Parent Email - March 19

Dear Parents of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School,

One week almost down! What a week it has been. Your positive emails of support and encouragement are much appreciated. I also appreciate the emails where you share your frustrations as this gives us a chance to improve. You have had great suggestions. We are so proud of the fact that we were able to start our program right away providing no gap in instruction and education for your children. Because we rolled things out quickly, we have hit a few glitches and also found additional resources that we think will make the upcoming weeks even better. Our goal for this week is for our teachers to work to implement more videos and some live lessons. Please continue to be patient as we work through this. Thank you!

One item that came up at my Archdiocesan online meeting on Tuesday was the need to take attendance. Thank you for your help so that we have the documentation needed for TCCBED. Here is how we are taking attendance:

• Pre-K – 5th grades: We will use the distance learning plans that are being signed by parents. I have the forms for next week attached. They are also on our website. 
• Middle School: Students are asked to check in each day on Google Classroom. The attendance sheet is up each morning by 8 am. Middle school students have the entire school day to sign in. Please still complete the distance learning plans. 

I have asked teachers to make next Friday, March 27th a “Catch-up Day”. There may be assessments in middle school but no new classwork for that day. This would be a great day to catch-up on assignments and work on auxiliary classes. (Reminder: There is only one auxiliary assignment for each two weeks.)

Friday, March 27th will also be a day to drop off completed assignments and distance learning plan forms. This is also a time when classes with packets can distribute new materials for the second two weeks. This will be done in a carline fashion. Please be on the lookout for more information on the logistics of this morning as we work them out.

As you know, our current plan is to be closed through April 10th. The Archdiocese will review this decision during Holy Week. If the closure ends on April 10th, we will not take our extended Easter Break. We would return to school on Monday, April 13th.

Additionally, the Archdiocese will not be administering the IOWA, ACRE, CogAT or STAR tests. When we are able to resume school, we want to focus on instruction and not lose these days to assessments.

For all the latest updates or to review previously shared e-mails, distance learning plan forms and other resources, please visit our website at: https://staopcs.org/covid19

Thank you for being patient and for taking the time to read these updates. I will continue to send these out as I have new information.

We continue to pray for all those impacted by the Coronavirus. We also ask for God's blessings, guidance and protection for each of us as we journey through these weeks of distance learning together. 

Only by His Grace,
Veronica Tucker