Happy Summer! I am hoping everyone is finding time to enjoy this beautiful weather with family and friends. It has been a great start to summer and we are already feeling rejuvenated with small steps of restrictions being lifted in our summer activities.

Holy Cross staff has taken a couple of days to rest and relax, but we also have been busy planning for the 2021-2022 school year. We are pleased to introduce you to our AWESOME new Holy Cross team members. We have a fantastic group of educators that will enhance our already AMAZING group of teachers! We are beyond excited to start the school year which we are hopeful will be back to the way it used to be. We will keep you posted as we receive information.

I also wanted to share some of our great new programs and resources we will be adding to our school next year. Below is the list of new programming.

• Social Thinking Curriculum is an evidence based curriculum that help students improve their social competencies including self-regulation, social-emotional learning, executive functioning, perspective taking, and social problem solving. After the year our students experienced, this is such an important piece to our curriculum. A part-time counselor that specializes in this program will be introduced below. These skills will be aligned with our faith formation standards.
• New K-8 English Language Arts Curriculum Series that is aligned with the Science of Reading
• Math Hub full of Math Manipulatives and resources for student use during the school day and before and after school for additional support
• Greg Tang School Pack Math Program to help bridge any achievement gaps created by Covid
• Reflex Math Research Based Resource
• 60 new Chromebooks with two laptop carts (grades 3-5 will have carts in their classrooms) K-2 will share a laptop cart
• New Teacher Devices- All teachers received 2 in 1 New Chromebooks with a stylus to improve instructional methods
• Heggerty-Research Based Program that supports students in reading, writing and spelling
• Ozbot Classroom Kits to provide a hands-on real-life learning approach which will be available in the Math Hub and Maker's Space
• Lego Education BriQ Prime Science Pack to enhance science and math skills which will be located in the Maker's Space

We wanted to share the good news! Lots to be excited about at Holy Cross! We will keep you posted with any additional new programs and resources throughout the summer! Happy Summer and Go Be the Light!

-Hello Holy Cross Community-

It is my honor and privilege to start next school year as your school counselor alongside Mrs. Nicholson. My first goal is getting to know the staff, introducing myself to families, and meeting all of your students. I want you to know that I strongly believe in working together, being visible, and helping to continue the awesome work taking place at Holy Cross.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to all of you. My name is Marian Petri. I am originally from St. Louis, Missouri. My entire elementary experience was thru St. Casimir but graduated eighth grade from St. Ann. My high school experience was a mixture of Rosary but ended my high school career at Hazelwood Central High School. For my college career, I graduated from Fontbonne University with my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (K-8) and Special Education (K-12); A Master's Degree from Lindenwood University in School Counseling (K-12).

I have a husband, Michael of 26 years and I am a mother to three children, Cole-University of Kansas, Maclain-Drake University, and a daughter Ava-Freshman and Blue Valley Southwest.

I have been in Education for 26 years. I began my career as an Inclusion Specialist then transitioned to a third-grade teacher for three years for the Fort Zumwalt School District, located in St. Peter's, Missouri. We moved to the Overland Park area 21 years ago and I have worked for the Blue Valley School District as a school counselor for fifteen years and the past three years have been the district's primary long-term counselor substitute for K-12. We are parishioners of Ascension Church and absolutely love our parish.

My job as a part-time school counselor is to aid, support, advocate for all students and families, as assist all of you. I am excited to get to know you and your students. Please don't hesitate to contact me anytime if you have questions or concerns.

Marian N. Petri

mpetri@holycrosscatholicschool.com

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be at Holy Cross as the new Middle School Social Studies/Science Teacher. I am what you would call, a nontraditional teacher in the sense I chose this profession late in life. I have been in Sales since college, many years ago, and have always realized something was missing in my life. I originally went to school to become an educator but I married my beautiful wife Kristin and decided to start a family. I have two sons. Collin-8 and Chase-3. We are parishioners at St. Michael the Archangel in Leawood and my oldest currently attends school there as well. I love spending time with family and friends. When I am not at one of our many sporting events for our son, you can find us on the lake. I am very much looking forward to meeting everyone and especially the “kiddos” as we embark on a new journey together. May God bless you all! See you in the Fall!

My name is Debbie Watson and I am excited to introduce myself as the fifth grade teacher here at Holy Cross Elementary School. I have taught for thirty-one years in every grade from preschool to seventh grade. I grew up in the Kansas City area and attended Catholic schools all the way through high school. I graduated from The University of Kansas with my degree in elementary education. I did my graduate work at Concordia University. I have taught in the Catholic schools in Kansas City, Atchison, and most recently in Wausau, Wisconsin. I have two grown sons who live in Texas. My parents and two of my three sisters live here in Shawnee. I am happy to be back in Kansas and excited to call Holy Cross home.

Grant Writers and Research Persons Needed- Holy Cross Catholic School is in need of additional volunteer Grant Writers and Researchers. Grant writing experience is not necessary. A suggested process & direction will be provided. You will be joining an already established Grant Writing Team. The ideal people are ones that have an affinity for Holy Cross Catholic School & helping kids. In addition, the ideal individuals have writing and/or research experience, past or present. For example; English major, past newspaper columnist, blog writer, author, script writer, etc. If you are interested please contact Principal Melissa Wagner at mwagner@holycrosscatholicschool.com

Can you help water?

The Flowers are Thirsty!

The Holy Cross Hornets started flowers from seed.

To keep them growing, some water they need.

Contact Mrs. G. if you can help…

One day a week?

A week at a time?

Whatever you can do

Would be just fine!

CONTACT Mrs. G. : sgittinger@holycrosscatholicschool.com

I will be hiking the Grand Canyon from June 10th -17th.

I will contact you upon my return.

THANK YOU!

Office hours are 8:00am-12:30pm.

The school office will be closed the week of July 5-9.

Email: mwagner@holycrosscatholicschool.com
Website: www.holycrosscatholicschool.com
Location: 8101 West 95th Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: (913)381-7408
Facebook: facebook.com/HolyCrossOP
Twitter: @HolyCrossOP