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April 17, 2020
Dear School of St. Mary Families,
Thank you for your continued support and efforts to make our Catholic School a beacon of hope during these challenging times. A special thank you goes out to our dedicated teachers for creating a robust and faith-filled community of remote learning.
Our teachers continue working individually and collaborating to craft the best, most efficient approaches to serve the educational needs of our students. They have been utilizing all the available technologies and new teaching strategies that have become a new chapter in our School's rich and vast history. Teachers continue to create daily lessons and assignments aligned to the Archdiocese of Chicago grade-level standards. It mirrors the values infused curriculum that we teach in our schools and classrooms every day. While in-school learning is not possible, we continue to use research-based digital education programs to help our students to stay engaged, providing them with valuable learning experiences, and maintaining some continuity in their lives. The main difference is the method by which these lessons and assignments are delivered. We are confident in the quality of instruction that the School of St. Mary is providing but mindful that these times of uncertainty bring a sense of anxiety.
While the content of what is delivered to your child is similar, a remote learning scheduling is different. We are well aware of the realities of multiple students in the same home, sometimes working with only one device, students working with various teachers, or students having to complete their assignments at different times of the day. Teachers will provide directions and expectations specific to their students that include a suggested schedule for the day, assignments, web-based resources, and other instructions that can support you as you help your child's learning at home.
The School of St. Mary Administration will continue to work with teachers throughout the remote learning period to ensure that both the high expectations to which we hold our students accountable, along with the need for flexible collaboration with families and each other, are in place.
We are working to ensure that the assignments and use of technology are grade-level appropriate. We will be balancing the benefits of the use of technology with the needs of our students and families. Protocols and guidelines aligned with the VIRTUS Program will be followed for the safety and protection of all teachers, students, and families. Please let us know the specific needs or challenges for your child. By informing us of issues, this will help us to better plan for and support our students.
None of this happens without the sacrifice, support, and encouragement of our parents and other family members. We are grateful to you for entrusting your child to us and choosing a Catholic Education. We will continue to build on that legacy in the days ahead and long into the future. A Catholic school student today will become the Catholic school graduate of tomorrow, contributing their gifts and talents.
Productive learning continues to take place at the School of St. Mary through remote learning. Our staff is committed to delivering a robust home-based learning program for as long as it takes to complete our mission for this academic year. With that being said, it is crucial to understand that the School of St. Mary and the Archdiocese of Chicago has committed to continue paying teachers with the closing of the school building and the transition to remote learning. Your child's school tuition is still very much needed. We need to collect tuition to meet our financial obligations to our teachers and staff. Please know we are not trying to impose undue hardships on you during these uncertain times. Still, to maintain the quality of education here at the School of St. Mary, we need to collect the tuition that is due and agreed upon in your contract, which is being fulfilled by the School.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted many families and we understand the sacrifices they make to ensure that their children receive a Catholic school education.
Please know we are not trying to impose undue hardships on anyone. Still, to maintain the high quality of teaching here at the School of St. Mary, we must collect the tuition that is due and agreed upon in your contract.
If there are reasons for or financial circumstances causing non-payment of tuition, please contact either Father Mark or me to discuss this. We are willing to work with you.
We enjoy celebrating the gifts and talents of our students and staff during this time on our
Facebook
and
Instagram
pages. They are full of photos and videos of the teaching and learning that has been happening throughout our School of St. Mary community. Please share the joy to be found in the inspiring images that come to life in these moments as they are captured.
As always, please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Thank you for your continued support in this uncertain time.
Crusader Strong!
Dave Wieters
Principal
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Parent Resources for Remote Learning
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Looking for Online Resources?
Please feel free to take advantage of these resources at any time.
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Roberti House Family Meal Kits
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Providing Hope in the Midst of Crisis
We Need Your Help with Family Meal Kits
Roberti Community House (RCH) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that has been serving the needs of those residing in a distressed neighborhood of Waukegan for 10 years. The services we provide are considered part of the Essential Critical Infrastructure for Human Service Operations.
We have suspended regular programming and have refocused towards providing food to families at risk, as well as first responders. While monetary donations are very much in need to meet the escalating demands of the high-risk population we serve, we have immediate need for meal provisions.
PLEASE HELP US BY PROVIDING THE ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR A
FAMILY MEAL KIT
. OPTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(Note that all Meal Kits will include ground beef, generously provided by our partner "BEEF4HUNGER". We are grateful for their support.)
Pasta Meal (for 8)
- 2 boxes pasta (penne, spaghetti, etc)
- 2 jars pasta sauce
- 2 cans vegetable (green beans, peas, mixed veggies)
- 2 cans fruit
Chili Meal (for 8)
- 2 cans beans (kidney, black, pinto)
- 2 cans diced tomatoes
- 1 pkg chili seasoning mix
- 1 pkg corn bread mix OR tortillas 2 cans fruit
Burger/Sloppy Joe Meal (for 8)
- 1 pkg hamburger buns
- 2 cans Sloppy Joe mix
- 2 cans vegetable (green beans, peas, mixed veggies)
- 2 cans fruit
PLEASE BUNDLE MEAL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A BROWN BAG/BOX TO AID DELIVERY
WHAT NEXT? Delivery of Donation
Through April 30, please assemble your goods and drop of at one of these locations:
MONDAYS 4/20, 4/27
Home of Kristin Keevins, St. Patrick Womens Group volunteer
109 Surrey Lane,
Lincolnshire, IL (off Route 22 and Riverwoods Road)
Drop off area will be clearly marked at the house
WEDNESDAYS, mornings only 4/22, 4/29 St. Patrick Church
991 S. Waukegan Rd.,
Lake Forest, IL
THURSDAYS 4/23, 4/30
Home of Lisa and Gary Doyle, Lake Bluff residents and volunteers at Roberti Community House
545 East Scranton Avenue,
Lake Bluff,
IL
Drop off area will be clearly marked at the house
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Sign up for our newsletter (via website)
DONATE: Roberti Community House accepts:
-
Checks, payable to
Roberti CommunityHouse
-
Venmo(@Roberticommunityhouse)
We sincerely appreciate your support in helping us to provide for this at-risk community.
In this perilous time, the greatest needs are for emergency housing and food. This critical need for food is driving our efforts DAILY. We are grateful for YOU.
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Mobile Therapy Centers Event
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One of the challenges that all parents are facing during the stay-at-home order due to the Covid- 19 pandemic is that school, work, and home are now all in the same location. Your home is a resource for all your family's needs. Think about what changes you may be able to make during these trying days, to have your space work for everyone.
Start by looking at your physical space. For example, do you have a designated area for each family member to do their work? Consider setting up a "school zone" during the day for your children. A simple idea may be to use a table with a cardboard divider to form a workstation for each child. Your children can use their creativity to decorate their workstations, engaging them more fully in the process. By creating separate areas for each child, even at a shared space like a table, you are helping to create structure and boundaries which are important during a time when we can all feel on top of each other. Even young children will be able to understand that when workstations go up, time for school has begun. If each child has their own room to use for studying, creating a physical sign, such as "school in session" to hang on their doors helps children to focus their attention and stay on schedule.
When creating schedules for study time, be sure to incorporate online time for each family member based on the availability of technology in your home. Many schools and businesses are using technology now more than ever to stay connected. Create a family flow chart if turns are needed at a computer. Be sure to monitor when your children are online, to ensure they are engaging in schoolwork during study time. Individual devices such as phones and tablets should be put away when not being used for class lessons, much as if your child were physically in school. Designate screen time based on lessons offered by your school, as well as work meetings you need to attend. Lead by example, adding both parent and child screen times on the family flow chart.
Setting school and work hours for your household can also be helpful in maintaining focus and order. Decide at what time school begins and ends each day. Schedule lunch as a time when everyone can connect during the day and remember to work in physical activity to release energy that can interfere with focus. As possible, go outside for some exercise and sunshine to help lift your mood. When the school day is done, put away "school zones" and bring your family back to "home zone". Dinner together as a family can be a great time to share something that each person learned during the day, encouraging enthusiasm for learning. Dinner can also be a good time to support each other, sharing our feelings of missing peers, social outings, and our worries about how long this situation will last. Be mindful that pre-teens and teenagers can
be particularly moody, as developmentally their peer group is of growing importance as they mature towards independence. Your children are also facing the possibility of missing out on class trips and graduations, and they do not yet have the perspective of life experience to process these disappointments. As parents, you need to encourage
your children to verbalize what they are feeling without judgment. Leading by example and saying that you are also feeling happy, sad, frustrated will encourage your children to open up easier.
A few final suggestions to help both parents and students. Social distancing should not lead to social isolation. Take advantage of all the ways available to stay connected. Reach out to other parents to share ideas. Stay in touch with your child's school to see what resources are available, and to ask for any needed help. Help your children stay connected with their peers; older children usually do not need encouragement in this area, but younger children may need assistance to have a virtual play date. Monitor all your children, looking for signs of stress and depression, which can look like anger, isolation, or apathy in a child. Reach out to your school, your doctor, or to other professionals, if needed. Please remember that many therapists, including Mobile Therapy Centers, offer free consultations and telehealth services. Finally, remember yourself.
Find time to relax and to engage in quiet times and hobbies that you enjoy. Revise expectations to fit current needs - adapt, survive, thrive. Be well.
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New Family Referral Program
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New Family Referral Program:
Would you like to receive a $1,000 tuition credit?
Parents are the best promoters of Catholic education and we want to thank all of you that have recommended the School of St. Mary (SOSM) to your family and friends. Through our New Family Referral Program, you could receive a $1,000 tuition credit for each new family you refer to SOSM who enrolls a full-time student (see Rule #3 below) that is officially admitted to our school and meets all of the admission requirements as well as the rules and regulations listed below.
Here's How It Works!
Parents or guardians will receive a $1,000 tuition credit for each new family they formally refer to SOSM that is accepted based on our current admission requirements. Tuition credits will be applied to the referring family's account after the new student has successfully completed one semester. All referrals must adhere to the New Family Referral Program's rules and regulations.
Who is eligible/ineligible to participate?
- All current parents, guardians, teachers, and staff members who currently pay tuition at SOSM are eligible to participate in this program.
- Referrals of new families enrolling part-time students are very much appreciated but are not eligible for the referral incentive program.
Rules and Regulations
- It is your responsibility to submit a completed New Family Referral Form to SOSM for each new family you refer before the new family formally applies for admission. No exceptions will be made to this requirement. Referrals may not be made retroactively. Forms are available in the SOSM Office or online at www.schoolofstmary.org.
- The referred family cannot already be in our school's database concerning a previous enrollment inquiry, have had children previously enrolled, or currently have siblings at SOSM.
- The new family must enroll a full-time Kindergarten (5K) through 8th grade student at SOSM.
- Regular enrollment criteria must be met. Final decision for family acceptance rests with the recommendation of the Principal of SOSM.
- Students must enroll and successfully complete one semester before tuition credit will be awarded.
- If a new student begins attending school after the academic year has begun, the tuition credit awarded to the referring family will be prorated based on the student's first day of attendance.
- There is no limit to the number of families that you may refer; however, the total tuition credits received may not exceed your current tuition requirement in a given school year.
- If more than one family refers a student, the tuition credit will be divided equally among the referring families.
- The referral incentive program begins immediately; however, the tuition credit will be applied in the 2020-2021 school year, after the new student has successfully completed one semester.
- SOSM retains the right to reevaluate, revise or cancel this program at any time.
If you have any questions, please contact:
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We are now accepting preschool applications for the upcoming 2020-21 school year!
We are excited to offer an additional section of our popular Little Angels Preschool Class. One section will meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and the other on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Families can select their preferred days in the application. Historically, this class has filled quickly, so please apply right away if you are interested.
We are also pleased to offer an All-Day Three-year-old Preschool Program next year. This class will, of course, be developmentally appropriate, including both lunch and a rest period. If you are interested in any of our preschool offerings, please follow these steps:
- Go to factsmgt.com
- Click on the Parent login on the top right corner
- Click on FACTS Family Portal (ParentsWeb) in the top right corner
- Enter our District Code: SOSM-IL
- Enter a user name
- Enter a password
If you are a current family, you already have a portal account as well as a password. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Mandy Castle at 847-295-4830.
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Marketing & Development Committee
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Hello, School of St. Mary parents! We hope you are all healthy and thriving in our limited social existence. While the buildings are closed, and we are (mostly) home-bound, we would like to invite anyone interested in helping to market our school to join our new Marketing & Development Committee. The purpose of the committee is to help distribute information to local press outlets, strategically develop advertisements within our budget, and help show off our recent graduates.
We would like to hold an initial meeting via Zoom in the evening shortly after Easter - time is TBD. If you are interested in joining this committee, please email Mandy Castle,
[email protected] by Thursday, April 24th. We hope you will join us in spreading the word of our wonderful teachers, students and recent graduates.
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Shadow Days for Carmel Catholic, Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican & Woodlands Academy
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- Monday, April 6 - April 30, 2020
- e-Learning. Please have your children check their teachers' websites, Google Classrooms as well as our school website for additional resources here.
- Wednesday, April 29, 2020
- All School Mass Online at 10AM
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AmazonSmile
is a website operated by
Amazon
with the same products, prices, and shopping features as
Amazon
.com. The difference is that when you shop on
AmazonSmile
, the
AmazonSmile
Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the School of St. Mary.
To use amazon smile go to smile.amazon.com and then select School of St. Mary Lake Forest, IL as your organization of choice.
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Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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