Monday Memo
Week 03 | August 31 - Sept. 4, 2020
NEw In this Week's Edition:
More Updates added to our Re-Entry Gameplan Document
Fall Map Testing
Travel Advisory
New Girl Scouts Information
PTO Meeting Schedule
Honor Thy Children, August 2020 Issue
Welcome back to school!
I hope that you and your family are beginning to settle into a routine. I know it is hard and I appreciate all you have done to help make this as easy as possible. I thought I would take this time to just talk about a couple of topics.
First, let’s talk about separation anxiety. This is normal for every school year. School is not as fun as being home for the summer. There are routines and homework and classes we don’t really enjoy. And most importantly you are not there. Now add in that we have been out of school for 5 months, at home in our safe bubble, and we have a recipe for some significant separation anxiety. If you are experiencing this at your home please know you are not alone. There are many kids ( and adults) who are struggling with coming back to school. The teachers and I are working to help get their minds on other things and work through it. That really is the best way to overcome this. Could you help at home by reassuring them that they are in a safe place and that you know they are going to have fun and learn? Remind them that you have responsibilities and they do too. If a student knows you are not at home having fun without them and that you trust in the school then they will follow that and begin to feel more comfortable being at school. Please know that we will reach out to you if we ever feel like this is more than what we have observed before. If you are having a hard time letting them go as well, know that this is normal too. If you have any questions or concerns please reach out. We are here to help you and your student have a successful year.
The past week and a half we have been in the school the teachers and students are working tirelessly to develop the correct routines to ensure the safety for everyone during Covid. I can tell you that managing all of the students to try to make sure that just one class is in the same hallway or bathroom at a time is beyond comprehension. Our everyday normal routines have been turned upside down and backwards. I can tell you that it is stressful. And I do not even have a classroom.😂.
You know that saying, “ walk a mile in someone else’s shoes before you judge them’ ? I try to remember that every time I get upset or aggravated with a situation. I may not always understand why someone does what they do but if I take a minute to calm down and try to understand where they are coming from most of the time I see that they are doing it out of a necessity, not to make me upset. So I ask that when you feel frustrated with the way things are going at school you try to put yourself in the shoes of the teacher, administrators, or staff and see if your perspective changes. When we all do that we teach our children to respect the ideas and ways of others. And at the end of the day we all want our children to be respectful and kind to others.
Have a great week!
Stacie Short
School Councilor
Fall Map Testing
At the beginning of last school year the Archdiocese of Louisville implemented a new assessment system; NWEA MAP. Grade levels take the following tests in the fall testing window:
3rd – 7th Grade: MAP Growth Reading, Math, and Language
Grade 8: MAP Growth Math
Grades K – 2: MAP Reading Fluency.
St. Albert will begin administering the MAP Growth assessment this week in some of the grade levels. The Archdiocese asked schools to start with MATH Growth, so we will complete those tests first and then schedule for Growth Reading, Language, and Reading Fluency.
Because of the disruption of instruction this past March, we will not be releasing MAP test results this fall. Teachers will use the data to inform their instruction to target the specific needs of each student to close whatever gaps exist as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
We hope that, throughout this testing process, you continue to partner with us in your children’s education by encouraging them to do their best on the MAP assessment.
RLO students will begin testing after we start in-school testing. More information to come
Thank you so much for your continued support of St. Albert School and Parish Community
Travel Advisory
On July 20, 2020 the Kentucky Department for Public Health issued a travel advisory with the recommendation of a 14-day self-quarantine for travelers who went to any of the states reporting positive testing rates equal to or greater than 15 percent of COVID-19 testing.
These states currently include:
South Carolina 20.93%
Mississippi 18.08%
Iowa 17.25%
South Dakota 16.38%
Nevada 15.63%
With Labor Day weekend around the corner and possible travel opportunities later this school year, we would like to remind our school families that we strongly recommend you follow the Governor's 14-day self quarantine period (and not return to school in person) if your family has traveled to any of the states reporting positive testing rates equal to or greater than 15 percent of COVID-19 testing.
If a child is quarantining, email Lindsay Finley at lfinley@stalbert.org. Include the date the child is entering and ending quarantine. Email her if dates change for any reason.
Thank you for your understanding in keeping our school community healthy and safe.
--- Around the school ---
Lunch menu
You can always find our lunch menu on our school website. The new month calendar is typically posted around the last week of the month prior.
Sycamore & Carpool
Mr. Henderson sent out a message on Friday evening with details about helpful tips for Sycamore and information about Carpool for this school year.
Optional Remote Learning Online (RLO)
Families that requested the optional RLO for their family can find the grade level plans below. This is the plan we will start the year with and we will be making adjustments as needed to fit the needs of our families.
Please direct all RLO questions to Lindsay Finley at lfinley@stalbert.org or leave a message or text at (502) 536-8761. Ms. Finley will be the liaison between students, parents, and teachers.
Since our start date for school has been pushed back one week to August 19, we will also be pushing back the date to notify us about choosing the Remote Learning Option. If you would like to choose the Remote Learning Option for August, you will need to notify Lindsay Finley (lfinley@stalbert.org) by Wednesday, August 12. We will still be doing RLO on a month to month basis so that if you are wanting to make a change to in person instruction from RLO or RLO to in person instruction you will need to do that by the 25th of each month.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during these continually changing times.
Join St Albert Girl Scouts!
Saint Albert the Great Girl Scouts welcomes all girls to join us for a great 2020-2021 school year! Grade level troops are open to all girls, starting in Kindergarten.
Tues, 9/1 @ 7pm: Online meeting for Kindergarten parents interested in participating in the new Daisy troop being formed now.
Google Meet: meet.google.com/rfo-pcsr-hhc
If interested in joining an existing troop in 1st grade and above, or if you have questions about Girl Scouts contact Karen Schuler Ising at kschulerising@gmail.com.
--- From The ParisH ---
First Holy Communion
Hello to our Parents with Children Preparing for their First Holy Communion,
This will be a special year for your children! I am honored to walk with your family in this journey of faith and help prepare them for their Sacraments! We encourage all parents to attend our First Communion Meeting on September 8 at 7:00pm in the Church.
First Communion Masses are scheduled!
Saturday, November 7 at 3:00 pm for 2A;
Sunday, November 8 at 1:00 pm for 2B
Sunday, November 8 at 4:00 pm for 2C & PREP students
Hopefully, you have received an email with the First Communion Enrollment Form which includes the plate painting order (optional) as well as an RSVP form with a number of immediate family to reserve your pew. Those with twins will need to choose which homeroom Mass to attend. Please notify the office if you have not received the email.
Thank you!
--- FROM YOUR PTO ---
2020-2021 PTO Meetings
We're getting back into the swing of things and wanted to send you the meeting dates for this year.
Please note that all meetings will start this year at 7:00 p.m. instead of 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 23, 2020 - 7:00 pm Sacred Heart Center
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 7:00 pm Sacred Heart Center
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - 7:00 pm Sacred Heart Center
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 - 7:00 p.m. Parish Life Complex-1-Conference Room #2
This year will be very different, but together we can help our children thrive.
Room Parent Sign-Ups Wednesday
The Room Parent Sign Up Genius will go live on Wednesday August 26 at 6am. An email will go out with the link, so be watching your inbox. Please sign up for only one homeroom and be sure that you have the correct homeroom.
While this year looks different from past years, our room parent/grandparent volunteers will be needed now more than ever! This is new territory for all of us, but some ways room parents can help out include helping plan games and activities for class parties, assembling individual craft bags for holiday celebrations, and coordinating prizes and treats for special days. While room parents won’t be able to be there in-person in the classrooms, we can still support our teachers and students remotely.
If you have any questions, please email the Room Parent co-chairs, Lauren Biagi and Kristin Chin at ptoroomparents@stalbert.org
Yearbook Committee
The Yearbook committee would like to encourage parents, students, teachers, and staff to have their cameras ready! We will be incorporating a lot of candid photos into the yearbook this year. Special links to submit photos and more info coming soon!
--- FROM YOUR SPORTS MINISTRY ---
Fall Sports CANCELED.
Unfortunately...all JK-8th grade fall sports have been canceled. We hope to process all refunds by Friday, August 28. Below is the correspondence we received from CSAA...
For immediate Release:
The CSAA Board of Directors met on August 19th to discuss fall sports. After much discussion, the board decided that in our current environment, we cannot safely offer fall sports. The football, volleyball, and cross country seasons are canceled. No CSAA member/parish can offer or sponsor or field these sports.
This discussion was made considering the health and welfare of those who will participate; players, officiants, and fans. At this time, safety must be our only concern.
God Bless You,
Fr. Tom Gentile
Chair of the Board of Directors
Support SAAM
Buy a Mask or Water Bottle
SAAM is selling St. Albert branded face-masks and water bottles that will be available for pick up while supplies last, place your order online to reserve yours today. More details at the link below.
Online Chess Club
CHESS PERFORMANCE is proud to offer our popular chess club in a new format that allows students to participate wherever they are!
Classes will be held over Zoom meetings and students will have an opportunity to both learn and play during each session.
Open to all students, regardless of skill level!
$60 per session.
Class Info:
Classes will be held Monday through Thursday!
Pick your meeting day!
Classes will meet from 4 to 5 p.m.
Two 6-week sessions offered for Fall 2020!
Session 1: Week of Sep. 14 through Week of Oct. 19
Session 2: Week of Oct. 26 through Week of Dec. 7
(No classes Nov. 23-26)