SCHOOL RE-OPENING: How Can the Community Help? Dear Queen of Angels Family & Friends, (abridged from an eBlast sent Aug. 3)

As a new administrator in a new community, this has been an unusual summer as we continue to plan for the fall. Our students, parents, faculty, and staff are constantly on my mind. Our amazing faculty, staff, and volunteers have been working tirelessly to ensure that Queen of Angels is prepared for whatever comes our way! I am truly grateful for their efforts, expertise, partnership, and support. I do not have all the answers, but what I do know is that working together, staying positive, staying flexible, leaning on one another, and assuming positive intentions will get us through these uncertain times.

Queen of Angels School is dedicated to meeting the needs of all of our students. We are currently planning to start the school with in-person instruction [like all other Archdiocesan schools]. We realize that this may not be a suitable option for some families. It is important to us that our students stay connected to their friends, teachers, and community. We are committed to providing a long-term virtual learning option for our students, however, what that will look like is yet to be determined. It will not look the same as it did in the spring. Just as our Health and Safety Committee is finalizing our school protocol, our Academic Committee is finalizing our school plan. Please be patient as these things take time. What I can tell you is that our teachers will be prepared for the following: In-Person Instruction, Long-Term E-Learning, and Short-Term E-Learning (14-day cohort quarantine).

To safely open, we need all hands on deck! We need our community to follow CDC health and safety guidelines before school starts, in school, and outside of school. Queen of Angels School wants each person that enters our building to be safe. So, what can parents and community members do now?

• Do not ease up on safe and healthy practices — wearing masks, washing hands, and protecting yourself and others from COVID-19.
• Model safe and healthy practices for your children – YOU are their role model and they are watching!
• Follow local and state guidelines for international travel and to U.S. “Hot Spots.” If you are traveling prior to school, please quarantine for 14 days upon return to Chicago or to school. This is to keep our students and staff safe, so students will not be penalized for attendance.
• Please keep up on children’s vaccinations & medical/dental/vision/physicals.

I greatly appreciate all the hard work of our faculty and staff. They are true heroes! I also appreciate the support and patience of our parents and community. This is not an easy time for anyone. Please assume positive intentions—we are all doing our very best during this unprecedented and stressful time. I know that Queen of Angels will be here for all of our students. It’s our faith, love, care and compassion for one another that makes us strong. As always, please reach out with any questions or concerns to rbrizgys@queenofangelschicago.org. I am here to help! I look forward to meeting all of you very soon. It’s a great day to be a Knight!

Blessings,

Ms. Rana Brizgys, Principal

Our St. Vincent DePaul Conference must be reorganized to represent the newly merged Queen of Angels and St. Matthias Parish. Reorganization requires revised bylaws and an election of officers. New members are invited to join in the work of the new conference.

In the past year, the conference has worked to help the poor and needy with two major food distributions serving 70 families as well as a school supplies distribution to 200 school children in need. Additionally, Vincentians made over two dozen visits, in person and by phone, to the homes of the needy to identify resources for their use and to make grants totaling over $10,000 to help them pay their most pressing bills. Active members have a vote on business of the conference and may choose for which good works they will volunteer their time. Recently, conference meetings have been taking place on Zoom and home visits have been outdoors or by phone. Funds come through the Poor Box at church, GiveCentral, and offertory collections on Holy Thursday and national holidays during the year.

If you are interested in more information or want to receive details on the new conference’s first meeting set for Thursday, August 20, please contact Jim Hohner at jmhohner@sbcglobal.net or 773-561-5287, or leave your contact info via the Parish Center Office at 773-539-7510.

Please pray for our adult participants in the RCIA program as they receive Confirmation and First Communion at 7 p.m. Monday, August 3, 2020 at Queen of Angels Church. This had been planned for last April at the Easter Vigil. If you wish to help welcome them into full participation in the Body of Christ, call the parish office or sign up online by Friday evening, July 31, 2020.