It’s been a fantastic year of learning at
Communion of Saints School!
We arrived in August happy to see our friends and teachers, but not sure what the school year would have in store for us. Would we have to stop at some point and go remote? Would we have to wear masks forever? These big questions were on everyone’s minds, students, teachers, and parents alike.
We spent that first week of school reconnecting, making new friends, and learning the rules and routines, and then it was September when the school year truly began.
First Quarter:
We held a prayer service with first responders in observance of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. We held an in-person curriculum night where parents were able to see their children’s classrooms and speak with the teachers.
Our students started attending morning Mass again and we held a NJHS induction ceremony.
We started lessons on Social Emotional Learning with our school counselor, Miss Jenni. Educational Aides and volunteers were added to our staff. Extracurricular offerings such as Band and Drama Club got underway, and we took our first standardized testing of the year.
Our first school spirit wear started making an appearance, and we had our first fun days of the year with a surprise Alpaca Day, a celebration of Unity Day, Halloween, Trunk or Treat and in-school field trip from Eco-Explorers for our youngest students.
Second Quarter:
Students researched and chose a patron saint for their classroom. They created service projects that went along with their chosen saint. During this quarter, there was a canned food drive, a fundraiser for seeing eye dog training, and 2nd grade made everyone in the school very happy when they delivered candy on St. Nicholas Day.
Students participated in virtual field trips through Playhouse Square and other organizations, and the school hosted a variety of guest speakers.
We had a fun afternoon before our Thanksgiving break. Kindergarten started us off with a beautiful Macy’s style Thanksgiving parade, and students played a variety of games including turkey bowling.
Students in grades K-5 practiced for a Christmas concert but the live performance was cancelled due to health concerns. Fortunately, we were able to record the performance and send it out for all parents to see.
Third Quarter:
We celebrated Catholic Schools Week with Sunday Mass, Open House, a Scholastic Book Fair, and many fun activities, including a student talent show.
We started an Alpha Jump program at our school, a sampling of Robotics and Coding classes in the junior high, and started publishing a student-led newspaper, The Sabre Scoop.
We helped one of our Catholic Schools, St. Anthony of Padua, with donations of school supplies and gift cards so they could continue teaching after their school building caught on fire.
We hosted guest speakers to discuss the pros and cons of social media and the importance of inclusion and diversity, and Lake Erie Ink spent a week at our school conducting poetry lessons in grades 1-8.
Fourth Quarter:
During Lent we prayed Station of the Cross and during Holy Week we had in-class retreat activities. In May we had a prayer service and crowned Mary, Queen of Heaven. Our students received the sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion. Our youngest students had a food collection to benefit the local animal shelter, and the 6th grade raised money to place flowers, in observance of Memorial Day, at the Veterans Memorial Monument at Calvary Cemetery.
For our newly created Author/ Illustrator Series, we hosted local author, Tricia Springstubb, who spent the day speaking with all our students. We also welcomed the Mayor of Cleveland Heights, Kahlil Seren, to our school.
The Power of the Pen team members made it all the way to the state competition in Columbus! We competed in Alpha Jump at St. Ignatius High School, Drama Club put on a spectacular performance of The Little Mermaid Jr!, and the COS beginner and advanced bands performed a variety of music for our enjoyment.
We celebrated Earth Day, and students in grades K-3 all received a redbud tree and seed packets.
Field trips started again!
1st and 2nd grade traveled to the Lake Metroparks Environmental Learning Center.
K and 3rd grade traveled to the Cleveland Zoo, and Eco Explorers came to school to teach K and Pre-K about Ecosystems.
4th and 5th grade spent a day at the Chagrin River Park releasing trout into the river and learning about the river ecosystem. They also attended a Cleveland Orchestra performance at Severance Hall.
Grades 6-8 took a trip to Pittsburgh and enjoyed a fun filled day exploring the city where three rivers meet.
To close out the school year students participated in a fun field day and enjoyed a movie night. Our 8th graders graduated on June 1st, and we celebrated our last full day of school with a delicious evening at Ben and Jerry’s.
Thank you, Fr. John, Fr. Matt, our teachers, our parents, and all parishioners who have supported Catholic education throughout the school year especially in the face of the pandemic uncertainty. Together we have accomplished so much!
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Loretta Pilla - Principal
