St. Jerome School Weekly Newsletter
August 25th, 2021
"It is always springtime in the heart that loves God."
St. John Vianney
From Mr. Merrick
Dear St. Jerome Families,
Below, please find the letter from the Office of Catholic Education and Dr. McLaughlin, our superintendent of schools, regarding the protocol that we are required to follow this year. As I said last week, we remain committed to having an outstanding school year and providing a great experience for all of our families. Our school did so well last year thanks our parents, students, and staff working together. We look forward to all that we will be able to achieve this year as a school community.
I am pleased to introduce our new teachers: Mrs. Janelle Bascom (Pre-K3B); Miss Anna Kerns (Pre-K4B); and Mrs. Julianne McConnell (6th Grade ELA & Social Studies). In addition, I will have all the special subject classes staffed and ready to begin instruction when we return from our Labor Day break. A new teacher's biography will be published each week in the September newsletters.
We managed to accomplish many projects this summer including painting the second floor classrooms of the St. Joseph Building and creating a new classroom for Mrs. Hayes's fine arts program and our new band program. We also set aside a classroom for Mr. Altomari to store his gym equipment on the first floor and do activities when it is raining outside. In addition, we have a few projects that we are wrapping up in September; many of the delays were due to difficulty obtaining materials in a timely manner:
- We will finish air conditioning the last three homerooms in the St. Joseph Building. Then, all of our homerooms will be fully air conditioned.
- The school hall renovation is also underway and should be ready by the end of September
- We are turning the last two classrooms on the St. Joseph Building into an early childhood library and sensory experience room. These are being partially funded by a grant from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. We will keep you posted on the progress of these rooms.
In addition, Mr. Casee moved upstairs in the Blessed Mother Building, and the classroom across form the school office has been transformed into a Welcome Center and Mrs. Carolan's office. We are excited that Mrs. Carolan will be serving as our Advancement Director to help us grow our school and share our accomplishments with the community.
If you encountered any delays in obtaining uniforms from any of our vendors, please do not worry; we are still waiting on the gym orders from Kampus Clothes as well. 1st-8th grade students will not need their gym uniforms until after Labor Day. Your child's teacher will let you know of the gym day (either Monday or Tuesday) before the first gym class.
We will begin lunch orders in the middle of September as well as pretzels and milk in October. We will send out information about ordering over the next few weeks. Please remember to pack a snack and lunch each day and that we are starting school this year with full days.
Tomorrow, our teachers will gather for Mass and a faculty meeting. We will be praying for all of you and making our final preparations for the school year. We look forward to welcoming back our Lions next week; St. Jerome, pray for us!
Archdiocese of Philadelphia Opening of School Protocol
Daily Health Monitoring: We ask that parents monitor the children daily and not send their children to schools if they are displaying symptoms of COVID-19.
• Social Distancing: Schools will be following recommendations for keeping desks apart by three feet or the greatest extent possible. (AOP allows us to change classes and use the school hall once it is complete)
• COVID-19 Tracking: Each school will monitor and report to appropriate entities any confirmed COVID cases in their local school population.
• Cleaning and Sanitizing: All schools will continue with the enhanced cleaning and sanitization practices that were implemented last year in addition to providing the greatest degrees of ventilation and fresh air circulation possible. (Desk shields will not be used this year)
• Masking: Depending on the level of COVID-19 in the community, masking will be either mandated or optional. Currently, all of our counties are highly recommending or mandating (Philadelphia) masks. Therefore OCE will mandate that schools will open requiring masks for staff and students and we will reevaluate the need regularly. (Masks are not required outdoors and our teachers are understanding and provide breaks when needed)
• Strategic Cohorting: Depending on the level of COVID-19 in the community a modified version of cohorting will be used.
St. Jerome Spirit Wear Store
The St. Jerome Apparel Store through Sixsmith Sporting Goods is now available online here. Items include zip-up SJS sweatshirt that may be worn in school, the St. Jerome t-shirt, masks, sweatpants (not for gym class but may be worn on announced spirit days) and a lunch towel that may be customized with your child's name.
All orders must be placed online by Sunday, September 12th. Orders will be packaged and delivered to school for us to send home.
Morning Arrival/Drop Off
Car: Beginning at 7:20 AM, cars will be directed to enter through the school yard. The cars will be stopped and the students will exit their cars and go directly into the buildings. This year, any grade may use this car line as long as the children are able to get out of the car and walk into the buildings, as directed by the staff members. Cars will then be sent out onto Holme Ave. If a child needs to cross, please have your child cross in front of your car. Drop off will continue until 7:35 AM. Please make sure that your child is able to quickly and safely exit your vehicle to keep the line moving; we do also ask for your patience during the first week as students come to school with their supplies and new family adjust to the routine.
Pre-K and Kindergarten families may also use the second line to park and walk their children to the ramp; staff members will help direct the students into the building. Staff members will also help cross any siblings between the buildings. Please see the diagram below.
Walkers: Walkers enter the the doors on Stamford Street to avoid the cars in the school yard. Younger students will be crossed to the St. Joseph Building.
Afternoon Dismissal/Pick Up
This year, with the increase in Pre-K enrollment, Pre-K families may also park in the parking lot and pick up your Pre-K child from the ramp. Please note that cars will be stopped from exiting the parking lot while the Welsh Road line is leaving.
Walkers: Walkers will be called to line up in their buildings and proceed on one of our three walk lines:
Welsh Road: Staff will walk the students to the corner of Colfax Street and Welsh Road where the crossing guard will take them across Welsh Road. A teacher will also cross students at Weston Street for any students who live in that part of the neighborhood.
Colfax/Narvon: Staff will walk the students down Stamford Street and cross them at Narvon Street as well as Colfax Street.
Holme Avenue: Staff will walk the students to the corner of Holme Ave and Stamford Street where the crossing guard will take them across Holme Ave.
Bus: Bus riders will be called to the first floor of the Blessed Mother Building where staff members will load the buses.
CARES: Students staying for our extended day program (CARES) will be walked to the CARES Room. CARES will begin the second week of school.
-Please make sure that your child and your child's teacher are familiar with your usual dismissal plan. If you need change your plans, please send a note or message to your child's teacher. If something comes up during the school day, you may also call the school office.
CARES Before and After School Program
Pre-K & Kindergarten Orientation Sessions
Tuesday, August 31st
9:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M.
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
Wednesday, September 1st
10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M.
1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M.