SaberSpeak
Week of March 1, 2021
How to Submit News to SaberSpeak
Information to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following week. Information must be relevant to the St. Hilary School or St. Hilary Parish community, and cannot promote a personal interest or a school other than our own. The school reserves the right to determine what content will be included.
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
What a difference a year makes! At this time one year ago, we were hopefully looking forward to the arrival of spring, with no idea of what was about to descend upon us. Midway through March, schools, and most everything we know in life, abruptly shut down and forced us into new ways of learning, working and living. Ironically, the weekend our school staff will receive their second COVID-19 vaccine dose this month coincides with the one year anniversary of this historic time. Now, as March begins and we prepare to wrap up our staff vaccine series, we look with optimism not only to the coming of spring, but a lessening of the grip of the pandemic on our lives. We are grateful to have made it successfully and safely through two and a half academic quarters so far, and to all of you for your support as we have journeyed through this unique year together.
With March underway, our observance of the season of Lent is underway as well. Our eighth graders have begun to practice for our Mime of the Passion. We will be recording this event and sending it out to all of our families to view. Also, our seventh graders will be recording a special Stations of the Cross for families to view. Students will have a chance to view both of these events with their classrooms. We appreciate our students and teachers coming up with creative ways to continue St. Hilary School traditions while remaining safe. Additional Lenten observances can be found in the Growing Together in Faith section below.
Students in grades K-8 completed MAP testing in January, which is the second round of this progress-based testing for the school year. CAT testing for grades 1, 3, 5 and 7 was administered last month. The final MAP testing session for grades K-8 will take place in April and May. Thank you for avoiding scheduling appointments during testing.
Third quarter interim reports were issued on February 19, and the quarter ends on March 26. Students should be working on achieving goals set for the remainder of the quarter and the year. Third quarter report cards will be available on Gradelink on March 30. When the fourth quarter begins on March 29, students will again be permitted to wear uniform shorts but turtlenecks will no longer be permitted. As a reminder, there is no school March 12-16. March 12 and 15 were previously scheduled as teacher inservice days, and March 16 has been added to allow our staff to complete the COVID-19 vaccine series without causing a staffing shortage due to vaccine side effects. Spring Break will begin on April 1 and school will resume on April 12.
Planning is in progress for the 2021-2022 school year, and re-registration is a critical part of that process. We appreciate that so many of you have promptly completed your online re-registration for next year. If you have not yet done so, please help us plan appropriately for next year’s classes, staffing, and potentially ongoing social distancing, by logging in to Gradelink and completing your child’s re-registration now. We are also registering new students for next year, and while we do not yet know what social distancing requirements we will be required to follow in classrooms, we want to be sure we have physical seats for our current students who plan to return. This school year, we were unable to accommodate in-person more than 50 new students and some former students who had withdrawn and wanted to return, so we strongly encourage you to re-register your child now if you have not already done so. Teachers will soon begin assigning placement for students for next year, and students can be considered in this important planning only if they are registered.
March is typically the month we host our fun annual fundraiser, Celebration. As was the case last year, we will not be able to gather in person, but watch for more information about a virtual event being planned later this spring. We would be most grateful for your support of our school through this event. In addition to funding ongoing needs, we would like to apply proceeds from this year’s virtual event toward a renovation of our school entrance/office area that will greatly improve safety and increase functionality. Please watch for details about this project in my annual State of the School address, which will be sent out soon, as well as details about the Parents’ Association funding ballot items later this spring!
My staff and I wish you and your families continued blessings in your Lenten journeys and during the upcoming Easter season!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Woodman
Principal
Need To Know Now
Click here for help with Gradelink
Click here for the School Faculty & Staff Directory
Click here for the 2020-2021 School Calendar, revised August 1
Click here for the 2020-2021 Dress Code
Click here for the 2020-2021 School Handbook and Amendments, including important health and safety information, school policies and procedures, updates due to COVID-19, and more
COVID-19 Updates
NO SCHOOL MARCH 16 DUE TO COVID-19 VACCINES
As we shared with you last week, the majority of our staff has begun the process of receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Most of our staff who received their first dose of the vaccine between February 5 and 7 experienced no or only very mild side effects, but several staff members did have stronger reactions requiring them to use sick time. Summit County Public Health and other medical professionals who are advising us have indicated that a larger number of our staff members could experience a much stronger reaction to the second dose of the vaccine, which is scheduled to be administered between March 12 and 14. Symptoms may not appear until the next day, and may last for a day or two. While we had hoped that our scheduled no school day on March 15 would provide enough of a buffer for staff to recover from the second dose, because we have learned that a large number of our staff were unable to schedule appointments prior to March 14, we anticipate that staff members may continue to have side effects into March 16. Due to the pandemic, we have already been dealing with a diminished pool of substitutes all year, and when multiple staff members are too ill to report to work, this makes covering their positions even more difficult. We anticipate not being able to cover the large number of staff who will be too ill to report to work on March 16. Therefore, we will close school on March 16 in order to allow all staff members adequate time to recover from the second dose. We will use a calamity day to cover this day of closure, as many other schools and districts across the state are doing. To recap, students will not have school from Friday, March 12 through Tuesday, March 16. (Friday, March 12 and Monday, March 15 were already scheduled teacher inservice days with no school for students.) We appreciate your understanding as we continue to do everything possible to provide your students with the greatest number of in-person school days we are able to offer during this unusual year. We are eager to conclude this important step in moving forward, and look forward to resuming school in good health on Wednesday, March 17.
TRAVEL ADVISORY STATES
As we have stated since August, we are requiring students to self-quarantine for 14 days after visiting states that have a 15% or more COVID-19 positivity rate.
Click here for the current list and map of Travel Advisory states.
This is an extra precaution and we know this could impact travel plans. If your children are learning in-person, we are asking you to respect this decision and plan accordingly. Students who are required to quarantine after traveling to a state (or country) with a 15% or higher COVID-19 positivity rate will be required to distance learn for the 14 days.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD
We have added a COVID-19 Dashboard to our school website to report up-to-the-minute positive case data for students and staff members. Click here for our COVID-19 Dashboard.
Click here for all of our COVID-19 information
The Main Event
The main event this week is Reconciliation for students in grades 2-8 on Tuesday, March 2. We look forward to sharing this special sacrament with our students.
Hot Off The Press
Leonardo's Restaurant in Fairlawn is hosting a Dine Out to Raise Dollars night to benefit St. Hilary School on Monday, March 8 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Mention St. Hilary when you call to place your take-out order and 20% of your purchase price will be donated to St. Hilary School. Please click the flyer below for complete information.
BURNTWOOD TAVERN FUNDRAISER MARCH 22
Enjoy a dine-in or take-out meal at Burntwood Tavern in Fairlawn on March 22 and 15% of your purchase price will be donated to St. Hilary School. Please click the flyer below for complete information, and be sure to present the flyer with your order.
Plan Ahead
GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click here for the school Google calendar
~ March 1 - 10: April Hot Lunch Ordering
~ March 2: Grades 3-8 Reconciliation
~ March 4: Grade 2 First Communion Parent Meeting 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
~ March 11: Stations of the Cross presented by Grade 7 at 2:00 pm
~ March 12 - 16: No School for Students Due to Staff COVID vaccines
~ March 17: School Resumes
Help Wanted
Opportunities to help will be listed here as they arise.
NOMINATIONS FOR 8TH GRADE CHAIR SOUGHT BY MARCH 1
Parents' Association is seeking nominations from current 7th grade parents to serve as the 8th Grade Graduation Chair for the Class of 2022. The chair (or co-chairs) will be responsible for planning the 8th grade graduation party and related items. Nominations may be submitted to Parents' Association Secretary Lindsey Yoder at TLM456@AOL.COM by March 1st. After nominations are received, a ballot will be sent to current 7th grade parents for a vote.
PARENTS' ASSOCIATION SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR BOARD POSITIONS BY MARCH 1
The St. Hilary Parents' Association is seeking nomination for two positions on the Board that will become vacant at the end of the school year: President-Elect and Treasurer. Each position has a two-year term, with the President-Elect becoming President during the second year of the term. If you would like more information, or would like to nominate yourself or someone else, please email Parents' Association Secretary Lindsey Yoder at TLM456@AOL.COM by March 1st.
Here is a brief overview of each open position:
President Elect: The President - Elect shall assist the President with the President's duties and shall perform and discharge all of the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President to serve. The President and President-Elect shall each serve a term of one (1) year. The President-Elect will automatically become the President in the year immediately following the end of he term as President-Elect.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall: 1) Receive and have charge of all funds of the Association; 2) Maintain the Association’s bank accounts and investment accounts; 3) Pay all properly-authorized expenditures; 4) Prepare an annual budget and oversee the budget process; 5) Provide periodic financial reports of the Association to the Executive Board and to meetings of the Association; and 6) Otherwise perform the duties usually assigned to the office of Treasurer.
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE FORMING - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Parents' Association is assembling a Fundraising Committee to help generate funds for our school. Duties of committee members will include such things as helping to organize a coupon book fundraiser and possibly other small fundraisers, organizing items for auction, and assisting with a spring fundraiser. Volunteers are sought to work together, share ideas and divide tasks to keep things simple and manageable for all. If you are interested, please contact Parents' Association President Lisa Crane at lisamariesmu@aol.com.
Growing Together in Faith
ST. HILARY LENTEN OPPORTUNITIES
Lent began February 17. St. Hilary Parish offers many opportunities to enrich your family's Lenten journey. Please click the flyer below for a complete listing.
NEXT SCHOOL MASS THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 5
Our next school Mass will be THIS FRIDAY, March 5 at 9:30 a.m. This school Mass will be planned by grade 1, and will be live streamed and available to view at http://sthilarychurch.org/live/.
**PLEASE NOTE: Our live page has been updated. School Masses are available for viewing on the Watch Live Mass page. You will simply see a window on the page - not a link. Other events will still be viewed live by clicking a link as you have in the past.
This year’s liturgy schedule can be found in the Forms and Documents section under the Red Folder on the school website. Masses are also posted on the school Google calendar, with the grade level planning the Mass listed. Upcoming school Masses are March 19 planned by grade 3, and March 26 (Jane Klenotic Scholarship) planned by grade 2. There is no school on March 12.
We will continue to celebrate Mass together each week and on holy days. Each grade level (1-8) will plan several Masses as usual, but only the grade level planning the Mass will attend in person. Parents and grandparents of participants may attend but must sit in the back of the Church away from students. Masses will be live streamed and available for all to watch, and students not attending Mass in person will watch live streamed Mass from their classrooms. Eucharistic ministers will come to the classrooms to distribute Holy Communion. We will handle other religious services and events in a similar way.
SCHOOL YEAR THEME PRAYER AND SONG
Please click the images below for our prayer and song for this school year, exemplifying our school theme, "Answer God's Call...Change The World"! These will be handy as you join us virtually for school Masses.
Student Life
CAMP CHRISTOPHER SUMMER CAMP INFORMATION
Registration Opens March 1
Open House April 18 - Click Flyer Below For More Information
2021 Summer Camp sessions:
DAY CAMP
7 sessions | Mon - Fri | Ages 5-12 | $250
*No transportation available*
Day Camp week 1: June 21-25
Day Camp week 2: June 28 - July 2
Day Camp week 3: July 12-16
Day Camp week 4: July 19-23
Day Camp week 5: July 26-30
Day Camp week 6: August 2-6
Day Camp week 7: August 9-13
SUMFUN
6 sessions | Mon - Fri | Ages 5-21 | Children with Disabilities | $355
*No transportation available*
Sumfun week 1: June 28 - July 2
Sumfun week 2: July 12-16
Sumfun week 3: July 19-23
Sumfun week 4: July 26-30
Sumfun week 5: August 2-6
Sumfun week 6: August 9-13
RESIDENT CAMP
4 sessions | Sun-Sat | Overnight | Ages 7-16 | $575
*Space is limited - cabins at half capacity*
Resident Camp week 4: July 18-24
Resident Camp week 5: July 25-31
Resident Camp week 6: August 1-7
Resident Camp week 7: August 8-14
LEADERSHIP CAMP
2 sessions | two-week sessions | Overnight | Ages 17 | $900
Leadership Camp session 1: July 18-31
Leadership Camp session 2: August 1-14
MORE INFO:
Patch and T-shirt Design Contest
Details will be sent out next week
Financial Assistance application will be available within registration
Contact us with any questions at campchristopher@ccodcle.org or 330-376-2267
CAA REC BASEBALL / SOFTBALL / T-BALL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Rec ball through the Copley-Fairlawn Athletic Association (CAA) is open to all kids from ages 5/6 up to age 14. Any Copley-area youth who are interested in playing rec baseball, softball or T-ball through CAA, please click this link for more information, including how to register:
WABL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
West Akron Baseball & Softball League has opened its registration for the upcoming season. Please click the flyer below for more information.
VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
Afterschool Enrichment Solutions, our Chess Club and Engineering Club provider, is offering some virtual programs for students, covering six subjects throughout the week. Students may benefit from the social, engaging and fun lessons. Please click the links below for more information.
Click for more information and to register for Virtual All Access Pass!
Reminders
APRIL HOT LUNCH ORDERING MARCH 1-10
Hot Lunch ordering for April will begin March 1. Be sure to place and pay for your order online by March 10! Questions? Please contact Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org.
GRADE LEVEL TRANSITION MENTORS NEEDED BY MARCH 1
MENTORS NEEDED FOR GRADES 7 AND 8
Thank you to all who have responded to this call for help! At this time, we have enough mentors for grades K-6, but still need a few mentors for grades 7 and 8 for next year. Please continue reading for details.
Because moving from one grade level to the next comes with some uncertainty as well as excitement, we offer a grade level transition mentoring program to help bridge the gap as families transition from year to year. Through this program, a list of parent volunteers who agree to serve as resources to be contacted with general questions or concerns about a particular grade level is published each spring. It is time now to update the Grade Level Transition Mentors list for the 2021-2022 school year. If you are willing to be available to field questions fellow parents might have about the grade level your child will soon finish, please consider volunteering, as we can continue this program only with your help. Your commitment is as simple as adding your name to our list and being available to answer occasional questions over the summer or next school year. To volunteer, please email dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by March 1 with your name and grade levels you are willing to represent. Thank you!
CYO BASKETBALL PHOTOS MARCH 2, 3 AND 4
CYO Winter Basketball Sports Pictures
Tuesday March 2nd, Wednesday March 3rd, and Thursday March 4th
(Does Not Include Munchkin Basketball)
Individual and team pictures for grades 3-8 for the yearbook are scheduled! We will take pictures in the hallway to Horning Hall. Only athletes and coaches need to attend, and parents should wait in their cars. Please be in uniform and masks (all COVID protocols apply), and arrive 5 minutes before your scheduled time.
***Please click the link below for specific dates and times.***
We ask that all pictures be ordered online. Pre-order pictures by going to mylifetouch.com website and entering the code: EVTHSW6TP. Pre-orders can be placed online now and up to 48 hours after the pictures are taken. Orders may also be placed after proofs are received back from Lifetouch (4 to 6 weeks). If you have any questions, please email Marlinda Bonus at pab53170@aol.com
OHIO CATHOLIC FEDERAL CREDIT UNION SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE MARCH 15
In keeping with its commitment to support Catholic education, Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union will be awarding students at Catholic elementary and high schools scholarships for the 2021- 2022 academic year. Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union has committed to giving away $25,000 in Catholic school scholarships in 2021.
In order to apply for a scholarship, applicants must be a member of Ohio Catholic Federal Credit Union with a minimum balance of $50.00 or a current loan, currently attend a Catholic elementary school or high school in Ohio, and be willing to submit proof of income if chosen as a finalist. All families with students enrolled in Catholic schools are eligible for membership with Ohio Catholic FCU and membership can easily be established by calling 888-696-4462.
Online applications can be accessed at http://www.ohiocatholicfcu.com/scholarships beginning February 1, 2021, until March 15, 2021. The scholarship funds will be sent directly to the Catholic school in the name of the family awarded the funds no later than mid-August.
Please note that applications will not be accepted once the application period closes. Additionally, incomplete applications will not be considered. Once a scholarship application has been submitted, the applicant cannot change or alter any information on the form.
Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Dean Robinson,
Catholic Outreach Coordinator, at (216) 478-0065 or drobinson@ohiocatholicfcu.com
LUCKY DRESS DOWN DAY MARCH 17
To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, all students may dress down on Wednesday, March 17! Students are encouraged to wear green! Also, to share our St. Patrick's Day luck with our eighth grade class, students who wish to do so may bring a dollar on this day to help support eighth grade graduation activities. Thank you to all who support this optional donation opportunity!
POSTURAL SCREENING FOR GRADES 5, 6 AND 7
A postural screening program will be conducted by our school nurses for students in grades 5, 6 and 7 to help identify children with curvature of the spine (scoliosis) or other possible spinal problems. Spinal variations have been detected in 10 out of every 100 children and 2 out of these 10 have required active treatment. The purpose of the screening program at our school is to recognize the problem at its earliest stages so that the need for treatment can be determined. The procedure is a simple one in which a trained examiner inspects the student's posture as he or she stands and bends forward. If a postural problem is suspected, the parent will be notified. If your child is currently under active treatment for a postural problem, or if you object to your child being examined in such a screening, please provide written notice as soon as possible. If you have any questions about the screening, please call the school clinic at 330-867-8720, ext. 3, or email Mrs. Hammersmith at chammersmith@st-hilary.org or Mrs. Laughlin at alaughlin@st-hilary.org.
ORDER 2021-2022 YEARBOOKS NOW!
Don't miss your chance to capture this unique school year with our beautiful, full-color 2020-2021 yearbook! Online ordering is now open. Visit www.ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter Yearbook ID Code 3685721 to order. Soft cover books cost $25; hard cover books cost $30. The deadline to order is May 21, 2021. Yearbooks may be ordered online only - please do not send checks to the school. Please keep a record of your order, as the school has no access to orders placed and no record of who has ordered and who has not. Books will be delivered to students next fall.
SHS CAR WINDOW STICKERS FOR SALE
Help us celebrate St. Hilary School during this 60th anniversary year and beyond by displaying one of our new SHS window stickers on your car window! The 4" x 5" stickers feature a white background with red SHS lettering and 3 crossed sabers. (See photo below.) To purchase a sticker, please send $5 (cash or check payable to St. Hilary School) to the office in an envelope marked "Window Sticker" with your child's name and room number. Your sticker will be sent home to you in the same envelope.
OUTERWEAR REMINDER
Please remember that only approved school uniform sweaters, sweatshirts and quarter-zip pullovers may be worn in classrooms during the school day.
MASKS AVAILABLE THROUGH ONLINE STORE
Is your child in need of additional masks for this school year? Don't forget that you can order our very own SABERS spirit masks through our online school uniform store!
FUNDRAISERS
The Acme Community Cash Back program and Box Tops for Education benefit our school every time you shop or purchase qualifying products. Please see below and click here for more information.
ACME RECEIPTS
We are collecting Acme receipts again this year! Please save your Acme receipts from August 6 through December 26, 2020. Send them to school at anytime to Attn: Jamie Malick; c/o Caleb Malick Room 113. Or if you prefer, take a picture of your receipts (be sure to include the bottom portion of the receipt that includes the cash back amount) and email to jamiemalick@hotmail.com.
Archives
Click here for 2020-2021 Back-to-School Forms, with special attention to the Student COVID-19 Policy Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk Form
Click here for important information for families considering distance learning, and here for the agreement that must be signed and returned in order to participate in distance learning
Click here for information about our drop-off and pick-up procedures (note exception for Kindergarteners as shown on opening schedule)
About Us
The Admission Policy of St. Hilary School is in accordance with the student acceptance regulations of the Diocese of Cleveland. St. Hilary School admits qualified students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Email: dsinopoli@st-hilary.org
Website: www.st-hilaryschool.org
Location: 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn, OH, USA
Phone: 330-867-8720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StHilarySchoolFairlawnOhio/