Mrs. Mulvanerty's Update

August 31, 2025

Hello SKS!

It's happening!!!! We are about to start our journey into our new school year. Last week, I wrote to you about the importance of being where your feet are—living in the present moment, staying grateful, and making time for God. (A great way to do this is by participating in our Virtual Rosary...more on that below!) As we are present this week, let's notice the gifts right in front of us: the hope of a fresh start, the joy of new beginnings, and the steady faith that God walks with us wherever we go. In addition...

When you're on a journey, you need to be INFORMED.

There are many important announcements in this weekly blog as well as emails from your teachers. Please check emails and read materials thoroughly all year to stay in-the-know!

When you're on a journey, you need to be SAFE.

At SKS, the safety of your children—and all of us as a school family—is always our top priority. Since I last wrote to you on this topic, we have taken further steps to strengthen our safety protocols. We met with Radnor Police to review our procedures, and we will continue to partner with them throughout the year and always. We have also removed our school calendar from the public-facing website; it will now be available only through your password-protected FACTS portal.

But as I always say (you might be sick of me saying it, but I'll say it anyway!) safety is not just a me job—it’s a we job. We can only create the safest, most nurturing environment for our children if we are all onboard, 100%. That means:

• All visitors must enter through the front door only, even if you are a regular volunteer or on lunch duty.

• Doors may never be propped open unless monitored by a member of our team.

• Arrival and dismissal protocols must be followed carefully. Please be sure you are registered for Pick-Up Patrol. There will be no dismissal changes or early dismissals after 2:00 p.m.

• Car line rules and procedures must be followed—please do not text and drive, do not speed, and be mindful of our neighbors. More on carline below.

• Remind your students to take drills and school rules seriously. Please speak with them about how important an orderly and respectful environment is for everyone's safety.

• Remember, kindness matters. A safe community is also a kind one—please encourage your children to do their part in building a community of care, respect, and compassion for everyone!

We're on this journey....together!
There is no other group of people I would rather journey with than our parish and school team, our families, and our students.

• Monsignor Brouwers, along with our fabulous faculty and staff bring energy, wisdom, heart, dedication, and care for your students.

• Our parents and families are a source of spirited community and support, always ready to lift one another up.

• And our students—the joy and potential they bring is beyond measure. They are the reason we do what we do, and the possibilities before them this year are endless!
  
  

We are more than travelers—we are companions on a shared journey of faith, learning, and community. With great excitement for all that lies ahead, I look forward to every step we will take this year--together! Let's gooooooo!

A Prayer for Our Journey
Loving God, bless our students, families, and staff as we begin this new school year. Keep us safe, fill us with joy, and guide our steps in wisdom and faith. May our journey together bring us closer to You and to one another. Amen.

G.B.Y.*,

Mrs. Mulvanerty

*God Bless You!

For the safety of all students and staff, all drivers must adhere to the following procedures for car line safety:

1. Carline begins at 7:45am for morning drop off and 2:40 PM for afternoon pickup. Cars arriving too early create safety, supervision logistical challenges.

2. Please display your family's last name visibly on the back of your passenger visor during afternoon pickup.

3. Follow the designated carline route as instructed (see illustration below). Enter Midland Avenue from St. David's. Do not enter from Aberdeen or Pembroke, and do not make K-turns in driveways to get into the line.

4. Do not block intersections, driveways, or crosswalks. Be mindful of our neighbors, pedestrians and other drivers.

5. Do not idle next to a parked car.

6. Come to a complete stop at all stop signs. Rolling stops are not acceptable.

7. Please do not park in the neighborhood or the parish center if your child is a car rider. Walkers must walk home, and car riders must be picked up through the carline. There are no exceptions.

8. Do not speed even if you are late to school in the morning.

9. Please inform all drivers of the carline procedures, including grandparents and babysitters.

10. Remain patient and respectful to Radnor Police, our crossing guards, and any staff members who are directing traffic. They are there to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

If you have been following the news, you know that Pennsylvania is still at an impasse on the state budget. This impacts SKS because our books and subscriptions are paid with state funding. This is definitely an inconvenience, but it's not the first time it has happened, and it won't stop us from educating our students! Here's what we are doing while we wait for this situation to be rectified:
1. Many of our vendors are giving us online access to materials

2. Teachers will make copies of workbooks and other materials as needed for classroom and homework use

3. Some of our subscriptions are being renewed despite the impasse, including IXL. We are hopeful this will be up and running in the upcoming week.

Special thanks to Katie Jones who is on the front lines of re-issuing book quotes and dealing with vendors during this frustrating situation.

We will be joining together in prayer for the the victims and families of those touched by the shooting at Annunciation School in Minneapolis.

Faithful families is a group of parish families working together to share God’s love with simple acts of service for our church and community.

Now that we will have both Susan Hodgens and Paulina Wright at the front desk, we've created a new email to streamline communications. If you need to reach us during the day, please email frontoffice@sksschool.org. Thank you!

Of course, dismissal changes and absences will NOT be emailed to the front office, as they will now be reported in Pick Up Patrol. Reminders about Pick Up Patrol are below.

If you have not done so already, please take some time to review this year's handbook here! In particular, please pay attention to the updated policies on behavior, food and uniform. Once you've completed, please take a moment to sign this year's annual forms. Thank you for your cooperation!

Home and School has opened a school swag store. There are two more days to place orders. If you would like to check it out, please click here!

We are excited to welcome Cassidy Smith, who will be with us this semester from Rosemont College. Cassidy will be working with Mr. Gavin in the 4th Grade, and she is very excited! Here is a little intro from Cassidy!

My name is Cassidy Smith; I am a senior Elementary Education and Special Education major at Rosemont College. I am so thrilled to have received a placement at SKS for my student teaching semester and will be joining Mr. Gavin and the 4th grade team this fall. As I look forward to getting to know the wonderful students, staff, and families, I would love for you all to get to know me! I am the second of seven children who grew up in a joyful and loving family in Maryland. My family recently relocated to St. John's Florida, which is where I get to call my new home. Sports have played a huge role in shaping my life and who I am. I was recruited to Rosemont College to continue playing soccer, which was always my passion. I found myself also having the opportunity to play basketball and women's flag football in the past two years at RC. I find joy not only in sports but also in the beach, shopping at local surf shops, reading books, traveling, surfing, and completing a puzzle. I am so happy to have this opportunity to contribute to shaping the students of SKS through learning and education.

Starting with the beginning of school we will be using a system called PickUp Patrol to help us track dismissals. PickUp Patrol provides you with a convenient way to make changes to your child’s dismissal plans and helps ensure that students are accurately dismissed each day.

How It Works:

1. Your child’s regular dismissal plan will be entered into the system. This is called their Default Plan.

2. Whenever your child is doing something other than their Default Plan, you’ll submit a Plan Change via PickUp Patrol.

   • Examples of a Plan Change:

     • Your child normally rides the bus but is getting picked up today.

     • Your child is getting picked up by someone other than yourself.

     • Your child has a doctor's appointment and will be leaving early.

3. When the change is submitted, our school will be notified and we’ll relay the change to your child & their teacher.

REGISTER: If you haven't already done so, please register using the link that was emailed to you. As soon as you receive it, please log in and confirm your child’s default plan.

Thank you for using PickUp Patrol to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all. You're going to love it!

If you have any questions, please first check the PickUp Patrol Parent Guide & if you need additional assistance, please contact Susan Hodgens at Shodgens@sksschool.org.

What is Walking With Purpose?

Walking with Purpose (WWP) is a parish-based women’s ministry with a mission of helping every woman and girl know Christ personally through our Bible studies. WWP Bible studies combine personal study with small group discussions, linking our everyday challenges with the solutions given to us through the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church. If you desire to grow in your faith – in a supportive community of Catholic women – join us!

Who comes to Walking With Purpose?

60+ women – young, middle-aged and seasoned women, from all walks of life, married, single, working full time, part-time and at home, some new to Bible study and some with various years of experience. This will be our 11th year of Walking with Purpose at St. Katharine of Siena!

When are the Walking With Purpose meetings?

IN-PERSON Tuesdays 9:15- 11:00am in the St. Katharine of Siena Parish Center
Starting Tuesday September 9, 2025 – April 28, 2026.

What is the study for 2025-26?

Touching the Divine: A Study of the Gospel of John

Saint John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Through John’s eyes, we learn how much Jesus deeply loves us, and how His love is the true satisfaction of our souls. Knowing Christ more intimately, as John did, will touch your heart and fill you with hope!

Learn about Christ’s divine qualities:

• Our source of fulfillment for all that we need
• The ultimate gift giver
• Our model of fidelity
• Our redeemer and restorer

To register, click here. For more information, contact Kate Mallach at wwp@sksparish.org

wwp@sksparish.org

wwp@sksparish.org

REGISTRATION LINK: https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/491040

There are 8 Fall Sports offered for this upcoming season and we will need coaches and assistants for the following sports:

• Tackle football
• Flag Football
• Golf
• Cross Country
• Field Hockey
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Cheerleading

If interested in Coaching one of our Fall Sports – Please contact Jason Griesser (Fall Sports Coordinator) at jasong748@gmail.com

H.O.P.E Needs Your Help!

H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People in Emergencies) is looking for people to drive parishioners to their doctor appointments! Many of the regular volunteers are out of town for the summer. It doesn’t take much time and you can help out as your schedule permits. For more information, contact Shauna Munshower at 610-688-4348 or smunch918@comcast.net.

There is still time to finish (or even begin) our summer read,The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Fellow parent and art therapist, Susan Greisser, in conjunction with the Home and School Committee chose this timely and thought-provoking book because it speaks directly to the challenges today’s young people face growing up in a world shaped by smartphones, social media, and shifting childhood norms.

Haidt explores the rise of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among adolescents and offers research-based insights into how families, schools, and communities can help kids thrive. Themes include the impact of screen time, the loss of play-based childhood, and the importance of strong social connections.

Book club meetings will be at the end of September and beginning of October. Stay tuned for more details.

Parents have summer homework also! Please click here for your summer checklist. You will find next year's school calendar, summer homework assignments, tuition payment information, transportation info, health forms and other forms for completion before next year. Thank you!

I want to thank everyone for your cooperation and support as we streamlined our uniforms this year! I realize that there were a few backordered items on our list, and I'm told they are now re-stocked and will be available for you.

Parents -- we know how much students grow over the summer! Please check your child's kilt to ensure it is a modest length and in keeping with our dress code. A good rule of thumb is finger-tip length. When kilts are too short, it is not only awkward for teachers to address -- but it feels even more so for our students when it must be addressed. Please help us avoid this situation completely by taking care of this at home.

You can view the updated uniform slides here as a guide for your child's back-to-school clothes.

Again, I thank you for your cooperation during this time of transition!

The SKS Fall Classic on October 6, 2025 is a tremendous opportunity to bring our entire SKS community together, while raising some significant dollars for the school!

The day is a combination of events that start with a racquet outing at Overbrook Golf Club, a golf outing at Philadelphia Country Club, and a reception at Philadelphia Country Club that evening. It is open to all friends of SKS, which means we are casting our fundraising net beyond the current parents that includes alumni, alumni parents, and parishioners. All proceeds will go to benefit the school through the governance of the annual fund. We have the capacity for 30 foursomes, around 50 racquets players, and 250 dinner reception tickets. Some portions of those categories have been pre-sold as part of larger sponsorships, so I strongly encourage anyone with interest to jump on the ticket information here to register.

Thank you for your continued support of SKS and we look forward to seeing you on October 6th!

Tom and Moira Hobson, Event Chairs
Bud Tosti, Coordinator of Development and Alumni Relations

You will see that we slightly adjusted the back-to-school night schedule so that K will have their meetings on September 4. This will ensure our first-time parents will have all the info they need BEFORE their students begin school (Kindergarten begins on September 8). Special thanks to the Kindergarten Teachers for making this update.

Student Council helps us get ready for the opening of school!

September 3 - First Day of School! (Grades 1-8)🙂

September 4 - Kindergarten Playdate at Fenimore Park, 9:30am Kindergarten Back To School Night

September 5 - Kindergarten Visit with Parents, 9am Back-to-School Prayer Service Grades 1-8, 9 am

September 8 - First Day of Kindergarten

September 9 - Walking with Purpose Connect Coffee

September 11 - Grades 1-4 Back to School Night

September 13 - Porchfest

September 14 - Family Mass 9:30am

September 17 - Monthly School Mass, 9am

September 18 - Admissions Open House 9:15; Grades 5-8 Back-to-School Night

September 21 - Family Mass 9:30; Parish Coffee sponsored by the Home and School

September 23 - Confirmation Parent Meeting 6pm

September 26 - Dress Down Day

September 28 - Family Mass

For more announcements about SKS activities and clubs, CYO, and parish activities, click here!