Summer Insider – August 18, 2023 | |
Back To School Bash – Tonight – August 18th – 5PM to 8PM
Don’t forget – tonight is our Back To School Bash from 5PM to 8PM. The Knights of Columbus will serve hamburgers and hot dogs in the Cafeteria, and inflatables will be set up in the gym. We will also have some music and beer out on the Pavilion - so come out and let's reconnect and kick off the 2023-2024 school year. While at the Back To School Bash, families will have the opportunity to sign up for the Booster Club and view this year’s Booster Club items.
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Family Learning
The Skilled Student
Your child has been participating in an innovative program designed to highlight and improve executive function skills called FocusWeek. FocusWeek is part of the ongoing initiative we began last school year called The Skilled Student. This program is designed to help students develop the necessary skills for performing to the best of their abilities in school and life. To support students in developing executive functioning skills involves focused effort from parents, teachers, and of course, the students themselves. The information linked below is provided to help parents gain a big-picture perspective of some of the skills which are being taught for your child’s grade level. To learn more about The Skilled Student and hear from Dr. Harrison, please join us on Thursday, September 7th at 8:15 a.m. Click here to watch a brief video by Dr. Harrison about the Skilled Student Initiative and FocusWeek.
Learning Commons Literacy Corner
Please click here for our weekly Learning Commons Literacy Corner updates including the quote of the week, vocabulary word of the week, and the high frequency words of the week.
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Student Safety Drills
Please note the following student safety drills will be conducted on the following dates.
Test of IRIS Emergency Alert System – Monday, Aug. 22nd
St. Cecilia Catholic School will conduct a test of the school’s IRIS Emergency Alert system at lunchtime on Monday, August 21st. The message will indicate that it is a test of the system. If you do not receive an IRIS Alert test via text message and/or phone call and email by 5PM, Monday, August 21st, please assist us by filling out this online form.
Thursday, August 24th - August Fire Drill
This coming Thursday, August 24th the school will conduct our first monthly fire drill of the year. We do not typically announce Fire Drills in advance to families or students; however, since we are doing the fire drill and lockdown drill within a few days, we wanted to communicate this to families to prevent any confusion regarding our upcoming drills.
Tuesday, August 29th - Lockdown Drill
On Tuesday, August 29th the school will conduct a Lockdown Drill. During our August inservice, Faculty and Staff had updated trainings and reviewed our Crisis Management plans. The drill on August 29th will be an opportunity for us to test our crisis management plan and also an opportunity for families to talk to their students regarding these drills in advance. Please click here for some helpful information on how to talk to your children about these drills.
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Java With Jeff Sessions
The annual beginning of the school year “Java With Jeff” sessions will be held on the following dates below for the grades listed. All parents are invited to attend. The meetings will be recorded and shared the Friday of each week in the Insider.
- Tuesday, August 22nd - PK3 - Kindergarten
- Wednesday, August 23rd - 8th Grade
- Thursday, August 24th - 1st - 4th Grades
- Tuesday, August 29th - 5th - 7th Grades
Please note – the 8th Grade Java With Jeff session includes a lot of helpful information for families on the High School Admissions process. We strongly encourage at least one parent from each family to attend.
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Carpool and Backpack Tag Re-Order Form
If you did not already submit a request to receive new / additional carpool and/or backpack tags, please fill out this form.
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Cafeteria and Setting Up Dining Pay
Please download and read the 2023 – 2024 ECI letter to parents here with information on their cafeteria program for St. Cecilia Catholic School. You can setup and manage your child’s Dining Pay account on ECI’s Dining Pay system.
If you need to setup a new Dining Pay account, you will need your child’s Student ID. In order to access a list of Student ID’s please login to FACTS. Under “School” select “Resource Documents”. The list of the student names and ID#’s is available on that list called “Student ID Report August 2023”.
Helpful Cafeteria & ECI Links
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Heat and Outdoor Activities
Please view this guideline - Heat and Heat Index and Cold Weather Guidelines for Elementary and Middle Schools - that the Archdiocese sent to all of the schools regarding the current weather and heat advisory warnings.
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Yearbooks
Yearbooks are in and will be sent home on Friday, August 18th. Please note: if you had an 8th grader that graduated last year, your book will be held for a special yearbook signing party for that class (more information to come). If you would like your book sent home with a sibling, please email. Click HERE for a list of those families that have already purchased a copy of the yearbook. There are a limited number of copies available for those that did not order yet. Click HERE to order!
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1st and 2nd Grade Parents Lunch and Learn: Standards-Based Learning - Tuesday, August 22nd - 12:00PM
As we communicated at the end of last school year, we are implementing a standards-based approach to assessment, grading, and reporting in 1st and 2nd grade. We are excited to share more with parents and answer questions 1st and 2nd grade parents may have regarding Standards-Based Assessment and Grading, during a virtual Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, August 22 at 12:00PM. A Zoom link will be sent out closer to the event. You can review our handbook for “Understanding Standards Based Assessment and Grading” prior to the Zoom here.
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Meet The Teacher Night - Thursday, August 31st - 6:30PM - 8:30PM
Please mark your calendars for our annual Meet the Teacher Night at St. Cecilia Catholic School for Thursday, August 31st from 6:30PM to 8:30PM. The event is an opportunity for our parents to meet their child(ren)’s classroom teacher(s) and visit their classroom(s). It is also an opportunity to hear from our Principal, Mr. Matthews regarding the new school year. Meet the Teacher Night is intended to give parents (this is a parent-only event) a realistic understanding of the expectations, procedures, routines, and learning experiences their child(ren) will have this year. Parents will be experiencing first-hand what makes our school so special. More information will be shared soon on the schedule for the evening.
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Fall Sports Sign Up & Pre-Participation Medical Physicals | |
Fall Sports Interest Form
The beginning of the school year is fast approaching, and so is the start of middle school athletics. Parents, if you still need to do so, please fill out the sports interest form if you would like to add your child to a fall sport (Cross Country, Football, Soccer, or Volleyball). Those who have already been contacted for fall sports do not need to fill out this Google form. Please note that our Cross Country team is the ONLY fall sports team to allow athletes to begin in 3rd grade. All of our other fall school sports require students to be in 6th-8th grade. Feel free to email Ashley Gomila at agomila@saintceilia.org if you have any questions about athletics.
Required Physical and Pre-Participation Form
Please remember that all our sports require an annual Pre-Participation form filled out by a doctor and parent before your son or daughter may participate in the first practice, including any team tryouts. So please make sure to get this form completed and then scanned and uploaded here as soon as possible.
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After School Enrichment Opportunities
We offer a variety of fee-based programs each year, such as Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Chess, Art, Dance, Fencing, and Soccer are offered from outside vendors. Please click here to see the opportunities that we have confirmed for the year so far. The list is currently being updated, and the page on the website will be updated over the next few days with additional vendor information.
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Parish Sports - Soccer Registration Now Open
We are looking forward to a great new year!
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Moms In Prayer
Moms! Want to make an eternal difference in your children’s lives? My name is Melinda Lynch, and I would love for you to join me for a power hour of prayer! Moms in Prayer is a ministry where we pray with another mom for our kids and our school, impacting them for Christ! This hour will change your prayer life forever, and you will find peace and relief from anxiety and worry as a mom.
What’s unique about a Moms in Prayer group?
- We start and end on time and pray for one hour. (We can visit afterward!)
- We pray our children’s names in the scripture verse so we know we are praying God’s will!
- We keep what we pray confidential!
Please watch this powerful video about the impact of this ministry.
Join us on Friday mornings beginning September 8th after drop off from 8-9:00AM in the Youth Room because if you’re not praying for your kids, who is? Learn more about this international prayer ministry here.
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RCIA Registration
Registration for RCIA is taking place until August 31st. Formation will begin Tuesday, September 5th. If you are interested or would like more information, call the Church office and speak with Claudia Somerville.
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If you are experiencing a hardship of any kind please contact the HSA Caring Committee for support or prayer requests. They are here to help!
The HSA Caring Committee is a volunteer group that supports St. Cecilia Catholic School families who are dealing with illness, death, or crisis.
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Our mission at St Cecilia Catholic School is the ongoing Catholic formation and education of the whole child in mind, heart, and spirit, in preparation for an adult life of commitment and service. | | | | |
