Joyfully Embracing Our Mission
St. Clare School Family News | 14 June 2020
We, though many, are ONE body.
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world."
~ John 6
Dear St. Clare School Families,
This past week, the teachers completed the report cards and many worked to prepare their classrooms for the work that we will need to do over the summer, as we look to reopen the school.
Many teachers prepared end-of-the year memories to share with their students either in pictures and videos or in writing. It truly is humbling to experience an end of the year such as we have. Like Ms. Payton said to her kindergarteners, none of us had a clue that the last time we would be together in the school building was March 12th! That was three months ago. We had no idea we would be sheltering at home as long as we have.
Our separation has created a source of mixed emotions and reactions from all parties. Some are angry, some are sad, some are grateful, some are confused and worried and some expressed newfound respect for the challenges faced by teachers and administrators. It is quite challenging to encounter a situation where we feel our freedom to choose has been taken away; where we feel that someone is making the decisions for us; where we feel that others aren't acting quickly enough or that others are incapable of making a decision. All the information and misinformation, the sway of someone else's emotions and frustrations can make us doubt that the options before us are for the common good.
St. Paul reminds us, on this Sunday when we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ:
Brothers and sisters:
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.
I hope that as we plan forward, with guidance from the CDC, the CDE, the SCC Office of Emergency Services and the Bishop and the Diocese of San Jose, we, together as ONE BODY, consider all that is good in our community, all that are needed by our members and all the blessings we have been blessed. I pray that the Holy Spirit guides us in our discernment for what is for the good of all.
Here are a few things that we have been doing to prepare:
- We have ordered and received and will continue to order supplies as they become available (hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes, PPEs for faculty and staff--gloves, face masks, hand soap, tissue). Thanks to Effie's Heart (Kim Frazzitta), our teachers have multiple designer face coverings!
- All employees and visitors over the age of six are required to wear a cloth face covering.
- CAPSO, through the work of California Bishops, will be supplementing supplies and PPEs for private (non-public) schools.
- We have reviewed Emergency Operations (thanks to Luisa and Brent Rapport and Ms. Cherell) and have ordered emergency supplies which will be housed in Garage 1 for easier access in case of an emergency. Thank you to Ms. Valerye and her crew of volunteers for clearing out the space and organizing the ConEx Box/Ark storage.
- We have consulted with our Janitorial Service to schedule cleaning and disinfecting beginning July 1 for Summer@CKZ Camp.
- The parish has ordered the Clorox Total 360 Disinfecting System, with electrostatic sprayer and is expected to arrive the end of July.
- We have implemented screening protocols for employees as well as volunteers and eventually, students to complete a self-screening form at home before they enter the school building. (Self-Screening QR code image will be attached to the ParentSquare Post.) In addition, employees must check in at the school office upon arriving on campus to be screened (including a temperature check using an infrared no-touch thermometer).
- We have implemented disinfecting of high-touch surfaces when employees are on site throughout the day and at the end of each day.
- We have implemented 6 ft. social distancing while on site.
- We have begun considering the capability of our physical site to accommodate 6 ft. social distancing in the classrooms, as well as other possible spaces where classes may be able to gather (the Learning Center, CKZ, CTZ, MakerSpace/Art Room, Resource Room, the Parish Hall, the Church, the Lower Church, the Rectory Gardens).
- Thanks to ChoiceLunch, a plan has been articulated to accommodate the guidelines established by the CDC. Ms. Teresea has visualized what that will look like for our campus.
We will continue the conversations with our faculty and staff regarding what staggered outdoor use might look like and other realities we will encounter when we open up. In addition, we invite you to join our conversation on Thursday evening to consider the options we have before us and we can do, together, as a community to prepare a return that would best serve the needs of our students.
You will find links to the CDC, CDE and SCC resources that include guidelines and considerations including an Action Planning Template. We will use this as our guide as we move forward, remembering that some of the items contained in the template apply to public schools (our diocese and Dept. of Catholic Schools will provide us guidance in these areas in the weeks to come).
More importantly, we need to take care of our physical and emotional well-being. Many of us, by nature, are problem-solvers. When we are faced with the challenge where we can't "solve" a problem, we become anxious, angry or disgruntled. It is a feeling of "loss," a feeling that something we had is no longer there.
A Forbes article by Dr. Wayne Pernell speaks of the Five Stages of Grief identified by famed Swiss psychiatrist Elizabeth Kübler-Ross and how it relates to what we are experiencing during this pandemic. Perhaps we can take some time to "inventory" our own well-being, an action not too different from putting on the oxygen mask first, so that we can better take care of those who depend on us.
Please continue to reach out to one another, consult the resources provided by CHC, Bill Wilson Center and this one from CASEL CARES. Mrs. G (Myla Guevarra) will resume Parent Education forums to provide a venue for you to share tips and problem-solve together. In addition, here is the LINK to the original post regarding the Common Ground Speaker series on parenting.
CELEBRATIONS
We congratulate the Kindergarten Class of 2020 for completing their preparation for elementary school. Miss Payton and Mrs. Meneze have done an amazing job keeping the students engaged and excited about learning. We thank so many of you who sent in their comments regarding your appreciation for their efforts. They are ready for Mrs. Soares!
We also congratulate Miss Payton for completing her Catholic Master in Teaching degree from Santa Clara University! We are very proud of our St. Clare alum and we look forward to her continued commitment to Catholic education and to the St. Clare tradition which her grandmother started years ago.
On Friday, we gathered (social-distancing) to applaud, thank and send off our wonderful teachers and pastors who will be transition on June 30. We thank Mrs. Turner for establishing the TK program five years ago; to Ms. B for saying YES to her role in TK this year and for providing a safe and happy place for our littlest ones; to Ms. McCormick for her amazing commitment to our students; to Mrs. Gallagher to his dedication to the academic formation of our students this year and in the years he served at St. Clare; to Mrs. Dempsey for her boundless energy and the many roles she has played in her 22 years at St. Clare; to Sr. Ann Marie who has been a tremendous part of the tradition at our school--for her friendship, her faith and her continued prayers for our community; and to Fr. Tad who has been St. Clare's spiritual guide for the past six years: may you all be blessed as you transition into the next path that God has laid out for you. We have been blessed by you and your presence. May you always remember that St. Clare is your home now and always.
SUMMER@CKZ | July 6-31 | REGISTRATION WILL OPEN THIS WEEK!
Please look out for more information regarding the wonderful program Ms. Valerye and her staff have put together this summer. We are able to take 24 students to begin with and will consider taking up to 36 if we fill the first 24 spots quickly. Please email Ms. Valerye if you have any questions valerye.moore@dsj.org.
SUMMER BRIDGE PLANS COMING SOON
The teachers are preparing Summer Bridge Plans for students who will be returning to St. Clare School in the Fall. Students will have access to apps like Reading A-Z and RAZKids, Mathletics, Newsela, ALEKS, STMath and others. Teachers will be identifying parameters as well as summer reading in a plan that will be sent to you via ParentSquare after June 22. In the meantime, feel free to use the resources in Home Learning @ St. Clare and Parent/Family Support. Remember that 30 minutes of reading a day (20 minutes for younger students), especially when done next to an adult, has been proven to improve literacy more than any other practice!
RESUMPTION OF PUBLIC MASSES
On June 5th, the County Health Officer shared guidelines regarding resumption of public masses. Please see the DSJ Guidelines and the LINK to the original post that outlines the resumption of masses at St. Clare Parish.
WE STILL HAVE OPENINGS FOR 2020-21!
We need your help to share the Good News that is St. Clare! We currently have the following registered students in each of our grades: TK-10; Kinder-25; First Grade-30; Second Grade-27; Third Grade-23; Fourth Grade-24; Fifth Grade-22; Sixth Grade-19; Seventh Grade-28; Eighth Grade-36. Please refer families to Ms. Cherell and she will be happy to give them a virtual tour. Encourage prospective families to enroll in Summer@CKZ so that they can see the vibrant community to which we belong.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!
The School Office will be open over the summer from 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. Ms. Cherell and Ms. Teresea will be available by phone from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., Monday through Friday. You can drop off uniform donations or schedule a visit to the uniform closet. Please know that we require you to self-screen, wear a cloth face-covering and we will screen you when you come to campus. As a courtesy to our office personnel, please call ahead of time to let them know you will be coming so that they can remind you of our protocols.
As always, you can email them at office@stclareschool.org if you have any questions. Please feel free to reach out to me directly as well: cecile.mantecon@dsj.org (I prefer an email over a ParentSquare message).
Wishing you blessings of peace of hope and of love.
Cecile Mantecon, Principal
Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ | June 14, 2020
Summer Office Hours
Office Hours Monday - Friday 8:00am - 3:00pm
Office Phone Hours Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
This Past Friday We Celebrated The End Of The School Year And Said Farewell To Some Very Important People.
Yearbooks for Sale.
Join Us for Mass each Sunday at 9 A.M. followed by Children's Liturgy of the Word
Join Fr. Tad and the St. Clare Parish Community
for Sunday Mass at 9 A.M.
Use this URL to take you to the page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/233637747732346/
Remember that Children's Liturgy of the Word each Sunday at 10 A.M. If you want your child to participate, please respond to the survey in the original post from the Parish Team.
Engage your family in these opportunities to help our community:
Covid kits for the Unhoused: https://lavamaex.org/blog/lavamae-distributes-1000-covid-19-hygiene-kits-to-our-unhoused-neighbors
Farm worker food collection: https://facebook.com/events/s/farmworker-relief-donation-dro/241707893765837/?ti=icl
Virtual town hall with Emma - moms demand action. End gun violence : https://momsdemandaction.org/hundreds-of-moms-demand-action-students-demand-action-volunteers-call-for-gun-safety-at-virtual-advocacy-day/
Sign up for Camp Captivate Virtual Summer Camps.
Camp Captivate, provides half day camps with digital interaction , live instruction science labs, fine arts and other enrichment classes through Zoom. Click link for more information
Our Beloved St. Clare
Photo by Ed Carlo Garcia www.edcarlogarcia.com
UPCOMING EVENTS and THE SCHOOL CALENDAR
2020-2021 School Year First Day of School: August 19, 2020 Last Day of School: June 11, 2021
St. Clare School
Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: https://www.stclare.school
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797
Facebook: facebook.com/stclareschoolsantaclara