Principal's Pad (1/9/22)
Updates for the St. Stan's Community
What's in this Newsletter?
Haga clic aquí para leer el boletín en español
Here is what's new...
- A Few Words
- Gentle Reminders
- Weekly Parent Survey
- Home-Learning Hub
What's still here from last week?
- Important Dates
- Covid-19 Protocols
- TCS Information
- CHAMPIONS After-School
A Few Words On...
As the leader of St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy, I would just like to share a few words and thoughts on several topics and happenings in our school community.
Every day at St. Stan's Academy brings a new surprise or challenge, but our dedicated and mission-driven teachers and staff are there through it all. No matter what I may ask of them or what their students require, our faculty is willing to rise to the challenge to support the educational, social, and emotional needs of our students. Their sacrifice and willingness to improve their craft day after day is inspiring and something that I am proud to be a part of. Please do not hesitate to show your appreciation for our teachers and staff however you are able to.
Parent Involvement
One of the things that help to make a Catholic school special is the involvement and support of parents. I am glad that we have so many parents willing to make the experiences of our students and staff better through their giving of time, talent, and treasure. I want to continue to encourage parents and guardians to seek ways to immerse themselves in the life of our school. Whether you are new to the community or have been at St. Stan's for over a decade, I hope that those who are willing and able to help will reach out to us. We would love to see you more involved.
To elicit more parent feedback, I will be giving a weekly survey on this Principal's Pad. This will be a single-question survey meant for me to gauge the feelings of our community on various topics. Your responses are anonymous and will allow me to have the best information possible as I make decisions to guide the school.
TCS Scholarship Applications
This is a big week for families of rising Kindergarten - 8th Grade students who need tuition assistance for the 2022-23 school year. Empower Illinois and the Big Shoulders Fund will be opening their Tax Credit Scholarship applications. Both applications are accepted on a "first come, first serve" basis, so it is important that parents are prepared. I have been including information on these scholarship applications for several months in previous Principal's Pad communications.
I hope everyone knows that St. Stan's Academy is here to help you in this process. If you need tax documents scanned to upload in your application, please stop by our office and we will do that for you. Additionally, we will open our doors when the applications open to offer some assistance for anyone needing it.
Empower Illinois: Opens 6:30pm on Wednesday, January 12 (Click here for more information)
Big Shoulders Fund: Opens 8:00am on Thursday, January 13 (Click here for more information)
Gentle Reminders
Attendance & Absences
If your child(ren) are going to be absent, the main office must be notified either by phone call or email. Please be sure to include the reason(s) for the absence as well as the expected date of return. Should a student be absent for an illness and the symptoms of that illness last for 24 hours, they are required to present a negative Covid-19 test result before coming back to class. Those results should be shared with the classroom teacher and our main office.
When a student is absent, it is important that the classroom teacher is contacted regarding work missed or assignments that can be completed at home. It is counter-productive for students to miss several days of school and arrive back to school without completing any work or following up on what was missed. There are ways that, especially our older students, can keep up with their class work while at home for a few days. We must be sure, however, that there is clear communication between home and school.
Weekly Parent Survey - Wellness Day
Tax Credit Scholarships for 2022-23
This week is very important for any family hoping to receive tuition assistance from the Big Shoulders Fund or Empower Illinois. Both of these organizations offer Tax Credit Scholarships which often cover the entire tuition of a student in grades Kindergarten through 8th. These scholarships are determined, however, on a first come first serve basis and are very competitive.
APPLICATION INFO SESSIONS - BIG SHOULDERS FUND
Schools and families are invited to join one of our Tax Credit Scholarship Information Zoom Sessions. These sessions will outline the application process, show a sample application, and help schools and families prepare for steps one and two of the Big Shoulders Fund application. There will be separate Zoom links for English and Spanish.
Tax Credit Information Sessions:
January 11 LIVE Q & A at 7 pm: https://bigshouldersfund-org.zoom.us/j/84621849734
Sessiones de Informacion sobre la beca de Credito Tributario:
Enero 11 LIVE Q&A a las 7 pm: https://bigshouldersfund-org.zoom.us/j/84621849734
Do not forget that everyone must reapply each year.
To keep up with all new information and updates along the way, be sure to follow us on all social media platforms below, check out our website, and remember to SAVE THE DATE!
SGO Website – https://www.bigshouldersfundsgo.org/
Home-Learning Hub
i-Ready Family Resources
Social Media for Parents
Upcoming Events & Important Dates at St. Stan's
Empower TCS Application Opens - January 12
On Wednesday, January 12 the portal for applying for a tax credit scholarship from Empower Illinois opens. These scholarships are on a "first come, first serve" basis, so families need to be prepared to apply at 6:30pm that evening.
Big Shoulders Fund TCS Application Opens - January 13
On Thursday, January 13 the portal for applying for a tax credit scholarship from Big Shoulders Fund opens. These scholarships are on a "first come, first serve" basis, so families need to be prepared to apply at 8am that morning.
No School: MLK Day - January 17
On Monday, January 17 there will be no classes in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Please be sure to take time as a family to learn more about his amazing life and contributions towards achieving racial equality in the United States.
Scholastic Book Fair - January 24-28
We will be hosting our second Book Fair from Monday, January 24 to Friday, January 28. Sales go towards supporting teachers in improving their own classroom libraries for all students. If interested in volunteering to help set-up or run the fair, please click here for more information.
Double Good Popcorn Fundraiser - February 4 to February 8
We will be having a virtual fundraiser through Double Good Popcorn beginning on Friday, February 4 and running through Tuesday, February 8. Please be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks.
Covid-19 Protocols & Guidelines (as of 1/3/22)
Fully Vaccinated Status
The CDC defines fully vaccinated individuals as those who have done either of the following:- have received a booster of vaccine
- have completed the primary series of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months
- have completed the primary series of J&J vaccine within the last 2 months.
5-Day Isolation/Quarantine
The updated CDC quarantine guidance requires the following:
- If someone tests positive for COVID, regardless of vaccination status, the individual must:
- Isolate for a full 5 days regardless if symptoms are present or not and regardless if symptoms resolve before the 5 days are complete.
- For symptomatic people, Day 1 is the first full day after symptoms develop.
- For asymptomatic people, Day 1 is the first full day after the positive test is administered.
- The individual must be fever-free for 24 hours before leaving isolation. The 5-day rule still applies, but if a fever is present after 5 days, the individual must remain isolated until fever-free for 24 hours.
- There is no need to test before leaving isolation. While individuals could remain COVID positive for some time, they are no longer contagious.
- Isolate for a full 5 days regardless if symptoms are present or not and regardless if symptoms resolve before the 5 days are complete.
- If a vaccinated individual is a close contact with a positive individual:
- There is no need to quarantine at home as long as the vaccinated individual is not symptomatic.
- Testing is recommended 5 days after exposure OR if symptoms develop.
- If an unvaccinated individual is a close contact with a COVID-19 positive person:
- The individual must quarantine at home for 5 days.
- Testing is recommended 5 days after exposure OR if symptoms develop.
We continue to follow the state classifications designated in the City of Chicago Travel Advisory.
- Domestic Travel to an “Orange” State:
- Fully vaccinated students/teachers/staff do not need post-travel COVID-19 testing or self-quarantine as long as they are not symptomatic and provide proof of vaccination.
- Unvaccinated students/teachers/staff must quarantine for 5 days OR provide proof of a negative test, taken after travel and as close to the start of school as practical, but no earlier than 72 hours prior to returning home. Persons must quarantine until a negative test is received. If the test result is negative, no further quarantine is required.
- International Travel:
- The CDC currently requires a negative COVID-19 test or proof of recovery to board a plane to the United States. Because of this requirement, no quarantine is required upon arrival, regardless of vaccination status.
Champions: A New Afterschool Program
All K-8 families wishing to use aftercare services must register with CHAMPIONS as soon as possible. Use this link to enroll and begin the registration process. For a look at the CHAMPIONS program and what it has to offer, please click on this link. Any other questions should be directed to the CHAMPIONS Area Manager, Paula Short. She can be contacted at pshort@discoverchampions.com or 847-850-9817.
All families of a PK student should contact Ms. Abby Torres at atorres@ststanschicago.org to schedule your days of care and plan for payment. Tuition rates will be the same as the CHAMPIONS program since all students will have similar access to the same resources.
Athletics
If you are interested in helping coach or in having your son/daughter involved in athletics at St. Stan's, please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Ryan Reed, via email at rreed@ststanschicago.org
Contact Us
Email: Office@StStansChicago.org
Website: https://ststanschicago.org/
Location: 1255 North Noble Street, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: (773) 278-4560