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LITTLE FLOWER Newsletter

Truly Catholic, Truly Innovative, Truly Different

February 23, 2021

We look to the future with challenges, enthusiasm, values, and joy.

Lenten Theme for Little Flower Students

I believe in Jesus, I will show respect by………..Focus: Implementing good man-ners towards each other. The scriptures will be the guide for the students to understand the virtue of respect of self and others.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:1

Saint Monica, also known as Monica of Hippo, is St. Augustine of Hippo's mother. She was born in 331 A.D. in Tagaste, which is present-day Algeria.

When she was very young, she was married off to the Roman pagan Patricius, who shared his mother's violent temper. Patricius' mother lived with the couple and the duo's temper flares proved to be a constant challenge to young Monica. While Monica's prayers and Christian deeds bothered Patricius, he is said to have re-spected her beliefs.

Three children were born to Monica and Patricius: Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua. Unfortunately, Monica was unable to baptize her children and when Augustine fell ill, Monica pleaded with Patricius to allow their son to be baptized. Patricius allowed it, but when Augustine was healthy again, he withdrew his permission.

For years Monica prayed for her husband and mother-in-law, until finally, one year be-fore Patricius' death, she successfully converted them. As time passed, Perpetua and Navigius entered the religious life, but unfortunately Augustine became lazy and un-couth. This greatly worried Monica, so when Patricius died, she sent the 17-year-old Augustine to Carthage for schooling. When Augustine drifted from his religion, St. Mon-ica followed him and prayed for his return to the church.

After a period of six months, Augustine was baptized in the church of St. John the Bap-tist at Milan. The pair were led to believe they should spread the Word of God to Africa, but in the Roman city of Civitavecchia, Monica passed away.

She was buried at Ostia, and her body was removed during the 6th century to a hidden crypt in the church of Santa Aurea in Osta, near the tomb of St. Aurea of Ostia.

In 1430, Pope Martin V ordered her relics to be brought to Rome and many miracles were reported to have occurred along the way. Later, Cardinal d'Estouteville built a church to honor St. Augustine called the Basilica di Sant'Agostino, where her relics were placed in a chapel to the left of the high altar.

St. Monica - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online

Fun Fact The city of Santa Monica, California is named after Monica, as were the "weeping" springs outside the city.

Calendar

Regular Uniform Dress Code, Please

no warm weather dress code.

March 5

Picture Retake Day 9 AM in the hall.

Mission Day for Rosie

Noon Dismissal/ Faculty Meeting

March 12

Third Quarter Ends

March 15-19

Spring Break

March 22

Classes Resume

Fourth Quarter Begins

April 1 and April 2 No School

Holy Week

April 5 No school

Easter Monday

Classes Resume

April 6

April 9

Noon Dismissal Faculty Meeting

21-22 school year First Week

August 16 Parent’s Night and Bring Sup-

plies Time to be determined

August 18 First Day of School

Noon Dismissal.

August 19 Full Day

August 20 Full Day

RESUME HEALTH SCREENINGS

Daily Submit Child’s

School Health Screening Form with Temper-

ature. If the answer is yes, stay home.

School Health Screening Form is found on

School Speak please log in to complete

and submit.

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Registration for 21-22 School Year

As you review the registration and tuition fees for the new school, please keep the enclosed information in mind.

FY 2020 Cost to educate K-8 = $948,527

FY 2020 Cost to Educate/ Child K-8 = $6,873

FY 2020 Average Tuition / ChildK-8 = $2,787

Parish investment per child = $3484. The parish investment refers to parishioners without children in the school.

Thank you to the Little Flower parishioners who have invested and support the education mission of Little Flower school.

If you wish to "close the gap" between costs and tuition, it would be greatly appreciated. The donation to “close the gap” is tax de-

ductible.

Registration

Registration for current families enrolled in school will start February 8, 2021 online through School Speak.

If a current family has a new PK or Kindergarten child not enrolled in Little Flower please follow the directions on School Speak on

how to register the child. Please note the registration fee will NOT be rolled into the tuition payment. Registration is a sepa-

rate fee for the 21-22. There must be a cash flow to begin payments of curriculum improvements and general school supplies start-

ing in April. Thank you.

New Curriculum Material Cost

Sadlier Math: $12, 510 Kg to Grade 8

McGraw Hill Social Studies: $14, 109 Grades 3 to 8

McGraw Hill Wonders Reading Program: $28, 230 Grades Kg to Grade 4

Total Cost $54, 849.

Technology Bids are in process for the switch of Windows 2007 to Windows 2010.

Classical Literature will continue for Grades 5 to 8.

Tuition Assistance

Scholarships and Grants: Please be mindful of the deadline dates for Scholarships and Grants Programs! (PAGE 4)

If you are in need of tuition parish assistance please call Jon Roche at 314-645-1445 to set up an appointment. Thank you.

Appreciation and School Board Updates

Thank you to Melissa Cobb and Marguerite O’ Brien for serving on the Little Flower School Board.

Lauren Milford, Little Flower parent and parishioner will complete Melissa Cobb’s term.

Zach Mabry will be the Parish Council Liaison and replaces Marguerite O’Brien.

Thank you all for volunteering your time and talent to Little Flower.

School Improvement Process Survey

The oldest or only child in the family will bring home the School Improvement Process Survey.

There is one survey per parent in the family to be filled out. Please return the your survey before March 12, 2021.

Thank you for taking the time to fill out the survey.

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Pack the Piggie Contest

Catholic School Week Fundraiser by Little Flower Students for the Maggie Welby Foundation!

The results are in! Congratulations to all especially the Win-

ning Homerooms. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for supporting the Maggie Welby Foundation.

Lower Level:

First Place: 3rd grade with $90.94!!!

Second Place: K $42.95

Third Place: Pre-K: $50.43

Fourth Place: 1st: $9.64

Fifth Place: 2nd: $7.35

Upper Level:

First Place: 4th: $122.94

Second Place: 8th: $59.53

Third Place: 7th: $27.45

Fourth Place: 5th: -$66.70

Fifth Place: 6th: -$67.00

Grand Total Raised: $1,339.53

Faculty and Staff For the 2021-2022 School Year

Principal: Gloria Openlander will return to Little Flower.

Faculty: The following teachers and staff members have

submitted their letter of intent for next school year: Jaime

Hallman, Rose Duncan, Madeline Dierker, Julie Sae-

ger, Madeline Meier, Marcy Meyer, Bea Pollard, Annie

Morgan, Kim Ankenbrand, Elizabeth Collette, Pam Bates,

Ellen Dryden, Molly Siljan, Catherine Jeltes, Julie

Weisflogg, Beth Love, Ellie Ahearn, and Lisa Chassaing.

Early Childhoood Education

PK 3 class will be separate from the PK 4 class.

Kindergarten Teacher yet to be hired.

Grades 1-4 are self-contained.

Departmental Level

Grade 5-8 Faculty Schedule

English: Madeline Dierker Grades 6-8

Literature: Madeline Dierker Grades 5-8

Religion: Julie Saeger Grades 5-8 plus Grade 5 English

Social Studies: Jaime Hallman will teach Grades 5-8

Science: Rose Duncan will teach Science Grades 5-8

Math Teachers: Father Herzog, Rose Duncan, Jaime

Hallman, and Ellen Dryden will be responsible for teaching

Grades 5 to 8 The schedule will be organized to allow for

the Accelerated Math Classes.

Fine Art Classes, Physical Education, Spanish, and

Technology

Art: Catherine Jeltes PK 3 -4

Art: Molly Skiljan Grades 5-8

Music: Pam Bates Pk to Grade 8

Physical Education: Pam Bates Pk to Grade 8

Spanish: Julie Weissflog Grades 1 to 8

Technology Ellend Dryden K to Grade 8

The departmental schedule will be organized in May.

Finally, outdoor recess in

the sun!

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Family Communication Update for Today and Tomorrow Education Foundation Scholarships, Alive In Christ, Hope for Today,

Hope For Tomorrow, Beyond Sunday or SOAR!

Families currently on scholarship will receive requalification instructions the first week in January. Schools will receive a copy of

the letter in January via email, as well as a Spanish version of the letter.

During the same week, application instructions will also be emailed to families in Spanish and English who applied for 2020-21 but

were not awarded. For families that were awarded and declined the scholarship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, application

instructions will be mailed out in mid-December.

Scholarship Applications Available January 11, 2021

The Scholarship Application will be available online on January 11th, 2021, which is earlier than previous years.

February 2021

Parent Support Sessions for 2021-2022 Scholarship Application

TTEF will not host in-person parent support session meetings this year. TTEF has made application guides available for parents

online in English and in Spanish at our website: ttef-stl.org/info-for-parents. Please encourage your families who need more sup-

port to view the guides. TTEF encourages all schools to allow parents access to a computer to complete their application.

Scholarship Application Deadline February 26, 2021

The deadline for Beyond Sunday, SOAR!, Catholic Families Tuition Assistance (CFTA), and the Parish Employees Endowment

Fund (PEEF) is February 26th.

NOTE: Any family who would like to be considered for these programs, even if they are applying for requalification for one of

these scholarships, must apply between January 11th and February 26th, 2021. Up to 130 new awards will be available in the

Beyond Sunday Elementary School Program, primarily in Kindergarten.

It is important to remember that Alive! In Christ is first-come, first-served, so we encourage all families to apply as early as possi-

ble. Approximately 600 new awards will be available in Alive! In Christ. St. Louis City residents should also apply as early as possi-

ble to be considered for the Help for Today - Hope for Tomorrow K – 8 Scholarship Program.

March 2021

During the month of March, TTEF will begin to assign awards.

April 2021

TTEF will send letters to families for all students awarded and not awarded for 2021-2022 by the first week of April.

Please NOTE: The requalification deadline for all Alive! In Christ, Help for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, and

Futures applications is May 1st. However, all Catholic families and parish employees on these programs

must apply by February 26th to be considered for CFTA & PEEF. Families who have children that may be

eligible for Beyond Sunday or SOAR! must also apply by February 26th.

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https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(20)31252-X/fulltext?

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While the school would consult with St. Louis County Health Department to determine if the contact tracing is severe enough to close the school and flip to online learning. Little Flower will use the 5% of population or 10 people with COVID 19 within the same time frame to flip to online learning for the entire school.

School Nurse Algorithm: Screen all students for potential COVID 19 symptoms or exposure: Any new cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste/smell, fever greater or equal to 100.4 F, Congestion, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, headache, myalgia, or exposure to COVID-19 19 positive person?