GREETINGS!

Dear St. Rita Families,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits as we begin a new year. On behalf of the entire staff, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the kindness and generosity you showed us during the Christmas season. Your warm greetings and thoughtful gifts were truly appreciated and brought joy to our school community.

As we step into the new year, I extend my best wishes to each and every one of you. May 2024 be filled with joy, prosperity, and countless moments of learning and growth for our students.

This weekend, we will come together to celebrate Epiphany, a time of reflection and revelation. It is a beautiful occasion that allows us to appreciate the significance of light and wisdom in our lives. I spent two years working and living in Spain with my family. Children waited until Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, to receive their gifts from the wisemen. A parade went through town that ended with a donkey cart pulling a wagonload of gifts - the kids went home very excited to see what the wisemen had brought. Winter break there for students ends after Three Kings.

As we enter the second half of this month, our students in Kindergarten through 8th grade will be participating in the STAR (Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading and Math) assessments. These tests are a valuable tool that allows us to monitor our students’ academic progress throughout the school year. The data collected from STAR tests provides our teachers with valuable insights into each student's strengths and areas for growth. This information guides our instructional strategies, enabling us to tailor our teaching methods to better meet the unique needs of each child. 

We need to call attention to a dress code issue - please note that crocs and sandals are not acceptable school wear. We want kids to enjoy their recess and P.E. time without injury, and we request that students wear sneakers to school. If your child cannot wear sneakers due to a medical issue, please send a note to school and we will have your child abstain from recess and P.E.  When students receive an OOU pass, they still cannot wear crocs or leggings (unless under a dress/skirt/shirt that covers the bottom). 

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce the upcoming Catholic Schools Week at the end of this month. This week-long celebration is an opportunity for us to showcase the unique qualities that make our school special. We have planned various activities and events to engage both students and parents, fostering a sense of community and pride in our shared values.

Additionally, mark your calendars for our Open House on January 30th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. This will be an excellent opportunity for new families to tour the school, meet with teachers, and gain insight into the wonderful educational experience we provide at St. Rita’s. We encourage you to invite friends and family who may be interested in joining our school community.

Thank you once again for your kindness during the holiday season, and we look forward to a fantastic year ahead.

Wishing you and your families a blessed and prosperous New Year!

Sincerely,

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 

Mass

Thursday Mass was led by 8th grade. Altar servers this week were Liam G. and Porter C. 

Come to Faith Family Night at St. Rita's Church!!

Saturday, January 13, 2024

We invite everyone in our parish and school to join us for Faith Family Nights! We meet after the 4:45 PM Mass. These evenings are a chance to grow closer together as a community and learn more about our Catholic faith.

We will gather in the Church Narthex at St. Rita's.  We'll begin with a potluck dinner - so bring a dish to pass.  There will be games, crafts, activities, and lots of fun learning!  Gather for an opening message and introduction of our special theme at 6:00 pm.  Closing message around 7:30 pm

If you want to attend the 4:45 PM Mass, you can drop off dishes in the Church Narthex before Mass if you wish.

All parishioners are invited to attend - families with children of any age, singles, couples, elderly, young adults. 

All are welcome!

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