St. Louis Catholic School
October 12, 2020

Hello St. Louis families,

I hope everyone had a restful and peaceful long weekend. We are excited for another week of learning. We are hopeful for good weather, good technology, and good learning! Our trimester is halfway through which means we switch over to winter uniforms and to the Specials classes students have not had yet. This is also a good time for us to make adjustments as necessary based on our experience and some common areas where we are all struggling. 

We hope these changes will help provide more consistency for our students and our teachers. We will continue to make additional adjustments as needed. Your partnership in your child’s education is so important to us and we are extremely grateful for your support—the teamwork between home and school is what makes St. Louis stronger and better as a community of learners.

I pray you have a blessed week-
Peace,
Anne Dyke
Principal 
Daily Attendance & Routine
In this unusual year, routine is even more critical to the success of every student. We recognize that students are challenged on the days they are not in the brick and mortar building for instruction. To help build more routine and to keep consistent between the days as well as to provide more community within classrooms, the following daily attendance procedures will begin this week:
  • Students in grades 3-8 need to sign in to their homeroom by 8:20am for attendance purposes and to participate in morning prayers with their class. Its not foolproof, but we are hoping that it helps start each day similarly. Teachers will also be able to help review daily schedules and tasks directly with the whole class to help start off the day more clearly for our virtual students.
  • Students in grades K-2 need to attend their first Zoom session of the day for attendance taking and participation.

If your child shows symptoms of illness but is well enough to attend class virtually on a day they are to be in the building:
  • Email the teacher and Mrs. Schymanski (attendance@stlouisschool.org)
  • Follow up with the school nurse, Mrs. Doherty or Mrs. Sander (nurse@stlouisschool.org) The CDC and local health department have made some changes in the algorithm of how long a student needs to be out or when a student may safely return, and it is important that families are in communication with our nursing team. 

If your child is sick and cannot attend class virtually:
  • Email the teacher and Mrs. Schymanski (attendance@stlouisschool.org)
  • Follow up with the school nurse, Mrs. Doherty or Mrs. Sander (nurse@stlouisschool.org). The CDC and local health department have made some changes in the algorithm of how long a student needs to be out or when a student may safely return and it is important that families are in communication with our nursing team. 

If your child will miss any part of the school day (appointments, etc.), whether in-person or virtual:

Communication from home is key in helping us know who needs to be out due to illness and whether we need to follow up with home when a student misses a class. Teachers do take attendance at each Zoom session and if a student is absent, the office will make calls. Students may also email teachers in grades 3-8 if they experience technological issues—in this way we have a record then to help us better assist students. It is important that students attend all Zoom sessions scheduled on virtual days. 

If your child will be out of the building for non-illness related circumstances for one or more consecutive days:
  • Pre-approval from the school administrators is necessary. Please contact the principal (adyke@stlouisschool.org).

We have seen an increased number of students who are traveling or just deciding not to come into the building causing more disruption to the student routine.