Happy Friday SKS families!

Our students have been working through the Mid-Year I-Ready diagnostic. These diagnostic assessments are done online and will be administered with the help of the AIS team. Teachers use the information gained through these online assessments as a tool to help them create small groups for Math and Reading and to identify areas of target learning for the students in their class. I-Ready diagnostic results are used only by AIS teachers and classroom teachers to create student learning paths, and are not reflected on report cards. Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions.

Plans are underway for Catholic Schools Week (Sunday, January 30th - Saturday, February 5th). Be on the look out for the full Catholic Schools Week flyer early next week ~ we have a great mix of traditional activities and new ideas ~ Catholic Schools Week is the BEST!

We had a very lively and informative Parent's Association meeting on Wednesday, January 12th. Mrs. Trimaldi attended to update us and answer any questions on the guideline changes ~ which are happening daily. She also talked about our ability to test students at school ~ testing of students will never be done without parental permission.

Walk-A-Thon is right around the corner and the excitement is building. You will be receiving communication from your Room Parents regarding opportunities to volunteer and ways to participate in the planning. Last year we had a goal of $10,000 for the Walk-A-Thon in order to purchase TWO Smartboards ~ which we surpassed and we now have classrooms with updated technology. We also had a goal for the online Basket Auction of $3,000 ~ which we also surpassed, replacing many teacher laptops that were out of date.

This year we will be targeting our fundraising to our Playground and Physical Education Department. We have had some damage to our playground that we would like to fix and upgrade as well as P.E. equipment that is in need of replacement and new materials for teaching our students. Please contact Katie Stam (stam.kaitlyn@gmail.com) or Nicole Guido (n_staebell@hotmail) if you would like to get involved!

Enjoy your long weekend and thank you for all you do for our students!

Mrs. Terri L. Morgan, Principal

Email: Terri.Morgan@dor.org

Website: www.saintkaterischool.org

Phone: (585) 467-8730

• 1/17: No School ~ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• 1/18: Morning Prayer Service ~ No Quiet Mass
• 1/25: Quiet Mass 5th/2nd
• 1/26: FULL DAY of school ~ was initially a Half Day
• 1/28: Peace Prayer Service led by 1st grade at 1:15pm
• 1/28: Quarter 2 ends
• 1/30 - 1/5: Catholic Schools Week
• 1/31: Catholic Schools Week Prayer Service at 8:45am

FEBRUARY:

• 2/1: Quiet Mass 4th/1st
• 2/1: Take Out Tuesday at Bill Gray's Seabreeze from 4:00-8:00pm
• 2/2: Bishop's Catholic School's Week Mass streamed from St. Lawrence Church at 9:30am
• 2/2: Preschool Information Night at 5:30pm ~ registration required
• 2/3: Walk Throughs for perspective families 3:30-4:30pm (Call the Main Office for details)
• 2/3: Kindergarten Information Night at 5:30pm ~ registration required
• 2/8: Quiet Mass 3rd/K
• 2/9: Parent's Association Meeting (In person) 6:00-7:30pm
• 2/11: SOUP-er Bowl Can Drive
• 2/11: Report Cards go home
• 2/15: K-5 School Mass (4th grade leading)
• 2/16: FULL DAY of school ~ was initially a Half Day
• 2/21-2/25: No School ~ February Break!

We had a very informative virtual Parent's Association Meeting on January 12th ~ Thank you to everyone that attended. We will share the meeting notes soon!

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, February 9th from 6:00-7:30pm. This meeting will be In-Person ~ This year we are using the same link for all of our Virtual Meetings.

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