Dear St. Rita Parents and Guardians,
In response to the recent school violence issues that have been occurring in the Hamden and New Haven schools, our incoming Pastor, Fr. Christopher Tiano, will be holding a prayer vigil this Sunday, December 12 at 5:00 P.M. at St. Rita Church. Hamden area parents, students, grandparents, and community members are invited to attend. Let’s come together as a prayerful community to ask God for a positive outcome during this very challenging time in Hamden. Please share this information with your family, neighbors and friends as we welcome anyone who would like to be a part of this prayer vigil to join Fr. Tiano.
Yesterday your child’s report card for the first trimester was sent home. Please be sure to sign the envelope and return only the envelope to your child’s teacher. Enclosed with your child’s report card was a letter from our school board chairman, Ben Amarone, asking for your assistance with a special project for our wonderful faculty and staff. Thank you for taking the time to read the letter. Your support of this project would be greatly appreciated.
Tomorrow is PJ Day for Kids at St. Rita School. For a donation of $1.00 or more your child may wear his/her PJ’s to school. No slippers please. The money donated will be sent to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in support of those brave children battling cancer.
Please keep our second grade students in your prayers this week. On Friday, many of the students will be receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time. Thank you to Mrs. Gertz, Mrs. Bonini, Mrs. Landino, and Mrs. Halloran for preparing our students for this very important step in their faith journey.
Our winter sports season has started and I want to remind all our parents, students and coaches that at this time, regardless of your child’s vaccination status, masks must be worn at all times including when your child is actively playing. All spectators must wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. Thank you for your assistance in keeping all our athletes safe from COVID.
Next Tuesday (Grades 4 & 5, Band and Choir) and Wednesday (Grades K-3) we will be hosting our annual Christmas Concert and Nativity Pageant. Both programs will take place in the afternoon and will be held at the church. Children who are participating in the concert and play may dress in their holiday best. Grade 3 students will follow their teacher’s direction for appropriate dress for their respective costumes. Seating for our guests is limited to the back section of the church due to COVID restrictions. No more than 2 guests per child are allowed and all guests must be masked. We hope to live stream both performances and will send out that information next week. The program will begin at approximately 1:15 and should last no more than one hour. Parents may take their child/ren home after the performance.
With the winter season quickly approaching, our thoughts turn to snow days. We have 5 inclement weather days built into our school calendar so we will be taking snow days this winter. Snow days are a childhood tradition and are meant to be a day children can sleep in and then go outside to play in the snow. Should we have a more severe winter and exceed our 5 snow days, all students and teachers will switch to remote learning when school is closed due to snow.
Thank you for entrusting your child/ren to our care. May this season of Advent remind you of the Hope, Joy, Love and Peace found in Christ. Be well and stay safe.
God Bless,
Mrs. Tiezzi
