Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh!
Happy St. Patrick’s day!
This morning, Keith Highlanders Pipe Band welcomed us to school. We had our very own St. Patrick’s Day parade on the playground! It was a lively morning!
And there’s more music this weekend! Mary Poppins Jr., the middle school musical, opens tomorrow night. A huge thank you to director, Kari Aguila; assistant director, David Benefiel; singing coach, Meghan Villanueva and to all parents who assisted in this production. We are so excited to see our middle school performers on stage and happy for the entire cast and crew that we are back in Egan Hall this year.
The mask-optional transition has gone very smoothly. We have students and teachers choosing to wear masks, and others who wear them at times throughout the day. Everyone is respectful of others’ choices, and we are grateful to you for preparing your children. It is lovely to see all the smiles! However, don’t get rid of your masks yet. As we said last week, there are times when masks are required, such as during the musical where the audience and crew need to mask.
COVID Update:
- Mary Poppins Musical: for the upcoming musical performance 3/18-3/20, we are maintaining the requirement that the audience and crew mask for the performance.
- The attendance form has been updated to more easily enter information about the reason for an absence and COVID rapid test results if applicable.
- Thank you for continuing to keep a supply of masks in your student’s backpack.
- The school counselor, Ms. Shaw, is available to support students who are having big feelings about masking policy changes.
- If you missed the updated guidance last week from the Department of Health, you can find it here.
COVID Dashboard (3/10-3/17):
- Students Tested Positive (grades preK-8): 1
- Staff (School and XDC) Tested Positive: 0
Community College students will move into the Martina Apartments on Greenwood next month. On behalf of Catholic Community Services and St. John School, I thank you for your generosity. You have made it possible to stock the apartments with household items. The seventh-grade students will put together gift baskets and deliver them next week.
In this season of Lent as we pray, abstain, and serve, we have many more opportunities to help others. Those dollars we save by fasting can go to CRS Rice Bowl, to our Unbound classmates, or to fundraisers for Ukraine, such as the Grade 4 Lollipop fundraiser that will take place next Wednesday after school and the Grade 1 Cakes and Bakes fundraiser after the 10:30am Mass on April 3. Tomorrow, at 2:30pm, middle school students will participate in a Prayer Walk for Ukraine – students will pray for peace as they walk around the block. Join us!
As we pray for our friends and neighbors, please think about our church. The Pope has called on us to share our thoughts about the future of the Catholic Church. Come to St. John Synod’s listening sessions to share your ideas.
Together We Can!
Bernadette O’Leary
