Dear St. Patrick School Families,

I hope that you and your families are well. We are starting Week 8 of eLearning and thank you for your continued patience, support and flexibility as we navigate through eLearning from home. Below are several updates with respect to our current status that I shared with all families last Friday:

Mental Health and Days Off

We understand that this time of quarantine and home isolation is taking its toll on everyone - students, parents, faculty, and staff alike. As a working mother, I know how hard it is to juggle everything. The school currently has a balance of unused “snow days” that we want to use to help provide some relief from the rigorous schedule we have all been experiencing in the interest of the mental health of all. There will be no at home eLearning on Friday, May 8 and Friday, May 15. We will also tentatively mark Friday, May 22 as a “snow day”, depending on a further decision by Governor Murphy on whether or not our students will return to the building this school year. Further announcements on additional days off will be made once we know more from the governor, Department of Health, Department of Education, and Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Paterson.

Grades

There have been a few changes to exams and grades for the last marking period of this school year. St. Patrick School will report grades as we normally do. We are not changing to a pass/fail grade for the fourth marking period. However, the Catholic Schools Office of the Diocese of Paterson has made the decision to weight the fourth marking period differently than the first-third marking periods. For grades 6-8, there will be no final exams. Students in all grades will receive report cards and grades as normal. Stay tuned for more information.

Internet Safety and Student Online Behavior

To provide the best online learning experience possible, all teachers have facilitated an Internet safety course for your child. With the completion of the course, the faculty have shared these guidelines and tips with you and your children in an effort to ensure that live instruction on Google Meets, as well as any emailing between students is being conducted in a manner upholding St. Patrick School’s mission and handbook policies. Good online behavior, whether in a Google Meets setting or in peer-to-peer/teacher and student communications online, is a choice and one that we need your help with so that we can continue to effectively teach your child during this challenging time. Should you have any questions, refer to the Parent/Student handbook or email your child’s teacher.

Moving Forward

The Coronavirus Task Force, Education Council, Fr. Bob and I are in the process of planning for and discussing a multitude of issues and potentialities for the remainder of this school year and next school year. They include, but are not limited to:

• Alternative plans for major year-end events, including the Grade 8 Dinner/Dance and all events surrounding Grade 8 Graduation.
• Summer programs that take place in our school, including Summer Camp and the Summer Camp Basketball Camp
• Scheduling and placement for all students for the 2020/2021 school year.
• Remote learning plans if a school closure should be necessary during next school year.
• Return of medication currently in our nurses’ office to students and families.
• Collection of materials, including Chromebooks, textbooks, and other items from students in the event we are closed for the year. This also includes giving students any items left in the school buildings.
• Securing personal protective equipment so that we are in a position to be able to open school once given permission.

As these plans come together, we will be in touch and communicate with parents and students either by grade level or as a whole. Be well!

Blessings,

Dr. Ross

Thinking Ahead: Register for St. Patrick School Basketball Camp For July

Boys and girl students in grades 1-8 are invited to register for the St. Patrick School 2020 Summer Basketball Camp, which will take place Monday, July 20 through Thursday, July 23 from 9AM – Noon at the St. Patrick School Gym. The camp features Local Division 1 coaches and a special performance by the Harlem Wizards! The St. Patrick School 2020 Summer Basketball Camp costs $200 per student and includes a camp t-shirt. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/tuo4yt9

Thinking Ahead: St. Patrick School Summer Camp Accepting Registrations For July

Children are invited to join St. Patrick School during July as we explore the world around us through projects, play, and experiments. St. Patrick School Summer Camp will run from June 29 through July 24 and is open to rising Pre-K4 (must be 4 to attend) to rising Grade 3 students. Students do not have to be registered with St. Patrick School to attend. In 2020, the St. Patrick Summer Camp will offer a Half-Day Option from 9AM-12:00PM or a Full-Day Option With Lunch from 9AM-3PM (Campers bring their own lunch). Every Friday is "Beach Day" with sprinklers and fun in the sun! Register now! Limited spots available. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/s9mjjev