SPB Family Newsletter
Thursday, August 13, 2020
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.
Dear SPB Families,
Thank you for completing the Student Education Plan Form so that we can finalize our class lists as well as numbers of desks needed in the classrooms. At this time, we have approximately 14% of our student population choosing simultaneous learning. Please remember that the SPB Student (K-8) COVID-19 Policy Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk must be completed PRIOR to in-person attendance. We ask that you read it thoroughly to fully understand what is being expected of you as parents and that you understand and assume the risks related to COVID-19 and returning to school. This form will not be included in the back to school forms you complete online. You need to complete and submit this separately. You may mail it in or drop it off in the school office from 9:00-3:00 Monday through Thursday.
Preschool classes will be held in person as well according to our Preschool Responsive Return Plan. Preschool parents will also be required to sign the SPB Preschool Student COVID-19 Policy Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk PRIOR to in-person attendance.
On Tuesday, August 11, the PSI COVID Support Team completed a walkthrough of our school. PSI is the third party company with whom we contract for our nurse, intervention specialists, speech pathologist, etc. The team works in coordination with University Hospitals Rainbow Babies' and Children's Hospital's Infectious Disease Team. The team walked through our typical day with us, visited classrooms and other parts of the building, and offered tips and suggestions to help us limit the spread of infection and to confirm that building configuration and the planned process for reopening this fall are consistent with best practice guidelines. We felt that this was a valuable visit and consultation, and we will share the tips and suggestions with our faculty/staff next week during our opening meetings.
Finally, we are working on getting our Back to School forms uploaded and ready for our families to complete. As soon as it is available, we will send out an email blast. Also, we are still working out the details for our Virtual Meet the Teacher event. Information will be sent out once it is finalized. We will also send out information to our simultaneous learners so that they have the opportunity to pick up their materials and see their teachers.
Thank your for your patience and understanding as we finalize plans for the school year. It has not been a typical summer, but we are looking forward to the return of our students either in person or online.
In Christ’s Peace,
Diane Raguz, Principal
Faculty Updates for 2020-2021
There will be some movement and changes to our faculty and staff for the 2020-2021 school year:
- Mrs. Vera Marti and Mrs. Michelle Kitko have decided to remain at home and devote time to raising their beautiful families. Mrs. Marti's leadership, technology skills, and love for her students will certainly be missed, and Mrs. Kitko's talent in sparking a joy and love for music among our students will also be missed.
- After spending 33 years teaching at SPB and a total of 35 years in the Diocese of Cleveland, Mrs. Denise Meeks has decided to retire and spend more time with her growing family. We are blessed to have had a teacher who made such strong commitment to Catholic education and to our school/parish community.
- Mrs. Regina Payro, our Spanish teacher, has accepted another position and will not be returning. I am happy to share that Mrs. Magda Lopez-Gonzales will be our new Spanish teacher. We wish Senora Payro all the very best!
- Mrs. Elizabeth Krogman will move to the sixth grade Language Arts and Social Studies position. She previously served as the junior high Reading teacher.
- Mrs. Monika Mazur is our new third grade teacher. Mrs. Mazur joins us after serving in some long-term substitute positions in public schools as well as working for PSI at St. Charles Borromeo for several years. She has a wide-range of interests and a love of learning that she will foster in her students as well. Welcome, Mrs. Mazur!
- Mrs. Diana McAndrew joins the preschool staff as the aide for Mrs. Collins' Early Learners class. Mrs. Mrs. McAndrew knows SPB well as her daughter Ellie is a current seventh grader and both her sons are graduates of SPB.
- We have selected a candidate for the fourth grade position. We will share more about her once her contract is officially signed.
- We are still in the process of interviewing for the fifth and sixth science position, and our hope is to share that news with you next week.
UNIFORM UPDATES
What can students wear to school from August 26- September 11?
All students in K-8 will be permitted to wear their gym uniform to school. On days that they do not have gym class, students are permitted to wear school appropriate shorts and an SPB t-shirt. If you do not have an SPB t-shirt, we ask that you wear a school appropriate t-shirt. No sandals, Crocs, or flip flops are permitted.
Changes to the 7th and 8th grade boys uniform:
Those ties can really get dirty! Because of this and beginning on September 14, we are suspending the requirement of ties for our 7th and 8th grade boys. We have decided to extend the optional seasonal uniform for boys in 7th and 8th grade until further notice. Boys may wear navy blue, hunter green, or white polo shirts with or without the school logo instead of shirts and ties, or they can also wear a solid white or light blue dress shirt without a tie.EXTENDED DAY AND BEFORE CARE TO BEGIN MONDAY, AUGUST 31
At this time, we are not able to offer Extended Day or Before Care until Monday, August 31. These programs will not available for the first three days of school, August 26-28.
CHROMEBOOKS FOR GRADES 5-8
TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
We reached out to all of the public districts last week to confirm transportation. Here is an update:
- Mayfield: Transportation will be provided following the same schedules as last year.
- Willoughby-Eastlake: Transportation will be provided following the same schedules as last year.
- South Euclid-Lyndhurst: Transportation will be provided only to those students who live 2+ miles away from the school.
- Richmond Heights: We have not received any update as of 8/10/2020.
Please reach out to your district’s transportation department directly with questions or for clarification.
Project Challenge Suspended for 2020-2021
Cafeteria News from Mrs. Consolo
Mrs. Consolo
Would You Like to be A PTO Room Captain?
The PTO invites you to join the PTO Room Captain Program for your child’s classroom!
We are looking for 2 parents per classroom. This is a simple way to take part in school and PTO activities! If interested, please respond back by emailing Sarah Link at slink1110@gmail.com by Friday September 4th!
PTO Room Captain Responsibilities:
Attend PTO meetings (in person or virtually if held via Zoom), they are the 1st Wednesday of the month at 7pm in the Parish Life Center. ** Don’t worry if you can’t make them all, that’s why there are 2 parents assigned per classroom**
Distribute PTO meeting minutes to the rest of the parents in the class
Be the “point person” for the teacher to contact if s/he needs something for their class
Help organize volunteers that may be needed for room and/or PTO events ( your just the organizer… you don’t have to actually attend all of the events)
Help communicate information to the class, possibly by email or class Facebook page.
If interested, please email Sarah Link at slink1110@gmail.com by Friday September 4th with the following info:
Your name
Your phone number
Your email address
Your child’s name
Your child’s grade
Your child’s home room teacher
** Thank you very much for your interest in participating in the PTO Room Captains Program!!!***
PTO Uniform Sale
The PTO Uniform Exchange will take place August 3 - 21 in the Julie BIlliart Room near the office. The doors will be open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and during Masses on weekends.
Masks are required, and only one family will be permitted in the room at one time to ensure social distancing.
Items with envelopes are for purchase from individual families. Please leave money in labeled envelopes at main table. Please bring cash (preferred) for the various envelopes. Any checks should be made payable to the SPB PTO.
All other items are by donation and at your discretion. Donations go to SPB PTO.
Please bring in your outgrown, gently used, laundered uniform items. Clothing may be dropped off during regular exchange hours and will be sorted/placed out intermittently.
Questions? Contact Colleen Ockenden at CMOckenden@gmail.com
Spirit Wear Store is Open!
Job Opening
- Responsibilities include ordering and distribution of milk; lunch time trash and light clean up of Father O'Brien Hall
- Monday through Friday (school days) from 10:00 AM to 2 PM; $10 per hour
- Must be able to lift trash out of a garbage can
- Usual background checks and responsibilities with diocesan codes and regulations
- Contact: Jon Detzel 440-442-3410 x 333