Dear Parents-
It is with deep respect for parent scheduling needs that I write to let you know that all students will be asked to access the distance learning platform during the week of January 4-8. There will be no in-person classes during that week, and the school building will be closed to students.
As Christmas approaches, all health metrics continue to indicate that the pandemic remains in its “third wave,” and the decision to move all students to DL is out of an abundance of caution, and in consideration for the health of our teachers, staff and students.
For the health of the entire community, Father Tom and I ask that families do not extend travel or celebrations beyond the scheduled holiday break, but rather use the week in January to quarantine. Students are expected to be in their virtual classrooms on Monday, January 4.
For your reference, the CDC provides guidance for decision-making:
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For comparison, I share with you the current metrics in Fairfax County: |
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Fairfax County 7-day average positivity rate is 11.08%; the daily percent in the last 24 hours is 14.6%, and Fairfax residents are reminded to “exercise extra caution in order to reduce your risk of infection, to avoid infecting others, and to avoid overwhelming our healthcare system.”
Parents who filled in the form to borrow a chromebook for use in January should know that chromebooks will be sent home with students Friday afternoon. Please complete the “loaner form” that will accompany the chromebook, and email it to Mrs. Hatley at your earliest convenience. Parents and students are bound by the loaner form whether or not it is signed. All Chromebooks must come back to school on January 11. There are no spare Chromebooks to replace a Chromebook forgotten at home.
On behalf of Mrs. Carson and myself, along with the faculty and staff of St. Joseph Catholic School, I want to wish all of you a very merry and blessed Christmas! May this time with your families bring you much joy, as we rejoice in the arrival of Our Savior.
Reminder that we dismiss for the Christmas break today. Classes resume VIRTUALLY Monday, January 4, 2021. The second Scantron testing window opens Monday, January 11.
As always, if you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance, please let me know.
Go to Joseph
(Gen 41:55)
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God
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SJS Yearbook needs your help!
This year’s theme is Go to Joseph. We are looking for cover designs based on this theme. When designing the cover, any medium can be used, but Mrs. Sears recommends dark and/or vibrant colors using materials such as colored pencils, markers, or oil pastels, but you can use anything you wish. The cover should be no larger than 10 ½ X 16 ½.
Mrs. Sears (m.sears@sjschoolva.org) is available to answer any questions about artwork.
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TRAVEL GUIDANCE FROM VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (VDOE):
The safest thing for students/staff to do after domestic travel is to stay home for 7 days with a negative test and return to school on Day 8 OR stay home for 10 days without a test.
RECOMMENDATION FOR DOMESTIC TRAVEL FROM VDOE: After domestic travel, consider getting tested 3-5 days after travel and reduce non-essential activities for 7 days even if you test negative. If you choose not to get tested, the safest thing to do is to stay home for 10 days (return to school on Day 11) after returning from your trip.
RECOMMENDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FROM VDOE: It is recommended that after international travel, that you get tested with PCR or antigen test (SJS prefers PCR test if possible) 3-5 days after international travel and stay home 7 days after travel (return to school on Day 8), even if you test negative. If you don't get tested, it is safest to stay home for 10 days after travel. Those who travelled internationally should not be in school after returning from their travel without 7 days with a negative test OR 10 days without a test
Please remember that you have to be fever free, symptom free for 24 hours without any over the counter medication prior to returning to school.
"Travel Guidance:The safest thing to do is to reduce non-essential activities: The safest thing to do is for students/staff to stay away from school after domestic travel for 7 days with a test, or 10 days without a test. Recommendation for international travel, get tested with PCR or antigen test 3-5 days after international travel and stay home for 7 days after travel, even if you test negative. If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 10 days after travel. Those who have traveled internationally should not be at school in the time after travel (7 days with negative test, or 10 days with no test). The recommendation for domestic travel: After travel in the United States, consider getting tested 3-5 days after travel and reducing non-essential activities for 7 days after travel, even if you test negative. If you don’t get tested, it’s safest to stay home for 10 days after travel".
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Re-enrollment for 2021-2022 School Year |
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With our 93% retention rate, it is reasonable to streamline our re-enrollment processes. The process is restructured so that current students will be automatically re-enrolled for the 2021-2022 school year. Enrollment fees of $300 per student will be charged on February 1, 2021 from the FACTS account on file. Families in need of an extension payment plan must also contact the Business Office by January 15. Re-enrollment fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. If, for some reason, your student will not be returning to St. Joseph Catholic School, notification in writing is needed by January 15, 2021. We are confident that you will find this expedited and recurring re-enrollment process helpful. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Millon (dmillon@sjcherndon.orgor 703-880-4355) in the Business Office.
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SJC Christmas Mass Schedule
Reservation Information
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Reservations for Christmas Eve and Day Masses - Required
Making a Mass Reservation
Step One:
Review Directives – It is important that you review the list of Directives for Phase III Reintegration Plan prior to making your reservation.
Step Two:
Make your Reservation – No one will be admitted to the church for Mass without a reservation.
If you have Internet access, use the following email, rsvp@sjcherndon.org to make your reservation for Mass. Note, if you do not have Internet access, you may call the parish office (703-880-4355 or 703-880-4304) and a member of the staff will make a reservation for you.
You will receive an email confirming that you have a reservation at a particular Mass with the number of people attending. Please bring this email with you, either paper copy or on your smart phone to Mass for entry to the Church. The entire number of people attending with you must be present to enter into the Church as a family.
Christmas Eve
Thur./ Dec. 24 2:00 p.m. Mass in Church
4:00 p.m. Mass in Hall
4:00 p.m. Mass in Church – also live stream
6:00 p.m. Mass in Church
Christmas Day
Fri./ Dec. 25 8:00 a.m. Mass
10:00 a.m. Mass – also live stream
12:00 p.m. Mass
3:00 p.m. Mass – Spanish
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We will continue with prayers leaders alphabetically! Each family is asked to make a video of the student(s) and the family reciting the prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, and St Joseph...Pray for US) and then send the video to wsjsnews@sjschoolva.org
We look forward to continuing this wonderful tradition!
January 11: Cash, B., A., and S.
January 12: Cavoretto, M.
January 13: Cerami, E.
January 14: Cestero, C. and C.
January 15: Cevallos, E.
January 18: NO SCHOOL
January 19: Chaapel, M.
January 20: Check, F. and M.
January 21: Colon, L.
January 22: Connor, P.
**Please dress in school uniform or presentable attire
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DECEMBER
December 21 - January 1: NO SCHOOL (Christmas break)
JANUARY
January 4: School Resumes
January 11: SCANTRON Week 1
January 18: NO SCHOOL (MLK Holiday)
January 19: SCANTRON Week 2
January 25: SCANTRON Week 3
January 29: March for Life
January 29: Interims T2
January 31: Catholic Schools Week
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Don't forget to follow the official St. Joseph Catholic School Facebook page (sjschoolva), Twitter account (@sjschoolva), and download the mobile app from the App Store (St. Joseph Catholic School, VA)
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St. Joseph Catholic School
750 Peachtree Street
Herndon, VA. 20170
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