| | | | | November 4, 2020 Dear STM Families,
We are delighted to welcome back some of our 3-6 grade students this week. Yesterday, I observed 3rd and 4th graders share good ideas, ask questions and voice their opinions as they discussed the current election with their teachers and classmates. As we move through election season it is important that we use the opportunity to discuss many of the issues that are grabbing our attention on the TV and other media. We want our children to be able to discuss candidates and issues respectfully and thoughtfully. According to Meagan Patterson, an educational psychologist at the University of Kansas, centering political conversations around values can be a good framework for helping to make seemingly abstract political concepts "more understandable and manageable for kids." Talking about politics can help you communicate your values, she said, which is a good thing. You may say "this family believes that all children should have access to healthcare so we are supporting this issue for the following reasons" or "we are voting for this candidate because he/she believes in the same values as our family". Promoting dialogue and discussion is healthy for our children. Teaching them to disagree, but not be disagreeable, is a life skill that should be developed at a young age. | | |  | | If you signed your child up to return to school please know that you do not have the option to send them to school some days and keep them at home to attend via zoom on other days, unless of course, they are sick. If your child has symptoms or a fever, or is even a little under the weather, please keep them at home. Remember your child should stay home until they meet the conditions to return to school. Contact your child's regular doctor or clinic for advice. Check out the SFDPH Directives regarding your child's return to school and the Clearance to return to school form that you will need to complete for our records.
We are currently in the process of signing up with Curative Laboratory Option for COVID-19 Testing for STM faculty and staff. They offer a 24 hour turnaround and testing can be done regularly on site. Our goal is to make regular testing more readily available to all employees and to ensure that we are doing all we can to mitigate the spread of the virus. While not required, we strongly encourage you to have your children tested, especially as we return from extended holiday periods where you may be mixing with family and friends outside of your regular group. Please report only positive tests to the school at office@stmsf.org. According to the SFDPH and the CDC guidelines travel increases your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. You can get COVID-19 during your travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread COVID-19 to others. You and your travel companions (including children) may spread COVID-19 to other people including your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you were exposed to the virus. Remember not to travel if you are sick or if you have been around someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. As always, we encourage you to be proactive in self-isolating if you and/or your family members have been part of a gathering outside of your normal group and to keep us informed if anyone in your close family has a positive test. | |  | | In a further effort to ensure safety for all we have made some adjustments to the school calendar for the upcoming holidays. THANKSGIVING BREAK
The school office will be closed for the full week from Monday, November 23 through Friday, November 26. Monday, November 21 and Tuesday, November 22 will be distance learning days for all students from Preschool through 8th grade. CHRISTMAS BREAK
We are scheduled to return to school on Jan. 5. We have received permission to adjust our calendar in order to have all our staff tested before returning. The new schedule will be as follows: Monday, January 4
Staff return to campus for testing, or provide results of a negative test in the previous 7 days Tuesday, January 5
Distance learning day for all (minimum day). Test results received. Wednesday, January 6
Classes resume. Teachers, staff and students return to campus. | | CALENDAR Friday, November 6
TK-8 Distance Learning Day
Grade 5 Immigration Stories Told From Angel Island State Park Virtual Field Trip
Monday, Nov. 9-Wednesday, Nov. 18
Q2 STAR Testing for TK-8
Friday, November 13
End of Trimester 1 | | | Get Ready for Black Friday
and Christmas Shopping!
Contact Nancy Cottura at ncottura@stmsf.org if you have any questions.
|  | | SF Firefighters
Virtual Toy Drive Below is a message from the SF Firefigthers Toy Program Event Coordinator: We are starting to give out toys to families in December, to 300 families per day. Due to COVID 19 we are making some changes and are asking that donors have virtual toy drives this year. - There is a company called YOU GIVE GOODS and we have set up an account with them. The link is below and all you do is add in your name, company name, goal and hit launch. You can then send the link to all of your supporters and collect toys and the toys will be delivered to us. Here's the link: https://yougivegoods.com/start-a-new-drive?parent=12664
- You may also order toys from AMAZON or whichever store you choose and have them shipped to us. I have included a list of toy suggestions below.
- Toys can also be dropped off at any SF Fire Station. Here is a list of fire stations https://www.sffirefighterstoys.org/sf-fire-stations.html
Toys can be mailed to:
SF Firefighters Toy Program
2225 Jerrold Ave
San Francisco, CA 94124
Donation Suggestions - Ethnic Dolls - We believe in raising self-esteem and cultural awareness in our youth.
- Cultural Books- When children have the opportunity to see characters in books that they can relate to, it makes them feel good about themselves.
- Sports Items- Basketballs, Footballs, Kick-Balls, Soccer Balls, Tennis Racquets, and Tennis Balls
- Board Games and Puzzles - These give children a chance to play and interact with their friends
- Arts and Crafts Items- Jewelry Making Kits, Markers, Crafts Kits, Paints
- Gifts for Teens- Gift Cards
- Bicycles- We hold an annual Bike Day where over 300 kids receive bicycles.
- New Stuffed Animals
- Remote Control Cars
- Learning Toys
- Baby Toys and Baby supplies. Wet-wipes, rattles, baby blankets
| | | | The following prayer might be a good one to include as part of your familys' regular prayer life and is the perfect place to begin a discussion about inclusivity and diversity in all forms. Lord,
In a world forever shrinking,
I come face to face with people
who are different from me in every way .
Help me to see these people as my brothers and sisters
with the same need to belong, to create, to grow, to be free, to be loved
Dispel any fear I may have towards them,
and allow my arms and my heart to surround them
with acceptance and caring.
Amen With many blessings and good wishes, Marie | | | | | | | | |
