St. Patrick Catholic School

Thursday, January 21, 2021

IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan. 15th - 29th - Standardized Testing Window

DUE TO TESTING STUDENTS WILL NOT ATTEND MASS ON 1/15, 1/22 AND 1/29

February 1st- ALL MACS Schools Delayed Start, 10:00AM

Feb. 1st - 5th - Catholic Schools Week

Feb. 5th - 1A/1B & 3A/3B Mass (students only)

NEWS FROM MRS. TOBERGTE

Dear St. Patrick Families,

I hope you all had a long and restful weekend.  It is always so nice to relax and recharge, especially after the busy holidays.  I have some exciting news to share with you.  Anna Tivnan, one of our incredible teacher assistants, has accepted the position as our part-time Learning Support teacher and part-time STEM teacher beginning in February.  Mrs. Tivnan holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and taught for several years in various settings, including as a literacy specialist in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.  While raising her family, she temporarily left her career as a teacher and later began serving as a teacher assistant here at St. Patrick in 2015.  She has been here ever since, and she has been a tremendous resource to our kindergarten and first grade classrooms.  Now that her children are grown, she desires to return to her passion of teaching.  Her expertise in reading and literacy intervention will benefit our students, and she will work alongside Mrs. Noonan to serve our Learning Support students.  Additionally, she is one of the most creative and hands-on teachers around, which will allow her to plan meaningful and enriching STEM lessons for our students. I know you will join me in celebrating her transition into her new role!

Report cards are being sent home with your child today.  We are so proud of the work our children have accomplished in 2nd quarter not only academically, but also spiritually, socially, and as servant leaders through various service projects.  God continues to bless us with the ability to remain in Model A, in-person learning, as well!  

The week of February 1st through 5th is Catholic Schools Week--one of our most favorite weeks of the school year!  This year we will continue our tradition of serving others as a celebration of our faith and call to "Be Jesus to One Another".  Each grade level will participate in specific activities throughout the week, and a schedule of needed donations is included in the newsletter below.  We are also thrilled to virtually welcome back Number Drummer, a hands-on experience which teaches students to hear and see math in rhythm and music.  We have lots of fun surprises scheduled throughout the week, too--I want to send a huge THANK YOU to our exceptional PTO for coordinating all of our CSW service and fun!

God's Blessings,

Amy Tobergte

NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL

NEWS FROM THE PTO

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

EO 180 & EXEMPTION FORM

On Wednesday, you received an email from Superintendent Monroe regarding MACS compliance with EO 180. As you know, our current health-safety protocols are working as intended and expected, and our collective diligence has kept our school community healthy and in school thus far. We have successfully prioritized the use of face coverings in developmentally appropriate ways, and in ways which preserve a normal learning experience for our students.  Thank you all so very much for partnering with us throughout this ever-evolving journey. 

At St. Patrick, we have students wear face coverings if they are working collaboratively, if they are moving throughout the school building, or if they are in a situation where they are not able to socially distance.  Our students and staff have done an incredible job adhering to these policies.  Moving forward, students and staff will be required to wear their face coverings at all times, except for when teachers provide students with breaks from their masks (only when students are socially distanced), during lunch, and during outdoor activities when social distancing is possible. 

Families may claim an exemption from EO180 by signing and returning the exemption form below; however, the exemption would pertain only to new uses of face coverings.  All students will be required to continue to use face coverings in the manner in which we are currently utilizing them.

RESOURCES

NEWS SO NICE WE SAY IT TWICE

SCHOOL MASS SCHEDULE

Please remember to check the calendar and school Mass schedule each week.

Students must wear their Mass uniforms on the Fridays that their class goes to Mass.

Boys must wear long pants and girls must wear the jumper (K-3) or kilt (4-5).

As of now Mass is limited to only our students and staff in that we are asking parents not to attend Mass. We only allow 3 students per pew, and they are spaced out for social distancing. Students are seated with their class, not with prayer partners. The church is sanitized with the aerosolized sanitizing machine before and after Mass, which effectively kills virus and bacteria within 5 minutes of spraying. Masks are optional since the students are socially distanced, but if a parent asks a teacher for their child to wear their mask, we are enforcing that. Only children receiving communion are out of their seats, and they are socially distanced on a kneeler 2 at a time. Father and Deacon sanitize their hands in between each Communion offering, and students are able to take the Host by mouth or by hand.