Dear Parents-
Let us pray for all candidates who desire to serve in our national and local government. May all seeking election commit themselves to the common good, so that our nation may be faithful to its pledge of liberty and justice for all. Let us pray for the ones most affected by the choices we make... And for the one who will be elected President let us pray that he will have before him at all times the courage to protect and defend the rights of all citizens, especially the weakest and most vulnerable among us. (from Diocese of San Jose)
Last Thursday, we enjoyed the 8th grade “parade of costumes!” Historically, our 8th grade students made cards and small Halloween gifts, dressed in their costumes and headed over to Potomac Falls Health and Rehab Center to share the fun of Halloween! Unfortunately, visiting with the elderly of our community is not possible, and so this year, while students were able to make cards, the parade of costumes was held at school. I am so proud of the teachers and students who worked together to ensure great fun for everyone!
Parent-Teacher conferences are planned for Tuesday afternoon, November 10 and all day Wednesday, November 11. All conferences will be held via ZOOM. Teachers are in the process of reaching out to parents with conference Sign-Up Genius links.
The coronavirus continues to spread throughout our region. The positivity rate in Virginia is up to 7.4%, with the current 7-day average of new infections setting a record high. The number of new cases continues to indicate that the potential for an outbreak continues to grow, according to COVIDactnow.com. Fairfax County test positivity rate is up noticeably over last week, now at 5.02%; neighboring Loudoun County has a positivity rate of 5.2%, and Prince William County is at 7% positivity rate. Websites that track the virus indicate COVID in Fairfax County is at risk of an outbreak. As always, I remind our families to wear masks, wash hands, keep distance and avoid crowds. Please be careful and I thank you for your commitment to keeping the school community safe by minimizing unnecessary social contact.
In addition, keeping the school community safe depends on all in-person students complying with the mitigation strategies set in the reopen plan. This means wearing a mask throughout the school day, and staying in the assigned cohort, among other requirements. For some students, this is very difficult. It is important to assess your commitment to complying with the plan. We are facing an uptick in COVID-19 cases now and through the winter months, and for the safety of everyone, please talk with your child and re-energize the commitment to wearing a mask, and to responsible behaviors when in a pandemic.
Along with the potential for an increase in COVID cases comes an increase in hardship for families closely affected by the virus. As we enter the holiday season, it is a perfect time of year to reflect on Catholic social teaching, and how we answer the call to holiness...doing small things with great love, including remembering those who are food insecure, and those who are without warmth and shelter. The HOPE baby-bottle drive runs this week, and Scouting for Food Drive runs next week. See information below about both drives. If possible, please consider donating to these groups that support families in need in the Herndon community.
Polls close at 7:00PM...if you haven’t already, GO VOTE. #democracy #votingmatters #ivoted #govote
As always, please let me know if you have any questions, or if I can be of assistance.
Go to Joseph
(Gen 41:55)
Denise Rutledge
Principal
Building Wisdom and Faith Through Service to God
