Monday Memo
Week 9 | October 11-13 2021
Letter from the administration
How Allowing Children to Fail Helps Them Succeed
As the parent of three grown children, I understand how hard it is to take a step back and let our children make mistakes. It is from making these mistakes that they will learn. As a parent, teacher and now an administrator, I see parents being overprotective and not allowing children to falter or experience disappointment. In doing this, you render them helpless, the precise opposite of what most parents hope to achieve.
Most adults realize that failing is common no matter how hard you try. A reality that our children need to learn, understand and begin developing the resilience to come back from failure, a trait that is essential to being successful.
In her book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, Jessica Lahey writes, “today’s overprotective, failure avoidant parenting style has undermined the competence, independence, and academic potential of an entire generation.” She offers the following seven “secrets” to children’s success.
Failure helps children learn about themselves…and they will recover.
Be patient and trust in your kids.
Remember that when we say “Let me do that for you,” we are telling our kids we don’t think they are capable.
Let kids make mistakes that test their abilities. This is a good thing that will strengthen learning and teach them how to be resilient.
Remember that intelligence is malleable. The harder kids work to overcome challenges, the smarter they become.
The children of parents who support autonomy are more competent and resilient in the face of frustration, so give kids space to work through temporary setbacks.
Kids who pursue their own goals are far more likely to meet those goals and stick with activities for the long haul.
To remain a child before God means to recognize our nothingness, to expect everything from God. It is not to become discouraged over our failings, for children fail often, but they are too little to hurt themselves very much. ~St. Therese
Debbie Abbott
Assistant Principal
Test to Stay Program
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Kentucky Public Health and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, along with the Louisville Metro Health Department, have provided guidance on optional modified quarantine strategy for managing COVID-19 exposures in the school setting.
This Test to Stay program will be implemented at St. Albert the Great beginning Monday, October 18th. The purpose of this letter is to outline considerations for the Test to Stay modified quarantine which allows unvaccinated students who are exposed to COVID-19 at school to continue with in-person instruction with repeated negative COVID-19 testing. It is important to note that the CDC and KDPH guidelines emphasize the implementation of layered prevention strategies, as well as isolation of persons who test positive for COVID-19 and quarantine of unvaccinated contacts to protect students, teachers and staff.
Participation in the Test to Stay program requires a signed waiver from the parent/guardian as well as an agreement to support all of the requirements and protocols as outlined in the attached document. This signed waiver will remain on file and cover your child the entire school year. This testing program is only available to students who have been identified as direct contacts in the school setting.
Our goal is that we will be able to keep all students safe and healthy while minimizing the number of students who have to quarantine due to exposure, thus maximizing the continuation of in-person instruction for our students. In collaboration with the Office of Catholic Schools and our local health department, we will consistently monitor and assess the effectiveness of this program.
Sincerely,
Ellen Martin
PrincipalDebbie Abbott
Assistant PrincipalLindsay Finley
Technology Coach
--- Around the school ---
covid protocol:
Parents of a vaccinated student may send a copy of their child's vaccination card to tpark@stalbert.org or to the school office to the attention of Tatum Park. If your vaccinated child is exposed to a positive case, you will still be contacted if they are within the 3-foot radius of the positive case. Vaccinated students do not need to quarantine. This is optional but would greatly help us in speeding up the process dealing with exposures and quarantining. Thank you!
New Year, New Protocols!
Click the button to the left to view our 2021-2022 COVID Protocols on what to do upon exposure or a confirmed positive test.
Click on the button to the left to fill out the 'Test to Stay' Permission Waiver
Early Dismissal Wednesday 10/13!
Reminders for this Wednesday:
12:30PM Early Dismissal
Cafeteria is closed. Bring a lunch from home.
Buses will run.
No Play Cafe or Preschool after-school care
Free dress down day for K-8 only. These students are being rewarded a non-uniform day for working so hard during their MAP tests. Preschool & JK do not take the MAP tests. (K-8 students must follow the dress down day policy found in the Student/Parent Handbook.)
Lost & Found Cleanout
Please stop by the Lost and Found when you are here for Conferences. We have tons of items that need to be claimed! Several items have been brought over from the gym as well. Anything that is still here after conferences will be donated to the Used Uniform Sale!
Book Fair Volunteers needed!
We are needing Volunteers for Book Fair! We are asking that our volunteers be fully vaccinated. Below are the days and times that we need assistance.
October 4-12 All school day (7:30-3:30)
October 13th-Half day and After school to tear down
Evenings: October 11 and 12 (3pm-8pm)
If interested please contact Becca Turner: bturner@stalbert.org
Dress-Down Day October 13
Students in our Kindergarten-8th Grade Classes will be having a dress down day as a reward for completing the first round of MAP testing this year! They did a phenomenal job getting through the long tests and we're thankful for their enthusiasm on completing them
--- From our pto ---
If you have questions, contact:
Angela Augustine
angjaug@aol.com
502-299-9621
Trunk-or-treat
Join us for trunk-or-treat 6-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30! Entrance is free with a canned good or other nonperishable item. Pizza, drinks and carnival games will be provided.
At least one vehicle/trunk per class is required. Deadline to register is Oct. 15. The registration form is provided in this post and should be returned to school in an envelope labeled to Angela Augustine.
Please start sending candy/items to school with your children:
Preschool 3s – Suckers
Preschool 4s – Stickers
JK – Smarties
K – Skittles, Starbursts
1st – Gummies
2nd – Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids
3rd – Tootsie Rolls
4th – Kit Kat, Twix (no-nut chocolate candy bars)
5th – M&Ms (plain only)
6th – Pencils
7th – Hershey bars (no nuts)
8th – Airheads, Nerds
Box Tops - Easier than ever
Box Tops are a simple way to make money for our school! All you have to do is scan your receipt:
1. Download the Box Top app.
2. Select St. Albert the Great.
3. Click on “Products” to discover items that are Box Top friendly.
4. Click on “Bonus Offers” to see products that are offering bonuses.
5. Click “Refer a Friend” to share with friends and family to get 50 bonus points.
6. After the app is set up, all you have to do is scan your receipts after shopping.
Each Box Top is worth a dime. Those dimes turn into dollars, which turn into great things for our students!
If scanning receipts isn’t your thing, send them to school in an envelope labeled for Angela Augustine or Rachel Hubbard, and we’ll do it for you. Receipts are only good for two weeks after purchase, so don’t delay!
--- From Our Sports Ministry ---
Gate and Concessions Workers needed
All families who have a child participating in fall sports must work one concession stand shift during the season. If you have not worked or paid the opt out fee, please select a time during the CSAA Volleyball Tournament.
--- After school ---
Saint Albert online chess club
The Chess Education Foundation will be providing professional chess coaching through our Online Chess Club. Our experienced coaches are the best in the state. There will be a daily chess class at 5:30 PM online, students may join any or all classes that fit their schedule.
Homework Club, Grades 6-8
St. Albert the Great is pleased to announce an after school program, Homework Club, developed for students currently in grades 6-8 who are challenged by completing their homework in a timely manner, need additional assistance with assignments, and or need to to prepare for tests and quizzes.
Homework Club is a structured environment where students will receive small group attention and motivation in a warm and encouraging atmosphere.
The goal of Homework Club is to help students become resourceful and proactive learners. Students will become empowered to take charge of their academics and learn the art of successful study habits.
Homework Club will be mentored by Deanna O'Keefe
Club participation is limited to 10 students per day.
When: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:15 pm
Where: 8C Mrs. O’Keefe’s Homeroom
Cost: $12 per session
Pick up: 4:15 pm SHARP Junior High Breezeway door
--- From the parish ---
Honor thy Children newsletter
the monday memo and you
The Monday Memo is produced by Jack O'Keefe, the Technology Director. If you have any comments, concerns, scathing criticisms, or a neat gif please let me know: jokeefe@stalbert.org
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Ciao
