SaberSpeak
Week of October 5, 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.
We are halfway through the first quarter, and things are going amazingly well! We hope you will agree that this school year, however unusual, is off to a great start! We move into October observing the Month of the Holy Rosary and honoring the Blessed Mother Mary. We invite you to join us virtually on Tuesday, October 6 when we say the Rosary together at 2:00 pm. Please see details below. In addition to growing in our faith by honoring Mary during this month, we continue to follow our school theme, Answer God's Call...Change the World! We are proud of our students for living out our school theme daily, putting into practice the teachings of their faith.
Along with developing the spiritual sides of our students, we also strive daily to raise the bar in academic progress. Students in grades 2-8 are completing the first round of Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing, which monitors academic progress throughout the school year. These brief online assessments will be administered to students a total of three times during the school year and will provide valuable insight into students’ depth of knowledge across multiple subject areas. Feedback from this round of testing will be shared soon, and testing will take place again in January and April. This will enable us to ensure that each student is learning and progressing as he or she should be. We continually work to improve the learning experience your children receive each day.
First quarter interim progress reports were issued on September 25. Please continue to monitor your child’s progress on Gradelink and help him or her set goals to make this a productive year. Establishing good study habits and organizational skills now will help your student achieve throughout the school year. If your child is experiencing difficulty, now is the time to address issues with his or her teachers. First quarter progress reports will be available on November 3, and formal conferences will be scheduled via Zoom the week of November 9. Please watch for conference scheduling information to be emailed shortly. Conferences may also be requested any time a need arises.
Besides staying current with your child’s academic progress, we encourage you to also be aware of what he or she is doing online and on his or her cell phone. Many students today use popular social media sites to post information and photos about themselves and others. TikTok is an especially popular but problematic site. Information shared on social media becomes public domain the minute it is posted. Similarly, students today are fond of texting and often do not realize the implications of messages sent electronically. Please monitor what your child is doing to ensure that he or she is safe, and that his or her actions are not endangering himself or herself or bullying others. We have filters in place at school and on the 1:1 iPads and Chromebooks for 6th, 7th and 8th graders, but your help is still needed at home to ensure your child’s use of social media is appropriate. Please be mindful of your child's online activity and help us keep all of our students safe in every possible way.
The approach of the second quarter on November 2 brings a few changes. Shorts are not permitted during the second and third quarters, but turtlenecks may be worn during both quarters. As a reminder, with the weather turning cooler, sweaters may be plain knit, buttoned cardigans, crew necks or V-necks that are a solid color navy, grey, white, or true red. Sweaters should not be oversized or cropped. They should not have ornamentation, logos, hoods or turtlenecks. Also, the uniform sweatshirts that may be worn are grey or navy can be purchased here. Red or navy quarter zip sweatshirts are permitted for 6th, 7th and 8th graders, and may be purchased here, as well. No other sweatshirts are permitted. Finally, coats, jackets and other outerwear may not be worn during the school day. For more specific dress code information, please see the Family Handbook.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during arrival and dismissal. By now, all the students, even our kindergarteners, are into a daily routine. We are committed to providing the safest possible environment for your children in every way. Please remember to drive slowly in our parking lot and around the school, avoid parking on sidewalks, and obey the signs and supervisors on duty. Please be especially careful near our crosswalk areas - please do not pull forward unless you are looking forward. We also appreciate your cooperation with our daily temperature checks during morning drop-off. As the weather becomes increasingly colder in the mornings, and as cold and flu season approach, it will be especially important for you to be vigilant about assessing symptoms and checking temperatures at home. We will continue to adapt and do our best to check temperatures efficiently and accurately, but our thermometers may not work as well as they do now once temperatures begin to drop significantly. Your attentiveness to your child's health at home is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support of our policies and procedures that ensure the safety and health of all of our students and staff members each day!
Autumn Blessings!
Mrs. Woodman
Principal
Need To Know Now
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
COVID-19 POP-UP TESTING OCTOBER 9-10
WHO: Ohio Department of Health in coordination with Summit County Public Health
WHAT: COVID-19 Pop-Up Testing
WHEN: Friday, October 9 - 3:00 – 7:00 pm AND Saturday, October 10 - 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
WHERE: Summit County Public Health 1867 W. Market St. Akron, Ohio 44313
Please see the flyer below for additional details.
For more information about the coronavirus situation in Summit County visit https://www.scph.org/covid-19. If you have questions, call the COVID-19 Call Line at (330) 926-5795. The call line is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. M-F.
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.
COVID-19 REPORTING UPDATE
Please see below for our September 15 update on COVID-19 reporting.
SAFER AT HOME GUIDE
Cleveland Clinic and Clorox have partnered to create a COVID-19 Safer at Home guide to keeping your family safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Please click the attachment below to view the guide.
SUMMIT COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH CLARIFIES CONTACT TRACING
Summit County Public Health has issued a letter to parents that explains how contact tracing is handled in a school setting. Please click the attachment below to read the letter. Please keep in mind that our school policy remains "72 hours symptom-free" (not 24 hours) before a student may return to school.
Click here for all of our COVID-19 information
Hot Off The Press
2019-2020 SCHOOL YEARBOOKS & COMPOSITES
2019-2020 yearbooks and composites for students who ordered them last year have arrived! They will be sent home with students beginning today. Yearbooks for last year’s eighth graders will be available for pick-up at the school office by appointment by calling 330-867-8720. If the graduate has a sibling in the school, the yearbook will be sent home with the sibling. If you have a record of ordering a yearbook (online payment receipt) and do not receive one, or if you believe the order you receive is incorrect, please do not contact the school, but contact Lifetouch directly via www.lifetouch.com. If you did not order a yearbook but wish you had, a limited number of hard cover ($30) and soft cover ($25) books will be available for purchase through October 23 or until sold out. Cash or checks payable to St. Hilary Parents’ Association will be accepted. We cannot accept credit cards. We cannot hold books without payment. To purchase a yearbook please send a check in an envelope with your child’s name and room number marked on it so the book(s) can be sent via backpack. Due to COVID-19, please do not come to the school to purchase a yearbook.
ST. HILARY SCHOOL UNIFORM PULLOVERS AND 1/4 ZIPS
October 10 is the deadline to place your order for these items. Crewneck pullovers are available in navy or gray, while 1/4 zips are available in navy or red. All styles are embroidered and all styles are approved to wear during the school day. Go to wearnumberone.weebly.com to place your order. Do not delay as the October 10 deadline is fast approaching. Contact Marie-France Londa at wearnumberone@gmail.com with any questions.
NO SCHOOL OCTOBER 9
There is no school for students on October 9 due to a teacher inservice that day.
NOVEMBER HOT LUNCH ORDERING ENDS OCTOBER 10
Hot Lunch ordering for November is underway and ends October 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.
COPLEY BUS ALTERED SCHEDULE OCTOBER 12
On October 12, Copley-Fairlawn Schools will be closed but Copley bus transportation will be provided for St. Hilary School students as follows: For morning bus riders, there will only be one bus with a direct route to St. Hilary School. All buses will run for the afternoon pickups.
The Main Event
This week's main events are our School Rosary on October 6 (see below for details) and no school for students on October 9 due to a teacher inservice day.
Plan Ahead
GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click here for the school Google calendar
~ October 9: No School - Teacher Inservice Day
~ October 10: November Hot Lunch ordering ends
~ October 15: School Picture Re-take Day
~ October 27: Pumpkin Contest Drop-off from 6:00 to 7:30 pm (Please see Halloween link in Reminders section below for complete information)
~ October 29: Students wear Halloween costumes to school (Simple costumes, please - Please see Halloween link in Reminders section below for complete information)
~ October 29: Halloween Parade at 1:45 pm (Students and staff only - Parents may join us virtually - Please see Halloween link in Reminders section below for complete information)
~ October 30: First Quarter ends
Help Wanted
URGENT! HOT LUNCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Our Hot Lunch program is in need of a few extra helping hands on various days throughout the month. Volunteering to help with Hot Lunch is a great way to meet other parents and get involved in our school! The time commitment is once per month, from approximately 10:30 - 11:00 am until approximately 1:15 pm. If you are interested in volunteering, please email Hot Lunch Coordinator Becky Vieltorf at bvieltorf@st-hilary.org for more details!
URGENT! PLAYGROUND MONITORS NEEDED
Looking for a fun way to be involved at school, see your child during the school day, get some fresh air, and make some extra money? Consider being a playground monitor! Help is needed for the 2020-2021 school year in order to ensure that our students are properly supervised during recess. Monitors work just a couple of hours each day, so this is the perfect part-time job for those with limited time! If you are interested in learning more, please contact Playground Supervisor Laura Pszonowsky at laurakay54@gmail.com or 330-289-9678.
CLASSROOM VOLUNTEER SIGN-UPS
There will be limited in-person volunteer opportunities this year, but sign-ups will be available via the classroom Sign-Up Genius. Watch for more information from teachers / room moms.
Growing Together in Faith
NEXT SCHOOL MASS NEXT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
UPCOMING MASSES OCTOBER 23, 30
Our next school Mass will be NEXT FRIDAY, October 16 at 9:30 a.m. The school Mass will be planned by grade 1, and will be live streamed and available to view at http://sthilarychurch.org/live/. 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 October 23 planned by grade 8 and October 30 planned by grade 3.
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 ROSARY OCTOBER 6
Please join us virtually for our school Rosary on October 6 at 2:00 pm. This service will be live streamed and available to view at http://sthilarychurch.org/live/.
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
AKRON AREA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL NIGHTS
YOU'RE INVITED! Zoom High School Nights Featuring Archbishop Hoban, Our Lady of The Elms, St. Vincent St. Mary and Walsh Jesuit High Schools
Cleveland Diocesan seventh and eighth grade families are invited to learn more about four of Summit County's most prestigious Catholic High Schools through a one-hour webinar from 6 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 14, Oct. 28, or Nov. 11. Learn more about the benefits of a Catholic high school education, including faith formation, academic rigor, support services, and student engagement. You will have opportunities to participate in breakout sessions with each school to learn more about taking the next steps to visit and apply for admission and financial assistance. To register for this event, please go to: Hoban.org/virtual-visits If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at 330.849.2149 and admissions@hoban.org.
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!
Click here to see a digital flyer!
HSPT PREP CLASS OPPORTUNITIES FOR 8TH GRADERS
To help our 8th grade students prepare for the HSPT class as part of the high school admissions process, we are sharing information about HSPT prep class opportunities. Please click the link below for a flyer with complete information. Please do not contact the school with questions about the classes, but use the contact information provided on the flyer.
Reminders
MAP TESTING FOR GRADES 2-8 THROUGH OCTOBER 8
MAP testing covering reading and math for students in grades 2-8 will conclude by October 8. Students in kindergarten and grade 1 will not be tested at this time. Students who are distance learners will have the OPTION to come to school and take the test in person. Distance learners will be tested in the Science Lab using a laptop computer, not with their entire class. Specific dates and times for distance learners to report for testing are being established now and will be provided by teachers. Thank you for your patience in not asking teachers for this information ahead of time. Distance learners who choose not to come will not be tested at this time. For all students being tested, we ask that you keep these dates in mind as you schedule appointments to minimize interruptions to the testing schedule.
SECOND QUARTER DISTANCE LEARNING PLANS NEEDED BY OCTOBER 12
With the first quarter halfway over, we are looking ahead to planning for second quarter and need to know which students will continue to learn in person and which will continue to participate in distance learning. Please email Mrs. Woodman AND Mrs. Alexander at jwoodman@st-hilary.org AND dalexander@st-hilary.org by Monday, October 12 if:
~ Your child is currently participating in distance learning and you would like him/her to continue distance learning during the second quarter, OR
~ Your child is currently participating in distance learning but you would like him/her to attend in person during the second quarter, OR
~ Your child has been attending in person but you would like him/her to participate in distance learning during the second quarter.
You do NOT need to email if your child is learning in person and will continue to do so.
As a reminder, the second quarter will begin on November 2 and end on January 15.
SCHOOL PICTURE RETAKE DAY OCTOBER 15
School Picture Retake Day will be held October 15 for students who were absent on our picture day on September 2 or who need to have their picture retaken. Students having photos taken may dress up (out of uniform). No jeans, T-shirts or tennis shoes are permitted. As with our original picture day, all orders must be submitted online at www.mylifetouch.com using the ID code EVTFC4WG2. Click below for a flyer with details. Please note that this flyer cannot be accepted by the school as an order form. If your child is a distance learner who needs to be photographed on October 15, please email dsinopoli@st-hilary.org by October 5 so appropriate arrangements can be made.
HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES WEEK OF OCTOBER 26
Please click here for our SaberSpeak Spooky Special Edition with all the details about this year's Halloween festivities!
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.
MORNING DROP OFF SAFETY
We have noticed multiple occasions when parents have dropped off students, continued looking back at their children, but continued to pull forward. Please be sure that if you are not looking ahead, your car is not moving. If your car is moving, please be observant of everything around you. Especially on the parking lot side, we have parents and students using the crosswalk to walk from cars to the building, and safety is imperative. Thank you!
AFTERNOON PICK-UP REMINDER
Please continue to help us keep our pick-up line moving efficiently by displaying your family last name in the passenger side window of your vehicle. This helps us to quickly identify which students need to go to which cars.
OUTERWEAR REMINDER
As the weather gets cooler, 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!
PLAYGROUND ETIQUETTE
If you allow your children to play on our school playground after school hours, please supervise them carefully and be mindful that they should not venture past the tree border behind the playset or into the trees to hide or play. There are private residences behind our school property and we want to be respectful of our neighbors and their property at all times.
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.
VERIFY & UPDATE ONE CALL NOW INFORMATION VIA SELF-UPDATE PORTAL
As the new year begins, please make sure we have your current telephone number(s) and email address(es) in our One Call Now database. Doing so will ensure you receive the latest mass email updates, as well as phone calls in the event of snow days or school emergencies.
New families: Please make sure you have returned the yellow One Call Now form contained in your child’s acceptance packet so your One Call Now account can be set up.
Returning families and new families who have returned yellow One Call Now forms: Please click the My School button at the top right corner of the school website, login, and click the One Call Now link to be directed to our new One Call Now Self-Update Portal. Click the green SIGN UP button as a first-time user to create your login for the secure portal. Users will be able to view only their own information. Follow the prompts to verify and update your information as needed. Please retain your login information so you can return to the portal and simply login to make any necessary future updates.
Please contact Mrs. Smith at msmith@st-hilary.org with questions.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEDIA RELEASE FORM
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we will be using live streaming as a tool to gather together as a school community in situations where we will not be able to have large in-person events: when we want to gather our community for prayer, for events where parents would normally be invited, and as a way to connect our community. When a student appears in a live stream, we will not identify the student by his or her full name so as to protect his or her identity. Any live stream with students on camera will only be viewable live and will not be recorded or available after the live stream is over. This will be to more readily ensure that the live image does not stay as something that can be downloaded. A live stream will simply be a way to “attend” as the event occurs, not to view it later.
For our weekly school Masses and any other live streamed events, only students whose parents have given consent on the Media Release form on Gradelink will be able to participate and appear on camera. To be clear, that means that if you do not give us permission to have your child participate as part of live streamed events, he or she will be unable to participate as a singer or reader at school Masses and other religious services, and unable to participate in school assemblies and academic contests, parades, and any other events we may choose to live stream. This would be done not to exclude any student, but to respect parents’ wishes. Similarly, if you have consented on this form, you now need to understand the additional implications of your consent for your child if he or she participates in an event that is live streamed.
IMPORTANT! Whatever choice of consent or lack of consent you have indicated on the Media Release form on Gradelink will apply to live streamed events as indicated above, unless we hear otherwise from you. You may change your consent at any time, even during the school year and even for only a particular event, by emailing Mrs. Smith at msmith@st-hilary.org.
Archives
Click here for 2020-2021 Back-to-School Forms to be completed now, with special attention to the Student COVID-19 Policy Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk Form
Click here and here for important Back-to-School information, including new arrival and dismissal procedures, the Kindergarten opening schedule, and more
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/