Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 24 January 2021
Plea for Unity and Humility.
If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.
Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
~ Philippians 2:1-11
Dear St. Clare School Families,
We approach our last week in January with hope and humility for what lies ahead. We continue to pray for the many lives lost due to the pandemic and for all of us who continue to feel the impact of the challenges we have had to face this year. Many of us long for the time when we can gather together. With our joint efforts, we can help make this happen by being extra vigilant. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we are allowed to gather safely for some late spring celebrations?
I continue to offer prayers of gratitude to all of our parents, teachers and students who work so hard to build up our community. The tremendous work of PTG leadership, room reps, SAC, Finance Committee and most notably the Enrollment and Marketing Committee for the upcoming Open House humbles me. Our Student Council has also made me very proud as they have taken the initiative to plan community events for Catholic Schools Week.
Our teachers and staff continue to do the best they can for our students with care and compassion. Please pray for them so that they may have the stamina to sustain the holy work before them. They are truly the heroes in this endeavor.
Please also keep in your prayers Msgr. Fran and Fr. Jonathan, as well as the parish staff and dedicated volunteers who have been so supportive of our school, in addition to their responsibilities to the parish community.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK & VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE
We will celebrate Catholic Schools Week beginning Sunday, January 31. Please make every effort to attend one of the masses, particularly the Family Mass at 10:30 A.M. and the Spanish Mass at Noon. At 1 P.M., we are holding a Virtual Open House for those families interested in learning more about our school. Please invite prospective families to join us by completing the registration information here: https://www.stclare.school/openhouse
SAVE THE DATE: on Monday, February 1 at 9 A.M., Bishop Cantú will celebrate mass at the Cathedral in honor of Catholic Schools Week. Please join our All-School Meeting place to or tune in to the Diocese of San Jose live feed on Facebook.
Sunday, January 31: We Celebrate Our Parish
Family Mass at 10:30 A.M. | Spanish Mass at 9 A.M.
Virtual Open House at 1 P.M.
Monday, February 1: We Celebrate Our Vocations (Religious, Ordained Ministry, Families)
Mass with Bishop Cantú at 9 A.M.
Tuesday, February 2: We Celebrate Our Community
Day of Giving: The fourth annual Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving will begin Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at noon and continue through noon on Wednesday, February 3.
Wednesday, February 3: We Celebrate Our Students
Thursday, February 4: We Celebrate Our Nation
Friday, February 5: We Celebrate Our Faculty and Staff
Stay tuned for additional information regarding Catholic Schools Week celebrations.
REGISTERING FOR THE 2021-22 SCHOOL YEAR
Please consult the post sent Saturday morning. For information regarding registering. Your prompt response is greatly appreciated as we plan for 2021-22.
UPDATED GUIDELINES FROM THE STATE
Our County and our diocese has always noted that we will follow the more restrictive plan should new guidelines come from the CDC and the state. Recently, new guidelines for schools were released. As we are already following most of the guidelines, we want to highlight ones that are now REQUIRED that were previously highly recommended. They are as follows:
FACE COVERINGS. ALL students in TK-8 grade are now required to keep face coverings on except when consuming food or drink. (The previous requirement only applied to Grades 3-8, although all of our students in TK-8 have worn face coverings since school began in person in October, and the students have been amazing with them!)
PHYSICAL DISTANCING IN THE CLASSROOM: Seats in TK-5 are required to be at least 4 ft. apart. (Seats in Grades 6-8 will continue to be required to be 6 ft. apart.)
We have a designated maximum number of students we can allow in-person based on these requirements (based on the space available in the classroom/square footage). Once we reach the maximum, we will either need to divide the class into 2-day cohorts unless others opt to remain in distance learning for the remainder of the year.
TRANSPARENCY: We currently report our monthly in-person attendance numbers to the County, as well as teacher surveillance testing information to the Dept. of Catholic Schools. In addition, we are now being asked to report program information to the state twice a month.
IN ANTICIPATION OF EXTREME WEATHER
Rain and wind is in the forecast next week. Please plan accordingly.
A reminder about rainy day protocols:
MORNING DROP OFF:
TK and Kindergarten: No Change (students will be escorted inside instead of waiting by the gate for the whole class to arrive).
First Grade: CHANGE: Drop off students at the Santa Clara gate. Approach the gate from Lafayette Street to avoid congestion on Washington Street.
Second Grade: No Change (students will be escorted inside instead of waiting on Washington Street for the whole class to arrive).
Third-Fifth Grade: No Change (students will be escorted inside instead of waiting by the gate for the whole class to arrive).
Sixth Grade: No Change
Seventh Grade: No Change
Eighth Grade: CHANGE: Drop off students on Lexington Avenue in front of the breezeway gate.
AFTERNOON PICK UP:
It is VERY IMPORTANT that you DISPLAY your last name/grade PLACARDS
so that our school staff knows which student to escort to your car!
TK and Kindergarten: No Change (students will be escorted outside instead of waiting by the gate for the whole class to be picked up).
First Grade: CHANGE: Pick up students at the Santa Clara gate. Approach the gate from Lafayette Street to avoid congestion on Washington Street.
Second Grade: No Change (students will be escorted outside instead of waiting on Washington Street for the whole class to be picked up).
Third-Fifth Grade: No Change (students will be escorted outside instead of waiting by the gate for the whole class to be picked up).
Sixth Grade: No Change
Seventh Grade: No Change
Eighth Grade: CHANGE: Pick up students from Lexington Avenue in front of the breezeway gate.
ATTIRE FOR NEXT WEEK: please make sure students are dressed in layers and they have the appropriate outerwear and footwear for wind and rain. Students may wear uniform sweatpants in lieu of shorts and skirts even on non P.E. days. Uniform long pants are always an option.
P.E. on Rainy Days: Health orders prohibit aerobic activities while indoors. P.E. on rainy days will consist of stretching, mindful breathing, seat yoga, health instruction, or an alternative activity that is not prohibited.
PRAYERS FOR THE UNHOUSED DURING THESE EXTREME WEATHER DAYS
We pray for those who do not have basic needs like shelter, heat, running water every day, but especially during extreme weather days. May we work to alleviate suffering in our community through advocacy and direct service. Opening Doors, The Window and Neighborhood Hands could use white crew socks, food, blankets and ponchos. Opening Doors will be on Second Street between Devine and St. James in downtown San Jose tomorrow from 11:30A to 1P.
HOLDING OUR CLASS OF 2021 IN PRAYER
Our graduating class will be having their graduation photos taken this week. Many will have completed HSPTesting by this weekend. As they experience many firsts and many lasts in these next few months, we want to remind them that St. Clare will always be HOME and that our community will continue to hold them in prayer in their journey to be humans of compassion, competence and conscience.
Please remember to read Msgr. Fran’s weekly posts for important and inspiring information. Also, stay informed by reading posts from PTG, your Room Reps and Ms. Teresea and the office.
We appreciate your partnership and ask for your grace and support.
With great fondness and care,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Third Grade Science Fun!
FROM MRS. G: Positive Discipline Parent Workshop
Mrs. G is the co-director of Santa Clara Parents Nursery School (SCPNS) and is an experienced parent educator. SCPNS is hosting a Positive Discipline Parent Workshop (through Zoom) on Saturday, Jan. 30th and Mrs. G is the presenter. The workshop is open to families with toddlers to teenagers. If you are interested, please register at funfraising@scpns.org. Please see the attached flyer for more details
Calling All Videographers
For more information please email or call me at Cherell.rizzo@dsj.org or (408) 246-6797
Important Dates Reminder
- 1/27 Graduation Photos
- 1/27 Math Club Tutoring Event K-8th | Zoom ID 896-048-8987 | 5:00 P.M.
- 1/29 Weekly School Mass | 9:30 A.M.
- 1/31 Open House | 1:00 - 2:00
- 2/1 - 2/5 Catholic Schools Week
- 2/2 PTG Meeting | 6:30 P.M.
- 2/3 Math Club Tutoring Event K-8th | Zoom ID 896-048-8987 | 5:00 P.M.
- 2/4 Cup With The Principal | 6:00 P.M.
- 2/5 Weekly School Mass | 9:30 A.M.
- 2/10 Math Club Tutoring Event K-8th | Zoom ID 896-048-8987 | 5:00 P.M.
- 2/12 Weekly School Mass | 9:30 A.M.
- 2/15 Presidents Day | No School
- 2/15 - 2/19 Winter Break | No School
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Our Beloved St. Clare
Photo by Ed Carlo Garcia www.edcarlogarcia.com
St. Clare School
Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: https://www.stclare.school
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797
Facebook: facebook.com/stclareschoolsantaclara