Dear Parents,

To say, “What a day!” would be an understatement. Today our school community has shined brighter than any star in the sky. After receiving the news this morning that one of our students tested positive for COVID-19 our admin staff went into action. I made an all-call to the close contacts…Miss Clariza and I set up two antigen testing stations in the gym…Mrs. Hollis manned the phones, and our VP, Mrs. Zack began checking for consent-for-testing forms from the parents. The process went smoothly and we all celebrated after all 13 students and 9 staff members tested negative and were permitted to return to class on a “Modified(in school) Quarantine. This means that the affected class will remain in its cohort for the remainder of this week and wearing facial coverings inside and outside through Friday, November 5. We will also perform one additional test on each of the close contacts this Friday as well.

Due to the fact that some of our students are in this “Modified (in school) Quarantine” we have had to make some adjustments to our school calendar of events. I thank you, in advance for understanding that these decisions were not easy, but were made in the best interest of our entire school community.

• This Thursday’s Living Rosary has been postponed. The date has not been decided
• This Friday’s Saint’s Parade/costume day and school Mass has been postponed until Friday, November 12. (There will not be a school Mass next Friday)
• Our Halloween Bash has also been rescheduled for Friday, November 12. Costumes can still be worn and a Halloween theme will still fill the air! (Please note that if you dropped off decorations in the school office and need them for your own Halloween celebrations, please feel free to pick them up. We would appreciate it if we can borrow them again after Halloween)

Once again, I thank you for your understanding. We want these wonderful events to be enjoyable for everyone in our community. I look forward to celebrating the good health of us all in the upcoming weeks.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather as much as I am! Fall is in the air and the holidays are quickly approaching.

Here are some wonderful events coming up for our school community:

This Thursday (10/21) at 10:21 our school will participate in a statewide earthquake drill (The Great California Shakeout). This is a great way to make sure our students know how to react in case of this type of an emergency.

We have rescheduled our Living Rosary for Thursday, October 28 at 9:30 in the church. Parents are welcome to attend. Since we will be indoors, we ask that all participants wear facial coverings. This is such a beautiful way to honor Mary.

Friday, October 29 is a big day! We have two very special events. First, we ask that our students arrive to school dressed as their favorite saint. We will participate in a school wide “Saints Parade” around the block and end up in the church for a special Mass celebrating the Saints and their dedication to their faith. Later that evening, from 6:00-9:00 we will gather in the senior yard and the sports court for the return of our annual Halloween Carnival. This year we have combined it with our Family Fun Night. There will be food, games and lots of fun music and dancing. You may even get to toss a pie in a teacher’s face! Please watch for all of the information in today’s newsletter. Volunteers are needed to make this evening of fun happen. I encourage you to reach out to your room parent to see how you can help.

It is so nice to see the return of some of these wonderful community builders. God is so good! May we continue to stay safe and healthy as we keep moving forward during these uncertain times.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

I am pleased to share with you that our first week of making Antigen Testing available to our students has gone smoothly. We have had no positive cases, just colds and allergies. Thanks be to God!

With that said, I am very aware of concerns and questions regarding the possibility of government mandated vaccines for our children. I will continue to be open to conversations and will share any information with you that comes my way.

Unfortunately, at this time there simply isn’t any. All we have heard is a statement from the Governor during a news conference. The California Bishops will be meeting next week and this mandate is on their agenda. Therefore, I should hopefully know more following that meeting. Fr. Pat and myself are dedicated to all of the families in our school, no matter where they “stand” on this issue. We will continue to support all of our parents and their right to make healthcare decisions for their children. I am proud of how united our school community has remained during times of much fear, anxiety and confusion. We have stood strong and refrained from judging one another because we have different views on current pandemic and healthcare issues. Let’s not lose that focus. Let’s stay strong and united in Christ and get through this together as one SMA family.

In closing, please check your email for a link to tomorrow evening’s La Jolla Town Council meeting. I was honored to be invited to make a presentation at an Educational Forum. I will be speaking on the history and current growth and successes of Stella Maris Academy. The presentation will begin at 5:30 and I will be the first speaker and only Catholic school representative! The Zoom link is included the today’s earlier email. I hope to see many of you attend in support of our amazing school.

Stay Strong Stella…we got this!!!!

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

I am pleased to share with you that our “Acts of Kindness” are going strong! Congratulations to the first grade for already completing 75 kind acts! This is such a special way to celebrate our wonderful school.

Many thanks to Mrs. Moreau and Mr. Lupe Rios (our music teacher)along with some of our students, for representing SMA in today’s virtual World Mission Rosary. This event was sponsored by the Missions Office of the Diocese of San Diego. We were honored to be asked to sing and lead our other Catholic schools in a decade of the Holy Rosary.

I encourage all of our families to try to attend this weekend’s La Jolla’s Art and Wine Festival this weekend. It is a great way to support our community and local business. There will be lots of food, music, arts and other booths to entertain the entire family. I hope to see you there.

Many thanks for your patience as we have trained and prepared for the Rapid Result Antigen Testing program here at our school. It is now underway. Please make sure that you fill out the registration and digital consent forms sent home via email this past Monday.

Blessings for a great 3-day weekend!

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

I am getting a day away, off campus today to visit with the 7th and 8th graders up at camp in Julian. I look forward to returning to school tomorrow. The students are having a wonderful time together. Mrs. Zack has kept in contact with me via texts and some great photos.

This upcoming Monday, October 4 at 8:00 AM in the junior yard, Fr. Pat will be available to bless your family pets in honor of the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Please note the following procedures that need to be followed to keep ourselves and our pets safe.

• All animals must be leashed or in pet carriers
• Please pick up after your pets
• All students without pets must go to their classrooms
• All pets must return home following the prayer service. Pets may not remain at school.
• All parents must be masked while on campus

This is always a very special day for our students and their “special friends”. If you are unable to attend Monday morning, please check our parish website for information regarding our parish “Blessing of the Animals” this Saturday morning.

Please take some time to visit our school Book Fair next week. It will take place in our school library. The hours of operation are in today’s newsletter.

Thank you for your continued support. As the holidays approach and excitement begins to build, please help support our efforts by supporting our students’ routines to promote the maximum amount of learning possible during the next few busy, joy-filled months.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Please take the time to view the photos of last Friday’s Pep Rally celebration of our 75th anniversary. Many thanks to all who attended this spirit-filled celebration in honor of our wonderful school. We were joined by our pastor Fr. Pat Mulcahy, the Director of Schools for the Diocese of San Diego John Galvan, the Associate Director of Schools and former SMA teacher and VP Dr. Julie Cantillon, our school mascot Rhory, and so many supportive and energetic parents. We heard inspiring messages, gathered in prayer and song, and were challenged to complete 75 Acts of Kindness by November 1st. Our rally ended with our students singing our Stella Maris Academy Alma Mater. I encourage you to watch for regular updates regarding our on-going Acts of Kindness. As you can see in the photo accompanying this message, I was the recipient of one of our 7th grade Acts of Kindness when I walked out to my car after a very long work day and found a very beautiful prayer message from the 7th graders left on my windshield. Keep up the “kindness” SMA!!!

In closing, I ask that all of our families join me in prayer for our 7th and 8th graders as they venture up to Camp Stevens in Julian this coming Monday for their “belated” 6th Grade Camp experience. Thank you to Mrs. Zack and Mrs. Moreau for accompanying our students for their week of fun, outdoor education and team building.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Excitement is growing with our 75^th Anniversary just two days away!  Please plan on joining us this Friday morning at 8:15 for a Pep Rally to celebrate our wonderful school.  Due to the large number of students and guests expected, we are asking that facial coverings be worn while students are present.

The COVID-19 Decision Tree has gone through a few minor changes.  I will be sending the new tree home in next week’s newsletter.  Please note that we are now sending home a Decision Tree page with the highlighted procedure required by the health department with any student who is sent home with symptoms.  It is our hope that this helps to make the process a bit easier.  Additionally, public health requires that any COVID-19 testing, except an at-home antigen test is admissible for reentry to school.  As soon as our test kits arrive, we can provide this service free of charge for our students (with parent consent, of course).  The latest news is that the tests are backordered for at least 4 weeks. I will continue to keep you updated with all of the latest news.

I hope to see many of you at our celebration this Friday morning, and of course, at our Family Mass at 9:00 this Sunday.  Remember, If the students attend the Mass on Sunday in Mass uniform, they can come to me after Mass for a free dress coupon.  So much to be thankful for…we are so blessed!

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Save the date! On Friday, September 17th, Stella Maris Academy will celebrate our 75th Anniversary! This is a BIG DEAL!!! Please join us at 8:15 on the sports court that morning for a pep rally where we will celebrate this wonderful school with some special guests. We will be “kicking off” an “Acts of Kindness Challenge” to all of our students, sing some of our favorite songs and celebrate with our mascot, Rory the Lion. Even though this is an outdoor event, we are asking all adults and students to wear facial coverings due to the large number of people within the court area. After our event, parents are invited to come over to the office lawn area and join us for refreshments. We plan on carrying this celebration over to our spring Gala. We have so much to be thankful for…God is Good!

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

As we look forward towards the upcoming 3-day Labor Day weekend, we can celebrate a wonderful beginning to our school year. 

Today we had our first fire drill of the new school year.  Mr. Guay has also walked many of our classes to visit our three “Rally Points” this week. These are places of safety for our students to go to in case of an evacuation emergency.  Some additional excitement is also going on in both our junior and senior yards.  Our, long awaited and much anticipated, shade sails are being installed this week.  The poles will be set in concrete tomorrow and sails to be installed early next week.  A million thanks to our teachers and students for their patience during all of the jack-hammering during the school day in preparation for this project.

Fr. Mark will be our celebrant for this Friday’s school Mass.  Please note …we LOVE having parents attend our school Masses.  In order to assure the safety of our children, we ask that all parents that choose to attend Mass with us must wear facial coverings while in the church.  Students will be sitting 5 to a pew.  Therefore, in order to accommodate all students, we ask that parents please sit in the side sections or in the side chapel near the tabernacle.   As always, we thank you for your continued support and cooperation.

Blessings,

Francie Moss

Dear Parents,

Too many blessings to count!!! Happy, happy first day of school to all of us! To see parents and grandparents walking students to their classrooms was priceless. The positive energy made my heart happy! I feel a great school year coming on!

One person missing on this special first day of school was our pastor Fr, Pat. His brother is very ill and he had to catch a plane, unexpectedly yesterday. Please keep Fr. Pat’s family and his brother, Mark, in your prayers. Fr. Pat loves the first day of school as much as I do (well almost as much).

Please listen for more update phone calls from me tomorrow and Friday to help get you all through the “reentry” process. After this week the calls will be less frequent, an average of one every one to two weeks. Communication is paramount during these ever-changing times and you can count on us to keep you informed. Please feel free to call or drop by the office at any time. My door is always open to hear suggestions, concerns and commendations regarding how we are doing. We look forward to growing together to make Stella Maris Academy the very best it can be.

Blessings,

Francie Moss