Parent Update for Wednesday, July 15, 2020

View this email in your browser July 15, 2020 Dear STM Parents: The SFUSD announced yesterday that on August 17, 2020, they plan to start the new school year with distance learning. What does this mean for our Catholic schools? The short answer is that I don't know yet. Given the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area and California, we continue to be concerned. We are, however, continuing to plan for reopening as scheduled until we hear otherwise. The Catholic schools have spent the past six weeks making changes to our campus and developing new protocols for both students and staff. Some of the changes we have made at St. Thomas More include the following: Replacing faucets in the girls' and boys' bathroom sinks so that students can now use a lever to turn on and off the water. We also are eliminating the middle sink to provide more separation. Installing touchless faucets in the preschool classrooms. Adding a hand washing station to the school yard. Installing touchless hand sanitizing units at each entrance to the school and outside each classroom. (22 units) Providing face shields and plexiglass barriers for all teachers and the office area. Purchasing 20 no touch thermometers. Purchasing large room dividers to separate spaces. Developing signage to promote social distancing and proper hand washing. Other changes include staggered drop off and dismissal procedures, health screening protocols, smaller cohorts of students, routine hand washing schedules, restroom schedules, additional cleaning and sanitizing, especially of high touch areas, staggered recess and lunch schedules and so many other little details. We are putting the final touches to our Logistical and Reopening plan that I will submit this week to the Department of Catholic School and to the SFDPH. The second part of the requirement for opening is a detailed plan for parents that is also close to completion. This is based on the information I shared with you on July 1, but with much more details and some changes. For instance, we will now be taking student temperatures before entering the school building. I will share the draft of this with you soon. This will also be subject to approval by the Health Department. Given the uncertainty surrounding reopening and the challenges regarding spreading the virus, I think it is best that you hold off on buying school uniforms for the moment if you haven't done so already. Even if we return to campus, we will make uniform adjustments for the first part of this school year that will include clothing that can be washed and changed easily and that is cheaper and readily available. This is still in the planning stages so please wait for an update on that. Even if we begin the year with distance learning, these plans and protocols will be used for whenever we do return to the campus so the weeks of intense work will not be in vain. The teachers will be spending additional time planning before the beginning of next school year. Whether this is for in person learning or distance learning remains to be seen. We are blessed with the support and strength that we share as a school community. I would like to finish with a prayer written by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM, March 13th, 2020, just as we began to close down our schools and shelter in place. It resonates even more at this time, when we reflect on the racism that is such a part of our society.  Let's continue to stay positive and focus on equality for all. Gratefully, Marie The Other Side of the Virus, An Opportunity to Awaken... Yes there is panic buying. Yes there is sickness. Yes there is even death. But, They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise        You can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet        The sky is no longer thick with fumes        But blue and grey and clear. They say that in the streets of Assisi        People are singing to each other        across the empty squares,        keeping their windows open        so that those who are alone        may hear the sounds of family around them. They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland       is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.  Today a young woman I know       is busy spreading fliers with her number       through the neighborhood       so that the elders may have someone to call on.  Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples       are preparing to welcome       and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary. All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting. All over the world people are looking at their neighbors in a new way. All over the world people are waking up to a new reality       To how big we really are.       To how little control we really have.         To what really matters.       To Love. So we pray and we remember that Yes there is fear.      But there does not have to be hate. Yes there is isolation.    But there does not have to be loneliness. Yes there is panic buying.     But there does not have to be meanness. Yes there is sickness.     But there does not have to be disease of the soul Yes there is even death.      But there can always be a rebirth of love. Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now. Today, breathe. Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic-      The birds are singing again      The sky is clearing,      Spring is coming,      And we are always encompassed by Love. Open the windows of your soul           And though you may not be able           to touch across the empty square,           Sing. - Written by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM, March 13th 2020 Copyright © 2020 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.   Thank you for helping us go green. 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Simply Uniforms Early Bird Sale Ends on July 11th

View this email in your browser Dear STM families,  Below is a message from Simply Uniforms regarding their Early Bird Sale ending on Saturday, July 11th.  Feel free to contact Simply Uniforms directly at (650)-757-5722 or email simply7801@gmail.com if you have any questions.    To our valued customers, We thank you for your patience and understanding during this hectic time. We have been steadily busy, but wanted to remind you that our Early Bird sale ends Saturday, July 11th. Save 15% off your entire purchase! Below we listed a small FAQ for your families, to help ease any confusion about coming into our store or placing an order! Are you open? Yes! We are open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00 to 5:00, Thursday (7/9 only!) from 10:00 to 7:00, and Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00. We are closed Sundays and Mondays, any phone messages or emails over the weekend will not be received until that following Tuesday during store hours. Do you take appointments? No! Just come on in at your earliest convenience. What are your procedures in-store? Anyone over the age of 12 is required to wear a mask the entire time you are in the store. We can only take 2-3 families in store at a time, if we are at capacity we ask you to wait outside where we have sidewalk markers to practice social distancing. We also request that only 2 people enter our store per family (for example, one student and one adult, or two adults). For families with multiple students, exceptions will be made. We provide hand sanitizer and have been wiping down high-touch areas, as well as dressing rooms, between each customer. Can my student try items on? If you are comfortable with it, yes! Any tried on items are being quarantined in our back warehouse before being put back onto the sale floor. If you don't feel comfortable having your student try items on, we recommend bringing a set of clothing that currently fits, and we can match it up as close as possible. Can I return/exchange items? We are handling returns and exchanges on a case-by-case basis. We accept returns 15 days from the original purchase, and exchanges 30 days from the original purchase. We recommend a phone call before you come in to return or exchange, and you must have the following with you: Credit/Debit card the purchase was originally made with Receipt (including the print-out from the credit card machine) All tags/original packaging on your items Can I place a phone/email order? YES! All orders can be either picked up at our ramp to the left side of the building, or shipped via UPS (additional fees apply). All phone/email orders must be prepaid before pick-up, we will call you to process payment over the phone.  Any other questions or concerns can be called in at (650)-757-5722 or emailed back here at simply7801@gmail.com. We are happy to help with any specific questions or concerns you may have! Thanks so much for shopping with us, and we look forward to seeing you this summer! --  Simply Uniforms 7801 El Camino Real Colma, CA 94014 P: 650.757.5722 -- F: 650.757.1887 Copyright © 2020 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.   Thank you for helping us go green. Our mailing address is: 50 Thomas More Way San Francisco, CA 94132 www.stmsf.org unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

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STM Reopening Parent Information - July 1, 2020

View this email in your browser July 1, 2020 Dear Families,  Below is the latest information for reopening STM in August. We will continue to plan and prepare throughout the summer to welcome back our students to school with their health and safety as our top priority.  Please keep in mind that our plans will continue to evolve as we receive additional information and directives from the San Francisco Health Department and the Department of Catholic Schools.  The faculty, staff and I continue to feel blessed and appreciate all of the support from you, our parent community, students and STM families.  Gratefully,  Marie Fitzpatrick Principal    Reopening Campus School will reopen with a five day a week schedule, August 18, 2020 as planned. This is pending no further restrictions from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH). Preschool will reopen August 17 and will have 2 rooms with 12 students each. Classrooms will be prepared for full capacity. Grades with larger numbers will be split into two cohorts and will be in a different classroom nearby. Classroom aides will be assigned to supervise in these extra classrooms. All classes will be livestreamed so that students in the nearby classroom and students who are continuing with full time distance learning can follow along. Families can choose to have full in class attendance or continue with full time distance learning. You will be asked to commit to your preference  in early August so that staff can finalize plans for reopening.  Safety Procedures Health Screening Daily health assessment will be required for students before they can enter the building. This will consist of two parts; a Student Health Screening Form that will be digitally submitted by parents before arriving at school and a visual screening by staff members meeting the car. Parents will be asked to remain in the car unless a student is in a car seat. Students will go directly to their classroom.  An Employee Health Screening Form will need to be completed by all staff members before arriving at school. All staff will check in with the Principal or her designate for a temperature check before proceeding to their classrooms.  Temperature checks for students in TK-8th grade are not planned at this time.  Preschool will be conducting temperature checks. Social distancing No mingling of cohorts in the classrooms, yard, or anywhere on campus. Desks will be spaced apart. 6 ft is the current guidance, but may be reduced by SFDPH to 4 or 5 ft. STM is currently planning for 6 ft. Entry and exit doors will be assigned by grade Bathroom use for students will be scheduled and assigned by grade Face coverings All employees are required to wear masks and/or face shields.  STM will comply with guidelines in place for students. Currently, masks are not required for ages 12 and under, but are strongly recommended. Teach your child proper mask usage - putting on and removing  Masks will be available at school as needed. Limit campus visitors Parents are not allowed on campus except in an emergency Parents requesting early pick up, will call the office to let us know when you attive. You will be asked to wait outside. Students will be signed out by a staff member.   Choice Lunch will be available. No lunch/food drop-offs or deliveries will be allowed for students or staff.   Individual supplies for students No sharing of any school supplies 3-tier individual carts required for all students in grades TK-2. Detailed direction on dimensions and setup  will follow shortly. All students items must be labeled; clothing, pencil boxes, scissors, etc.   Enhanced cleaning and sanitation Custodial staff and teachers will be responsible for frequent cleaning for high touch areas in their classroom such as door knobs, light switches, desks Teachers will train/assist students in daily cleaning of their desk, chair and belongings. Bathrooms will be scheduled for cleaning several times a day. Restructuring Classrooms Some of the larger classes/grades will be divided into cohorts and Carroll Hall to be used for some classes. We will notify you of your child's classroom placement a few days before school opens.  There will be no moving of students between classrooms. eg. science lab, library. The priority is to keep students  in one space. Teachers will move between cohorts. Teachers desks will have a plexiglass barrier in place P.E. and music will be outside when possible We will need some parent volunteers to move desks, chairs and other classroom furniture on Saturday, August 1st. We will send out a request closer to the date. Scheduling Adjustment Drop off procedures Working with the City to request access to all of Thomas More Way from Brotherhood Way to the golf course to facilitate drop off. No morning assembly, students will go directly to their classroom (teachers will be in classrooms by 7:40) 7:45-8:00        6, 7, 8 plus siblings 8:00-8:15        3, 4, 5 plus siblings 8:15-8:30        TK, K, 1, 2 Preschool students will probably be dropped off in the yard 8:30-9:00        Pre-K Pick up procedures TBD Dismissal will be no later than 3:00, but we will probably begin around 2:30pm.  School schedules will vary depending on grade. Lunch/Recess will be staggered. All students will eat outside, weather permitting Choice Lunch will still be offered, but modified (all items pre-selected, delivered in individual packages to the classroom), no sharing of lunches or snacks will be allowed.  AM/PM Extended Care may be offered on a limited basis to those families who have few other options.  Challenges include space limitations and the ability to keep students in their pre-assigned cohorts with a designated adult. We will send a parent survey shortly to assess the needs of our families.  If we do provide extended care it will only be for students who need the service full time. We will not be accepting drop-ins or part time attendance. Next Steps The Department of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco set up several task forces to develop robust documents to guide schools in planning for the health and safety of all our students and staff going forward. This document, The Infection Mitigation Plan for Schools, serves as a guide for logistics and planning as we return to school, Provides us with  notices of Infection and confidentiality regulations, outlines best practices on managing finances due to the many costs involved in updating facilities, as well as health and safety maintenance practices.  St. Thomas More School also focuses on continuous school improvement and curriculum planning post Covid 19. Teachers will be returning to campus early this year for additional days of professional development with the goal of adjusting curriculum to ensure that all the "power standards" that may have not been fully developed during distance learning are covered next year.   The Logistics and Planning section of the Infection Mitigation Plan For Schools will be submitted to the Department of Catholic Schools by July 15th. Follow up meeting Catholic School principals with SFDPH, July 17th. Thorough cleaning of all school buildings, furniture and equipment is ongoing. Handwashing and hand sanitizing stations are being installed. Training materials for employees are in development. Miscellaneous Items Drop Off Day - TK-2 families will drop off their child's three tier cart on Friday Morning, August 14th at a designated time. Detailed directions on size limitations and setup must be followed. No Friday mass in the beginning, maybe return with one class at a time Fundraisers such as Fall Festival canceled Fun Run to go forward (with modifications and no guests permitted) Both 7th and 8th graders will receive Confirmation May 2021 First Communion and Reconciliation will be held in the Spring for both 2nd and 3rd graders Outdoor Education Program tentatively rescheduled for the Fall has been cancelled. No field trips will be planned through December 2020. Copyright © 2020 St. Thomas More School, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email from the office of St. Thomas More School.   Thank you for helping us go green. Our mailing address is: 50 Thomas More Way San Francisco, CA 94132 www.stmsf.org unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

This email was sent to bwong9.stmnewsletter1920@blogger.com why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences St. Thomas More School · 50 Thomas More Way · San Francisco, CA 94132 · USA