Living, Loving, and Learning Our Faith

Important Upcoming Dates

November 3: Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-7 p.m.

November 4: No school for students

Virtual Parent-Teacher Conferences 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

November 5: No school for students

Fall Conferences

If you have not already done so, please sign up for a 20-minute virtual conference with your child’s classroom teacher. For middle school, please sign up with your child's homeroom teacher. Teachers will send a link to you before the conference day.

You may also sign up for a conference with Mr. Schwaiger (PE) on Wednesday night, Mrs. Rogan (Art) on Thursday, and Mr. Scaffidi (Music) on Thursday.

Algebra Students: Mrs. Ropiak will be setting up another date and timeframe for our families. We will notify you as soon as this date/time is selected.

Click on the correct link below to sign up.

Specials (PE, Music, Art)

From the Desk of Dr. Sue!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are very excited to learn that our eighth-grade girls volleyball team will be playing in the Elizabeth Seton Volleyball Tournament! Details on where and when are further down in the newsletter. Please join us to cheer on our Royals! We're all very proud of all the hard work you've put in!

We are so looking forward to our eighth-grade Halloween Carnival this Friday evening! The students have been hard at work planning this and it is going to be an awesome night for everyone, so we hope you all attend. It is from 6-8 p.m. at St. Rita’s...come dressed in costumes and enjoy!

A couple of shoutouts go to Ms. Courtney U(??) for her amazing work in assisting with organizing our Halloween day event. The same goes to Ms. Sarah S??? for her wonderful leadership in working with the eighth graders preparing and planning for the Carnival this evening. We could not do these special activities without our dedicated families. THANK YOU!

We are looking forward to parent-teacher conferences on November 3 and 4. This is a great time to visit one on one (virtually) with your child’s teacher; we encourage dialogue about what is going well for your child and what areas are in need of for continued learning. We want all students to be successful and thrive at St. Rita’s academically, physically, socially, and emotionally.

It is hard to believe Quarter 1 is ending at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, October 31! Staff is working hard to prepare you for your child’s first report card for this year (grades 1-8). Our early childhood grades (3K, 4K, and 5K) do provide a narrative. Report cards for early childhood are provided at the end of semesters 1 and 2.

Report cards will be distributed on Wednesday, November 3.

Providing a safe, secure learning environment for your child(ren) is one of our highest priorities. This is exactly why Siena is training staff in implementing the use of ALiCE (Alert, Lockdown, inform, Counter, and Evacuate). Security experts across the country believe, as do we, that the use of these additional procedures will enhance student and staff safety.

All Siena staff throughout the month of October took part in ALiCE first online training. The St. Rita team participated on October 27 and the new procedures will help us learn how to respond to threats to student/staff safety, such as a violent intruder. Please know that we will continue to inform you of our work in the event of a serious event; we are not bringing this to students as of yet. The staff first needs to go through a series of trainings which will help us be prepared. ALiCE is not a step-by-step response, but rather a set of options to utilize in the event of an intruder. Here is a brief overview:

If an intruder enters the building, students and staff should:

Stop, look, listen, and take appropriate action.
Get to and/or remain in a secure area and barricade until it is safe to evacuate.
Use sensory information to determine when and if it is safe to evacuate.
Distract the intruder if it becomes necessary to do so.
Not be a stationary target.

NOTE: In NO WAY are students or staff being taught or asked to make any attempt to subdue an intruder.

I would like to end with one last shout-out to our teaching staff! We have the very best staff that truly love your children and are working very, very hard for all students and have invested in their learning. Give your child’s teacher a shout-out when you can! I believe in them and I believe we are stronger together when we all support each other.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sue

Book Fair Time!

The St. Rita Book Fair is here!

Please see the schedule below:

Friday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. - Noon and 6 - 8 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 1 from 11 a.m. - Noon and 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. - Noon and 3 - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 3 from 11 a.m. - Noon.
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.

Seton Info

Bracket

Rules

COVID Protocols

Congrats, Eighth Grade Volleyball!

Congratulations to our 8th-grade girls Volleyball team. They are headed to the Seton Tournament in Waukesha Next week Wednesday, November 3. Our Round 1 game will be at 7:30 p.m. against Lumen Christi. Go Royals! We are all so proud of you!

Info about the tournament can be found here.

The Website notes live streaming of the games.

The girls have all worked really hard to get here, we are very excited to be a part of the tournament!

Learning About The Sacraments

Wanting to learn more about the Catholic Sacraments for your child?

Please see the following documents and link.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GETt06mtGlRvKrbq7Veq1IKgOutP-gxXjY4fBskBCxo/edit?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, contact Siena Campus Minister Ms. Kristen Dahlgren at (262) 955-8183 or via email.

From Royals to Angels

In this week's "Dr. Sue's View" we take a look at how our middle schoolers were able to celebrate St. Catherine's High School visit and the cool t-shirts they got!

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.

Halloween

Did you know?

Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31. Halloween 2021 will occur on Sunday, October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (sah-win) when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

October 29-St. Rita’s Halloween Activities

With Halloween just around the corner, St. Rita’s staff would like to thank all of our RPSA and others who are supporting our Halloween parties on Oct. 29 from 2-3 p.m.

Students may dress up in costumes. We are asking that your child does not come to school with any halloween in nature mask, blood, halloween props or weapons. These are not allowed and we ask that you kindly save them for a later time. The annual school parade will be in the gym for staff and students only. We appreciate your understanding.

October 29 from 6-8pm-Are you interested in a Spooky Night?

Our fabulous Grade 8 students and families are gearing up for the Halloween Carnival. They have been working super hard over the last month or so! This is scheduled to take place on October 29 from 6-8pm. See flyer in this newsletter. Lots of fun activities are being planned including a Haunted Hallway, games and best costume contest. Students may dress up for this evening event as well. Again, we ask that scary masks and other such masks/props and/or weapon-like props are left at home for the safety of all.

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.

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 in order to 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.*

Siena principals and all Siena Athletic Directors by the Archdiocesan Office for Schools would like to remind everyone that athletics/sports are 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!

Health/COVID Reminder

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.

November 1: Dress for the Weather!

On November 1, 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! We kindly ask the everyone packs away their shorts starting November 1. Please remember to bring outside outer wear as well. We appreciate the cooperation!

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.