Joyfully Embracing Our Mission

Blessed Saint Clare, whose very name means light, illumine the darkness of our minds and hearts so that we might see what God wishes us to do and perform it with a willing and joyful heart. Before your birth, a Heavenly voice foretold that you would be a light illuminating the world. Be a light to us in the sorrows and anxieties of this earthy life, and lead us into the eternal light of our home in Heaven. Amen.

I can't believe that it's August. To me, this means we "awaken" to our work for the school year. Being that we have had a most unusual four and a half months, "work" has been ongoing for me, the office staff, the CKZ staff and our teachers. I am in awe of their dedication and willingness to remain positive despite the challenges. Yes, they are deserving of your praise and your respect.

We are also being given the gift to witness sacraments for our littles: Sr. Ann Marie and I were fortunate to be present for the Baptism of Matthew and Allison Arnst. They were as genuinely joyful as they possibly can be to be surrounded by family during this very special occasion. Starting last Sunday and throughout the Sundays at 9 A.M. mass, we will be celebrating our rising third graders who will be receiving the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time. I made my reservations to be present for those as well. There is so much to be grateful for and one that top's my list is the opportunity to walk the journey of faith with you, your children and our faculty and staff.

I am also grateful to Msgr. Fran who has not stopped working since he started his assignment at St. Clare. You have seen many of his initiatives already at play and you will see many more. He is a willing and enthusiastic partner in this ministry of Catholic education. How lucky are we?

Please be sure to read his Weekly Parish Updates to hear about all the things happening that enrich the life of our parish!

Even though we will be opening the school year with Home Learning @ St. Clare, we highly encourage your family's commitment to keep our community safe by practicing good hygiene habits, physically distancing and familiarizing yourself with the symptoms accompanying COVID-19. We also ask you to be mindful of your interactions and social groupings so that when the time comes for us to be in-person, you can be sure that you have done what is good for all.

CONTINUE TO PRACTICE HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS AT HOME

As we prepare to return back to school, now is a good time to practice being mindful of health and safety protocols which we practiced while we were at school during the flu season:

• Check for temperatures regularly and watch for a change in energy level.

• Wash hands often, with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

• Cough into your sleeve or a cloth tissue.

• Disinfect surfaces regularly.

• Refrain from touching your face (especially mouth, eyes, nose).

VERY IMPORTANT: Get familiar with the symptoms and practice these specific self-checks at home to evaluate possible COVID-19 exposure:

• Check for symptoms: cough, muscle aches, diarrhea, shortness of breath, headaches, unexplained loss of taste or smell.

• Maintain at least 6 feet from others not from your household.

• Refrain from touching surfaces or from unnecessary physical contact.

• Wear face coverings (current public health guidelines; exceptions for those with respiratory issues where wearing a face covering makes it difficult to breathe).

SUNDAY MASS AT ST. CLARE

• Here's the YouTube link to live-stream Sunday vigil mass in English or view the recording.

• Here's the link to reserve a spot for your family at our Sunday masses in the Rectory Garden.

A CUP WITH THE PRINCIPAL

I'm grateful to our 50-60 or so regulars who can make our weekly Zoom forums. We hope you can join us this Thursday. We will outline our Materials Pick Up Plan, share our timeline for the first couple of weeks of HL@SC 2.0 and update you on what Home Learning @ St. Clare 2.0 will look like. Here is the Meeting ID: 753 421 694 on zoom.us.

The ParentSquare post includes the slide deck from last Thursday's Zoom forum. The original invitation to the July 30 forum includes the Zoom recording.

As always, please reach out to me if you have any concerns or questions. Please email me at cecile.mantecon@dsj.org.

For any other questions or inquiries, please feel free to contact the school office office@stclareschool.org or 408-246-6797. Ms. Cherell and Ms. Teresea are happy to answer your call and direct you to the appropriate person. Summer Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 A.M. to 3 P.M. Invite people to join our community.

May we rely on God for the food that we need while in this desert and may we be satisfied with what we receive.

Peace.

Cecile Mantecon, Principal

Matthew and Allison with parents and siblings, Angelina and Joseph, who are both St. Clare alums pose with Msgr. Fran after being baptized. Welcome, children of God!

SAVE THE FOLLOWING DATES AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR OPENING

August 12 | "Shop" for Gently Used Uniforms in our Elementary Yard. Pick up some gently used books from our library as well! Look out for a post to reserve your space soon.

August 13 | Drive-Thru Materials Pick Up for Home Learning @ St. Clare 2.0 for families with last names A-L, 9 to Noon | Look out for a separate post with instructions.

August 14 | Drive-Thru Materials Pick Up for Home Learning @ St. Clare 2.0 for families with last names M-Z, 9 to Noon | Look out for a separate post with instructions.

Look out for welcome videos from teachers as well as Community Meeting Zooms for orientation.

GET READY FOR OPENING DAY: AUGUST 19

Are uniforms ready? Even while we are in Zoom, we want students to know that school is a place where we formally learn. Wearing the uniform is part of the learning. More details regarding P.E. days and free dress days.

Is the space ready for distance learning? Provide a dedicated space for your student(s) to participate actively and meaningfully. Do you have the following for:

• Synchronous (live) learning: dedicated device and adequate internet access; headphones; a comfortable and quiet place to engage in active learning including space to spread out for P.E., art and music. (More information regarding school-issued iPads later.)
• Asynchronous (offline) learning and practice: dedicated space to complete homework, engage in independent practice, create art/projects, perform simple science experiments.

Are supplies ready? Although we will be sending home a bin with student textbooks, planners from Grades 3-5 and resources along with a supply case with pens, pencils, crayons and the like, you may want to shop for special supplies that your students prefer or need to be prepared for home learning. (Bins with resources and supplies will accompany those students who will return in person when we are allowed.)

In addition to the above, it is important for us to prepare our mindset for the start of this most unusual school year. Having structure at home and starting the year with clear expectations is key. Here are a few resources that might be helpful:

• MANAGING BEHAVIOR DURING DISTANCE LEARNING
• MANAGING SCREEN TIME
• The Work-From-Home Parent’s Guide to At-Home Learning During COVID-19
• Parents Guide to Distance Learning
• Parents Guide to Online Learning
• How Parents Can Help Kids Learn From Home
• A Parent’s Guide for Teaching at Home

Home Learning @ St. Clare 2.0 will be launched on August 19, 2020. One of the tools that will help our teachers to deliver quality instruction is a tool called Swivl.

An iPad or mobile device is mounted on the Swivl robot which rotates to follow the teacher across the room/space. Multiple markers record the audio throughout the room while the tethered iPad (or mobile device) records the video. It's easy for teachers to setup, start/stop recording, and upload to the Swivl cloud account.

While we make plans to return in-person when it is safe to do so, we are committed to providing a distance learning option for all families who need it throughout the year. Swivl will allow us to teach in any scenario. The Swivl can be set up in the back of the room to record the teacher instruction and interaction, while engaging those who are learning at home. WATCH this example of a dual learning environment using Swivl.

Currently, each starter kit which includes 5 markers, a wide-angle lens and cloud subscription costs $1,500. Check with your company's matching program to see if you can double the benefit!

To make a donation in any amount, please visit our school store. Share the link with family and friends as a way to donate to fundraisers that we may not be able to have this school year. You may note the name of the student or person you'd like to honor with this donation, including the classroom you'd like to benefit from this donation.

http://stclareschool.3dcartstores.com/Swvl-Robot-Donations_p_82.html

If your were unable to attend last weeks Cup With The Principal here is a link to to the original post and recording.

https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/3633911

Thats a wrap! CKZ summer camp has come to end. We enjoyed the last four weeks seeing smiling faces and hearing joyous laughter around the school's campus again. May you enjoy the rest of your summer campers. We miss you already.

Here are some resources for your information:

• Sccsafeworkplace.org (see item on reporting COVID cases)

• COVID-19 Prepared: Reopening of SCC K-12 Schools

• Stronger Together (SCCOE)

• FERPA and Coronavirus (Child Privacy Laws)

INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK

Merry Mart Online

On Wednesday, August 12, we will open our elementary yard so that you can "shop" for Gently Used Uniforms. Keep an eye out for a reservation form from Ms. Teresea.

Photo by Ed Carlo Garcia www.edcarlogarcia.com

Email: office@stclareschool.org
Website: https://www.stclare.school
Location: 725 Washington Street, Santa Clara, CA, USA
Phone: 408 246-6797
Facebook: facebook.com/stclareschoolsantaclara