Updates for School Closure Due to COVID-19
March 13,2020
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March 12, 2020
As you probably know, the governor has ordered that schools will need to be closed for three weeks. Fortunately for us, one of those weeks is our Spring Break. Students are expected to be in school today, Friday, March 13. When they leave tomorrow each of them will have information as to what learning needs to be done during the nine (9) days away from school. Again, it is 9 days since we do not count the days of Spring Vacation.
Again, teachers will work with their classes tomorrow to review procedures for the packets and books that they will be bringing home. In addition, students in grades 7 and 8 will bring home their Chromebooks to allow students the ability to do work on-line. Again, the teachers will review all these procedures with the students.
Obviously, we expect student work to be completed during this time. Teachers can be accessed through their
cdeducation.org account for additional information or questions. The third quarter will then end today, Friday, March 13. Progress Reports will be sent electronically through School Speak by Tuesday, March 31.
Thank you for your understanding. We will be sending out an additional information sheet tomorrow for our parents and students.
Sincerely,
Janet L. Weisner
Principal
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March 13, 2020
Dear Parents,
All classroom teachers (including Spanish) will be sending home packets of lessons (or on-line materials for students in grades 7 and 8) for students to complete during this time away from school. Working and completing these packets will ensure that standards in all curricular areas can be addressed so when students return to school, we can complete the remainder of the standards in the 4
th quarter. This time away from school should not be considered “free time”. We will be sending home work that addresses the four days that we would have been in school next week, and then the five days (March 30 – April 3) that we would have been back in school. This equates to 9 academic school days. Obviously, we are not expecting work to be done during the previously scheduled spring break (March 23 – 27).
There is an expectation from all teachers that this work packet (or on-line work for grades 7 and 8 students)
will be completed by Monday, April 6. Any work not completed will need to be made up either during lunch or after school upon their return. We are asking parents to ensure that this work during time away from school is completed.
As you would expect from us…..learning continues. To ensure that all academic areas are covered and students are prepared for the next grade, the teachers have spent an enormous amount of time thinking through what this looks like for their students and then gathering materials or creating programs that will ensure continued academic progress.
As always, you are free to contact all teachers through their email accounts if there are questions on the materials or concerns. All students have also had access to the school library today where they were encouraged to take home additional library books to read during this time period.
Thank you for your patience and support. I feel that the classes are well prepared for this extended time away from school and thank our teachers and support staff for their dedication to your children.
Sincerely,
Janet L. Weisner
Principal
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My dear brothers and sisters,
Due to the very serious concerns regarding the spread of the Coronavirus, and the recent order from the Ohio Department of Health banning gatherings of more than 100 people, all parish and school activities (with the exception of holy Mass and weekend confessions) will be canceled at this time until April 7th, or until further notice. This includes all activities including, but not limited to, fish fries, athletic practices and games, religious education classes, the playground dedication and opening, Alpha, Catholicism 101, Stations of the Cross, Thursday Adoration and Confession, Knights of Columbus meetings, Scouts, and all other activities and meetings. In addition, the SPICE St. Patrick's Day Party will be postponed and a later date to be announced soon.
We are also taking the following precautions here within the celebration of holy Mass:
• The distribution of the Precious Blood during the Eucharist is temporarily suspended.
• The exchange of the optional Sign of Peace is temporarily suspended.
• All holy water removed from the fonts
We will send emails out as soon as anything changes, and we will also post the latest information on our website's home page
www.stcatharine.com.
Please continue to pray for all of those affected by this illness and for all of our healthcare workers.
Let us pray,
Lord our God,
in answer to the prayers
of the Blessed and ever Virgin Mary in her glory,
grant us, Your servants,
unfailing health in body and in mind,
freedom from sorrow in this life,
and everlasting joy in heaven.
We pray this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Fr. Dury
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March 12, 2020
RE: Coronavirus Update from the Catholic Bishops of Ohio
Dear Friends in Christ,
This afternoon Governor Mike DeWine issued an executive order regarding the avoidance of large mass gatherings to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in Ohio.
Even though religious gatherings are expressly excluded in the order, the Catholic bishops of Ohio, out of concern for the common good and the physical as well as spiritual well-being of all of the people of Ohio, have agreed to cooperate with the governor’s direction to create “social distance”.
To that end, we
dispense the Catholic faithful who reside in Ohio and all other Catholics currently in Ohio from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass
for the weekends of
March 14-15, March 21-22 and March 28-29
.
Out of charity and concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ,
we encourage all the faithful, in particular those who are sick, experiencing symptoms of illness, or are at risk of illness seriously to consider refraining from Mass attendance.
As much as possible, we would like to see parish Mass schedules remain unchanged to allow the faithful to offer worship to almighty God and receive the great grace of the sacraments during this trying time; however, we recognize that this may not be possible because many of our senior priests may themselves be at risk. We ask for understanding and flexibility in this regard.
Please join us in praying for all who are suffering from illness or disease of any kind, and for an easing of the tension caused by this situation. May Our Lady of Lourdes, Health of the Sick and Mother of Mercy, intercede for us, and may the Holy Spirit continue to guide and protect us all.
Respectfully,
Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr
Chairman Catholic Conference of Ohio
Archbishop of Cincinnati
Most Rev. Joseph R. Binzer
Auxiliary Bishop Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Most Rev. Robert J. Brennan
Bishop of Columbus
Most Rev. Jeffrey Monforton
Bishop of Steubenville
Most Rev. George V. Murry,
S.J. Bishop of Youngstown
Rev. Donald P. Oleksiak
Diocesan Administrator of Cleveland
Most Rev. Daniel E. Thomas
Bishop of Toledo
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- March 13 - End of 3rd Quarter
- March 19 - Community Night - TAT - 3p - 10p
- March 20 - Deadline for FACTS Diocesan Tuition Aid Application
- April 6 - School is scheduled to resume
- April 7 - Flower Sale paper orders and money due
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Important FACTS information
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All applications for Diocese of Columbus Tuition Assistance for school year 2020-2021 must be submitted online by
March 20th
at
www.factstuitionaid.com This is the process you must use to be considered for Parish Assistance as well.
The supporting documentation must also be postmarked by
March 20th
. There is a $35.00 application fee which must accompany the application (which will be credited toward your tuition for next year). Only one application per family is required. This is a firm deadline as the Diocese will not accept anything beyond
March 20th
.
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For families who are using FACTS for this current school year (2019-2020), you will be automatically re-enrolled for next year. Please do not set up another account.
The FACTS re-enrollment fee for 2020-2021 is $45 and it is the only fee they charge for using their system to spread your tuition payments out from July through May
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SCRIP orders are in full swing. Still not sure how SCRIP can help you? Check out these testimonials from families in other programs:
ShopWithScrip. Family Testimonies
Don't forget
physical card orders
are available each FULL week of school, order placed
Monday
will then be delivered that Friday in students backpacks.
Upcoming Physical Gift Card Order Dates
:
- April 20
- April 27
- May 4
- May 11
- May 18
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All Athletic Games and Practices are postponed through April 7
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(614.236.1392)
will be hosting Community/Carry-out Night.
In light of the current situation this is a CARRY-OUT only event. They will be generously donating 30% of all our sales back to St. Catharine Home & School. Don't forget the
flyer!
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Creative Activities Programs
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CAP dates will shift to accommodate for our extended Spring Break.
START DATE 4/14
END DATE 5/22
Creative Activities Program (CAP) is in need of volunteers to help lead clubs for the spring session.
Clubs are open to grades 1-8 and one day a week after school from approximately 3pm to 4pm. The spring session dates are from April 14th to May 22nd.
Please consider giving an hour per week on the day of your choice to lead a club. This would be a great way to earn volunteer hours and can be anything from Legos to gardening to science club. I am happy to help with any ideas and materials to get your club started. We also will reimburse you for all materials used.
Our students really enjoy participating in after school clubs but it is essential for parent involvement to keep these clubs going.
Potential ideas
Archery, Board games, Dodgeball, Lego (CAP has a large collection of Legos for use), Puzzles, Rocket Building/STEM, Sewing
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Playground Dedication & Blessing
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**Flower Sale Update**
Due to the mandated school closure, we have extended the deadline for the flower sale:
All paper orders/money are due
Tuesday, April 7
Online ordering continues through Friday, April 24
All checks must made payable to St. Catharine school. Thank you for supporting our school!
Thanks for supporting our school.
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We hope you enjoy the Irish Insider. For consideration in future editions, please email
info@stcathschool.com
by
12pm Monday
for the Wednesday edition.
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614.235.1396
info@stcathschool.com
www.stcatharineschool.com
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