SPB Family Newsletter
Thursday, March 11, 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
Scholastic Virtual Book Fair-March 1-14
Grade 8-Virtual Choose Life this Week
Sunday
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Monday
No School
Tuesday
Wednesday
St. Patrick's Day
NO Willoughby-Eastlake Bus Today
Thursday
NO Willoughby-Eastlake Bus Today
Faculty Meeting--2:30 pm
Friday
Feast of St. Joseph
School Mass-Grades 3-4
Saturday
PTO 5th Avenue Deli & Grill Fundraiser
A Note from the Principal
What a great feeling it is to enjoy some warmer weather as spring begins to poke its head out! The kids are loving the sunshine and fresh air during their recess times. The protocols we have in place continue to help us keep our students safe, and we haven't had a COVID-positive case in many weeks. Thank you to all in our school community for your continued diligence and commitment to health and safety. We want to make sure our students are in the classroom whenever possible.
I am happy to share that Mrs. Linda Page, our school psychologist, will be with us an extra day each week beginning next week through the end of school year. Our school was awarded an Ohio School Safety Grant, and we have decided that it would be best to use this funding allocation for the social-emotional health of our students. We have seen an increase in issues related to students' social-emotional health, and we know that it is an important component of overall health and an essential of aspect of educational success. Mrs. Page will work with classes and small groups as needed.
We are moving along on our Locker Challenge and are more than halfway there! We have raised $5,855 as of today, but we are really hoping to make it to $10,000 which will then be matched by a generous donor. If you would like to contribute, send in a check to the office noting "Locker Challenge" in the memo line. We are so grateful to those who have contributed so far!
Finally, I hope you enjoy the extended four-day weekend coming beginning tomorrow. Our faculty and staff will receive the second dose of their COVID vaccine on Saturday, and I pray that the side effects are minimal. God bless all of you and stay safe!
Peace and blessings,
Diane Raguz, Principal
Harvest for Hunger 2021
Mrs. Longano & Mr. Martin, along with some caring 8th graders, will be hosting our annual Harvest for Hunger Campaign the week of March 15-19. Fighting Hunger, One Dollar at a Time is this year’s theme to motivate our SPB student community in giving to this cause. You will also find the schedule for next week which will give the various dress down days we are sponsoring. There is a new sense of urgency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need more than ever to help our neighbors who are hungry. This year we will not be collecting canned goods. A donation of $1.00 a day, or $5.00 for the week, will allow your child to participate in all activities. Please make all checks payable to Harvest for Hunger. Remember $1 provides 4 meals or $10 in groceries for a family in need.
Thank you for any donation you might be able to make to this community-wide food drive! Our work is going to make a difference in the lives of many families, children, and seniors in our area.
Mrs. Longano & Mr. Martin
IMPORTANT Willoughby-Eastlake Bus Information
ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?
A very generous donor who is a member of our parish has challenged us to raise $10,000 to purchase lockers for additional classrooms in our school. This donor WILL MATCH what we raise up to $10,000! Should we meet this challenge, we would be able to equip a total of FIVE classrooms in combination with the money we raised through We Give Catholic in early December. This locker replacement project has been the focus of We Give Catholic the past two years. Last year we were able to replace lockers in two classrooms.
We are reaching out to you to help us meet this challenge. Our gracious benefactor said that it could be one donor, fifty donors, or 100 donors who help meet this goal of raising $10,000. If you are interested in donating, please send in a check to the office made out to Saint Paschal Baylon School. In the memo line, you can write "Locker Challenge." Are you up for the challenge?
School Advisory Council-Parent Survey
Thank you,
Kelly Kunchik and Nicole Waggle
School Advisory Council Co-Chairs
School Advisory Council
Some Important Reminders Regarding COVID-19
If your child exhibits even one symptom on the list of common COVID-19 symptoms, please keep him/her at home. Children and adults who are only experiencing what they would normally consider to be a minor symptom are testing positive. Please don’t brush it off as nothing. We want to keep all of our students and faculty/staff members safe, but we need everyone to closely monitor their symptoms and consider the common good.
If someone in your home is being tested for COVID-19, please keep your child at home until you know the final results. This is very important because you could be potentially exposing students unnecessarily.
Also, if a family member tests positive, everyone in the household is considered a close contact and should quarantine for the 14 days recommended by the CDC.
Please inform us as soon as possible should your child test positive so that we can begin contact tracing immediately and identify high risk close contacts. This is an essential step in helping to slow the spread.
The boards of health in different counties are overwhelmed with cases; therefore, you may or may not receive a phone call from them should your child be identified as a close contact of someone who has tested positive. Should your child be identified as a close contact in school, we will communicate this to you. Your child should quarantine for 14 days as recommended by the CDC. While they have put out new guidance for a shorter quarantine, we will remain with 14 days of quarantine which is what was recommended to us by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health during their visit.
Masks need to be worn by K-8 students at all times during the school day except for lunch. Masks need to be worn during recess and gym. Please make sure your child’s mask fits properly, that they have an extra or two in their bookbags, and that they are washed regularly.
Effective March 10, the state will no longer update its travel advisory. Instead, the Ohio Department of Health encourages you to carefully review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance when considering travel.
Scholastic Virtual Book Fair Continues!
Ladies Guild Rosary
All are welcome to join the SPB Ladies Guild as we pray the rosary together on March 21st.
Praying the rosary is a great way to prepare this Lent. We will be set up in the back of the parking lot near Jette Gym immediately following the 10:30 am Mass. Come stand and be a "bead" as we pray together in a living rosary. Bring the whole family!
Spring Fling Art Contest
Spring Fling Parish Festival XII
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Second Sunday of Lent
Dear Family and Friends,
2020 was a year to remember and possibly forget. When the country effectively closed its doors in March, we were busy preparing for our annual Spring Fling Parish Festival XII. Understanding the health situation that faced us, we made the decision to cancel many aspects of the ‘in person” 2020 Festival. We identified the 2021 Festival dates and began our preliminary planning activities.
Unfortunately, we are not having our typical 4-day “in person” 2021 Spring Fling Parish Festival XII because of safety concerns. We are working on a hybrid event with activities that can be safely enjoyed with guidance from the State of Ohio.
We will be publishing our annual Sponsor Booklet (1,500 copies). As a valued past sponsor and partner in our parish’s mission, we ask for your support. Not only will you be helping us achieve a successful event, our major fundraiser for our award-winning Catholic School, but there are great benefits to your business, and they include:
- Ad/Listing in program booklet which will be distributed throughout the parish and community.
- An online version will be posted on our website (digital) and emailed to our parishioners and friends.
- Promotion of your business/organization to over 2,300 families and friends.
- Listing in our weekly in-pew bulletin.
We invite you to take advantage of the many exciting sponsorship levels outlined. Contact us at 440-442-3410 x 101or at Festival@saintpaschal.com with questions. Our ad deadline is Wednesday, April 7, 2021 so please reserve your space now! We look forward to having you as a Saint Paschal Baylon Spring Fling XII Festival Sponsor. Thank you for all you do for SPB – let us continue to pray for each other!
In Christ our Eucharist,
Reverend John Thomas Lane, SSS, ’79
Pastor
Saint Paschal Baylon Roman Catholic Community is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Your contribution is deductible to the fullest extent of the law, as no good or services were provided in consideration of your gift.
Before Care Not Available NEXT YEAR
Remote Learning
Like our Athletics Association on Facebook
Please like our Athletics Page on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/StPaschalBaylonAthleticAssociation. It's a great way to stay up to date for registrations and sharing upcoming events. GO GREEN KNIGHTS!
PTO Fundraisers
Romeo's Pizza on April 7
5th Avenue Deli and Grill on March 20
Five Below Easter Fundraiser March 22-29
Looking ahead...See the information below on our Chipotle Fundraiser on May 11 and an watch for an exciting new fundraiser, "Nothing Bundt Cake", which we will hold around Mother's Day! Complete information will be shared soon.
Thank you for your overwhelming support this year!
Summer Solutions
Diocesan Tuition Grant & Aid through FACTS
FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment will be conducting the financial need analysis for Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic School for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Families applying for financial aid will need to complete an application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment by March 15, 2021. Applicants can apply online by clicking this FACTS link. Once an online application has been completed, the following information will need to be sent to FACTS to complete the application process:
Copies of your most recent Federal tax forms including all supporting tax schedules.
Copies of your 2020 W-2 forms for both you and your spouse.
Copies of supporting documentation for Social Security Income, Welfare, Child Support, Food Stamps, Workers’ Compensation, and TANF.
All supporting documentation can be uploaded in pdf format online.
Documentation can also be faxed to 866-315-9264 or mailed to the address below. Please be sure to include the applicant ID on all faxed or mailed correspondence.
FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment
P.O. Box 82524
Lincoln, NE 68501-2524
If you have questions or concerns about the application process, you may speak with a FACTS Customer Care Representative at 866-441-4637.
The Diocese of Cleveland has provided a flyer explaining the FACTS Grant & Aid Application process. Remember that you must apply for Diocesan Tuition Assistance and complete the FACTS Grant & Aid application to be eligible to receive any assistance from the Saint Paschal Baylon GIFTS Program. The deadline to apply for first round consideration is March 15, 2021.
Kotoch Family Scholarship Application
New Student Referral Program
Lenten Meal Blessing-Part 2
Lenten Meal Blessing
We give you praise, Lord our God, king of the universe:
you have sent your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
to redeem us by his passion, death, and resurrection.
Bless our meal,
those who have prepared it,
and those with whom we share it.
As we fast from sin during Lent,
let us feast on your mercy
in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
—Fr. Michael Kwatera, OSB
As printed in the March 2021 issue of Give Us This Day www.giveusthisday.org (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021). Used with permission.
Primary Grades Parents--We Need You!
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 and complete the Visitor Self-Screening form when they arrive at school.
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 2, Grade 1, Kindergarten.
Thank you to our parents who were able to help us during the month of February: Mr. John Moon, Dr. Robier Aguillon-Prada, Mr. Ray Still, Mrs. Christine Verdone, Mrs. Kim Santagata, Mr Luke Ockenden, Mr. Brent Pietrafese, Mrs. Letia Lee, Mrs. Sarah Echan, Mrs. Deb Koeberer, Mrs. Carolyn Still, Mrs. Cheryl Pietrafese, Mrs. Kathleen Kern, Mrs. Molly Vincent, Dr. Joan Rothenberg, Mr. Michael Cogan, Mrs. Amy Rupp, Mrs. Emily Quinn, Mrs. Paula Metz, and Dr. Leigh Ann Kerns.