Knight's News
July 31, 2020
St. Anthony Catholic School celebrates each individual as a unique child of God, provides a safe, Christ-centered environment that promotes cultural diversity, academic achievement, and challenges each of us to serve the school, parish, and community.
More than a school, we are a family.
Our 2020-2021 theme is Anchored in Faith
2020-2021 School Year
Hello families!
Can you believe we have made it to the end of July? I know there are still many concerns and questions surrounding the start of the new year. I will continue to share updates.
I have included a number of documents as attachments to this newsletter. Please complete these if you have not and return them to the school via email or dropping them by. These are new or updated for this year and need to be completed prior to the start of the school year.
Our school theme for the year is Anchored in Faith. We will be here as a Catholic school community in faith, hope, and love to support one another and educate the students whether they join us in the classrooms or via virtual learning. At times like we turn to the Lord for strength and guidance. He has a plan for us. ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ Jeremiah 29:11.
You will be hearing more from us as the teachers come back to school, but for now I am addressing the topics of the most commonly asked questions. Please don’t hesitate to send me your questions via email.
Have a blessed and happy day!
Peace,
Mrs. Becker
Calendar
Masks
You can help us by preparing your child for wearing a mask at school. There are many great resources online. The all start with the following tips.
- Teach your child how to wear the mask properly.
- Be a mask role model - wear your mask.
- Practice wearing the mask at home.
We are asking that the masks be solid colors, but they do not have to be school colors. They may be monogrammed. I have ordered adjustable, breakaway mask lanyards for all students to help keep track of masks. A spare mask in the backpack, just in case, would be advised.
Neck gaiters are not an acceptable substitute for masks at school. They are not multilayered and do not provide the necessary protection.
Temperature Screening at Arrival
Upon arrival to school, all students’ temperatures will be taken by a staff member using a no-touch infrared thermometer. If the reading is 100.4 or higher the student will not be permitted to attend school that day. During drop-off, students must remain in their cars and await temperature screening before exiting their vehicles. Random temperature may be done throughout the school day. No student with a fever will be allowed to remain at school.
Virtual Learning
We support our families in making the decision that is best for their children. The virtual learning option is available for those families who are uncomfortable returning to campus at this time for concerns related to COVID-19 or because they have a child that is medically compromised placing the child in a higher risk population for COVID-19.
This is not the distance learning that we moved to in March. This will require that each student have his or her own device with a webcam and an internet connection. Students will need to attend, be visible and participate in the class via Zoom during regular school hours (8:00 am - 3:00 pm). The tuition is the same whether a student attends classes in person or opts for synchronous virtual learning.
A Virtual Learning Agreement for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade is attached to this email for our families who feel that this is the best option. It includes an agreement form which must be returned to school via email or dropped off at the school. The deadline to request virtual learning will be Wednesday, August 12, 2020. If we do not hear from you by August 12, we will assume your child is physically coming to school daily. Only complete and return this form if you are choosing the Virtual Learning Option
Virtual Learning is not a option for VPK. If you are not planning to send your child to school please notify the office as soon as possible.
Classroom Access
Visitors, Volunteers, and Vendors
Visitors - To limit the possibility of exposure to the coronavirus, visitors to classrooms will be suspended until further notice both during the day and for drop-off and pick-up.
Volunteers – Classroom volunteers will not be allowed on campus until further notice.
Vendors – Vendors such as Title 1 tutors; therapists; and/or contractors will be allowed on campus.
All visitors and vendors must adhere to the individual school’s face covering and screening protocol.
Orientation and Back to School "Events"
Before Care, VPK Wrap-around Care, and Aftercare
Before Care will be available at 7:00 am at a cost of $5.00 per day.
Wrap-around begins following VPK dismissal and runs until 3:15 pm.
Aftercare will begin at 3:20 and runs until 6:00 pm.
Lunch
We are not starting the year with school lunches. Please remember to pack snacks and lunches. Ice packs will ensure that food stays at a safe temperature. Please make sure lunch boxes are labeled with student names. We are asking that you send your child to school with his or her lunch and not plan on delivering lunches to the school office throughout the school day. As we begin the school year, students will eat lunch in their homeroom classroom to limit risk.
General Information
Parking lot and Car lines
- Please be patient, cautious, and careful during drop-off and dismissal. We have a large student population and that makes for longer lines.
- All students will be temperature checked at drop-off and thus the line will be slow.
- Please do not plan to park and walk up, unless you have business in the office. If you need to come to the school office, please cross to the Faith Development Center and use the sidewalk to get to the school.
- Please do not skip to the front of the car line to drop off your child(ren).
- The parking lot speed is 10 miles per hour. Please remember "safety first"!
Absences
Please call or email the school office by 9 am on the day your child is out and follow up with a note on the day your child returns. If the absence requires a doctor's appointment, please be sure to provide documentation. All absences require a note (handwritten or emailed) from the parent upon the student's return to school. If your child has had a fever they must be fever free for 48 hours without fever reducing medicine, present a doctor's note and/or a negative COVID-19 test.
Guidelines for contacting the school for absences apply to both on campus learning and virtual learning.
Uniforms
All students must be in full uniform at this time including students participating in Virtual Learning. Risse Brothers should have all out of stock inventory restocked. Please refer to the Parent Handbook or registration paperwork for the uniform guidelines.
Table dividers and desk shields
We have ordered plexiglass dividers for the Kindergarten, First and Second grade classrooms. These will be installed prior to students arriving on the campus. I will send pictures when they are installed. We have purchased desk shields to be used in preschool and third through eighth grade, for tutoring and aftercare. I will send pictures of these when they arrive as well.
VPK Registration
Just a friendly reminder that in order to complete registration with St. Anthony Catholic School for the 2020-21 school year your child must have the following items:
* A copy of Child’s Birth Certificate
* CURRENT state of Florida Immunization and Physical form
Your child will not be able to attend class if any of these steps have been missed. Please contact the school office and make arrangements to drop off any missing documents or you can certainly email.
Summer Office Hours are Monday - Thursday 9am to 2pm.
Mass Day is Wednesday!
'Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”' Matthew 19:14
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parents are not allowed in classrooms during the school day. It is preferred that parent-teacher conferences are conducted virtually, by phone, or by email. In person conferences must be limited and by appointment only in order to minimize exposure.
Immunizations
Students entering kindergarten and 7th grade may need to update their immunizations prior to returning to school in August. You can contact your child's doctor or the school office to see if your child needs additional immunizations.
FACTS Family Portal link
From St. Anthony Catholic Church
2020 Candidate Questionnaire Project: Let your conscience be your guide
Catholic faithful are called to political engagement shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable. To help parishioners become informed on where candidates stand on key issues, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops has polled candidates running for the U.S. Congress and the Florida Legislature.
To see how candidates appearing on the August 18 Primary Election / November 3 General Election ballot responded to the questionnaire, visit www.flaccb.org/cqp.
¿No hablas ingles? ¡No hay problema!
¿No hablas ingles? ¡No hay problema!
Parent Portal link
Get to know St. Anthony Catholic School
Principal: Mrs. Patricia Becker
Superintendent: Mr. Henry Fortier
Email: pbecker@saintacs.com
Website: www.saintacs.com
Location: 924 Marcum Road, Lakeland, FL, USA
Phone: (863)858-0671
Facebook: www.facebook.com/StAnthonyCatholicSchool