October 15, 2021
Hello Falcon Families!
Covid Corner
- The new Masking Survey was again close to 50/50.
- 84% of families answered the survey.
- Of the parents who are 100% in support of one masking policy over the other, 54% support Required Masking and 46% support Optional Masking.
- Of the parents who could go either way, 67% prefer Optional and 33% prefer Required.
- When we combine the above groups, we have 55% in favor of Optional and 45% Required.
- Of the parents who 100% support Required Masking, 78% of them plan to have their K-8 students vaccinated when it becomes available.
- Covid Council met on Tuesday and had a productive meeting.
- The 12-person council is composed of our regular focus group of six parents plus six additional parents. The regular parent focus group is composed of six families with whom I came to know relatively well last year and all have multiple St. Chris students. The Covid Council includes six additional families with whom I have had relatively frequent Covid conversations this year and all have multiple St. Chris students.
- The group is evenly split between those who support optional masking and those who support required masking.
- The council is advisory in nature. This important group provides advice to the school’s leadership team, but it does not make final policy decisions.
- Among other things, the group discussed the potential use of more defined metrics for making masking/unmasking decisions, as well as the possibility of going to optional masking when the vaccine is available for ages 5 and older.
- I will continue to gather feedback, monitor internal and external data, and then make a proposal to Fr. John for a November 1 policy. That will be announced the week of October 25th.
- Covid Vaccine
- St. Christopher School has no intention of mandating vaccinations for our students.
- Vaccine approval for ages 5 and older may occur as early as the first week of November.
- The FDA is reviewing data the week of October 25th and the CDC ACIP committee is scheduled to meet on it November 2-3. Potentially, emergency authorization may be given immediately following the ACIP meeting.
- If you are considering vaccinating your child, we encourage you to complete your research now and be ready to make a decision when the authorization is announced.
- In addition to speaking with your family physician, there are many resources on the web.
- COVID-19 Vaccine & Young Kids: Separating Fact from Fear Webinar on October 19th. This episode of Live.Work.Thrive co-sponsored by the Ad Council, will focus on separating fact from fear about the COVID-19 vaccine for young children. With authorization for the vaccine for children under 12yrs expected soon, the panel will provide updated information on safety, efficacy and directly answer questions from parents.
- In addition to speaking with your family physician, there are many resources on the web.
- State politicians are saying it is unlikely the State of Ohio will mandate Covid vaccinations for students.
- House Bill 244 states public schools may not:
- Require an individual to receive a vaccine for which the United States food and drug administration has not granted full approval;
- Discriminate against an individual who has not received a vaccine described in division (B)(1) of this section, including by requiring the individual to engage in or refrain from engaging in activities or precautions that differ from the activities or precautions of an individual who has received such a vaccine.
- Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.671 (Proof of required immunizations – exceptions) states a pupil who presents a written statement of the pupil’s parent or guardian in which the parent or guardian declines to have the pupil immunized for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions, is not required to be immunized.
Federal Funding & Household Information Survey
- If your annual household income is $82,621 or less, please answer this quick six-question Household Information Survey.
- We do not ask for specific income numbers and any related information is strictly confidential and does not leave our building.
- The federal government uses our survey results in determining St. Christopher’s level of federal funding. It is one of the only ways your federal tax dollars benefit our specific school.
- Although the chart categorizes families in “Free” and “Reduced” lunch categories, lunches remain free this year for all students.
- These lunch themed categories determine funding levels for many school resources (e.g., teachers, textbooks, technology, etc.) that have nothing to do with lunch.
All Saints Day Mass (Mon Nov 1st 9:00AM): All Saints Day, a holy day of obligation, is Monday, November 1st. We will go to Mass on Monday that week instead of Wednesday. Students may come to school and attend Mass dressed up as a Saint. If they choose to participate, they will need to bring a uniform to change into after mass or wear it under their costume.
Friday November 5 is a Teacher Professional Development Day and the school will be closed.
High School Placement Tests will take place in November. We will provide registration details in next week’s letter or you can visit specific high school websites now.
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Reminders
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Coats for Kids (LAST DAY MON 10/18) Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley is partnering with WDTN for the Coats for Kids campaign. St. Christopher is one of many partner schools that collect winter coats for those in need this winter! We are looking for new or gently used coats, and primarily in the newborn to 4T range. However, we will accept any coats donated. Once our coats are collected they will be cleaned and then distributed to the needy.
PumpkinPalooza: October 17 | 4:00PM-7:00PM (Register by October 16)
- Jr High (6-8) & High School Youth Ministry (+ sibs, fam, & friends) are invited to attend our annual Pumpkinpalooza!
- Meet us at Tom’s Maze for a campfire, cider, smores, pumpkin carving, & a go at the maze!
- We will be donating our carved pumpkins to an area nursing home. COST: $15 per person
- REGISTER HERE
Prayers for a blessed and peaceful weekend.
God Bless & Go Falcons!
Mr. O’
St. Christopher School Principal
toloughlin@scpschool.org
937.898.5104
