8/25/2020 -"The Morning Star" Weekly Newsletter Volume 5, Edition 3

The Morning Star Weekly Newsletter Vol 5, Edition 3 8/25/2020

Dear Morning Star Families & Friends,

A huge thank you to our staff, families and students for a great first week of school! Thank you for all your support during these challenging times. We understand that this is not a normal school year but we must all continue to work together to ensure that our students (both at school and at home) are safe, healthy and continue their school work.

I'm also happy to report that our students are wearing their masks, washing their hands and staying 6 feet apart. We know this can be difficult but we are certain these new policies will get easier as we get more comfortable with our a daily routine.

Our students learning from home are also getting familiar with their new routine. Other than a few hiccups with technology, things are moving along. Please be patient as we work to correct any issues. We are also certain that our virtual classrooms will become easier in the days and weeks ahead.

We are very proud of all our students! Thank you again and God bless!

Elaine Shott, Principal

REMINDERS

School Picture Day TOMORROW!

Wednesday, August 26th is our student photo day! Please make certain your children look neat and wear dressy clothes or their school uniform.

Please Click HERE for important picture day information.

Noon Dismissal & Non-Uniform Day

Friday, September 4th is a noon dismissal and a non-uniform day. After school care will be available that day.

No School

Friday, September 7th is Labor Day

Please Send Us Pictures of your At Home Learners

We want to know how your student is doing with their virtual classes! Please keep us posted by sending us pictures and information about their classes, projects, and studies. We will share these in our weekly newsletter and on social media!

Send information to newsletter@morningstar-jax.org

New iPad Learning Platform

All students will have their own iPad for school AND home use. They will use a new learning platform (Student Google Classroom) designed over the summer. Please take a minute to watch this tutorial about the new learning platform.

iPad Learning Platform TUTORIAL click HERE

iPad Learning Platform click HERE

To download written instructions click HERE

School Lunch and Drink Program Suspended

Due to health and safety concerns our lunch order program and the sale of Power-Aid, juices, bottled water and lemonade have been suspended.

Please NOTE:

All students must bring a packed lunch and drink to school every day.

Use of school water fountains is also suspended so please make sure to send your student to school with an ample supply of water for the school day.

Box Tops Can Help Make a Difference

No matter what school looks like this Fall, Box Tops can help provide needed items for teachers and students. Earn cash for your school with the Box Tops app!

Download the Box Tops App HERE.

MORNING STAR IN THE NEWS!

D’andre Means, a Morning Star High School Senior "distance learner" is highlighted on his first day of school on First Coast News! You don't want to miss this!

Click HERE to check out the First Coast News video coverage!

ON CAMPUS

Our New Outdoor Fitness Center is Under Way!

As most of you know we received a very generous donation from Gary and Nancy Chartrand to build a new outdoor fitness area for our students. It's our pleasure to report that after a long permitting wait throughout the summer, our fitness area is now under construction! The back yard was roped off last week as the bulldozers pulled in! Everyone is very excited that this project is finally under way. Completion date is expected to be sometime this fall.

Resource Ready

The resource building is decorated and ready for students to enjoy!

A Helpful Gift

A great big thank you to Hertha Hefner, Ms. Dodge's mother, for sewing useful and beautiful aprons for our teachers to store hand sanitizer and other essential items needed (at a moment's notice) this school year! We appreciate the help!

Back to Business

Our students and teachers are back, working hard and doing very well with all of the changes.

PRIMARY NEWS

Primary is ready for the school year.

Primary enjoyed Religion class with Sister Elise at school and at home.

INTERMEDIATE NEWS

New teachers Barbara Powell and Esther Franqui created beautiful doors to greet their classes.

JUNIOR HIGH NEWS

Junior High 1 students shared their “travel box” summer projects as an icebreaker on the first week of school. Our students went to North Carolina, Panama City and Universal Studios this summer. Lots of cool artifacts and experiences were shared!

Junior High headed to lunch and did a great job using social distancing guidelines.

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS

Baseline testing was much more fun with our little buddy! Meet Sherman high school’s new furry companion. He and Puff are best friends and roommates in Ms. Brock’s class.

High School students looked happy and interactive whether they are learning from home or in class.

THANK YOU NOTES FROM OUR PARENTS

During this difficult time, your notes mean so much!

THANK YOU LETTER FROM JAKE'S MOM

I had to reach out and tell you all THANK YOU so much for EVERYTHING you do.

I just sat down with Jake to watch the educational, tutorial, and orientation videos. You have each done such a remarkable job getting the kids ready for remote learning as well as face to face learning. The planning, dedication, and the time putting all this together is so heartfelt. I truly know how much you care about these kids personally and educationally.

I know all this work was a team effort. Please thank Mr. Zach for me as well Coach, Ms. Dodge and anyone else who helped put all this together. It was a huge undertaking with very little guidance. You all should be so very proud of the platform you have created.

Again, from the bottom of my heart thank you for keeping our kids safe. For loving our kids. For everything you do every day going forward.

While every day I second guess my decision to keep Jake home this 1st quarter, I know that when he returns, he will be in the safest of hands.

Thank you so Much

THANK YOU LETTER FROM KINGSTON'S MOM (A NEW STUDENT AT MSS)

I just wanted to say thank YOU for today! Kingston got in the car with a huge smile on his face and said “I love the school. It’s actually great!” You have no idea how much this means to us! We sold our home of 12 years in Vilano that we all loved so much on the water. We took such a leap of faith in moving for the school. But we have prayed for this for so long and took that leap of faith! I have such a great feeling about this year!

HELP US RAISE MONEY!

WHEN SHOPPING ON AMAZON SUPPORT MORNING STAR SCHOOL BY SHOPPING ON AMAZONSMILE INSTEAD!

It's exactly like Amazon but you'll make a difference!

If you shop on Amazon, make sure you shop on AmazonSmile. It's exactly the same Amazon you love but a portion of your purchase price will be donated to our school each time you shop!

1. Visit AmazonSmile

2. Select Morning Star School of Jacksonville as your charity of choice and start shopping!

3. Bookmark the AmazonSmile link and use it each time you shop with Amazon! (Proceeds will only be donated if you are logged into AmazonSmile).

Download the NEW Box Tops App Today!

Box Tops is a great way to earn fundraising dollars! And now there is a new phone app which makes it easier to earn points for our school! Shop as you normally would, then simply scan your store receipts to find participating products. The app will automatically credit your school's Box Tops earnings online. It's a much easier way to help us earn dollars.

Download the new Box Tops App HERE.

Watch a video about the new process HERE

You may still clip Box Tops and send them to school. Physical Box Tops clips are being phased out of production but may continue to be found on many products throughout the store.

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER...

Turn in your box tops weekly. They do expire.
Be sure to NOT cut the code off. We cannot use it if the code is missing even one of the digits
Place them in a zip lock bag and send them in with your student.

Thank you for supporting our fundraising efforts! Questions? Please reach out to Jackie Rodriguez, our Home & School Box Tops Coordinator at jaco_rodriguez@yahoo.com

SUBMIT A STORY

If you have a great story, please share it with us. We love showcasing the many talents of our students and their families. To submit a story click the button below.

Submit a Story!

Our School Mission Statement

Rooted in the Gospel and strengthened by the sacraments, the mission of Morning Star School is to provide a unique, inspiring education empowering students with learning differences to achieve their full potential.