Due to the current circumstances with COVID-19, CSW will look very different this year. We are working hard to find fun and creative ways to celebrate the blessing of Catholic education while still adhering to all of the safety guidelines and recommendations. Here is a tentative schedule of our Catholic Schools Week activities:
January 31st - In Our Parish – 9:00 a.m. Drive -Thru Pancake Breakfast at the Annunciation Catholic Church Activities Center - This year, our traditional Pancake Breakfast fundraiser hosted by the Knights of Columbus for Catholic School's Week will be held to-go. The event will take place at the Annunciation Catholic Church Activities Building located at 823 College Street (across street from church) on Sunday, January 31st from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. To-go plates include pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Tickets can be purchased at the link below from our Eagle's Nest Spirit Store (your emailed receipt from this order is your breakfast ticket - simply show it to the person at the door to pick up your breakfast) or pay at the door the morning of the event.
https://st-marys-annunciation-catholic-school.square.site/
February 1st - In Our Community - One Mile Fun Run - Students will participate in a one-mile fun run on school grounds to celebrate In Our Community Day to kick-off Catholic Schools Week 2021. We ask that each student donate $5 (or more, if desired) to register for the event. The proceeds from this event will go to the Golden Triangle Homeless Coalition. After speaking with a representative from the organization, we have been made aware that they are in desperate need of funds right now. Due to COVID-19, they have not been able to provide warming stations on cold nights like they have done in the past. Instead, they have been providing hotel rooms to our local homeless population as funds are available. This is a wonderful way for us to help our community while adhering to our COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. Donations/Registration can be made online at https://st-marys-annunciation-catholic-school.square.site/ or by sending cash or check to the office. Students may wear athletic attire on this day.
February 2nd - In Our Nation - Parade - we will hold our annual In Our Nation Day parade at 9:30 a.m. We are unable to invite outside guests this year, but we encourage families to spectate from their vehicles along the parade route which will be around the school on Browder Street, Alabama Street, Garner Boulevard, and Maxwell Street. In addition to our parade, we will be making Valentines for Veterans to take to the local VA Clinic and writing letters to deployed troops through Operation Gratitude.
February 3rd - In Our Parents, Volunteers and Donors - This is a day for us to celebrate you! Look for a little surprise coming your way!
February 4th - Grandparents' Day (We will not be hosting any guests on campus) - We will have Grandparents' Day mass via Facebook Live at 8:30 a.m. as well as our virtual book fair. In addition, each class is working hard to prepare a video presentation; the presentations may be live or prerecorded. Grandparents will receive via email and/or text the link to view/join these presentations from their grandchild’s teacher.
February 5th - In Our Students - Students will have a fun-filled day of movies, pizza and SNOW CONES! No lunch orders needed for this day. We will be providing pizza and snow cones for every student in the school! The snow cone bus will be visiting that afternoon from 12:00 – 2:00 for an icy treat.
February 6th - Open House for Prospective Students - TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT ACS!!!
Please join us for our Open House for prospective families on Saturday, February 6th from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Open House is an excellent time to visit our school and meet our staff. Spots will fill up quickly for the 2021-2022 school year. You don't want to miss it!
Dear Friends in Christ,
As we begin to wind down the first half of our school year, we take time to thank our teachers, parents, students, and administrators for their flexibility, cooperation, and prayers as we have navigated our return to in-person learning. We know that this has not been easy for anyone, and we could not have
done it without everyone working together.
As we prepare for the holidays and with the release of newly update CDC guidelines for quarantine, we wanted to share our most up-to-date guidelines for exposure to and diagnosis of COVID-19. Please note, we are continually assessing our guidelines to ensure they are up-to-date and compliant with both CDC and MSDH guidelines. We wanted to highlight a few important points.
1. Travel: If a person or family travels internationally or on public transportation (i.e. airlines, buses, etc.) to an area deemed high or very high risk they should quarantine for ten days from the day they arrive home. They should be excluded from the school setting for the ten days. However, students who do not develop
symptoms and receive a negative, molecular (RT-PCR) test result after day seven may return to school. Please note, a negative rapid test result or positive antibody test result will not be accepted. Please visit the CDC Travel Recommendations by Destination webpage for the most up to date information
regarding high-risk destinations.
2. Quarantine Timelines: If a quarantine is required, the minimum time will be seven days. If after seven days, the individual receives a negative, molecular (RT-PCR) diagnostic test result, they will be allowed to return to school. If the individual is not tested, they may return after ten days, provided no symptoms
develop. Please note, negative rapid tests or positive antibody tests will not be accepted at this time.
3. Family Testing: If a member of a student or staff member’s immediate family is tested for COVID-19, the student or staff member should not return to the school setting until a negative result is reported OR a positive result is reported, and all guidelines for positive cases have been followed.
4. Exposure in the Household: If a live-in family member of a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19 and are unable to isolate from other family members, please contact your principal to develop a plan of action regarding quarantine timelines.
Once again, we cannot thank you enough for your patience as we navigate these unusual times. As we have said before, we have duties as Catholic institutions to provide safe environments for all of our teachers, staff members, and students. The guidelines presented here are not only designed to provide individual protection, but they call for our entire community to work together to protect our most vulnerable community members. If all individuals take precautions, even those who are healthy and less susceptible, together, we will protect the most vulnerable in our communities.
Psalm 41:1 tells us, “Blessed is anyone who cares for the poor and the weak; in time of trouble, Yahweh rescues him.” As members of our faith community, we can make small sacrifices in our daily routine to protect others from the risk of this virus, just as Scripture calls us to do.
In Christ,
The Office of Education Staff
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Please click the photo to shop our virtual book fair until November 22nd.
