Dear St. Serra Catholic Parents,
Welcome Back! I hope that our school community celebrated the Christmas season with lots of fun, memories, and enjoyment. As we begin 2022, my hope for our school is that we continue to focus on our children and on strengthening our two pillars of Catholic identity and academic excellence. Schools across the country are currently facing challenges due to COVID-related staff absences and a lack of available substitutes. As we continue to navigate teaching and learning against the background of COVID-19, remaining open for in-person instruction is at the forefront of our goals, as that is what serves the students best. That is why, as our school leader, I consider the health and welfare of our school staff a very high priority.
We have planned many fun and exciting events for the very near future. The Seasons Tuition Assistance Luncheon, Anchor Ball, and Father/Daughter and Mother/Son events are always highly anticipated and well attended.
As we work together for one common goal, our children, we need to continue to demonstrate patience and respect for one another even as society continues its attempt to divide us based on our beliefs about and approach to COVID-19.
At St. Serra, we need to be different!
“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
The St. Serra administration and staff are committed to demonstrating the ideals of Christ as we partner with you to deliver the highest-quality instruction for your children.
I also want to share with you a few reminders and some general information as school resumes. These protocols have been put in place to help maximize the productivity of our personnel and to help ensure that our day-to-day operations run smoothly.
School Office Protocols (Reception Area)
- Many requests come into the front office reception area via phone or in person. Please remember to demonstrate patience as we work to accommodate your requests.
- When requests are made to relay messages to students, we do our very best to get the necessary information to your children. However, there are times when we cannot get the information to them in a timely manner.
- Parents dropping off lunches for students in grades 5-8 need to remind their children that they are responsible for picking up their lunches in the reception area. The front office receptionists do not hand deliver lunches.
General Reminders
- Please update FACTS if you have changed addresses, have new emergency contacts, or have made any other changes to your family information.
- Please remember student safety during drop off and pick up. Please drive slowly and carefully!
- The entrance to the parking lot on Antonio closes at 7:10 a.m.
- Priority Enrollment (22-23 School Year Registration) for currently enrolled students is January 3 - February 7. We will begin accepting new student applicants on February 8.
COVID-Related Information
- Please adhere to the school's COVID protocols while on campus.
- Due to changes to CDC recommendations regarding quarantine, we will send out a new Decision Tree explaining quarantine procedures and timelines. The information will be emailed to all families once we receive more detailed recommendations from the OC Health Agency.
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When there is a confirmed case of COVID on campus, we will notify the grade level and class parents and staff only. We will not send out an All School Notification.
- At this time, we are offering Live Streaming only to students who are at home due to COVID-related absences; the cause of such absences must be confirmed by tests or medical personnel.
A big THANK YOU to our parents and PTO for your generosity in providing Christmas gifts for our staff. Additionally, St. Serra families provided many, many gifts for the less fortunate through our Adopt-a-Family outreach. This event demonstrates the unselfish nature of the St. Serra community. Finally, our PTO, Bravo Burger, and Santa Margarita Catholic High School provided lunch for the St. Serra staff during the week before break. Our staff has expressed gratitude for these kindnesses.
The St. Serra faculty and staff look forward to an exciting rest of the school year. We will continue to give our students and families our very best effort!
Always Striving,
Tim Tolzda
Sr. Principal
