SaberSpeak
Week of November 16, 2020
How to Submit News to SaberSpeak
Information to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter must be emailed to dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by 3:00 p.m. on Friday for the following week. Information must be relevant to the St. Hilary School or St. Hilary Parish community, and cannot promote a personal interest or a school other than our own. The school reserves the right to determine what content will be included.
Need To Know Now
Click here for help with Gradelink
Click here for the School Faculty & Staff Directory
Click here for the 2020-2021 School Calendar, revised August 1
Click here for the 2020-2021 Dress Code
Click here for the 2020-2021 School Handbook and Amendments, including important health and safety information, school policies and procedures, updates due to COVID-19, and more
COVID-19 Updates
ST. HILARY SCHOOL MOVING TO REMOTE LEARNING 11/30-12/4 & 1/4-1/8
To be proactive about curbing the spread of illness following our Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, we will move to remove learning for all students the weeks of November 30-December 4 and January 4-8. School will resume in person following these remote learning weeks. Please click here for complete details in our communication sent October 29.
TRAVEL ADVISORY STATES
As we clarified in our August 28 SaberSpeak Special Edition, we are requiring students to self-quarantine for 14 days after visiting states that have a 15% or more COVID-19 positivity rate. Again, this is an extra precaution and we know this could impact travel plans. If your children are learning in-person, we are asking you to respect this decision and plan accordingly. Students who are required to quarantine after traveling to a state or country with a 15% or higher COVID-19 positivity rate will be required to distance learn for the 14 days. Click here for the current list and map of Travel Advisory states.
ST. HILARY SCHOOL PARTICIPATING IN SCPH REPORTING PROGRAM
As the autumn season gets underway, preparations for the upcoming influenza season have begun. The 2020-2021 flu season is unique, since widespread community transmission of COVID-19 continues in Summit County and Ohio. Summit County Public Health (SCPH) has begun another season of community influenza surveillance. St. Hilary School will be participating in this program. Surveillance will run from early October until early May or longer if influenza is still a concern. With the ongoing concerns about COVID-19, influenza and their impacts on public health, surveillance remains vital. Data shared provides important information about COVID-19 and influenza trends and peaks of activity in Summit County to our school and to the community. As a school reporting partner, St. Hilary School will submit student absence numbers (for any reason) on a weekly basis. This data will also be aggregated with other school attendance data. No data specific to a particular student or to our school will be shared publicly, nor will our school be identified as a reporting partner. We hope that our participation in this program will help to strengthen our partnership with SCPH during this time of heightened public health concerns.
COVID-19 DASHBOARD
We have added a COVID-19 Dashboard to our school website to report up-to-the-minute positive case data for students and staff members. Click here for our COVID-19 Dashboard.
Click here for all of our COVID-19 information
The Main Event
This week's main event is the 60th day of our 60th year!
60th ANNIVERSARY DAY OF CELEBRATION AND SERVICE NOVEMBER 20
November 20 is the 60th day of our 60th anniversary year, and we are going to hang loose and get groovy! Students may dress down in school-appropriate 60s-themed clothing and accessories. In addition to some other far out activities we are planning for this day, we are also issuing a challenge to each classroom to bring in 60 items to support our food drive! Requested items for each student to bring are listed below. Each classroom bringing in a total of 60 or more items for this effort will earn an additional dress down day on a date to be determined! Can you dig it?!
Requested Food Drive Items:
Kindergarten - Peanut Butter
Grade 1 - Large Box of Graham Crackers
Grade 2 - Dish Soap (caps tightly closed)
Grade 3 - Large Box of Hot or Cold Cereal
Grade 4 - Large Box of Instant Mashed Potatoes
Grade 5 - Jelly, Jam or Honey
Grade 6 - Canned Fruit
Grade 7 - Canned Vegetables
Grade 8 - Canned Tuna or Chicken
Hot Off The Press
ST. HILARY SCHOOL NEEDS YOUR VOTE! HELP US WIN $500!
YOU can help us stay #SABERSTRONG!
Please consider voting for St. Hilary School's #WeGiveCatholic video!
You can vote November 15th -21st
One vote per individual email per day!
#WeGiveCatholic is conducting a video contest - open to all Catholic parishes, Catholic schools, Catholic Charities programs/sites, and Catholic nonprofits that are registered to participate in #weGiveCatholic 2020.
Once you click on the link to vote, be sure to scroll down and find St. Hilary School's video under "Catholic Schools." There is a "VIEW ALL" button to select if you do not see St. Hilary School.
One $500 prize will be awarded to the top video in each of the following categories:
- Catholic Nonprofits or Catholic Charities Sites/Programs
- Catholic Parishes
- Catholic Schools
Winners for each category will be announced November 24th.
GO SABERS!
Please click here for the November issue of The Counseling Connection newsletter from our school counseling office.
DON DRUMM ORNAMENT SALE TO BENEFIT BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK
Blessings in a Backpack is selling Don Drumm Christmas ornaments to help provide food for area students who may otherwise go hungry on weekends. Please see the flyer below for details.
Plan Ahead
GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click here for the school Google calendar
~ November 20: 60s Day
~ November 24: Thanksgiving Prayer Service - Live streamed at 2 PM - click Prayer Service link at http://sthilarychurch.org/live/.
~ November 25-27: No School - Thanksgiving Break
~ November 30 - December 4: Remote Learning Week for all students
~ December 1: #WeGiveCatholic
~ December 1: January Hot Lunch Ordering Begins
~ December 7: In-person School Resumes
Help Wanted
Opportunities to help will be listed here as they arise.
FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE FORMING - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Parents' Association is assembling a Fundraising Committee to help generate funds for our school. Duties of committee members will include such things as helping to organize a coupon book fundraiser and possibly other small fundraisers, organizing items for auction, and assisting with a spring fundraiser. Volunteers are sought to work together, share ideas and divide tasks to keep things simple and manageable for all. If you are interested, please contact Parents' Association President Lisa Crane at lisamariesmu@aol.com.
Growing Together in Faith
NEXT SCHOOL MASS THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20
UPCOMING MASSES DECEMBER 4, 8, 18, NO MASS DECEMBER 11
Our next school Mass will be THIS FRIDAY, November 20 at 9:30 a.m. The school Mass will be planned by grade 2, and will be live streamed and available to view at http://sthilarychurch.org/live/.
**PLEASE NOTE: Our live page is being updated. Beginning December 4, all school Masses will be available for viewing on the Watch Live Mass page. You will simply see a window on the page - not a link. Other events will still be viewed live by clicking a link as you have in the past.
This year’s liturgy schedule can be found in the Forms and Documents section under the Red Folder on the school website. Masses are also posted on the school Google calendar, with the grade level planning the Mass listed. Upcoming Masses are December 4 planned by grade 5, December 8 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception) planned by grade 4, and December 18 planned by grade 3. There is no school Mass on December 11.
We will continue to celebrate Mass together each week and on holy days. Each grade level (1-8) will plan several Masses as usual, but only the grade level planning the Mass will attend in person. Parents and grandparents of participants may attend but must sit in the back of the Church away from students. Masses will be live streamed and available for all to watch, and students not attending Mass in person will watch live streamed Mass from their classrooms. Eucharistic ministers will come to the classrooms to distribute Holy Communion. We will handle other religious services and events in a similar way.
SCHOOL YEAR THEME PRAYER AND SONG
Please click the images below for our prayer and song for this school year, exemplifying our school theme, "Answer God's Call...Change The World"! These will be handy as you join us virtually for school Masses.
Student Life
MUNCHKIN BASKETBALL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Parents of K, 1st & 2nd Grade Students,
Registration is open for Munchkin Basketball at http://sthilarychurch.org/athletics/registration/. Please sign up ASAP and remember to list your child’s shirt size.
I will run the 2nd grade session and this year we are fortunate that Luke Taylor has volunteered to run the K & 1st grade sessions.
For new parents the Munchkin Basketball program was instituted years ago to help introduce the game to our parish's younger students and provide them an opportunity for development prior to 3rd Grade CYO BBall. The Munchkin program has been a success thus far and we need your family’s participation to keep it going.
A brief overview of the program is that there are usually 5-6 sessions that take place on Friday evenings starting in early January running through early February. Kindergartner's are in the 1st session, 1st grade in 2nd Session & 3rd Grade in 3rd Session. We usually start at 5:30 and each session lasts 1 hours. The sessions will consist of some skill development; dribbling, passing & shooting. For the 2nd graders will focus a bit more on game play & ball movement, trying to prepare them for CYO Ball in 3rd grade. We always mix in races and shooting games so the kids have fun and go home tired! We end the season with a pizza party for all the kids & parents.
Sessions will take place in the evenings on 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5 & Season End Event on 2/12. The season end event is TBD based on best safety practices at that time. We are waiting to see how many people sign up before deciding on combining any sessions and then will release grade specific sessions start times.
Due to COVID and some scheduling conflict we are starting Munchkin BBall later this season; after the first of January. While pretty late in the year, this will allow us to have 5 or 6 straight sessions w/out interruption. We will provide more details closer to sessions relative to COVID precautions, but please know up front that your children will have a fun time and come home tired. They will need their own basketball this year, so please plan ahead on this point.
There are already a good number of kids registered, but we need more to ensure a good turnout and a fun time for the kids.
This program only succeeds with the help of parents coaching and running the drills. Unlike CYO programs for the older kids, the coaching isn't very formal with any training or documentation required, just let me know that you would like to help during your child's session and we will welcome your assistance.
Please contact me with any questions and I look forward to your child's participation.
Tim Beringer
330-697-8357
VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING
Afterschool Enrichment Solutions, our Chess Club and Engineering Club provider, is offering some virtual programs for students, covering six subjects throughout the week. Students may benefit from the social, engaging and fun lessons. Please click the links below for more information.
Click for more information and to register for Virtual All Access Pass!
Reminders
PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY MEALS WITH OUR BOAR'S HEAD HAM FUNDRAISER!
The Parents' Association is sponsoring a Boar’s Head Ham Fundraiser, with all proceeds to benefit St. Hilary School. A savory ham is the perfect centerpiece to any holiday family meal. Hams will be available in large (feeds 8-10 people) and small (feeds 4-6 people) sizes. Prices are $35 and $25, respectively. Ordering will begin Monday, November 23 and end Friday, December 4. Pick up dates will be Wednesday, December 16 (Last Names A-M) and Thursday, December 17 (Last Names N-Z) from 2:30-6:00 PM (both days) in the Spiritual Gathering area. Look for more information coming soon!
DONATE UNWANTED HALLOWEEN CANDY
Donations of excess candy from Trick-or-Treat can be dropped off at the Spiritual Center. Look for the orange box near the elevator just outside the parish office. Donations can be dropped off throughout the month of November and will be given to area senior citizens in need.
HOT LUNCH CREDIT FOR NOVEMBER 30
Due to the Remote Learning Week beginning November 30, credits will be issued for anyone who ordered hot lunch on November 30. Credits will automatically be applied to your next order.
JANUARY HOT LUNCH ORDERING BEGINS DECEMBER 1
Hot Lunch ordering for January will begin December 1 and will be open through December 10. All orders must be placed and paid for online by the deadline. You must have an account to order. Click here for instructions on creating an account. Please note that activation of your account is not immediate, so don't wait until the last minute to create your account! Click here for more information about our Hot Lunch program. Please contact Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org with questions.
WE GIVE CATHOLIC COMING DECEMBER 1
Join the #WeGiveCatholic movement on Giving Tuesday and support St. Hilary School!
Tuesday, December 1, 2020
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Click here to learn why your support is so important this year!
The St. Hilary Community exceeded our expectations during the 2019 #WeGiveCatholic campaign. Because of the incredible support you provided last year, we were able to fully upgrade the technology in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade classrooms as well as purchase new teacher laptops. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!
This year's campaign is extremely important. We ask, if you are able, that you again support St. Hilary School, on December 1, and help us stay #SABERSTRONG this 2020-2021 school year. Your support, large and small, will truly make all the difference.
Please make your gift on December 1 by clicking the #WeGiveCatholic link on our School’s homepage at www.st-hilaryschool.org.
More information will be provided throughout the month of November via email and on our St. Hilary School's Facebook Page.
KINDERGARTEN KALEIDOSCOPE - VIRTUAL STYLE!
CONTACT US BY DECEMBER 31
Our Kindergarten Kaleidoscope event for prospective 2021-2022 kindergarteners and their families will be held virtually this year:
EXPLORE OUR KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME!
INCLUDES INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
Please call 330-867-8720, ext. 343 or email dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by December 31 to learn more. Children should be 5 by September 30, 2021.
ORDER 2021-2022 YEARBOOKS NOW!
Don't miss your chance to capture this unique school year with our beautiful, full-color 2020-2021 yearbook! Online ordering is now open. Visit www.ybpay.lifetouch.com and enter Yearbook ID Code 3685721 to order. Soft cover books cost $25; hard cover books cost $30. The deadline to order is May 21, 2021. Yearbooks may be ordered online only - please do not send checks to the school. Please keep a record of your order, as the school has no access to orders placed and no record of who has ordered and who has not. Books will be delivered to students next fall.
GRADE 7 SAVE THE DATES
Please click the attachment below for important Save the Date information for grade 7 Confirmation preparation.
HELP US WITH HEALTH AND SAFETY
We have successfully completed 8 weeks of school during the COVID-19 pandemic! How smoothly things have gone has been a testament to the joint effort between school and home, and with that in mind, we continue to need your help with ensuring the health and safety of our school community.
First, please be sure your child has a clean mask each day when coming to school. We do have some spare masks for students to use, but we hope to keep these instances to a minimum. It is a good idea to keep an extra mask in the backpack at all times.
Second, please be sure your child has a fresh water bottle each day when coming to school. Because our drinking fountains are closed due to COVID-19, the only way for students to have water during the day is to bring it from home or bring a bottle to fill from our bottle fillers. As with masks, we do have some spare water bottles for students to use, but we need your help with remembering to send water from home.
Third, students are asked to sanitize their hands whenever they enter or leave a space in our building. This includes entering the building each morning. Please help us by reminding your child of this quick additional precaution on arrival each day so that it becomes routine. Most students are doing a great job with this, and we are grateful for that!
Finally, Halloween and neighborhood trick-or-treat events are just around the corner. As you plan for these rituals with your family, please keep in mind the practices we have all been following for months now with social distancing, masks, and hand sanitizing. As the weather turns colder and we spend more time together indoors, please remember that the decisions you make about gathering with others impact our entire school community each day. It takes all of us following the COVID-19 protocols to keep our students and staff safe, healthy, and learning together in the building each day.
Thank you for your cooperation!
SHS CAR WINDOW STICKERS FOR SALE
Help us celebrate St. Hilary School during this 60th anniversary year and beyond by displaying one of our new SHS window stickers on your car window! The 4" x 5" stickers feature a white background with red SHS lettering and 3 crossed sabers. (See photo below.) To purchase a sticker, please send $5 (cash or check payable to St. Hilary School) to the office in an envelope marked "Window Sticker" with your child's name and room number. Your sticker will be sent home to you in the same envelope.
VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS
The Ohio Department of Health requires that vision and hearing screenings be completed for all students currently in kindergarten and first grade and for every odd year thereafter, as well as for any students who are new to the school in other grades. Screening takes place September through December. Parents wishing to opt out of screening may do so by emailing Mrs. Hammersmith at chammersmith@st-hilary.org or Mrs. Laughlin at alaughlin@st-hilary.org to request an opt-out form to complete. Opting out must be done in writing using this form. If a student does not pass the screening, a referral letter will be sent home for follow-up. Parents may also request screening for their children if there is a concern. To request screening, please email Mrs. Hammersmith at chammersmith@st-hilary.org or Mrs. Laughlin at alaughlin@st-hilary.org.
OUTERWEAR REMINDER
As the weather gets colder, please remember that only approved school uniform sweaters, sweatshirts and quarter-zip pullovers may be worn in classrooms during the school day.
MASKS AVAILABLE THROUGH ONLINE STORE
Is your child in need of additional masks for this school year? Don't forget that you can order our very own SABERS spirit masks through our online school uniform store!
FUNDRAISERS
The Acme Community Cash Back program and Box Tops for Education benefit our school every time you shop or purchase qualifying products. Please see below and click here for more information.
ACME RECEIPTS
We are collecting Acme receipts again this year! Please save your Acme receipts from August 6 through December 26, 2020. Send them to school at anytime to Attn: Jamie Malick; c/o Caleb Malick Room 113. Or if you prefer, take a picture of your receipts (be sure to include the bottom portion of the receipt that includes the cash back amount) and email to jamiemalick@hotmail.com.
Archives
Click here for 2020-2021 Back-to-School Forms, with special attention to the Student COVID-19 Policy Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk Form
Click here for important information for families considering distance learning, and here for the agreement that must be signed and returned in order to participate in distance learning
Click here for information about our drop-off and pick-up procedures (note exception for Kindergarteners as shown on opening schedule)
About Us
The Admission Policy of St. Hilary School is in accordance with the student acceptance regulations of the Diocese of Cleveland. St. Hilary School admits qualified students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Email: dsinopoli@st-hilary.org
Website: www.st-hilaryschool.org
Location: 645 Moorfield Road, Fairlawn, OH, USA
Phone: 330-867-8720
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StHilarySchoolFairlawnOhio/