STM Parents and Families,
We have finally made it to the last two days of school before Christmas break! It seems just like yesterday that we had our Back to School Check-In! Time is really flying this year and I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing! We have endured many stresses throughout the year, but we have also experienced many graces and blessings! We have been able to spend more time with our families, learned a new level of patience and appreciation of school, and perhaps seen an increase in our faith and prayer lives. Regardless of what is happening in our lives, we need to be ever grounded and unrelenting in our faith in Jesus Christ. He alone will guide us and walk with us through our good days and bad days. He will never leave us, he is ever-present. So, on those days that you think you can’t take one more thing, don’t! Give it to Jesus – that is what He calls us to do!
Over the next two weeks, I will be keeping the STM families and community in my prayers and would ask that you do the same for me. I am also asking for a couple more things from you. First, I am asking that you make every effort to take your children (who have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation) to Confession before Christmas. We typically have students participate in our Advent Reconciliation day here at school, but due to circumstances this year, we were unable to do that. There are still two opportunities here at STM – this Thursday evening (12/17) and this coming Saturday morning (12/19). If you are unable to take them to Confession, it would be appropriate for your children to do an Examination of Conscience, followed by silent reflection and conversation with Jesus.
The second ask I have of you is not so much an ask, but an invitation. I am inviting you to join me every Thursday night, starting January 7, at 7:00 pm for STM community prayer. All STM families and staff are welcome to join! This will be a time for us to pray the Rosary together, as well as share specific intentions that you would like the community to pray for. This prayer time will be via Zoom and the link will be provided in the Monday Notes on January 4.
I would also like to take this time to make you aware of my thinking as it relates to COVID and the return to school in January. I have asked all teachers to send home any and all materials that their students would need in the off chance that we have to roll into distance learning on January 4. Please note, I am NOT saying we will be in distance learning at this time, but I AM saying, let’s be prepared. To piggyback on that request, I am also asking that you all please carefully consider the gatherings you will be attending during the holidays. This past quarantine, for approximately ½ of our school, was due to gatherings over Thanksgiving break. Please, please be vigilant in your awareness of other’s health and do not attend gatherings where someone is symptomatic or has been exposed. None of us want to go into distance learning if it can be avoided, and this heightened awareness will help us to stay in school. That being said, please do not hesitate to email me if/when you find yourself in a situation where you or a family member becomes COVID+. It is vital that we have that information to make informed decisions, which will ultimately drive the decision to reopen or move to distance learning in January. If we do have to move to distance learning, you will be informed as soon as possible.
I wish you all a blessed Christmas and a joy-filled New Year. May God continue to grant us peace and blessings during this most joyous season.
Peace and blessings,
Gretchen DeWolfe
Principal