OUR MISSION:
St. Rita School inspires students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade eight to achieve academic excellence in a safe, nurturing and faith-filled Catholic environment.
We prepare students to be morally responsible, innovative thinkers who, in today’s technology-guided global community, live and share the Love of Christ.
From the Desk of Mrs. Tiezzi

Dear St. Rita Parents,

Happy New Year! I would like to thank you all for the generosity you showed during the holiday season. Your contributions to the Advent Giving Tree, faculty and staff Christmas gift, as well as providing individual teacher and staff gifts was overwhelming and greatly appreciated. The St. Rita School community is very special and very generous. Thank you!!
 
The following note of thanks comes from Mrs. Paula Nugent, our school business manager and coordinator of the Advent Giving Tree project,
 
“Mrs. Tiezzi, teachers, staff and children and families of St. Rita School:

My heartfelt thanks for such an overwhelming display of kindness in your collection of gift cards for the families we have assisted in this year's Advent Giving "Card" Tree. This amazing generosity should not be surprising and yet every year I find myself speechless when I see what the school community can accomplish when they set their mind to helping others at Christmas. Even amidst a pandemic, when many are feeling their own financial strain, the outpouring of love transcends all. We are truly lucky to be part of such a wonderful family as St. Rita School. On behalf of the families of St. Rita School and Divine Mercy Parish and from your community that you have blessed this year, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

From December 23 through January 4 we have had 3 students (1 family) and 2 staff members test positive for COVID-19. All of these individuals are currently at home and will return to school/work when their period of self-isolation has ended. Following CDC and QVHD protocol all the necessary information has been submitted for contact tracing and those individuals considered a “close contact” have been contacted.
 
We have built two snow days into our school calendar and have already used one in December. Once we exceed the allotted snow days any inclement weather cancellation will result in a remote learning day for everyone. As Hamden Public Schools still have some programs running in-person, I will continue to follow the lead of the Town of Hamden when determining whether or not we need to close due to the forecast of inclement weather. You will be notified before each snowstorm of our plan for the day.

We are still looking for a part-time (18-20 hours a week) social worker/school counselor to replace Mrs. Beerli. If you know of anyone who is licensed/certified as a school social worker or school counselor, please have them contact me for additional information.
 
The annual celebration of National Catholic Schools Week begins on Sunday, January 31. This year’s CSW theme -“Catholic Schools: Faith. Excellence. Service.”- highlights our focus on faith development, academic excellence, and dedication to community service. In light of the pandemic we are currently facing, all activities we plan will be done with a keen focus on the health and safety of our students and faculty. Once we finalize our activities, we will share them with our students and families.

Thank you for entrusting your child/ren to our care. May the faith of God be with you this year. May the peace of God surround you and may you be blessed each day! Have a happy and blessed 2021!

God Bless,
Mrs. Tiezzi
Principal
Reminder

Please do not park in the NO PARKING zones on Edgemere Road and Dessa Drive. We need to be respectful of our neighbors and must leave space for any emergency vehicles that may need to get through.
Order your 2020-2021 school yearbook today!
Order before January 31 to
receive special pricing! of $25!
Yearbooks ordered after January 31 will be $30.
A Gentle Reminder:
Students should have a clean mask each day.
Please launder them regularly.
Nurse's Corner
 Because Hamden will continue to follow the original 14 days quarantine
period for those who have been exposed to COVID, St. Rita School
will also follow this plan. Please notify the office if you or a family
member has been exposed to COVID-19. 

If you plan on traveling out of the state for the holidays, please be
aware that you will need to be tested upon return to Connecticut or
you must quarantine for 14 days. Your child will not be allowed back
in school until they have their test results in hand. Please submit your
child's negative test result upon return to school on Jan 4. 

Please read the attached updated Connecticut travel advisory. If you
and/or your family have traveled to any of these states and have
stayed for more then 24 hours you will need to get a COVID test
within 72 hours upon arriving back in Connecticut. Your children can
not return to school until they present a negative COVID test or
after a quarantine of 14 days. 
Please inform the office of any travel plans in the coming months. We appreciate your vigilance on this matter as we continue to work to keep our Saint Rita School community safe and healthy. 
Thank you to everyone for keeping your children home when they are not feeling well and keeping us informed of any illnesses. With your cooperation we will continue to keep our school community safe.

Just a few reminders:

- If your child is home sick for more then 24 hours we will need a doctors note in order for them to return to school. 

- This year with COVID-19 continuing to be active the State Department of Public Health is encouraging everyone to receive an Influenza Vaccination by the end of October. The vaccinations are now readily available. Once your child receives the vaccine, please send proof into school for the nurse to document. 

- If your child is home sick and the doctor recommends a COVID test please do not get a rapid test. We will only be accepting the PCR test in order to return to school. 

- many of us suffer from seasonal allergies and may experience symptoms similar to COVID-19. 

Symptoms more common of seasonal allergies and not COVID-19 are itchy or watery eyes and sneezing. 

Symptoms more common if COVID-19 are fever and chills, muscle and body aches, new loss of taste or smell, nausea or vomiting and Diarrhea. 

If you obtain positive results after school hours, please email Mrs. Tiezzi (ptiezzi.stritaschool@gmail.com) and the nurse (lpalma.stritaschool@gmail.com)

When in doubt call your pediatrician. 
Home/School Association
LAST CHANCE FOR NUT
(No Uniform Today) Coupons!

We will have fun-themed days (one day
per month from January through May)
when students can dress the part.
We will be sending the coupons home
within the next couple of weeks.

5 Coupons for $25!!

Click here to order TODAY!

Orders are due by Wednesday, January 6th.

Please include your child's name and homeroom # in the comments section.
Your Smart Tuition will be charged.
Thank you!

HELP US EARN CASH AND SUPPLIES THROUGH FREE REWARDS PROGRAMS!

Each year, St. Rita participates in several rewards programs. Local grocery stores (and Amazon!) allow you (the shopper) to identify St. Rita as the school you’d like to support; every time you shop, we get a percentage of the sale in the form of points (that can be used for school supplies) or cash. Last year we earned over $1600 through Stop&Shop’s program and over 150,000 points through ShopRite! We have big goals this year, and we need your help to achieve them. Please click on the links below to register your store cards, and ask your local family and friends to do the same!
Planning to order Christmas cards or photo
gifts this holiday season? Shop through our Shutterfly Storefront, and SRS will earn an 8% commission! It     may not sound like much,
but there’s no extra fee for you, and every
$1 makes a difference for our school.
 
           Click here to shop Shutterfly via our StoreFront.
Visit amazonsmile.com, and anytime you purchase an eligible item, Amazon will 
      donate a portion of the profit to our school! Select “Divine Mercy Parish
      Corporation” as your charity, and St. Rita School will benefit every time you shop. 

Link your Stop & Shop Card to St. Rita School, and we’ll earn
CASH when you
     buy groceries! Click here and use School ID: 06434.


Link your ShopRite Price Plus card to St. Rita School, and help us earn school     supplies! Click here and use School ID: 50073, or email your PricePlus card number to Alice Kuether, alicemcgrew23@hotmail.com.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
Athlete's Corner
The Archdiocesan Interscholastic Athletic Board will be meeting in mid-January to make recommendations regarding the winter sports season. Following their guidance and that of the CIAC, St. Rita School will make a determination
whether a winter sports season is feasible.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Prayer Corner
Remember all those who are suffering or have lost a loved-one during this pandemic.
Please pray for all the deceased members of our
St. Rita School community.
Click HERE to access the Weekly Health Screening Questionnaire
St. Rita School
1601 Whitney Avenue
Hamden, CT 06517
Phone: (203) 248.3114
Fax: (203) 248.1016
www.stritaschool.org