Charger Check-In
November 6, 2020
A Note from Ms. Owens
We've had another good week at St. Catherine! The kids have thoroughly enjoyed recess during this gorgeous weather and our teachers have been able to take students outside for some instruction. Several of our classes have been studying the electoral college as it is so relevant this week. Our second graders attended Mass in-person this morning. I've been able to spend time with our 5th and 6th grade classes teaching English. We've learned about action verbs, helping verbs, linking verbs and direct objects. I'm not sure they enjoyed having the principal, who likes to give some homework, as their teacher, but I've truly enjoyed being able to work with them.
Our Covid awareness needs to continue. If a member of your household knows they will be going for a Covid test or is waiting for the results, your child must stay home until results are received. If the results are negative, if your child has not had exposure to anyone who has tested positive and if your child is free of symptoms, they may return to school.
I urge you to monitor closely the health of all members of your household. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever (temperature greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit), chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
- If a member of your household has even one Covid-like symptom, your child(ren) should not come to school that first day of a household member having symptoms.
- If your child has symptoms on a second consecutive day, your child will need a negative Covid test in order to return to school. Per IDPH guidelines issued on October 27, this Covid test must be a PCR test. (See button below for more detailed information.) Your household should quarantine while awaiting the results.
- Do not send your child(ren) to school medicated to camouflage symptoms.
- If your child(ren) has been identified as a close contact to a confirmed or presumed positive case, you child(ren) will need to quarantine for 14-days from the last day of contact with the positive case.
- If your child(ren) has been identified as a close contact to a confirmed or presumed positive case and develops symptoms, contact your medical advisor to discuss evaluation and testing.
- If your child(ren) has been identified as a close contact to a confirmed or presumed positive case and does not develop symptoms, it is recommended to be tested 5 to 9 days after your child’s exposure to the positive case.
I ask that you continue to partner with us in a shared effort to maintain a safe environment for our school community. We have gone through extensive measures to put protocols and procedures in place for our collective health and safety. Maintaining cohorts is at the heart of that plan. We ask for your cooperation in maintaining this model whenever feasible so that our staff and students are able to experience a safe and sustained return to school.
Last Friday, the Office of Catholic Schools sent communication directly to school families about a system-wide change in school schedules with the coming holiday season. A copy of the letter is available below for your convenience. At St. Catherine, remote classes will begin on Wednesday, January 6 as this is our scheduled day to return from Christmas break.
A Bit More News
- FSA has extended the dates for the Pop Up Shop until Sunday, November 15. Scroll down for the link.
- FSA's Annual Christmas Wreath Sale is up and running. Scroll down for the button to order. There is no hard deadline. Orders will be accepted until supplies are gone.
- Remember that TRIP Cash & Carry is available in the church vestibule Thursday nights from 6:30-8PM. Families of K-8 students can earn credit toward their $75 fundraising fee by purchasing TRIP cards. Scroll down for more details.
- Dates for Thanksgiving Break are listed in the calendar at the bottom of the Check-In.
- 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 pray for our nation, for our communities, for our brothers and sisters who are tired and broken, for our brothers and sisters working to keep us safe, and for own sorrows. We are all - each and every one of us - beloved children of God.
Peace,
Kristine Owens
Updated Travel Quarantine List
The list now includes 31 states and Puerto Rico. Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, and Kentucky remain on the list. This means every state with which Illinois shares a border is on travel quarantine list.
The state of Florida has been put back on the list, and Michigan was NOT added this week.
Please note that individuals who travel to Wisconsin or Indiana, even if for less than 24 hours, still need to quarantine upon returning unless deemed an essential worker or are a student who commutes for school.
For our Archdiocesan schools, any travel outside of the United States will also require a 14-day quarantine for students and employees upon their return.
A Bit More Focus on Our Quarantine and Sick Policies
Please be aware of these situations in which a student/faculty/staff/volunteer will need to remain home.
- Any student/faculty/staff/volunteer who has close contact to a person who is symptomatic, awaiting test results or diagnosed with COVID-19 will need to stay home.
- Anyone with close contact with a confirmed case must quarantine for 14 days from date of last contact with confirmed case.
Close contact is defined as "anyone (with or without a face covering) who was within 6 feet of a confirmed case of COVID-19 (with or without a face covering) for at least 15 minutes. The period of close contact begins two calendar days before the onset of symptoms (for a symptomatic person) or two calendar days before the positive sample was obtained (for as asymptomatic person).
Any student/faculty/staff/volunteer who presents with any of the following symptoms - fever (100.4 or higher), headache, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, congestion, new loss of taste/smell, nausea, fatigue or muscle/body ache will need to stay home or will be sent home if they are at school. All members of that person's household will also be sent home.
Families Interested in Moving to Remote Learning
The close of the first trimester is a few weeks away at St. Catherine. If you would like to move your student to remote learning for the second trimester, please complete this Google Form.
This decision needs to be confirmed by Friday, November 6.
St. Catherine is in communication with Catapult to determine when this transition would happen. Ms. Owens will be in touch!
Mrs. Janczak Says Thank You
Dear SCA families,
Thank you very much for making last Friday a very special day for me. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity in remembering me on my retirement. I loved all the wonderful gifts in my beautiful basket, and I treasure all the lovely messages you have written to me. I will always be grateful for my time at SCA. I enjoyed teaching your child in 3rd grade, and I will remember the wonderful families I have met over these past 18 years.
Sincerely,
Diane Janczak
Congratulations to Our Charger Superheroes of the Month
Please congratulate these students! We are so proud of them and we are grateful for serving as role models in our school community.
- Cian Hudson
- Henry Williams
- Jake Hollock
- Bridget Killen
- Jack Heilen
- Dominic Wirtz
- Beth Mutnansky
- Maggie Hollock
- Norah Gorski
- Lilliana Amaro
- Louise Martin
- Olivia Roman
- Charlie Abernethy
- Kristen Curran
- Nolan Leonard
- Abigail Ryan
- Ava Kelly
- Addison Glenke
Heroes Work Here
We love our St. Catherine staff and faculty. Our teachers and staff have worked tirelessly over the summer and this school year to bring quality in-person learning to families during this unprecedented time.
To recognize the fantastic work Catholic schools are doing, the Office of Catholic Schools (OCS) is excited to announce the #SchoolHero program that will highlight the educators and staff who have gone above to ensure a safe and productive learning environment.
To complete this nomination form, you will need your nominee’s name, name of the school, professional title (if a teacher, the grade they teach) and why you’re nominating them for the #SchoolHero program.
OCS is seeking nominations from within our Catholic school communities - families, students, parishioners, alumni and school staff.
FSA Pop Up Shop
Visit the link below to see the new SCA swag that is available. Please note that these items are spirit wear and are not part of the St. Catherine school uniform.
Looking for a Way to Help Support St. Catherine?
If you are interested in learning more about this position, please reach out to Fr. Dennis or Aimee Nowak.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Conferences will take place virtually via Zoom. We have a few more details to concretize and then we will send out an electronic sign up (via Sign Up Genius). Stay tuned!
Our Church is Open!
- Saturdays - Mass at 4PM
- Sundays - Mass at 9:30AM and 11:30AM
In order to attend, parishioners must sign up online. The sign up is available below. Be sure to read the protocols that must be followed by those attending Mass in-person.
You are also invited to attend a weekday morning Mass on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in-person at 8:30AM. You will need to register in the vestibule when you arrive and all protocols must be observed.
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.
Queen of Hearts Raffle
Congratulations to our winner! Check out the SCA Queen of Hearts Facebook page for more information.
So Many On-going Ways to Support St. Catherine!
Upcoming Events
Friday, November 6
- All-School Liturgy (streamed)
- Deadline for Confirming Switch in Learning Plan
Tuesday, November 10
- 8th Grade Cap & Gown Measurement
Thursday, November 12
- TRIP Cash & Carry in Church Vestibule from 6:30-8PM
Friday, November 13
- All-School Liturgy (streamed)
Thursday, November 19
- Report Cards sent home
- TRIP Cash & Carry in Church Vestibule from 6:30-8PM
Friday, November 20
- All-School Liturgy (streamed)
Tuesday, November 24
- Early Dismissal at 11AM
- Parent-Teacher Conferences via Zoom (Times TBA)
Wednesday, November 25
- Thanksgiving Break - No School
Thursday, November 26
- Thanksgiving Break - No School
Friday, November 27
- Thanksgiving Break - No School
Monday, November 30
- School resumes
About us
Website: www.scaoaklawn.org
Location: 10621 South Kedvale Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL, USA
Phone: 708-425-5547
Facebook: facebook.com/scaoaklawn/