Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 14 November 2020
Let Us Stay Alert and Sober
Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief at night.
When people are saying, "Peace and security,"
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.
Dear St. Clare School Families,
For the past few weeks, our scripture readings have centered around being prepared, alert and ready. After all, Advent is just around the corner!
We can also look at this as a reminder that in early March, we certainly had no idea that eight months later, we would still be in the midst of the pandemic, with this week having one of the sharpest spikes in cases our county has experienced. Our preparations, our vigilance and our alertness will help us weather this storm, in solidarity. We need to heed the advice of our experts to keep our cohorts tight, limit our interactions and travel only when it is necessary. We are depending on one another to keep each other safe because the alternative would be too great to fathom.
Here is a link to the post where I included the parent handouts for the different COVID19-related scenarios one might encounter as a parent and exactly what to do about them. Consider saving these or printing them out for your easy reference: https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/4773392 .
OUR SECOND TRIMESTER BEGINS
As we welcome 52 students back to in-person classes, we congratulate all our students and thank all our teachers for their hard work and dedication. We are grateful to you for helping your students stay focused and finding ways for them to find balance. Continue to reach out to teachers and encourage your children to self advocate. Identify small, achievable goals for the second trimester and celebrate successes!
Student progress will be reported to you via email or ParentSquare private messages from your homeroom teachers. The purpose of the report card is to communicate your student’s achievement towards standards (CA Common Core, Diocesan Religion Outcomes, General Behavior Expectations and Lifelong Learning Skills). Let it serve as a place to begin the second trimester and to set those achievable goals. (Please watch the recording of “A Cup…” to learn from Mrs. Filion about the format we are using this year.)
With the holidays approaching, continue to encourage students to build habits that will serve them well when focus is challenged. The second trimester brings us Thanksgiving break, Christmas holidays and Winter break.
T2 RETURN | Week of November 16
To those returning this week, please make sure you have read the post and the emails that pertain to your return. We thank you for attending the training sessions and for your part in learning our protocols. We can’t wait to see you!
A REMINDER REGARDING THE CATHOLIC TUITION RATE
We are beginning the review of families who were granted the Catholic rate for the 2020-21 school year. In order to maintain the status to receive this rate, you must show evidence of your active participation in the life of the school and parish.
What this means is that you can produce evidence that you contribute your time, treasure and talent regularly and consistently. Being part of a committee or ministry, your volunteer hours and your “presence” at liturgical celebrations are essential to building our faith community. Be sure to log your volunteer hours in ParentSquare.
In addition, your financial support of school and parish programs help sustain our mission.
Here are the ways you can donate:
CASH or CHECK: Place cash in your parish envelope in order for your donation to be recorded. (If you are a registered parishioner, you should have a box of donation envelopes that was sent to your home early in the year. If you do not have envelopes, check to make sure you are indeed registered at St. Clare or another parish in the Diocese of San Jose. Otherwise, put your cash in an envelope and include your name, email and address so that your donation can be recorded.)
CREDIT CARD or BANK DEBIT: Go to the parish website and set up a recurring donation or make a one-time donation.
Without the above, we will be unable to grant you the Catholic rate for the 2021-22 school year.
SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
By Wednesday, 11/18: complete the SURVEY to help inform how we market our school.
RSVP: Thursday, 11/19: Parent Education Workshop - Transforming Stress into Strength
Thank you Heroes Cards and Warm Love Drive (see post from Katy Kerns)
Please view the recording and review the slide deck from “A Cup with the Principal” to learn more about REPORTING STUDENT ABSENCES. It is very important!
OUR VOLUNTEERS ROCK
Shout out to our volunteer art docents: Ms. Xochitl and Ms. Viva for engaging students in creative arts. Expressing ourselves in this way helps us handle stress and gives us new ways to connect with one another. Thank you so much for your dedication and for sharing your talents with us!
OUR STUDENT COUNCIL LEADS ASSEMBLY
We are so grateful to our amazing Student Council officers who hit the ground running by preparing this week’s Morning Assembly recordings. Expect Ms. Teresea’s post each morning so that you can view the recordings. Teachers will be sharing the recordings at their morning meetings.
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY ASSEMBLY
At this Wednesday’s assembly, teachers will honor one student from each grade as the Young Christian for the First Trimester of 2020-21. Please join us!
As always, your partnership is crucial in making sure we are focused on our mission: the formation and care for our precious children!
Peace.
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Important Dates Reminder
- 11/16 Beginning of the Second Trimester, New Cohorts of In-Person Learning
- 11/20 Weekly School Mass | Formal Uniform Required | 9:30 A.M.
- 11/25 School in Session: Wellness Wednesday (asynchronous)
- 11/26-11/27 No School - Thanksgiving Break
- 12/1 PTG Meeting | 6:30 P.M. - 7:00 P.M.
- 12/4 Weekly School Mass | Formal Uniform Required | 9:30 A.M.
- 12/10 Cup with the Principal | 6:00 P.M.
- 12/11 Weekly School Mass | Formal Uniform Required | 9:30 A.M.
- 12/16 Picture Re-Take Day | 8:30 A.M. - 10:30 P.M. (appointments only)
Google Public Calendar
PUBLIC URL TO ACCESS FROM A WEB BROWSER
PUBLIC ADDRESS IN iCAL TO ACCESS FROM OTHER APPS
Voluntary COVID Testing for Children; Flu Shots
Thank you to all the families that attended the Return to School orientation last night. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming days about logistics and more.
Thank you to Jane Wulf (8th grade parent) for sharing the information below. St. Clare is not requiring a negative COVID test to return to in-person learning, but families may want to have their children tested before returning.
Families with children of any age are welcome to schedule a free COVID nasal swab test. Results are sent by text/email within 2-3 days (in the past I have received mine within 24 hrs). I recommend scheduling a test for the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds site:
https://scl.fulgentgenetics.com/appointment/screen/landing
Fulgent Booking System 1.0 - Appointment
This testing is for people who live, work, attend school, or assist with care for a resident of Santa Clara County.
scl.fulgentgenetics.com
You will be asked to provide optional insurance information to help offset the costs related to providing the test. The insured(s) is NOT billed. Insurance is NOT required to be tested. The fairgrounds location is a drive-thru site open Tuesdays-Fridays (12p-6:45p) and Saturdays (9a-3p).
In addition, flu shots are offered free of charge across the street (Fairground expo building) on Saturdays.
Free Flu Shots Click On Attached Flyers For More Information
Reopening of Santa Clara County K-12 Schools
Here are some resources for your information:
Sccsafeworkplace.org (see item on reporting COVID cases)
Stronger Together (SCCOE)
FERPA and Coronavirus (Child Privacy Laws)
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