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 SRS Families,

I would like to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for your understanding and support over the past few days. When we opened for fulltime in-person instruction on September 1 we understood it was only a matter of time before a positive COVID case occurred within our school community despite all the precautions, protocols and procedures we have put into place and practice daily. I am most appreciative of how quickly everyone responded to the decision to close school for a few days in order to clean, communicate and conduct contract tracing.

Through this experience we have learned that some of our families were not receiving the multiple communications via text, phone call and email that we have been sending out. We do apologize and believe we have worked out all the kinks in our messaging system. Please do not block or unsubscribe to communication from St. Rita School. Also, periodically check your spam folder as sometimes the communication ends up there. Finally please be sure your contact information is listed correctly on our family portal. If you need to update any of your contact information you may do so via your parent portal family information page. Updated information is uploaded to our student messaging system nightly.

Yesterday our middle school students participated in remote learning as they have Chromebook devices which they take home nightly. I wanted to determine how quickly we could switch from in-person to remote learning and I am pleased to say that the quick switch went fairly well. The only continuing issues we have are the strength of the wifi in students’ homes. We are recommending the following wifi speeds for remote learning at any time to be successful. The minimum suggested internet speed for one person doing distance learning is a download speed of 6 mpbs. The suggested internet speed for one person is 30 mbps. However, please remember that other devices in your home may be using internet at the same time (TV’s, thermostats, iPads, cell phones, etc.). For each additional connection, additional speed is required. If more than one child will be distance learning, or an adult in your household will be working from home, additional download speed would be required for all devices to work appropriately. Please refer to the remote learning guidelines below if your child is participating in remote learning at anytime. Thank you for your assistance.

Conferences are scheduled for tomorrow, October 9 and Tuesday, October 13. These days are also early dismissal days. On early dismissal days dismissal will begin at 11:55 for PreK students and their siblings and the rest of the school will be dismissed beginning at 12:00 in 5 minute increments based on your last name. Aftercare will be open tomorrow only and not on Tuesday due to low enrollment numbers. On Monday, October 12 St. Rita School will be closed for the holiday.

Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and have a relaxing and restful holiday weekend. Once again thank you for your support, please be well and stay safe.


God Bless,
Mrs. Tiezzi
Principal

A Note for Band Students
Even though Tuesday is an early dismissal day, there will be band. Please remember to bring your instrument to school on Tuesday.
Rules & Regulations for Remote Learning
In keeping with the guidelines and protocols for re-opening St. Rita School, the following requirements pertain to those students who have chosen to learn from home or need to learn from home for health-related issues:

1.      Students will begin on-line learning at 8:15 AM (PreK at 8:30), with the expectation to end at the close of the scheduled school day - 2:30 PM for Pre-Kindergarten and 2:35 PM for grades Kindergarten to eight. Successful completion of assignments and readiness for assessment is contingent upon full participation in the school day. Each grade level will follow an appropriate classroom schedule throughout the day; students learning from home will be included in all activities and their participation incorporated into the workings of the school day.

Classroom schedules will include:   
       Instructional Time
       Specials
       Breaks for snack, lunch and recess

Schedules will differ grade to grade and will be explained fully by your child’s classroom teacher.

2. Attendance - will be taken in grades PreK3-5, and each class period in middle school. Student records will indicate that students attended remote live-streamed learning classes. Parents are required to notify the teacher and the school office if their child will be absent, and provide a reason. 

3. Students should be set-up for learning in a designated spot, seated in a chair (not in bed or on the floor).

4. All materials and supplies should be ready for the day’s assignments.

5. Students at home must be using a school provided device, with the camera on at all times, and microphone muted when instructed by the teacher.

6. Students will be dressed in their regular school uniform (gym uniform on gym days only), without any non-uniform attire or unacceptable hair styles.

7. While online, students will not be eating or chewing gum. Please provide your child with a water bottle to keep them properly hydrated.

8. No pets or siblings should be distracting students while on-line as they are in a school learning environment. Students should not be playing with toys or on another technology device (such as a tablet or cell phone).

9. Teachers will schedule breaks for on-line students concurrent with classroom breaks, including, but not limited to, snack, lunch, recess and bathroom use.

10.  For health and safety reasons, in-person extra-curricular activities, including, but not limited to, sports, the play, and choir, are not conducive for students choosing to learn from home. When possible, clubs suitable to on-line participation will be available to all students.

11.  Teacher-prepared materials for each succeeding week will be available for pick-up on Friday afternoon between 3:00 and 5:00 PM. Parents are responsible to pick-up needed materials on Friday in order for your child to be prepared for learning the following week. Should no additional materials be needed for the upcoming week the teacher will communicate that to parents in advance. 

12.   Scheduling for students learning from home will be adjusted per the school calendar.

13. Teachers will contact parents with instructions and necessary information regarding your child's distance learning. Technology devices, textbooks, and additional materials will be ready for pick-up at school.

14. Parents choosing to have their child(ren) return to in-school learning may do so ONLY at the end of a trimester (late November, early March).


Nurse's Corner
COVID-19 Protocol From the Health Office 

If your child is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 especially feeling feverish, measured temp 100.4 or more, chills, uncontrolled new cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, loss of taste and/or smell we ask that you:

  1. Notify the office that your child will be out sick and call your child’s pediatrician. They will let you know whether or not a test is warranted.
  2. After speaking with your pediatrician please call the office back and ask to speak with the nurse. The nurse will need to document who is getting tested and for what symptoms. 
  3. If the pediatrician does not feel a test is needed, your child can return to school with a doctors note once they are feeling better.
  4. Once you get the test results please inform the nurse.
  5. If your child tests NEGATIVE for COVID-19, they will need a doctors note Along with the test results in order to return to school. 
  6. If your child tests POSITIVE, please notify the school immediately and proper protocol will be followed. 
  7. If you obtain positive results after school hours, please email Mrs. Tiezzi (ptiezzi.stritaschool@gmail.com) and the nurse (lpalma.stritaschool@gmail.com)
  8. If your child travels with you to any of the states listed on the travel advisory they will need to be quarantined for 14 days or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to return to school. The rapid test is not acceptable. 
  9. If a parent living with the child travels to a state listed on the travel advisory they will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before the child can return to school. Again, a rapid test is not acceptable. 

Thank you for your continued support. 
Lisa Palma, RN
Saint Rita School Nurse 
HSA
Visit amazonsmile.com, and anytime you purchase an eligible item, Amazon will 
      donate a portion of the profit to our school! Select “Divine Mercy Parish
      Corporation” as your charity, and St. Rita School will benefit every time you shop. 

Link your Stop & Shop Card to St. Rita School, and we’ll earn
CASH when you
     buy groceries! Click here and use School ID: 06434.


Link your ShopRite Price Plus card to St. Rita School, and help us earn school     supplies! Click here and use School ID: 50073, or email your PricePlus card number to Alice Kuether, alicemcgrew23@hotmail.com.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
Athlete's Corner
Fall Soccer Information
Fall Intramural soccer will start this week. Please make sure
you check your emails for details about required forms
and upcoming practices.  
 
 
Cross Country Information
We are still working out the details.   
Information to follow soon. 

Prayer Corner

Please remember the
Walsh Family in your prayers
Click HERE to access the Weekly Health Screening Questionnaire
St. Rita School
1601 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 248.3114
Fax: (203) 248.1016
www.stritaschool.org