2/12/21 - Friday Forget-Me-Nots by Jim Silcott

Photo Caption: Fourth Graders working on Mardis Gras Floats for Fat Tuesday.

Dear Our Lady of Peace Family:

We are approaching our 100th day of school next week, snow days not withstanding. Today I give you a hodge podge of news.

Our teachers and students continue to do a great job working together in this unique school year. We have had a few positive cases of COVID in the last few weeks. Our faculty and staff have received their first dose of the vaccine. As the second dose gets scheduled I will keep you posted on any further school closing because of it.

We do try to get outside for recess whenever we can. The general rule of thumb is to go out when the conditions are dry and the wind chill temperature is 20 or above. Interestingly enough this year, it is the younger students who clamor to get outside while many of our middle school students complain when we make them don their coats and head out. Please continue to dress your students for the weather and the possibility of being out for recess.

After a year of no snow in 2020 snow has, of course, been in abundance this winter. Some of the plowed piles around the parking lot will probably be with us through March! Banks of snow are very attractive to students big and small but for the safety’s sake we ask that students delay playing in the snow for after school and weekends.

Mr. Paul Gulatieri, who has been with us all year in recess and middle school gym supervision is leaving us at the end of the month. Mr. Kyle Davis, who was with us the last couple of years supervising the coaches we had doing gym classes. 

Kelly McClernon resigned from her position as SACC Director last month. Mrs. Pam Bartosic has done a great job keeping the program going with the assistance of Mrs. Gulatieri. We have interviewed another candidate for the position who is helping out on Thursday and Friday of this week. 

I am in discussion about the possibililty of offering Spanish next year in middle school. Funding, as always, is an issue but I am working hard to make this happen. Stay tuned.

As the needs and importance of good technology in our building become more important, Mrs. Kathy McMahon will be fulltime technology coordinator next year with limited teaching. Middle school social studies and Religion will be combined into one fulltime position for next year and that job has been posted for interviews next month.

We expect Kindergarten to be one class of no more than 25 students with one teacher and one aide next year. We also expect middle school students to be back in one classroom next year and being allowed to travel. We also expect lockers to be back in use next year. Sadly, all indications are at this time that we will start the year continuing to wear masks and hiding the beautiful smiles of our students and staff.

Many of you have expressed your thanks to our faculty and staff for keeping our doors open this year. As you read about other districts and schools around our community and our country I join you in that thanks to all involved: parents, students, teachers and staff on the extraordinary efforts that this has taken and continues to take next year. I ask for your patience as we continue for these last four months to follow the guidelines that we need to stay open. All of us have pandemic fatigue and the snow and cold weather does not help the situation. Please help us remind students that mask wearing is mandatory at all times inside the building except when eating lunch and highly encouraged outside as well. 

Ash Wednesday is next week which means that Easter and spring will be here. Just as the promise of Christ’s resurrection comes with Holy Week and Easter Sunday may we all be filled with hope as we approach the Lenten season, knowing that God is with us, God is for us and God holds each of us in the palm of his hand.

Jim Silcott