The Seelos Star
Summer 2020
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Dear Parents and Friends,
It has certainly been an interesting few months in our world! Things are in an ever-changing cycle, but I know that our Seelos School Family is up to the challenge. Our teachers have been hard at work planning, preparing, and practicing to be ready to welcome our students back on September 8. We are so excited to be able to offer 5 day per week, in-person classes along with our virtual academy for those students that need that option. I would like to share with you that Mrs. Sally Barton will be moving with her family in the next few months and not returning to our middle school program. Also, Mr. Andrew Ohm has taken a position in the Brentwood School District closer to home. We wish them both success as they start these new endeavors! We would like to welcome Mrs. Sarah Desciak to our middle school math program and Mr. Matthew Murslack to our physical education program. Our school is excited to have Fr. David Bonnar as the new pastor of St. Aidan Parish. Fr. Dave is looking forward to meeting everyone as school begins and we get into our year. We are so pleased to have them join our school family!
As prepared as we are, we also realize there may be a few bumps in the road. Please be patient with the teachers and staff if technology provides a glitch or if an email is delayed. Know we will work to get the situation corrected as soon as possible to make sure that the students have what they need to be successful as we begin the year. It will take a little time to get everyone back in "school mode", review procedures, and learn new ones. You will be receiving information to help you prepare, reminders to keep you on your toes, and many prayers to support you! We will also be taking some new approaches to our fundraising and hope that you will have fun with us as we hold events and share our good news with our community at large.
On a personal note, I would like to thank everyone for the kind words regarding the Golden Apple. While it is great to be recognized for a job I love to do, I wouldn't be able to do anything without the support and encouragement I receive every day from our faculty, staff, parents, and students. I am humbled by your spirit and generosity. We truly are a team that can do amazing things together.
I look forward to seeing everyone next week and enjoy your Labor Day Weekend.
God Bless,
Mr. Reese
Principal
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WELCOME NEW FAMILIES
We would like to welcome the many new families to our school community! We are thrilled to have over 300 students enrolled in our PreK to 8th grade program. As our school community grows, so does our continued commitment to academic excellence and to serving our community at large.
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WELCOME TO NEW FACULTY
Please welcome two new members of our K-8 faculty. Mrs. Sarah Desciak is teaching middle school math and Mr. Matthew Murslack will be the gym teacher. We are honored to have these exceptional teachers and individuals join our community.
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MR. REESE RECEIVES GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
The Diocese of Pittsburgh announced the catholic school educators who are recipients of the Golden Apple Awards for 2020. Our principal, Mr. Robert Reese was named as a Golden Apple winner! The annual program recognizes educators for their outstanding devotion to catholic schools and the students they teach. The prestigious award is based on nominations from school principals, parents, students, and fellow teachers, and symbolize an educator's professional excellence, leadership, commitment to Catholic values, and devotion to teaching in Catholic schools. We are very blessed to have Mr. Reese at Seelos Academy. He joins the growing list of Golden Apple Award-winning teachers at our school. Mrs. Maxwell, Mrs Smolter, and Mrs. Van Kooten are past award recipients.
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SEELOS ACADEMY AWARDED MAJOR GRANTS
This past summer, with the help of former Speaker of the PA House Mike Turzai and his staff, Seelos Academy was the recipient of two significant grants. The grants total $225,000 and will be used for enhancing our STEM program and for building improvements. More information on the grants can be found on the school’s webpage, under “Recent Headlines”.
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Back to School: What you Need to Know |
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BUS TRANSPORTATION
Your school district will send you bus information in mid-August. If you haven't received information regarding the bus schedule you should call your district bus transportation provider for further details.
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DROP-OFF/PICK-UP PROCEDURES
For the safety of our students, please adhere to the pick-up/drop-off procedures at each campus. These procedures can be found on the school webpage under Parent Resources/Document Library.
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MORNING CARE AND EXTENDED DAY
Morning Care and Extended Day is offered at the K-8 campus for children in K-8. Morning Care begins at 7 AM and Extended Day runs after school until 6 PM. Instructions for Morning Care and Extended Day drop-off and pick-up are found in the links above or under the Parent Resources/Document Library section of the school webpage.
These services can be utilized on an as-needed basis, however students planning to use extended day need to be pre-enrolled and pay the yearly enrollment fee. Please click on the link below for the Enrollment Form.
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UNIFORMS
Every day uniforms are required for children in K-8. A copy of the uniform policy is found under the Parent Resource/Document Library section of the school webpage. |
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GYM DAYS & GYM UNIFORMS
Gym uniforms are required for all students in grades K-8. This year, for the safety of our students, the locker rooms will not be used for changing during the school day or for any athletics. Therefore, all K-8 students will be required to wear their gym uniform to school. On days in which regular uniform shorts are permitted, students may wear their gym shorts to school if it is their gym day. In the winter months, students will be permitted to wear their gym shorts under their sweatpants and remove the sweatpants before gym class. A gym uniform order form will be sent home on the first day of school.
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FACE COVERINGS
Students and staff will be required to wear masks/face coverings at all times on campus, including the school bus. Face Covering means a covering of the nose and mouth that is secured to the head with ties, straps, or loops over the ears. Neck Gaiter face coverings (those that wrap around the neck and can be pulled up to cover the face) are not permitted.
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES
The school supply list for grades K-8 can be found on the school webpage under Parent Resources/Document Library. |
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WATER BOTTLES
Students on both campuses will not be permitted to use the water fountains this year. Each morning, please send a filled water bottle (disposable or reusable) with your child to school. They will be permitted water breaks throughout the day. Note that the water bottles may only be filled with water. Please do not send water bottles larger than 32 oz. If using a reusable bottle, the students will be required to bring their water bottle home each day for cleaning.
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LUNCH
The K-8 lunch program is suspended for the first nine weeks of the school year. Students must bring their own packed lunch and drink each day. The lunch program will be reevaluated and families will be notified of any changes as the school year progresses.
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MASS DAYS
Mass days for the K-8 campus have not yet been determined. Information will come from the office when it is available.
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VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering is a key aspect of our community, and is a great way to meet other parents but at this time, we are unable to allow volunteers on campus. We are hopeful that we will return to normal operations during the 2020-21 school year.
Volunteers will need to obtain certain clearances. This process is easy, but, will take some lead time for certain steps, so prepare now for future volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Clearance Requirements can be found under the Parent Resource/Document Library section of the BFSA website
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COMMUNICATION
Expect to receive two emails a week from the school secretary, Patty Anfang. These emails will contain information about upcoming school activities. Generally, these emails are sent on Tuesdays and Fridays. Additional emails may occur throughout the week at the discretion of the principal or Early Childhood Center Director.
The school newsletter is emailed to each school family at least four times a year (summer, fall, winter, and spring). If you would like to help with the newsletter, or have information to contribute, please contact Cathy Peoples, Marketing, at marketing@seelosacademy.org.
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SOCIAL MEDIA
Visit Seelos Academy on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!
There is also a private Facebook “Blessed Francis Seelos Academy Private Parents Group” page for current school families. You can find the group from the school Facebook Page. This site is a good resource for parents to ask questions of other parents and to share information about the happenings of the school. We do ask that you limit communication on the site to school related events and school related subjects only.
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HARVEST HOME (@HOME)
The Saint Alphonsus Annual Harvest Home Dinner has been a community tradition since 1889! This year, the dinner is hosted by Blessed Francis Seelos Academy and Saint Aidan Parish on the Saint Alphonsus Campus on Sunday, September 13 from 1 PM - 7 PM. The dinner will be Take-Out only, via curb side pick-up. The home cooked meal features a choice of charcoal grilled half chicken, pulled pork, or ham. Each meal is also served with hot, locally grown vegetables, homemade applesauce, coleslaw, and tomato salad. Order ahead or in person. Online orders can be placed at www.harvesthomedinner.com, call-in orders to (412)585-6127.
You can be a part of the tradition and fun in a variety of ways: volunteer your time, make a donation, and/or enjoy the dinner. No matter how you plan to participate, we greatly value your support.
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DESIGNER BAG BINGO: “DESTINED” NOT TO BE YOUR GRANNY'S BINGO!
This year’s theme, “Destinations” is sure to help you escape the doldrums without leaving Wexford. Tentatively scheduled for October 16th in the Ryan Center. Alternate virtual and in person dates being considered.
This event is very popular and sells out fast, so be on the lookout for registration information in an email from the school office.
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WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT
Each year, the Diocese of Pittsburgh requires each catholic school to meet an assigned fundraising goal. Seelos Academy works to reach this six-figure goal through many fundraising efforts including gift cards, Designer Bag Bingo, and our fundraising partners. We are also very fortunate to have support from Saint Aidan Parish for three other large fundraisers. One hundred percent of the profits from the Saint Alexis Festival go directly to Seelos Academy and the Saint Alphonsus Harvest Home Dinner. The Saint Alphonsus Fish Fry split their profits 50/50 with the school.
Unfortunately, many of these fundraisers including the Saint Alexis Festivahave had to cancel due to the Corona Virus Outbreak. Additionally, the ability to hold other in-person fundraisers throughout the year is uncertain. Now, more than ever, we need the support of our friends and families with donations to our school. There are three options for donations:
Thank you, in advanced for helping during this challenging time.
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HOW CAN I AFFORD CATHOLIC EDUCATION?
Click the button below for information on reducing your tuition bill through financial aid, grants, and tax credits.
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GIFT CARD PROGRAM
Families earn tuition credit by purchasing gift cards through the school. The program generates additional revenues used for the operational costs of Seelos Academy. Order online at bfsafundraising.com, at either campus office, or Sign up for ShopwithScrip and make gift card purchases from your phone on demand. For more information, contact giftcards@seelosacademy.org.
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AMAZON SMILE!
Blessed Francis Seelos Academy receives cash back from Amazon Smile! Simply log in to your Amazon account and type "Amazon Smile" into the Amazon search engine. Select Blessed Francis Seelos Academy as your designated charity that will receive 0.5% of each of your eligible Amazon purchases.
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BOX TOPS
Clipping and submitting Box Tops, or scanning your receipt using the Box Top app is an easy way to help earn money for Seelos Academy. This fundraiser has netted thousands of dollars over the years.
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CHICK-FIL-A & MOE'S
Save your Chick-Fil-A receipts from the Wexford and Cranberry locations MOE'S receipts from any location and return to school. Through credit earned for reimbursed receipts we are able to provide food items for the school community, including our annual 8th grade picnic and teacher luncheons.
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MABEL'S LABELS
Mabel’s Labels are a great way to ensure your items don’t end up in the lost & found or mixed up! These personalized, dishwasher and laundry-safe labels are great for everything from shoes, clothing tags, water bottles, and backpacks.
Visit campaigns.mabelslabels.com and select Blessed Francis Seelos Academy. Orders ship direct to your home. Seelos Academy receives 20% cash back on each order.
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MARKET DAY
Market Day is a direct order program with food products delivered directly to your door. Market Day will return 10% of funds spent back to our school. Of this 10%, 5% will be able to be directed to your tuition accounts. The other 5% will go to our school's overall fundraising goal. Instructions for registering can be found here.
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LEARNING ENRICHMENT FUND
The Seelos Academy Learning Enrichment Fund provides financial support to the faculty and school for professional development, classroom materials, and school-wide programming. If you would like to donate to the fund or sponsor the annual golf outing, the fundraiser for the Fund, please contact the office. You can also contact the office if you would like to be part of the Learning Enrichment Committee or volunteer at the golf outing.
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