Living, Loving, and Learning Our Faith

Important Upcoming Dates

October 29-November 10: Book Fair in Gym (See Schedule below)

November 25, 26, 27: No School Thanksgiving Break

From the Desk of Dr. Sue!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Wow, where does the time fly. We are settling into November with cooler weather; and yet, the sun continues to shine on us. We completed parent teacher conferences this past week and if you did not have a chance to sign up, we highly encourage you to reach out via Class DOJO to your child's teacher. We are happy to accommodate.

Our all Saint's Day Prayer Service on Nov. 1 was awesome. Kudos to our students who assisted in making the prayer service so special. Everyone did a fantastic job! We will be moving into Advent on November 29 with several activities forthcoming.

November is a short month with no school on Nov. 24, 25 and 26 for our Thanksgiving Break. We have much to be thankful for! Everyday is a blessing and thanking God for all the goodness he offers, brings us closer to HIM.

On November 15, we will continue our professional learning around the social emotional well-being of students; especially as we continue to navigate COVID.

We will have our November fire drill in the coming weeks.

We are truly grateful for Father Michael's continued presence in St. Rita's school. His next visit is on November 18. He will be sharing with our 4K and Kindergartners about Thanksgiving Blessings! Moreover, he comes back again on December 16 sharing with the same two groups all about the Nativity. We love hearing and learning about our Catholic Faith!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sue

St. Rita's Mission

Living Loving and Learning Our Faith: Living as members of our Catholic Faith Community; Loving God and all of His creation; Learning for our future on Earth and Heaven.

St Rita's Book Fair is Here!

We love to see the students bring in money or note money on eWallet. They have been excited to scope our favorite books and other such items like the posters!

Book Fair

Please see the schedule below:

Monday, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. - Noon and 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 9 from 11 a.m. - Noon and 3 - 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 11 a.m. - Noon.

Cell Phone Reminder

Cell phones are not allowed out at any time during the school day. We have made numerous announcements. If any staff member sees a cell phone being used during the day, in the building before or after school, the student's cell phone will be confiscated and turned into the main office for parent/guardian pick up by 3:45pm or the next day (7:45-3:45 by a parent/guardian). The phone will not be release back to the student. Parents/guardians will be notified by Mrs. Lopez (phone call) if your child's cell phone was confiscated by a staff member.

Please talk with your child and help remind them as this is in the best interest for student learning. We need ALL students to keep them out of sight.

Let's pull together on this! This is best so it does not distract the learning environment.

THANK YOU.

Students Were Ready for the Cold Weather

Volleyball

Volleyball season has come to an end. All teams gave it their best. Congratulations on your hard work.

Art Fun

Students are currently working on a lot of fun, festive fall activities. They been very creative in drawing some of the season's colorful vegetables, delicious desserts, and cute critters.

Be sure to check out your child's/children's backpack for the exciting drawings that they'll be bringing home this quarter!

Spirit Wear Update.

Spirit Wear will be here next week. As soon as we learn of the distribution date and time, we will notify families.

A huge shout out to Mrs. Courtney Ulinksi for all the help with orders and sorting everything. We appreciate you! THANK YOU.

Last year it was Christmas lights at the Zoo...this year we're cheering on Cindy Lou Who!

Please join us, Saturday, December 4, 2021, for a special showing of Jim Carrey's "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"!

Who: Siena employees and their children, Siena students and their parents/guardians.

Place: Renaissance Theater

10411 Washington Ave., Sturtevant, WI

Time: 11:00 a.m. (doors open at 10:45 a.m.)

Cost: Free!

If you would like to attend please fill in the reservation form. Seats will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive an email confirming your seats.

Questions? Call Kory Borek, Director of Admissions, at (262) 833-5517.

Para preguntas o ayuda traduciendo a español, por favor contacte a Cintia Sanchez al (262) 753-1471.

The deadline to sign up is Thursday, November 18, 2021.

Dress for the Weather!

Students are required to wear long pants or if skirts, jumpers are worn they must have white, navy, or black leggings or tights underneath. We are outside several times a day and the weather is turning cooler! Please remember to bring outside outer wear as well. We appreciate the cooperation!

Mask Up!

Please remember to send your child to school with a mask. Our donation supply has run out. If your child does not have a mask, we will have to call you to come bring a mask to the main office.

*If anyone is willing to donate small and large surgical masks, we would be grateful for your kind donation.

St. Catherine's High School Incoming 9th Grade Scholarships Now Available!

Considering attending St. Catherine's for high school? Want awards to mention on college applications? Why not check out the scholarships available for incoming 9th graders! There are 11 scholarships, some with multiple winners, available for 8th graders to apply for before starting 9th grade in the fall.

The process is easy! Using the cover sheet, read over the short description of each scholarship. For the ones you would like to learn more about, click on the website link to open the scholarship requirements. All scholarship applications need to have the first page of the cover sheet attached to it and the requested documents. The last date to turn in scholarship applications is Thursday, December 16, 2021.

Questions? Email Kory Borek, Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, at kborek@sienacatholicschools.org.

K3 and K4 Early Bird Registration

Siena Catholic Schools K3 and K4 Early Bird Registration Begins October 1, 2021! Click this form to request information about the enrollment process:

https://forms.gle/Bqy6e32D2VTnSzGTA

For more information, contact the Siena Admissions Office at (262) 812-0155

Catholic Social Responsibility Guidebook

Please see the newly released Catholic Social Responsibility Guidebook from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Cepelka. It is available at https://www.archmil.org/Education/Catholic-Social-Responsibility.htm.

Siena principals, and all Siena Athletic Directors by the Archdiocesan Office for Schools would like to remind everyone that athletics/sports is an extension of school activities. All practices and games require student-athletes and coaches to wear masks at all times.

Parking Lot Reminders

All vehicles must part in the designated parking area. For student and adult safety, we would like to remind everyone to park in the designate area and NOT pull up to the school to drop off your child(ren).
All adults (except for our 3K and 4K parents/guardians) must remain in their vehicles with your child(ren) until your section is release by the adult on duty. We kindly ask that grades K and above are not released from your vehicle and waiting at the entrance door for staff. Again, please remain in your vehicle at all times with your child.
Lastly, we ask that you do not back up in our parking lot for the safety of all.

We appreciate your cooperation!

COVID NOTICE

Hello Siena families,

As we committed to do throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have needed to respond to the changing needs of our students, families, and staff and want to ensure the safety and health of all. Our leadership team recently met in order to reassess Siena’s COVID communication procedures to ensure that families are well informed.

In addition to communicating directly with families who experience a positive case and those who are considered close contacts, a letter will now be shared with the entire school community when we are made aware of a positive case in our building. We hope that this additional layer of information, along with our COVID dashboard, will help families keep a closer eye on any symptoms your child(ren) might be experiencing.

Please regularly monitor your children for COVID symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, fatigue, headaches, diarrhea, etc. If anyone becomes symptomatic, please keep them home and call your healthcare provider to inquire about testing.

Thank you for your partnership in keeping our school communities safe!

Sincerely,

Kimberly Gardner

Chief Advancement Officer

Siena Catholic Schools of Racine

COVID REMINDERS

Please know that throughout the state, COVID cases in children are increasing. We do want to ensure that each child that comes to school is healthy and ready to learn. Please review the following regarding COVID:

If a vaccinated person is a close contact of a positive individual, they do not have to quarantine UNLESS they have symptoms.
Masked individuals who are close contacts of a positive individual who was also masked during interactions will not have to quarantine per the CDC.
Quarantined individuals will be able to get tested six (6) days after exposure and will be allowed to return seven days after exposure with a negative test UNLESS the County Health Department shares something different with the family.
Students who TEST POSITIVE or who are considered close contacts will receive a letter from the school.
Siena Catholic Schools also has a dashboard updated weekly showing where numbers are by school.
IF your child is in quarantine and/or positive, please work with your child's teacher regarding classwork.

Inclement weather on school days

In rainy or subzero weather, students need appropriate outerwear. Students are outdoors several times a day. A hooded sweatshirt for example is not as adequate as a winter jacket. If the outdoor temperature is 10 degrees or below, wind chill factor of “zero” degrees or below, hard rain or blizzard like conditions, recess is most likely to be indoors. The decision is up to the Principal and at times in collaboration with supervisory staff. While outside, if any playground supervisor determines that the weather is too severe for outdoor recess (as our weather changes often), the outdoor supervisor is authorized to bring the students inside.

Weather Related School Closing

As we approach the cooler weather, we know in WI things can change quickly, in the event RUSD closes schools for weather, Siena follows suit. No one with the possible exception of maintenance is expected to report to work. Staff will receive an all users communication from Siena/Ms. Kimberly Gardner.

Current Handbook Language we will follow:

The school will be closed including CARES supervision, on days when Racine Unified School District is closed. Closings are announced over local radio (WISN 1130, WTMJ 620 / 94.5, WRJN 1400), television (FOX 6, TMJ4, CBS58, WISN 12), and their media websites. Parents will not hear our school name announced on public media unless there are specific circumstances affecting only our school or only all Catholic schools.

School closings will be announced in the media as Siena Catholic Schools of Racine. Staff will receive an email from Ms. Kimberly Gardner. Rarely used, but if a delayed start is announced for Racine Unified School District, St. Rita will follow the same schedule and delay the start to the day.

Parents may use their own discretion to decide whether to keep their children at home for safety. This absences will be recorded as an excused absence.

GRADE LEVEL MESSAGES FROM OUR CAMPUS MINISTER

ALL GRADE LEVELS:

NOT YET A PARISH MEMBER? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER AT ONE OF OUR AMAZING CATHOLIC PARISHES? Siena Catholic Schools is proud to have an amazing church community supporting us and our children. The Racine Catholic Church Community would like to extend an invitation to come to mass and become a member of one of our parishes. Click on the following link to see a list of parishes, mass times, and contact information.

All Grade Levels

KINDERGARTEN-1ST GRADES:

Have you thought about Baptism for your 0-7 year old child? Wondering who you should talk to? Click on the following link to see the contact person for your parish.

K-1st Grade

2ND GRADE:

Second Grader not yet Baptized, but you would like to have them join their class for FIRST COMMUNION AND RECONCILIATION this year?

2nd Grade

3RD-7TH GRADES:

It is NEVER too late to receive Sacraments. Families interested in having their child receive Baptism, Reconciliation, or Communion should contact their parish and begin the discussion on how to receive sacraments. We are here to help you through this process and answer any questions you may have.

3rd-7th Grades

8TH-12TH GRADES:

Interested in Confirmation for your child? Confirmation is a 3 year program here in Racine for families not going to St. Catherine’s and a 1 year program for those who attend St. Catherine’s. Please contact your parish (see below) for more information on the process and sign up. It is NEVER TOO LATE to receive sacraments, even if your child is not yet Baptized, we welcome you to contact us. We look forward to being part of your faith journey.

8th-12th Grades

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Kristen Dahlgren at (262) 955-8183.