ST. MARY PHOENIX NEWS

Dear Parents and Community Members,

Following the directive of Governor DeWine, St. Mary School and Preschool will be closed beginning Monday, March 16th through Friday, April 3, 2020. Monday, March 16th there will be NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS as it will be a Teacher Work Day. The School Office will be open on Monday. This is a change from previous information sent to you. Please be patient as we navigate through this process and we receive new guidance and information from various Diocesan and State sources. For planning purposes, due to the extended time off during these three weeks, we will be having school during the week of April 13th-17th. There will be NO SCHOOL Good Friday, April 10th. Please reach out to the office if you have questions.

We are committed to continuing your child’s education during this time. As this time, the closure has been deemed an extended “Spring Break”, it is our goal to provide review and maintenance of key concepts in core subject areas. Teachers will be utilizing a variety of communication tools in order to connect with you and our students to provide work, answer questions and provide feedback. Communication methods may vary by grade level and teacher, but we are committed to stay connected to you and our students.

Please continue to check email and Class Dojo for information, assignments, and more information. Today, we will be sending home all necessary books, workbooks, folders, and supplies in order for your students to complete work from home. We will be here to assist you during this time if you have questions or to trouble shoot. Please let us know if you need devices for them to use at home. We can make arrangements to have them check out chromebooks and chargers. Mr. Studer will be available Monday to help us help you with technology needs.

As we become, more aware of the continuing changing information we are receiving we will make you informed via email, social media and class dojo. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we all move through this new territory. I will be monitoring the office and will be available to answer questions. Please continue to pray for a positive outcome in this health crisis and pray for our leaders. Should you have any questions regarding this closure, please email me at stm_lmarvin@tccsa.net or call the school office 330-262-8671.

This week COVID19 continues to be in the news and more information has been shared with us through many avenues about how to better protect ourselves from contracting the virus. The Diocese of Cleveland has suspended the "Handshake of Peace", the availability of holy water at the entrances to the church and access to the "Precious Blood" at mass unless you have a medical condition that does not allow you to consume the "Holy Eucharist". At the Wednesday Morning Mass, parishioners and children stood silently at the "Sign of Peace". Everyone was also reminded to continue to "Wash Your Hands" and keep from rubbing your eyes. Also if you or a family member is sick please stay home.

Catholic Faithful who reside in Ohio and all other Catholics currently in Ohio are dispensed from the obligation of attending Sunday Mass for the weekends of March 14-15, March 21-22, March 28-29. Please be mindful of your health and if you are experiencing symptoms of illness or at risk of illness please stay home.

All gathering of more than 100 people have been cancelled including our upcoming Fish Fries.

Recently there have been articles on the concept of "Flattening the Curve" which shares the concept of reducing the effect of the virus by minimizing the potential contact to others through quarantine and cancellation of events. Staying home helps prevent the US health system from being overloaded with very sick patients who need intensive medical treatments. Please be mindful of your actions as it relates to spreading germs.

Please continue to pray for our world and for healing.

No School From March 16th until April 3rd. See you April 6th.

No School Good Friday, April 10th.

There will be school April 13-17th

Tuesday, April 7th Second Grade Presents Reader's Theatre 11:00 in the Parish Hall.

Thursday, April 9th Fifth Grade Presents the Passion Play 2:30PM.

This week, as a St. Mary Family, we mourn the loss of Kirk Haschak. For the last 2 seasons, Mr. Haschak has been the assistant boys' basketball coach at St. Mary's. He was a retired Colonel in the United States Army and spent 25 years traveling the world with his family and serving in countries like Germany, Afghanistan, Somalia, Belarus and Belgium. Most notably he was the US Army Attache' to Belarus and and was Military Assistant to the Deputy Chairman NATO Military Committee, Brussels, Belgium. He worked for a short time at NATO before retiring to Lodi, Ohio on a farm with his family. He was a coach and history teacher until he was diagnosed with cancer 4.5 years ago. He loved coaching basketball at St. Mary's and working with our students and demanded the same level of integrity and effort from the students he taught and coached as he put forth himself. His time spent at our school brought him back to the church. He will be remembered for his everyday words of wisdom to the team. His greatest battle was cancer and he fought with bravery until the end. Please keep his family in your prayers.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, March 20th at 10:30am at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church. Visitationfor family and friends begins at 9:00am in the church.

Since 1865, people have known St. Mary School students by their actions. This is because throughout our history, we have focused on building student’s character, based on the values instilled by the Catholic Faith, and a foundation of academic excellence.

St. Mary School provides a welcoming environment where families have the freedom to celebrate the faith. In a world of need, responsibility matters and strength is needed to serve our communities. It is our mission to develop students who have the ability to be mentors and leaders in the world. We recognize that each student is a unique gift from God and we individualize instruction to help them reach their full potential. We strive to promote an atmosphere that encourages a love of learning and provides children with a foundation of faith to balance and guide them for the rest of their lives.

Email: stm_lmarvin@tccsa.net
Website: stmwoo.org
Location: 515 Beall Avenue, Wooster, OH, USA
Phone: 330-262-8671
Facebook: stmarywooster1