Weekly Newsletter: 11/8/2021 |
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COVID-19 Update from the Headmaster |
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COVID-19 Update (every three weeks): The number of parent-reported, confirmed cases has decreased substantially in the past week-plus. As of Monday morning, November 8th, 2021, we have a total of 1 positive case that has been reported to us (in 4th grade).
Important Adjustments to Daily Student Health Checklist: The week of October 25th-29th, we decided to convene a small committee of four people with expertise in the medical field to discuss our (at that time) elevated number of COVID-19 cases as well as any amendments to our approach in Phase 5 (including a phase change). We did so on Thursday (10/28) evening after Parent/Teacher Conferences.
We established two main goals for this school year:
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Keep our school open every school day for all healthy students to continue to get the Saint Agnes Education we have.
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Give our students as normal a school experience as possible while protecting our most vulnerable community members.
The committee recommended the following (which the Saint Agnes School Administration has decided to adopt):
- Work hard at keeping sick students out of the school, and send sick kids home (those who should not be here due to illness). We cannot achieve our two goals without this most important protocol.
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Make amendments to our “Saint Agnes Daily Student Health Checklist” (see adjusted checklist here or below for further modification of Phase 5).
- Request that our community keep at the forefront of our minds/prayers the need to be both flexible and charitable to protect our community from confusion and division.
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Parental Reporting of Positive Cases: In addition to the committee’s recommendations, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) informed us that we are required by Minnesota Statute 4605.7050 to report positive cases to them—a legal requirement that we confirmed with an attorney for our school. Given that we have not required that information from our families, we have decided to put an online portal in place for people to report positive COVID tests to the school.
To Report a Case:
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Click on the link here or below to go to the "Parents" page of our website.
- Scroll down to "Parent Resources" and click on the "Positive COVID-19 Test Reporting" Tab to report a case to us. Fill out the form, click "Submit," and the information will be sent directly to our front office.
- On their website portal, the MDH requires us to provide the name of the attendee as well as the person’s birth date. When parents choose to share this information by putting it into the portal, we are required to report it to the MDH.
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Student Vaccination, Saint Agnes, and the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis: Saint Agnes School and the Archdiocese will not require students to get the COVID-19 vaccine, which has recently received the FDA’s emergency approval use as an experimental vaccine. On a memo from the Archdiocesan Office of the Chancellor for Civil Affairs and the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education, we were informed that, “As with all vaccines, (COVID-19) vaccination of school-age children is a decision of parents and is not mandated by Catholic schools or the Archdiocese.” Furthermore, the memo quoted that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Affirms that ‘all vaccinations recognized as clinically safe and effective can be used in good conscience’ and it is ‘morally acceptable’ for Catholics to take a COVID-19 vaccine.” For more information, take a look at this article from the Catholic Spirit.
Thank you: Thank you for your help and support for our goals and adjustments. Let us continue to ask God for unity, compassion, and protection--as well as confidence-- in the Lord in the face of fears.
“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless.”
-St. Padre Pio
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UPDATE: Food Pantry Re-Opening 11/9
God is good! The Pantry is back open tomorrow after we had anticipated having to close for a while due to supply chain issues with our hot lunch program. We were able to secure more refrigeration options thanks to Bob Collett in our Business Office and Jordan Kern in Maintenance.
We are delighted to be back in business tomorrow, Nov. 9th, for Saint Agnes families. Questions? Please contact Mrs. Becki Berthiaume.
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Daycare Help Needed for Faculty
We are seeking additional daycare/babysitting support for our faculty members as our Aggie family grows! If you are interested in or are currently hosting daycare/babysitting services and have spots available, please contact Michael Adkins to let him know of your interest.
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Moonshine Abbey--Get Your Discounted Tickets Today!
Saint Agnes has once again partnered with Missed the Boat Theatre! As a way to thank our community for allowing them to utilize our space, Missed the Boat Theatre would like to offer Saint Agnes School families a 20% discount on tickets to their upcoming production, Moonshine Abbey.
20% Discount Code: “stagfams”
Please do not share this code with others--this code is meant for Saint Agnes School Families only. Thank you!
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All-School Fundraiser – Kicking Off Soon!
Our one and only all school fundraiser is quickly approaching! You should have received a letter in the mail this past week outlining the details and requirements for our families to make this a successful fundraiser.
Last year there was much excitement for the weekly incentive drawings and we expect to see that again this year!
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December Concert Dates
December 12th, 4PM: Choir Lessons & Carols
December 13th, 6:30PM: K-3 Concert
December 14th, 7PM: 4-6 Concert
December 16th, 7PM: 5-12 Band Concert
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"Technology, Social Media, Screen Time, and Parenting" -- Free Upcoming Webinar
November 22nd, 7PM
Webinar Summary: This session will focus on the latest research on use of social media and technology. It will also help us understand the relationship between brain development and what drives the need to feel connected online as well as those areas of big concern like pornography and algorithms that target adolescent vulnerabilities. Parenting tips will be offered.
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Saint Agnes Upper School Showcase Notice
Know any families interested in getting more information on the Upper School (7th-12th grade) here at Saint Agnes? To shed light on the great things happening in our Upper School, we will be hosting an Upper School Showcase (formerly known as open house) for prospective families on Tuesday, November 30th at 6:00PM.
Interested families are welcome to come in for an individual visit through the Admissions Office and/or attend the showcase. Please help us spread the word to good friends and family!
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Reminder: 5th Grade Virtue Assembly Date Change
If you haven't already, please mark your calendars: the 5th Grade Virtue Assembly has been moved to this Friday, November 12th at 9:30AM.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR WINTER SPORTS
All Winter Sports registration closes Friday, November 12th.
Register by tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9th, to avoid a $25 Late Fee.
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Upcoming Co-op Team Information Meetings
Boys Swimming (High School Only): Monday, November 8, 6:30 pm
Saint Anthony Village High School, Room 201
3303 33rd Avenue, St. Anthony, MN
Boys Hockey: Co-op with St. Paul Academy
Girls Hockey: Co-op with Minnehaha Academy
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See the Saint Agnes athletic calendar for all times, locations, and livestreams for this week's games.
See the attached flyer for more information regarding busing, Covid-19 policies, and the NFHS Network.
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Important November Dates
Nov. 11: 5th/6th Grade Confessions
Nov. 12: 3rd/4th Grade Confessions
5th Grade Virtue Assembly
Nov. 17: Aggie Give Day
Nov. 23: Car Raffle Kick Off
Nov. 24-26: No School, Thanksgiving Break
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FAFSA – Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Are you thinking about college or life after high school, but you're unsure of how to pay for it? The process can feel intimating, but you’re not alone! FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opened on October 1st. For more information, visit https://www.studentaid.gov.
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Create Your Legal Will for Free ($1,000 value!)
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Forming Catholic Hearts & Minds in Faith, Reason, & Virtue |
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