From the Desk of Mrs. Tiezzi

Dear St. Rita School Parents and Guardians, 

Earlier this week you were notified of a calendar change in March/April. Due to a scheduling issue at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, the Teacher Faith Formation Day has been changed from Friday, March 28 to Tuesday, April 1. St. Rita School will be open for a full day of school on Thursday, March 27, an early dismissal day on Friday, March 28 and closed on Tuesday, April 1.

Our largest fundraiser of the year is right around the corner. Information about this fundraiser has been shared with all our families and students. We need the support of all our St. Rita families to reach our goal of $35,000. Please share this fundraising opportunity with all your family members, neighbors and friends. Students are encouraged to perform kind deeds and help spread kindness through our school, our families, and our community. Together we can make a difference!!!

Please join us for our annual celebration of National Catholic Schools Week, beginning on Sunday, January 26. We will be kicking off Catholic Schools Week (January 28-February 3) with student-led Masses at all three churches. We are currently looking for students willing to serve as lectors for the 11:00 A.M. Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, 10:00 A.M. Mass at Blessed Sacrament and 11:30 A.M. Mass at St. Rita. Please contact Sr. Anne directly if your child would like to be a lector. Students are asked to wear their school uniforms at Mass to show their school pride and receive a free dress down day coupon from Fr. Tiano. Please see Mrs. Tiezzi, Sr. Anne, or Mrs. Robinson at one of the Masses to receive your coupon.

This year’s CSW theme -“Catholic Schools: United in Faith and Community”- highlights our focus on academic excellence, faith development, dedication to community service, and future success. We’ve planned a variety of events to show how we are doing as a community at St. Rita School. A more detailed listing of the CSW activities will be sent home in next week’s newsletter.

Registration for new students for the upcoming 2025-2026 school is currently open to our school families. If you have another child you would like to have join our school community for next year, please contact Mrs. Bruno, our admissions director, for the registration information. Re-enrollment for current students will not take place until early March.

Next Tuesday, January 21, marks the midpoint of the second trimester. Midterm progress reports will be emailed home to parents of students in grades 4-8 who have grades less than 70% in any subject. Parents of students in grades 4-8 are able to view student grades via our FACTS family portal at anytime.

Today students in grades 1-8 began the NWEA MAP assessment. MAP Growth creates a personalized assessment experience that accurately measures achievement - whether a student performs on, above, or below grade level. Teachers will use the results of the assessment to assist them in planning instruction for their students. The results of the assessment will be shared with your child and sent home to parents.

Now, most especially, let us take some time over the holiday to honor the legacy of Dr. King by talking with your children and sharing ways to live out Dr. King’s legacy - nonviolent protest. In 1959 during his visit to India, Dr. King stated, “Today we no longer have a choice between violence and nonviolence: it is either nonviolence or nonexistence.” His legacy goes hand in hand with our Catholic social teachings - a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society.

St. Teresa of Calcutta once stated “the world is changed by your example, not your opinion”. Spend the next week honoring the legacy of both Dr. King and St. Teresa by “doing small things in a great way”.



School will be dismissing early on Friday, Jan. 17 and will be closed on Monday, January 20. Thank you for entrusting your child/ren to our care.

God Bless,

Mrs. Tiezzi

**Important Calendar Change**

Thursday, March 27, 2025

will be a full day of school.

Friday, March 28, 2025

will be an early dismissal day,

with dismissal at 12 noon.

Tuesday, April 1 will be a no-school day

for the Teachers' Faith Formation Day.

Lands’ End has extended the January promotion

for Up to 30% off thru 1-19-2025.

Just a reminder that applications for the Lands’ End 7^th Annual Scholarship will be accepted until January 17^th for students in Grade 8

Help Wanted!

We are in need of a time keeper and scorebook recorder (high school age or above) for home basketball games held at Sacred Heart Academy.

We are also looking for an Athletic Director for the remainder of the school year. Please contact Mrs. Tiezzi if you are interested (ptiezzi.stritaschool@gmail.com).

Home basketball games are scheduled at Sacred Heart Academy for:

Sunday, January 26

Sunday, February 2

Sunday, February 16

Changes to game times on these dates at SHA:

Game 1 - 1:30

Game 2 - 2:45

Game 3 - 4:00

Game 4 - 5:15

HSA

(Home-School Association)

Nurse's Corner

COVID and respiratory virus policy change:

In conjunction with the health department, Hamden Public Schools and Saint Rita School will be adopting the new COVID policy.

If your child tests positive for COVID, they should stay home for 24 hours.

If they do not present with a fever , they can return to school after 24 hours. Wearing a mask for 5 days is advised as there is still a high transmission rate. 

If they develop a fever, they should stay home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine. They can then return to school and it is advised that they wear a mask for 5 days. 



If during the 5 day mask period they develop a fever, the clock resets. They should remain home until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medicine. Returning to school with a mask for 5 days is advised. 

Medication in school:

If your child requires medication in school, the medication must be brought in by a parent along with a Medication Administration in School   

completed by the pediatrician. 

Cough drops brought into school must stay in the nurse's office. 

Any OTC medication should not be sent into school with your child (Advil, Tylenol, midol, allergy medicine, etc...) If your child requires any OTC medicine while at school they can go to the nurses office and a parent will be called to bring the medicine into school and administer it to their child. 

PreSchool Flu Shots:

All Pre school students are required to get a flu vaccine before we leave for Christmas break. Please send in a note from the doctor after your child receives their flu shot.

7th Grade Physicals:

All students entering 7th grade must have a physical dated after May 31st of the 5th grade year. They are also required to have a tetanus booster and meningitis vaccine. If your child is in the 6th grade now, physicals for 7th grade can be sent into the health office at any time during this school year. Any physical dated after May 31, 2024 will be accepted.  

Nut allergies in the classroom:

If your child is in a classroom with a student with a severe nut allergy, your child's teacher will have informed you that any foods containing nuts should only be eaten in the cafeteria. Please do not send in a snack with nut ingredients. Thank you for helping us to keep all of our students safe.

Please reach out to me at any time during the school year with any health questions or concerns.

The Knights of Columbus Council of St. Paul the VI parish will hold a Trivia Night at St. Rita Church in the Donnelly Parish Center (Church Lower Level) on Friday February 2.

Doors will open at 6 pm - the event starts at 7 pm. 

Tickets are $10/person.

The event is BYOB and participants should

bring their own appetizers. 

It’s a great night out for Mom and Dad!

Please pray for all the deceased members of our

St. Rita Community.