Charger Check-In
April 12, 2024
A Note from Ms. Owens
We started this week off with an amazing day of learning about and viewing the partial solar eclipse. Thank you to all of the school families who shared their enthusiasm and amazement for this event. It was thrilling to watch the eclipse - but even more thrilling was watching the students from all grade levels so incredibly engaged and excited to be able to view the eclipse. They attended to their teachers' reminders about viewing this event safely and they were quite simply so very present in the moment. It made my teacher-heart swell!
We have less than three days until we pull the winning tickets for this year's Dream Raffle. And we have 250 tickets left to sell. As the graphic below states, this is the largest fundraiser for the school and church, and this effort helps keep our school tuition as low as possible. School families can purchase tickets online, from school on Friday, from the rectory or from ticket captains. The winning tickets will be pulled on Sunday, April 14 which is this Sunday!
A Bit More News...
- On Tuesday, April 16, Ms. Hess, one of our extraordinary 2nd grade teachers, is hosting an evening of SEL Activities for Young Children. The event will start at 6PM. Click on the link to register your family.
- Information for the Beyond the Books session went home in this week's white envelope. Registration forms and payment are due back no later than Thursday, April 18.
- Parents of students in 3rd-8th grade should check PowerSchool on Thursday, April 18. This is the date for 3rd trimester progress reports.
- Our Student Council is sponsoring a Talent Showcase and inviting 3rd-8th graders to audition. Click for more details. The sign up will close at 3PM on Monday, April 22.
- Stop by Nicky V's (111th & Pulaski) on Thursday, April 25 to participate in our FSA's Eat & Earn!
- Tickets are on sale for our FSA's Second Annual Derby Fundraiser. The event is set for Saturday, May 4!
- FSA's Annual Flower Sale as well as the Second Annual Charger Market are set for Saturday, May 11 from 9AM-1PM.
- Sign ups for this summer's Vacation Bible Camp are open. The dates are July 15 - 19! Scroll down to see the flier!
- 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.
Classroom Placement Requests
As we approach the middle of the 3rd trimester, many school families begin to think of the coming school year and they send in requests for specific teachers. Below you will find the language from the Parent-Student Handbook (on page 30) regarding requests for classroom placement. Please know this is not a policy change. Rather it is a policy that has not received appropriate attention in recent years.
In order to ensure academic success for each student, several factors are considered when placing a child in a classroom for the upcoming school year. Transitioning from one grade to the next can present students with an opportunity for personal growth as they forge new relationships with teachers and other students. We ask that parents refrain from requesting a specific teacher for their child on the basis of preference, perception, or so that a student can be in a classroom with friends.
Parents are welcome to share any relevant information that they feel will best assist the administration and teaching staff with student placement; all such information must be submitted in writing to the principal no later than the first week of May of the current school year. Requests will be considered but are not guaranteed.
Designed by Olivia Roman
SCA Athletics to Live-Stream Court Sports
The St. Catherine Athletic Board is excited to share they are working with Hudl, a company that helps schools and other athletic organizations stream and record athletic games. We know this will bring smiles to many people's faces as they will be able to watch games when they can't be at SCA and family members who don't llive in the area will be able to see their loved one play. We also know that this will raise concerns of online safety for other families.
Please know that St. Catherine has worked closely with the legal department from the Archdiocese to ensure we are following the necessary steps to protect the privacy of our students and to protect the school from any potential liability. Here is an overview of the steps St. Catherine will take to protect our students' privacy while also allowing games to be viewed by Charger fans who can't be in the Alexandria Center.
- While Hudl offers a plethora of options, at St. Catherine, we will only be live-streaming games. Games will not be available on-demand. We will not be creating highlight reels for individual student-athletes.
- SCA home games will be available only on Hudl, not on YouTube. Those who want to watch the live-stream will need to create a free account on Hudl. (More information for this will follow at a later date.)
- Recordings of the games will be archived. Coaches will be able to access the recordings to help with skills development. Recordings will not be available to the public.
- St. Catherine will not be sharing any student information with Hudl which means we will NOT be uploading team rosters.
- The parents/guardians of student-athletes playing a court sport will need to sign a consent form regarding live-streaming of their child's image. All members of a team must have signed consent forms in order for that team's games to be live-streamed.
- Signage will be posted prominently in the gym to alert those attending games that the games will be live-streamed.
Additional Information
- The installation process has begun. The Athletic Board hopes to begin live-streaming boys volleyball games this season. (Consent forms will go home to families with boys playing volleyball soon.)
- A contract for the remainder of this school year and the next two school years has been signed with Hudl. The Men's Club will be paying for the contract. The cost for this 2+ year contract is $8,600.
- If you have questions about this decision, please contact the Athletic Board.
Academic Eligibility Pause at Start of Trimester - Dates Adjusted as of 3.28
Our third trimester began on Monday, March 4. In accordance with the policy listed in the Parent-Student Handbook, we will pause academic eligibility for the first three weeks of the trimester. The rationale for this is because, at the start of any marking period, a student who misses a single assignment or who earns a low grade on a single assignment can end up with a failing grade.
- We will resume reviewing grades for academic eligibility on Thursday, March 28 which is Holy Thursday.
- Because we will be on Easter Break until Monday, April 8 and students will not have the opportunity to improve any low grades, we will continue to review grades on Thursday, April 11.
- At that time, any students in 4th-8th grades , along with their parents, earning an F will be notified of their probationary status.
- If that failing grade is still in place on Thursday, April 18, the student will be ineligible to participate in any and all extra-curricular activities until the following Thursday.
How to Print Your Year-End Statment from Blackbaud
As tax time approaches, school families can access and print their year-end tuition statements directly from your Blackbaud accounts.
- Please log into your account on the Blackbaud parent site.
- On the homepage, find the "Related Links" section.
- Look for "Family or Student Year-End Statement."
If you have any questions, please email Mary Omiecinski.
The Sunday Collection
Visit the link below to set up your recurring contribution. Donors can change the amount of the contribution or pause it at any time.
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.
This law firm is owned, in part, by an SCA family.
This residential/commercial landscaping and commercial snow removal company is owned by an SCA family.
This small business offers individual basketball training and skill development and is owned by an SCA family.
So Many On-going Ways to Support St. Catherine!
Upcoming Events
Friday, April 12
- All-School Liturgy & Benediction at 8:30AM
Sunday, April 14
- All-Parish Family Mass at 9:30AM - hosted by kindergarten
Monday, April 15
- First Holy Communion Retreat (Room 112)
- Chargers United Meeting in Kane Hall at 7PM
Tuesday, April 16
- First Holy Communion Retreat (Room 111)
- School Advisory Board Meeting in FLC at 7PM
Thursday, April 18
- Third Trimester Progress Reports (3rd-8th grades)
- Tuition Exclusion Day for April
Friday, April 19
- All-School Liturgy at 8:30AM
Monday, April 22
- First Holy Communion Practice (Room 112) in church at 6PM
Tuesday, April 23
- First Holy Communion Practice (Room 111) in church at 6PM
Wednesday, April 24
- Talent Show Audtions
Thursday, April 25
- Autism Acceptance Dress Down - $1 donation requested
Friday, April 26
- No School - Archdiocesan Professional Development Day
Tuesday, April 30
- Confirmation Practice in church at 6:30PM
- Athletic Board Meeting in Kane Hall at 8PM
About us
Website: www.scaoaklawn.org
Location: 10621 South Kedvale Avenue, Oak Lawn, IL, USA
Phone: 708-425-5547
Facebook: facebook.com/scaoaklawn/