2/4/21
Dear Parents, 

I wanted to clarify dismissal times for tomorrow.  We will be dismissing at 2:20 tomorrow.  It will not be a half day.  Sorry for any inconvenience. 
For International Day, I will send an invitational link for you to join us for the student’s presentation of their State Reports.  Hope to see you all then. 

Also, we will have school on April 20.  
Sincerely,

Mrs. Smolenski

2/3/2021

Dear Parents,

 Thursday and Friday will be in school days.  Hopefully everyone is dug out and can return safely.  
See  you all tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smolenski

Also, we have the Famous American Report due Friday and the State report due for 2/9/21.

For International Day, we will have a virtual presentation from our students.  The parents will be invited to attend to view their presentations.

CSW Family Letter…2.1.21

Dear Parents and students,

In the event that it snows from Sunday evening until Monday, we will be going remote for Monday.  If the snow levels are more than six inches, we will also be remote on Tuesday.

Stay well and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smolenski

, 

Memorandum

To:        Catholic Academy and Parish School Principals

From:    Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.

            Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services

Re:        Weekly Update for the Week of January 18, 2021

Date:        Monday, January 18, 2021

Be thankful for the struggles you go through. They make you stronger, wiser and humble. Don’t let them break you. Let them make you!

Reflection for the Week:

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the most important African American leaders in U.S. history and one of the iconic figures of the civil rights movement, in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s.  King’s fight against discrimination and segregation changed American history and gave hope to millions of a future of equality.

One of the most inspiring moments of King’s life was the August 28, 1963, March on Washington, and his “I Have a Dream” speech, where he stated, …I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character…

Pope Francis noted the importance of King’s dream, one that continues to inspire Americans and people from around the world to this day:  …Here too I think of the march which Martin Luther King led from Selma to Montgomery fifty years ago as part of the campaign to fulfill his “dream” 

of full civil and political rights for African Americans.  That dream continues to inspire us all.  I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of “dreams”.  Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to commitment.  Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a people…

King’s call for racial equality is echoed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  “Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin.  Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.”  (CCC 1934).

In his remarks, Pope Francis noted that King’s message of equality is rooted in the Gospel passage of the Golden Rule.  “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt 7:12).

As the Holy Father stated:  …This Rule points us in a clear direction.  Let us treat others with the same passion and compassion with which we want to be treated.  Let us seek for others the same possibilities which we seek for ourselves.  Let us help others to grow, as we would like to be helped ourselves.  In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities.  The yardstick we use for others will be the 

yardstick which time will use for us.  The Golden Rule also reminds us of our responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its development…

The struggle for equality often places us in conflict with policies or laws that seem to contradict this Gospel message.  Determining how to respond can be a great challenge.  In his famous “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” King eloquently conveyed his approach to resolving this conflict.  His answer was rooted in the teaching of St. Augustine that “An unjust law is no law at all,” as well as the guidance of 

St. Thomas Aquinas who writes, Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine when a law is just or unjust?  A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law, or the law of God.  An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.  To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law.  Any law that uplifts human personality is just.  Any law that degrades human personality is unjust.

Recent events demonstrate we still have much work to do, to achieve the racial equality, of which King dreamed.  The wounds and effects of slavery and segregation remain enormous challenges facing our country, its citizens, and its policymakers.

Moreover, other forms of inequality continue to be problems that degrade the dignity of man.  As the Catechism states, “There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women… Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as well as social and international peace.”  (CCC 1938).

Yet, while the struggle began by Dr. Martin Luther King and others continues, Pope Francis reminds us not to lose hope: Building a nation calls us to recognize that we must constantly relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hostility in order to adopt one of reciprocal subsidiarity, in a constant effort to do our best.  I am confident that we can do this.

This week let us reflect on our “dreams” and how through peace, harmony and love in our Catholic Academy and Parish School communities do we work together to fulfill that dream.

Catholic Schools Week and Visits (Policy and Procedure):

As we embark on the Year of Renewal, and the upcoming Catholic Schools Week, we offer the following reminders and suggestions on special events and safety protocols. 

A reminder regarding School or Class Visit Protocols – COVID-19

Please note:     Only essential in person school or class visits are recommended at this time. Remote visits should be encouraged when it is not essential to be in person at the school or in a classroom.

Please Note:     These visits are essential in purpose, contact with administration, faculty, staff and students is always restricted while on school property.

• All safety and health protocols are in place to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
• Always adhere to all safety and health protocols while on school property.

We encourage everyone to be creative and embrace digital, social media and video conference solutions to connect with those we cannot be in person with. 

Catholic Schools Week and Visits (Policy and Procedure):

(continued)

Some best practices include: 

• Zoom ‘Information Sessions’ for prospective families. 
  • A benefit to a LIVE ZOOM event for recruitment is to introduce prospective families to many in your community. 
  • Via Zoom, your incoming new families can meet the Principal, Pastor, Teachers, Board Chair, Home Academy Parents, Student representatives… and so on.    This is impossible in person in today’s world.

• Promote your online ‘open houses’ via social media and ask your current parents to share the post or registration link with their network.   It is likely that every single parent you know, knows a parent who is not yet sending their child to Catholic school. 

• Early childhood to Kindergarten.  We have an opportunity to grow Kindergarten by sharing what we do and will do to support the rising Kindergarten class.   Help parent learn what it takes to help a child who did not attend PreK or had a modified PreK experience prepare for a successful Kindergarten year.  Show them why a Catholic environment is the best place for them given the disturbances of 2020. 

• For parents who want to visit the school, let them know we also want them to visit and will arrange that as soon as it is possible.   Currently:  
  • Safety of the children and teachers is paramount, and we are not accepting visitors for everyone’s safety. 
  • Zoom meetings in groups or induvial sessions, can give you a sense of who we are and answer your direct questions.
  • We continue to monitor City and State guidance and will make plans for in person meetings as soon as it is deemed possible.  

Year of Renewal and Catholic Schools Week: 

We would like to share and promote any and all of the creative and safe celebrations you have planned for Catholic Schools Week and beyond.    Please let us know what events you are thinking of holding in the digital and online manner.    We can engage Currents and the Tablet, possible secular media, and of course share them on the website, blog, and our school office social media.   

If you have an event of note that would be appropriate for Currents to consider covering, please share the details here as soon as possible:  https://catholicschoolsbq.org/coverage/ 

Prayer for the Year of Renewal for Catholic Education (For Students):

Dear God,

Bless our Insert Name of Academy/School and all who are part of it

Help us grow in our love of Jesus

And share His love with others

Welcome us into the Church to hear Your Word

Open our hearts to welcome everyone in our community

Encourage us to work to make the world a better place

Let us hear your call to share our faith 

In your name we pray

Amen

St. Joseph, Pray for Us

i-Ready PD Update

Last week, professional development webinars were offered to school leaders and teachers.  Over 50 principals and 500 teachers were able to participate.  The i-Ready PD leadership team recorded the sessions and have provided links to both webinars:

For Administrators: Actively Monitoring Online Instruction 

https://cainc.zoom.us/rec/play/tjI3DPJN0goepJ5wUmus-aOi4S9i3cr7-h7qPJFhZcL5yUH1cUNJuAXvRNkMbnq46jFaUtAqun-rLdXf.yA-U_qIQp81mJzgH?startTime=1610459850000

For Educators: Strengthening Our Top Teacher Actions

https://cainc.zoom.us/rec/play/DPoW7KZjwEGniIkCqJwLOlhUCwb05LW5R0W7zCRVlILq0XYt0nKZJv3TwqbJdfuAcpQGDET0ZqB2CKU.q-e9-82UFn4zyIAF?autoplay=true&startTime=1610481527000

i-Ready Cycle 2 Diagnostics:

The Diocese of Brooklyn Winter Diagnostic takes place on 1/20/21 through 2/05/21.

Begin with the Reading assessment. Unlike the first Diagnostic, the second Diagnostic needs to be assigned by a school administrator the morning you begin assessing.

Once assigned, students will be prompted to start their assessment the next time they log in. Important: i-Ready instruction students will not be able to work on lessons in the subject being assessed until the test is completed. Also keep in mind that students have 28 days to complete the assessment or it will be reset, and they will need to start over. 

Assign a Diagnostic (the morning of the first day of testing 1/20/21): 

1. Select Assess & Teach from the top navigation. 
2. Select Reading or Math under Assessment. 
3. Select Assign New Test under Diagnostic Windows to assign a Diagnostic. 
4. Choose Classes, Groups, or Students. 
5. Select your population using the checkboxes. 
6. Review your selections and click Assign Diagnostic

Check your Diagnostic Status Report regularly during assessments: 

https://i-readycentral.com/pdfs/cheat-sheet-diagnostic-status-district-school/ 

Quick Books License:

The Diocese has purchased new 2021 QuickBooks licenses for Schools/Academies.  The Diocese has completed the upgrade on January 14, 2021. Your location may be asked the phone number where the licenses were registered when they log-in for the first time.  The number is (718) 965-7300. You must be logged in as Administrator.

Also, you may get some calls, “ I cannot find my company”. All you have to do is click on Open or restore and existing company followed by Open Company File.

Please forward this information to the bookkeeper/accountant.

Johanna Mitchell

RC Diocese of Brooklyn

Director 

Office of Fiscal Management

310 Prospect Park West

Brooklyn, NY  11215

718-965-7300  X 1411

Fax: 718-965-7371

Proximate Preparation for Sacraments:

Below is the memo, sent to all Pastors, Principals and Catechetical Leaders this past week. 

You are asked to please collaborate with your aligned Pastors and DRE’s, regarding the reception of the sacraments.

If you have families in the St. Thomas Aquinas Distance Learning Program, please engage those families in the Proximate Preparation Programs of the Affiliated Parishes.

As our parishes prepare to administer first sacraments in the Spring, we wish to call attention to the guidelines for proximate preparation and reception of the sacraments. The guidelines very clearly state that the children are to be prepared and receive sacraments in their home parishes:

It is the clear expectation that all children will return to the parish where they regularly worship with their families for the celebration of the First Sacraments. To this end, every parish must sponsor a “proximate” preparation program (between four to six sessions that can be arranged throughout the year) for all children who will receive the sacraments of First Penance and First Eucharist. Each parish is free to design its own “proximate” preparation program or follow the suggested model provided by the Office of Faith Formation. In either case, every program must be marked by three characteristics. First, it must be family-centered, involving both the children and their parents in some experience of intergenerational faith formation. 

While the majority of the planned sessions should involve the parents with their children, some may be planned only for parents or only for children. As such, if at all possible, this preparation should not be a classroom experience of instruction. Second, the program must be connected in a meaningful way to the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. The program should invite the families whose children are receiving the First Sacraments to join together as a community at Sunday Mass for prayer. Third, this preparation program will bring together children who are attending religious instruction in Catholic schools/academies and religious education programs as a sign of the unity that marks every parish family. Such “proximate” preparation is meant to complement the catechetical formation that each child is receiving in religion classes in either Catholic school or in the parish’s religious education program. This proximate preparation catechetical experience is not meant to add an undue burden, financial or otherwise, to families or parishes and therefore should be planned in such a way that it is both effective and uncomplicated. Fees should not normally be required for these preparatory activities.

Please note: no principal or catechetical leader should take it upon him/herself to change these guidelines. If for pastoral reasons there needs to be an individual adjustment, this must be discussed with the pastors within a deanery. 

In addition, if you have a student enrolled in the St. Thomas Aquinas Distance Learning Program, it is the responsibility of the Principal of the Catholic Academy/Parish School to connect that family with the affiliated parishes for the reception of the sacraments. Sacrament preparation is not part of the St. Thomas Aquinas Distance Learning Program.

Thank you for your vigilance in this matter.

Futures in Education Scholarship Process for 2021:

Attached, please find an important flyer from Futures in Education regarding the Scholarship Process for 2021.

Sadlier – LLF Professional Development:

Attached, please find a flyer regarding Sadlier – LLF Professional Development.

Please share with your teachers!

Catholic Schools Week Activities:

Attached for your consideration are a series of Catholic Schools Week Activities that you may wish to consider.

We would like to share and promote any and all of the creative and safe celebrations you have planned for Catholic Schools Week and beyond.    Please let us know what events you are thinking of holding in the digital and online manner.    We can engage Currents and the Tablet, possible secular media, and of course share them on the website, blog, and our school office social media.   

If you have an event of note that would be appropriate for Currents to consider covering, please share the details here as soon as possible:  https://catholicschoolsbq.org/coverage/ 

Prayer for the Week:

Almighty God, we bless you for our lives, we give you praise for your abundant mercy and grace we receive. We thank you for your faithfulness, even though we are not that faithful to you. Lord Jesus, we ask you to give us all around peace in our mind, body, soul, and spirit. We want you to heal and remove everything that is causing stress, grief, and sorrow in our lives.

Please guide our path through life and make our enemies be at peace with us. Let your peace reign in our family, at our place of work, businesses and everything we lay our hands on.

Let your angels of peace go ahead of us when we go out and stay by our side when we return. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

January 14, 2021

Dear Parents,

We have been notified that there will be no more additions to the online St. Thomas program for this year.  I thank all the parents who voluntarily quarantined their child when they have been exposed to Covid from outside sources.  

As many of those attending in person currently know, we have been very diligent in keeping our children safe.  We have recently added air sanitizers in each classroom to insure the safety of the children.  I have an ultra violet light sanitizers for phones and other surface items the children might come in contact with.  The desks are regularly sanitized with antibacterial wipes and the building is regularly treated for the most sanitary conditions possible.  We are also working very hard to keep masks on, hands clean and distance kept. 

Also, be aware of the registration that is currently underway.  Please try to register as soon as possible to insure your child’s place in our school.  We are receiving requests from public schools, so we would really like to be sure that those currently enrolled still have an opportunity to attend for next year.  Many of you know of the high standards and quality of the education we strive to achieve.  We also have a program to spread the word.  Please see the website pages for further information, or check you child’s book bags for the leaflet that was sent out.

May God bless all of you.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smolenski

January13, 2021