Principal Crowley's Corner

Our school is coming alive again! It has been exciting to see our teachers working hard in their classrooms preparing them for a new school year. They are looking forward to welcoming your children back to school and pouring so much love into their work in the building each day! Thank you SKS teachers!

Please be sure to check out the "Summer Information for Parents" Link for all information you need to prep for back to school. If you have any questions regarding busing, stationery, forms, etc. please contact Anne Condello acondello@sksschool.org and Susan Hodgens shodgens@sksschool.org .

School begins in two weeks! While I encourage you to continue enjoying every moment of summer it is also wise to start preparing in small ways as we wind down our summer vacation. One suggestion I would like to make is to reestablish a nighttime routine and consistent bedtimes for your child. This will make waking up on time for school a bit easier in September. Try pushing bedtime up by 5 or 10 minutes each night if, like at the Crowley house this summer, bedtimes creeped later and later due to summer activities. Arriving at school on time each day is so important. When students arrive late it disrupts the classroom and creates anxiety in a student trying to play catch up all day after starting their day in a rushed way.

I will be sharing more back to school reminders next week in my 2nd annual "Mrs. Crowley's Guide to Back to School" newsletter. I know you can't wait to read it!

Click the school calendar button above to see important dates for the month of September. Our school calendar is always kept up to date with the latest times and dates for school events.

A few highlights for the start of school:

Wednesday 9/6: First day of school Grades 1-8, it is a full day of school!

Thursday 9/7: Kindergarten Playdate, info coming soon. K-1 Back to School Night

Friday 9/8: Prayer Service Grades 1-8; Kindergarten New Student Open House

Monday 9/11: Kindergarten first day of school; CARES begins

Orders placed by 9/17 will be delivered to school by the end of September!

Every year we collect school supplies for our sister parish school, St. Martin de Porres. Your past generosity has helped the 400+ children in grades PK-8th start their year off right with new supplies! It has made a big difference in the lives of these families.

Please drop off supplies from Saturday, August 20 through Sunday, September 10 in bins in the church library or at the entrances to the school and parish center. The SMdP school principal has created a wishlist on Amazon; items will be delivered to the school. If you prefer shopping at a different online store, you can have supplies sent directly to the school at 2500 W. Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia PA, 19312.

Any questions, please contact Maria Carrillo at mariamcarrillo@icloud.com or 610-357-2392. Thank you for helping our sister parish!

Supplies Needed (new items only please)

• Folders

• Notebooks (marble)

• Pencils

• Crayons

• Washable markers

• Colored pencils

• Pens

• Dry Erase Markers

• Scissors

• Glue sticks

• Dry erase pocket sleeves

• Eraser tops

In order to volunteer at school this year you must have up to date clearances. Now is a great time to start the process or update clearances if needed. Please email Kim O'Neill, koneill@sksparish.org, for more information.

SAVE THE DATE: Protecting God’s Children workshop at SKS
October 3, 7pm

St. Katharine’s will host a Protecting God’s Children workshop on October 3 at 7pm in the parish center. The Archdiocese requires all staff and volunteers who have regular contact (once a week or more) to complete this training. This includes adults working or volunteering in school, PREP, CYO and other parish activities. This is the most time-consuming requirement to complete – make it easier by completing it here at SKS. Registration for this in-person session will begin at the end of the summer. These workshops fill quickly! If you would like to be notified when registration opens or have questions about the Safe Environment requirements, contact Kim O’Neill at koneill@sksparish.org.

Archdiocese of Philadelphia

Eucharistic Congress

Saturday, September 30, 2023

National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Doylestown, PA

A recent study found that only 31% of U.S. Catholics believe that bread and wine are consecrated during Mass to become the Body and Blood of Jesus; most Catholics think that they only symbolize Christ. The Eucharistic Congress in September is part of the U.S. Bishops’ three-year revival of belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The day will include Mass, Adoration and discussions about the Eucharistic Mystery. All are welcome!

Click here view flyer with more information!

We are planning a bus trip from St. Katharine's to the Eucharistic Congress in Doylestown, PA. Please contact Kim O'Neill if you are interested so that we can gauge interest - koneill@sksparish.org.

Enjoy these remaining weeks of summer. Please know how much work our faculty and staff are putting in to prepare our school for the new year. The love, effort, and collaboration amongst our teachers I witness in this building each week makes me so excited for the coming school year. It is going to be an amazing year at SKS!

God Bless You!
Mrs. Crowley