St. Jerome School Weekly Newsletter
Wednesday, October 14th, 2020
“Catholic education is above all a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in the lives of others…”
Pope St. John Paul II
From Mr. Merrick
I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful day. As we approach the Race for Education in a few weeks, please see the video update from Isabella and Emma, below, as well as the donation information. Tomorrow, we will be sending out an email through OptionC that you can forward to friends and family with information about how to support St. Jerome School through the Race for Education.
The faculty and staff of St. Jerome are thankful the snacks in the faculty room and surprise lunch today! Your support and generosity are greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to our eighth graders who will be Jerome the Lion this year: Michael Cancelliere, Saralee Emile, Sienna Thrasher, Elijah Twegby, and Adrien Varella. Thank you to Mrs. Carolan and Mrs. Cerruti for coordinating the mascot tryouts this year.
School pictures will be taken on Thursday, November 12th. We will be using the library, and our photographers will be following our health and safety guidelines. All of our virtual students are invited to come during lunch and recess (11:35-12:35) to have your picture taken. Picture packets and more information will be sent home over the next few weeks.
Thank you for your diligence in following our health and safety plan. For in-person students, if your child will be absent for more than two days, please contact the school office or your child's teacher to pick up books and arrange to go virtual. The exception to this policy is for quarantine: if your child has to be quarantined for any reason (COVID test, potential COVID exposure, family member exposed to COVID, or traveling to/from a COVID hotspot, etc), please contact us in the office, and we will arrange for virtual. This allows our students to miss the least amount of class time while helping our teachers give their full attention to both our in-person and virtual students.
Have a great rest of the week; St. Jerome, pray for us!
Race for Education
Tuesday, October 27th
(Rain Date Thursday, October 29th)
“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
About the Race
We are excited to announce that our 16th annual Race for Education will take place on October 27th! This Race serves not only as an important fundraiser, but also as an opportunity for our school community to celebrate our return home to St. Jerome School. The last six months have been challenging times, and we are so appreciative that we are finally back together as a school family. Our walking together will be a display of unity and thanksgiving.
Our Goal
With your support and generosity, we hope to raise $20,000! All monies raised directly benefit the children of St. Jerome. We are proud of the improvements that have been made to our programs and facilities the last few months. These improvements include freshly painted hallways and classrooms, new lighting in the Blessed Mother Building, the purchase of water bottle filling stations and 65 Chromebooks. With your generosity, we can continue our commitment to excellence here at St. Jerome School. If we reach our school goal of $20,000, Father Reilly has pledged to treat the children to a “Water Ice” celebration in the school yard on the afternoon of the Race. Our multi-talented pastor will even serve as a “Super Scooper” during the celebration!
Race Day
The Race is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27th at 10:00 AM. (Rain date is Thursday, 10/29.)
Our students and faculty will walk a designated route through the Winchester Park neighborhood. Neighbors are encouraged to decorate windows and front yards with messages of encouragement for our walkers. COVID restrictions will be in place. We most certainly can have fun while being socially distant! The students will be permitted to wear the school gym uniform that day. In addition, our virtual students who attend St. Jerome Lion’s Academy will have the opportunity to stay connected with their classmates on Race Day. Our virtual lions remain an important part of all school events. More information including the route map will be sent to the parents at a date closer to the event.
Donations
Here’s how you can help:
Share the donation link: St. Jerome School Race for Education
Each family is asked to direct message or email and share the donation link with at least 10 family members and friends. Also, please post the donation link to your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter accounts. You can share the link directly from our school Facebook page “Saint Jerome School.” For those who prefer a paper flyer to distribute to family members, a PDF of the pledge request can be obtained below.
Race information is also available on our school website at https://sjsphila.org/race-for-education.
Payment Information
Credit Cards and Paypal: St. Jerome School Race for Education
Cash or checks: Cash or checks made payable to St. Jerome School can be sent into school with a student, dropped off at the main office, or handed in at the rectory scrip counter.
St. Jerome Scrip Program
Trunk or Treat
Home and School Winter Wonderland Fundraiser
Support St. Jerome on Amazon Smile:
Virtue of the Month for October: Reverence
EITC Webinars
Student Health Reminders
Our reopening plan calls on every member of the school community to support our values of mutual respect, integrity, willingness to sacrifice for the common good and foster community bonds across generations. Commitment to the policies will assist in protecting the health and welfare of all members of our school community.
In an effort to keep all children safe, we ask that Parents monitor their children’s Health daily. Below are the expectations related to the health monitoring.
I attest to :
Fever of 100.4 or above,
chills,
Cough,
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,
Fatigue,
Muscle or body aches,
Headache,
New loss of taste or smell,
Sore throat,
Congestion or runny nose,
Nausea or vomiting,
Diarrhea,
My child has not had any contact with anyone with COVID
My child has not traveled a location designated as a “Hot Spot
I am following all CDC recommended guidelines and limiting my/my child’s exposure to risks such as above
If any of these symptoms present, please keep your child from school and contact the school. If the symptoms are serious please seek immediate medical attention. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility.
We will keep you informed if the list of symptoms, listed above, changes in any way.