Hello St. Catharine Families:
It was beginning to feel a lot like Fall and then we remembered we live in Ohio so who knows what the weather will bring in the coming weeks.
Our students and staff are settling in and our schedules are being solidified. We are starting to hit our stride as a school as our day-to-day operations look more "normal."
Health and safety remain a top concern but our focus will continue to be how we can better serve and support our students. This works best when the students, the staff, and the parents are all on the same page.
Lunch and Water Bottles
Please make sure your child is brining a water bottle to school. Also, if your child is packing a lunch, please make sure they pack a drink other than their water bottle to drink at lunch. Students have not been brining their water bottles to recess.
COVID-19
One of the factors the Diocese is monitoring is the 7-Day Average Case Rate in Franklin County per 100,000. As of now, we are at 280. Once that number get below 100 (like it was before school started), the Diocesan task force will make a decision on how to move forward.
We will continue to take the necessary precautions to keep everyone healthy and safe. Please keep doing the following.
- Keep your child home if they are sick.
- Notify the school as soon as possible if you have a positive case.
- Please quarantine if you are waiting for COVID test results.
- Get your child tested 5 days after exposure.
Some steps we are taking to mitigate risk:
- We are adding more air purifiers with HEPA filters to each classroom.
- We are in the process of replacing our HVAC filters at the school.
- We are reinforcing proper hand hygiene for every grade.
- We are encouraging students not to touch their faces, not pick to their noses, to cover their coughs and sneezes, etc.
- We have ordered lightweight triple-ply masks to distribute to students and staff.
- We now have home-testing kits for families who have had a COVID-19 exposure.
Student Dress Code Observations:
There are so many ways our amazing students can stand out with their kind words and virtuous actions. Violations of dress codes are not the best way to stand out. There are a few items, in particular, I want to bring to your attention.
Boys: Hairstyles should not cover the eyebrows, ears, or collar of the shirt. Please make sure your son's hairstyle adheres to the student dress code. Please make haircut arrangements as soon as possible.
Girls: As a reminder, girls should not wear make-up, only have one (non-dangly) earring per ear, and only clear nail polish.
Verbal warnings for dress-code violations will start this week. Thank you for your cooperation.
Parent-Student Handbook
Photo Release Form
Music Reminder:
UPDATED TIMES: Both Choir and Jazz Ensemble will start on September 22nd and September 23rd respectively.
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Student Choir: Wednesdays at 7:15 AM in the Music Room
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Jazz Ensemble: Thursdays at 7:15 AM in the Music Room
Please contact Dr. Ross Williams at rwilliams@cdeducation.org
Education in Virtue
Our Virtue for this week is Courtesy (Polite & Respectful). Courtesy is one of the related virtues of Justice.
Courtesy refers to treating people with respect, recognizing that all are made in God's image and likeness.
Today we used Courtesy as a way to pray when we aren't sure how by using Pope Francis' 3 suggestions.
1.) Say Sorry. Ask for forgiveness for what you have done wrong and guidance for what you can do better.
2.) Say Thank You. Be grateful for all of the blessings that you have in your life.
3.) Say Please. Ask God to help you and your family stay safe and guide you to be the best person you can be... more like Jesus.
May God Bless all of you and your families during this time.
Yours in Christ,
Mark Watts
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. – Isaiah 43:2
