Irish Insider

We hope you enjoy the Irish Insider. For consideration in future editions, please email info@stcathschool.com by 12pm Monday for the Wednesday edition.

Thoughts with Mr. Watts

Twenty-nine years ago today, I walked off of a bus, stood on a set of yellow footprints, and started my United States Marine Corps Recruit Training at Paris Island, SC. It was one of the many challenges and milestones in my life. We all have those obstacles we need to overcome and it should be a reminder that the journey is judged on how far we have come in our lives and not a final destination.

The first week of February is always a special time for me personally. Yesterday was also the 20 year mark for my mother of becoming sober and free from alcohol addiction. God works in wonderful ways and he was able to help her defeat one demon to prepare her to fight Breast Cancer a year later. She has recovered from both and it's another lesson that God will not give you anything you both can't handle together.

As we prayed a decade of the rosary today for our country, I wanted to bring together the ideas and values we can all rally together around. The month of February starts with Catholic Schools week, celebrates Black History in our country, and finishes with the beginning of Lent. As we pray for healing, unity, and solidarity in our country, we must understand that what makes us all different in our community and country, is much less significant than what unites us in Christ and as Americans. They are not one in the same, but share the same values. Let us show empathy to the challenges we all face with compassion and grace.

Who's on my socks? Well, my plan didn't go as planned. Most of our students did not know who Mr. Rogers was, at least by looking at his picture on my socks. However, it did give me a chance to talk about him with some of our students. He was my hero when I was 5 and then became my hero again after I turned 45. The world needs more Mr. Rogers.

If anyone in your household would have a Positive COVID-19 test result, you must notify Mr. Watts by calling (614) 949-7713 as soon as possible, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

If anyone in your household has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or is awaiting a COVID-19 test, the rest of the household must quarantine for 10 days or until the test results come back negative. Please call the school office as soon as possible in this situation. at (614) 235-1396.

We are required to post positive cases of students and staff on our website weekly. This data, along with other COVID-19 updates can be found at http://stcatharineschool.com/parents/covid-19/. Currently, we have 0 active cases and 5 cumulative cases with students and staff. (As of 2.1)

In order to be eligible for St. Catharine School Tuition Assistance, families must apply for Diocese of Columbus Tuition Assistance.

These dates have been set by the Diocese. We will be adding addition dates (Teacher Professional Development Days, Record Days, etc...) at a later time. Please check the school google calendar for the most up to date information

Catholic Schools Week will run from Sunday, January 31^st until Saturday, February 6^th.

SOUPer Bowl dress down day: Students bring in cans of soup for Saint Vincent DePaul Society may wear their favorite sports team jersey or apparel!

Free dress down day to honor students!

School-wide BINGO over loudspeakers or Zoom: Winners will get a dress down day coupons

Socks & Service: Students can wear silly socks and bring a sock donation for Shoes 4 the Shoeless. We will pray a decade of the Rosary for our nation together over the announcements.

Career Day: Dress like what you want to be when you grow up and bring a self-care donation item which will be donated to The Bishop Griffin Center. Students will write letters/cards to “Everyday Heroes” like Health-Care workers, First Responders, etc.

Students and staff will wear their CSW shirts: Thank you, Home & School for providing this unifying spirit wear.

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, February 16th. The basic format will be the same as the Fall with an available sign-up genius and a corresponding Zoom link. However, 7th and 8th Grade will still have Student-Led Conferences and will not schedule in the same manner.

Parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity for both teachers and parents to address any concerns and provide valuable feedback. They are, however, optional, especially during the Winter/Spring. Please do not feel obligated to sign-up for conferences if you do not feel the need. Teachers who feel there is a need for a conference concerning your child will reach out to parents individually.

Zoom Links will be sent to parents who have signed up for P/T Conferences.

Parent-Teacher Conferences on Zoom

Your Partnership means so much to our students and to the staff at St. Catharine School! Please consider becoming a Partner; contact kerri.omalley@yahoo.com for more information on how you can help to provide funds that go DIRECTLY to our students and the classrooms! 

Flower sale kick off: March 8

Flower order deadline: March 28

Flower order pick up: May 15

Please fill out this quick survey to provide valuable feedback on our USDA Free School Lunch Program.

School lunches will be back Monday, February 8. Thank you for your continued patience.

Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, we will not be exchanging Valentines in the classroom this year. Students are welcome to bring in pre-packaged treats for their Cohort with approval from the classroom teacher. Thank you for your understanding.

Still don’t know how to use scrip? Need to still get registered? New Families now is the time to get started!!

Please reach out to Alli Brinkmeyer at 614-214-5428 call or txt or email at stcatharinetrip@yahoo.com

Current inventory of physical cards available today (just reach out to purchase and money goes right into your OWN TUITION ACCOUNT)

Amazon 4 -$25

Amazon 2 - $100

Chipotle 3- $25

Dicks Sporting Goods 1- $25

Dicks Sporting Goods 2- $100

Giant Eagle 10- $100

Kohls 3- $100

Lowe’s 4- $25

Lowe’s 2- $100

Meijer 3- $25

Meijer 5- $100

Panera Bread 5- $5

Speedway 2- $25

Starbucks 10- $10

Starbucks 6- $5

Target 3- $10

TAT 6- $25

Tim Hortons 4- $10

TJ Max, Marshall’s and Homegoods 5- $25

E-gift cards and Reloads can be done at anytime through the website or app (RaiseRight).

Ray and Mandy DeWeese have given much time and talent to help lead our girls lacrosse program at St. Catharine. They have decided that it is time to pass on the torch. If you have an interest in being the commissioner of our girls lacrosse program , please contact Mandy at deweesefam6@gmail.com. Ray and Mandy would be an integral part of the transition this spring.

The Lindy Infante Scholarship Foundation helps families who need assistance paying for Diocesan athletic fees. Please fill out the application and send to:

Marty Raines

Diocesan Recreation Association

197 E. Gay St.

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Commissioners needed

Please contact PJ Keiffer with any questions at 614-668-0134 or email, pkeiffer@gmail.com

Questions? Contact Dorothy Allwein, dorothy@damascus.net