SaberSpeak
Week of February 16, 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.
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.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISSUES STAY SAFE OHIO PROTOCOL
On December 10, the Ohio Department of Health issued the Stay Safe Ohio Protocol to help limit the spread of COVID-19 during the holiday season and through the end of the year. The complete list of safety protocols can be found at the end of this section. As a reminder, the decisions each of us make have a great impact on our ability to continue to be able to offer an in-person learning option. We appreciate your support and cooperation.
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.
ST. HILARY SCHOOL PARTICIPATING IN SCPH REPORTING PROGRAM
As the autumn season gets underway, preparations for the upcoming influenza season have begun. The 2020-2021 flu season is unique, since widespread community transmission of COVID-19 continues in Summit County and Ohio. Summit County Public Health (SCPH) has begun another season of community influenza surveillance. St. Hilary School will be participating in this program. Surveillance will run from early October until early May or longer if influenza is still a concern. With the ongoing concerns about COVID-19, influenza and their impacts on public health, surveillance remains vital. Data shared provides important information about COVID-19 and influenza trends and peaks of activity in Summit County to our school and to the community. As a school reporting partner, St. Hilary School will submit student absence numbers (for any reason) on a weekly basis. This data will also be aggregated with other school attendance data. No data specific to a particular student or to our school will be shared publicly, nor will our school be identified as a reporting partner. We hope that our participation in this program will help to strengthen our partnership with SCPH during this time of heightened public health concerns.
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 our Ash Wednesday Mass on Wednesday, February 17, and the beginning of Lent. Please see the Growing Together in Faith section below for opportunities to make the most of your family's Lenten journey. Students in grades 1, 3 5, and 7 will also begin CAT testing this week.
Hot Off The Press
RESPECT LIFE CONTEST -
AN INVITATION TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-12
The annual "Respect Life" Art, Digital Art, Essay & Poetry Contest is an opportunity for students to share their artistic and written talents, celebrate the sanctity of human life, and be one of the many cash prize winners at our spring Awards Ceremony!
To enter, please go to www.LifeWorksOhio.org;
at the bottom of the News & Events scroll, just click on the
Contest Details for your grade level.
Entries must be postmarked or e-mailed by February 26, 2021.
Questions: 216-661-6616 LifeWorks Ohio
LifeWorks Ohio's programs are endorsed by Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Roger W. Gries
St. Hilary School held its school spelling bee February 10. Fifth grader Selene Alnemr placed first, fifth grader Robbie Orr was runner-up in the bee, sixth grader Sia Mahesh placed third, and eighth grader Jack Dayo placed fourth. Because Selene and Robbie are fifth graders and are ineligible to advance, Sia and Jack will represent the school in the upcoming virtual Akron Beacon Journal Regional Spelling Bee.
After qualifying at the classroom level, 24 students competed in the bee. Contestants joining Selene, Robby, Sia, and Jack were fifth graders Sloane Bossart, Tyler Grucella, Charlotte Higley, and Elizabeth Siefker; sixth graders Amara Avalos, Kayla Johnson, Charles Nalley, Jacob Nowak, and Sam Russo; seventh graders Thompson Davis, Kevin Hart, Ryan Houser, Annie Sejba, Jack Siefker, and Grant Schwartzenburg; and eighth graders Danny Bisesi, Lucia Chase, Noah Pellegrini, Corinne Slawienski, and Paden Tuel.
Plan Ahead
GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click here for the school Google calendar
~ February 16 - 26: CAT Testing for Grades 1, 3, 5, and 7
~ February 17: Ash Wednesday (Mass today; no Mass February 19)
~ February 19: Third Quarter Interim Reports
~ 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 begins 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 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Our next school Mass will be THIS WEDNESDAY, February 17 (Ash Wednesday) at 9:30 a.m. This school Mass will be planned by grade 6, 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 February 26 planned by Grade 2, March 5 planned by grade 1, March 19 planned by grade 3, and March 26 (Jane Klenotic Scholarship) planned by grade 2. There is no school on February 12 and March 12, and no school Mass on February 19.
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
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
NO COPLEY BUS TRANSPORTATION FEBRUARY 26
Copley will not be providing transportation on Friday, February 26. Students who ride the Copley buses will need alternate transportation arrangements on this date.
GRADE LEVEL TRANSITION MENTORS NEEDED BY MARCH 1
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 – kindergarten through grade eight – 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!
DROP-OFF CHANGES IN EFFECT
We have revamped our morning drop-off and temperature-taking procedures to address two problems that have arisen as the school year has progressed and the temperatures have gotten colder.
First, because the mornings have become more frigid, our thermometers are not reading students’ temperatures accurately. Temperatures will now be taken just inside the school doors, rather than at cars. Parents will be free to leave after dropping students off, and the clinic will call promptly if a fever is detected.
Second, we need to minimize staff handling students' belongings and assisting students out of cars. We will have one staff member on duty at each drop-off line. Three cars can unload at the same time once they have entered into the unloading zone. Students should grab their own backpacks and other items, get out of the cars quickly and head to the school entrance. The staff member monitoring the car line will assist only if it is absolutely necessary. Students should prepare to exit the car prior to entering the unloading zone (seatbelts, water bottles, backpacks, masks, goodbyes, etc.) This way, once the car enters the unloading zone, the student will only need to open the car door and get out.
Thank you for your cooperation with these new procedures that we hope will make our morning drop-off safer and more efficient for everyone!
OHIO CATHOLIC FEDERAL CREDIT UNION NOW ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
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
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/