School Newsletter 1-21-21

Calendar Reminder: Out of Uniform Day tomorrow!  We are collecting funds to give to our scholarship fund for families that need support with expenses.

Archdiocesan Update

Last week, the Archdiocese of Chicago published new guidelines regarding COVID-19 quarantines. This week they have revised those guidelines again.  Please note the changes below.

• Quarantine periods for all domestic travel (travel out of Illinois) is now ten (10) days, with or without negative COVID test results. 
• Quarantines for international travel remain 14 days. 
• Quarantines for COVID-19 exposure cases also remain 14-days (based upon the recommendation of all departments of public health in those jurisdictions in which the Archdiocese operates and our own medical advisors).

Catholic Schools Week is fast approaching!  We’re very excited to be celebrating with all of you.  The themes for the days are listed below:

2/1 Monday – Celebrating your community – Swim or Sled Day (in Illinois, we seem to go from 80 to 10 degrees in a blink of an eye - wear warm weather attire if you prefer summer, like shorts, sunglasses, Hawaiian shirts, or wear cold weather attire if you prefer winter, like boots, scarf, sweater)

2/2 Tuesday – Celebrating our students – Pajama Day (pajamas must be school appropriate – no summer/short pajamas, spaghetti strings or thin attire)

2/3 Wednesday – Celebrating our nation – Mismatch Day (we are a giant melting pot, but we all work together – wear mismatched attire – 2 different socks or shoes, different themed clothes like sweatpants with a dress shirt, etc.)

2/4 Thursday – Celebrating vocations – Celebrity Day (show our religious that they are superstars -dress up as a celebrity)

2/5 Friday – Celebrating our faculty, staff, and volunteers – Favorite Sport/Team Day (we are all part of God’s team – let’s show our faculty, staff and volunteers that we are cheering for them)

Calendar Reminder: There will be no school on Monday, February 15 due to Presidents’ Day. We WILL offer extended day services that day if we have enough interest.  Please contact the office by Wednesday, February 10 to let us know that you will need the service.

Ash Wednesday Services & Safety Protocols

Ash Wednesday is on February 17, 2021. St. Gerald services are as follows:

FEBRUARY 17:

· 8:00 AM Mass-Reservation Required

· 4:30 PM Ashes Only-Reservation Required

· 5:30 PM Ashes Only-Reservations Required

· 7:00 PM Mass-Reservations Required You may call the parish office at 708-422-0234 for reservations or go to www.stgerald.com and use the Sign-Up Genius link to reserve your spot.

In order to provide safe distribution, ashes will be distributed in the following manner:

1. After blessing the ashes and sprinkling them with holy water in silence, the priest will address those present, reciting general prayers.

2. The ushers will instruct the attendees pew by pew to line up while keeping everyone socially distant.

3. The priest or minister will then put on a face mask and a shield, sanitize his/her hands, and distribute ashes to those who come to him by sprinkling the ashes on top of each person’s head without saying anything.

4. Once you have received your ashes please go back to your pew and leave after closing prayers, as directed by the ushers.

Air Purifiers

We were able to install air purifiers in most of the homerooms.  Thank you to Mr. Young for taking care of that for us!  We still need air purifiers for kindergarten and first grade as well as common areas like Arnold Hall, Chapel Hall, etc.  We will continue to work on funding for those areas and purchase units as soon as possible.

National Art Honor Society Art Class FREE for Middle School Students from Oak Lawn Community High School

Oak Lawn Community High School art teachers and honor students are offering a free virtual art class on February 15 for students in 6^th, 7^th, or 8^th grades. Please see the flyer attached to the newsletter.  To register, click on the following link:

National Art Honor Society Art Class Registration Form (google.com)    For More information  go here https://drive.google.com/file/d/14CHLuDV--YrRrGN9jUd2JIylkH7GhSWH/view

Office Request: If a parent would like to help with recess coverage, please contact Mrs. Reynolds at the office,  [email protected]  or call 708-422-0121.