Helpful Tips For Student Mask-Wearing

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With just over a month until the first day of school, this would be the time to begin positive reinforcement with your child/ren (if you have not already done so) about the importance of wearing masks in school. “This is how we keep each other safe,” will be the message that we use here at school and it would be helpful if this message is repeated at home as well.  This website has some helpful tips for parents:  http://patiented.solutions.aap.org/handout.aspx?gbosid=548043

Return to In-Person Learning Update

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Last evening, Manchester Public Schools announced their intention to present to the school board a hybrid learning model for when schools reopen in September.

To avoid confusion, we wanted to clarify that Saint James School is still on track to fully implement our published Return to In-Person Learning Plan, which calls for 5 days a week of in-person learning for students.  This is based on the Governor’s current protocol and Saint James School’s ability to provide adequate physical distancing in our classrooms at this time.

First Day Update

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In light of the recent announcement from the town of Manchester regarding the first day of school, please note that Saint James School will likely be pushing our start date to September 8th as well, to ensure we have our bus and lunch service (which is run through the town).  Additional communication will be sent this coming Wednesday, with a date for our distance learners to meet their teachers and pick up materials/technology devices, as well as a date for our in-person learners to meet their teachers and set up their desks.

We thank you again for completing our recent questionnaire to help us with our preparations for fall.  We are grateful for your support as we work through the nuances of this upcoming school year.

Staff Updates

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Saint James School is pleased to welcome Mrs. Peggy Paradis to our school staff in the role of Teachers’ Aide.  Mrs. Paradis comes to us from St. Christopher School in East Hartford and has many years of experience working with students/teachers in this capacity.

In addition, we are excited to announce that 1st grade teacher Ms. Labowski is returning to us this Fall as Mrs. Fitzgerald, after getting married this summer!  Her email address has been updated to reflect her married name.

Support For the School Choice Now Act

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The Alexander-Scott School Choice Now Act legislation would provide states with grants for scholarships to families in non-public schools. These scholarships would be distributed through scholarship granting organizations (SGOs), and the scholarships could be means-tested to support families who need it the most. Furthermore, the act states that any additional K-12 education funding provided by Congress must include equitable access to financial resources for non-public schools.

Please take an opportunity to learn more and voice your support here: https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/76171/Respond.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

Questionnaire Due Tuesday by 2pm

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Thank you to everyone who has completed our Return to In-Person Learning Intentions Questionnaire for the K-8 program.  If you have yet to fill it out, please do so by Tuesday, July 28th at 2:00pm to tell us how your child/ren will be attending school this Fall (in-person or remotely).  This information will help us further prepare for the start of the upcoming year.  Thank you again for your support.

FALL 2020 Return to In-Person Learning Intentions Questionnaire

SJS Return to In-Person Learning Plan 7-22-20

 

 

Grab & Go Meals Available All Summer

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As a reminder, the town’s Grab-and-Go Meal program will be available throughout the entire summer, and SJS families are welcome to participate!  Here are the Grab-and-Go Menus, locations, and times for next week:

Grab & Go Menu – July 27-31

 

Return to In-Person learning Plan for 2020-2021 (K-8)

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Please take some time to review the attached documentation regarding the 2020-2021 school year.  In addition to detailed information about what in-person learning will look like this year, there is an option (see last page) for Distance Learning where students would participate in instruction each day from their home.  Once you have read through the information, all families must fill out the questionnaire below to tell us how your child/ren will be attending school this Fall (in-person or remotely).  This information will help us further prepare for the start of the upcoming year.  Due date for responses is Tuesday, July 28th by 2pm.

Please keep in mind this plan complies with current State mandates but may fluctuate based on COVID-19 trends.  Any updates to this information will be communicated in a timely manner.

SJS Return to In-Person Learning Plan 7-22-20

FALL 2020 Return to In-Person Learning Intentions Questionnaire

 

For families with a Pre-Kindergarten student, please note our Pre-K plan will be sent to you by the end of the week.

Fall 2020 Update

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This afternoon our Return to In-Person Strategy committee is meeting to put the finishing touches on our school’s plans for Fall 2020.  We anticipate having detailed documentation for the K-8 program distributed tomorrow and the Pre-Kindergarten program by the end of the week.

In the meantime, please note that FACTS will not take their annual account fees (i.e. $45 for 10 payments, $25 for two payments) until July 29th (FACTS’ recent communication stated that these fees will come out on July 22nd).

Staff Update

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We are excited to announce the addition of Mrs. Mary Mitchell to the Saint James Middle School teaching faculty.  Mrs. Mitchell has many years of experience teaching in a Catholic School environment, including Assumption School and most recently at St. Christopher School in East Hartford as a Middle School Teacher.  In addition to her vast experience, Mrs. Mitchell has a Master’s Degree in Reading and Language Arts and holds a State of CT Teaching certification as well.  In addition to teaching 6th & 7th Grade Literature and 6th Grade Religion, Mrs. Mitchell will also be a 7th grade homeroom teacher alongside Mrs. Wolpert.  We are excited to welcome Mrs. Mitchell to our Saint James School community!