection
Friday, December 18 will be an out of uniform- please wear something green and/ or red!
We turn to full virtual learning January 4 - January 15, 2021 See below for ore details under "Virtual School"
Free food for all in person learners tomorrow!
Miss Minneci
Growing up as a child, my family would spend Christmas Eve at my great-grandmother's house. We didn't have a fancy meal, but instead enjoyed open-faced salami, ham, or turkey sandwiches and her famous chocolate chip cookies, among other delicious and simple foods. Christmas Eve was always my favorite because my mom's cousins were loud and goofy. It was always a fun time joking around with them and sharing family stories. And then on the ride home, my siblings and I would search the night skies for Santa's sleigh.
After my great-grandmother passed away, when I was eight, my grandmother continued the tradition. To this day, open-faced sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies are a staple of our Christmas Eve meal.
Mrs. Scavelli
Mrs. Santore
Growing up Christmas Eve was our big night with my Grandmother, Aunts,Uncles, cousins and my whole family. We would do the 7 fishes and of course pasta (you know those Italians, ha) we would eat, clean up open presents go to midnight Mass.
I still do that with my kids since they were born, we have carried on the tradition all though we are down to about 4 fishes lol. There usually is 25 of us on Christmas Eve, we wear Christmas pajamas, there’s laughter, we are stuffed from eating and it’s loud but we love it! This year of course will be much quieter and smaller due to Covid but will still continue with the tradition.
Mrs. Heil
Mrs. Farmar
I have good childhood memories of Christmas but my favorite Christmas memories are actually when I was raising my family. On Christmas Eve we went to the Family Mass at Divine Infant. After Mass we went to Grandma’s house right here in Westchester and there was always a large crowd of cousins, aunts, uncles, and family friends. We all brought food and gifts. In the morning my kids opened gifts that Santa had brought in the middle of the night. Later there were more aunts and uncles that came over and more gifts and more food. When all the festivities were over, we looked forward to having a nice Christmas break!
Mrs. Martin
Mrs. Blase
Mr. Hawes
Mrs. Pavilonis
Mrs. Pav's Top 10 Best Memories of Christmas.....
1. The season starts on December 6th when my siblings and I would leave our shoes by the front door in hopes of St. Nick. That morning we would race downstairs looking for our Chocolate Santas and fruit inside of our shoes.
2. Decorating our Christmas tree was very magical because we would string fresh popped popcorn and hang it as garland. Then we would hang the tinsel icicles and admire the beauty of the tree.
3. My favorite gifts as a child were my Chatty Cathy Doll, Pebble's Doll, and a Little Kiddle's Dollhouse.
4. Another great memory was making our green Cornflake wreaths with my mom and my daughter for so many decades.
5. I would love when my family would take the train downtown and look at the famous Marshal Field's windows and see Santa too.
6. Sometimes we would visit the MSI and view all of the tree from around the world.
7. Then every year my dad and husband would create an ice-skating rink in our backyard. Over our Christmas vacation we would-be ice-skating morning, noon, and night with all of the neighbors,
8. As a parent I loved the "Pavilonis Christmas Eve" celebrations in Beverly when we would sing many Christmas carols while we waited for Santa to come.
9. Then as being a MOM, I would love Christmas morning and watch my children- Joe, Jeannie, and Nick open up gifts on Xmas morning to feel all of the excitement in the air.
10. Now as a grandparent our Christmas's revolves around our grandkids- Lily, Danny, Katie, and Lyla. I am still in awe as I see the true meaning of Christmas and the innocence of children.
Merry Christmas and I hope your memories will be near and dear to your heart. It's Been A Wonderful Life!
Mrs. Galdek
Mrs. Southerton
My family and I would typically go to my my polish side of the family and occasionally the Italian side for Christmas Eve. All I have to say is that it was a food wonderland at both worlds. However, we did not eat meat on Christmas Eve .
At my Aunty Mary’s house, we would be served all kinds of pasta, fish and my non favorite- the Seven Seas which included raw octopus.
At my babcia’s (polish grandma) house we would have duck blood soup (also a non favorite), homemade Perogi and dumplings, and pea salad. Before dinner, we would say a prayer and all of us would gather around the table. Each of us would receive a blessed host, go around the table and break off a piece of someone’s host, eat it and wish that person blessings and a Merry Christmas.
After dinner, my cousins and I would make it known (my cousin Barb knocked down the Christmas tree one year) that we were ready to open presents. We would joyously open our presents.
It would tire us out a bit but not too much because midnight mass was in a few hours.
My family, aunts, uncles and cousins would attend midnight mass. Even though it was after midnight, I knew Santa would wait for me to go home and fall asleep. After all, I was celebrating the birth of our Lord.
The next day was Christmas Day! I would always walk down the stairs and my eyes would widen! Santa always treated me well and helped make Christmas truly magical. I will always remember that unexplainable, wondrous, innocent, child like feeling I had every Christmas morning. It was truly special and memorable .
After we opened our presents, my mom would make breakfast and we would hang out and play with our toys.
Christmas has and will always be a spiritual, magical , and memorable time in my life .
Mrs. Sautariello
Mrs. LeTourneau
Christmas Eve was by my Busia and Dzia Dzia (Grandma and Grandpa). Aunts, Uncles, and cousins were always there to have fun with- I was the youngest of them all. Santa would come again! We would go to midnight mass every year, and a few times I was allowed to carry the baby Jesus in and place him in the manger!
My brother and I always had a hard time going to sleep on Christmas Eve and we would just keep playing until we fell asleep. We were so excited to open our presents Christmas morning, but my brother would always open his presents super slow, unlike me, I would rip the paper off and have all my presents opened in no time. Then I would have to wait for him to be done to start playing with mine. Two gifts I remember being so excited about were my Cabbage Patch Kids and The Heart Family (these were like Barbie dolls) Christmas day was spent with more aunts, uncles, and more cousins.
Parent and Teacher Conferences
Virtual School - Starting January 4 - January 15
The teachers and staff have been working hard to prepare for the upcoming weeks of remote learning! As our two weeks of remote learning approach; please read through these suggestions and guidelines to aid your child in making a smooth transition.
-Check to make sure that you have all necessary codes/logins before going home for Christmas break on Friday.
-Verify that your student can access Seesaw (K-4) or Google Classroom (5-8) on a device from your home. Devices borrowed from Divine Providence School will be distributed on Friday, December 18th.
-Designate a specific location in your home where your student will "attend school" each day. This could be a desk, the kitchen table, a card table but the same spot each day is best practice.
Guidelines for zoom calls:
-Be on time for zoom calls. Teachers may not be able to admit students to zoom if they are late. Logging on a couple of minutes early is strongly advised.
-Student should remain seated upright while in zoom calls. Absolutely no student should be "Zooming" from their bed.
-No eating during zoom calls.
-Camera must remain on with the student visible during zoom calls.
Thanks for your help in getting your child prepared for remote learning. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Beth Heil
Virtual Learning Coordinator
Virtual School expectations
IMPORTANT - If anyone in your family tests for COVID-19 INCLUDING OVER CHRISTMAS BREAK
The reality is that children may be positive with the slightest of symptoms. Always keep our school in your communication.
Happy Birthday!
December 20 - Eliana in Kindergarten
December 22 - Roberto in Preschool
December 22 - Abigail in Grade 4
December 27 - Cosette in Kindergarten
December 30 - Taryn in Grade 8
December 31 - Leila in Grade 1
January 2 - Santiago in Grade 5
January 7 - Damari in Junior Kindergarten
Half Birthdays! (These birthdays will take place when we
release for the school year in June!)
June 21 - Carmine in Grade 5
June 22 - Kyle in Grade 3
June 22 - Lillian in Grade 8
June 25 - Sophia in Grade 7
June 29 - Katherine in Kindergarten
June 29 - Gwen in Grade 2
June 29 - David in Grade 8
July 1 - Madison in Kindergarten
July 3 - Matthew in Grade 6
July 3 - Daniel in Grade 8
July 6 - Madison in Junior Kindergarten
July 6 - Natalie in Grade 6
July 7 - Frank in Preschool
Travel Guidance
December Lunch- sorry for the delay!
12/14 - Chicken Tenders
12/15 - Nacho Combo
12/16 - Hot dog
12/17 - Beef and Cheese tacos
12/18 - Sliced turkey with gravy
January Lunch
There are no lunches during virtual learning
January 20 - Mini Corn Dogs
January 21 - Deep Dish pizza
January 22 - Nacho Combo
January 25 - Chicken tenders
January 26 - Hot dog
January 27 - Deep Dish Pizza
January 28 - Popcorn chicken
January 29 - Classic Hamburger
Calendar changes
2021 Early dismissal dates:
January 28
February 25
March 25
April 29
May 27
Phone Number for Extended Care (To call or text during extended care hours) 773-682-6196
All winter Sports have been canceled/ spring is pending
Important Dates
January 4 -15 - All school remote learning
January 12 - Late start 9 AM
January 15 - Virtual classes until 11:30AM - Parent Teacher Conferences
January 18 - NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King
January 19 - Return to in person learning
January 28 - Early 1:00 Dismissal, no lunch
Click on the documents below to view.
Divine Providence School
Website: marymotherofdivinegrace.org
Location: 2500 Mayfair Ave, Westchester, IL, USA
Phone: 708-562-2258