As we enter the final week of January, I continue be grateful for the efforts to maintain the health and safety of everyone in our school. As we ask the faculty, staff and students each day, please continue to follow all the guidelines so we will continue to be together in person. I think back to the uncertainty in August before opening and here we are preparing for Catholic Schools Week 2021 keeping our school fully open and in person. We have a great deal to be proud of!

You may have seen the recent article in the local town papers about an initiative where the Mineola School District partnered with NYU Langone to have their faculty and staff immunized. I am VERY grateful to share with you that we had the unique opportunity to join in on this effort with Mineola and our faculty and staff has started the process of being vaccinated against COVID-19. I proudly received my first dose on January 14 and will be fully vaccinated on February 9. I am so thankful and grateful to Dr. Nagler and Mr. Gaven from the Mineola UFSD for extending this opportunity to our entire St. Aidan School faculty and staff. It has given us all a sense of HOPE for better days ahead.

A few general reminders/information:

• Catholic Schools Week 2021 is upon us! Although this year will be very different, we plan to show how we are always “Together in Learning, Together in Christ”. We are finalizing special events related to Faith, Excellence and Service. Stay tuned for an email this week with all the details!
• SAVE THE DATE for our Catholic Schools Week Opening Mass which will livestreamed on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 9:00 AM. In addition, if you know a prospective family interested in learning more about our school, we will be giving select tours by appointment only for new families. Please pass along this link if you know someone who would like to make an appointment https://calendly.com/saintaidanschoolwp. We are also making an effort to share the good news about our school on social media. We appreciate you sharing these posts to pass it along to an even wider audience. You are always our greatest advertisement! Thank you!
• Thank you for your interest in our first virtual Enrichment session. We are excited to be running THREE of these Enrichment Classes beginning this week. They include:

       MONDAYS- “Come Join the Cabaret” with Ms. Stone for Grades 5-8

       THURSDAYS- “Piece of Cake, No Bake” with Mrs. Eisenhuth for Grades 2-5

       THURSDAYS- “Speech and Debate” with Mrs. Michel for Grades 6-8

• If you missed the opportunity to sign up for one of these classes and would like your child to be part of it, PLEASE send the registration and check TOMORROW, 1/25. All Zoom information will be sent to the STUDENT’S SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS. Thank you to our teachers for sharing their talents!

       Enrichment Registration Form 

• Our Grade Level Masses are back this week! Specials thanks to Fr. Adrian and Mrs. Graham for working on the schedule to bring one grade at a time together for a special school Mass. Keep an eye out for your child’s grade on the calendar and join via livestream at www.staidanparish.org.
• IMPORTANT: CHANGE TO OUR CALENDAR- Friday, March 12, 2021 will be our final Professional Development Day for teachers. SCHOOL WILL NOT BE IN SESSION FOR STUDENTS. THERE WILL BE NO AFTER SCHOOL. Please mark your calendars! Thank you for understanding.        
• If your child is not feeling well or someone in the household has COVID-19 symptoms, PLEASE KEEP THEM HOME. We so appreciate all those who have been extra cautious.
• If a member of your household tests positive for COVID-19, please notify Mrs. Pisciotto. It is imperative that we have this information as it affects students attending school in person.
• If your child is tested for COVID-19 for ANY reason, please send those results to Mrs. Pisciotto at cpisciotto5547@staidanschool.org for our records. This includes negative results as well. Thank you.
• Transportation Requests are due to your home school district by March 24, 2021. This date is earlier than usual because of the spring vacation dates for the local districts. Please be sure you make the request if you would like your Kindergarten through 8^th grade student to use your district transportation. If you have any questions, please contact your home district Transportation Department.
• PLEASE be sure that students have a fully charged iPad and headsets each day at school. 
• The Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization within the Diocese of Rockville Centre. The mission is to ensure the excellence as well as the continuance of Catholic Schools on Long Island by increasing awareness and by providing scholarship and program funding for the needs of students and schools. The application for the 2021-2022 school year begins on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. You can find all the information on our website at https://staidanschool.org/tomorrows-hope-foundation-tuition-assistance

Please find the St. Aidan Parish Bulletin below for Sunday, January 24, 2021.

St. Aidan Parish Bulletin- Sunday, January 24, 2021 

• As mentioned, we will be holding the FACULTY APPRECIATION LUNCHEON during Catholic Schools Week on 2/5.  Because of COVID concerns, the event will be fully catered. Many have expressed in interest in donating for the event.  If you would like to make a nominal donation (up to $5 per family) in lieu of the appetizers and desserts that were previously contributed for the Luncheon, please feel free to use this link: https://staidanschool.org/faculty-appreciation-lunch or send cash through school marked “Faculty Appreciation.” We will use the funds raised for a special treat for the faculty and staff.
• BOX TOPS are an easy way to give back to SAS! Visit https://staidanschool.org/box-tops-for-education for more information including a link to download the mobile app and explanations on how to scan paper receipts and online/digital receipts. Remember that anyone can support St. Aidan’s through this program so please share with family and friends!
• Don’t forget to link your amazon account to benefit St. Aidan’s.  AMAZON SMILE will allow a percentage of your purchases to come back to the school.  More information is available on our website here: https://staidanschool.org/amazon-smile with step by step instructions on how to sign up and select St. Aidan as your charity. Please share with anyone that uses Amazon, every dollar helps our students!
• Making a purchase with SHUTTERFLY? Make sure to shop through the SAS Shutterfly storefront and we will receive 8% back on all purchases.  More info at:https://staidanschool.org/shutterfly. This storefront is open to all!
• Planning is underway for the 2021 ST. AIDAN’S GOLF OUTING. This year we will be celebrating 70 years of St. Aidan School!  If anyone is interested in helping out, please email us at staidanpace@gmail.com.  We are planning a meeting in February via zoom. 
• We are currently planning for NEXT YEAR and would love to have share the wonderful opportunities to get involved through PACE!  If you have any interest in joining the PACE Board, running an event, being a class coordinator or are just looking for ways to be more involved, please reach out to us at staidanpace@gmail.com. We would be happy to discuss different roles, responsibilities and ideas!

Any questions, comments or concerns, let us know at staidanpace@gmail.com.

Here’s a look at the week ahead:

Monday, January 25: “Come Join the Cabaret” Enrichment Class for those registered from 3:30-4:30 PM via Zoom.

Tuesday, January 26: Just We Two Classes in session.

Math Olympiads Zoom Meeting for invited students in Grades 4-8 from 3:30-4:15 PM.

Wednesday, January 27: Mass for 4^th Grade at 1:00 PM in St. Aidan Church. It will be livestreamed for parents and guardians. The 4^th Grade STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS will receive their Student Council Pin at this Mass.

Thursday, January 28: Just We Two Classes in session.

Mass for 5^th Grade at 1:00 PM in St. Aidan Church. It will be livestreamed for parents and guardians. The 5^th Grade STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS will receive their Student Council Pin at this Mass.

“Piece of Cake, No Bake” and “Speech and Debate” Enrichment Classes for those registered from 3:30-4:30 PM via Zoom.

Friday, January 29: SPIRIT DAY FRIDAY! Wear your favorite St. Aidan gear to school!

Mass for 6^th Grade at 1:00 PM in St. Aidan Church. It will be livestreamed for parents and guardians. The 6^th Grade STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS will receive their Student Council Pin at this Mass.

Saturday, January 30: Our 2^nd Grade students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at 11 AM in St. Aidan Church. 

A Look Ahead:

-Catholic Schools Week Begins (more info coming!)- Week of January 31

-Open House for Prospective Families by Appointment- January 31

-NCEA Day of Giving (more info coming!)- February 2

-Mass for 7^th Grade/Distribution of Student Council Pins at 1:00 PM- February 3

-Mass for 8^th Grade/Distribution of Student Council Pins at 1:00 PM- February 4

-Teacher Appreciation Day/Luncheon-11:30 DISMISSAL/NO AFTER SCHOOL- February 5

-8^th Grade Lifetouch Graduation Pictures- February 8

-Student Council Meeting- February 8

-Mass for 3^rd Grade at 1:00 PM- February 8

-Mass for 2^nd Grade at 1:00 PM- February 10

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Mrs. O’Connell