PRINCIPAL NEWSLETTER

At Saint Rita School, we are committed to providing the best possible educational experience for your child, and your feedback plays an important role in helping us continue to grow and improve.

We invite you to participate in our School Perception Survey, developed by the Diocese of Cleveland in partnership with My School Survey. The survey includes research-based questions aligned with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools and helps us better understand our strengths and areas for growth in school culture, Catholic identity, academic programs, and overall effectiveness.

Your participation is extremely important. The feedback we receive will help guide future decisions and ensure we continue providing an excellent Catholic education for our students and families.

Survey Details

• Who: Parents, Teachers, and Students (Grades 4–8)

• When: March 2 – March 31

• Time: About 20 minutes to complete

• How: Click the survey link provided

• Confidentiality: All responses are completely anonymous

Students in grades 4–8 will complete a student version of the survey during school hours, and faculty and staff will also complete their own version.

We believe excellence happens on purpose, and your voice helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts and support the continued growth of our Falcon community.

If you have any questions, please contact Faith Kirtley. Thank you for your partnership and support!

We are one week away from spring officially beginning on March 20! While spring brings warmer weather and longer days, it also brings spring showers. On rainy days, our Falcons sometimes need to stay indoors for recess. You can help make those indoor days more fun by considering donating gently used, age-appropriate games for our students to enjoy.

We are currently accepting game donations for both the Primary Building (K–2) and the Middle School Building (Grades 3–8). If your family has games you are no longer using, please consider donating them to our school community. Donations can be dropped off at the school office.

Top 10 Popular Indoor Recess Game Ideas

• UNO

• Connect 4

• Jenga

• Guess Who?

• Trouble

• Candy Land

• Checkers or Chess

• Apples to Apples

• Spot It!

• Playing Cards

Thank you for helping make indoor recess fun for our Falcons!

In partnership with our teachers and with the best interests of our students in mind, we have adjusted how Chromebooks will be used during the school day.

Moving forward, students will use their Chromebooks only when directed by their teacher for specific learning activities. Chromebooks should not be used during transition times, recess, or study hall. As part of this change, teachers will also be shifting some activities back to a paper and pencil model.

This decision was made collaboratively by our entire faculty after discussing current educational research. Studies continue to show that students often learn and retain information more effectively when writing by hand rather than keyboarding. In addition, limiting device use during the day helps reduce distractions and encourage greater focus and engagement in the classroom.

Teachers and administration have met with students to explain this change and answer their questions. We understand that adjustments like this can take time, and we appreciate our students’ efforts as they adapt to the new expectations.

For students in grades 4–8, using a Chromebook without teacher permission will result in a demerit.

We are grateful for your continued partnership and support as we work together to create a learning environment that helps every student grow academically, socially, and spiritually. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Administration.

Thank you for your support of our school and our students.

With Spring Break just days away, we want to thank our Falcon Family for working hard to make positive choices in all grades, Preschool 3 through 8th, by showing they are Ready, Respectful, and Responsible.

In the Primary building, students earn pom-poms for showing the 3 R’s. Pom-poms are added to a schoolwide bin that continues to grow higher each week. When the goal is reached, students celebrate with something fun like a pajama day or movie party.

In the Middle School building, students earn tickets for showing the 3 R’s. One part goes into a weekly drawing for a prize and recognition, and the other part goes home so families can celebrate their child’s positive behavior.

We are excited to celebrate Literacy Week next week at Saint Rita School! All Falcons from Preschool through 8th grade are encouraged to participate in the daily themes as we celebrate reading and the joy of books:

• Monday: Hats Off to Reading

• Tuesday: Pajama Day

• Wednesday: Bring a Buddy to School

• Thursday: Super Powers Day

• Friday: Spirit Wear

We are especially excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix, who will be visiting Saint Rita School. During the K–8 Literacy Week Assembly on Tuesday, March 17, Ms. Haddix will also announce the winner of the Storyboard Competition.

Students will also participate in a Book Drive throughout the week. Donated books will be collected and then brought to St. Mark’s, where students will have the opportunity to “shop for a book” to take home. Any remaining books will be donated to the Kids’ Book Bank, helping spread the love of reading beyond our school community.

If your student would like to have a book signed by Ms. Haddix, please send the book labeled with the student’s first and last name and homeroom teacher to Mrs. Raines’ classroom by Monday, March 16.

Finally, throughout the week, teachers will incorporate fun DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) time and other engaging literacy activities for students.

This is a reminder for families who have not yet completed the Saint Rita School re-enrollment packet for the 2026–2027 school year. Please take a moment to complete the process as soon as possible.

Early registration helps us plan for the upcoming school year, including budgeting, classroom supplies, and technology.

To access Family Portal:

• Go to www.stritaschool.com

• Click Family Portal

• Log in using your username and password

• Enter District Code: SR-OH

• Click Family on the left menu

• Select Enrollment/Re-enrollment and submit the packet

The process takes about 15 minutes to complete. Thank you for being part of our Saint Rita Falcon Family!

EdChoice / Cleveland Scholarship
If your child currently receives a State Scholarship, renewal paperwork will be arriving in the mail soon. Please complete the form and email it to dhummon@stritaschool.com or drop it off at the parish office along with a utility bill showing both your service and mailing address.
The renewal form can also be accessed here: Renewal

Angel Scholarship Fund
Deadline: August 15, 2026
Please complete one application per student.
Apply Here!

Diocesan Tuition Assistance
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Please complete one application per family.
Apply Here!

Saint Rita School instills Catholic morals by developing the whole child to know, love, and live in faith while empowering our students academically, creatively, and emotionally to achieve success in the global community.

Our Root Beliefs of Saint Rita School

• Excellence happens on purpose.

• In accommodating different learning styles to facilitate success academically, socially, and morally.

• That each of us is a gift from God and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.

Mrs. Faith Kirtley

Email: fkirtley@stritaschool.com
Website: www.stritaschool.com
Phone: 440-248-1350 ext. 256