Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Report Cards - Third Quarter



Third Quarter Report Cards
Grades K-8

The third quarter ends April 8, 2020. 
The Educate Student Information System has been turned off while Mr. Woods reviews grade books etc.
 Report cards will be worked on by the teachers immediately after the quarter ends and Mr. Woods will meet with teachers via Zoom regarding the report cards. 
After finalizing the report cards the report cards will be mailed home in batches as Mr. Woods is able to print, stuff in envelopes and get them to the post office.  
IRIS alerts will be sent when a certain grade's report cards have been mailed so that parents may be on the 
look out for the report card.
Mr. Woods is aware that they may be problems with postal deliveries in the next couple of weeks and prior to the report cards being mailed will scan report cards for e-mail delivery.
E-mail delivery will only be available after ALL report cards have been mailed ----as too many tasks being done at once will result in errors.
A Parent Teacher Conference day will be set up after we return to school so I ask parents to be patient as to answers of why their child may have received a certain grade.


Many parents have called or e-mailed Mr. Woods 
regarding the fee for After School on Smart Tuition. 
Mr. Guzman is working with 
Smart Tuition to have this adjusted on tuition.
Please only pay your tuition part to Smart Tuition until everything can be adjusted in the next couple of weeks. 
Please understand that many things are hitting the office staff all at once and they are working from home in communication with 
Mr. Woods on a daily basis.


Easter Recess 
April 6, 2020- April 20, 2020






Monday, March 30, 2020

Week of March 30, 2020 Announcements


On-Line Learning Tools

As we continue to assist your child through Google Classroom
 I ask that you monitor the assignments due or 
due date (for older students).
As I explained last week if you or your child cannot be present for the class as scheduled they are to see the work that the teacher has posted and complete it before midnight.  In this way we can keep attendance of who is completing work.
Alba has been recording the attendance in Educate as required by the Superintendent of Schools office. She will be calling parents when children have not logged on or completed work requested


On Friday, March 27th some classes launched Zoom video conferencing classes. I happened to be present in Ms. Wong's and Ms. Coello's class on Friday and greeted the students as they worked face to face with those teachers. Other teachers will be launching the program as they learn the mechanics of the program so please be patient. 
At this time these will be the only programs that we will work with students. There are many others but limiting the arena to two keeps the stress level down during a very stressful time in our country's history.

I meet with all teachers daily, through Zoom, in the morning and the afternoon so if parents wish me to bring up concerns please email me at olqm1@aol.com.

If parents would wish to have a Zoom meeting with Mr. Woods regarding their concerns we can also set that up -- please e-mail me should you want that meeting to take place. We would need your e-mail address and time most convenient time to have that meeting -- I will have Mr. Guzman here with me should a translator be needed.












Tuesday, March 24, 2020

A letter from Mr. Michael Deegan, Superintendent of Schools and an announcement from NYS Education Department New York State Tests in ELA, Mathematics and Science Suspended

March 25, 2020
The Feast of the Annunciation

Dear Catholic School Families,

Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York have the most dedicated principals, teachers and staff in education today. By now you and your child(ren) have been introduced to the faith home-based learning program that our educators have created and will continue to deliver until our students return on April 20th.

In providing a faith based academically superior education, we are committed to teaching the whole child; addressing the spiritual, intellectual, physical and emotional needs of our students. Never in recent history has our mission been more critical! We are blessed to be your partners in this work; most especially, we rely on the guidance counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals at the Archdiocese of New York Drug Abuse Prevention Program (ADAPP).

During this stressful and uncertain time, while many are struggling with how to manage day to day activities and adjust to a new “normal”, ADAPP will provide supports in a variety of ways. These include the attached resources for parents/teachers and caregivers to use with their families, and direct access for parents and students to our qualified staff.

During this time, ADAPP will be offering brief mental health phone consultations and support to parents who have concerns about their child(ren) and refer them, as appropriate, to additional resources. To participate in this program, please email MentalHealthsSupport@adapp.org.

We also know that there are other challenges that face our families, which is why we have partnered with Catholic Charities of NY as well as ADAPP to provide you information on community benefit and social justice programs. Many of these programs are available for all, regardless of income so we encourage you to be screened for these services. You can download the FIND HELP- NEW YORK catholic charities app on your iPhone or android or visit https://catholiccharitiesny.org/find-help. You can also send an email to FamilySupport@adapp.org.

For all emails please type in the subject section the name of the school your child attends, their grade and the city in which the school is located. In the email, please describe your concern so the counselor can be prepared to respond and leave a phone number if you would like a call back. Every attempt will be made to respond within 24 hours during the hours of 8 am to 4 pm.

 **If you have a mental health emergency, please call 911**

Please continue to check our website www.CatholicSchoolsNY.org as we update it with additional resources on a regular basis. We will continue to lift each other up, be a stronger, more resilient community of faith in the days and months ahead.

Sincerely yours,
Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York
The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you that the New York State Education Department (NYSED) is suspending all NYS Elementary- and Intermediate-Level State Assessments for the remainder of the school year in response to the statewide closures of schools and districts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

This suspension for the remainder of the school year applies to the following State testing programs:  
  New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Tests
  New York State Grades 3-8 Mathematics Tests
  New York State Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test
  New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test
  New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYSESLAT) in Grades K-12.

Monday, March 23, 2020

Employee Tests positive for COVID-19 virus


Dear Parents,

The health and safety of students and staff at 
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs and all students across the Archdiocese is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring school communities have the information they need on COVID-19 (coronavirus). 

As noted, in the Superintendent of Schools, March 6th letter, “We will provide information on school operations as well as, coronavirus related guidance from government agency. However, it would be in violation of privacy laws to provide information about specific individuals and their circumstances.

We are writing to inform you that a member of the 
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs school community this afternoon 
self-reported a positive test result for COVID-19. We are handling this situation with the utmost seriousness.  At this time, it is important to listen to facts and not respond to fear or rumor. I would encourage you to visit the CDC website www.CDC.Gov  for additional factual information and resources.

We are following protocols from the CDC, NYS DOH, and NYC DOH. We have contracted with qualified, licensed cleaning professionals who will conduct deep cleaning and sanitization following CDC Guidelines using approved disinfectants.

NYC Department of Health has advised us: “Currently, there is generalized community transmission of COVID-19 in New York City, meaning there are cases that have no known link to travel or to another confirmed case. The school or workplace environment having a positive case does not put others at higher risk than anywhere else in the city, given that there is generalized transmission in the city.”

Students and Staff should self monitor for symptoms if you have fever or symptoms, call the NYC Health Department at 347-396-7990, in addition you can call 311 and your medical provider.”

During times like this, the safety and well-being of our Catholic schools families and staff, as well as those in the broader community around us, are our primary concern.

We will continue to deliver as much information as possible in a timely manner. For regularly updated information on COVID-19 (coronavirus) related issues in our schools, the best resource will always be www.CatholicSchoolsNY.org

Mr. Woods will post more information as it becomes available.



Schedule for COVID-19 on-line classes



Dear Parents,
To make your scheduling easier I have posted below the Class and times that your child needs to be online for class:

Grade 2 
8:30 AM - ELA
9:15 AM - Religion
10:45 AM - Math 
12:15 PM - Science
1:45 PM - Music

Grade 3
8:30 AM - Math 
9:15 AM - Social Studies
10:00 AM - Religion 
11:30 AM - ELA
12:15 PM - Science
1:45 PM - Music

Grade 4
8:30 AM - Science
10:00 AM - ELA 
10:45 AM - Music
11:30 AM - Religion
12:15 PM - Math 
1:45 PM  - Social Studies

Grade 5
8:30 AM - Math 
9:15 AM - Music 
10:45 AM - Science
11:30 AM - Social Studies
12:15 PM - Religion 
1:45 PM - ELA 

Grade 6 
8:30 AM - ELA 
9:15 AM - Social Studies 
10:00 AM - Math 
10:45 AM - Science
11:30 AM - Music 
12:15 PM - Religion 

Grade 7 
8:30 AM - Religion 
9:15 PM - Science 
10:00 AM - ELA 
10:45 AM - Social Studies 
11:30 AM - Music 
12:15 PM - Math 

Grade 8 
8:30 AM - Religion
9:15 AM - Science
10:00 AM - Music 
11:30 AM - ELA 
12:15 AM - Social Studies
1:45 PM - Math  

The teachers also will be outreaching to you by phone to address any concerns or questions you have. If your phone number has changed please send an email to Mr. Woods at olqm1@aol.com

Saturday, March 21, 2020

On Line Classes begin Monday March 23, 2020


Dear Parents,

First of all I hope that you and your family are well.

As you have read in Mr. Deegan's letters we along with all the other Catholic Schools are planning to do continue to teach your child through a variety of online programs beginning Monday March 23, 2020 at 8:30 AM.

In many grades we will be using Google Classroom which is a standard for students in grades 2-8. It is an online platform method we have employed for the past two years.  The teachers will be posting on their blog the times that children should be on Google Classroom for each specific class. 

I ask that you read the teacher's blog and be aware of the different times your child will need to be actively engaged in Google Classroom.  I am in complete understanding that many of you are at home working and the time frame may not work due to your need to also work.  Please communicate that through Google Classroom to your child's teacher.

In this scenario then your child must complete the work assigned for that day by midnight of the assigned date.  Your child will be able to write to their teacher (or you may also) through Google Classroom and the teacher will respond by the next business day. The teachers are hoping to use a variety of methods and assignments to assist your child in learning through technology.

What must be remembered by  parents is that this is all new to both teachers and me as the school administrator.  I have access to all the Google Classroom accounts and will be monitoring the progress that both teachers and your child will be making.

Should you have questions please email me at olqm1@aol.com. I will respond as soon as I am able due to the fact that I am holding a number of Zoom meetings with teachers each day to monitor progress, frustrations and areas of concern.

Alba is working from home as required and so is Mr. Guzman so they do not have access to records here and I am working on trying to get that also to them.

For students in sacramental classes -- The Cardinal has announced that sacramental programs as well as all Liturgical celebrations are on hold.

At this very difficult time I wish you much peace as you juggle your job, your children and your home life.

Sincerely,
Andrew G. Woods, principal

P.S.  I have requested your child's teacher to reach out to you once or twice a week to assist you.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Letter from Superintendent of School Office

March 19, 2020
Solemnity of St. Joseph

Dear Catholic Schools Families,
First and foremost, I pray that this letter finds you and yours healthy and safe. Just like your loved ones at home, our extended family of educators, administrators and staff have been doing our very best to embrace this new normal we have been forced to accept as life in America. While there are few things that are certain, I can however promise our extraordinary principals and devoted teachers remain committed to the mission of Catholic education.

As Catholics, we know God is with us, and it is up to us to ask for knowledge of His will, and that it be done. As Catholic educators, my team and I must use that faith to lift us up to overcome the challenges we face so that we may continue what we started last September and educate your child(ren) right through to the end of the school year. Starting this Monday, March 23, that is exactly what we will do, because that day is the first day of the rest of the school year for our Catholic schools.

This week our teachers, working with regional superintendents, principals and instructional specialists, have been researching, working individually and collaborating to craft the best, most efficient approaches to serve the needs of our students. They have been utilizing all the available technology and innovative strategies which have become the foundation for our academically superior, values-infused curriculum that has moved our schools forward for centuries. Tomorrow, they will end this week of preparation with a day of professional development centered on the best practices for delivering a robust home-based learning program for as long as it takes to complete our mission for this academic year.

 This Monday, March 23, your school’s principal will share via email the overall school plans for your child(ren)’s continuity of education for home-based learning. This communication will include the specific grade level mechanisms by which teachers will be distributing assignments they have prepared and developed with family and community needs in mind. Principals and teachers will continue to revise and update plans as additional resources become available and continually communicate these changes to you in a timely manner.

 Parents who do not receive an email from their principals by noon on Monday are asked to email their child’s teacher and principal so that contact information can be updated.

 All teachers, students and families will be expected to maintain safe digital correspondence between home and school. Principals will convey the protocols and specific platforms allowable according to the guidelines of the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Program. If these guidelines change, principals will communicate this.

 The students’ daily lessons and assignments align with the appropriate grade level
standards and values infused curriculum we teach in our schools and classrooms every day. The only
difference will be the method by which these lessons and assignments are delivered.

 While the content of what is delivered to your scheduling will look different. Given the realities of multiple students in the same home working with one device, students working with multiple teachers, or students having to complete their assignments at different times of the day, teachers will provide directions and expectations specifically to their students that include a suggested schedule for the day, assignments, web that can support you as you support your child’s learning at home.

 The assignments and use of technology will be grade level appropriate. We will be balancing the
benefits of the use of technology with the needs of our students and families. Protocols and guidelines
aligned with the Safe Environment Program will be strictly follow teachers, students and families. Please communicate your child’s specific needs to your principal and teacher. This will help them to better support your student.

 Principals and instructional specialists will be work learning period to ensure that both the high expectations to which they hold our students and the need for flexible collaboration with families.

 The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York are made richer by the diversity of our students, families, schools and regions, and so our educational response to our regional needs will reflect that rich diversity in the careful planning from our regional leaders.
Catholic schools introduced organized education to New York in the early 1800s. Our legacy has persevered through the Civil War and the first World War, educated our Greatest Generation and then flourished as hundreds of thousands of baby boomers came through our doors injustice and civil unrest.
The challenges we face today, while daunting, will be overcome just as they were in
generations gone by. We will do so, protected by God and inspired by the love of our children.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Letter from Michael J. Deegan, Superintendent of Schools

March 17, 2020

Dear Parents,

The Office of the Superintendent of Schools continues to be proactive in taking the necessary steps to address the ongoing impact of this unprecedented health crisis on your family, specifically your child(ren)’s Catholic education. Thank you for your support, understanding and patience as we navigate these troubling days together.

In keeping with our commitment to provide you with updated information during this evolving situation, I would like to address several pressing topics:

1) As a result of last week’s announcement to close our Catholic schools, teachers provided a week’s worth of home based learning information and study material. Given the extended time our schools will now remain closed, our Office of Teaching and Learning is working closely with regional leaders and instructional staff to plan for continuity of learning for your children in the weeks ahead. To best ensure clear communication of a variety of educational resources, you will be contacted soon to share some information regarding your students' access to technology at home. Our regional and school leaders are working to share quality educational materials that recognize our students' diverse needs and interests across all grade levels. Our teachers will begin sharing direct guidance with families beginning Monday, March 23rd.

2) In light of the fact that school buildings will be closed through April 20th, 2020, I recognize that questions are being raised regarding tuition. We are actively working to find ways to provide some relief and support for you and your family, while ensuring that our school communities can come through this together. I recognize that your family may have immediate financial challenges to address. To ease that burden, I have suspended late fees on all accounts for payments due March 10th and onward. If your family is in crisis, please contact your school principal. While we cannot solve every problem, we will certainly attempt to connect you with resources that can help during this challenging time. 

3) We will make available case workers, counselors and social workers through our ADAPP Program to provide guidance for families who may need assistance during this time. More information on these services will be sent in the coming days.

4) All students in New York City, regardless of family income or free/reduced lunch status, will be eligible to receive free Grab-and-Go lunches at any New York City Department of Education public school feeding sites. For students outside of NYC, we will have posted on our website feeding locations as we receive them by local public school districts. As these pick up locations are activated, please see go to our website for more information.

5) Lastly, just as Christ calls us by name our Catholic schools’ devoted principals and dedicated teachers call your child by name every day. They know their strengths and opportunities for growth. They know where they are academically and where they need to be. With New York State Test scheduled to commence next week, I notified the Governor and State Education Department our Catholic elementary school students will not participate in NYS Test Program this year. You know far better than I do, our students, your children, are much more than test score evaluations can indicate. With that said, formative data is important, and our teachers continue to utilize NWEA MAP Data, which provides assessments three times a year. In medical terms: It’s a vital check that our teachers use to keep the pulse of our child’s learning.

6) 
We recognize that life for all of us has changed important we stay connected as a community of faith as we work will endeavor to be available and to answer your questions in a timely and respectful way.

It is my prayer for you, your children, and for all of those in who confront the challenges among us.
Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York


Tuesday, March 17, 2020

PreK Packets and Crayons available for pickup

All PreK Classes 

Parents in all PreK Classes may come to the school office and pickets up 3 packets of work along with a free pack of crayons.
The packets have been made by the PreK teachers to assist parents in keeping their children up to date with school work.
More materials will be available as the weeks progress.
The office will be open today until 4:00 PM 
Wednesday 9:00 AM -3:00 PM
Thursday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Monday, March 16, 2020

COVID-19 Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Monday, March 16, 2020) Superintendent of Catholic Schools Mr. Michael J. Deegan has announced Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of New York have extended the closure of all elementary schools in our system through Monday, April 20th, 2020. Informed by the current CDC guidelines and in consultation with other health professionals, the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools made this decision out of concern for the well-being of our students, families and staff. We believe this decision will also help to successfully decrease risk to the whole community.

Last week, our principals and teachers prepared educational materials to engage our students in a week of home-based learning activities. This extended closure now requires that our professional educators, under the guidance of their regional superintendents, continue to plan for a long-term, home-based learning experience, which will include the same religious, values-infused curriculum we teach every day of the year, utilizing innovative strategies and technology. We are committed to providing families with additional information on a regular basis.

We understand our students, families, educators and the greater community are still coming to terms with all that has happened in the past few weeks. In addition to remaining faithful to our academic standards, we believe that home-based learning will provide a comforting sense of normalcy to the thousands of students we will continue to educate as we navigate these days of uncertainty together.
Our website https://catholicschoolsny.org/ provides continually updated resources for school information as well as best practices for staying healthy and links to the U.S. State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization and other resources.
For more than two centuries, Catholic schools within the Archdiocese of New York have taught and nurtured children from diverse backgrounds and successfully provided students with the life-changing opportunities that are inherent in a Catholic education.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York currently serve more than 62,000 students from PreK through 12th grade at more than 200 schools across nine counties and three boroughs throughout New York. That includes Manhattan, Staten Island, Bronx, and seven counties including Westchester, Orange, Dutchess, Rockland, Sullivan, Putnam and Ulster.

Saturday, March 14, 2020

Cancellation of Masses in Archdiocese of New York

MASSES CANCELED IN ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

In light of the continued concern surrounding the coronavirus, and the advice of medical experts, all Masses in the Archdiocese of New York will be canceled beginning this weekend, March 14-15, 2020.

This development follows upon today’s decision of Dutchess County to prohibit gatherings of more than 20 people. It is also intended to provide clarity and consistency throughout the ten counties that comprise the Archdiocese of New York (Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Dutchess).  

Churches will, however, remain open for private prayer.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, urged the faithful to remember in their prayers all those whose lives have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. “Let us pray for all who are sick, as well as doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all those working hard to combat the disease. We should also remember those whose lives have been otherwise disrupted, especially anyone who has lost income from a loss of work during this difficult time.”

A private Mass will be celebrated in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, and will be available on many cable systems via the Catholic Faith Network and its website here, livestreamed on the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral website here, and broadcast on radio on The Catholic Channel of Sirius XM (Channel 129).

Thursday, March 12, 2020

Catholic Schools are closed due to COVID-19 virus

(Thursday, March 12, 2020) 

Closing Superintendent of Catholic Schools 

Mr. Michael J. Deegan has announced Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of New York will close all elementary schools in our system effective Monday, March 16 2020 until Friday March 20th, 2020, with the possibility of a lengthier closure.  Informed by expert health officials and the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution. The health and safety of our students, staff and families is of the utmost importance.

Additionally, after consultation with the leadership of the Catholic Youth Organizations and the Catholic High School Athletic Associations, all activities and all sporting events and practices have been cancelled indefinitely. 

We are continuing to monitor the situation surrounding COVID-19 (Coronavirus). It is rapidly changing and we are closely following the advice of city, state and federal health officials   We will keep you informed.

We truly understand that taking this action may cause some disruption to our families, but we strongly believe that these measures taken now will have the greatest success of decreasing risk to the whole community.

Over recent days our dedicated principals and teachers have been preparing educational materials for ongoing home-based learning to ensure our students continue to be academically engaged

Please refer to our website www.CatholicSchoolsNY.org  for updates and links to best practices for staying healthy as well as links to the U.S. State Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization and other resources.

COVID-19 update Superintendent of Schools Office

March 12, 2020

Dear Catholic Schools Families,

Since the COVID-19 public health crisis revealed itself in our region, the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of Superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York has responded with policies that are proactive, pragmatic and patient.
In order to move forward our principals will continue to provide the excellent leadership they are known for in our schools to ensure our entire staff and faculty are educated not only about what the coronavirus is, but how to prevent its spread within our school communities. Additionally, it is important to educate our students about the virus, in the absence of factual information, children often imagine situations far worse than reality.

In the coming days, your principal, under the guidance of their regional superintendent, will announce a 12:00 PM dismissal. While we understand this may be an inconvenience to our families, this early dismissal serves three purposes:

1. Principals will be training their faculty using the ArchCare presentation and other resources, which can be found on our site, catholicschoolsny.org. This PowerPoint was created by our own healthcare organization, ArchCare, and is an overall comprehensive guide to COVID-19. They will also review the resources curated by Discovery Education Experience and The Discovery Channel. This collection of lessons and videos provides content regarding the COVID-19 at grade appropriate levels. Task force members from the Office of Teaching and Learning are creating a grade band guide for teachers that identifies the resources most appropriate for the children they teach.

2. Principals and teachers will also use this time to prepare for the possibility of remote learning in the event of an extended closing of their school by creating lessons, developing guidelines, and gathering resources for their students.

3. Maintenance staff will perform an additional cleaning and sanitation of the building according to CDC guidelines.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we come together to do what is best for our children.

Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

COVID-19 Update

March 11, 2020

Dear Catholic Schools Families,

The public health crisis presented by the coronavirus is a situation that sees facts, figures and government policies regularly evolving, often several times a day. In keeping with government recommendations and directives, The Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent of the Archdiocese of New York will continue to provide you updates as it relates to our schools.

Since the news of the COVID-19 has reached us, we have enhanced the methods and procedures used in the daily cleaning and sanitizing of our schools, with more frequent use of disinfectants with attention to electronics, hard surfaces and frequently-touched items such as door handles, faucets, light switches and telephones using CDC approved guidelines.

Both in school and no doubt at home, children have been educated in the importance of thorough
handwashing, and the best ways to carry that out. Several times a day, our schools are putting that into practice as students are brought to the rest rooms at regular intervals so as to maintain the best possible hygiene, with reminders and tips from their teachers.

In the event that one of our schools has a student, teacher or staff member that tests positive for COVID-19, we will close the school for a minimum of 48 hours in order to fully assess with government officials the implications for the school community and to ensure a full sanitization is carried out by qualified, licensed cleaning professionals as outlined by CDC disinfection guidelines.
A reality we recognize is the nearly inevitable likelihood that some of our schools will be exposed to the virus, or in fact themselves has a confirmed case of COVID-19. To that end, it is important that we (and you) become familiar with some terminology.

• If you are in direct contact with someone who has come down with the virus—or who is diagnosed
with it shortly after—you would be considered in Primary contact.
• Anyone who came in contact with you would be considered Secondary.
• Anyone who came in contact with a Secondary person is considered Tertiary.

Thank you again for supporting and adhering to our policy for Catholic school students and school personnel, who travel outside of the United States. Remember that anyone returning from any international travel must receive medical clearance to return to school. Additionally, as per current CDC requirements, students and school personnel returning from a country that the CDC classifies as Level 3 (Italy, China, South Korea, and Iran), would be required to remain home for 14 days from the date you returned to New York and provide the letter of medical clearance from a licensed medical professional. For regularly-updated travel information from the CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

Much of the technology we utilize that has resulted in our Catholic schools’ consistently high test scores, such as Blended Learning and Google Classroom, has better positioned us to implement remote-teaching and 1011 First Avenue, New York, New York 10022 Phone: (646) 794-2801 Fax: (212) 758-3018 virtual classrooms. Thanks to our dedicated principals, teachers and staff we will ensure the continuity of education for your children in the event of temporary school closures.

In our last update we shared resources for the children since it’s that the primary focus, we have added additional resources to www.CatholicSchoolsNY.org. These resources are provided so you can talk with your children about the virus, any concern or angst they may have.

Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools
Archdiocese of New York



11 de marzo de 2020
Queridas familias de escuelas católicas:

La crisis de salud pública que presenta el coronavirus es una situación en la que los hechos, las cifras y las políticas gubernamentales evolucionan con frecuencia, a menudo varias veces en el día. De conformidad con las recomendaciones y directivas del gobierno, el Grupo de Trabajo de Salud y Seguridad de la Oficina del Superintendente de la Arquidiócesis de Nueva York continuará proporcionándoles las novedades en relación con nuestras escuelas.

Desde que recibimos la noticia del COVID-19 hemos reforzado los métodos y procedimientos que adoptamos para la limpieza y desinfección de nuestras escuelas. Desinfectamos más a menudo, con especial atención a los equipos electrónicos, las superficies duras y los objetos que se tocan con más frecuencia, como picaportes/manijas de puerta, llaves o grifos, interruptores de corriente y teléfonos según las directrices aprobadas de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC).

Tanto en la escuela y, sin dudas, en sus hogares, los niños han recibido información acerca de la importancia del lavado meticuloso de las manos y las mejores formas de hacerlo. Varias veces al día, nuestras escuelas ponen en práctica estos procedimientos, acompañando a nuestros alumnos a los baños a intervalos regulares con el fin de mantener la mejor higiene posible, con recordatorios y recomendaciones de sus maestros.

En el caso de que alguna de nuestras escuelas tenga un alumno, docente o miembro del personal con resultado positivo en la prueba de COVID-19, clausuraremos la escuela durante un mínimo de 48 horas con el fin de evaluar completamente con los funcionarios gubernamentales las implicaciones de esa situación para la comunidad educativa y garantizar que se lleve a cabo la desinfección completa, a cargo de profesionales de limpieza calificados y autorizados, como se reseña en las directrices de desinfección de los CDC.

Reconocemos la realidad del riesgo casi inevitable de que algunas de nuestras escuelas estarán expuestas al virus o que, de hecho, tengan un caso confirmado de COVID-19. A este efecto, es importante que nosotros, y ustedes, estén al tanto de cierta terminología.
• Si tienen contacto directo con una persona que ha contraído el virus, o con alguien a quien se le ha diagnosticado este virus poco tiempo después de haber tenido contacto directo con ella, se considera que usted es un contacto primario (“Primary contact”).
• Toda persona que tuvo contacto con usted se consideraría un contacto secundario (“Secondary contact”).
• Toda persona que tuvo contacto con un contacto secundario se considera un contacto terciario (“Tertiary contact”).

Le agradecemos una vez más por apoyar y cumplir nuestra política para alumnos y personal de escuelas católicas que viajan fuera de los Estados Unidos. Recuerden que todas las personas que regresan al país después de un viaje internacional deben presentar una autorización médica para regresar a la escuela. Además, y de conformidad con los requisitos de los CDC, los alumnos y los miembros del personal de una escuela que regresan de un país que los CDC clasifican en el Nivel 3 (Italia, China, Corea del Sur e Irán), deberán permanecer en su hogar durante 14 días desde el día de su regreso a New York y presentar una carta con la autorización médica de un profesional de la salud matriculado. Encontrarán información de los CDC sobre viajes que se actualiza periódicamente en https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/travelers/index.html (en inglés).

Mucha de la tecnología que utilizamos y que ha resultado en los puntajes sistemáticamente altos obtenidos en los exámenes que rinden nuestras escuelas católicas, como Blended Learning (aprendizaje semipresencial) y Google Classroom, nos han colocado en una mejor posición para poner en práctica la enseñanza a distancia y las aulas virtuales. Gracias a nuestros directores, docentes y personal dedicado es que garantizaremos la continuidad de la educación de sus hijos si se llegara a producir la clausura temporal de la escuela.

En nuestra última notificación informamos sobre recursos para los niños, dado que son nuestro objetivo principal. Hemos agregado recursos adicionales en www.CatholicSchoolsNY.org/es/ Ofrecemos estos recursos para que puedan hablar con sus hijos sobre el virus y de cualquier otra inquietud o preocupación que pudieran tener.


Sinceramente,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendente de Escuelas
Arquidiócesis de Nueva York

Sunday, March 8, 2020

Week of March 9, 2020 Announcements




COVID-19 
 Novel Coronavirus 



Please make sure you read the information posted on Friday on this blog from the Superintendent of Schools Office.
Information will be shared on this blog if any further communication is needed.



Baptism - Thursday
Thursday April 30, 2020
9:00 AM 

First Reconciliation  
Wednesday May 6, 2020
10:00 AM

First Holy Communion 
Sunday May 17. 2020
1:00 PM Mass

Confirmation 
Thursday May 7



RE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION WAS SENT OUT BY THE REGIONAL OFFICE IN EARLY FEBRUARY.
LIKE LAST YEAR THERE WILL BE AN EARLY REGISTRATION FEE IF PARENTS 
RE-REGISTER THEIR CHILD BEFORE APRIL 15TH.
PARENTS WILL SAVE 100.00 BY REGISTERING BEFORE APRIL 15TH.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS PLEASE SEE ALBA IN THE SCHOOL OFFICE.


March 13, 2020
7th and 8th grade students will coordinate the celebration of pi Day


Progress Reports
Progress Reports were sent home on Thursday with all students in grades 1-8.
Parents are requested to sign therm and return to homeroom teacher.
Parents requesting to see a classroom teacher should please call Alba and schedule the appointment with her.


Monday March 9, 2020
Full Moon 

Tuesday March 10, 2020
Instructional Coach will work with students and teachers today.

Wednesday March 11, 2020
Reconciliation Class 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM 
Pickup is from school auditorium

Thursday March 12, 2020
Pi Day Celebration Grades 7 & 8 
First Holy Communion Class 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM 
Pickup is from school Lunchroom 

Friday - March 13, 2020
School Closed

Sunday - March 14, 2020
Students in Sacramental Class attend Mass with Mr. Woods 1:00 PM 











Friday, March 6, 2020


Friday, March 6, 2020

Dear Catholic School Families,

Coronavirus activity in New York continues to evolve and dominate the news. In order for you to make informed decisions in the best interest of your child(ren) and your families, we are committed to providing you with weekly updates containing information from federal, state and local health authorities, as it relates to our Catholic schools.

In addition to providing you with several bulletins from health officials, we wanted to  made you aware of our policy which stated that any student or staff member who travelled internationally must receive a doctor’s clearance in order to return to school. 

Additionally, never has it been more important that any student or staff member who may be sick stay home.

We are grateful for your fidelity to these policies. Please know that as these directives are followed over the coming weeks and perhaps months, there will be numerous instances throughout many schools where students and teachers may be out of school.

We will provide information on school operations, as well as coronavirus-related guidance from government agencies. However, it would be in violation of privacy laws to provide information about specific individuals and their circumstances. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support as we keep you as informed as possible.

We remain singularly focused on the health and wellness of everyone in our communities, and our sacred mission remains Catholic education. Keeping in mind we teach the whole child, attached to this email, you will find “Talking to Children About Coronavirus, A Parent Resource”. This document is provided by the National Association of School Psychologists and the National Association of School Nurses.

During times like this, the safety and well-being of our Catholic school families and staff, as well as those in the broader community around us, are our primary concern. We will continue to deliver as much information as possible in a timely manner.

For regularly updated information on coronavirus-related issues in our schools, the best resource will always be www.CatholicSchoolsNY.org.

Sincerely,
Mr. Michael J. Deegan
Superintendent of Schools


Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
A Parent Resource
A new type of coronavirus, abbreviated COVID-19, is causing an outbreak of respiratory (lung) disease. It was first detected in China and has now been detected internationally. While the immediate health risk in the United States is low, it is important to plan for any possible outbreaks if the risk level increases in the future.
Concern over this new virus can make children and families anxious. While we don’t know where and to what extent the disease may spread here in the United States, we do know that it is contagious, that the severity of illness can vary from individual to individual, and that there are steps we can take to prevent the spread of infection. Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in taking actions that reduce the risk of illness. Helping children cope with anxiety requires providing accurate prevention information and facts without causing undue alarm.
It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, age appropriate information about the potential seriousness of disease risk and concrete instruction about how to avoid infections and spread of disease. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety.


Specific Guidelines
Remain calm and reassuring.
• Children will react to and follow your verbal and nonverbal reactions.
• What you say and do about COVID-19, current prevention efforts, and related events can either increase or decrease your children’s anxiety.
• If true, emphasize to your children that they and your family are fine.
• Remind them that you and the adults at their school are there to keep them safe and healthy.
• Let your children talk about their feelings and help reframe their concerns into the appropriate perspective.


Make yourself available
• Children may need extra attention from you and may want to talk about their concerns, fears, and questions.
• It is important that they know they have someone who will listen to them; make time for them.
• Tell them you love them and give them plenty of affection.


Avoid excessive blaming
• When tensions are high, sometimes we try to blame someone.
• It is important to avoid stereotyping any one group of people as responsible for the virus.
• Bullying or negative comments made toward others should be stopped and reported to the school.
• Be aware of any comments that other adults are having around your family. You may have to explain what comments mean if they are different than the values that you have at home.
Monitor television viewing and social media.
• Limit television viewing or access to information on the Internet and through social media. Try to avoid watching or listening to information that might be upsetting when your children are present.
• Speak to your child about how many stories about COVID-19 on the Internet may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.
• Talk to your child about factual information of this disease—this can help reduce anxiety.
• Constantly watching updates on the status of COVID-19 can increase anxiety—avoid this.
• Be aware that developmentally inappropriate information (i.e., information designed for adults) can cause anxiety or confusion, particularly in young children.
• Engage your child in games or other interesting activities instead.
Maintain a normal routine to the extent possible.
• Keep to a regular schedule, as this can be reassuring and promotes physical health.
• Encourage your children to keep up with their schoolwork and extracurricular activities, but don’t push them if they seem overwhelmed.

Be honest and accurate
• In the absence of factual information, children often imagine situations far worse than reality.
• Don’t ignore their concerns, but rather explain that at the present moment very few people in this country are sick with COVID-19.
• Children can be told this disease is thought to be spread between people who are in close contact with one another—when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• It is also thought it can be spread when you touch an infected surface or object, which is why it is so important to protect yourself.
• For additional factual information ask your doctor, or check the https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html website.

Know the symptoms of COVID-19
• The CDC believes these symptoms appear in a few days after being exposed to someone with the disease or as long as 14 days after exposure:

  1.  Fever
  2. Cough
  3. Shortness for breath

• For some people the symptoms are like having a cold; for others they are quite severe or even life threatening. In either case it is important to check with your child’s healthcare provider (or yours) and follow instructions about staying home or away from public spaces to prevent the spread of the virus.


Review and model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices for protection
• Encourage your child to practice every day good hygiene—simple steps to prevent spread of illness:

  1.  Wash hands multiple times a day for at least 20 seconds (singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star slowly takes about 20 seconds).
  2.  Cover their mouths with a tissue when they sneeze or cough and throw away the tissue immediately, or sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow. Do not share food or drinks.
  3.  Practice giving fist or elbow bumps instead of handshakes. Fewer germs are spread this way.
  4.  Giving children guidance on what they can do to prevent infection gives them a greater sense of control over disease spread and will help to reduce their anxiety.
  5.  Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly; this will help them develop a strong immune system to fight off illness.


Discuss new rules or practices at school.
• Many schools already enforce illness prevention habits, including frequent hand washing or use of alcohol-based hand cleansers.


Communicate with your school.
• Let your school know if your child is sick and keep them home. Your school may ask if your child has a fever or not. This information will help the school to know why your child was kept home. If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19, let the school know so they can communicate with and get guidance from local health authorities.
• Talk to your  school counselor if your child is having difficulties as a result of anxiety or stress related to COVID-19. They can give guidance and support to your child at school.
• Make sure to follow all instructions from your school.

Take Time to Talk
You know your children best. Let their questions be your guide as to how much information to provide. However, don’t avoid giving them the information that health experts identify as critical to ensuring your children’s health. Be patient; children and youth do not always talk about their concerns readily. Watch for clues that they may want to talk, such as hovering around while you do the dishes or yard work. It is very typical for younger children to ask a few questions, return to playing, then come back to ask more questions.
When sharing information, it is important make sure to provide facts without promoting a high level of stress, remind children that adults are working to address this concern, and give children actions they can take to protect themselves.

Information is rapidly changing about this new virus—to have the most correct information stay informed by accessing https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.

Keep Explanations Age Appropriate
• Early elementary school children need brief, simple information that should balance COVID-19 facts with appropriate reassurances that their schools and homes are safe and that adults are there to help keep them healthy and to take care of them if they do get sick. Give simple examples of the steps people take every day to stop germs and stay healthy, such as washing hands. Use language such as “adults are working hard to keep you safe.”
• Upper elementary and early middle school children will be more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what will happen if COVID-19 comes to their school or community. They may need assistance separating reality from rumor and fantasy. Discuss efforts of school and community leaders to prevent germs from spreading.
• Upper middle school and high school students are able to discuss the issue in a more in-depth (adult-like) fashion and can be referred directly to appropriate sources of COVID-19 facts. Provide honest, accurate, and factual information about the current status of COVID-19. Having such knowledge can help them feel a sense of control.

Suggested Points to Emphasize When Talking to Children
• Adults at home and school are taking care of your health and safety. If you have concerns, please talk to an adult you trust.
• Not everyone will get the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease. School and health officials are being especially careful to make sure as few people as possible get sick.
• It is important that all students treat each other with respect and not jump to conclusions about who may or may not have COVID-19.
• There are things you can do to stay health and avoid spreading the disease: 

  1.  Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  2.  Stay home when you are sick.
  3.  Cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. 
  4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. 
  5. Wash hands often with soap and water (20 seconds).
  6. If you don’t have soap, use hand sanitizer (60–95% alcohol based). 
  7. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.


Additional Resources
Talking With Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents, and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks, https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Talking-With-Children-Tips-for-Caregivers-Parents-and-Teachers-During-Infectious-Disease-Outbreaks/SMA14-4886
Coping With Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks, https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Coping-with-Stress-During-Infectious-Disease-Outbreaks/sma14-4885
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html
Handwashing and Hand Sanitizer Use at Home, at Play, and Out and About, https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/pdf/hand-sanitizer-factsheet.pdf
For more information related to schools and physical and mental health, visit www.nasponline.org and www.nasn.org.
© 2020, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814, 301-657-02