August 21, 2020

Dear HFS Families,

This week has been a doozy, to say the least!  At times, it has felt like an enormous wave continuously crashing over me. As the week is coming to an end, I’m trying to keep things in perspective. My family and I are healthy; I have an amazing job and wonderful coworkers who support me tirelessly, and I have a community in all of you for whom I can’t even begin to express my gratitude. The love and support you have shown me since my first day at HFS is simply awe inspiring. “...I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you…(Romans 1:8).

Staffing Update

Ms. Rachael Saxon has tendered her resignation. She was offered a position with a new school. This was a difficult decision for Ms. Saxon as she quickly became a valued member of our team. We will miss her, and we wish her well. 

Ms. Amanda Carosi has resigned from her 5th Grade position as well.  Ms. Carosi fit right in with the 5th and 6th grade team, and it was obvious that the students loved her. We wish her well in her new endeavor! 

For family reasons, Mrs. Kristen Abell has taken a leave of absence for the 2020-2021 school year. Mrs. Abell has been a big part of the HFS community, and it is incredibly difficult to imagine our days without her. It goes without saying that her joy and exuberance will be missed, but we look forward to her return whenever that may be! 

Mrs. Paton has also taken a leave of absence for the 2020-2021 school year due to family reasons. Mrs. Paton’s STEAM class quickly became a favorite among the students. We wish her and her family well, and we will miss her. As we do Mrs. Abell, we look forward to her return as well! 

All four of these amazing women will be missed, and we thank them for all the service they have provided Holy Family School! 

We are happy to announce the addition of our new Second Grade teacher. We welcome Ms. Jacqueline Pizzico to the HFS family. Ms. Pizzico is a first year teacher whose  student teaching occurred primarily during the Covid shutdown this past spring. Not only does she have experience working in the classroom with students, but she also brings experience handling virtual instruction as well. She will be a strong asset to our team!

Gym Uniform

Our HFS store is ready! Please click here to begin shopping on our Squadlocker page. We will be adding more items as the year progresses.

Mission Challenge

Please click here for an opportunity to participate in a Summer Mission Challenge. 

Reminders

With back to school quickly approaching, don’t forget to let us know how your child will be attending school - In Person or Online. We are asking that you let us know by Friday, 8/21. Please email Mrs. Martino at office@myholyfamilyschool.org. 

Last week, you received a Covid Waiver for your child(ren). Please don’t forget to sign it and return it to the office no later than Friday, 8/28. The Office of Catholic Education has mandated that this waiver be signed and on file before a child is permitted to begin the school year. Children will not be allowed into the building unless this waiver is completed and submitted.

Reopening Plan

Our Reopening Plan has been posted on the HFS website. If you haven’t read it already, please do so as it contains pertinent information regarding the upcoming school year. I will be adding an Addendum to this document to reflect the most recent updates from the Chester County Department of Health, as well as, current mask requirements.

We are a little over 2 weeks away from our first day of school. It’s crazy to think that we haven’t all been together in almost 6 months! With that being said, we take the health of our students, staff, and families very seriously. If you plan on traveling and/or visiting with family and friends, please do so responsibly and safely. We at HFS will do our very best to lead the way by example for the students, and we need your support at home. Begin practicing with your children how to appropriately wear their  masks.  Wear your mask along with them so it doesn’t seem so scary to them. Practice handwashing by saying the Hail Mary or singing Happy Birthday twice. Practice sneezing and coughing into your elbow rather than your hand. We want to avoid frightening our children while at the same time, emphasizing the importance of following CDC guidelines during this time. 

I am so excited at the prospect of seeing you and your children. Enjoy these last few weeks of summer!

Peace and Joy,

Mrs. Jennifer D’Amelio