Monday Memo
Week 04 | Sept. 7-11, 2020
NEw In this Week's Edition:
Student Mask Update
Fall Sports Reimbursements
Online Spiritwear Store Now Open
Picture Day is Sept. 25th!
We Will Get Through This Together
I hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Hopefully everyone had a chance during the long weekend to enjoy some time with loved ones and catch up on some rest.
Today, we are starting our fourth week, our 13th day of school. If we look back to everything we have accomplished and overcome, we should be very proud. Although we have had many bumps and adjustments during these beginning days, we are still here and forging ahead. We have tackled both morning and afternoon carpools, changes in our re-entry plan, transitions on and off the Remote Learning Option, negative social media rants, and protest precautions among many others. As a staff, we are continually adjusting schedules. It has been a big undertaking trying to keep our homerooms together with only their pods, but we are doing it!
I want to thank everyone for working together on our common goal of providing an excellent education and a meaningful spiritual experience for our students while keeping everyone safe and healthy. As we move forward, please continue to have grace and understanding with one another.
But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.
2 Corinthians 8:7
Ellen Martin
Principal
Student Mask Update
With guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education and the Archdiocese of Louisville, we will be requiring students to wear their masks at all times while in the school building. The only exception to this policy, will be while students are eating their snacks or lunches. Teachers will be conscious of this, and will try to get classes outside as much as possible where students can spread out and remove their masks temporarily to take mask breaks.
Picture Day is Sept. 25th
Picture Day is Friday, September 25th
Picture Retake Day is Friday, November 6th
Picture day will be a non-uniform day. Details from the Parent Student Handbook regarding dress down days can be found below:
NON-UNIFORM DRESS CODE FOR DRESS DOWN DAYS
Dresses, skirts, shorts and skorts must be of appropriate length. Shorts and skorts must reach the student’s fingertips with hands fully extended at sides.
Dress jeans must be free of holes and fit properly.
Jeggings and leggings are allowed ONLY if worn with a shirt that reaches the student’s fingertips with hands fully extended at sides.
Shirts, tops, and blouses must have sleeves and be of an appropriate length, covering waist band of chosen bottoms. Tank tops, net shirts, halter tops, tube tops, muscle shirts, spaghetti straps, bodysuits, crop tops, etc. are not permitted.
Students may wear the PE uniform in its entirety, the PE uniform shirt/sweatshirt with jeans, loosely fitted sweatpants, knee-length sport shorts, or uniform bottoms. The PE uniform shorts meet the requirements of the dress down policy and may be worn with another appropriate, non-uniform short.
St. Albert elite socks may be worn.
Stretch pants/shorts and cutoffs of any style are not permitted.
Flip flop sandals, backless shoes, boots or overly high heels are not permitted.
Rules for makeup and jewelry apply for non-uniform days.
Other notes:
If your child has P.E. on picture day, they should wear tennis shoes.
Collared shirts are NOT required.
Remember, only the top half of your child will be seen in the picture.
Sleeveless dresses may be worn with a cardigan. Students can remove the sweater for pictures.
If you still have questions on what to wear after reading the policies above, use your best judgement.
RLO Students:
Ms. Finley will be sending out more information about RLO Student arrangements.
Our School Order Code is: 50132C
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
--- 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.
RLO is 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.
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.
Join St Albert Girl Scouts!
Saint Albert the Great Girl Scouts welcomes all girls to join us for a great 2020-2021 school year!
Starting with Kindergarten, we have grade level troops that are open to all girls in our Parish – all are always welcome in 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 in the Parish Life Complex
Wednesday, November 18, 2020 - 7:00 pm in the Parish Life Complex
Wednesday, March 3, 2021 - 7:00 pm in the Parish Life Complex
Wednesday, April 21, 2021 - 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Life Complex
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 Sport Reimbursement Update
We are currently working with the CSAA to issue refunds to all athletes that signed up to play this fall. The CSAA is having to do mass refunds to all parishes with a new system and it is going a little slower than anticipated. We ask for your patience and please know the issue is not forgotten and we will issue the refunds as soon as we can.
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.
Spirit wear STore Now Open
They might not be on the field right now but they are still in our hearts! Show your Viking pri
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)