The Hornet's Buzz

September 27, 2024

Dear Holy Cross Community,

Happy Friday! Wholehearted thanks to all who were able to attend our CYO Parish Open /Jack Weitkamp Golf Tournament fundraiser on September 20th in support of our Athletics program. It was such a fun and joyful day of community building and friendly competition.

This week was also filled with amazing teaching and learning activities for students. While our Grade 4 students visited the Langsfield School House, fifth grade had the first educational field experience of their DoD STARBASE program. It is a 5-day, 25-hour program, designed to deliver STEM specific curriculum that meets state and national standards with the goal of motivating students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. In addition, Holy Cross hosted the first Mathletics event of the year, where students in Grades 3-8 participated in an afternoon of engaging math problem-solving and camaraderie. Participating schools included Ascension, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, Nativity, and Holy Cross. Congratulations to Mrs. Kerth, Math Instructional Coach, and to our students on a successful tournament. Many thanks also to all who helped make this a successful event.

Another fun, educational week lies ahead! Please find below information regarding this upcoming week's events.

• Student Safety Program (September 30 - October 2)

As an Archdiocesan school, we are required to provide safety lessons to students in an age appropriate manner. Holy Cross has partnered with Sunflower House to provide the sessions and they will take place on Monday through Wednesday as follows. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, or if you would like for your child to opt out of this program.

Date: September 30

9:50 am - Grade 8

10:40 am - Grade 7

11:19 am - Grade 6

Date: October 1 , 2024

11:15 - Grade 5

12:45 - Grade 2

Date: October 2, 2024

9:30 - Grade 4

10:30 - Grade 3

12:00 - Kinder

1:00 - Grade 1

• STREAM Night for Grades K-2 (October 3)

Come and "pop in" at our first ever STREAM night this Thursday, October 3 at 6:00 pm. This first session is for families in Grades K-2. We will have additional sessions for Grades 3-5 on January 16 and for Grades 6-8 on April 10. Ms. Kopp invites students and their families to join us for a joyful night of activities centered on STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics).

• First Reconciliation Meeting (Spanish) for Grade 2 Parents (October 4)

The meeting will take place at the Church at 7:00 pm on Friday, October 4. There will an additional session in English on Thursday, October 10. Please let Ms. Mandl know if you have any questions.

• CEF Awareness Day (October 4)

The Catholic Education Foundation believes that every child should have access to a safe, high-quality, faith-filled education. To accomplish this, CEF partners with K-12 Catholic schools in under-resourced communities to provide scholarships, ensuring that no child is denied the opportunity to attend a Catholic school due to financial constraints. In order to support their mission, we will collecting $2 this Friday, October 4 for an opportunity to have an out-of-uniform day on Friday, October 11 (since this Friday is a Spirit Day). Many thanks in advance for your contribution as it will support CEF financial assistance efforts for our students.

May you have a beautiful weekend and may God's blessings and peace be with you and yours always.

Warmly,

Paola V. Clark, Ed.D.

Please help us prioritize the safety and security of our students and staff. A reminder that parking is not permitting in the Tree lot during school hours. If you need to park and come in to the school, please use the front parking by the main office. Also, only turn right onto 95th when exiting the parking lot. All visitors must stop by the front office to check in.

The Student-Parent Handbook for 2024-25 can be accessed here. Please note that as part of our continuous improvement efforts, this is a living document that will be revised as needed in order to nimbly respond to any needs that may arise. Any edits will appear in a different font color.

Our annual trunk-or-treat will take place on Friday, October 25 from 5:30 - 8:00 pm at the Church. Please join us for magical and spooky evening! Get ready to decorate your cars, bring some treats, and wear costumes, if you'd like. We look forward to seeing you there!

September 30 - October 2 -- Safety Program by Sunflower House (Grades K-8)

October 2 - STARBASE Field Trip (Grade 5)

October 3 - STREAM Night (Grades K-2)

October 4 - CEF Awareness Day/Spirit Day |

Holy Cross has adopted a School-Wide Positive Behavior Support System known as the Be Holy Cross Virtuous Behavior Formation. Expectations are clearly defined under the “Be Holy Cross” framework. Students are expected to conduct themselves in keeping with the expectations set in this framework to be caring, responsible, obedient, and successful stewards. Individual, classroom, and school-wide expectations will be taught at the beginning of the school year and emphasized at various times throughout the year. Students will be acknowledged for positive behaviors. This is in full alignment with our annual theme: In a world where you can be anything...Be Holy Cross.

Education in Virtue, is the Archdiocesan Catholic Social Emotional Learning program which is a key component of our Virtuous Formation Program. It provides a curriculum and resources developed by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and based on St. Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit. These resources provide a framework that helps all ages understand how to live a more virtuous life.

At Holy Cross, we highlight a virtue each month that is weaved organically into lessons and our daily school life. They are used in our announcements to guide our morning prayer, selection of the Saint of the Month, activities for our Faith Families, as well as classroom lessons. The virtue for the month of October is Humility (Humbleness).

***Allergy-conscious policies can help protect people with food allergies and other hypersensitivities.

***It is helpful to all if either you or your child stops by the nurse office or the front office with the snack or treat they bring to share, so that it can be checked if it is allowed in the classroom before taking it in.

***When purchasing items for classroom or school wide consumption, please read labels carefully, as they may not have an “allergen warning”.

You must do the following:

***Read the ingredients on the label and make sure they are peanut and tree nut free.

*** Then look for a ¨may contain¨ statement under the ingredients list that tells of possible allergens the product may contain.

*** Under that, sometimes there is a ¨processed in a factory or plant that also processes peanuts and/or tree nuts¨ statement.

IMPORTANT to remember:

• All products must be in a sealed package with a printed label of the ingredients.

• NO Homemade items.

• NO items from a bakery or donut shop.

• CANNOT contain tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews, almonds, brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts).

• CANNOT contain peanuts.

• CANNOT be made in a facility that processes peanuts and/or tree nuts.

Please see the link below for instructions on how to read a label and what to look for. Thank you for your cooperation! We really appreciate it.

Video on how to read a label

FDA food allergen info

Johnson County Health Clinic

If you or your child are uninsured, or have medical treatment insecurity, Johnson County has a resource: Johnson County Health Clinic. They offer many medical services from pediatrics, dental, women's health and more. They offer practitioners and services in many languages as well.

A friendly reminder that if your child will not be in school for any reason i.e. appointment, illness, or is out of town please email the nurses.

Wishing all our families a happy and healthy school year!

Warm wishes, Polly and Nina

Política Consciente de Alergias de Holy Cross

***Las políticas conscientes de alergias pueden ayudar a proteger a las personas con alergias alimentarias y otras hipersensibilidades.

***Es útil para todos si usted o su hijo pasan por la enfermería o la oficina principal con el refrigerio o la golosina que traen para compartir, para que puedan verificar si está permitido en el salón de clases antes de llevarlo dentro.

***Al comprar artículos para consumo en el salón o en toda la escuela, tenga en cuenta:

Lea atentamente las etiquetas, ya que es posible que no contengan una "advertencia de alérgenos".

Debes hacer lo siguiente:

***Lea los ingredientes en la etiqueta y asegúrese de que no contengan cacahuates ni frutos secos.

*** Luego busque una declaración "puede contener" debajo de la lista de ingredientes que indique los posibles alérgenos que puede contener el producto.

*** Debajo de eso, a veces hay una declaración ¨procesado en una fábrica o planta que también procesa maní y/o nueces de árbol¨.

IMPORTANTE recordar:

*Todos los productos deben estar en un paquete sellado con una etiqueta impresa de los ingredientes.

*NO artículos hechos en casa.

*NO artículos de panadería o tienda de donas.

*NO PUEDE contener frutos secos (nueces, nueces pecanas, pistachos, anacardos, almendras, nueces de Brasil, nueces de macadamia, piñones, avellanas).

*NO PUEDE contener maní.

*NO SE PUEDE elaborar en una instalación que procesa maní y/o nueces de árbol.

Consulte el enlace a continuación para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo leer una etiqueta y qué buscar.

¡Gracias por su cooperación! Realmente lo apreciamos.

Vídeo sobre cómo leer una etiqueta

Información sobre alérgenos alimentarios de la FDA

Clínica de salud del condado de Johnson

Si usted o su hijo no tienen seguro médico o tienen inseguridad en cuanto a su tratamiento médico, el condado de Johnson tiene un recurso: la clínica de salud del condado de Johnson. Ofrecen muchos servicios médicos desde pediatría, odontología, salud de la mujer y más. También ofrecen practicantes y servicios en muchos idiomas.

Un recordatorio amistoso, si su hijo no estará en la escuela por algún motivo, es decir, una cita, una enfermedad o está fuera de la ciudad, envíe un correo electrónico a las enfermeras.

¡Les deseamos a todas nuestras familias un feliz y saludable año escolar!

Cálidos deseos, Polly y Nina

Beginning Monday, August 16, we will go back to our regular office hours as follows:

Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

Noon dismissal: 7:30 am - 12:00 pm

The best point of contact for any student matters, is your student's classroom teachers. Our team will do their best to get back to you as soon as possible. Please note that this may take up to 2 business days to respond as our faculty and staff are tending to students and duties throughout the day. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

In case of an emergency, please call or email the Front Office at gradeschool@holycrosscatholicschool.com and we will provide assistance.

October is National Bullying Awareness Month. On Monday, October 7 Holy Cross will join other schools and organizations across the country in observing World Day of Bullying Prevention by wearing a blue top and engaging in activities throughout the month and year. The goal is to work together to stop bullying and cyberbullying and put an end to hatred and racism by increasing awareness of the prevalence and impact of all forms of bullying on all children of all ages.

The Random Act of Kindness Foundation has multiple resources for schools and families to inspire and support making kindness the norm.

Hornet spirit wear with this year's theme is available for purchase at 1st Place Spiritwear. Explore all options and share your Hornet pride with the community as we celebrate our amazing students and school. This is also a great opportunity to support Holy Cross as we receive 10% back on all purchases.