What a week we had! Kudos to the Student Council for their hard work in planning and executing. Thank you, too, to our teachers, volunteers and students for making it a meaningful week focusing on kindness and being good companions on our journey through hope and love.
It was great to see many of you at the parade. Msgr. Fran and I were pleased to see so many students in such creative costumes. And how well they all did at mass despite expectations that they would be distracted by costumes! The joyful participation (singing and response) was certainly a highlight of my week.
We will gather once again for mass Monday morning to celebrate our saintly heroes. The qualities of heroes are the qualities we look for when we clothe ourselves in Silver Box virtues. Virtues of integrity, kindness, resilience, compassion, courage and love for God and for one another are gospel values, taught to us by Christ’s example.
Our All Saints celebrations today kicks off another week with highlights from the traditions of our community. All Souls’ Day, commemorating all the faithful departed is celebrated throughout the world by honoring those who have gone before us. As a young girl, my family and I would gather by my grandparents’ niche at the local cemetery. We stayed all day and into the night eating, playing cards, and reminiscing. Most of us kids mostly gathered the wax that had melted off of the candles. This diversion entertained us thoroughly, competing to get the largest ball of wax there ever was!
In the hallway at our school, you will find a beautifully decorated ofrenda/altar de muertos. Thank you to our Parent Ambassadors for sharing their rich tradition with the students, honoring loved ones who are now enjoying the bounty of heaven. At our assembly on Tuesday, we will hear how dia de los muertos is celebrated in the homes of some of our students. Learning from one another is a way to broaden our “We”, as Pope Francis has asked us to do, affirms that we are made in the image and likeness of God.
Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights begins this week. The celebrations commemorating the triumph of light over darkness is a tradition of many in our community. We find many familiar themes in the traditions of Diwali: gift-giving at Christmas, praying for each other, triumph of good over evil. Once again, proving we have so much more in common that unites us!
VOLUNTARY ONSITE TESTING BEGINS NOV. 5
On Friday, November 5, between 8:30 and 10:30, Covid Testing Today will be onsite for our first routine testing appointment. If you have not completed STEP 2 of your registration, please do so ASAP. Here is the link to STEP 2 of the Registration. If this is not completed by tomorrow, you or your child may not have a label for your testing materials.
Students will be tested with their classmates. Adult volunteers may check in with the office at 9:30 A.M. You will be escorted to the area where the testing will take place. Please be on time as CTT needs to be at another location at 10:30.
If you would like to opt in for the next testing period on Nov. 19, another opportunity to sign up will be posted via ParentSquare after Nov. 5. You’ll need to complete both steps as usual. Those who have already registered with both steps will not need to register again.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENCOUNTER, ENGAGEMENT AND ACCOMPANIMENT
You are invited to enter the names of loved ones in the memorial Book of the Dead throughout November. The names you enter in the form will be part of the book kept in the parish.
Join us on Zoom for All Saints Mass (see the original Parent Square post)
Morning Assembly at St. Clare -- You are invited to come join us each morning for morning assembly, but particularly on Wednesdays when we honor our weekly Silver Box students.
After dropping off students as usual, find a parking spot in the lot or on the street.
Line up against the fence outside the Santa Clara or Lexington Gates. Once the students are in line after the first bell at 7:55 A.M. you will be allowed to come in to proceed to the back of the lot by the play structures where you may stay for the duration of our Morning Assembly.
You will need to remain at least ten feet from the students, six feet from another family, wear face coverings over your nose and mouth (children 2 years of age and older must also wear face coverings), and more importantly, you have self-screened for COVID-19 symptoms
Join PTG on Tuesday night. Here’s a link to the original POST.
On November 20, we are inviting Friends of St. Clare for a walkthrough Open House.
We invite you to bring a friend, a former student/family, a family member, all friends of St. Clare!
Please contact Mrs. Rizzo to let her know that you are willing to help.
Always grateful for your partnership,
Mrs. Cecile Mantecon, Principal
