August 13, 2020
Important updates in this weeks Tidbits:

Statement of Understanding and Release of Liability in Regard to Covid-19

New Mustang Family Orientation Video

Amazon Wish List

Mask requirements update

Ice Cream Friday Update

In Person Vs Digital Classroom numbers

Mustang Extended day Program registration
Principal Points
Good Afternoon St. Stephen families,

Our first day of school is almost here and I'm happy to say that it will be in-person instruction at school with some students joining us through the Flexible Learning Program. Our classrooms are almost ready and teachers are preparing their back-to-school videos which they will be sharing with you next week.

Please read through all of Tidbits as there are many important items for you to review.

Peace and Blessings,

Linda Umoh
Statement of Understanding and Release of Liability in Regard to Covid-19
Below is the link to the Statement of Understanding and Release of Liability in Regard to Covid-19. We must have a signed copy for each child submitted to us no later than Aug 24, 2020. Your student will not be allowed to return to school without this signed and submitted to our office. Please sign and send a PDF copy to Debra Watkins dwatkins@sscsfl.org or drop by the office Monday- Thursday between 8 am-12 pm until Aug 20.
New Mustang Family Orientation Video
All new families were sent this video with loads of important information to help them transition into the school as smoothly as possible. We would like to also share it with everyone, as there may be things about SSCS that you didn't know.
Contents:
  • Pick up and drop off
  • Communication
  • Extended Day
  • Procedures
And much, much more!
Uniform Options for August and September
This fall our teachers will have the option to take their classes outside for lessons as often as they desire. As the students will be spending an increased time outside, in the heat, they may wear their PE Uniforms everyday throughout the month of September. At the end of September we will determine if this option will be available for October.
Amazon Wish List, Please donate to help keep our students safe!
This year, there are many classroom procedures that must change to keep students and faculty safe. One of those procedures is sharing books. In our reading curriculum, students often share copies of the texts to work cooperatively and build fluency and other reading strategies as they practice reading with each other. Due to COVID-19, students will not be able to share texts this year. We are asking that families help us supplement the number of the core texts we have in each classroom so that each student can use their own copy.

Please see the linked Amazon Wish List. On it, you will see the list of Core texts marked with the priority and the number needed for each text. Texts marked as highest priority are the books they will need soonest in the order of modules for the class. Anything you can do to help us is greatly appreciated.

Update: Thanks to the generosity of many of our school families, we have already met the need in several of our grades! We still have some books left to be purchased in the grades below. Thank you for being awesome, Mustang Families!


If you use Amazon Smile, the school will get a percentage of the cost of the book as a donation.
Mask Requirement Update
Based on guidance from the CDC and our local task force, we are updating which types of masks will be allowed at school. For the safety of everyone, the following types masks are no longer acceptable:
o Masks with valves
o Bandanas
o Neck Gators
These have not been found to sufficiently protect against the spread of germs. Please remember that masks with inappropriate words, pictures, or masks that are political in nature are not allowed at school.
Changes to Ice Cream Friday, must prepay!
We have made a few changes to the Ice Cream Friday program this year due to Covid-19. First, we will not be accepting cash for ice cream. If you would like your children to be able to enjoy ice cream you will need to prepay for the entire fall (Sept. 4 - Dec. 18). Please fill out this form Ice Cream Friday Form to sign your students up to participate in this treat. The form must be submitted by Aug 28. Second, we are offering fewer options this fall. Students will be able to purchase vanilla or chocolate cups, ice cream sandwiches, or nutty cones.
Don't forget to get your PIK My Kid app set up!
PikMyKid is the new system that we are using for dismissal this school year. It will be used not only for school dismissal but for extended day as well. This system allows us to create a socially distant and organized dismissal. Please set up your Pikmykid account today! If you are new to our school and have not yet received your car line number or if you have have lost your tag or have forgotten your number please contact Mrs. Gallagher at ngallagher@sscsfl.org
Club Mustang Extended Day Program 2020-2021
Due to Diocesan insurance regulations and for the safety of your child, students may not remain on school grounds prior to school or after dismissal without adult supervision. Therefore, any child not picked up at dismissal will automatically be sent to the Extended Day Program and assessed the normal fees.

The Extended Day Program is available to all St. Stephen Students: PK3, PK4, K-8
Morning Care: 6:30 am – 7:30 am. Aftercare: 12 noon – 6:00 pm.

How do we charge? We charge by the half-hour. For example, students in Extended Day from 3:00 pm- 3:30 pm are charged ½ hour. If the student remains in extended day after 3:30 pm and is picked up before 4:00 pm, they are charged 1 hour. Students in Extended Day from 3:00 pm – 5:15 pm are charged for 2 ½ hours. All students in morning care are charged 1 hour each day. Late Pick-up: Parents picking up any child after 6:00 pm will be assessed $15 and an additional $15 for every 15 minutes they are late.

PAYMENT PLANS**
Hourly Plan: $7 per hour per child and *$5 per hour for each additional child within a family.
Hourly Bills: Bills are emailed the first week of each month. Payments are due the 15th of each month.
Late Payments: Late payments will be assessed a $15 late fee each month. Families with a balance due over 30 days may be restricted from using the Extended Day Program until payment is received.

Prepayment (Discount) Plan:
Annual: $2,700.00 - due the 1st Friday of the school year
Monthly: $300 - due the 1st of each month
Prepayment Bills: Prepayment is optional, therefore bills are not distributed. In order to receive the discount benefits of our Prepayment Plans, monthly prepayments must be received by the 1st of each month and the Annual prepayment must be received by the 1st Friday of the school year.

Please submit the registration form, Club Mustang Extended Day registration form, if you will be utilizing extended day this school year. Drop in care is always available, even if you do not fill out the form.
Update Alert! 2020-2021 School Supplies: Changes and Instructions
In addition to the supplies on each grade's list, all students in grades K-8 will need the following:
  • Masks or face coverings
  • Tupperware (plastic sealable) container for the mask
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Small, personal hand sanitizer to keep in their pencil case/box
St. Stephen Catholic School Reopening Plan 2020-21
If you missed the email, here is a copy of our Reopening Plan and video that was sent on July 15. Please be sure to read it and email if you have any questions.
Mask Tutorial
Wondering why we are asking you to send in a plastic container for your child's mask? Mrs. Higginbottom and her daughters explain in their video!

Start helping your child learn to put on, take off, and properly store their mask. Thank you to the Higginbottom girls for helping us learn mask protocol!
Summer Hours
The school office will be open Monday - Thursday from 8 am to 12 noon beginning June 1. If you wish to stop by the school used uniform closet, please come during our summer hours.

Great Family Resources
Click Here for: Free Audible books for children and teens.

Click Here for: Wide Open School is a free collection of the best online learning experiences for kids curated by the editors at Common Sense.

Click Here for: The ultimate list of resources for families with children!
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