Living, Loving, and Learning Our Faith Through Jesus

Important Upcoming Dates

October 28 Halloween Costume Parade and Classroom Parties
October 28 Halloween Evening Activities (5:30-7:30pm) sponsored by 8th graders
October 28 End of the First Quarter
October 31 8th Grade Faith Based Retreat
November 1 All Saints Day-HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
- Mass at St. Rita's Church-7PM
- Please bring your families to celebrate this very special day
November 2 All Souls Day
November 3 Parent Teacher Conferences- Students dismissed at 11AM, No lunch, No After Care
November 3 VIP Mass
November 4 No School for Staff or Students
November 6 The Foundation of our Catholic Social Teachings
- CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING and the DIGNITY OF LIFE
  - On behalf of St. Rita's Parish-Please mark your calendars for a beautiful night of learning about our Catholic Social Teaching and the Dignity of Life.
  - Catholic Social Teaching 101 is a 7-part video series by the USCCB and Catholic Relief Services on Catholic Social Teaching.
  - In this video, Bishop Robert Barron, Jonathan Reyes, and Helen Alvaré discuss respect for the life and dignity of the human person. http://povertyusa.org/multimedia/cst-101-life-and-dignity
November 11 Veteran's Day
November 15 Required-Leggings/tights under students attire and long pants
- See Handbook for description and colors etc.
November 11 Veteran’s Day
November 23, 24 and 25 THANKSGIVING BREAK-No school for staff or students
December 1 VIP Mass
December 4 Speaker-The Foundation of our Catholic Social Teachings
- JOIN US for a series on The Foundation of our Catholic Social Teachings
  - 6PM
  - Location: St. Rita's Church-Worship Space-Entrance of the church
December 15 Christmas Concert/St. Rita's Gym
- 3K-3 start time 6:00PM end time 6:45PM
- 4-8 Start time 7:00PM end time 7:45PM

GREETINGS

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Catholic Education Walk

WOW! We did it! We surpassed our goal with an early release total of $24,500. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR KIND DONATIONS!

A very special shout out and THANK YOU to Ms. Hilary Lowman from the RPSA. Ms. Lowman was instrumental in leading the Catholic Education Walk this year. However, as we know it takes a team and I am very grateful for the full RPSA. Their steadfast dedication, determination and efforts provide so much for your children. As a result of your efforts we have 6 clubs running after school and looking forward to more in the future. Our latest by Mr. Hinkle, 8th grade cooking club. Check out the pictures further down in this newsletter. Yummy chocolate chip cookies!!! I heard pasta noodles are next.

Thank you to the parents who have helped with the classroom awards. We cannot do this without you and appreciate your giving hearts and hands. Kudos to Ms. Courtney Ulinski, Ms Tammi Unser and Ms. Hilary Lowman. Dynamic team!

We are looking forward to our eighth-grade Halloween Carnival, October 28. The students have been hard at work planning for this event and it is going to be an awesome night for everyone, so we hope you all attend. It is from 5:30-7:30p.m. at St. Rita’s...come dressed in costumes and enjoy! Please see the notice regarding purchasing wristbands and other details in this newsletter.

It is hard to believe Quarter 1 is ending. Staff are working hard to prepare you for your child’s first standards based report card for this year (grades 1-8). Our early childhood grades (3K, 4K, and 5K) provide a narrative. Report cards for early childhood are provided at the end of semesters 1 and 2.

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

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Sue

Counselor Corner- Coach Bodi

Set Deadlines

Putting all your tasks on a timeline and working backwards to set deadlines will help you manage your time.

Fall Conference Sign- Ups

Please select a time to conference with each of your child's homeroom teacher.

Conferences may be virtual or in person and will be held on Thursday, November 3.

Time: 11:15AM -7:15PM

* Please indicate whether you want an in person or virtual conference when you sign up.

Grades: 3K & 4K Sign Ups

Grade: K5, 1st, 2nd Sign-Ups

Grade: 3rd, 4th, 5th Sign-Ups

Grades: 6th, 7th, 8th Sign-Ups

Middle School Math

The challenging part of math is to make it applicable to everyday life. Students often ask, "when will I use this?" We recently had an assignment that showed all the ways we "see math and use math everyday." Can you see math everyday? How about these areas:

-Patterns (tile floors, roof tops)

-Symmetry (in leaves, plants, and flowers)

-Measurements (cooking, baking, speedometer, temperature)

These are just some ways that we use math everyday!!

Our middle school students have been learning math through games, logic puzzles, and various math lessons.

Catholic Schools Walk Pictures

Hair Salon and Fire Fighters

Hair Salon in Room 102

Fire Fighters Visit to St Rita

"Curling hair" in our Salon

Cooking Club with Mr. Hinkle

Penny War Winners

Popcorn and Movie Day for First Grade

Pizza Day for Third Grade

HALLOWEEN IS NEAR!

Students may dress up for Halloween on Friday, October 28. They may come to school in their costume.

We will have our annual school wide parade in the gym sharing our costumes with all grade levels.

Halloween classroom parties will take place around 2PM.

Room parents are working in collaboration with the classroom teacher.

Students may wear their school uniform, spirit wear, orange/black tops and appropriate bottoms or an age appropriate costume to school on Oct. 28.

Guidelines for costumes:

Must be in line with the school dress code, modest costumes.

No weapons or props are allowed. These may not be brought to school.

Spray hair coloring is okay; however, hair spray is NOT ALLOWED ON CAMPUS.

Students must be able to use the restroom and climb stairs independently.

No inflatable costumes or articles that will prevent the student from being able to participate in academics and specials during the day.

No changing in or out of clothes/costumes during the day.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL

Join us at the Halloween Carnival in St. Rita's gym on October 28 from 5:30-7:30pm. Wristbands will be $10 in advance and $12 at the door (more info on how to do this coming home Monday). All students and siblings are invited for a Haunted House, face painting, crafts, and games. Food will be available for purchase. The carnival is sponsored by the 8th grade class to raise money for their graduation and 8th grade activities.

*Any non-St. Rita high school student must be accompanied by their parent/guardian.

ATHLETICS

VOLLEYBALL

5th grade girls had a great year and the girls played very hard and each week they got better and better as a team. They showed great sportsmanship even when things were not going their way. Unfortunately they came up a little short this year and did not make the playoffs. Monday will be their last game of the year. I would like to say thank you to Angela Duckart for her first year coaching. She did an outstanding job.

7th grade girls are having an outstanding season coached by Magda Gabbey and Courtney Ulinski. They have their last regular season game this Sunday, October 23. Then they are off to the playoffs. Congratulations for making the playoffs! Their first playoff game will be October 30th at St. Lucy’s 1:30pm or 2:15pm. I would like to wish the girls the best of luck and thank you to Magda and Courtney for coaching again this year.

8th grade girls (St Joe’s/ St. Rita team) are having a great season. It's a very tough Division. They play their last regular season game this Sunday, October 22 at St Rita’s at 1:30pm. If they win they are in the playoffs. Stop by and cheer them on.

A big congratulations to the 8th grade St. Joe’s/ St Rita’s girls volleyball team have been invited to play in the Seton Volleyball Tournament. It is a big honor to be invited to play in the Seton Volleyball tournament. Let's all wish them the best of luck.

7th and 8th grade boys are having a great season this year coached by Caroline Beere. Congratulations to the boys for making the playoffs. They have their first playoff game at St. Rita’s this Sunday, October 23rd at 12:00pm. Stop by and cheer them on.

X-Country

The 2022 Cross Country season has come to an end. We had 6 runners this year, 3 from St. Rita and 3 from John Paul. Their practices were intense running 2 days a week with a meet squeezed in as well! The races were all between 1.5 to 2.0 miles long (and we competed in 5 meets this year!!) and all of our athletes did amazingly well. To show progress we did a time trial at the beginning of the season and one at the end...each athlete performed on average 30 seconds better on their mile at the end of the season. Coach Folk is extremely proud of the whole team.

Basketball Sign ups

All Girls and Boys in grades 5-8 may register for basketball on Tuesday, October 25th from 6:00-7:30 PM in the school gym.

Must bring registration form and payment at this time. Other paperwork will be given at the time of registration.

20221012102925596.pdf

Thursday Mass & Altar Servers

Thursday's Mass was led by 7th grade. Alter Servers were Sam and Ella.

St. Lawrence High School Visit!

NEW THIS YEAR!

FRIDAYS ONLY- Wear your Spirit Wear Tops

Each Friday students may dress in their Spirit Wear!

Students are still required to wear their uniform bottoms-(pants, skirts, jumpers etc.) but may wear any of their (new or older style) Spirit Wear tops to school.

VIP MASS OPPORTUNITY

FIRST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH

St. Rita's parish and school would like to invite a family member to Mass on the first Thursday of each month. Mass begins promptly at 8:30AM. Therefore, if you would like to sit with your child(ren), please arrive no later than 8:25am so that you may find your child(ren) and sit in our VIP section of the church. As you enter the church this section is on your far right.

Class DOJO is another way to notify your child's teacher(s) of your attendance. It is not required to notify, but helpful. Hoping to see many of our families. Join us on November 3rd!

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.

Dress for the Weather!

On November 15, students are required to wear long pants or if skirts, jumpers are worn they must have white, navy, or black leggings or tights underneath. Sweatpants are not allowed during the school day under uniforms, but are allowed when going outside during recess time. We are outside several times a day and the weather is turning cooler! We kindly ask everyone to pack away their shorts starting November 15. Please remember to bring outside outer wear as well. We appreciate the cooperation!

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 absence will be recorded as an excused absence.

IT'S BACK!

St. Rita's Family Directory is now online.

You can view it at the end of this newsletter.

Family Faith Opportunities this Weekend

Come Pray for Peace

The Catholic Church dedicates October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. In honor of this, on Saturday, October 1 at 4:00 we will be saying a rosary on our beautiful parish grounds to pray for peace in our world. We will meet at the Mary statue in the boulevard and process to the shrines as we pray. If the weather is uncooperative, we will pray in the church. Rosaries will be provided, if needed, or you can use your own special rosary. Prayer booklets will be provided as well as assistance in praying the rosary, if needed. Be sure to bring your friends and family. All are welcome! You can pray with us and then attend 4:45 mass.

Children's Liturgy of the Word

At the 10:30 Mass this weekend, children up to 5th grade are welcome to attend Children's Liturgy of the Word to hear the readings and discuss them with a child-centered focus.

During the closing song, the children are invited to come sing along and accompany the choir with egg shakers.

Please come and join us!

Building Our Community-St. Rita School and Parish!

St. Rita's Parish website is: https://www.st-ritas.org/

The "News & Events" menu has the events scheduled for the parish.
The "Welcome" page also has an "Upcoming Events" list with a link to the "News & Events" page.
The link to the bulletins is on the "Welcome" page as well.

CHOIR at St Rita Parish

“Those Who Sing Pray Twice,” St. Augustine

The words of our hymns are prayers and when we sing them, we add a further dimension of honor and praise to the Lord!

Consider joining us on Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm in the church and sing a new song unto the Lord!! We invite you to come share your voice and see if this is where the Lord is leading you. If you

are unable to make a weekly commitment, come join us when you can. For more information, contact

Jessica Knierim at knierim@stritaracine.org

*You will need to email Jessica regarding age levels for this choir.