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
