540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
               908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    May 12, 2022
 

Dear Parents,

Tomorrow is the Feast of St. Mary Mazzarello, who, with St. John Bosco, co-founded the Salesian Sisters 150 years ago. We could never have imagined that those 15 women in northern Italy who became the first group of Salesian Sisters would give rise to the largest women’s religious order in the world, numbering over 12,000 Sisters in 90 countries today. Likewise, we have no idea how much the good we do today will impact our tomorrow. In the spirit of St. Mary Mazzarello, let us have a “big and generous heart” that does as much good as possible.

CARDIO DANCE WORKOUT
Join the Class of 2023 in their last Cardio Dance Workout tonight May 12. Classes are conducted by Crisanity Workout Team in our gym at 6:30PM. Proceeds from these classes benefit the Class of 2023.

SALESIAN YOUTH RALLY
As part of our 150^th Anniversary, the Salesian Sisters are hosting a Youth Rally for students in Grades 6-8 at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ, on Friday, May 13.

2021-2022 TUITION
At this time, all 2021-2022 tuition and fees should have been paid. If you still have an outstanding balance, please take care of this immediately, as next year’s registration can not be processed until all fees are satisfied.

RE-REGISTRATION FOR 2022-2023
Families who have not yet completed the 2022-2023 re-registration process are urged to do so as soon as possible. We are currently making staffing decisions and accepting new students. I do not want to inadvertently give your spot away to a new family if you intend to return to STS. Thank you for your prompt attention.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Join us for mini golf at 4:30 PM, followed by roller skating (6:00 PM) at our next Family Fun Night, Sunday, May 22, at the Woodbridge Community Center. All families must pre-register on our website. Walk-ins are not allowed.

FIRST COMMUNION
Congratulations to our students who will be making their First Communion either this Saturday, May 14, or next Saturday, May 21. May Jesus in the Eucharist be your strength!


SUPPORT THE CLASS OF 2023
The Class of 2023 will be sponsoring a restaurant night on Wednesday, May 18, at Tiff’s in Union. Please see the attached flyer for details. We hope to see you there!

SPRING BOOK FAIR
Our Spring Book Fair will take place the week of May 23. Summer reading lists will be available so that students can purchase their books and get a head start on their reading!

SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR INNER CITY CHILDREN
The deadline to apply for the SFIC tuition assistance has been extended to MAY 31, 2022. In order for families to qualify they must have submitted and COMPLETED the application online at https://sficnj.org/sfic-application-now-open/. If you believe you may qualify, and have not already submitted an application, please do so before May 31.

MAY CALENDAR REMINDERS
As this year comes racing toward the finish line, I just want to remind you that Friday, May 27, will be our Field Day, there is a noon dismissal with no After Care. We will return to school on Wednesday, June 1.


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033

                908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

May 5, 2022


Dear Parents,

Traditionally, the month of May is busy with activities and so many celebrations that it’s hard to keep up!  Amid the First Communions, Confirmations, Mothers’ Day, Memorial Day, etc., Salesian Schools throughout the world, celebrate 3 major Salesian Feasts – St. Dominic Savio (5/6), St. Mary Mazzarello (5/13), and Mary Help of Christians (5/24).
Dominic Savio was a student of St. John Bosco who learned from an early age that at Don Bosco’s school, holiness consisted in always being cheerful! St. Mary Mazzarello, a simple farming girl from Northern Italy, learned how to read and write at the age of 37, so that she could communicate with her Sisters who had already left for the missions of South America. 150 years ago, with St. John Bosco, she co-founded the Salesian Sisters, who today, number approximately 12,000 and are located in 90 different countries throughout the world. Amazingly, they even found their way to Kenilworth, NJ, and to St. Theresa School! Finally, Mary Help of Christians, our Mother, Teacher, and Guide, has led each one of us here to STS, at this moment in our history, to grow together as a Salesian family. As a united Family, we are a force to be reckoned with!
Let us entrust ourselves and our families to Mary Help of Christians, as we continue to support one another in our mission of challenging our students today and inspiring them to be faith-filled leaders tomorrow.
WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU!
We are pleased to welcome back Ms. Nancy Pakulski who had been out on medical leave. A special thank you to Mrs. Lynda Leo for stepping in and ensuring that our students continued to get a quality education in her absence. We are blessed to have these outstanding Catholic School Educators here at STS.
CARDIO DANCE WORKOUT
Join the Class of 2023 in a Cardio Dance Workout tonight May 5, and/or May 12. Classes will be conducted by Crisanity Workout Team in our gym at 6:30PM. Proceeds from these classes benefit the Class of 2023.
MISMATCH TAG DAY
Tomorrow is Mismatch Tag Day and Krispy Kreme Donut Day, sponsored by the Class of 2023. All orders have already been placed. Please remember that this is a Noon Dismissal as well.
YAY LUNCH!
Just a reminder that lunches for the week must be ordered by midnight Saturday.
SALESIAN YOUTH RALLY
As part of our 150^th Anniversary, the Salesian Sisters are hosting a Youth Rally for students in Grades 6-8 at Mary Help of Christians Academy in North Haledon, NJ, on Friday, May 13. Students have received permission slips today. Please return them to school by Wednesday, May 11.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Join us for mini golf at 4:30 PM, followed by roller skating (6:00 PM) at our next Family Fun Night, Sunday, May 21, at the Woodbridge Community Center. All families must pre-register on our website. Walk-ins are not allowed.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to 5^th graders Gabby M. and Joey N. for winning first and second place, respectively, in the 2022 Species on the Edge Art and Essay Contest, sponsored by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. The contest was open to all New Jersey 5^th grade students, and two winners were picked from each county. Congratulations!
SCHOLARSHIP FUND FOR INNER CITY CHILDREN
The deadline to apply for the SFIC tuition assistance has been extended to MAY 31, 2022. In order for families to qualify they must have submitted and COMPLETED the application online at https://sficnj.org/sfic-application-now-open/. If you believe you may qualify, and have not already submitted an application, please do so before May 31.
A TASTY WAY TO SUPPORT THE CLASS OF 2023
The Class of 2023 will be sponsoring two restaurant nights: Wednesday, May 18, at Tiff’s, and Friday, June 10, at the Stage House. More information will be coming.
Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
              908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

April 7, 2022

Dear Parents,

When I was young, it seemed like Lent would never end! Now, we are already beginning Holy Week….I guess I’m not young anymore!

EASTER EGG HUNT
Our Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny will take place this Sunday, April 10, rain or shine. All participants must be pre-registered.

SCHOOL MESSENGER
You should have all received a message Tuesday evening from our School Messenger System. If you did not hear from us, via phone, text, and email, please contact Maureen. If you have not opted into the text message feature, you can do so by texting “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587. See the attachment for more information. We will be doing another test run next Tuesday evening.

EASTER VACATION
Just a reminder that Easter Vacation begins for everyone on Wednesday, April 13, at 12:00 noon. There is NO After Care that day. School resumes on Monday, April 25.

YAY LUNCH!
Say Yay! We are excited to introduce our new lunchtime partner: Yay Lunch, where you can order nutritious versions of foods kids love. All meals are local, made fresh every morning and delivered directly to school. Sign up today for the latest information on your child’s lunch program. Yay Lunch will send you a reminder when menus and ordering go live. Get 50% off your first week with promo code WELCOME50 and never worry about lunch again!
The service will begin here at STS after Easter vacation, Monday, April 25, and it will run through the end of this current school year. If it is successful, we will adopt it for the next school year.

SCHOLARSHIP FOR INNER-CITY CHILDREN
If you have not yet applied for the 2022-2023 Scholarship, you can apply online at: https://sficnj.org/parent-student-portal/. Eligibility is based on family income. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2022. Applications are not complete if the required documents are not submitted. Families must apply for the SFIC award every year, regardless of whether they are currently receiving or have been past recipients of an award.

PROGRESS REPORTS
Third Trimester Progress Reports will be available next week. Please review your child’s grades with him/her to ensure that your child finishes the school year academically strong.
UPDATES FROM THE HSA
Please see the attachment for news and important updates.

FISH FRY
The Class of 2023 is sponsoring their second Fish Fry on Thursday, April 14. You can purchase tickets on our website. Orders must be placed online by April 10.

50/50 PARISH RAFFLE
If anyone is interested in participating in St. Theresa Church 50/50 Raffle, you can stop by school to purchase tickets, or send in your money and we will send you home the “winning” ticket! Tickets are $5 each and proceeds will go to the maintenance needs of the Parish, in particular to repairing the front steps of the Church.

ST. THERESA CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Information for children in grades 2-5 who would like to participate in the Children’s Choir for Easter has been sent home with the children. If you have any questions please call the Religious Education Office at 908-276-4681.

THANK YOU!
Please see the attached letter from our Salesian Sister’s Province Treasurer, Sr. Margaret. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to send $3,575 to help the people of the Ukraine.

MAY/JUNE CALENDARS
To help you plan ahead, I am attaching both the May and June calendars. Please note, that because we only used one snow day this year, we are able to take a longer Memorial Day Weekend, and also move up our last day of school to Tuesday, June 14.

Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

                 
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07     908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

March 31, 2022

Dear Parents,

I’m not sure how it happened – but here we are at the end of March!

FULL DAY OF SCHOOL
Just a reminder that tomorrow, April 1, is a full day of school (No, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke!).

EASTER EGG HUNT
Join us for our Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny on April 3 (rain date: April 10). More information and registration link are on our website at mysts.org. All participants must be pre-registered.

PIZZA DAY
Orders for next Friday’s pizza day (April 8) can be placed starting Friday.

PICTURE DAY
Spring pictures will be taken this Tuesday, April 5. Students may dress-down (or dress-up) for their pictures. Order forms/information was sent home last week.

THANK YOU!
Congratulations and thank you to our HSA and our parent volunteers who made our Tricky Tray a success! We have a few more expenses to pay, but we are pleased to announce that we made over $40,000! The money raised by the Home School helps us keep our tuition reasonable and also allows us to enhance our programs here at STS.

CONGRATULATIONS!
The Archdiocese of Newark will hold its Outstanding Catholic School Graduate Ceremony on Saturday, April 2. The Outstanding Graduate from St. Theresa School is Arielle Lopina!
On Sunday, April 3, the Archdiocese will hold its CYO Athletics Recognition Ceremony.  We are pleased to honor 8^th graders, Abby Han and Brandon Lissade, as well as adult volunteer, Danielle Han.  

SCHOOL MESSENGER
We will be using School Messenger as our notification system. We will use this to notify you in the event of an emergency, a school closure, or to remind you of important events. Please ensure that your information in Power School (phone number and email address) are current, as our notifications will be sent via phone message, email, and if you opt-in, texts as well. Please see the attached flyer to see how you can opt-in to the texting feature. We will have a test run of the system next Tuesday evening. If you have any questions, please contact Maureen.
FISH FRY
The Class of 2023 is sponsoring their second Fish Fry on Thursday, April 14. You can purchase tickets on our website. Orders must be placed online by April 10.

YAY LUNCH!
Say Yay! We are excited to introduce our new lunchtime partner: Yay Lunch, where you can order nutritious versions of foods kids love. All meals are local, made fresh every morning and delivered directly to school. Sign up today for the latest information on your child’s lunch program. Yay Lunch will send you a reminder when menus and ordering go live. Get 50% off your first week with promo code WELCOME50 and never worry about lunch again!

The service will begin here at STS after Easter vacation, Monday, April 25, and it will run through the end of this current school year. If it is successful, we will adopt it for the next school year.

SUMMER PROGRAM FOR PK STUDENTS
Our Summer Program for PK students has reached capacity. Thank you for your quick response!

 Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

                                                                                                                          540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                                   908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103


March 24, 2022

Dear Parents,

It’s Tricky Tray weekend! Please see the announcements for this week.

NOON DISMISSAL/NO AFTERCARE
To assist in the preparations of our Tricky Tray, tomorrow, March 25 is a noon dismissal for students, with NO After Care provided. Thank you for your understanding.

TRICKY TRAY
If you haven’t already done so, you can buy your Tricky Tray Tickets tomorrow in school, or at the door on Saturday. Purchase tickets, sign up for one of our ticket drop-off slots, and enjoy our Virtual Tricky Tray from the comfort of your own home! Please see our website for more information.

THANK YOU!
Last weekend I sent an email to our STS family asking for prayers for Ms. Pakulski who suffered a medical emergency last Friday. I am pleased to say that she is improving! Please continue to keep her in your prayers. In her absence, Mrs. Lynda Leo is teaching Ms. Pakulski’s classes. Welcome back, Mrs. Leo!

PIZZA DAY
Orders for next Friday’s pizza day (April 1) can be placed starting Monday.

EASTER EGG HUNT
Join us for our Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny on April 3 (rain date: April 10). More information and registration link are on our website at mysts.org. All participants must be pre-registered.

FISH FRY
The Class of 2023 is sponsoring their second Fish Fry on Thursday, April 14. You can purchase tickets on our website. Orders must be placed online by April 10.

YAY LUNCH!
Say Yay! We are excited to introduce our new lunchtime partner: Yay Lunch, where you can order nutritious versions of foods kids love. All meals are local, made fresh every morning and delivered directly to school. Sign up today for the latest information on your child’s lunch program. Yay Lunch will send you a reminder when menus and ordering go live. Get 50% off your first week with promo code WELCOME50 and never worry about lunch again!
The service will begin here at STS after Easter vacation, Monday, April 25, and it will run through the end of this current school year. If it is successful, we will adopt it for the next school year.

SUMMER PROGRAM FOR PK STUDENTS
Our Summer Program for PK students has reached capacity. Thank you for your quick response!

 Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

                                                                                                             540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                  908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

March 10, 2022

Dear Parents,

I hope your Lent has gotten off to a good start! Please see the announcements for this week.

HELP FOR THE UKRAINE
Thank you so much! As of now, we have collected over $2,500 for the people of the Ukraine. Tomorrow is the last day to send in donations. This money will be wired directly to our Salesian Sisters in Poland to assist in their relief efforts for the Ukrainian people.

REPORT CARDS
Report cards for grades K-8 will be published tomorrow, March 11. You can access your child’s grades on Power School.

CANDY SALE
If you have not already done so, please send in your candy money. The money was due last Friday, March 4. Thank you.

TRICKY TRAY NEEDS YOU!
Tickets are now available for our biggest fundraiser of the year! Purchase tickets, sign up for one of our ticket drop-off slots, and enjoy our Virtual Tricky Tray from the comfort of your own home! Please see our website for more information.
At this time, all family basket or monetary donations should have been sent to the Office. If you have not done so, please send it in immediately.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FOR TEACHERS
Just a reminder that there is no school this Monday, March 14, so that teachers can attend a Professional Development Day.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Students are invited to wear green next Thursday to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

GARDENING CLUB
Our Gardening Club – Junior and Senior divisions – will start on Thursday, March 31. Hopefully, by then, the weather will be cooperative! Permission slips will be sent home next week. Students from grades K-8 are eligible for this club.

YAY LUNCH!
We are pleased to be piloting a new lunch program here at STS called “Yay Lunch!”. This service will work with local vendors to provide lunches for interested students. The service will begin after Easter vacation, Monday, April 25, and it will run through the end of this current school year. If it is successful, we will adopt it for the next school year. We will be sending you more information, however, please feel free to visit their website at www.yaylunch.com.

Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal


      

                                                                                     
                                                                                                                    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                                        908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

March 3, 2022

Dear Parents,

Our attention this month turns to the Liturgical Season of Lent which began yesterday, Ash Wednesday. During Lent, we are asked to devote ourselves to seeking the Lord in prayer and reading Scripture, to service by giving alms, and to sacrifice by self-control through fasting. For some, Lent is a great time to start a diet or give up a bad habit, but what if our fasting were more about relationships, and less about food? What if our prayer sounding something like this:

Heavenly Father,
As I continue my Lenten journey, guide me to the path that leads to you. Fill my heart with gratitude, patience, strength, and peace as I strive to become the-best-version-of-myself, honestly admitting my shortcomings and sins.
As I renew my resolve each day to become a better person, let me hear your voice in the deepest reaches of my heart. Give me rest in you.
Help me to accept others, showing them your great love instead of casting judgment.
Stay with me through the busy days this week and remind me that when I need comfort, solitude, wisdom, or guidance, I can always turn to you.
Help me develop discipline and generosity through fasting and almsgiving and come closer to you through prayer this Lent. In your name I pray,
Amen.                                                                                                             (dynamiccatholic.com)

May this Season of Lent bring you great peace as we prepare for the Resurrection of our Savior.

PIZZA LUNCH FOR A CAUSE
As we are all watching the disaster in the Ukraine unfold and praying for the people, we want to provide concrete help. All proceeds from our Pizza Lunch on Friday, March 11, will be to help the people of the Ukraine. Both the Salesian Priests and Sisters have communities in the Ukraine, as well as in Belarus, Slovakia, Poland, and Russia. Our Sisters are working directly with the thousands of Ukrainians who are fleeing their homes in search of safety during this war. Your pizza money will go directly to our Sisters in Poland and the Ukraine to assist in these efforts. If you would like to contribute more than just the price of lunch, please feel free to do so when ordering pizza, or send in your donation to the Office. If you’d like more information on how our Salesian Sisters are helping, please follow this link. Italy – From the FMA Communities of Ukraine (infoans.org). I am also attaching the latest update we have received regarding the work our Sisters are doing in the Ukraine and Poland at this time.

POWER SCHOOL
Power School will be unavailable until report cards are published on Friday, March 11. If you have any questions, please contact Maureen.
FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Thank you to our HSA for organizing our Family Fun Ice Skating Night last week. Everyone had a great time! Our next Family Fun Night is scheduled for later this spring.

HSA MEETING
All are invited to attend our next meeting, on Wednesday, March 9, at 7:00PM in the Cafeteria. Find out how you can become more involved at STS.
  
TRICKY TRAY NEEDS YOU!
Tickets are now available for our biggest fundraiser of the year! Purchase tickets, sign up for one of our ticket drop-off slots, and enjoy our Virtual Tricky Tray from the comfort of your own home! Please see our website for more information.
At this time, all family basket or monetary donations should have been sent to the Office. If you have not done so, please send it in immediately.

SAVE THE DATE
The Easter Bunny is coming to STS! Please see the attached flyer for details.

KINDNESS COUNTS CLUB
We have had an overwhelming response to our Kindness Counts Club. At this time, registration for this club is closed.

PRETZEL TAG DAY
Tomorrow, March 4, is Pretzel Tag Day to benefit the Class of 2023. Please bring in $2 if you plan on dressing down and enjoying a pretzel. This is also a noon dismissal day!

CHOCOLATE SALE
All money for our Candy Sale must be in tomorrow, March 4. Thank you for your participation in our school chocolate sale. Many of you went “above and beyond”, and all sales benefit our school.

MASK OPTIONAL
In compliance with State and Archdiocesan guidelines, St. Theresa School will be mask-optional beginning Monday, March 7. Please speak with your child regarding your expectations.

SOME HANDBOOK REMINDERS
Now that the third trimester is about to begin, I want to remind you of the school policy regarding arriving to school on time. We have an unusually high number of students who arrive late to school every day. While we have been lenient with this policy during the first two trimesters, please be aware that this policy will be enforced, as of the beginning of the third trimester, Monday, March 7. Page 5 of the K-8 Parent Handbook reads:
Any student who is not in the school building by 8:00 AM is considered late.  The student is then required to enter through the school main office door, receive a late slip and report directly to class.  The teacher will receive the slip and keep it on file.  When a student (K-8) is tardy 3 times in one trimester, he/she will receive a detention.  Should a student not attend their assigned detention, he/she will receive a lunch/recess detention.

Another policy that the teachers have asked me to remind you of is the Uniform Policy, found on pages 20-23 of the Handbook. Please review it to ensure that your child is in compliance.



YAY LUNCH!
We are pleased to be piloting a new lunch program here at STS called “Yay Lunch!”. This service will work with local vendors to provide lunches for interested students. The service will begin after Easter vacation, Monday, April 25, and it will run through the end of this current school year. If it is successful, we will adopt it for the next school year. We will be sending you more information, however, please feel free to visit their website at www.yaylunch.com.


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

                                                                                                                                      540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                                                   908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

February 24, 2022

Dear Parents,

I hope you are having a great day! Please see the following announcements for this week.

WEATHER ALERT
Due to the prediction of freezing rain, sleet and icy conditions, there will be NO SCHOOL tomorrow, February 25. We are making this decision early so that you will have time to plan alternate childcare arrangements. Thank you for your understanding, and please stay safe!

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Assuming our weather is all cleared up by Friday evening, Family Fun Night is here! Come, join us at the Union Sports Arena on Friday, February 25, for a Family Fun Night of Skating! Please see our website for more information and to sign up for this event.

NED’S MINDSET MISSION
Collectible yo-yo’s from Ned’s Mindset Mission are still available in the office for anyone who would like to purchase one.

TRICKY TRAY NEEDS YOU!
Tickets are now available for our biggest fundraiser of the year! Purchase tickets, sign up for one of our ticket drop-off slots, and enjoy our Virtual Tricky Tray from the comfort of your own home! Please see our website for more information.

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
This Spring will see the return of our After School Clubs. Chess, Gardening, Newspaper, JSA’s, Homework, and Kindness Counts clubs are scheduled throughout the week for different grade levels. Permission slips for some clubs have already been distributed; others will be sent out next week. Attached to this letter is the permission slip for the Kindness Counts Club that is geared toward children in grades K-2.

CHOCOLATE SALE
Thank you for your participation in our school chocolate sale. Many of you went “above and beyond”, and all sales benefit our school. If you haven’t sent in your money, please do so as soon as possible.

PIZZA LUNCHES
We will be increasing the frequency of our Pizza Lunches during the month of March to facilitate the Church’s practice of not eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. As always, pizza can be ordered on our website.

YAY LUNCH!
We are pleased to be piloting a new lunch program here at STS called “Yay Lunch!”. This service will work with local vendors to provide lunches for interested students. The service will begin after Easter vacation, Monday, April 25, and it will run through the end of this current school year. If it is successful, we will adopt it for the next school year. We will be sending you more information, however, please feel free to visit their website at www.yaylunch.com.

SOME HANDBOOK REMINDERS
Now that the third trimester is about to begin, I want to remind you of the school policy regarding arriving to school on time. We have an unusually high number of students who arrive late to school every day. While we have been lenient with this policy during the first two trimesters, please be aware that this policy will be enforced, as of the beginning of the third trimester, Monday, March 7. Page 5 of the K-8 Parent Handbook reads:
Any student who is not in the school building by 8:00 AM is considered late.  The student is then required to enter through the school main office door, receive a late slip and report directly to class.  The teacher will receive the slip and keep it on file.  When a student (K-8) is tardy 3 times in one trimester, he/she will receive a detention.  Should a student not attend their assigned detention, he/she will receive a lunch/recess detention.

Another policy that the teachers have asked me to remind you of is the Uniform Policy, found on pages 20-23 of the Handbook. Please review it to ensure that your child is in compliance.

FISH FRY
Tomorrow, February 25, is the last day for online ticket orders to our Lenten Fish Fry. Please see our website for details.

PRETZEL TAG DAY
Friday, March 4, is Pretzel Tag Day to benefit the Class of 2023. Please bring in $2 if you plan on dressing down and enjoying a pretzel. This is also a noon dismissal day!


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

                                                                                                                                        540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

February 17, 2022

Dear Parents,

I hope you are having a great day! Please see the following announcements for this week.

PRETZEL TAG DAY
Tomorrow is Pretzel Tag Day to benefit the Class of 2023. Please bring in $2 if you plan on dressing down and enjoying a pretzel. This is a FULL day of school.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Just one week until our next Family Fun Night! Come, join us at the Union Sports Arena on Friday, February 25, for a Family Fun Night of Skating! Please see our website for more information and to sign up for this event.

NED’S MINDSET MISSION
On Tuesday, February 22, we will be hosting Ned’s Mindset Mission. This live streaming event will help students “activate their growth mindset to overcome social, emotional and academic challenges”. You will be receiving a flyer with more information on the show and on the opportunity to purchase collectible yo-yos if you wish to do so.

TRICKY TRAY INFORMATION PACKET
You should have all received a Tricky Tray Information Packet this week which provides information on tickets and volunteer opportunities. Please help us make this an event to remember!    

AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Information concerning our Homework Club is included in this mailing.  Look for information next week concerning other After School Club possibilities.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Archdiocese of Newark offers assistance to families wishing to provide a Catholic school education for their child(ren).  The application period for the 2022-2023 school year is now available at https://www.sficnj.org/parent-student-portal. The application may only be filled out and submitted on-line and will be considered complete once ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS are submitted. Applications and required financial documents must be received by the deadline date of April 30, 2022, in order to be considered.

Families who have received financial assistance in the past must re-apply each year (you should get a link emailed to you directly from SFIC).

MARCH CALENDAR
Please review our updated March calendar, included in this mailing. 
UPDATED COVID PROTOCOLS
By this time, you should all be in receipt of the letter from Msgr. Thomas McDade, our Superintendent, regarding optional mask wearing once the State mandate is lifted on March 7. For some of you, this is welcomed and long-overdue; for others, this is a source of concern and may seem premature. Please speak to your child about your expectations for him/her in this regard, as well as our expectation that everyone’s decision be respected.

As a reminder, here are our new isolation and quarantine protocols:

Isolation
Anyone who tests positive for COVID or has symptoms of the virus should stay home for at least five full days after symptoms begin or after a positive test – even if they have no symptoms. (One important note: The day of the test or the first day of symptoms counts as “day 0”; the five full days begin after that.)
The individual may return to school on the 6th day and must be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours and other symptoms must improve.
Isolation guidelines apply regardless of vaccination status.

Quarantine
Those who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID during the isolation period may need to quarantine.
Anyone in quarantine should stay home and away from other people for at least five days (day 0 through day 5) after their exposure. The date of the exposure is considered day 0.
Individuals who develop COVID symptoms while in quarantine should get tested and follow isolation recommendations.
The individual may return to school on the 6th day and must be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours and symptoms must improve.

An individual who is fully vaccinated and has no symptoms OR an individual who has clinically recovered from COVID-19 in the previous 90 days, would not need to be excluded from school

Travel
At this time, St. Theresa School will no longer require students to quarantine after travel. As always, parents are asked to monitor for symptoms, and are reminded that STS discourages travel that will take students away from school for any length of time.


COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us.


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
                          

                                                                           
                                                                                                                   540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                                                                                                        908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

February 11, 2022

Dear Parents,

I hope you are having a great day! Please see the following announcements for this week.

VALENTINE’S DAY DRESS DOWN
Students are invited to dress down Monday, February 14, for Valentine's Day. Let’s see how much red, pink and/or white we can wear!

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Just two weeks until our next Family Fun Night! Come, join us at the Union Sports Arena on Friday, February 25, for a Family Fun Night of Skating! Please see our website for more information and to sign up for this event.

CANDY SALE
Our traditional candy sale has begun! Your child has come home with a box of chocolate. All families are expected to participate. If you need more, contact the office!

TRICKY TRAY BASKETS DUE
Thank you to those families who have sent in their Tricky Tray baskets/monetary donations. If you have not already done so, please send in your Tricky Tray Gift basket, or your $125 donation, as soon as possible. They were due last Friday, February 4. This goes a long way in making this event a huge success. You can create one basket at a retail value of $125, or 2 or 3 smaller baskets. If you need ideas or have questions, please email HSA@mysts.org.

TRICKY TRAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The HSA needs volunteers for Tricky Tray! There are opportunities to help in the preparations, as well as the day of the event. Opportunities are starting now!
The week after the Tricky Tray, there will be a special raffle for everyone who volunteered for this major event. Thank you for your help!

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Archdiocese of Newark offers assistance to families wishing to provide a Catholic school education for their child(ren).  The application period for the 2022-2023 school year is now available at https://www.sficnj.org/parent-student-portal. The application may only be filled out and submitted on-line and will be considered complete once ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS are submitted. Applications and required financial documents must be received by the deadline date of April 30, 2022, in order to be considered.

Families who have received financial assistance in the past must re-apply each year (you should get a link emailed to you directly from SFIC).

UPDATED COVID PROTOCOLS
Last month I said we would wait to accept the CDC’s updated isolation and quarantine guidance for schools until Covid numbers decreased in our area. Effective immediately, we will
align our health protocols to the NJDOH’s new, shorter time frames for isolation
and quarantine (published 1/10/22). Please note that isolation protocols apply to those who test positive or have symptoms. Quarantine is for close contact situations.

Isolation
Anyone who tests positive for COVID or has symptoms of the virus should stay home for at least five full days after symptoms begin or after a positive test – even if they have no symptoms. (One important note: The day of the test or the first day of symptoms counts as “day 0”; the five full days begin after that.)
The individual may return to school on the 6th day and must be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours and other symptoms must improve.
Isolation guidelines apply regardless of vaccination status.

Quarantine
Those who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID during the isolation period may need to quarantine.
Anyone in quarantine should stay home and away from other people for at least five days (day 0 through day 5) after their exposure. The date of the exposure is considered day 0.
Individuals who develop COVID symptoms while in quarantine should get tested and follow isolation recommendations.
The individual may return to school on the 6th day and must be fever-free without fever-reducing medication for at least 24 hours and symptoms must improve.

An individual would not be excluded from school if the individual is fully vaccinated and has no symptoms OR tested positive for COVID-19 using a viral test and clinically recovered from COVID-19 in the previous 90 days.

Travel
At this time, St. Theresa School will no longer require students to quarantine after travel. As always, parents are asked to monitor for symptoms, and are reminded that STS discourages travel that will take students away from school for any length of time.

Masks
I cannot make a statement at this time regarding our mask policy, until the Archdiocese of Newark sends us their directives. As soon as I know, I will pass that information along to you.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us.


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

                                                                         
                                                                                                540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                                                                                               908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

February 3, 2022

Dear Parents,

Catholic Schools Week 2022 has been a true celebration of the Faith, Excellence and Service that make Catholic Schools unique and vital for the future of society and of the Church. Thank you for your support and your commitment to Catholic education here at STS.

RE-REGISTRATION
While re-registration for the 2022-2023 school year is ongoing, this “priority registration” period ends this Friday, February 4. Anyone registering by this date will receive a $25.00 deduction from their Registration Fee (deduction applied to first month’s tuition).
This is a great time to invite your friends, neighbors, and family members to consider sending their children to STS. New student registration began on Monday, January 31. If you have any questions, please call Maureen.

TRICKY TRAY BASKETS DUE
Gift baskets, or your $125 donation, is due this Friday, February 4. This is part of your Parent Commitment that you signed, and it goes a long way in making this event a huge success. You can create one basket at a retail value of $125, or 2 or 3 smaller baskets. If you need ideas or have questions, please email HSA@mysts.org.

TRICKY TRAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The HSA needs volunteers for Tricky Tray! There are opportunities to help in the preparations, as well as the day of the event. Opportunities are starting now! Please follow the link to sign up for specific dates and times.
The week after the Tricky Tray, there will be a special raffle for everyone who volunteered for this major event. Thank you for your help!

MORNING DROP-OFF
If we are to continue with Morning Drop-off, we will need volunteers. Please refer to the email that was sent to you last week or contact the Office to find out how you can volunteer.

CANDY SALE
We will be starting our traditional candy sale next week. All families are expected to participate. Please see the flyer for more information.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
Come join us at the Union Sports Arena on Friday, February 25, for a Family Fun Night of Skating! Please see the attached flyer and sign up on our website.



PIZZA WITH A PURPOSE
Stop by the California Pizza Kitchen in Short Hills Mall on Monday, February 7, enjoy a meal and support our 7^th Graders (Class of 2023). Take-out orders count too! The flyer can be found on our website.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us.

PLANNING AHEAD
We are pleased to announce that we will once again have our two-week summer program for PK3 and PK4 students who may be interested. The program will run from June13 – June 24. We will send more details later in the Spring.

HAPPY 150TH
The Salesian Sisters (also known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) are celebrating our 150^th Anniversary this year. On August 5, 1872, St. Mary Mazzarello and 11 other young women became the first Salesian Sisters in an obscure village in northern Italy. 150 years later we are over 12,000 Sisters ministering in over 80 countries throughout the world, even here in Kenilworth, NJ! You may notice a beautiful banner hanging in the front of the school commemorating this event and reminding us that Mary (Help of Christians) walks among us here at STS.

Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!
                                                                                                                                         

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

January 27, 2022

Dear Parents,

This year, our in-school celebration of Catholic Schools Week begins with the Feast of St. John Bosco, Founder of the Salesian Priests, Brothers, and Sisters. St. John Bosco knew that the Catholic education of the young was vital for the future of society and of the Church. Here at St. Theresa School we believe that we are building a brighter future because each day we see your children growing and developing into compassionate, self-confident and self-giving members of our community. Thank you for partnering with us and we hope you enjoy Catholic Schools Week at home as much as we plan on enjoying it here at school!

RE-REGISTRATION
While re-registration for the 2022-2023 school year is ongoing, this “priority registration” period ends on Friday, February 4. Anyone registering by this date will receive a $25.00 deduction from their Registration Fee (deduction applied to first month’s tuition).
This is a great time to invite your friends, neighbors, and family members to consider sending their children to STS. We will begin accepting new families on Monday, January 31. If you have any questions, please call Maureen.

TOURS FOR PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES
Once again, we will be conducting school tours for prospective families by appointment only. Tours will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, February 1 and 2, from 6:30-8:00pm, or Saturday, February 5, 9:00-11:00am. Prospective families can call the office to schedule their tour during these times, or to find another date and time that is mutually convenient.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK EVENTS
The National celebration of Catholic Schools Week will take place January 30-February 4, 2022.
Please see the attached schedule for details.

GIVE THE GIFT OF WARMTH
As part of our Catholic Schools Week celebrations, we will be collecting new hats, scarves, and gloves to be given to Mercy House. We have begun collecting items which will culminate in our “Crazy Socks, Hats, and Hair Day” on Thursday, February 3.

TRICKY TRAY BASKETS DUE
Gift baskets, or your $125 donation, is due next Friday, February 4. This is part of your Parent Commitment that you signed and it goes a long way in making this event a huge success. You can create one basket at a retail value of $125, or 2 or 3 smaller baskets. If you need ideas or have questions, please email HSA@mysts.org.



TRICKY TRAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The HSA needs volunteers for Tricky Tray! There are opportunities to help in the preparations, as well as the day of the event. Opportunities are starting now! Please follow the link to sign up for specific dates and times.
The week after the Tricky Tray, there will be a special raffle for everyone who volunteered for this major event. Thank you for your help!

MORNING DROP-OFF
The response to our call for volunteers for Our Morning Drop-Off has been a great help, but more volunteers are still needed to maintain and expand our services. Information on this volunteer opportunity was emailed to you on Tuesday.
We would also ask that all parents of students in grades 3-8 use the Drop-Off service, rather than park their cars and allow children to walk through the active Drop-Off line.
Also, a reminder from our Crossing Guard: the front of the school is a drop-off and go zone. There should be no parking in front of the school.

PIZZA WITH A PURPOSE
Stop by the California Pizza Kitchen in Short Hills Mall on Monday, February 7, enjoy a meal and support our 7^th Graders (Class of 2023). Take-out orders count too! The flyer is attached; however, it can also be found on our website.

FISH FRY
The Class of 2023 will be hosting a Fish Fry and both Ash Wednesday, March 2, and Holy Thursday, April 14. Please see the attached flyer for more information. Tickets can be purchased on our website.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us.

PLANNING AHEAD
We are pleased to announce that we will once again have our two-week summer program for PK3 and PK4 students who may be interested. The program will run from June13 – June 24. We will send more details later in the Spring.


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

                 
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                    908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

January 20, 2022

Dear Parents,

The month of January is full of Salesian celebrations. As a Salesian School that means it’s time to celebrate our spiritual heritage here at St. Theresa School! January 22 is the feast of Blessed Laura Vicuna, a student at a Salesian Sisters school in Argentina, who died at the age of 12, offering her life for her mother’s safety. January 24 is the feast of St. Francis de Sales. His gentleness, kindness, and his belief that everyone is called to be holy, were the inspiration for our Founder, St. John Bosco (Don Bosco), whose feast is January 31. It is his spirituality of joy, optimism and hope that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus, lived in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life that distinguishes us from other Catholic Schools and gives life to everything we do here at STS.

RE-REGISTRATION
Re-registration for the 2022-2023 school year has begun. If you have any questions, please call Maureen. This is a great time to invite your friends, neighbors, and family members to consider sending their children to STS.

MORNING DROP-OFF
Our Morning Drop-Off has gotten off to a good start. But we need volunteers to maintain and expand our services. If you’d like to volunteer, please let us know.

PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress Reports for the second trimester will be available on Friday, January 21. Once you review them, please contact your child’s teacher for any concerns or clarifications you might need.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Our “Coffee and Conversation with the Principal” for parents in grades PK-3 was a great success. I am looking forward to meeting with parents in grades 5-8 next Wednesday, January 26. For your convenience, you can choose the morning session at 8:15AM, or the evening session at 7:00PM. All meetings will be held in the cafeteria, and I anticipate them to be about an hour long. This is an opportunity for me to meet you, to listen to your hopes and dreams for your children and for St. Theresa School, and to plan together for the future. Please let Maureen know if you will be able to make it.

GIVE THE GIFT OF WARMTH
As part of our Catholic Schools Week celebrations, we will be collecting new hats, scarves, and gloves to be given to Mercy House. We will begin collecting items for the next two weeks, culminating in our “Crazy Socks, Hats, and Hair Day” on Thursday, February 3.


CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK (CSW) IS COMING!
The National celebration of Catholic Schools Week will take place January 30-February 4, 2022.
Here are a few of the activities we have planned:
Monday – Feast of St. John Bosco School Mass and Bosco Bingo
Tuesday – Get Up and Dance Day
Wednesday – STS Kahoot (older students); Author Visit (PK-2)
Thursday – Crazy Socks, Hats and Hair Day! Donate new hats, scarves and gloves for a local charity and get the opportunity to go “crazy”.
Friday – Pajamas, Pretzels, and a Movie. NOON DISMISSAL.
   Faculty Appreciation Luncheon –
This is the week that we traditionally thank our Faculty and Staff for the amazing ministry they carry out on behalf of our students!

TRICKY TRAY
Tricky Tray is Saturday, March 26. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we count on each of you to make Tricky Tray 2022 a huge success!
Gift baskets, or your $125 donation, is due on Friday, February 4. Information on how you can volunteer for this event will be available soon.

FEBRUARY CALENDAR
The February calendar is included with this letter.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us.

PLANNING AHEAD
We are pleased to announce that we will once again have our two-week summer program for PK3 and PK4 students who may be interested. The program will run from June13 – June 24. We will send more details later in the Spring.


Have a wonderful weekend.
God bless!


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

             
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                    908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

December 16, 2021

Dear Parents,

As we approach Christmas, I wish you all the joys and blessings that the birth of the Christ Child brings. Christmas is the feast of God’s love made visible! May our dealings with one another, our time spent with family and friends, make God’s love more visible in a world so much in need of the peace and joy that the Christ Child came to bring.
                                                                                                                                                           
CHRISTMAS SHOP
Our Christmas Shop continues tomorrow. Children have the opportunity to shop during the school day, however, if parents prefer to shop with their children after school, the Shop will be open to 4:00 PM.

NO AFTER CARE
Christmas vacation begins for everyone at 12:00 Noon next Wednesday, December 22. There is NO After Care that day.

JANUARY CALENDAR
The January calendar is included in this week’s mailing. Please note that our “half day faculty meeting” takes place on January 14 (the second Friday of the month).

LUNCH
Since Pizza Lunch is so popular, we’ve decided to add another lunch day – stay tuned for menu choices.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
I will be hosting “Coffee and Conversation with the Principal” during the month of January. This would be an opportunity for me to meet you, to listen to your hopes and dreams for your children and for St. Theresa School, and to plan together for the future. Please consult the January calendar for grade levels and for dates and times.

FAMILY FUN NIGHT
January’s Family Fun Night will take place on Saturday, January 22, at the AMC Theater in Mountainside. We will reserve the entire theater for ourselves. Sing 2 will be the featured movie, starting at 7:00pm. More information will be sent home in January.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - SAVE THE DATE
The opening of Catholic Schools Week at St. Theresa’s is Saturday, January 30, 2022, at the 5:30 PM Mass, followed by Open House. Please make every effort to attend. More Catholic Schools Week information will follow.


PARKING LOT CHANGES
As you know, we have been looking into both our Morning Drop Off and Afternoon Pick Up procedures. Effective Monday, January 3, 2022, we will re-instate our Drop Off line for students who currently enter from the parking lot door. Parent volunteers will be in the parking lot to assist your children out of your cars and into the school building. Families who have children in multiple grades may use the door that is assigned to their youngest child. For example, a family with a 7^th grader and a 1^st grader, may use the front door for both children. If you’d like to volunteer for Drop Off, please let us know. More detailed information regarding both morning and afternoon procedures is being sent to you from the “Parking Lot Committee”.  I want to thank all of you for your anticipated cooperation.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us. It does make a difference in the self-quarantining guidelines.

TRAVEL POLICY
Please keep our quarantining policy handy as you plan for Christmas. While it may be inconvenient, our protocol is meant to keep everyone healthy and safe. Thank you for your cooperation.
Domestic and international travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if they test negative. If testing is not completed post-travel, individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days. International travelers who are fully vaccinated should also get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, self-monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if symptoms develop. For those traveling to/from New Jersey, domestic travel is defined as lasting 24 hours or longer to states or U.S. territories other than those connected to New Jersey, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Be sure that all of you are in my prayers this Christmas. Merry Christmas!
May 2022 be a year of health, happiness, and holiness for all of you and your families.
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

                                                             
                                                                                                 540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103
December 2, 2021

Dear Parents,

It’s that time of year again! No matter how organized or “ahead of the game” we may be, there never seems to be enough time to do everything that needs to get done. Shopping, baking cookies, wrapping presents, hanging decorations, and much, much more are all part of our Christmas preparations, but these activities can become stressful and chaotic, easily distracting us from what Christmas is really all about. Aware of this reality, the Catholic Church gifts us with a four-week period, called Advent, which helps us prepare for the birth of the Christ Child. It’s important that we step back from time to time and take another look at who we are, and what we’re doing. It’s for that reason that the Church invites us, at this busy time of year, to stop and experience a time like Advent so we really can step back and reconsider where we are, and where God is in our lives. May this Advent be a time of grace for you and your families.

LUNCH
Some of you may have heard that we had lunch in our classrooms this week. There was nothing wrong, but out of an abundance of caution after the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought it best to limit the time classes could mingle with each other indoors without masks, as in the cafeteria. We will do the same thing the week after Christmas vacation.

CONTACT INFORMATION
With cold weather upon us I would ask you to make sure we have all of your current contact information in our system (SMART, Brightwheel and/or Power School). We are in the process of getting an Instant Messenger System that will interface with Power School, but in the meantime, in case of inclement weather, please check your emails.

TOYS FOR TOTS
We are once again participating in the Toys for Tots program. If you would like to participate, you can bring new toys to school (or send them in with your child) by Tuesday, December 8. We will then send them to the Kenilworth Fire Department which is a drop-off location for the program.
 
NOON DISMISSAL/TAG DAY
Tomorrow, December 3, we will have a noon dismissal. The 8^th grade will also be sponsoring a Tag Day. Anyone wishing to wear their own clothes may pay $1 to do so. (No pretzels tomorrow!)

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
Christmas is full of surprises for young (and not so young) children. Help surprise your child by participating in Parents’ Night Out, December 3, from 5:30pm-8:00pm. You can sign up on our website. If you can’t make it to decorate Friday night, don’t worry, you’ll have the chance to “undecorate” the school in January!

PICTURES WITH SANTA
Santa will be here on Sunday, December 5, to have his picture taken with your child! Avoid the crowds and help our Food Pantry at the same time Families must be pre-registered to participate.

SANTA HAT DAY
All students are invited to wear their Santa Hats to school on Monday, December 6, Feast of St. Nicholas. This is not a Tag Day; regular (or PE) uniform is to be worn with the Santa Hat.

REPORT CARDS
Your child’s report card will be available on Power School on Tuesday, December 7. PK 4 children will receive a paper report card on that day; PK 3 students do not receive report cards.

PARENT CONFERENCES
Friday, December 10, from 8:00AM – Noon, is reserved for parent conferences. Those parents who would like to meet with their child’s teacher are asked to contact the teacher to set up an appointment. To facilitate these meetings, there is NO SCHOOL for students that day.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us. It does make a difference in the self-quarantining guidelines.

TRAVEL POLICY
Please keep our quarantining policy handy as you plan for Christmas. While it may be inconvenient, our protocol is meant to keep everyone healthy and safe. Thank you for your cooperation.
Domestic and international travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if they test negative. If testing is not completed post-travel, individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days. International travelers who are fully vaccinated should also get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, self-monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if symptoms develop. For those traveling to/from New Jersey, domestic travel is defined as lasting 24 hours or longer to states or U.S. territories other than those connected to New Jersey, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware.

Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

      
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
    908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

                                                                                                                                                                                                             November 18, 2021
Dear Parents,
This is the last “regular” Thursday folder before Thanksgiving. As I count my blessings this year, please know that you and your families are high on my list of people I thank God for! May you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

PIZZA LUNCH
Tomorrow, November 19, we will have our first pizza lunch of the year. To plan appropriately, orders were due yesterday. We cannot accept “walk ins” at this time.

DISMISSAL
While we are working to revise our dismissal times and procedures, you can help keep everyone safe: please do not allow your children to play in the parking lot. Children have been playing basketball, running in between cars, and crossing in front of moving cars. I am sure that you would not allow your children to run through the Acme parking lot, please use the same caution here at STS.

COVID VACCINE
If your child is fully vaccinated, please send documentation to our Health Office. We encourage parents to share that information with us. It does make a difference in the self-quarantining guidelines.

A REMINDER
I haven’t said this for a few weeks, but with Thanksgiving upon us…
Domestic and international travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if they test negative. If testing is not completed post-travel, individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days. International travelers who are fully vaccinated should also get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, self-monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if symptoms develop. For those traveling to/from New Jersey, domestic travel is defined as lasting 24 hours or longer to states or U.S. territories other than those connected to New Jersey, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware.

TOYS FOR TOTS
We will once again be participating in the Toys for Tots program. If you would like to participate, you can bring new toys to school (or send them in with your child) December 1-8. We will then send them to the Kenilworth Fire Department which is a drop-off location for the program.
 
PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT
Christmas is full of surprises for young (and not so young) children. Help surprise your child by participating in Parents’ Night Out, December 3, from 5:30pm-8:00pm. Please see the attached flyer for more information and to sign-up.

PICTURES WITH SANTA
Santa will be here on Sunday, December 5, to have his picture taken with your child! Avoid the crowds and help our Food Pantry at the same time You can find more information and sign-up on our website. Families must be pre-registered to participate.

SANTA HAT DAY
All students are invited to wear their Santa Hats to school on Monday, December 6, Feast of St. Nicholas. This is not a Tag Day; regular (or PE) uniform is to be worn with the Santa Hat.

DECEMBER CALENDAR
The December calendar is included in this week’s mailing.

Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

                 
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
    908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

                                                                                                                                                                                                             November 4, 2021

Dear Parents,
This month we are working on gratitude. The children are being encouraged to make a list of all the people and things they are grateful for. Wouldn’t it be great if each one of us also made our own Thank You List and shared it with our children!

TRUNK OR TREAT

Thank you to our HSA officers and their volunteers for a great indoor Trunk or Treat event! Special thanks also to those families who decorated their “trunks”. The rain couldn’t stop us from enjoying our STS community spirit!

MIDDLE STATES VISIT
Our Middle States Re-Accreditation Team had a wonderful visit with us. Thank you to all of you who participated in one way or another. We will receive a preliminary report this Friday, but during our last session with the Team, they shared their impressions of St. Theresa School. Among other things, they found STS to be a family who welcomes and cares for one another. They found that the students are challenged both academically and spiritually, that responsibility and service to others is an integral part of our education. They also found that we do not brag enough about the good things we do here, and that we have the BEST TEACHERS ever!

HALF DAY

TOMORROW – Friday, November 5 - Noon Dismissal.
PK 3 will be dismissed at 11:50.
PK4 & K will be dismissed at 11:55.
There is After Care for registered students, but it is a long afternoon for those who stay, which makes play dates or time with family perfect “half day” activities.

PRETZEL / TAG DAY
Tomorrow, November 5, is a “Pretzel/Tag Day” to benefit our sports program. There is a special “Middle States Discount” this month and Pretzel/Tag Day is only $2. You can send in your money tomorrow morning if you would like a tag day and a pretzel.

HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT EXAM
Tomorrow, November 5, our 8^th Graders will be sitting for the HSPT (High School Placement Test). We wish them luck tomorrow and in the coming months as they search for and choose the high school that will be best for them and will provide them the opportunity to continue the good work they have begun here at STS.

CONFIRMATION

Congratulations to our 8^th graders who will be receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation on Saturday, November 6.

LIL’ STALLION DAY CARE
Our Day Care is in need of part-time Caregivers. If you, or someone you know, would be interested, please call Sr. Isabel at the School. Hours and days are flexible.

PIZZA LUNCH
Several parents have asked about the possibility of re-introducing our hot lunch program, even if only once a month. We are pleased that these same parents have offered to volunteer and/or find volunteers to assist in the cafeteria at lunch time. On Friday, November 19, we will have pizza lunch available for any student who would like to purchase it. We will send a flyer with more information next week. If you’d like to volunteer in the future, please let us know.


Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

       
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
           908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103
October 21, 2021

Dear Parents,

Progress Reports are being distributed electronically today by the classroom teachers. Please let the teacher know you’ve received the email, and if you would like to, schedule an appointment to discuss your child’s progress with his/her teacher(s).

PUMPKIN SALE
The “great pumpkin sale” will take place tomorrow on the school’s front lawn. Children will be allowed to purchase a pumpkin for $3.

TRUNK OR TREAT
Our HSA will once again sponsor a Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 29. Our youngest children will be admitted early, at 6:00 pm, with general admission at 7:00pm. Volunteers are needed to ensure we can have this event, and to make it a great success. More information is on our website.

FAMILY TWILIGHT ROSARY

Weather permitting, our 5^th graders will be leading us in our Family Twilight Rosary on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00 pm. Please join us on the front lawn of the school and honor Mary as a family during this month of the Rosary.

COAT DRIVE
Our Student Council and National Junior Honor Society have teamed up to sponsor a coat drive to benefit Mercy House. Coats in good condition and donations of new hats, gloves, and scarves must be in by October 29.

BASKETBALL REGISTRATION
The deadline for submitting basketball registrations for grades 5-8 is Wednesday, October 27. If you plan on playing, please register. This is the time when we have to decide how many teams we will be able to have for the upcoming season. I have attached the registration packet to this letter for your convenience.

MIDDLE STATES VISIT
As noted on the calendar, we will be undergoing our Middle States Re-Accreditation, November 1-3. Traditionally, this is a 3-day onsite visit by 3 or 4 Educators who review the school’s self-study and evaluate the school based on several standards. This year’s visit will be completely virtual. Some of the areas being reviewed are School Governance, Finance, Facilities, Academics, Student Activities, and Student Services. The Accreditation Team will also take a look at our Action Plan which sets goals and objectives that will carry us forward for the next 5 years. You have already been part of the process by responding to surveys that were sent out (back in 2019), and some of you may be asked to participate in virtual meetings with members of the Team. More information is coming…

PARKING LOT WOES (Reprinted from October 14)
We have gotten better, but there’s still some room for improvement!

For everyone’s safety, please use extreme caution in the school parking lot, and follow arrival and dismissal procedures. We have already had one accident, and several near misses. Cars should use the entrance on 22^nd Street, arriving no earlier than 2:20pm. Please pull into a designated parking spot to allow children to either enter or exit the vehicle; there should be no dropping off or picking up from the “through lanes”. Nor should cars cut across lanes to get out of the parking lot faster. Parents are strongly encouraged to ensure their children are not running or playing in the parking lot at dismissal time. I have asked the HSA to work with me in assessing the situation and making possible recommendations. If anyone would like to assist in this endeavor, please email me.
 

AT THE RISK OF SOUNDING LIKE A BROKEN RECORD….
With the holidays quickly approaching, please keep St. Theresa School quarantining policy in mind. This policy is based on CDC guidelines and the document, The Road Forward (Guidance Document for all NJ schools).

Domestic and international travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if they test negative. If testing is not completed post-travel, individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days. International travelers who are fully vaccinated should also get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, self-monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if symptoms develop. For those traveling to/from New Jersey, domestic travel is defined as lasting 24 hours or longer to states or U.S. territories other than those connected to New Jersey, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware.
Just as a reminder, we have always asked parents not to take students out of school for family vacations.

COMING UP
The November calendar is being distributed with this letter. Please consult it for events and special schedules.

Have a wonderful weekend!

God bless! 

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
             908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

October 7, 2021

Dear Parents,
Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary! This month, we are working on being people who care, like Mary at the Wedding at Cana (Jn. 2:1-12). She saw a young couple in need and reached out to help, leading to Jesus’ first miracle. The students are being encouraged to take care of family, faculty/staff, friends and creation, by being respectful and helping in whatever age-appropriate way they can.

MAPGROWTH
Testing is going well. Most students, grades 2-8, have completed this Fall’s testing. Students who were absent will continue testing into next week. Thank you for helping your children prepare well for this important test.

SCHOOL COUNSELOR
I am happy to let you know that our School Counselor, Mr. Frank Malta, is once again here at STS every Monday.  Mr. Malta has over 40 years’ experience working with children and his presence provides another “listening ear” for our students. If your child(ren) expresses the desire to speak with Mr. Malta, or if you or the teacher suggest this, please fill out the attached permission slip. Thank you.

CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to our new Student Council officers: Co-Presidents Kiera Duffy and Bryce Mays; Vice President Brandon Lissade; Secretary Magdalene Battista; Treasurer Mia Pumarada.

PUMPKIN SALE
The “great pumpkin sale” will take place on the school’s front lawn on October 22. Children will be allowed to purchase a pumpkin for $3. Please see the attached flyer for more details.

TRUNK OR TREAT
Our HSA will once again sponsor a Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 29. Our youngest children will be admitted early, at 6:00 pm, with general admission at 7:00pm. Volunteers are needed to make this a great success. More information will be coming.

HALLOWEEN
Our plans this year for Halloween will once again be modified due to current safety guidelines. Students may wear appropriate Halloween-colored pants and shirt, Halloween shirts, etc. on Friday, October 29.

We are opting for NO costumes to avoid confusion regarding mask wearing, and, in the case of younger children, the need for teachers and staff to get in close contact with them to help them with their costumes. Classes will have special activities and parties, and we will again be doing a scaled-down version of Trick-or-Treating in the school parking lot with school staff handing out treats.

It’s not an ideal Halloween celebration, but it will provide a bit of fun for everyone.

MIDDLE STATES VISIT
We are happy to welcome our Middle States Visiting Team to St. Theresa School, November 1-3. While we are still awaiting final details from the Team Chair, this will be a hybrid re-accreditation visit, with only the Team Chair on site, while other Team members will be remote. I will send you more information as we approach November, but this has been an almost two-year process of studying every aspect of our school, conducting parent, student and staff surveys, and making plans for our preferred future. I want to thank all of you for your interest and your participation. I also want to thank our faculty/staff members, especially Mrs. Keating and Mrs. Furlong who are coordinating our efforts. We have a great school here and I am proud to have the Middle States Association discover what makes STS so special.

EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT
Joseph Grimaldi, STS Alum (2018), is seeking donations for his Eagle Scout Project. The project will renovate the prayer area around the Mary Help of Christians statue in front of the convent. Please see the attached flyer for more details. Thank you in advance for your support of this project.

REPRINTED FROM SEPTEMBER 24 LETTER
For everyone’s convenience, I thought it would be a good idea to reprint the vacation protocol that is in place at St. Theresa School.

While there is no statewide travel advisory or mandate in place at this time, schools are encouraged to have a policy for exclusion for students and staff that is consistent with CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations. The CDC recommends that travel be delayed for those who are not fully vaccinated. If travel cannot be delayed, domestic and international travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if they test negative. If testing is not completed post-travel, individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days. International travelers who are fully vaccinated should also get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, self-monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if symptoms develop. For those traveling to/from New Jersey, domestic travel is defined as lasting 24 hours or longer to states or U.S. territories other than those connected to New Jersey, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware

If eligible STS students are fully vaccinated, we encourage parents to share that information with us. It does make a difference in the self-quarantining guidelines.


Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
       908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

September 30, 2021

Dear Parents,
It seems hard to believe that we are at the end of September and ready to welcome a new month! We have had to be creative in gathering for events that typically mark the beginning of the school year, but we have been committed to growing as a strong and vibrant STS family. I am sure that October, with all of its activities, will also provide many opportunities for us to come together to celebrate, to pray, and to enjoy being together. Please check the October calendar for details!

TAG DAY
TOMORROW – Friday, October 1 – Tag Day sponsored by Grade 8. Fee: $1.
Tag Day guidelines can be found on page 23 of the Handbook.

HALF DAY
TOMORROW – Friday, October 1 - Noon Dismissal.
PK 3 will be dismissed at 11:50.
PK4 & K will be dismissed at 11:55.
There is After Care for registered students, but it is a long afternoon for those who stay, which makes play dates or time with family perfect “half day” activities.

BLESSING OF PETS
Weather permitting, we will have our blessing of pets, led by grades 1A and 1B, on Monday, October 4, at 2:15PM. Students may not bring their pets to school during the day, but parents are invited to bring their pets to the front lawn of the school for a blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

NO SCHOOL
Just a reminder that there will be no school for students, Friday, October 8. The faculty will be attending a retreat in Newton, NJ.

MAPGROWTH
Testing will take place between October 4-22, for grades 2-8. This important assessment gives teachers a clear picture of each student’s strengths, as well as his/her areas of academic need. This data helps teachers choose instructional content and methods to best serve your children. It assists in differentiating instruction within a classroom, as well as indicating those students who qualify for additional assistance with basic skills.
The best way you can help your children prepare for this assessment is by making sure they are well-rested and have a good breakfast.
 
THANK YOU
Thank you to our HSA for making our Ice Cream Social such a huge success. It was so nice to see both children and adults socializing and enjoying each other’s company. I enjoyed meeting so many of you and look forward to other opportunities to gather as an STS Family.

Our Food Drive was incredible! God bless you for your generosity! Our Parish Food Pantry will be well-stocked so that they can continue their good work for those in our community who suffer from food insecurity.


Finally, as we continue to settle in to our “normal” school routine, and we watch the ordinary green leaves of Summer be transformed into the beautifully vibrant colors that characterize Autumn days, we are reminded that the transforming power of the Spirit continues to work within each one of us, renewing us, and making us a beautiful creation for our God. We are reminded that God is not socially distant from us; He is not wearing a mask, but He is alive and active in our lives.

Just as nature comes alive, as one tree, more beautiful than the other, allows itself to change by the power of God and the passage of time, may each of us become more fully alive in Christ, as we respond to His life within us. 

Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 

Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA

Principal
 

                 
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
         908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

September 24, 2021

Dear Parents,

As we come to the end of our second full week of school, I am happy to say that both students and teachers are working hard, and are glad to be here (well, after the shock of getting up early in the morning!). Our Opening School Mass held yesterday was a beautiful celebration of our faith-filled community, as we prayed together for each of you and for a safe and healthy school year.

THANK YOU
Our Book Fair was a great success. Thank you to Mrs. Sacco for organizing this event for us.

Both arrival and dismissal on Washington Avenue and in the back parking lot are going much better and are creating a safer environment for everyone. THANK YOU!!!!

IMPORTANT NOTICE
The question has arisen (and I imagine it might arise again from time to time) about the need for a student to quarantine after traveling. Although there is no statewide travel mandate, schools are encouraged to exclude students who travel. For your convenience, I am including that part of the Guidance Document (The Road Forward) that every school in NJ is asked to abide by.  It reads:

While there is no statewide travel advisory or mandate in place at this time, schools are encouraged to have a policy for exclusion for students and staff that is consistent with CDC COVID-19 travel recommendations. The CDC recommends that travel be delayed for those who are not fully vaccinated. If travel cannot be delayed, domestic and international travelers who are not fully vaccinated should get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel, even if they test negative. If testing is not completed post-travel, individuals should self-quarantine for 10 days. International travelers who are fully vaccinated should also get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, self-monitor for symptoms, and isolate and get tested if symptoms develop. For those traveling to/from New Jersey, domestic travel is defined as lasting 24 hours or longer to states or U.S. territories other than those connected to New Jersey, such as Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware

At this time, this is St. Theresa School policy. Just as a reminder, we have always asked parents not to take students out of school for family vacations.


COMING UP
The October calendar is being distributed with this letter. Please note the two changes that I mentioned last week. Friday, October 8 is Faculty Retreat Day, therefore, there is NO SCHOOL for students; Friday, October 29, originally scheduled for a noon dismissal, will be a FULL DAY of school.

MAPGROWTH testing will take place between October 4-22, for grades 2-8. This important assessment gives teachers a clear picture of each student’s strengths, as well as his/her areas of academic need. This data helps teachers choose instructional content and methods to best serve your children. This data also assists in differentiating instruction within a classroom, as well as indicating those students who qualify for additional assistance with basic skills.

Calendar Raffles are due back to the Office by October 15.

Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 

                 
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                  908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

September 17, 2021

Dear Parents,

Our first full week has been great! Thank you for your patience and your cooperation as we start off the year with new routines, or old ones that we had forgotten about.

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
I have been asked by several people, including teachers, parents, and our crossing guard to remind everyone that extreme caution is needed when dropping off and picking up your children. Parents using Washington Avenue are reminded that they cannot double park and allow children to exit the car in the street. Washington Avenue is a “drop and go” location; parents cannot linger while children begin playing, nor can they remain parked in front of school, or blocking crosswalks. Everyone’s safety depends on our responsible choices. We have staggered dismissal times to alleviate congestion, but we may need to make changes to our procedures if we cannot exit the school safely.

To alleviate some of the congestion, beginning Monday, September 20, Grade 3 will arrive in the morning and be dismissed in the afternoon (2:40 PM) from the back of the school, the same door used by grades 5-8. Parents using the back parking lot are also asked to pull into a parking spot to let children out of the car, and then cautiously proceed to the through lane to exit the lot on 23^rd Street.

IMPORTANT REMINDER
If a child needs to take medication during the day, parents are requested to hand the medication directly to the Office or to the Nurse. Students should not be bringing in their own medication in their backpacks.

THANK YOU
Our Food Drive has been a huge success. Thank you for your generosity!

Thank you to those parents who have volunteered to be Class Parents for the 2021-22 school year. I have been in contact with all of them, and I am sure they will be reaching out to you in the near future. We are still in need of a few parents for grades PK3A (Moribaldi), PK4B (Alfano) and 1A (Sierant); if anyone is interested, please contact me.

COMING UP
This coming week is Book Fair week! You can find the interactive book flyer on our homepage at mysts.org.

Next Friday, September 24, we will be having our Ice Cream Social out in the courtyard. You have already received information about this event. We hope you can join us!



Every family has received your Calendar Raffles. Please return them to the Office by October 15.

You will receive the October calendar next week, but for your advanced planning I would like to inform you of two changes from our “yearly tentative calendar”. Friday, October 8 is Faculty Retreat Day, therefore, there is NO SCHOOL for students; Friday, October 29, originally scheduled for a noon dismissal, will be a FULL DAY of school.

Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal
 
 

                 
    540 Washington Avenue           Kenilworth, NJ 07033
                                                                    908-276-7220    fax 908-709-1103

September 10, 2021

Dear Parents,

What a great first week! Today our PK students joined us for their first day of school. Lots of smiles, even behind the masks, and friendly greetings marked each day as students and staff were happy to be together again.

This Monday, September 13, will be our first day of school for all students, PK3-Grade 8. Please remember to pack a lunch for your child, and healthy snacks (for those younger students who still snack in class, or who attend After School Care). Our Morning Care and After School Care Programs also begin for those students who have registered for those services.

Students have done a good job being on time, and they have looked great in their uniforms. I would remind you that all students are to be in their classrooms or the gym (Gr. 1-8) by 8:00 AM. It would be a good idea to review the uniform policy in our Handbook so that all students are in compliance, including the length of the boys’ hair.

After watching dismissal for a few days, we are going to make a few changes to our “exit strategy”. PK 3 classes will exit from the Cafeteria; Grade 2 will exit from the 21^st Avenue door (closest to Washington Ave.); all other grades will remain the same at this time. Finally, please use extreme caution in the parking lot when dropping off or picking up your children. Cars must enter on 21^St Street ONLY and exit on 22^nd Street. Please be attentive and patient, so that our “safe” path remains safe for both children and adults.

Each year we ask for Class Parents to assist the teachers. Although the responsibilities may be slightly altered this year because of COVID, I would ask anyone in Grades PK3 through 8 who would like to be considered for this position, to email me at marisa.derose@mysts.org by Wednesday, September 15. I will then let you know who will serve in that capacity for the 2021-2022 school year.

As we recall the 20^th Anniversary of September 11, let’s pray for those families who lost loved ones that day, and for all those who continue to suffer the effects of war and terrorism.

Have a wonderful weekend!
God bless! 


Sr. Marisa DeRose, FMA
Principal

         

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