Charger Check-In
December 3, 2021
A Note from Ms. Owens
We've had a whirlwind of a week following Thanksgiving Break. As you know, we've had quite a few positive Covid cases and a number of close contacts. Most close contacts continue to be from household members or events that are not related to school. Despite the stresses of Covid, our teachers continue to challenge our students with engaging lessons and our students are responding! In Mrs. McMahon's class, students read a story about Balto. The story had great connections to our current day. I learned a lot during my visit! In Mrs. Zawaski's class, students focused on word families. Students worked to find as many words as they could in a word family. In Miss Woods' class, 8th graders sharpened their skills with inequalities as they worked through a scavenger hunt. Our PK4 students in Mrs. Hennessy and Mrs. Ivers' classes chased the Gingerbread Man all around the school as they found clues to follow his trail! They finally found him in Kane Hall where he had turned into gingerbread cookies to eat during snack.
Some of our 2nd graders and 8th graders are in the midst of big weeks, too! Congratulations to the students in Ms. Hess' class (Room 111) who made their First Reconciliation on Tuesday evening. I know there were lots of nerves on Tuesday followed by lots of joy on Tuesday night and Wednesday! Saturday morning, many of our 8th graders will be taking their high school entrance exams. We wish them luck and we have confidence that they will do well! They have worked hard these past years and it shows!
Earlier this year, we purchased Voyages - a new English curriculum - for our 5th and 6th graders. We've had good feedback from both the students and Mr. Haneberg. In light of of that positive reception, we've purchased Voyages for our 7th and 8th grade English curriculum. We are glad that this new curriculum has been so well-received and we are confident it will support our students' continued success.
Thank you to all those who participated in our Dress in Blue to fight juvenile diabetes. Once again, our amazingly generous school community raised over $515. All monies were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (link below).
On the Covid front, I have a few reminders.
- If your child has been symptomatic for two consecutive days, do not send them to school medicated to mask symptoms. The child needs an alternate diagnosis from your health care provider (that diagnosis cannot be a "respiratory infection" as that is what Covid is) OR a negative Covid test (PCR or NAAT only; must be given in a clinical setting).
- If you are planning to get your child tested because they have had symptoms or if another member of your household is getting tested, do not send your child (or siblings) to school that day. (If the test is part of a weekly/twice-weekly work requirement or a travel requirement, the children can come to school.)
- If your child has received both doses of the vaccine, families are encouraged to send a copy of the vaccination card to school. Students who are fully-vaccinated (two weeks past their second dose) and have their cards on file with the school will not have to quarantine if they are close contacts to a positive person as long as they remain symptom-free.
A Bit More News
- Our parish Toy Drive continues through this weekend. Please consider bringing a new, unwrapped toy to Mass with you this weekend. All donations will go to Catholic Charities. (Pick up is Monday at 8:30AM so you can send toys to school on Monday if you like!)
- This Sunday, December 5, the SCA School Board is sponsoring a Winter Wonderland from 9AM-noon in Kane Hall. More information is below.
- On Tuesday, December 7, our 3rd-8th graders will participate in Reconciliation as part of our Advent preparation for Christmas.
- Our FSA will hold their monthly meeting on Tuedsay, December 7 at 7PM in Kane Hall.
- S&T Order Forms for December went home in Thursday's White Envelope. Scroll down for a copy to download and print if needed.
- Order forms for SCA socks also went home in Thursday's White Envelope. An electronic copy is available to download and print if needed.
- Santa's Secret Shop is returning to St. Catherine next week, Tuesday, December 7 through Thursday, December 9. Information went home in today's White Envelopes.
- Wednesday, December 8 marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Students will attend Mass at 10AM that morning.
- Early Dismissal Wednesday for this month is Wednesday, December 8. All students, faculty and staff are welcome to dress in SCA spirit apparel to show their Charger Pride! Students will be dismissed at 1PM. Aftercare will be available.
- On Friday, December 10, our 6th graders will take a field trip to the Field Museum.
- St. Catherine's monthly Family Mass will be Sunday, December 12 at 9AM. Our 5th graders will be hosting. All SCA families are encouraged to come worship as a family.
- If you know of an SCA family who owns a small business that we can publicize here to help support them, please reach out to me via email. Scroll down to see local businesses we can support.
Please continue to pray for our medical professionals, our first responders and our essential front line workers as they work to ensure the health and safety of our larger community.
Peace,
Kristine Owens
CDPH Travel Advisory/Quarantine States - as of 11/30
- All unvaccinated individuals who travel to an orange state must provide proof of a negative Covid test in order to return to school.
- The test must be administered no more than 72-hours prior to return to Illinois.
- The test can also be administered once you have returned to Illinios.
- Home administered tests are not accepted.
Notes from Fr. Dennis
This is the last weekend for the Toy Drive for the Children of Catholic Charities. Please bring new, unwrapped toys to the vestibule of church.
School families are invited to help give our church a good cleaning as we prepare for the coming holidays. Join us for a Christmas Church Cleaning on Saturday, September 11 at 9:15AM. Bring your buckets and towels. This is a great opportunity for service hours for our students.
Decorating the Church for Christmas
We are looking for people to help with our Christmas Church Decorating. All ages are welcome! This is a great service hour opportunity for our 7th and 8th grade students. Any child participating must be accompanied by a parent the entire time the child is present. Masks must be worn at all times.
The dates are as follows:
- Saturday, December 4 from 9AM-2PM
- Sunday, December 5 from 2:30PM-5:30PM
- Sunday, December 12 from 1PM-5PM
If you have questions, please contact Ms. Ward.
Covid Vaccination Information
If you or someone you know wants to get a vaccine, you will find a button below with easy-to-navigate information for Chicago, Cook County and surrounding counties.
The Sunday Collection
Visit the link below to set up your recurring contribution. Donors can change the amount of the contribution or pause it at any time.
Ways to Support Our Local Small Businesses
If you know of an SCA family who owns a small business that we can publicize here to help support them, please reach out to me via email.
So Many On-going Ways to Support St. Catherine!
Upcoming Events
Sunday, December 5
- Winter Wonderland in Kane Hall from 9AM-noon
Tuesday, December 7
- Reconciliation for Grades 3-8
- Santa's Secret Shop
- FSA Meeting at 7PM in Kane Hall
Wednesday, December 8
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Mass at 10AM
- Santa's Secret Shop
- School Spirt Day - dress down (no donation)
- Wednesday Early Dismissal at 1PM - aftercare available
Thursday, December 9
- Santa's Secret Shop
Friday, December 10
- All-School Liturgy at 8:30AM (K-4th)
- 6th Grade Field Trip to the Field Museum
Sunday, December 12
- SCA Family Mass at 9AM (5th grade hosting)
Tuesday, December 14
- First Reconciliation for Room 112 at 6PM
- School Advisory Board in Fr. Lion Center at 7PM
Wednesday, December 15
- Tuition due
- PK Christmas Program in Gym at 8:15AM
Thursday, December 16
- 7th & 8th grade field trip to Chicago Wolves game
Friday, December 17
- All-School Liturgy at 8:30AM (5th-8th)
- Early Dismissal at 1PM - no extended care available
- Christmas Break begins
About us
Website: www.scaoaklawn.org
Location: 10621 South Kedvale Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL, USA
Phone: 708-425-5547
Facebook: facebook.com/scaoaklawn/