The Hornet's Buzz

January 17, 2025

Dear Holy Cross Community,

Looking ahead, we are excited for an inspiring week of teaching and learning. Please find important information for the upcoming week below. A reminder that there will be no school on Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

Tree Service

Please note that there will be tree service at school tomorrow, Saturday, January 18. To ensure safety, the back parking lot and side entrance off of 95th St must be free of vehicles for the entire day. Thank you for your collaboration.

After School Care

Thank you for your kind flexibility and prayers while Mr. Mason was out this week, and our staff covered these hours. I am happy to share that Mr. Mason is back home and hopes to return on Tuesday.

Re-enrollment

Re-enrollment begins on Wednesday, January 22. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we ensure everything is processed and sent out quickly.

Mass

Our all-school Mass will occur in the Gym on Thursday, January 23 at 9:30 am.

Staffing Update

Join us in welcoming Angelica Urenda to the Early Childhood and After-Care School team. Angelica will mainly support preschool and aftercare and, in collaboration with teachers and counselors, assist with the needs of Kindergarten and Grade 1 classrooms.

CYO Spring Sport

Spring Registrations are now open for the sports below!

Boys/Girls Track & Field - Girls Flag Football
You can register at https://cyojwa.org/current-programs

We are on the countdown for Celebration – an event that provides critically needed

technology upgrades and scholarships for Holy Cross Catholic School. We need your

help!

The Auction Team is hard at work! You just might be the key to finalizing that silent or

live auction item that will get the bidding moving, resulting in support for your child’s

school.

We have a wish list as long as a Kindergartner’s Christmas list. Do you have or can

your help solicit any of the following items:

 Restaurant gift cards

 Airline miles

 Gift certificates for home improvement or professional services

 Jewelry

 Sports memorabilia

 Sporting equipment

 Drinkware or Barware – liquor or wine

 Electronics

 Video games

 Tickets to sporting events – fan swag

No item is too big or too small! If you have a connection to a local merchant, please

help make the introduction! Please contact Becky Dixon with any questions or great

ideas!

Celebration Is Desperately Seeking. . .

Are you organized and want to help with Celebration? Your Event Steering Committee needs

you! The committee is searching for a Volunteer Team Lead to schedule volunteers for set-up,

on-site at the event, and to clean-up. Interested? Contact Becky Summers.

Catholic Schools Week (CSW)/Open House

We look forward to celebrating CSW from Sunday, January 26, through February 1. We will kick off the celebrations with our Open House on Saturday, January 26, from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. Please join us for Open House and Mass at 10:30 a.m. in the Church. I'll be sure to provide more information about activities and spirit themes.

Wishing you and your families a restoring weekend.

God's blessings and peace,

Paola V. Clark, Ed.D.

Principal

As we enter the winter season, we want to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students, staff, and families. Please be aware that school closures or delays may occur due to inclement weather or poor road conditions.

Archdiocese schools in Johnson County will decide on snow/inclement weather day closures based on the nearest district ( Shawnee Mission School District). This may not apply to "cold weather" or "late start" days.

Please note that on days when Shawnee Mission is not in session (such as when they have professional development days or similar events), Holy Cross will make any closure decisions independently, prioritizing safety.

We will inform you of any closures as soon as decisions are made through the Holy Cross app, email, and social media sites. We encourage you to monitor these platforms regularly, especially in the mornings when weather conditions are uncertain.

Your child’s safety is our top priority. If school remains open but you feel that road conditions in your area are unsafe, please use your discretion. Absences due to severe weather will be excused with appropriate communication to the school office (gradeschool@holycrosscatholicschool.com).

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to ensure a safe winter season. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Stay warm and safe!

A medida que entramos en la temporada de invierno, queremos garantizar la seguridad y el bienestar de todos nuestros estudiantes, personal y familias. Por favor, tengan en cuenta que podrían ocurrir cierres o retrasos en la escuela debido a condiciones climáticas adversas o carreteras en mal estado.

Las escuelas de la Arquidiócesis en el Condado de Johnson decidirán sobre cierres por nieve o clima adverso basándose en el distrito escolar más cercano (Shawnee Mission School District). Esto puede no aplicarse a días de "clima frío" o "inicio tardío".

Tenga en cuenta que, en días en que Shawnee Mission no tenga clases (como días de desarrollo profesional u otros eventos similares), Holy Cross tomará decisiones sobre cierres de manera independiente, dando prioridad a la seguridad.

Les informaremos sobre cualquier cierre tan pronto como se tomen las decisiones a través de la aplicación de Holy Cross, correo electrónico y redes sociales. Los animamos a monitorear estas plataformas con regularidad, especialmente por las mañanas cuando las condiciones climáticas sean inciertas.

La seguridad de su estudiante es nuestra máxima prioridad. Si la escuela permanece abierta, pero consideran que las condiciones de las carreteras en su área no son seguras, utilicen su discreción. Las ausencias debido a clima severo serán justificadas con la comunicación adecuada a la oficina escolar (gradeschool@holycrosscatholicschool.com).

Gracias por su comprensión y cooperación mientras trabajamos juntos para garantizar una temporada de invierno segura. Si tienen alguna pregunta o inquietud, no dude en ponerse en contacto con la oficina de la escuela.

¡Manténganse abrigados y seguros!

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.

Education in Virtue is the Archdiocesan Catholic Social-Emotional Learning program, 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, based on St. Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit. These resources provide a framework for helping people of all ages understand how to live more virtuously.

At Holy Cross, we highlight a virtue each month that is woven 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, and classroom lessons. The virtue of January is Respect.

Recess Attire Reminder

To ensure your child is comfortable and safe during outdoor recess, please send them to school daily with weather-appropriate clothing. Our school adheres to state standards, and even on colder days, students may spend up to 10 minutes outside.

What Your Child May Need for Recess:

• A hat that covers their ears.
• Gloves or mittens for warmth.
• A uniform-approved sweater for layering.
• A temperature-appropriate jacket:
  • Warmer temperatures: A lighter jacket is acceptable.
  • Colder temperatures: Please provide a jacket suitable for outdoor play.

Important Note on Footwear:

If your child wears snow boots to school, please also send them with school-appropriate shoes for indoor activities. Snow boots can make it difficult for children to walk the halls or participate in PE.

Need Assistance?

If you do not have access to cold-weather clothing, please contact the school nurses. We often have donated items available for families in need. This process will remain confidential between you and the nurses.

Thank you for helping us ensure all students stay warm and prepared for outdoor play!

Recordatorio de Vestimenta para el Recreo

Para garantizar que su hijo/a esté cómodo/a y seguro/a durante el recreo al aire libre, por favor envíelo/a a la escuela diariamente con ropa adecuada para el clima. Nuestra escuela sigue los estándares establecidos por el Estado, y, aunque haga frío, los estudiantes pueden pasar hasta 10 minutos afuera.

Lo que su hijo/a podría necesitar para el recreo:

• Un gorro que cubra las orejas.
• Guantes o manoplas para mantener las manos calientes.
• Un suéter aprobado por el uniforme para usar como capa adicional.
• Una chaqueta adecuada para la temperatura:
• Temperaturas más cálidas: Una chaqueta ligera está bien.
• Temperaturas más frías: Proporcione una chaqueta adecuada para jugar al aire libre.

Nota Importante sobre el Calzado:

Si su hijo/a lleva botas para la nieve a la escuela, por favor envíelo/a también con zapatos apropiados para usar dentro del edificio. Las botas para la nieve pueden dificultar caminar por los pasillos o participar en la clase de educación física.

¿Necesita ayuda?

Si no tiene acceso a ropa adecuada para el clima frío, comuníquese con las enfermeras de la escuela. A menudo tenemos artículos donados disponibles para familias que lo necesiten. Este proceso será confidencial entre usted y las enfermeras.

¡Gracias por ayudarnos a garantizar que todos los estudiantes estén abrigados y preparados para jugar al aire libre!

Our regular office hours are as follows. Please note that the school office will be closed during holidays and school year breaks.

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

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

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

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

• Catholic Schools Week (NCEA)
• Catholic Schools Week and Activities (Sadlier)
• Catholic Schools Week Inspiration (Archdiocese Seattle)