Dear Morning Star Families and Friends,
This week will be a busy one! We have tried to keep our Christmas traditions alive this year despite COVID. We decorated our classroom doors, put up our Christmas tree and decorations, and displayed our Advent wreaths and calendars. Our at home and in person students are very excited about all the Christmas activities in their classrooms.
Our Wolfson Children’s Hospital toy drive is going on until Wednesday, December 16th. If you are able to send in a new unwrapped toy it would be greatly appreciated. Coach Whitson will have her annual Winterfest Run on campus this week with junior high and high school students. On Thursday the entire school will sing Christmas carols and enjoy individually wrapped birthday cake for Baby Jesus, which is a Morning Star tradition. Santa will arrive Friday morning to say hello to all students. Also on Friday Primary, Intermediate Prep, and Intermediate 2 & 3 will have afternoon Christmas parties in their rooms.
Remember: Friday is a full day and a non-uniform day. Report cards will be emailed out and a copy of your child’s individual support plan will go home with your child on Friday.
Due to the approaching Christmas holiday, with gatherings of family and friends, we can expect an increase in COVID cases. I cannot stress enough how important it will be to continue social distancing, wearing masks, and handwashing during the holiday. It is vital that our students stay safe and healthy over Christmas break. We would love to start the second semester on January 5th with healthy students. The COVID-19 Travel Recommendations ,issued by the CDC, is information worth reading and keeping in mind as we approach the holidays.
In the Fall, Morning Star was able to offer face to face learning as well as distance learning to our students. Distance learning unfortunately has not been the most effective way of learning for many of the remote learners compared to in-person learning. Plus, they have sacrificed the much needed in-person interaction with the classroom teachers and peers.
The emergency order that was given through the Florida Department of Education will expire, December 15th. Recently the governor and the Florida Department of Education decided to continue this optional remote learning program. The Diocese has likewise granted permission for us to continue this program.
In light of this new order, Morning Star School will continue to offer a virtual learning option for families in the second semester. Parents who chose distance learning for their students during the fall semester will need to let me know if your student plans to return to campus for the spring semester starting on January 5th or if you would like them to continue with distance learning. It is my greatest hope that all Morning Star students will opt for in-person learning.
I wish you and your family a most blessed holiday,
