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Dear St. Rita School Parents and Guardians,
This is a repeat message from a few weeks back but we continue to have serious safety issues as parents continue to let their children “play” in the school parking lot. Today I spoke to all our students after Mass about these concerns and reminded them that they are also responsible for their own safety and need to follow the rules.
“Over the past few weeks I have been noticing many concerning issues both at arrival time and at dismissal time which need to be corrected immediately before we have a serious accident involving our students. The concern involves parents allowing their child/children to play in the parking lot while parents are visiting with their friends and not paying attention to what their child is doing. Children are running behind the dumpster, behind the cars, back and forth across the driveway, on the snow piles and in the snow while cars are entering and exiting the parking lot. Yesterday two of our staff members barely avoided backing into students who were playing around the cars at dismissal time. I have noticed that many of our Prek parents are allowing their children to ride scooters or race cars, before or after school , in the middle of the parking lot while cars are in motion. Allowing the children to play in the snow or on the icy snow piles also poses a safety danger. Finally, I am very concerned that during dismissal time, cars are parked illegally on both sides of Edgemere Road creating a dangerous situation for anyone living in the adjacent neighborhood should they have an emergency. Emergency vehicles will be unable to get through when our St. Rita parents are illegally parked on both sides of the street. Many parents are not using the crosswalk to cross Gilles Road and your child/ren is following your example. Once again, I am very concerned that a serious accident will occur. Thank you for your support in helping to keep your student and all SR students safe. “
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent. In our parish, St. Paul VI, there are many activities and programs to help you and your family become closer to God. As part of our Lenten journey and as a way to grow closer to Christ, we all need to reflect on our habits and lifestyles and consider changes that could lead to a healthier and more vibrant life. Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; in other words a time to pause, reflect, and recalibrate our lives in ways that last beyond the 40 days of the season.
Our Lenten service project is underway and will be officially launched at our school wide prayer service this Friday. During this season of Lent our school community will work to raise money in support of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Our goal is to raise $6000 to help fund childhood cancer research. Please speak with your child/ren on the things they can do or that they can give-up in order to make a donation to this very worthy cause. Together, let’s conquer it!
In the words of Pope Francis, here are a few things we can fast from, and things we can feast on, during this Lenten season:
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Now that’s a pretty full menu!
Thank you for entrusting your children to our care. Don’t forget to “Spring” ahead this weekend! Have a great week.
God Bless,
Mrs. Tiezzi
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