Sunday, January 27, 2019

Week of January 28, 2019 Announcements




Monday January 28, 2019
Open House
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM 
Parents may visit classrooms

Wednesday January 30, 2019
School Religion Fair
Themes
K-1 Jesus the Healer
K-2 Saints
Grade 1 - Jesus' Miracles
Grade 2- Sacraments
Grade 3 - The Twelve Apostles
Grade 4 - Parables
Grade 5 - Martys of the Catholic Church
Grade 6 - Liturgical Music
Grade 7 - The Gospels
Grade 8 - History of the Church  

Thursday January 31, 2019
Feast of St. John Bosco
Mass in celebration of Catholic Schools Week

Report Cards Sent home with students

Friday February 1, 2019 
Parent Teacher Conferences 
3:00 PM - 8:00 PM




Thursday January 31, 2019 

Report Cards along will be distributed on Thursday January 31st.
Parents are reminded to please check their balance on 
Smart Tuition before Thursday.
Students will not receive their report card unless 
tuition is up to date.


Friday February 1, 2019 
Dismissal at 12:00 noon 
ALL STUDENTS 
Parent Teacher Conferences 
3:00 PM - 8:00 PM 
Many educational experts are suggesting that students should attend Parent Teacher Conferences to discuss first hand with their parent and teacher the progess that has occurred ---
or needs to occur.
It is therefore suggested that parents bring along their child to meet with their child's teacher on Friday. 

Conference Locations:
Grades 1-8 in lunchroom 
K-2 in lunchroom 
All PreK Classes and K-1 in their classrooms

During the Conferences
Mr. Guzman and Alan will assist parents in joining our social media sites to keep up with the happenings in school.


School Mass 
Thursday January 31st
Feast of St. John Bosco
9:00 AM 
Parents Welcome

2019-2020 Enrollment Calendar 

February 6, 2019 - TADS re-registration begins for students entering grades K-8  in September.  
Also students entering Mrs. Rodriguez's room in September (this is new) will be invited to re-register. 
There will be no need to register as a new student as previosuly mentioned.
Re-Registration Fee - $150.00
Financial Aid applications open

Febraury 15, 2019
Deadline for Financial Assistance Application 

March 15, 2019
Financial Assistance Award Notifications emailied to families

April 15, 2019
Re-Registation Fee incentive ends.
Re-Registration - $250.00
Last date for Financial Assistance applications

Tuition for the 2019-2020 school year was posted on January 23rd. Please scroll down on the blog to see tuition rates.

Alba and Mr. Guzman will assist parents with their questions.
Alba is available to assist parent with the financial aid applications.


Monday January 28, 2019 - Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas 
Catholic Schools Week Open House 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Parents may visit their child's classroom and observe the everyday teaching/learning that occurs.

Tuesday January 29, 2019 
Touring Tuesday 

Wednesday January 30, 2019 
School Religion Fair 9:00 AM- 10:30 AM  in auditorium.
Parents Welcome 

Thursday January 31, 2019 - Feast of St. John Bosco 
Mass at 9:00 AM led by the students of the second grade.
Report Card and Honors Assembly
1:30 PM - Grades 4-8
2:00 PM - Grades 1-3

Reconciliation Class 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM  

Friday February 1, 2019 
Early Dismissal Day for ALL students 12:00 noon.
After School Program in session.
Living Environment Class 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM 
Parent Teacher Conferences 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM -- see above.

Sunday February 3, 2019
Students in Sacramental Class attend Mass @ 1:00 PM with Mr. Woods 

 

January 25, 2019

Dear Catholic School Families and Faculties,

National School Choice Week is celebrated throughout the country from January 20 – 26. Through celebratory events and activities, communities nationwide recognize the importance of preserving educational options for families and the contributions schools with different models and values-systems provide to our society.

Our Catholic schools are an essential component of the education system here in New York and across America, and we must always remain engaged in public policy dialogue to ensure our schools are respected and supported as independent institutions. To that end, I am using this opportunity to share with you an important policy issue developing in New York State.

This past fall, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) released guidance on a statutory measure known as Substantial Equivalency. These guidelines outline requirements religious and independent schools must meet to operate, as well as the process by which “equivalency” to public school instruction will be determined.

The educators and families that comprise the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York know better than anyone that our schools provide a depth and quality of instruction above and beyond any other system in New York. We are happy to demonstrate our academic rigor, because we know our schools far surpass any barometer for “equivalent” instruction.

The problem with NYSED’s guidance, however, lies not in the need to verify programmatic quality, but in how the state has proposed to conduct such reviews. Rather than dispatching an impartial team from NYSED’s central offices to visit our schools, they have decided to deputize both local public school districts and their school boards to determine whether or not nonpublic school instruction is “substantially equivalent” to that of public schools.

This structure presents a clear conflict of interest for local public school districts, which would benefit from less competition from nonpublic schools. Determining the quality of instruction based on its similarity to that of public schools threatens the autonomy of private, faith-based institutions to provide families with an educational model that truly differentiates itself from what public schools have to offer. No process that leaves such determination in the hands of local officials can provide a legitimate, unbiased determination; a point made clear to NYSED by nonpublic school stakeholders in conversation over the past two years.

After multiple, unsuccessful efforts to have NYSED consider other alternatives we have recommended – including using accreditation, state exam scores (which outpace our public counterparts in raw score and growth), graduation statistics and attendance rates as qualifying


metrics – we are asking the New York State Board of Regents to facilitate additional discussions and to consider the various options by which our schools can demonstrate their success. I will keep you apprised as this issue evolves and may subsequently encourage you to contact your local representative in state government if the need arises.

As partners in Catholic education, we must work in concert to protect your right to select the school that you determine is best for your children. I look forward to staying in communication together as this critical issue further develops.

Sincerely,
Timothy J. McNiff, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools Archdiocese of New York

CC:      His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York

Fr. Joseph LaMorte, Chancellor and Vicar General, Archdiocese of New York