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Principal Points, August 22
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August 25, 2020Dear St. Theresa's Catholic School Families,
The Three B’s
We begin in-person, on campus classes this week for our Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. Next week, grades 1-8 students will return to campus as well. Despite the challenges associated with COVID-19 and starting school safely, the start of this new school year is still filled with marvelous possibilities for your child! There will be new lessons to learn, new challenges to face, and the wonder of seeing your child grow and mature before your eyes. It is important for us, as parents, to support and nurture this present time of growth for our children. Just as an athlete trains and prepares for an important game or competition, or a musician practices diligently for an upcoming concert, there are simple routines we can establish in our homes to better prepare our children for success in school.
As your child continues through this school year, commit yourself to practicing the three “B”s: breakfast, backpack, and bedtime.- Breakfast: Medical research clearly supports the positive value of a healthy breakfast. Benefits include the ability to be more alert and focused, improved stamina, and a sense of well-being.
- Backpack: Please check your child’s backpack as soon as possible after he or she arrives home from school. You may find importance notes from the teacher, or other communications from our school. By establishing this routine, there will be no “surprises” or a last-minute crisis in the morning. In addition, checking your child’s backpack daily will ensure that it does not become a "black hole" for school papers and personal items.
- Bedtime: The value of a good night’s sleep is well-documented. Develop not only a regular bedtime for you child, but also a bedtime routine. For example, provide a wind-down time prior to putting your child to bed for the night. You might read together or encourage sometime for an older child to read just prior to turning out the lights. A calm and routine end to the day matched with an appropriate amount of sleep will reap many positive benefits that support a more alert child and increase the likelihood of school success. Check out these sleep recommendations for children by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Self-Screening App
We have been working with a local app developer to provide our families with a daily self-screening tool. Development in is in the final stages and should be ready to deploy within a week. Until that happens, PK & K parents will be required to self-screen their children before dropping off in the morning. In evaluating whether an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, consider the following:
Has your child recently begun experiencing any of the following in a way that is not normal for them?
• Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
• Loss of taste or smell
• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Shaking or exaggerated shivering
• Significant muscle pain or ache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
If you answer yes, your child should not attend in-person school. At drop-off, in addition to a touchless temperature check for your child, you will be asked if you have self-screened your child. It is vitally important all families complete and comply with the self-screening policy every day. Please assist us by making the best decisions to keep your child healthy and safe both in and out of school. Remember, the only way COVID-19 will spread on our campus is if an infected person comes to campus with COVID-19. Let's all commit to keeping our children at home when symptomatic and to stopping the spread. Thank you.
REMINDER: Return to School Dates & Times- August 24 – 28: In-person Learning option for PK3, PK4, & Kindergarten (7:55 - 12:00); Remote Learning only for all students in Grades 1-8 (7:55 - 12:00)
- August 31 – September 4: In-person Learning option for ALL GRADES (7:55 - 12:00); Remote Learning option available for students in grades PK3-8
- September 8: In-person Learning option for PK3 - grade 8 (7:55 - 3:25); Remote Learning option available for students in grades PK3-8.
The Swivl order has shipped – We expect delivery by August 26. Reminder, this delay in delivery does not affect our ability to efficiently and effectively deliver a synchronous online, remote learning experience for the upcoming week. We will continue to keep you updated on the Swivl delivery and our timeline for implementation.
How to wear and clean your mask – The following links may be helpful for adults and students in our school community:- Info on how to wear your mask: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html
- How to clean your mask: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wash-cloth-face-coverings.htm
Principal Coffees – will be scheduled to begin the week after Labor Day.
Reminder Principal Points – is published each Saturday evening at 5:45 pm.
Thank you so much for all your patience, flexibility, and resilience. I hope you have a blessed and beautiful weekend.