FAMILY CONNECTION | September 3, 2020
President Rick Davis '79 reports on our unprecedented start to school and how to slow the spread of COVID-19 over the Labor Day Weekend.
No School & Early Dismissal
  • There is NO SCHOOL on Labor Day, September 7.
  • There is EARLY DISMISSAL at 1 pm on Thursday, September 17.
  • There is NO SCHOOL Friday, September 25-Monday, September 28.
Parent Volunteers Needed
There are numerous opportunities for parents to volunteer with Parents’ Club. We invite you to submit one form per household, knowing that some events listed may be modified or cancelled because of health and safety guidelines. If you have specific questions about any of the volunteer opportunities, please contact Dennis Matreci at dmatreci@vianney.com. 
Virtual Grandparents' Day
We invite grandparents to join their grandsons for a virtual Grandparents’ Mass on Sunday, September 13, at 9:30 am. Postcard invitations have been mailed to grandparents. Those who register by Monday, September 7, will receive a special commemorative gift from Vianney. You will receive instructions on how to view Grandparents’ Mass online after registration.
Text Messages
To ensure parents receive important texts from the school, text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587 from your mobile phone. You will receive a confirmation text if you successfully enrolled. If you do not receive a confirmation, please visit Blackbaud to update your mobile number as needed.
School Picture Retakes
School pictures can be retaken if needed on Wednesday, September 30, or Thursday, October 1. Please complete the online form if you want to purchase photos from Tom Paule Photography.
Freshman Class Mass
Freshmen should follow the Dress Up Days guidelines shared in the Student-Parent Handbook of dress shirt, tie, dress pants, and belt as well as face mask. Mass begins at 2 pm (NO Afternoon Griffin Assist) with dismissal at 2:40 pm on Wednesday, September 9. Freshmen are required to attend unless they are online that day.
Parents are our best defense in the fight against COVID-19. Please ask your son if he is experiencing any symptoms before he leaves for school each day. If he answers "yes," keep him at home and email Erin Foerstel, RN or Laura Madden, RN at nurse@vianney.com. Your son should attend all classes online until cleared by our nurses to return to campus.
Reporting Campus Absences
If your student is remaining home for any reason on a day he is scheduled to be on campus, please contact Jen Kraus in the Main Office at 314-965-4853 ext 100 or jkraus@vianney.com. Let her know if your student is attending his classes online that day so that he is not recorded as absent.
College Counseling invites you to explore virtual opportunities as our annual college fair in September was cancelled.

There are fairs currently hosted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling on September 13, October 12, October 18, and November 8.
The Missouri Association of College Admission Counseling is offering 180 virtual sessions on college planning, career information, financial aid & scholarships, military options, and more. The 45-minute interactive sessions are open September 13 to October 8.
Choosing a College
The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis' Student Advising Program offers free, unbiased information when choosing a college. They invite students to attend their online workshops, schedule one-on-one appointments, and review videos on financial aid.
College Planning 101
Parents are invited to hear Tim Eggleston '05 with the University of Missouri-Columbia explain how to navigate the college planning process to select the right school for your son.
Online Learning Resources
For students who need more support with their online experience, Special School District offers video tutorials on Google Classroom, Zoom, and Chromebook.
Voter Registration
Students turning 18 on or before November 3 should register with Dennis Matreci in the Leadership Center by September 30 to vote in the upcoming election. Students should also register with him for Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18 to be eligible for federal financial aid for college. This is not a military draft registration but is required by federal law.
Thank you to our student-athletes, coaches, and parents for a strong start to the fall season. We remain in Phase II, practicing social distancing, wearing face coverings, and cleaning workout clothes daily. Please remain home if you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms. Visit our Athletics page for schedules and updates for each sport.
School Lunch
Griffins' Cafe is eliminating the Weekly Lunch Order Form and keeping the more popular Daily Lunch Order Form. It can be found under the Resources tab in Blackbaud and should be submitted by 8:30 am to order lunch for that day.

Beginning Thursday, September 10, Griffins' Cafe will offer a hot sandwich every day but Wednesday.
Cafe Accounts
You can add money to a student's cafe account with MySchoolBucks. Students can also fill their accounts by bringing cash to our concession stand in the Commons when it is open before and after school.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jake Henry '22 is the host of St. Louis BattleCast and a writer for XFL Newsroom. He started his career by covering the St. Louis BattleHawks on Instagram.
MARIANIST MOMENT
Brother David Betz, SM
What Does It Mean to be a Spectacle of Saints in the 21st Century?

I believe that in our present day if we want to be true to our Founders’ desire, we must look at being saints that witness to something that is viewed as notable. And just as in Blessed Chaminade’s time, this something notable is the Good News or the Reign of God...We are being called to witness to justice, to peace, to the dignity of others, to respect others, to be welcoming and inclusive. We are being called to demonstrate God’s Law of Love meaning that we love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul and to love others as we want to be loved. And a primary tool to achieve this witnessing to the Reign of God has been our Characteristics of Marianist Education: 1) Educate for Formation in Faith; 2) Provide an Integral, Quality Education; 3) Educate in Family Spirit; 4) Educate for Service, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation and 5) Educate for Adaptation and Change.
We invite you to submit prayer requests, including any special intentions.