SPB Family Newsletter
November 4, 2021
Mission Statement
The Eucharistic community of Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School
focuses on Christ-centered values and develops the unique potential of each student
through a rigorous and engaging curriculum.
Calendar of Events
November 8
Box Tops Dress Down Day
Girls on the Run--2:30-4:00 pm
Romeo's Pizza Fundraiser
Tuesday, November 9
Title I Parent Meeting (Virtual)--9:00 am
STEM Club Meeting--2:30-4:00 pm
Wednesday, November 10
All School Mass--9:00 am
Parent-Teacher Conferences--3:00-7:30 pm
Thursday, November 11
Parent-Teacher Conferences--3:00-7:30 pm
Ladies Guild Meeting--7:30 pm
Friday, November 12
No School
A Green Knight to Remember Gala
IMPORTANT QUARANTINE GUIDELINES
Dear SPB Families,
Last week, the Ohio Department of Health released new guidelines regarding quarantine related to COVID-19. The Mask to Stay/Test to Play alternative gives schools the option to allow students to remain learning in person and not quarantine if a student is exposed in the school setting or a school-related activity as long as the student wears a mask and is monitored for symptoms of COVID-19. The goal is to keep students learning in person. These guidelines will go into effect today.
Mask To Stay
Direct contacts in a school environment, regardless of vaccination or masking status, may remain in the classroom environment if they:
Wear a mask for 14 days after their last date of exposure.
Self-monitor, or parent-monitor, for symptoms of COVID-19.
Isolate and get tested if they start to experience symptoms associated with COVID-19 (regardless of level of severity).
Consistent with guidance for others quarantining in lower-risk environments, students and staff may discontinue these quarantine procedures after seven days — if they meet two basic criteria: one – they don’t develop symptoms, and two – they test negative between days 5-7.
While parents and students are responsible for symptom monitoring, if school staff or school nurses see a child exhibiting symptoms they should act accordingly.
We have also discussed the new guidelines with our CYO athletic director. The ultimate goal is to keep students learning in person. It has been decided that the Mask to Stay/Test to Play guidelines will be used for our CYO sports as well.
Test to Play
Asymptomatic contacts in a school environment may continue to participate in extracurricular activities (including CYO sports) if they:
Wear a mask when able.
Test on initial notification of exposure to COVID-19 (PCR or antigen test will be accepted. Rapid test must be a proctored test).
Test again between days 5-7 following exposure to COVID-19. If they are negative at this time, they will test out of quarantine after day 7 and can resume normal activities.
Please note that the Mask to Stay/Test to Play guidelines are contingent on the exposure being in the school setting or school-related activities. Any exposure outside of a school setting (i.e. household, etc.) still needs to follow the CDC and Ohio Department of Health quarantine guidelines. Students should remain at home if they are ill or if anyone in their immediate household is awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to keeping our school community safe and healthy.
Sincerely,
Diane Raguz, Principal
Sheila Klepcyk, Assistant Principal
Report Cards Available Online
First quarter report cards have been published as of today. You have the ability to access grades and print a report card to keep for yourself. Directions for accessing report cards can be found below. Please note that there are two pages to the report cards. You don't want to miss the second page which includes teacher comments. We will send a hard copy of report cards at the end of the school year only. Remember that parent-teacher conferences take place next week, and our teachers are eager to meet with you.
You may access your child’s final grades for the quarter on Gradelink following these directions:
1. Log into Gradelink.
2. Click on the Grades tab on the left hand side.
3. The option to download the report card will appear on the right side of the screen. You
can then download it to view or print.
S.P.B. Noble Knight Initiative
We are so excited to share with you a new initiative to encourage and reward positive behavior in our SPB students in grades K-8.
WHY?
While focusing on the Four C’s: Civility, Courage, Character, and Compassion-all centered in Christ, SPB staff members want to catch our students doing the right thing and reward them for it.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
When an SPB staff member sees a student doing something that exemplifies one (or more) of the four C’s, he/she will reward the student with a Noble Knight Ticket. The staff member will fill out both sides of the ticket: one side of the ticket will be given to the student, and the other side of the ticket will be sent to the office.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR STUDENTS?
Names of Noble Knight Ticket winners will be read on announcements once a week, parents will see what students are being recognized for because the tickets will be sent home, and students will be rewarded for receiving a ticket. At the end of each quarter, we will have a special ”Knights of the Roundtable” breakfast for ticket winners in which prizes will be raffled off.
Teachers started rewarding students with these tickets on November 1, so be on the lookout for a Noble Knight Ticket coming home with your child some time soon!!!
Walkathon Wrap-Up
Your mailed sponsor letters generated a huge response. We received over $10,000 in donations from 18 states and even overseas! Those families who were sponsored by these generous donors will be receiving Thank You letters in their communication folders this week. Please make sure your friends and family receive these letters, as they also serve as a receipt for tax purposes.
A digital copy of our Thank You Board can be accessed here.
And finally THANK YOU to all those who helped make Walkathon happen this year:
- Walkathon committee members (who planned, organized, and ran this FUNdraiser): Colleen Grossner, Kate Herberth, Colleen Ockenden, Grace Powell, and Melissa Vogley
- Parent t-shirt/medal distribution help: Lauren Jamieson, Fred and Jaime Mance, Grace Powell, Brigitte VanderSchrier, Melissa Vogley, and Janelle Washington
- Parent volunteers for the Walk on 10/22: Kate and Brian Herberth, Maria and Bob Patyk, Julie Seline, Kristie Mack, Melissa Vogley, Clare Taricska, Leigh Ann Kerns, Kelly Miller, Lisa Kane, Mary Lou Wellman, Kathleen Kern, Natalie Treibatch, Meghan and John D'Angelo, Megan Baco, Jennifer Burk, Jaime Mance, Lauren Jamieson, Kristen Miller, Kellie Work, Scott Schrey, Katie Babic, Janelle Washington, Grace Powell, Chris Muttillo, Jamie DeSanto, Emily Orlando, Janelle Puntel, Nichole Brown, Beth Velotta, Julie Tragon, Amber Lupardus, Amy Wujnovich, Julie Petriella, Emily Mellenthin, Trish Swiderski, John Frcho, Paula Metz, Sarah Reynoso, Adria Saunders, Matt Murphy, Gina Quagliata, Marcie Luciano, Kim and Kevin Brandich, Alex Slemc, Beth Detzel, Kelly Keefe, and Colleen Ockenden
Christmas Concerts Postponed
After much consideration, we have made the decision to postpone the in-person Primary (K-3) Christmas Concert and the Junior High/Band Christmas Concert for another year. We arrived at this decision after considering the COVID-19 protocols we have in place to keep our students safe, including keeping grade pods isolated, spacing out students as much as possible, and limiting the number of family members from outside the school community to mingle in one space for prolonged periods of time. Knowing how crowded these concerts have been in years past, we do not feel it is possible to safely have that many people share a space. Also, last year our COVID-19 cases increased during the months of November and December; therefore, we want to be proactive in preventing as many cases as possible, especially as the holidays follow quickly after.
That being said, we fully acknowledge how important music and the arts are here at SPB and to all of you. To keep the spirit of the season alive this year, Miss Margevicius and Mr. Adams will be putting together a filmed version of the concert so that family members near and far can share in the joy of the Christmas season (and you can for years to come, as well!). During the week of December 6th, students should come dressed in their Christmas outfits on the day they have Music, and their songs will be recorded during their class time. To celebrate their hard work, we will have a viewing party of the concert for our SPB students during the last week before Christmas break, and then the finished product will be shared with families via an unlisted YouTube link.
Please know that we have come to this decision with our students’ and families’ health as the number one priority, and we will still assuredly have a wonderful musical time this holiday season.
Faculty & Staff Appreciation Snack Cart
Thank you to everyone who participated in September! The Ladies Guild will again be sponsoring the snack cart for our dear faculty and staff. See the link below for details and to sign up. Thank you!
Pull Together for the House!
Student Council will be sponsoring the pull tab collection for the NE Ohio Ronald McDonald House Charities. We will accept pull tabs from beverages, pet food, soup, and food cans. We will have various houses around the school to place your pull tabs in. It is easy: you pull, you donate and we recycle. Thank you for helping us with this cause!
8th Grade Musical, Beauty and the Beast Fundraiser
Please help support our 8th Grade Class Play, Beauty and the Beast, by purchasing Honeybaked Ham gift cards. The 8th Grade play will receive 20% of all gift card sales. These gift cards may be purchased by you, and your family and friends to be used at Honeybaked Ham store locations throughout the United States.
Link HERE to order gift cards, or you may choose to scan the QR code below for easier access from your smartphone. Gift card sales will end on December 3rd. Tell your friends and family members throughout the US to order soon to beat the holiday mail rush, or choose electronic gift cards or instant access! Who knows, maybe your employer would be interested in giving Honeybaked gift cards as gifts or purchasing boxed lunches for meetings.
FYI: the closest store to SPB is in Mayfield Heights at 1257 Som Center Road. Check out their Menu. There are so many food options for sandwiches, boxed lunches, dinner meals, or parties).
Playground Volunteers Needed-Grades 4-5-6
We are asking that each family (mom, dad, grandma, etc.) choose at least two days to volunteer each time slot being 11:15 am-12:50 pm. There are many, many time slots open! We are so grateful for the help!
This is a great way for you to interact with your child and his/her classmates during the school day! Recess Volunteers should arrive to school at 11:10 and check in at the office. Duties will include supervising students at recess, escorting the students to and from the school doors. Volunteers will be with one school staff member each day to help direct.
Remember that after your two volunteer time slots, you are done for the year, as each month is assigned to a different grade.
COVID-19 Volunteer Protocol: all recess volunteers are required to wear a mask when in the building.
Thank you again for your time and service to the students and teachers of SPB! Simply click on the following links to sign up: Grade 6, Grade 5, Grade 4
Thank you to the following parents who were able to help us during the month of October: Mr. Alex Slemc, Mrs. Colleen Grossner, Mrs. Kelly Keefe, Mr. Matt Keefe, Mrs. Jackie Titas, Mrs. Kristi Apelt, Mrs. Kate Herberth, Mrs. Barb Karim, Mr. Sean Vogley, Mr. Dan Reginelli, Mrs. Jaime Mance, Mr. Fred Mance, Mrs. Paula Metz, Mrs. Clare Taricska, and Mr. Jim Kane.
Fall Open House for Prospective Families (K-8)
Ladies Guild November Meeting
Please join us on Thursday, November 11th, 7:30pm, in the parlor room of the church office, for our next Ladies Guild Meeting!
Ladies Guild Holiday Craft Show-Saturday, November 20
The Ladies Guild Holiday Craft Show is back! Please join us on Saturday, November 20th from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This highly anticipated and missed show promises to be the BEST HOLIDAY SHOW EVER! There will be over 100 local crafters with homemade gifts and food items. You will certainly find unique gifts for yourself or that special someone on your holiday shopping list. No strollers and only properly vested service animals will be admitted. Masks will be required for entry to the show.
Holiday Craft Show Volunteer Request - Saturday November 20, 2021
Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for our Annual Holiday Craft Show benefiting the Blessed Sacrament Ladies Guild on Saturday, November 20, 2021 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This is the largest fundraiser for the Guild and is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. Please consider volunteering some of your time to help make the day a success. Volunteers also get free admission to the show! Please contact Beth Juelich-Velotta at bethjuelich@yahoo.com with any questions.
The following link will take you to our sign up page on SignUpGenius.com
Craft Show Volunteer Opportunity for 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders
The Ladies Guild is in need of student volunteers to assist with set-up and clean up for the Craft Show on November 19th and 20th. 6th and 7th graders will earn a dress-down pass, and 8th graders can use the time towards Confirmation Service Hours!
Please follow the link to sign up: https://signup.com/go/QvyaFCG
Any questions, contact Emily Orlando orlando.emily@gmail.com
Moe's Fundraiser
What's in this week's folder?
Please check your child's communication folder for the following:
Pre-8: Craft Show, Carols for Quire XI
6-7-8: Craft Show Student Volunteers
Please return the folder to your child's homeroom tomorrow.
Community News
Lake Catholic High School Admissions:
Open Houses:
This year we will be having two Fall Open Houses at Lake Catholic. These are currently scheduled for in-person, but if that changes, we will notify everyone as soon as we can!
November 15 from 6-8pm
Placement Exams: OLSAT
This fall, we will be using the OLSAT 8 as our Placement Exam for incoming freshmen students. We will be offering a number of dates in the fall for this, but students are welcome to take it as a part of their shadow day experience as well! If you’d like your students to take it on their shadow day, please let me know! Students will need to have their exam taken by November 13 to be considered for a scholarship. Our dates are below:
November 13 @ 9:00 am & 11:00am
Students can sign up here: https://forms.gle/5ZK6Ek7GM2Nm6A7L9
Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School
Email: office@saintpaschal.com
Website: www.saintpaschal.com
Location: 5360 Wilson Mills Road, Highland Heights, OH, USA
Phone: (440) 442-6766
Facebook: facebook.com/stpaschalbaylonschoolohio
Twitter: @SPBGreenKnights