Dear Parents and Guardians,

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a great weekend. As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL tomorrow, Monday, October 11. Here’s what you need to know for the week ahead.

A few general reminders/information:

SCHOOL SAFETY

I usually like to start on a positive note, but it is important for me to speak about safety first today. We take SCHOOL SAFETY very seriously here at St. Aidan School. I have repeatedly asked for everyone to follow all traffic rules near our school buildings and this week the ILLEGAL U-TURNS were out of control. This will be the last time I ask for NO ILLEGAL U-TURNS on Willis Avenue. The next step I will have to take is to ask the 3^rd Precinct to visit us each morning and give tickets to people disobeying the law. This is for the safety of ALL our students and families. I know the drop off lines are convenient for everyone but if the rules are not followed, I will be asking everyone to find a parking spot and to walk your child(ren) to school. Thank you for your cooperation. It is for the safety of ALL.

STUDENT/PARENT RESPONSIBILITY

These last couple of weeks there has been a lot of students forgetting items: iPad, water bottle, folder, etc. Please remind students to be responsible and pack everything they need for school so their day is not interrupted. Also, we have had a lot of mistakes on PickUp Patrol causing buses to leave late while we try to call home to find the proper dismissal procedure for your children. Please make sure you change the pick-up procedure IF it is different from the DEFAULT plan. Activities like Volleyball, Drama Program, Bells, Enrichment, After School, etc. are all choices in the drop down for dismissal procedures. Having this marked accurately allows dismissal to go smoothly. Thank you!

Emergency Connectivity Fund

St. Aidan School applied for funding through the FCC’s Emergency Connectivity Fund. The funding is available for the purchase of laptops and tablets, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, and broadband connections for off-campus use by students and school staff.  We are happy to tell you that we have received a commitment decision from the FCC in the amount of $15,760.00!  We are now in the process of working with Apple to order iPads.  Each teacher from Nursery through Eighth Grade will have an iPad to use for educational purposes. This is AMAZING news! Special thanks to our Technology Coordinator, Mrs. Radonic, for submitting all the required paperwork to make this happen! 

St. Aidan School Drama Program for Grades 5-8

Callbacks were posted on Friday for Suessical. Students on that list should plan to attend callbacks on Wednesday, October 13^th from 2:30-5:00 PM in Monsignor Kirwin Hall. Please note: Students who were NOT on the callback list ARE in the show. The callback list was to see certain students again for various roles. All are expected to begin attending rehearsals on Monday, October 18. Also, this show will not require a large number of students for crew. If there are any students, especially 8^th graders, who would still like to AUDITION, they may come on Wednesday, October 13 to AUDITION. Break a leg everyone!

After School Enrichment

Our After School Enrichment Classes for Chessnuts begin this week on Wednesday, October 13 and all other classes begin the week of October 18. PLEASE NOTE: DRAWING AND PAINTING FUN IS CLOSED ON TUESDAYS! We are extending the registration for all other classes to Tuesday, October 12. If your child is interested in participating, please send registration on Tuesday, October 12 (this is the last day). Classes that do not have enough interest will be cancelled. Please find the Enrichment information attached below.

Fall Enrichment Classes and Registration 

LOWER SCHOOL Lunch Program

We are looking to start the lower school lunch program for our Kindergarten to Second grade students right now. This can only be done with the help of volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/TDbqQ9VGsQz5tBkH8. All volunteers must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit a negative test weekly. Volunteers are needed from 10 AM-12:45 PM. Thank you and we are hoping to be able to start the program soon! 

8^th Grade Parents/Guardians

As a reminder, if you would like you child to take the TACHS Exam for entrance into a Catholic High School, please register your child at www.tachsinfo.org. 

7^th and 8^th Grade Parents/Guardians

The information for the 7^th and 8^th Grade Halloween Dance is attached below.

Grade 7 and 8 Halloween Dance 

Early Childhood Open House

It seems amazing that we are already talking about having an Open House for our Early Childhood Programs for the 2022-2023 school year! Please save the date and spread the word to anyone you know who may be interested in learning more about our Nursery, Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1^st Grade Classes at St. Aidan School. The information for the upcoming Open House on Thursday, October 28, 2021 is in the flyer attached below. Thanks for sharing!

Early Childhood Open House 

Catholic Daughters of the Americas-Court St. Aidan

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS SAVE THE DATE - Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at Westbury Manor 6:30-10:30 PM. 

Join us for a fun night out to support Catholic education! Catholic Daughters of the America’s Court St. Aidan will be hosting our annual dinner and fashion show on October 26th at the Westbury Manor. As in the past with our fashion show, we will have beautiful raffle prizes and of course the 50/50!  Each year scholarships are given to graduating 8th-grade students who will be attending a Catholic High School. All proceeds from this evening will go toward the Catholic High School scholarship fund. The cost of the evening is $65.00 per person Includes an open bar, cocktail hour, choice of dinner, and dessert. To reserve a seat or a table please contact, Bernadette Pizzardi 12 Shortridge Drive Mineola, NY 11501 (516) 742-7440. If you have any questions please reach out to our Regent Erin DiLorenzo at edilorenzo16@gmail.com. 

St. Aidan CYO Swim Team

Please find important information about the St. Aidan CYO Swim Team attached below.

St. Aidan CYO Swim Team 

St. Aidan Parish Events

Please see the attached flyer for the Blessing of Stuffed Animals for TODAY, Sunday, October 10 and Cub Scout Information for Friday, October 15.

Blessing of the Stuffed Animals 

Cub Scout Information 

St. Aidan Parish Bulletin:

Please find the St. Aidan Parish Bulletin below.

St. Aidan Parish Bulletin- Sunday, October 10, 2021 

• If a student or teacher tests positive for COVID-19, the CLASS will be notified via email. Due to the mask policy, it would be infrequent that another student exposed would be asked to quarantine. A class will be notified so the parents have the ability to monitor their child.
• If a member of the school community TESTS POSITIVE for COVID-19, they are required to quarantine for 10 days, despite their vaccination status.
• If a member of the school community is EXPOSED to COVID-19, they will be required to quarantine for 10 days IF they are not vaccinated. Vaccinated individuals will be asked to monitor themselves.
• If a child who is not vaccinated is exposed to a family member in their household with COVID-19 and the individual is NOT ABLE to fully isolate from the child, the child will be required to quarantine 20 days (10 days for their quarantine after the infected individual’s quarantine ends).

As always, we will keep you up to date if something changes.

We hope everyone enjoyed the Guac Shop Dine to Donate event this week. PACE has many exciting spirit events and fundraisers planned for October!  Please take a look at each link for information and to register.
 

PACE Family Halloween Party

https://staidanschool.org/family-halloween-party 

Something SPOOKY is brewing!  Join us for the PACE Family Halloween Party on Sunday, October 24 from 2 - 4 p.m. in the courtyard between St. Aidan Lower School and the Convent (weather permitting).  We will move to Msgr. Kirwin Hall if it rains.  $10 per person for adults and children over 2 years old.  Please RSVP by: October 18th. 

PACE Family Halloween Party Volunteer Sign Up: https://signup.com/go/hzKwmYh

Charleston Wrap Fundraiser

https://staidanschool.org/pace-wrapping-paper-sale

Christmas is right around the corner!  Catalogs will be sent home this week with the children.  Each family will receive one and it will arrive with your oldest child.  Please register your family on the website:  https://www.charlestonwrap.com/ Our organization code is: 23574.  When you register, you will be able to share the fundraiser with family and friends via email, text, and on social media.  You only have to register an account to share the fundraiser with others.  All customers do not need to register.  Anyone can order, but only orders placed using our organization code will generate funds back to St. Aidan School, so please make sure you ask others to use the code (23574).  Orders ship directly to the customer and all orders over $85 ship for free.  PACE opted not to do the prizes associated with the sale, so please disregard the information on the outside of the envelope when you receive the catalog.  Any questions, please contact: Mary Iannotti at MaryKKiernan@yahoo.com 

Fall Flower and Decoration Sale - Venezia Garden Center

https://staidanschool.org/fall-flower-fundraiser

We love to support local businesses!  At no extra cost to the SAS Families, Venezia Garden Center is donating 15% of all SASPACE associated sales back to St. Aidan School.  Many of us already purchase pumpkins, mums, corn stalks, and hay bales to decorate our homes.  This year, bring your business to Venezia and you will be supporting the students at SAS as well!

Horton’s Flower Farm Fundraiser

https://staidanschool.org/hortons-flower-farm-fundraiser

The Gross Family is generously donating a portion of all sales back to SAS PACE. Make sure to stop by and support this great SAS family owned business while you are exploring the east end on the next few beautiful fall weekends.

PACE Volunteer Sign Up

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080C4DAFAF29ABFE3-pace

Important Upcoming Events

· Daily through Halloween - Venezia Fall Flower and Decoration Fundraiser

· Weekends in September & October - Horton Flower Farm Fundraiser

· 10/15/2021 through 11/29/2021 -  Charleston Wrap - Wrapping Paper Sale

· 10/24/2021 - PACE Family Halloween Party 

· 10/26/2021 - PACE Meeting

· 10/29/2021 - 7th & 8th Grade Halloween Dance

· 11/1/2021 through 11/12/2021 - White Post Farm Pie Sale

· 11/9/2021 through 11/11/2021 - Dine to Donate with Piccolo’s of Mineola

Monday, October 11: NO SCHOOL- Columbus Day, Observed

Tuesday, October 12: Lower and Upper School Violin and Ukulele Band Instruction- Don’t forget your instrument!

7^th and 8^th Grade Girls Volleyball Practice 2:30-3:45 PM in the Gym (practice added to the schedule).

Wednesday, October 13:

7^th and 8^th Grade Girls Volleyball Practice 2:30-3:45 PM in the Gym.

Suessical Jr. CALL BACKS- 2:30-5:00 PM in Monsignor Kirwin Hall.

Chessnuts Enrichment in Lower School from 2:30-3:45 PM for those enrolled (dismissal from front doors of lower school-bring a snack!).

Thursday, October 14: Upper School Band Instruction- Don’t forget your instrument! 

7^th and 8^th Grade Girls Volleyball Game vs. Kellenberg at 4:00 PM HOME in St. Aidan Gym (ALL spectators MUST wear masks).

Friday, October 15: SPIRIT WEAR FRIDAY! Wear your favorite St. Aidan gear to school!

7^th and 8^th Grade Girls Volleyball Practice 2:30-3:45 PM in the Gym.

• Summer Uniform ENDS/Winter Uniform BEGINS (students are no longer permitted to wear shorts or skorts and gym sweatpants must be worn on phys. Ed days)- October 18
• Regular Suessical Jr. Rehearsals Begin- October 18
• Volleyball Game AWAY at Notre Dame- October 18
• Kindergarten and 1^st Grade Trip to the Farm- October 19
• Chaminade Student-Athlete Visit for 5^th Grade- October 19
• Faculty Meeting 2:45-4:00 PM- October 20
• Volleyball Game AWAY at Holy Family- October 21
• Faculty Professional Development Day- NO SCHOOL for students- October 22

Enjoy the day and tomorrow. We will see everyone on Tuesday!

Sincerely,

Mrs. O’Connell