Dear Parents,
It has been exciting to see some of your students on campus this week! As we begin to slowly welcome back all of our students, we continue to monitor local and county data as well as confer with experts across the country to ensure that we are keeping our campus as safe as possible.
Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed a number of schools both locally and across the country forced to return to distance learning because of COVID-19 outbreaks on their campus. While many of these schools already had outstanding protocols in place, they often identified two areas for improvement: off campus student activity and unstructured gatherings on campus. New COVID-19 computer models developed by researchers at UCSD also confirm this. Please see the attached letter from Mr. Galvan, Director of the Office for Schools for the Diocese of San Diego reiterating the importance of us all working together to keep our schools open for in-person instruction.
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To address these factors, Mater Dei Catholic continues to encourage families to follow all of the recommended guidelines and take all of the recommended precautions while not on campus. We appreciate that our entire school community is committed to protecting each other’s health.
On campus, we have determined that lunch presents the least structured time. Therefore, we are asking for your input on changing our school schedule to exclude lunch. Please take this survey to give your input on keeping our current schedule or changing to a new schedule without lunch.
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Drop-off, Pick-Up and Parking
To continue to increase efficiency while implementing our safety protocols, you can either drop off/pick up your student from your car or park in the Mater Dei Parish parking lot and let your student walk to/from your car. Please remember that both of these drop-off options will take longer than usual so give yourself ample time to be ready to drop-off starting at 7:30 am, but no earlier than that.
If you choose to drop off by car, you will have to enter via the Birch Road entrance. To park, you will enter through Magdalena Avenue to access the parish parking lot. Students who drive will enter through the Birch Road entrance and park in the Student Lower Lot to the right. See details below.
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We thank you for your commitment to Catholic education and to keeping our community safe!
FRANK V. STINGO
Principal
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Emocha Reminder
Your student should have received sign-up directions from Emocha by today at 8:00am. Each day, they will get a reminder to fill out a symptom survey and take their temperature before they come to campus. Please make sure your Emocha app is working. Students should take their temperature at home and have a green badge when they arrive to make check-in most efficient. Those who do not take their temperature at home, will be asked to check in with the nurse upon arrival. Direct any questions to Emocha at:
- 858-221-4045
- 6:00am to 2:00pm PST, M-F.
COVID-19 Symptoms
If anyone in your household is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and you have any questions about sending your student to campus, please contact Nurse Lisa McDonald at lmcdonald@mdchs.net.
Lunch Protocols
Students are encouraged to bring their own lunches, especially over the first few weeks back to campus. For those who prefer to buy lunch, our café has implemented a new contactless online ordering system that will allow students, faculty, and staff a safe and secure way to order daily. Please see the below letter for more details.
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Sept 21 & 22, 2020
Freshman and
Sophomore Cohorts A
Return to Campus
Sept 24 & 25, 2020
Freshman and
Sophomore Cohorts B
Return to Campus
Sept 28 & 29, 2020
All Student Cohorts A
Return to Campus
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Oct 1 & 2, 2020
All Student Cohorts B
Return to Campus
Oct 10, 2020
Steam Night
Oct 26-27 & 29-30, 2020
Freshmen Retreat
Nov 11, 2020
Veteran’s Day –
School Closed
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New Campus Ministry Instagram
Follow Us!
@mdcampusministry
Upcoming Mass Schedule
During Distance Learning we will present pre-recorded video of Mass during Advisory Block. Once back on campus, we will be live-streaming Mass into the classroom.
October 8th
November 5th
November 19th – Thanksgiving Mass
December 7th
Need Prayer?
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Tutoring
Tutoring is available on Wednesdays in Math, Science and English. Please see the Mater Dei website under students, then tutoring. You can click the Zoom links to enter.
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AP Tests
Live UC Application Workshops for Students
Your students can also register now for their own UC Application & Personal Insight Questions Workshop, hosted weekly.
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Hello everyone,
This week we will be adding the 10th grade onto campus for the hybrid model. All 10th graders on campus will be going through a back to campus orientation. All other 10thgraders will not have advisory and will be starting their day with Block 1.
See the table below so you are aware of what all grades will be doing for Advisory this week.
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**ALL includes both students on campus and online through Zoom
SEL focus for the week:
9th graders will be focusing on Proactive Self-Advocacy:
Proactive: To prepare for, intervene, or control an unexpected occurrence, especially a negative or difficult one
Self-Advocacy: The act of pleading for, supporting, or making recommendations for oneself
10th graders will get familiar with the hybrid model protocols
11th & 12th graders will be focusing on Kindness:
Know every person has value and deserves kindness (regardless of age, race political views, religion, etc.)
Invest in connection (actively listen)
Notice others’ perspective and feelings
Demonstrate care, concern, and compassion through action
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All Mater Dei Catholic High School Athletes are required to have a current physical on file in order to participate in CIF or Club sports. These physicals are valid for one calendar year. Due to Social Distancing guidelines, we have canceled the Athletics Physical Days scheduled on campus. You will not be able to tryout or practice without a current physical on file.
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If you have any questions regarding the status of your physical, please contact Mrs. Alvarado at calvarado@mdchs.net. |
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MD Athletes Get Recruited |
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This week we welcomed our Freshmen & Sophomores on campus!
Freshmen and Sophomore Cohorts A (A-Li) joined us this morning for orientation and then they went to their Block 1 class to resume their academic day with Cohort B (Lo-Z) who joined in through live stream. 9th and 10th grade Cohort B will be on campus on Thursday and Friday. This week, grades 11-12 continued to receive instruction through distance learning under the hybrid schedule, and they will return to campus next week!
Virtual Talent Show
Hey crusaders! Are you looking for a chance to show off your talents, maybe a new talent you developed during quarantine? Did you miss out on the talent show last year? We know MD has a ton of talented teens and this is your chance to show it! Talents range from singing, playing an instrument, dancing, martial arts, gymnastics, and more! All you have to do is submit a video by October 5th at 2pm. The best three acts will receive a prize. Watch this week’s ASB Announcment Video for details.
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Student Technology Guide
Mater Dei Technology Responsible Use Policy and Contract
We are here for you!
Last but not least, Mater Dei Technology is always here for you! Please reach out to your Mater Dei Technology Team if you have any questions at helpdesk@materdeicatholic.org.
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Share The Love Campaign
The need for tuition relief continues. Some of our families’ jobs remain in jeopardy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you continue to be blessed during these uncertain times, please prayerfully consider sharing your blessings and helping our Mater Dei community. Every dollar counts, no donation is too small. Thank you in advance for Sharing the Love! We are one family. We are Family. We are Crusaders. We are Catholic!
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#ShareTheLove
Karen Nerat graduated class of '89! Now serving as Science Department Chair, Karen shares her story about MD:
“I believe our science program at MDCHS stands out because we emphasize a ‘learning by doing’ mentality. The teachers are able to provide the opportunity for students to become familiar with lab skills and equipment, as well as the process of keeping a lab notebook, which will ultimately be an advantage for them when they enter college. The most rewarding part of my job is building relationships with students, getting to know them and making them feel connected. It starts for me at the beginning of each class every day, when I greet them at the door. This is where I can get a sense of how their day is going. From there, we make the necessary adjustments as a class, and then move forward together. My focus is to make sure all of my students feel accepted and nobody feels left out!”
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If you have any questions, please contact Alejandra Saavedra, Director of Advancement at asaavedra@mdchs.net
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Commemorative Opportunities
Last school year, we added 48 memorial bricks to our Garden of Remembrance and 87 chair plates to the Dr. Kassebaum Theater as a tribute to our donors who believe in the mission of providing excellent Catholic education. We invite you to join our Crusade in 2020-21 and donate to Mater Dei. Now more than ever, you can make a difference in the lives of our students.
Any donation of $500 or more will receive a memorial brick to honor a loved one in heaven and any donation of $200 or more will receive a chair plate in our theater to honor anyone in your life. If you are interested in any of these tribute opportunities, please contact Alejandra Saavedra, Director of Advancement, at asaavedra@mdchs.net.
Thank you for partnering with us!
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Amazon Smile
Many of us are turning to sites like Amazon to have our groceries and other essentials delivered to our homes during this time of pandemic. Through Amazon Smile, your everyday purchases can make a difference for other Mater Dei families who are struggling.
Help us continue to build our programs at Mater Dei through your everyday purchases. Amazon Smile will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amazon purchases to the Mater Dei Catholic Fund when you use the link below.
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Hello MDCHS Seniors -
We are excited to capture one of the first memories of your graduation year by photographing your senior portraits. Please watch this video for important information before picture day.
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Photo Attire
1. Tux or Drape provided by Prestige. Tux and drape are steamed between uses for sanitization.
2. Wear a solid black polo, blouse, button down, etc, of your own. Tops must be solid black with no stripes, dots, designs, or other colors, and be school appropriate.
Please create an account and follow the prompts to choose your Picture Day Appointment. Please select Studio South as your location.
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Yearbook (essential session) is a no charge session. Several options to upgrade, upgraded fees will be collected at time of session.If you decide to upgrade the day of your appointment, a Standard Session is the only option available. There are no portraits included in the upgraded session fees.
Please contact us via email at presigesd@lifetouch.com or by phone at 858-935-6969 if you have any questions or need assistance. Thank you!
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Mater Dei Family-Owned Business Shout-Out |
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Let us support you by promoting your family-owned business (restaurant, store, etc.) and sharing that you are “open for business” to our extended Mater Dei family. Please fill out this form: |
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