Dear St. Monica Academy Families,
Prayer for Advent
During this Advent Season, Give us Hope in the midst of these unprecedented days, Bless us with PEACE in our homes and around the world, Bring JOY into our hearts so that we can share His light with others, and help us know God’s unconditional Love will light the way. Amen
Prepare the Way of the Lord during the Advent Season! I want to take a moment to thank everyone for their support as we approach Christmas and a New Year. I know we have all had struggles and challenges during this year of the pandemic. All of us have had to change almost everything and how we do things with so many new constraints, rules, and safety guidelines. At school, we’ve had to literally change how we teach your children with a good amount of practice and success. Our teachers’ commitment to their students and SMA are beyond my greatest expectations. They truly are selfless heroes! And all of you, our SMA families have been so supportive of us for the first half of this school year! Thank you!
In all of this, please know that we are here to support you, the students and families, especially in these times of need. As the year comes to a close, I want to make sure that all of our students and families, and staff are “okay”.
In a year like this, you and your children have been pushed mentally, physically, personally, and in so many other ways. If there are struggles affecting you, please let me know. We may be able to help you with school resources that we have. The teachers and I will continue to make adjustments to help you and make it easier to get through this period of time that has tested us all. We want to support our students and families with any issues that may affect their mental/physical health or any other social-emotional issue you may be experiencing.
As many of you have struggled through this time, so have we. Our teachers, staff, and I have struggled, but we have helped each other to maintain a collective mental strength and commitment to get us through this time. It’s a time that has lasted longer than any of us could have imagined. We have depended on you on so many occasions, thank you!
Please know that when we return to school in 2021, we are here to help you in any way we can. Thank you again for all of your support for us and for St. Monica Academy. May the hope of Advent and Christmas guide you and all of us in the New Year! God Bless!
E-Learning for the First Two Weeks of January: As you know. we are starting out in January 2021 with E-Learning for two weeks after the Christmas Break. On Tuesday, January 19th, we will return to in-person learning. The transition to two weeks of January E-Learning for the whole school was made at the system-wide level in keeping with public health recommendations to account for a likely increase in transmission during the Christmas break. It will also allow our families to be home for a 14 day period prior to the beginning of in-person learning on January 19th. I am asking that families not travel after January 4th, so we do not have to extend the quarantine for families going to no travel states. This is the best way to minimize spread and ensure we have minimal transmission when we return to in-person learning on January 19th.
Reminder: E-Learning Pick Up Today and Tomorrow: Beginning Friday, December 18th, we will be away from the school building until January 19th. In order to have all materials needed at home for the two weeks in early January, we are asking E-Learner Families to be sure to pick up materials in the school office on Wednesday, Dec. 16th or Thursday Dec. 17th since there will be no one in the school to pass out these materials over our Christmas break and the quarantine period in early January. The period of January 5th - January 18th is our quarantine period with the whole school on E-Learning. We will return to In-Person Learning on Tuesday, January 19th. In-person learners should take their books, materials, and assignments home on December 17th, our last day of attendance in 2020.
Empower Tax Credit Scholarship (TCS) Application Jan. 13, 2021 7 p.m.
Big Shoulders Fund TCS Scholarship - Application Day, Jan. 12, 2021 at 8 a.m.
Dine Out Nights
It’s a Boy! Congratulations to Mr. Drexler (our PE teacher) and his wife on the birth of their son, Yoni Ryan, 8 lbs, 5 oz. 21 in. on Monday morning! Congratulations Mr. Drexler!
January Monthy Calendar: CalendarJanuary2021.pdf
Coming Soon!
Thur. Dec. 17 Pajama Day – Polar Express Day (Santa Claus Visits younger grades!!) Last Day
Fri. Dec. 18 Teacher Professional Day – NO SCHOOL: Christmas Break Begins
Mon. Jan. 4 School Resumes: E-learning Starts on Jan 4th & ends on Friday Jan. 15th
No Travel after January 4th in order to return to in-class learning on Jan 19
Tues. Jan. 12 Big Shoulders (TCS) Application Day 8 a.m. Log in early.
Wed. Jan. 13 Empower (TCS) Reservation Night 7 p.m. Log in early at 6:30 p.m.
Wed. Jan. 13 Portillo’s Fundraiser 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. PortillosDineoutFundraiserJan1
Fri. Jan. 15 Last Day of E-Learning
Mon. Jan 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday – NO SCHOOL
Tues. Jan. 19 In-Person Instruction Returns for all grades, PreK-8th grade.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas, Good Health, and a Joyful 2021!
Christmas Blessings,
Ray Coleman, Principal
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