E-backpack, 1/7/2021

Weekly News and Updates

January 7, 2021

Health and Safety Protocol Update:

Please continue to report positive cases and close contacts with positive cases to the office as soon as possible. During remote learning, please report to me any positive student cases so a return to school date can be set. If you are traveling and have not returned to Chicago by now, please let me know so we can set a return date for your student(s). If you have any questions regarding a positive case, close contact, quarantine dates, or anything else relating to our COVID procedures, please contact me.

I want to thank the St. Edward Community for sticking together during 2020. We successfully ended the 2019-2020 school year remotely, began the 2020-2021 school year masked up but in person following our health and safety protocols, and have begun the new calendar year stronger than ever. We met and exceeded our targeted enrollment goals overall despite having low enrollment in our preschool classrooms this year. We refurbished four classrooms from funds donated by alumni and friends of St. Edward including the Class of 2020. Our new STEM program took shape introducing our students to more integrated learning and thinking. Transitions between in-person learning and remote learning have been smooth allowing for uninterrupted academics for our students. The 2020 St. Edward Fall Walk-a-Thon raised over $24,000, our first ever Advent Raffle was a success, and the 8th grade virtual Trivia Night is weeks away! The School Board is actively planning the virtual Spring Auction (Big Red House Party!); more information coming soon! I could continue with the many ways that our school is a vibrant community that prepares our students for high school and sets for them a firm foundation on which to grow and develop as faith-filled leaders and citizens.

Registration for the 2021-22 school year is officially open. The St. Edward School Board voted on a tuition increase of 3% for 2021-22 across tuition levels to cover staff and teacher salary increases and other costs associated with employee benefits and building operations. During the 2020-21 school year, the staff and teachers did not receive an annual raise. Fees will remain the same as last year with the exception of the registration fee. The new registration fee is a flat $150 per family for all grade levels. Recognizing the financial sacrifice our families make by choosing a Catholic education and the strain that the pandemic continues to put on some of our families, we are offering the February Freeze. If you register and pay your registration fee by February 28, 2021, we will “freeze” your tuition at the 2020-21 rate. Families who register beginning March 1, 2021, will receive the 2021-22 tuition rate.

Registration is entirely online this year. Use this link to register for 2021-22. We will open registration to new and prospective students during Catholic Schools Week beginning January 31, 2021.

I want to thank each family for your continued support of St. Edward School, for your adherence to our health and safety protocols this year, and for your ongoing prayers. St. Edward School has a bright future ahead.

If you have any questions, please reach out.

St. Edward, pray for us!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sara Lasica

Principal

slasica@stedwardschool.com

TRIP update: E-gift cards can be purchased through the Raise Right app at anytime!
Next TRIP due date: 1/28/21

Please review the illness protocols distributed by the Archdiocese based on updates from the CDC and local health departments by clicking here. By following these guidelines and taking care of your families outside of school, we can continue to learn together in-person this year.

Football Mania Winners!

Week 17: Mary Bollard

Week 17: Jeffrey Eichhorn

New Year's Prayer

Lord, You make all things new.

You bring hope alive in our hearts And cause our Spirits to be born again.

Thank you for this new year

For all the potential it holds.

Come and kindle in us

A mighty flame

So that in our time, many will see the wonders of God

And live forever to praise Your glorious name.

Amen.

Strong families foster strong children. As Catholics, our source of strength comes from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the best way to develop a relationship with our loving God is to pray! Make a new year's resolution to pray as a family daily. Grace before dinner, a Hail Mary before bedtime, an Our Father on the way to school in the morning. Find a time, pick a prayer, and grow closer to God!

Missionaries from NET Ministries will be staying in our convent from January-May. These missionaries are college aged young adults who have sacrificed a year of studies to lead retreats for junior high and high school teens. They normally travel across the country leading retreats, but due to COVID they will be staying in our convent and lead virtual retreats. They are in need of assistance with meals! Can your family please provide these 11 missionaries (ages 19-22) with lunch or dinner a few days? Please click this link to sign up: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/e5q34l

Did you know?

During the 2020-21 school year, $105,660 was designated as Tax Credit Scholarship funds for St. Edward School students. Twenty-one St. Edward students received scholarships this year at 50%, 75%, and 100% levels depending on need.

Right now, through generous donors, every dollar that is donated to the Tax Credit Scholarship program is matched 2-to-1! In addition, 75% of what you donate is credited directly from your State of IL taxes. Win, win for everyone! For more information on how to donate, please click here.

For families who would like to apply for a 2021-22 Tax Credit Scholarship, the reservation date is January 13. Click here for more information.

2020-21 School Calendar

Upcoming Dates and Events

Friday, January 8: Bear Down, St. Edward School! Wear your Bears blue and orange to remote learning today and support the Chicago Bears in the playoffs this weekend!

Tuesday, January 12: SEPO Meeting, 7:00 PM via Zoom

Meeting ID: 721 9581 8773

Passcode: T9uiNU

Wednesday, January 13: Reservation Night for Tax Credit Scholarships through Empower IL (6:30 PM, reservation opens; 7:00 PM, submit reservation)

Monday, January 18: No School in honor of MKL, Jr Day

Tuesday, January 19: Classes resume in person

Wednesday, January 20: Fall Picture Retake Day

Thursday, January 21: Early Dismissal Thursday (1:50, 2:00, 2:10)

Friday, January 22: Midpoint of the 2nd Trimester, NUT Card Day

Saturday, January 30: Virtual Trivia Night--More information below!

SAVE THE DATE: Spring Virtual Auction, March 20, 2021

Virtual Trivia Night is here!

Do you shop on Amazon?

Shop AmazonSmile and earn money for St. Edward's! Amazon will donate a portion of your order amount to St. Ed's. Click here to shop!

St. Edward School uses an online directory for family contacts. Please login to update your information for the 2020-21 school year or sign-up.

Click here to join!