Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to thank you for your input on the survey sent out and your individual emails expressing ideas and concerns. We have spoken as a faculty and staff and I have spoken with my fellow principals to create a somewhat modified plan beginning the Tuesday after Easter. We are hoping our changes and additions help alleviate some stress (with students, parents, and teachers) and help to keep our connection strong during this time of distance learning.
As of today, we are still scheduled to return to school on May 4th. I will update you when and if this date changes. Our plan beginning Tuesday, April 14th is as follows:
Beginning Tuesday, we will hold morning announcements to include morning prayer and petitions, the Pledge of Allegiance, School Mission Statement, birthdays and any announcements. This will be located on the website and our school Facebook page.
Students and parents are encouraged to send petitions for daily reading to Mrs. Cayce at dcayce@stmarys-temple.org.
It is very important that students complete work assigned to ensure their learning continues. Please take the time over Easter break to have your child catch up on any missed work. If you have any questions please contact the teacher. They will accommodate as needed.
Beginning the week of April 14th teaching and learning will be modified somewhat….
Pre-K will continue Big Day Program daily lessons and Google Meet but decrease the amount of work given.
Elementary: K through 5
Mondays and Wednesdays Religion, Math and Science will be taught. Tuesdays and Thursdays ELA, Spanish and Social Studies/History will be taught. Fridays will be considered catch up day.
P.E., Band, and Music will be added as optional activities on Fridays.
All teachers will continue to have 1 Google Meet each day but will choose one of their days for a “check-in” only so students may chat and see each other. The specific day will be determined by the teacher.
For students who may benefit from more practice, enrichment and support lessons will be available and optional.
Teachers will provide a quick check each week to ensure understanding of the previous week’s lesson.
There will be no semester finals for grades 4 and 5. Rather teachers will instruct until the last day of school, to ensure all learning objectives are covered.
Middle School: 6th-8th
Block Schedule will continue. Fridays will be considered catch up day.
P.E. and Band will be added as optional activities on Fridays.
All teachers will continue to have 1 Google Meet each day but will choose one of their days for a “check-in” only so students may chat and see each other. The specific day will be determined by the teacher.
For students who may benefit from more practice, enrichment and support lessons will be available and optional.
Teachers will provide a quick check each week to ensure understanding of the previous week’s lesson.
There will be no semester finals, rather teachers will instruct until the last day of school, to ensure all learning objectives are covered.
Other information:
Service Hours are halted at this time. There will be no penalty for hours not completed.
I have attached a wonderful PowerPoint on Social Emotional Learning that you may want to share with your child in part or completely.
If school closure extends until the end of the year, we will create virtual ceremonies for Graduation/Baccalaureate, the National Junior Honor Society and Student Council Elections.
After Easter, we will begin theme days for our students such as crazy sock day or crazy hair day, etc. We ask students to take pictures and send them to Mrs. Cayce for our website or Facebook or show each other when they are in their Google Meets. Suggestions for these days will be welcomed. Please email Mrs. Cayce at dcayce@stmarys-temple.org.
In closing, please know that we feel our families are our greatest gifts! We are in unprecedented times marked with uncertainty and fear. But providing our children with the very best Catholic education possible is our mission.
Teachers are diligently working to provide high quality and rigorous learning opportunities for each child. Our ultimate goal is to maximize student learning, without interruption, despite the school closure. This strong desire and commitment ensure that students are developing in mind, body, and spirit.
We ask each family at this difficult and uncertain time to continue paying tuition as outlined in your tuition agreement. This source of revenue not only helps to sustain the operation of our Catholic school but it provides the funds to pay our deserving faculty and staff members. If, however, your financial status is impacted by this virus, please schedule an appointment with me to discuss a possible alternative payment plan.
We greatly appreciate your continued support as we navigate this road that we have never traveled.
God Bless you and Happy Easter.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Wyles