GREETINGS!

Dear St. Rita Families,

I hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits. As we navigate the winter season, I wanted to share some important updates with you.

Staying Warm in Winter Weather:

As the temperatures drop, it's essential to ensure our little ones stay warm and cozy during recess. Please make sure your child is equipped with appropriate winter gear—hats, gloves, scarves, warm coats, snow pants (for younger students) and boots. I certainly find playground duty easier when I’m wearing snowpants myself! Our goal is to make sure every child enjoys their outdoor time while staying comfortable and protected from the chilly weather. We want to encourage physical activity and exercise, so we try to go outside whenever possible.

Open House on Tuesday, January 30th:

Mark your calendars! We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming Open House on Tuesday, January 30th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for new families to tour the school, meet our dedicated teachers, and get a firsthand look at the enriching environment your child experiences each day. We look forward to sharing the many exciting aspects of our school community. We ask if possible for current families to wait until later in the evening to tour the school, as in previous years the first hour of the open house was extremely busy with visiting new families.

Welcoming our K5 long-term substitute:

In case you missed this news, we are so fortunate that Bonnie Lesperance has joined us to teach the K5 classroom. This was her second week at school, and she has hit the ground running! She has over 35 years of experience teaching elementary school students and has a master’s degree in early childhood education and curriculum and instruction.  

Celebrating STAR Test Success:

We are delighted to share some early indications of success from our recent STAR tests. Some of the classes are finished at the time I am writing this. The dedication and hard work of our students and teachers are truly paying off, and we are witnessing significant gains in their academic achievements. These improvements testament to the collaborative efforts of our students, teachers, and supportive families. We look forward to providing more detailed insights on report cards and in individual teacher communication to parents.  

Out of Uniform Days:

When students have out of uniform days, please remember that leggings, crocs, and dress shoes are still not appropriate for school. If students arrive wearing these items, we will ask them to call home for sneakers and/or appropriate pants. Students need sneakers to participate in gym and recess activities. 

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education. Together, we create a nurturing and enriching environment for every student at St. Ritas!

Warm regards,

Beth Woodward

bwoodward@sienacatholicschools.org

Principal, St. Rita School

Here are a couple of repeat items from previous weeks:

ST RITA SCHOOL FACEBOOK PAGE

• St Rita Racine Parents | Facebook

• St. Rita Catholic School Racine | Facebook

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• We are in need of volunteers to help with lunch supervision between 11-12. Please email bwoodward@sienacatholicschools.org if you are interested in helping, even one day per week.

• Many helping hands build community and lightens the work load.  

• In addition to day-to-day activities, we are always open to new members and ideas for our Royal Parent Student Association.  This is a parent-led volunteer organization that organizes recognition and fun activities as well as supports the school’s need for extra hands in a variety of ways.

SAFEGUARDING ALL OF GOD’S FAMILY

• Safeguarding program and background check MUST be completed before you can volunteer at school or chaperone any school event or field trip.  

•  https://www.archmil.org/offices/safeguarding.htm 

Racine Parental Choice Program Renewal Process for Next School Year

Dear Parents,

You may have received a text or phone call recently from the Racine Unified School District with information about the Choice Program and next school year.  This message from RUSD is for the public school choice program, not the program that you have enrolled in for this school year, The Racine Parental Choice Program.

The Racine Parental Choice Program renewal process for St. Rita School. begins February 1st and ends February 20th, 2024. St. Rita's will share the link for renewing Choice funding and the simple and easy process of submitting your new proof of residency for the 2024-25 school year beginning in January, 2024.

If you will be adding a new family member to the Racine Parental Choice Program for the 2024-25 school year, you will also need to submit income verification for the new family member only.

There is nothing for you to do at this time. You will begin to get reminders in January, 2024 along with the renewal link. Any questions please let us know

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

Merry Christmas!

Kory Borek & Cintia Sanchez

Family Resources