March 2, 2021

OUR MISSION:

St. Rita School inspires students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade eight to achieve academic excellence in a safe, nurturing and faith-filled Catholic environment.

We prepare students to be morally responsible, innovative thinkers who, in today’s technology-guided global community, live and share the Love of Christ.

From the Desk of Mrs. Tiezzi

Dear St. Rita Parents,

We are mid-way through the season of Lent and mid-way to reaching our Lenten collection goal of $4000. Thus far we have raised $2095.65 for the CT Food Bank and the Divine Mercy Food Pantry. Thank you to everyone who has donated to this worthy endeavor assisting those who are suffering from food insecurity. We appreciate your generosity and if your are able, please send in your donations through the end of the month.

Please join me on Tuesday, March 16 at 7:00 P.M. via Zoom for our Annual State of the School report . This report is usually presented in person at our Back to School Night. However, during this pandemic year it has been delayed. I invite you to join this on-line meeting to get a better understanding of the operational vitality of our wonderful and successful school. I will be joined by Ben Amarone, School Board Chairperson; Megan Giaquinto, HSA President; and Msgr. Joseph DiSciacca, Pastor. A link for the Zoom meeting will be sent out to all families early next week. The presentation will also be available for you to review following the meeting.

Re-enrollment tuition agreements will be sent home via SRS student mail tomorrow. Please be sure you read the letter and the tuition agreement as there have been some changes you need to be aware of. The annual HSA assessment fee has been rolled into the tuition costs and is no longer a separate fee. We ask that you kindly return the re-enrollment agreement along with your non-refundable $150 tuition deposit to the school office on or before April 13, 2021. This will allow us adequate time to begin planning for the 2021-2022 school year. At this time, we do not anticipate offering a remote learning option for our students for the upcoming school year.

This Friday marks the end of the second trimester. The grade portal will be closed at that time. If your child owes any work to his/her teacher, the work needs to be turned in this week to receive credit. Parent-teacher conferences will be held this Friday and are optional. School will be dismissed early on Friday due to conferences and there will be no aftercare.

I am very happy to report that approximately 50% of our current remote learners will be returning for in-person instruction for the third trimester. As mentioned numerous times during the year, students may not switch back and forth between learning modes unless it is for a COVID related issue. To date, all COVID cases we have had within our school community have not been spread and/or have not originated within our school community. These cases have been due to sports, family, or social activities that have occurred outside of school.

As of today over 90% of our school faculty and staff have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. The remaining faculty/staff members will receive their vaccines over the next few weeks. Once we return from Spring break our faculty/staff should have full immunity from COVID-19. For the safety and well-being of our students, we will continue to follow the health and safety precautions outlined in our return to school plan.

Over the weekend, the father of one of our 4^th grade teachers, Miss Lori Gill, died following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Please pray for the repose of the soul of retired New Haven Police Captain James “Pete” Gill and keep the rest of the Gill family in your prayers, as well.

Thank you for entrusting your child/ren to our care. Spring is certainly in the air today and for the rest of the week! Please remember to turn your clocks ahead this weekend. Have a spectacular week and be sure to get outside and enjoy the Spring-like weather.

God Bless,

Mrs. Tiezzi

Principal

Lenten Service Project Update

Many thanks to all our school families for your generosity to our school-wide Lenten Service Project. As you know, we are currently raising funds in support of the Connecticut Food Bank and the Divine Mercy Parish Food Pantry. Both these programs provide help to food insecure families, including the many children throughout our state who are affected by hunger. We are especially grateful and proud of our St. Rita School students who have donated their own money, including their snack money, toward helping those in need.

To date we have raised $2,095.65 toward our goal of $4,000. Again, thank you for your contributions and your continued help with this important and essential project.

Summer Fun Camp & Summer Academic Program Information

Fliers for both of these programs will be sent

home next week with your children.

Xavier High School

On May 1 at 9 am, Xavier will offer the opportunity for 7^th graders to take the PreHSPT. This test is similar to the test that students take as part of their application to Xavier. By taking the test, students will gain a familiarity with the format, timing, and question types. A detailed score report will be mailed after the test administration to help students understand their areas of strength and weakness. Students who score in the 90^th percentile or higher will earn a $500 scholarship for their freshman year at Xavier. It will be conducted online so students will just need access to a computer with a camera to take it. The testing fee is $10 and registration for it can be done online. Contact Nicholas Grasso, Director of Admissions, nmgrasso@xavierhighschool.org with any questions.

Also, on March 15 at 7 pm, Xavier will offer an information session over Zoom. Registration can be completed online. We look forward to talking about the transformative education Xavier provides in our all-boys, Catholic, Xaverian school. Xavier has a ton to offer each student including AP and UCONN Early College Experience Courses, a myriad of clubs and activities, sports at the freshmen, junior varsity, and varsity level, leadership development, mentoring, and of course a rigorous academic program that prepares students to excel in college and beyond. Xavier graduates are men of character and distinction. We hope you’ll start the process of learning how Xavier can be a great place for your son to grow and develop. Register for the upcoming information session.

Enrollment Open for New Students

Enrollment for new students for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. Please click here to visit our enrollment page and to download an application, or call Mrs. Bruno, our Admissions Director, if you have any questions. Please spread the word - we have no better ambassadors than our current families.

Have you let us know if your child/ren will be returning to St. Rita School next year?

If you have, thank you very much!

If you haven't, please click HERE.

Order your 2020-2021 school yearbook today!

Click Here to Order

Nurse's Corner

Update to Covid Quarantine guidelines.

These are the guidelines we are now following as part of the CDC’s newest guidelines when it comes to Covid 19.

If an individual does not have Covid-19 symptoms but had close contact to someone diagnosed with Covid-19:

Remain home in self-quarantine for the recommended 10 days from last exposure to the person diagnosed with Covid-19. If symptoms occur, contact your health care provider.

If you test positive:

Remain home until 10 day’s have passed since date of positive Covid-19 test or if you have symptoms, 10 days since symptoms began.

There was an addendum that had to do with testing on day 5 of an exposure and exiting quarantine after 7 days but our school district is NOT implementing that at this time.

Just a reminder of isolation vs Quarantine

Isolation = When you are experiencing symptoms or have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19

Quarantine = when you have been exposed but you are not experiencing symptoms

https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel

Thank you to everyone for keeping your children home when they are not feeling well and keeping us informed of any illnesses. With your cooperation we will continue to keep our school community safe.

Just a few reminders:

- If your child is home sick for more then 24 hours we will need a doctors note in order for them to return to school.

- This year with COVID-19 continuing to be active the State Department of Public Health is encouraging everyone to receive an Influenza Vaccination by the end of October. The vaccinations are now readily available. Once your child receives the vaccine, please send proof into school for the nurse to document.

- If your child is home sick and the doctor recommends a COVID test please do not get a rapid test. We will only be accepting the PCR test in order to return to school.

- many of us suffer from seasonal allergies and may experience symptoms similar to COVID-19.

Symptoms more common of seasonal allergies and not COVID-19 are itchy or watery eyes and sneezing.

Symptoms more common if COVID-19 are fever and chills, muscle and body aches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting and Diarrhea.

If you obtain positive results after school hours, please email Mrs. Tiezzi (ptiezzi.stritaschool@gmail.com) and the nurse (lpalma.stritaschool@gmail.com)

When in doubt call your pediatrician.

Home/School Association

Thanks to the CLASSROOM HEROES below, EVERY SRS class won a Dress Down Day!! Our school-wide dress down day has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 2^nd. Reminders will be sent out prior to the date, but for now, a

BIG THANK YOU

to the below sponsors for their generosity in making this possible!!

Aikens-Nunez Auth Cammarota

Davis DiAngelo Federico Manning

Giaimo Hendry Iuliano

Jones McPherson Monaco

Pompano Ponzio Rusgrove

Sinisgalli Smith

PLEASE NOTE:

The HSA will be meeting shortly to start planning for our Movie and Popcorn Afternoons and Pizza Parties. More information will be added to the newsletter as details are confirmed. Thank you for your patience!

HELP US EARN CASH AND SUPPLIES THROUGH FREE REWARDS PROGRAMS!

Each year, St. Rita participates in several rewards programs. Local grocery stores (and Amazon!) allow you (the shopper) to identify St. Rita as the school you’d like to support; every time you shop, we get a percentage of the sale in the form of points (that can be used for school supplies) or cash. Last year we earned over $1600 through Stop&Shop’s program and over 150,000 points through ShopRite! We have big goals this year, and we need your help to achieve them. Please click on the links below to register your store cards, and ask your local family and friends to do the same!