Irish Insider
Catholic Schools Week 2021
February 10 , 2021
We hope you enjoy the Irish Insider. For consideration in future editions, please email info@stcathschool.com by 12pm Monday for the Wednesday edition.
In This Issue
  • Upcoming Events
  • Thoughts with Mr. Watts
  • COVID-19 Update
  • Message Regarding Father Dury
  • FACTS Tuition Assistance
  • Parent - Teacher Conferences
  • Home & School Nominations
  • Flower Sale
  • Community Night - TAT
  • 8th Grade Fundraiser
  • School Lunches
  • St. Valentine's Day
  • TRIP/SCRIP
  • St Catharine Athletics
  • Boys' Lacrosse Information
  • Girls' Lacrosse Commissioner
  • Lindy Infante Foundation Scholarship
  • Commissioners Needed
  • St Catharine Church
  • 2021-2022 School Calendar
Upcoming Events
  • Friday, February 12th                
  •  No School – Teacher Professional Development
  • Monday, February 15th                      
  •  No School – Presidents’ Day
  • Tuesday, February 16th
  • Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Wednesday, February 17th                  
  •  Ash Wednesday
  • Thursday, February 18th
  • Community Night/Day -TAT 11am - 8pm
  • Boys' Lacrosse Informational Meeting - 6:30
  • Friday, February 19th
  • 3rd Quarter Interim Grades
  • Stations of the Cross
Thoughts with Mr. Watts
“Truth must be sought at all costs, but separate isolated truths will not do. Truth is like life; it has to be taken on its entirety or not at all. . . . We must welcome truth even if it reproaches and inconveniences us -- even if it appears in the place where we thought it could not be found.” - Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Although February is the shortest month of the year, sometimes it doesn't feel that way. This year is no exception. The combination of fatigue from the pandemic, the cold, bleak weather, and the lack of sunlight can all take its toll on our mental health. It can feel like there is a lot going on, but not a lot to look forward to. This year is especially tough and we find ourselves searching for the joy that February of 2020 brought us, especially compared to the subsequent months. It was right before the world (our worlds) shut down.

It seems we may be coming out the other side of this pandemic. There are good reasons to be cautiously optimistic. More people are receiving the vaccines, including teachers, cases are going down for the time being, and we are much more experienced at mitigating risk.

However, I implore everyone to stay the course. Our safety protocols have worked and the actions of our parents and staff have kept everyone in our school community safe to this point.

Vaccinations are happening, but as of Monday less than 9% received their first vaccine and 2.6% their second. We have a long way to go. Although we are still at 5 cumulative cases, our student quarantine numbers are higher than ever before. Community spread of COVID-19 is still happening. We are not done with this pandemic. Again, we need to stay the course.

Finally, our students have been resilient this year, our staff has been passionately committed, and our parents have been extremely supportive. This Saint Catharine School community has come together to overcome the most daunting obstacles we have had to face. The hope and the faith we have shown is indicative of what it means to live the Gospel. Thank you, all of you, for loving one another though this school year.
"If you want to be holy, if you seek meaning in your life, start looking into your own life and attacking your pride in all of its many forms. God will give you extraordinary light and the ultimate reward of holiness. For your holiness relies not on what you do, but on what you allow God to do through you. Have courage. God will perfect you." - Mother Angelica
COVID-19 UPDATES
COVID-19 Updates
If anyone in your household would have a Positive COVID-19 test result, you must notify Mr. Watts by calling (614) 949-7713 as soon as possible, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

If anyone in your household has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is awaiting a COVID-19 test, the rest of the household must quarantine for 10 days or until the test results come back negative. Please call the school office as soon as possible in this situation. at (614) 235-1396.
 
We are required to post positive cases of students and staff on our website weekly. This data, along with other COVID-19 updates can be found at http://stcatharineschool.com/parents/covid-19/. Currently, we have 0 active cases and 5 cumulative cases with students and staff. (As of 2.8)
Father Dury
Father Dury has announced that this is his last year as the pastor of St. Catharine Parish. He will become the new pastor at St. John Neumann in Sunbury as of July 13th. Bishop Brennan will be appointing a new pastor to St. Catharine Parish at a later date. . Please continue to pray for Father during this transition.
FACTS Tuition Assistance
In order to be eligible for St. Catharine School Tuition Assistance, families must apply for Diocese of Columbus Tuition Assistance.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, February 16th. The basic format will be the same as the Fall with an available sign-up genius and a corresponding Zoom link. However, 7th and 8th Grade will still have Student-Led Conferences and will not schedule in the same manner.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity for both teachers and parents to address any concerns and provide valuable feedback. They are, however, optional, especially during the Winter/Spring. Please do not feel obligated to sign-up for conferences if you do not feel the need. Teachers who feel there is a need for a conference concerning your child will reach out to parents individually.

Monday, February 15th
Zoom Links will be sent to parents who have signed up for P/T Conferences.

Tuesday, February 16th
Parent-Teacher Conferences on Zoom
Home & School Nominations
Flower Sale
Mark your calendars....

Flower sale kick off: March 8
Flower order deadline: March 28
Flower order pick up: May 15
Community Night - TAT
Thursday, February 18th 11am to 8pm

Let’s show TAT the love that they have always shown us!! Please dine in, carry out or place a delivery order to say 

“Thank you for always supporting us!”
8th Grade Fundraiser
Class of 2020 has added a 2nd and 3rd prize!!!
School Lunches
Please fill out this quick survey to provide valuable feedback on our USDA Free School Lunch Program.
TRIP/SCRIP
Still don’t know how to use scrip? Need to still get registered?
Please reach out to Alli Brinkmeyer at 614-214-5428 call or txt or email at stcatharinetrip@yahoo.com

Current inventory of physical cards available today (just reach out to purchase and money goes right into your OWN TUITION ACCOUNT)
Amazon 2 -$25
Amazon 2 - $100
Chipotle 3- $25
Giant Eagle 10- $100
Kohls 3- $100
Lowe’s 2- $25
Lowe’s 2- $100
Meijer 3- $25
Meijer 5- $100
Panera Bread 5- $5
Starbucks 10- $10
Starbucks 6- $5
Target 3- $10
TAT 4- $25
Tim Hortons 4- $10
TJ Max, Marshall’s and Homegoods 5- $25
E-gift cards and Reloads can be done at anytime through the website or app (RaiseRight).

Get Signed Up TODAY
Boys' Lacrosse Information
Are you a boy in 1st-4th grade? Saint Catharine’s School and Parish is looking for BOYS interested in playing on our lacrosse team. Players DO NOT need to have any experience playing or even an understanding of the rules. We will have a quick information session discussing the rules and equipment needed to play. This meeting will be on Thursday, February 18th at 6:30pm at St. Catharine. For more further information contact coach Bill Butler:(317) 313-5809 or Nathan Allwein: (614) 557-5871
Girls' Lacrosse Commissioner
Ray and Mandy DeWeese have given much time and talent to help lead our girls lacrosse program at St. Catharine. They have decided that it is time to pass on the torch. If you have an interest in being the commissioner of our girls lacrosse program , please contact Mandy at deweesefam6@gmail.com. Ray and Mandy would be an integral part of the transition this spring.
Lindy Infante Scholarship
The Lindy Infante Scholarship Foundation helps families who need assistance paying for Diocesan athletic fees. Please fill out the application and send to:

Marty Raines
Diocesan Recreation Association
197 E. Gay St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Commissioners needed
  • football
  • baseball
  • summer baseball 
  • basketball
This is a great way to volunteer!!

Please contact PJ Keiffer with any questions at 614-668-0134 or email, pkeiffer@gmail.com

Go Irish!!
St Catharine Church
Middle School Youth Group is back!

Select Sundays // 6:00pm-8:00pm in the School Gym

2021 Dates:
February 14th
February 28th
March 14th
March 28th
April 11th
April 18th

Questions? Contact Dorothy Allwein, dorothy@damascus.net

2021-2022 School Calendar
These dates have been set by the Diocese. We will be adding addition dates (Teacher Professional Development Days, Record Days, etc...) at a later time. Please check the school google calendar for the most up to date information
  • Wednesday, August 25, 2021
  • First Day of School
  • September 6, 2021
  • No School – Labor Day
  • November 25 and November 26, 2021
  • Thanksgiving
  • December 20 through December 31, 2021
  • Christmas Vacation
  • January 17, 2022
  • No School – Martin Luther King Day
  • February 21, 2022
  • No School – Presidents’ Day
  • March 14 through March 18, 2022
  • Spring Vacation
  • April 15 and April 18, 2022
  • Easter (Good Friday and Easter Monday)
  • May 30, 2022
  • No School – Memorial Day
  • June 2, 2022
  • 8th Grade Graduation
  • June 3, 2022
  • Last Day for Students