Dear parents, teachers, and friends of SSP School.  Happy Friday and October Eve!

Most of the city Catholic schools qualified for EANS II (Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools) funding because we are situated within the City of St. Louis Public School district. The dollar amount we qualified for mirrored the social-economic status of the district in which we reside.

As a result of EANS II, SSP was the benefactor of some much-welcomed funds for improvements to our campus. There were “buckets of money” in 12 different categories for which to qualify and be approved. Some funds were earmarked for student services such as a nurse, a counselor, or specialists to assist with learning needs/loss resulting from the pandemic. We have availed ourselves of these services this year.

Some buckets were allocated to improve technology to assist with distant/virtual learning. We used these funds to acquire Chromebooks, SMART displays, and online programs to improve our flexibility. 

Funds were also made available to purchase classroom furniture that can be easily moved and rearranged for social distancing. Recently such furniture was delivered to our school. Our newest furniture is equipped with casters to allow us this mobility.

Some may ask whether this new furniture is necessary in our mission. We recognize that SSP has always used Yankee ingenuity and has been very frugal when outfitting the classroom spaces. The money we were offered through EANS II needed to be spent or left on the table. (That is, use it or lose it). There were very specific parameters about what could be purchased.

All city Catholic school principals have been brainstorming and collaborating for more than a year about the best ways to utilize these funds. We all used the money to provide student services to address learning loss and special needs. Likewise, furniture and technology purchases will look very similar in all city Catholic schools. We have all been in the shadow of the "All Things New " initiative. We have worked together to keep our schools relevant and still make a difference in our communities.

Stay SSP Strong and God's Peace,
D. Greg Sturgill

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