Parent Weekly Update 1/9/26

St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, rooted in Catholic values, strives to achieve educational excellence by facilitating the intellectual, spiritual, and physical growth of each child and promoting a community of faith, hope, love and service.

Parent Weekly Update

January 12, 2026 through January 19, 2026

Important Dates at a Glance

Monday, January 12, 2026 -  Student Council meeting until 3:45 PM

Monday, January 12, 2026 - Knights of Columbus Basketball Shoot-Out Competition on campus

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - Band practice and lessons

Tuesday, January 13, 2026 - Ice Cream sold at both lunches

Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - STAR Reading Testing for all students grades K-6

Thursday, January 15, 2026 - STAR Math Testing for all students grades 1-6

Friday, January 16, 2026 - School Prayer Service 8:45 AM - Baptism of our Lord

Monday, January 19 2026 - School is Closed for all students - MLK jr Day

Registration for Current Families

It’s that time of year again!  Registration for current families begins on Friday, January 16, 2026 and runs through Friday, January 30, 2026.  All current families who plan to return to St Rose of Lima Elementary are encouraged to register as soon as possible to reserve your spot for your children.  Information about tuition and registration forms will be sent home with your child/children the week of  January 5, 2026.  We look forward to working with you and your children again next school year!!

Simple Tuition Solutions

All families at St Rose of Lima are required to file for financial assistance, work with our EITC program, or both in order to receive ANY discounts in tuition. Our school code is 20621. The financial aid link for the 2026-2027 school year through Simple Tuition Solutions opened for parents on February 2, 2026.  ALL FAMILIES MUST COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATION FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY MARCH 31, 2026 IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR ANY DISCOUNTS.

Knights of Columbus Basketball Shootout

On Monday, January 12, 2026, representatives from the St Rose of Lima Knights of Columbus Council will be on campus to conduct the preliminary competition for students ages 9-12 during their Physical Education classes.  Students who score the highest number of baskets will have the opportunity to represent our school later in January.  Parents will be contacted by the Knights of Columbus with further details.

First Reconciliation/Holy Communion Classes Grades 3-6

Beginning Wednesday, January 14, 2026, classes for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion will be offered for students in grades 3–6. Classes will be taught by Mrs. Johnston and will meet each Wednesday from 3:30–4:30 PM, continuing through the end of April. These classes are only for students in grades 3–6. Students in grade 2 will receive preparation during their regular religion class held during the school day.

If your child is interested in becoming a member of the Catholic Church, please contact Mrs. Johnston to register.

Daddy/Daughter and Mother/Son Nights - Save the date!

The Daddy/Daughter Dance will be at St. Rose on Friday, February 20th from 7 - 8:30 pm, tickets will be $15 per family with more information to come!  The Mom/Son night will be at Titanium Athletics in Glen Rock on Friday, March 27th from 6 - 8:30 pm, tickets are $16 per person.  Please see the flyer for more information and to purchase tickets!

STAR Testing

Students in grades K - 6 are assessed each year using the STAR testing for Reading and Math.  The dates for the winter testing are Wednesday, January 14 for Reading and Thursday, January 15 for Math.  It is very important that all students are present on testing days. Thank you.

Dressing Warmly

The winter season is upon us.  Please make sure your child has the appropriate outerwear for recess.  Students should bring coats, gloves, and hats with them to school.  Students should plan to go outside for recess each day.  Additionally, remember that sweatshirts may only be worn with the gym uniform.  Students must wear the royal blue St. Rose sweater with their daily winter/spring school uniform. 

The St Rose of Lima Gala Returns!

The 8th annual St Rose Gala will take place on Saturday February 7, 2026 at the Yorktowne Hotel. Additional volunteers and helpers are always needed. Anyone who would like to help out with the gala committee can contact Neal Liptak at 717-676-7853. Tickets will be available for purchase soon.

Weis 4 School

Do you shop at Weis Markets?  If you do, you can help our school by linking your Weis card to our school.  This is an easy way to help our school earn money that can be used for a variety of things here at St Rose of Lima.  Just log onto www.Weis4School.com, link your Weis Rewards Card and then start shopping at Weis Markets!  We thank you for your support!

CELL PHONES/ELECTRONICS/EARBUDS

Cell phones and electronic devices such as smart watches, earbuds/airpods, gaming devices, tablets,  music players, radios, lasers, laser pens, non-St. Rose of Lima Elementary School laptops are prohibited to be kept with the student during the school day.  Students are expected to turn their cell phones and devices into the Main Office at the start of the school day.  No student may carry a cell phone during the day.

Cell phones and devices are not permitted to be kept “on the person”.  Earbuds, AirPods, headphones, smartwatches and the like are not to be worn during the school day without approval of the Administration. These items listed go against the school and Diocesan policy.

Consequences will be issued according to St. Rose of Lima Elementary School and will be confiscated and turned into the Main Office.  The student’s parents must come into the Main Office to retrieve the confiscated cell phones or devices.  St. Rose of Lima Elementary School is not responsible for loss or damage to any cell phone or electronic device.

During the school day, communication between parents and students must be conducted through the school office. Students are not to call, text, or email their parents.  Students must come to the Main Office to contact their parents.

CLOSINGS AND DELAYS – WINTER WEATHER INFORMATION

Closings and delays are reported to families via parent text alerts, email notifications, and posts to the St. Rose of Lima Elementary School Facebook page.  Additionally, St. Rose of Lima Elementary School reports to WGAL8 television station.

Two Hour Delay Information – All Students:

The building will open at 9:40 AM (instead of 7:40 AM)

Classes will begin at 10:00 AM

Closings/Severe Weather During the School Day:

If your local school district closes before St. Rose of Lima Elementary School, please know that we will follow that school district’s schedule and your student will be placed on the bus unless you call the office and speak with someone to give parental approval for other arrangements.  Please note that we do NOT send out alerts if school districts dismiss early since your school district should have a plan in place to notify families in their districts of a change to their schedules.

If St. Rose of Lima Elementary School closes early, we will notify you via a parent text alert and/or an email notification in addition to posting the information to all sources listed above.  If St. Rose of Lima Elementary School dismisses before your local school district dismisses, you are responsible for picking up your student within 20 minutes of the St. Rose of Lima Elementary School dismissal time.  As early dismissal times may vary, we will give clear pick-up times for students in the text and email notifications.  (Example:  Early dismissal is at 11:30 AM today.  All students must be picked up by 11:50 AM).  In order for our staff and faculty to also leave in a timely and safe manner, St. Rose of Lima Elementary School will not remain open beyond the pick-up time. 

If your student is a private car rider, you may pick up your student at any time due to inclement weather conditions, as long as your student is picked up before the pick-up deadline sent out in the parent text alerts and email notifications.

ILLNESS

Parents know their children best and need to carefully weigh the decision to keep them home from school for illness; however, in the best interest of other students and families, your student cannot attend school if he/she has:

• A temperature of 100.4 degrees or more (oral temperature) within the last 24 hours. NOTE: Students must be fever free for a full 24 hours WITHOUT medication to return to school.
• Thick nasal mucous discharge that he/she is unable to maintain
• A persistent cough that will hinder his/her ability to function within the classroom setting, or will impede the educational process for the other students in class.
• An unidentified rash that is not explained by a doctor’s note as non-communicable at the discretion of administration.
• Experienced more than one episode of diarrhea/irregular bowel activity in the past 24 hours.
• Vomited within the past 24 hours.
• Pink/red itchy eyes with sticky/yellowish discharge, unless the doctor has established in writing that it is not contagious.
• Lice – students must be treated and be free of live lice and nits in order to return to school.
• The child has ANY communicable disease.  Examples, including but not limited to:  COVID-19, pink eye, chicken pox, Fifths disease, measles, rubella, pertussis, hand-foot and mouth, etc.

Happy 2026!!