Update from the Diocese about our Schools

Posted on

November 19,

alesmedia.org

BROOKLYN AND QUEENS CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES TO CONTINUE IN-PERSON LEARNING

Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for Brooklyn and Queens, has announced that all 69 schools and academies will remain open and continue to provide in-person learning, in spite of the decision made to close New York City public schools indefinitely starting tomorrow.

“I am frustrated that the Mayor’s announcement was made as Catholic schools and academies throughout Brooklyn and Queens were dismissing our students. I want to make it clear to parents, teachers, staff, and students that the Mayor’s announcement only pertains to New York City public schools, and our schools will be open tomorrow. We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our school community remains safe for everyone, and we will continue to ensure strict compliance with all health and safety protocols,” said Dr. Thomas Chadzutko, Superintendent of Catholic Schools ~ Office of Support Services.

Catholic schools in the Diocese in Brooklyn and Queens have provided safe, five days a week in-person learning since beginning this school year, as scheduled, on September 9. The Superintendent, along with the Superintendent of the Archdiocese of New York, has received confirmation from the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Non-Public Schools that they will maintain entitled services for Catholic school students, including school nurses, transportation, and food.

         Catholic Academies and Parish Schools within the Diocese of Brooklyn have successfully operated for more than two months due to the strict adherence to the important “Core Four” actions to prevent COVID-19 transmission, including maintaining physical distance, wearing a face covering, practicing healthy hand hygiene, and staying home if sick. The schools and academies of the Diocese of Brooklyn continue to work with New York State and City Department of Health officials on a regular basis to maintain the safety of all of our students, faculty, and staff.

         For a listing and more information about Catholic Schools in Brooklyn and Queens, please visit catholicschoolsbq.org.

 

Update on our school being open tomorrow.

Posted on

November 18, 2020

Dear Parents and students,

Please be advised that our Catholic schools will be open tomorrow.  We do not know whether buses will be available or lunches, so we ask that you send your child with a snack to school tomorrow.  We expect to be open for the rest of the week.  However, during the uncertainty of the virus status, we are expecting to stay open depending upon a decision from the Governor to the contrary.

I will keep you updated both here and on Google Classroom.  The children can bring home their iPads if they need to and bring them back and forth, as a precautionary measure.  As you all know, we are doing every precaution to keep our children safe.  Please know we truly love and care for them.  

Sincerely,

 Mrs. Smolenski

We are OPEN tomorrow

Posted on

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Although the New York City Public Schools are closed, our Superintendent’s Diocesan Office has informed all Catholic Elementary Academies that we will be open till further notice.

We were informed that we would close only if the governor declares the complete city an orange zone or if he closes the schools.   We will be OPEN and in the next two days, we will be sending home books in case they will close us for Thanksgiving and thereafter.

We will be sending books and devices everyday till next Tuesday before Thanksgiving, allowing the children to keep certain books at home and bringing their devices back and forth.

I wish to inform you that  our nurse will be here from the city, but we have not yet been informed as to whether there will be yellow bus service or lunch. Therefore, please send, as always, a snack with your child/children and know that they may be sent home without lunch tomorrow if the city does not deliver lunches to us for the children.

Also,  we were not told whether yellow buses will be available for our children; therefore. you should make plans in the event that the yellow bus does not show up to pick up your child to come to school.

Please keep checking your teacher’s homework page, dojo, and this website in order to keep updated on all information.

May our Lord watch over you and your dear children,

Mrs. DeLuca

This weekend and Monday

Posted on

November 13, 2020

Dear Parents, 

The mayor of NYC will be deciding on whether to keep NYC schools open for next week.  As you know, there has been an uptick in Covid cases in our area.  As yet, the Brooklyn Diocese has made no official announcements.  I will definitely inform you if we will not be coming in on Monday.

Also, on Monday we will be having a Zoom prayer service. The links have been sent on Google Classroom.  All are welcomed to join us.

I have sent the iPads assigned to your child home with them, should they need it.  Please be mindful that they are responsible for them and must return to school with them or you will be asked to pay for damage or loss of them.

I wish you all a safe weekend.  I also hope to see the children on Monday.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smolenski

Ozone Park Block Association Food Pantry

Posted on

Dear Parents/Guardians,

It has come to my attention that the Ozone Park Block Association has a food pantry here at the DESHI CENTER on 83-10 Rockaway Blvd and 83rd Street.  If you or any one you know is in need of food, please pass this information on to them.

Every Saturday morning, beginning at 6 a. m. at the DESHI CENTER, 83-10 Rockaway Blvd, food is being given out to assist all people during this difficult time of the Pandemic.  Please feel free to go and get help for you, or some one you know, and your dear children.

God bless and watch over you,

Mrs. Frances DeLuca

 

 

Mask wearing

Posted on
       October 30, 2020
 
         Dear Parents/Guardians:
 
I thank all the parents of our students who have cooperated in all ways to keep our children safe.
 
Right now, it is law in the City of New York that we wear masks around our students,  in the academy building as well as on the grounds of the academy.  If this is not followed, our academy can be in jeopardy of being closed down if DOH and DOE inspectors  believe we are not following regulations in or out of the building by everyone. 
 
Inspectors are moving from location to location, and they can fine the school and you, personally, or even worse close us down if this very important mandate is not followed by everyone around the academy building.  Besides, we are practicing what I believe experts say is the opinion of the medical doctors and the law, that wearing masks will prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus to those around us.    All parents  signed a consent form  after reading the handbook, and in order for all children to be here at our academy, all these regulations have to be followed. 
 
This morning I received several letters from parents upset that their child was near a parent who did not have a mask on.   It is of the upmost importance, regardless of what you personally believe, that you follow  the laws  made by the Diocese of Brooklyn which follow what the Department of Health and Department of Education mandate.  We cannot jeopardize the well being of others  or of this academy.  IT IS A MANDATE THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED WHEN DROPPING OR PICKING UP YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN FROM THE ACADEMY.
 
Have a blessed day and may our Lord, Jesus Christ, keep you and your loved ones safe.
         Mrs. Frances DeLuca
Posted on

Dear Parents, 

Below is a new way to help our schools.

Thank you, 

Mrs. Smolenski

Two ways to help our Academies earn cash.

Do you shop on Amazon? For many of you the answer is yes! What if many of the purchases that you make everyday can also help benefit the children of our Academies? Well, they can! This is one of the easiest ways to help fund programs, supplement tuition enhance fundraising efforts. By simply going to https://smile.amazon.com and choosing to support ______________________ with your purchases, you are helping our school raise additional revenue to fund many of our initiatives.

Register your Stop & Shop Card using the Academy’s ID#. Each time you shop at any Stop & Shop using your Card you will earn A+ Points. These points became CASH for our Academies. – Create your online account at stopandshop.com.
Call 1-877-366-2668 OPTION 1 for assistance

Update from our Superintendent

Posted on

October 17, 2020

 

Dear Catholic Academy and Parish School Families,

 

Since September, our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have been open and operating safely and efficiently. Thank you for your support in ensuring our guidelines for health and safety have been followed. Every person in our extended Catholic Academy and Parish Schools’ community has the responsibility to observe social distancing and wear a mask. This is what will keep the doors to our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools open; this is what will continue to keep everyone at our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools safe and healthy. Our principals, teachers and health aides have rigorously enforced health and safety protocols in our Catholic Academy and Parish Schools. For all this is being done on a daily basis, we are most grateful.

 

However, as students’ participation in outside extracurricular activities increases, the possibility of exposure to individuals who are positive for COVID may increase for both the students and their families. The same outcome can be true for attending any event with large numbers of people. This past week we have seen a very slight uptick in positive cases, and every positive case has been traced back to exposures at gatherings, parties, and events outside of the Catholic Academy/Parish School. We are sending this letter as a stark reminder COVID protocols do not end at the end of the school day and/or take the weekends off!

 

With that being said, it is crucial that every family completes the daily self-screening checklist, prior to sending their children to the Catholic Academy/Parish School.

 

If you can answer YES to any of the questions, your child may NOT enter the Catholic Academy/Parish School building. You MUST contact a health professional for guidance and notify the Catholic Academy/Parish School principal.

 

As a reminder, the questions are:

 

1. If your child has any of the following symptoms, that indicates a possible illness, which maydecrease the student’s ability to learn and put them at risk for spreading illness to others.Does your child have any of these symptoms?

 

• Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Sore Throat
• New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
• Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
• New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting

 

 

2. To the best of your knowledge, in the past 14 days, has your child been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes) with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19?

 

3. Has your child or a member of your household traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days.

 

According to the New York State Department of Health, your child will need to receive a note of medical clearance and a negative PCR COVID test to return to school, should they develop any symptoms or be sent home from school.  

 

What else can we all be doing to maintain a safe environment for all? We can limit our exposure to large groups of people, continue to practice good hand hygiene, have a supply of masks on hand so that the fabric masks can be washed daily, and ensure everyone in your family receives a flu shot and all immunizations are kept up–to–date.

 

We truly appreciate everyone’s honesty, cooperation and dedication, to keeping our schools safe and healthy places of learning. During the month of the Most Holy Rosary, we continue to entrust our students, teachers, principals and staff to our Lady; the cause of our hope and joy.

 

Sincerely,

 

Thomas Chadzutko

 

Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.

Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services

October 17, 2020

 

Dear Catholic Academy and Parish School Families,

 

Since September, our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have been open and operating safely and efficiently. Thank you for your support in ensuring our guidelines for health and safety have been followed. Every person in our extended Catholic Academy and Parish Schools’ community has the responsibility to observe social distancing and wear a mask. This is what will keep the doors to our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools open; this is what will continue to keep everyone at our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools safe and healthy. Our principals, teachers and health aides have rigorously enforced health and safety protocols in our Catholic Academy and Parish Schools. For all this is being done on a daily basis, we are most grateful.

 

However, as students’ participation in outside extracurricular activities increases, the possibility of exposure to individuals who are positive for COVID may increase for both the students and their families. The same outcome can be true for attending any event with large numbers of people. This past week we have seen a very slight uptick in positive cases, and every positive case has been traced back to exposures at gatherings, parties, and events outside of the Catholic Academy/Parish School. We are sending this letter as a stark reminder COVID protocols do not end at the end of the school day and/or take the weekends off!

 

With that being said, it is crucial that every family completes the daily self-screening checklist, prior to sending their children to the Catholic Academy/Parish School.

 

If you can answer YES to any of the questions, your child may NOT enter the Catholic Academy/Parish School building. You MUST contact a health professional for guidance and notify the Catholic Academy/Parish School principal.

 

As a reminder, the questions are:

 

1. If your child has any of the following symptoms, that indicates a possible illness, which maydecrease the student’s ability to learn and put them at risk for spreading illness to others.Does your child have any of these symptoms?

 

• Temperature 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
• Sore Throat
• New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for students with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, a change in their cough from baseline)
• Diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain
• New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• New loss of taste or smell
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting

 

 

2. To the best of your knowledge, in the past 14 days, has your child been in close contact (within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes) with anyone who has tested positive through a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or who has or had symptoms of COVID-19?

 

3. Has your child or a member of your household traveled internationally or from a state with widespread community transmission of COVID-19 per the New York State Travel Advisory in the past 14 days.

 

According to the New York State Department of Health, your child will need to receive a note of medical clearance and a negative PCR COVID test to return to school, should they develop any symptoms or be sent home from school.  

 

What else can we all be doing to maintain a safe environment for all? We can limit our exposure to large groups of people, continue to practice good hand hygiene, have a supply of masks on hand so that the fabric masks can be washed daily, and ensure everyone in your family receives a flu shot and all immunizations are kept up–to–date.

 

We truly appreciate everyone’s honesty, cooperation and dedication, to keeping our schools safe and healthy places of learning. During the month of the Most Holy Rosary, we continue to entrust our students, teachers, principals and staff to our Lady; the cause of our hope and joy.

 

Sincerely,

 

Thomas Chadzutko

 

Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.

Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services

 

 

 

Help reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 by practicing the “Core Four”:

 

                                                                   

            Social Distance                              Face Coverings              Stay Home if Sick             Healthy Hand Hygiene

 

 

 

 

Help reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of COVID-19 by practicing the “Core Four”:

 

                                                                   

            Social Distance                              Face Coverings              Stay Home if Sick             Healthy Hand Hygiene

 

Update letter from The a Superintendent of Catholic Schools

Posted on

Call_To_Action_Arch of NY_Brooklyn-Queens_10-06-20

Dear Parents,

As you know, we have been blessed with a strong reopening.  We are working very hard to keep your children and all of us at OLPHCA safe.
We have come a long way from when this was a novel virus.  We, through the guidance of Mrs. DeLuca have done much to insure everyone’s safety.

 We have our building regularly sanitized several times during the week.  Any equipment used has been sanitized.  I also have a sanitizer in my room for their phones or anything they bring in.  We maintain six feet distancing and mask wearing.   Everyone is temperature checked entering the building.  By the Grace of Our Lord, we have been very successful, as yet.  

With all the precautions we have in place, we urge you to read the Superintendent’s letter attached above.  It is time for us to let the Governor and Mayor hear from us.

We will continue to stay vigilant.  We believe in our efforts and truly wish only the best learning experience we can give your children.  With the help of Our Lord, we know we can continue to provide the safest possible sanctuary for your children.

I wish you all great health and to stay safe.  We are stronger together.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Smolenski 

Back to School Night

Posted on

Dear Parents, 

On Wednesday, September 23,2020, we will be a zoom meeting starting with Mrs. DeLuca’s introduction.

At 8:00 PM Mrs. Guerrero and I will be holding our meeting at the following link:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6948508539?pwd=QzZjemRjdTdjWGtSZ1hJVm1nQjYwZz09

Meeting ID: 694 850 8539
Passcode: 3KILgB

We look forward to seeing you there.