Dear Parents,
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, I want to say Thank You for being part of the St. Peter’s School family! I am proud to be part of our community as we continue to work through our challenges—both at home and in the school building—to teach our children to live and celebrate our core values to grow, accomplish, love, serve, and unite. I am grateful for your support towards this goal, especially during these uncertain times.
While we are thankful for all our blessings—like our families, our friends, and our homes, to name a few—let us also remember to pray for those who are in need, and for all who endure the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, let us offer this prayer (written by “Anonymous”):
O Heavenly Father:
We thank You for food and remember the hungry.
We thank You for health and remember the sick.
We thank You for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank You for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service,
That Your gifts to us may be used for others. AMEN.
Also—this Sunday marks the beginning of the ADVENT season. As this liturgical season approaches, begin thinking of ways that you and your child can prepare your hearts for the coming of Jesus at Christmas time!
Have a blessed, happy, and SAFE Thanksgiving!
--Mrs. Sandra Jimenez
THANKSGIVING BREAK
There is no school from Wednesday, November 25 – Friday, November 27 for the Thanksgiving break. In-person and distance learning classes will resume on Monday, November 30 with a regular schedule.
TRAVEL & HOLIDAY ADVISORY FROM SFDPH
As the holiday season approaches—a time when many people typically travel and spend time with additional family members and loved ones—the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) has published a Travel Advisory to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
As a reminder, non-essential travel outside of the bay area, including holiday travel, is not recommended. However, if you do choose to travel or host people who are travelling, SFDPH’s new Travel Advisory covers how to plan ahead, reduce your risk, and when to quarantine:
ENGLISH – https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/COVID-Travel-Advisory.pdf
SPANISH – https://www.sfdph.org/dph/files/ig/Translations/Travel-Advisory-Spanish.pdf
Additionally, please see the Bay Area Region’s Recommendations for Staying Safe from COVID-19 During the Holidays: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/covid-guidance/ABAHO-Winter-Holiday-Recommendations.pdf.
Remember, that the safest gathering is one that is:
small (no more than 3 households)
short (limit to 2 hours)
stable (do not participate in multiple gatherings with different households)
outdoors, with face coverings and distance
Please follow these recommendations to keep your family and your community safe!
TRIMESTER 2
This week marks the beginning of Trimester 2 of our school year. On Monday, November 30, report cards will be sent home. In-person students will receive hard (paper) copies of the report cards, and parents of distance learning students will receive a digital form of the report card via Class Dojo. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.
SCHOOL REOPENING
Our school building is reopen for in-person instruction for all grade levels. The first cohort (Cohort A) of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders has begun in-person instruction this week. Cohort B of 6th, 7th and 8th graders will begin on Monday, November 30. When cohorts are not in the school building, they will participate in distance learning at home. Middle Schoolers will rotate weekly between distance learning and in-person instruction.
Families who have chosen the Distance Learning option and have notified the school office will continue with full Distance Learning.
Please remember the adjusted staggered drop-off and pick-up schedule:
Drop-off times
- 7:45-7:55 - Last Names A - F
- 7:55-8:05 - Last Names G - O
- 8:05-8:15 - Last Names P – Z
* If an adult does not drop off the student, a parent must fill out a yellow health screening form at home, and the student must bring that completed form to school daily, each morning.
Grades K-2 Pick-up time
- 12:15 for Wednesdays and other Minimum Days
- 2:35 on Regular Days
Grades 3-5 Pick-up time
- 12:30 for Wednesdays and other Minimum Days
- 2:50 on Regular Days
Grades 6-8 Pick-up time
- 12:40 for Wednesdays and other Minimum Days
- 3:00 on Regular Days
* If there is a younger sibling in the family who dismisses earlier than the older sibling, the younger sibling may wait in his/her classroom until the older sibling is dismissed.
The BVCC After-School Program is currently full, but they are accepting names on their waitlist. Only full-time, pre-registered students in BVCC will be accepted for after-school care once school reopens. For questions regarding BVCC, please contact Rochelle at 415-713-0625 or Judy at 415-283-5545.
Remember that our Return to School Infection Mitigation Plan, as well as our Distance Learning Plan, are available on our school website: http://www.stpeterssf.org/parents-students.
For the safety of students, faculty, and staff, there are adjusted protocols and procedures during the school day. For a summary of school day procedures—including staggered drop-off and dismissal times and hygiene practices—click on this link: 2020-2021 Back-To-School Procedures
Plus—click on the links below to watch a short video to see examples of what the adapted school day will look like:
ENGLISH – https://youtu.be/lewjPbE58JE
SPANISH – https://youtu.be/N7BrbHSax7s
If you have any questions, please contact the school office. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
SCHOOL SUPPLIES and FORMS
As students return to the school building, they must submit all completed forms to their teacher:
- Emergency Card
- Medical Packet
- Media Release
- Technology Responsible Use Form
Once students come to school they will also receive the Community Pledge, Risk Acknowledgement Form, and Live-streaming of Classes Form, which are to be signed by parents and returned to school as well.
On Class Dojo, teachers will remind students about what school supplies to bring back in the building. For a complete list of school supplies, visit our school website at http://www.stpeterssf.org/parents-students
Due to COVID-19 precautions, it is important that all students bring in the necessary school supplies, since school supplies are not shared between students at this time.
TECHNOLOGY FEE
As stated on the school supply list, all students (whether in-person or distance learning) must submit a $25 Technology Fee to help cover the costs of online programs and tech devices. Payment may be submitted with cash or check, credit card payment over the phone, or through Venmo -- @SPeters-School. (Please remember to write your child’s name and “Technology Fee” in the comments.)
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
As we prepare for in-person instruction at school, we also need to UNITE and prepare our school uniforms!
If you’d like to purchase school uniform items (such as a uniform skirt or jumper) from Ruth’s Children’s Shoppe, please call Ruth’s to make an appointment: 415-468-4399 or 415-238-6356.
If you need to purchase a school uniform sweatshirt ($25), call the office at 415-647-8662 so we can prepare the sweatshirt. Please pick up the sweatshirt before your child returns to school.
Navy Blue khakis and plain white polo shirts may be purchased at stores such as Target, WalMart, and Old Navy.
Also--don’t forget that uniform shoes are solid black or solid white tennis shoes/sneakers. (No boots.)
If you have any questions, contact the school office. Thank you!
SCHOOL LUNCHES
The lunch calendar for October and November is available on our school website – just scroll down to “School Lunch Calendar” -- http://www.stpeterssf.org/parents-students
Please remember that students may bring in their lunch from home or order from school, but no outside lunch deliveries may be dropped off during the school day.
When your child returns to school, lunch orders will be taken from the classroom. Students should bring in their payment and will fill in the lunch slip in their classroom.
Younger students may bring in their payment in an envelope with their name and lunch order, and the teacher will collect that envelope.
Parents may also order lunches by 8:30 in the morning and pay via Venmo on our LUNCH ACCOUNT -- @StPeters-Lunch -- and write the student’s name and lunch order in the comments section.
TUITION AGREEMENTS
Tuition Payment Agreements (printed on bright green paper) were sent home in the mail. Please be sure to complete this form and send it back to school in the postage-paid envelope provided, as soon as possible. If you did not receive this form in the mail, please contact the school office.
FREE COVID-19 TESTING
For information about free COVID-19 testing in San Francisco, visit the website (available in both English and Spanish): https://sf.gov/es/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options
The Latino Task Force also has information about free COVID-19 testing, as well as a variety of other helpful resources such as food assistance and employment assistance. Visit their website at https://www.ltfrespuestalatina.com/
REMINDERS:
Nov. 25-27 No School--Thanksgiving Break
Nov. 29 First Sunday of Advent
Nov. 30 In-Person instruction begins for Grades 6-8, Cohort B
Nov. 30 Report Cards sent home
