School Newsletter 10-29-20

Newsletter 10-29-20

Uniform

Due to the lingering circumstances, we are going to extend the gym uniform and/or spirit wear items until further notice.  This decision was made because it is much easier for parents to clean/disinfect the knit wear as opposed to the formal uniforms.  November and December will be gym uniform/spirit wear items. We will resume formal wear when we feel the virus threat isn’t as prevalent. Thank you for your understanding.

Halloween Classroom Celebrations

Per the Archdiocese of Chicago, we are unable to accept any items sent in for Halloween classroom celebrations with the rise in COVID-19 cases.  Students may wear black and orange or Halloween attire that day and all classes will get to participate in some activities or games. NO COSTUMES are allowed this year.

Many homeroom teachers will plan on some treats for the students. Please check with your child’s homeroom teacher to find out if /what treats will be provided.  We can’t accept candy or anything like that, but if you would like to donate a Manna card to your child’s homeroom teacher for the purpose of providing snacks, you may contact the teacher. Manna helps to provide treats but it also helps the school generate funds.

WE WILL BE PLAYING SOME GAMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND SOME STUDENTS WILL WIN SMALL PRIZES SO ENCOURAGE THE KIDS TO DRESS IN HALLOWEEN ATTIRE OR BLACK AND ORANGE!

COVID-19 Procedures

With the rise in cases, we ask that everyone be extra vigilant in following safety protocols.  If your child has any symptoms, please keep him/her home from school.  Call the school office (708-422-0121) and let us know that your child will be absent and why.  We will contact you as soon as we can.  This may take a day or two as the staff are doing multiple jobs in order to cover everything without increasing people in the building.  You can also email Mrs. Markham at [email protected] or Mrs. Reynolds at [email protected]. We will get your child’s textbooks, Chromebook, and classwork together and make sure it is ready for pick up after school if you feel your child will need those at home.  Please just indicate that when you contact us. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Fatima (2020) Showing on 11/1/2020 In St. Gerald Church

All families are invited to join us on Sunday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 pm for a special showing of the movie Fatima. This is only open to 120 participants, 60 sign-ups will be via sign up genius at stgerald.com and 60 sign-ups will be via phone reservation at the Parish Office (708)422-0234.

Please arrive 20-30 minutes early to check in. All attendees must wear a Mask and will be seated by the Usher. All attendees must have a reservation. The story of a famous miracle in Fatima, Portugal began in May, 1917 when three children (ages 7,9, & 10) claimed to have encountered the Virgin Mary on their way home from tending a flock of sheep. It was Mary's appearance on Oct. 13, 1917 that became the most famous.

Rated PG-13

Family Reading Night

Family Reading Night is celebrated across the state of Illinois each year on the third Thursday of November.  This year, it will take place on Thursday, November 19.  Reading together is one of the most valuable gifts a family can share. Reading sets people on a successful path for lifelong learning.

This year we are encouraging all of our St. Gerald Giants to participate in Family Reading Night.

Every student will get a Family Reading Night form.  Students should spend at least 20 minutes reading  for enjoyment on November 19.  They can read with someone, read to someone, or read on their own.  Any student that reads will record the time they started and ended, and the book(s) that they read and with whom.  A parent must sign off that the information is correct. The student should bring the completed form back to school on Friday, November 20 and he/she will receive a free out of uniform day on Monday, November 23.

School Website

As many of you are aware, the school website hasn’t been updated in a while.  We are working on creating a new school website that more closely matches the new parish website.  Our school board has currently undertaken this work and we hope to get a new website up and running in the next couple of weeks.  If you need information, please reach out to Mrs. Markham, [email protected] or another staff member. Thank you for your patience.

Teacher Emails and Parent-teacher Conferences

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, November 24.  There is no school that day for students.  All conferences will be virtual through Google Meets, Kdg.-8.  Scheduling of conferences will be done online this year via Google Forms for each cohort/teacher.  In order to send you a Google Form to sign up for a conference, we must have a current email.  Please email your child(ren)’s homeroom teacher(s) using the list below so that they have a current email address on file for you.  We only need 1 email address per family; however, if you would like to supply one for each parent, you may.  The sign-up forms will be emailed on Tuesday, November 10 and should be returned by Friday, November 20.  Each virtual conference will be allotted 15 minutes of time and parents will receive a link to log on at the designated time.

Mrs. Hosty – [email protected]

Miss Carmona – [email protected]

Mrs. McAcy – [email protected]

Sr. Ruby – [email protected]

Sr. Rose – [email protected]

Mrs. Quaid – [email protected]

Ms. Arnold – [email protected]

Mrs. Topor – [email protected]

Sr. Ann – [email protected]

Mrs. Warren – [email protected]

Mrs. Lumpkin – [email protected]

Mrs. Wilk – [email protected]

Mrs. Boyes – [email protected]

Mrs. Fiscella – [email protected]

Mrs. Slifka – [email protected]

Miss Kennedy – [email protected]

Mr. Montag – [email protected]

Christmas Caring Tree 2020

Over the years, the Family of St. Gerald has come together in charity and love for our community members in need. This year is especially unique due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the negative effects it has had on so many people who have lost jobs or are under-employed and struggling to make ends meet. We are asking for that same spirit of giving to continue this year but in a different way.

We have decided, together with our community partners to ask you to participate by purchasing gift cards. Because we are unable to participate in the usual way with the creation and distribution of ornaments on our trees, we ask you to consider this easy and efficient way of assisting the following community recipients:

Catholic Charities, St. Agatha, St. Peter Claver, Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, St. Vincent DePaul and our Parish School Families.

We encourage you to utilize the parish Manna program and have provided the order form with this letter and instructions for you to use. Also a percentage of purchases will go back to the school so this is a win-win for everyone! If you prefer to make a monetary donation that would be accepted and would be distributed among the receiving partners.

Please return the gift cards to the parish office the weekend of December 5th and 6th.

We are limiting the gift card purchases to the following businesses: Walmart, Kohls, Target, Jewel and Speedway. Let us all keep those in need in our community always in our prayers as I continue to pray for each of you and your loved ones. MANNA ORDER FORM

“St. Gerald….Pray For Us….Live Jesus in Our Hearts Forever!”

Blessings,  Deacon Michael Fekete & Committee

708-642-0647      [email protected]

From the Desk of Deacon Fekete

There is a regional Thanksgiving  food drive at St. Stephen’s. Saturday November 7. It’s safely organized and a great spirit of charity amongst those who have participated. Please refer to the flyer attached below for more information

In Christ,

Deacon Michael Fekete

Thanksgiving Food Drive Regional Information

 

After Christmas Quarantine

Many of you may have read or are aware that the Archdiocese has decided that all schools will close for 2 weeks following Christmas break.  This is so everyone can quarantine after visiting with family and friends over the holidays.  Our Christmas break ends on January 5 so beginning January 6, we will host online classes for all cohorts.  The classes will follow a normal day’s schedule with the exception of special classes.  Before Christmas break we will send out a daily schedule of when students should log in and when they will finish for the day.  All students should be able to access Google Meets using their Chromebooks if they have internet access.  If you do not have internet access or if your child’s Chromebook has any issues, please let your child’s teacher know right away.

In person instruction resumes Tuesday, January 19.  (We have no school on Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.) We are exploring the option of hosting on-site daycare for those online learning days.  We have to make sure that we can safely separate cohorts and have enough staff present to take care of the students.  Teachers have been instructed per the Archdiocese to teach from home so that they can quarantine as well. Once we have a decision about daycare during that time, we will inform everyone.

ADDENDUM

ST LAURENCE HIGH SCHOOL INFORMATION

St. Laurence has just added an in-person Open House on Sunday, November 1! This event will provide an opportunity to tour our school and learn about everything you could possibly want to know about, including academics, spirituality, athletics, activities, affordability and more.

Each session will be limited to an hour (9:30 a.m, 10:45 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.) and all health and safety guidelines will be followed. Masks are required and groups are limited to the student and their parents. No walk ups will be allowed, you MUST sign up for a timeslot. You can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4eaca82fa2fec43-open or find the link at www.stlaurence.com/prospective.

Development News

Queen of Hearts

Queen of Hearts Raffle was won on Sunday. You can still see the video on the websites. The jackpot was $13,883 so the winner got $6,942. The Queen was hiding behind card #30. The lucky winner was Karolyn Horn, Preschool 3 teacher. Congratulations and thanks for supporting St. Gerald! Information soon on the next round.

Virtual Pumpkin 5K

St Gerald Giant Virtual 5K In Memory of Colette McGinnis is happening now.  You can still register and run by going to Giantpumpkin5k.com.  All registered runners/walkers will receive a beautiful commemorative mask.  If you would like to purchase a mask only, they are $8. Please send an order to school c/o development.  There is a picture of the mask on the school Facebook page.

Big Joe's Backyard BBQ/TC's Pub

Restaurant Gives Back Nights- Every Tuesday in November. St Gerald gets 10% of all sales. Dine in-Carryout or Delivery!!

9700 S. Cicero Ave, 708-425-4252. bring in the flyer, show it on your phone or mention when ordering and we get 10%.

Picture of the flyer is on the Facebook page.

Manna

New Vendors are Frankie's $25 and Fox's $10

A new form will be sent home next week. You can send an order to school, or email [email protected]. We can send your completed orders home with your child or leave in the school office for pickup. Archdiocese COVID restrictions do not allow us to have cash & carry sales.  If you need to pick up your order in the evening, we can have it ready for pickup Wednesdays between 430 and 5 at door #4.  THIS IS ONLY FOR COMPLETED ORDERS.  This fundraiser supports technology repairs, replaces and other expenses.   Thanks for your support   MANNA