March 16, 2021

Second Trimester Honor Roll

Amarone, Benny

D'Errico, Payton

Nagorski, Sofia

Testa, Nathan

Brennan, Colton

Colegio, Austin

Delaney, Lucien

Farina, Tyler

Mims, Aniya

Woodward, Laura

Akide-Ndunge, Virginia

Chacko, Abigail

Dorsi, Adriana

Andreoli, Gabrielle

Madonick, Michael

Sweeney, Olivia

Mautte, Thomas

Gordon, Shannon

Raccio, Jenna

Adu, Julian

DiAngelo, Natalie

Goss, Kayden

Lafo, Madeline

Mulhern, Mia

Otello, Jordan

Timungwa, Yeneh

Tuttle, Pearl

Blakeslee, Ryan

Rice, Arianna

Grade 8

High Honors

Bowery, Alex

DiAngelo, Benjamin

Pompano, Gennaro

Wilkes, Avonna

Honors

Burns, Conall

Colonis, Christa

Egan, Olivia

Hammond, Faith

Pappas, Penelope

Merit

Velez, Alexis

Grade 7

High Honors

Barney, Kiera

Cochran, Lillian

Nunez, Isabella

Honors

Bowens, Marshele

Saracco, Jackson

Testa, Maria Teresa

Merit

Purchio, Anthony

Grade 6

High Honors

Kelly, Emily

Honors

Amarone, Allison

Delaney, Alice

Grady, Catherine

Mayorga, Joaquin

Nawrocki, Claire

Ponzio, Kaitlyn

Tran, Ethan

Merit

Fiorilo-Aiello, Gianna

Saracco, John Paul

D'Errico, Lyla

Frioni, Kate

Pompano, Jianna

Carone, Joseph

Daley, John

Evanich, Connor

Mihalcik, Jacinda

Walsh, Ryan

Bolanos, Juliette

Cruz, Kelsey

Cammarota, Mateo

Savinelli, Aiyanna

Smith, Stephen

Leng, Cooper

Burns, Devin

Giaquinto, Evelyn

Krasniewski, Max

Montefusco, Trevor

Oh, Ji Min

Singh, Stella

Torello, Peter

Melendez-Brissette, Leila

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,

Please join me tonight, March 16, at 6:30 P.M. via Zoom for our Annual State of the School report. This report is usually presented in person at our Back to School Night. However, during this pandemic year it has been delayed. I invite you to join this on-line meeting to get a better understanding of the operational vitality of our wonderful and successful school. I will be joined by Ben Amarone, School Board Chairperson; Megan Giaquinto, HSA President; and Msgr. Joseph DiSciacca, Pastor. A link for the Zoom meeting was sent out to all families on Sunday, and was sent again this morning. The presentation will also be available for you to review following the meeting.

We are pleased to announce that this summer we will be having both a six-week summer fun camp and a four-week summer academic program. Flyers and registration information for both of these programs can be found below. Enrollment is limited in both programs, so register early to secure your spot.

Re-enrollment tuition agreements were sent home via SRS student mail last week. If you have not received it, please check your child’s backpack. Please be sure you read the letter and the tuition agreement as there have been some changes you need to be aware of. After almost 20 years the annual HSA assessment fee has been increased slightly and has been rolled into the tuition costs. It is no longer a separate fee. We ask that you kindly return the re-enrollment agreement along with your non-refundable $150 tuition deposit to the school office on or before April 13, 2021. This will allow us adequate time to begin planning for the 2021-2022 school year. At this time, we do not anticipate offering a remote learning option for our students for the upcoming school year.

Please be advised that we have a 7^th grade student out with COVID and the 7^th grade class and some members of the middle school faculty are out on quarantine through the end of this week. This student was last in school on Thursday, March 11, and the exposure is related to sports. Based on our contact tracing, all COVID cases we have had within our school community have not been spread and/or have not originated within our school community. These cases have been due to sports, family, or social activities that have occurred outside of school. Over 95% of our school faculty and staff have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine. Once we return from Spring break our faculty/staff should have full immunity from COVID-19. For the safety and well-being of our students, we will continue to follow the health and safety precautions outlined in our return to school plan.

Tomorrow for St. Patrick’s Day, and on Friday, for St. Joseph Day, students may wear green or red accessories to honor the saint whose feast day we celebrate. School will be closed next Tuesday, March 23 for a teacher professional development day.

An Irish Prayer

May God give you….

For every storm, a rainbow,

For every tear, a smile,

For every care, a promise,

And a blessing in each trial.

For every problem life sends,

A faithful friend to share.

For every sigh, a sweet song,

And an answer for each prayer.

Thank you for entrusting your child/ren to our care. May the luck of the Irish be with you today and in all the days to come.

God Bless,

Mrs. Tiezzi

Principal

Summer Camp/Enrichment Program Information

Click HERE to download the Summer Camp Flyer

Click HERE to download the

Summer Camp Registration Packet

Click HERE to download the Summer Academic

Program Flyer

Click HERE to download the Summer Academic

Program Registration Packet

Click HERE to download the Easter Candy Gram Tags.

Uniform Reminder

All students should be in proper uniform every day, including footwear, sweatshirts, and hair styles. Summer uniform changeover begins on Monday, May 3, 2021.

Lenten Service Project Update

Many thanks to all our school families for your generosity to our school-wide Lenten Service Project. As you know, we are currently raising funds in support of the Connecticut Food Bank and the Divine Mercy Parish Food Pantry. Both these programs provide help to food insecure families, including the many children throughout our state who are affected by hunger. We are especially grateful and proud of our St. Rita School students who have donated their own money, including their snack money, toward helping those in need.

To date we have raised $2,828.84 toward our goal of $4,000. Again, thank you for your contributions and your continued help with this important and essential project.

Summer Fun Camp & Summer Academic Program Information

Fliers for both of these programs will be sent

home next week with your children.

Xavier High School

On May 1 at 9 am, Xavier will offer the opportunity for 7^th graders to take the PreHSPT. This test is similar to the test that students take as part of their application to Xavier. By taking the test, students will gain a familiarity with the format, timing, and question types. A detailed score report will be mailed after the test administration to help students understand their areas of strength and weakness. Students who score in the 90^th percentile or higher will earn a $500 scholarship for their freshman year at Xavier. It will be conducted online so students will just need access to a computer with a camera to take it. The testing fee is $10 and registration for it can be done online. Contact Nicholas Grasso, Director of Admissions, nmgrasso@xavierhighschool.org with any questions.

Enrollment Open for New Students

Enrollment for new students for the 2021-2022 school year is now open. Please click here to visit our enrollment page and to download an application, or call Mrs. Bruno, our Admissions Director, if you have any questions. Please spread the word - we have no better ambassadors than our current families.

Order your 2020-2021 school yearbook today!

Click Here to Order

Nurse's Corner

Update to Covid Quarantine guidelines.

These are the guidelines we are now following as part of the CDC’s newest guidelines when it comes to Covid 19.

If an individual does not have Covid-19 symptoms but had close contact to someone diagnosed with Covid-19:

Remain home in self-quarantine for the recommended 10 days from last exposure to the person diagnosed with Covid-19. If symptoms occur, contact your health care provider.

If you test positive:

Remain home until 10 day’s have passed since date of positive Covid-19 test or if you have symptoms, 10 days since symptoms began.

There was an addendum that had to do with testing on day 5 of an exposure and exiting quarantine after 7 days but our school district is NOT implementing that at this time.

Just a reminder of isolation vs Quarantine

Isolation = When you are experiencing symptoms or have a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19

Quarantine = when you have been exposed but you are not experiencing symptoms

https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus/travel

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

Butter Braids and Cookie Dough Sale!

March 12^th – March 24^th

Orders will be delivered to school frozen on March 30^th (in time for Easter!) and will need to be picked up that afternoon.

Click the link below to start browsing!

MCM Fundraising • Sign Up

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR FUN SPRING EVENTS!

The HSA Board is busy planning several fun events and activities for the next few months. A teaser about what’s to come is below, and more details will be announced as they become available.

Coming Up In April:

Pizza Party Lunches! Thanks to our generous Auction donors, EVERY SRS class will be enjoying a pizza party with treats for lunch one day in April.

Coming Up In MAY:

Plant Sale! Our annual plant sale will take place in early May. Get ready to spruce up your gardens and planters!

Movie and Popcorn Afternoon! Thanks to our generous Auction donors, EVERY SRS class will have a fun afternoon of movie watching and popcorn munching!

New and Improved RAFFLE! Lower ticket prices than in years past plus a CASH prize.

Family Fun Night! Details to be announced soon.

Annual Golf Tournament

Coming Up In JUNE:

School-wide Dress Down Day, thanks to our generous Auction donors!

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Do you enjoy event planning? Want to be more involved in your school community? Please join us on the HSA Board! If you’re interested in learning more, email us at hsasrs.stritaschool@gmail.com.

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!