A Message from Mrs. Fortunato
October 16, 2020
DEAR FAMILIES,
It has been a short week filled with precious learning about God's love. Our weekly readings focused on the need to trust God, just like Abraham. Currently, morning prayer is shared over the intercom. It has become our new way to pray as a community until we are able to gather again as a whole school in the Multi Purpose Room. I love praying as a community and feel so blessed to share our faith and love of God and our Blessed Mother. I encourage you to continue making prayer part of what your family shares at home. Our students are so intuitive and you will be blessed when you witness how much they understand about our faith.
On Tuesday the MAP assessment was introduced to all students. Classes had an opportunity to practice with MAP in the hopes to relieve any tension or anxiety before it was officially launched on Wednesday. I am very proud of our teachers and our students! We successfully completed testing today.
Thank you Ellis family for organizing and hosting our first Virtual Bingo game. It was great! Congratulations to all our winners!
A note about attendance during the pandemic: I have posted a few times and spoke to parents in open meetings about our attendance policy. We are working very hard to be in compliance with the health department's expectations in order to maintain a healthy school environment. At the same time it is essential to maintain academic excellence and support the emotional health of students and teachers.
Parents were asked in August to commit to one of two choices on how your child/ren would be attending school during this challenging time. I sincerely thank you for your commitment. Since then, some of our virtual learners have returned to school as in-person learners. Unfortunately, it is not in the school's best interest to offer a combination of in-person and virtual within a week's time. This would be far too hard for teachers to manage and may even cause student confusion.
Just like we handled absences prior to the pandemic, when your in-person learner is not present in the school building, your child is marked absent. If you have not communicated the reason for the absence, we will contact you to find out why your child is not in school. If your reason is a result of a pandemic exposure, the school is obligated to report this reason to the local health department and our Office of Schools in the Diocese. At this point, your child is quarantined and is shifted to Distance Learner status with a quarantine notation.
Please understand this is not meant to cause hardship. The school is obligated to keep track of all sicknesses. If necessary, this record becomes part of what the Department of Health uses for tracking, once a diagnosis has been confirmed. ICS has to be diligent with keeping clear and concise attendance records. For example, once we have three students with the same symptoms, Mrs. Komosinski has to report it as "a cluster". It could be something as simple as three students have called out due to a sore throat with no other symptoms.
As a courtesy, if your child is home sick, your child is invited to attend classes virtually, as long as you have the link/s to do so. The ability to connect virtually will help your child stay organized and offers your child the ability to ask the teacher for extra help. We understand that your child will probably not have all the necessary materials at home. He/she will have an opportunity to make up work or catch up, once back in school. We understand children get sick and there would never be an expectation for your child to attend school when sick.
Looking ahead, once restrictions are lifted, our school is looking forward to full days and returning to in person instruction for all students.
Volunteers-
*We are in need of additional carline volunteers for morning drop off. I have spots available on Thursday and Friday. Carline starts at 7:40 am and ends before 8 am.
*Virtual Book Fair volunteers are needed- please email: info@icsclinton.org
*Halloween helpers needed-please consider helping with our October 23rd event. Look in Happenings for contact information.
MAP Assessment-
Just about all MAP assessments were completed today. We will have catch up sessions next for the students who were not able to complete their assigned test this week. I am impressed with our students ability to focus and commitment to letting us know how gifted and talented they are. Please let your child know how proud you are!
Once all students have completed testing, your child's teacher will send home your child's family report which will show your child's strengths and weaknesses in core subject areas.
Halloween celebrations-
HSA has planned a festive Drive through Halloween event for Friday, October 23rd. Please see the detailed flyer.
On Friday, October 30th, class festivities will take place. Details for our virtual parade will be shared in Happenings on the Hill. Get that costume ready!
Parent/Teacher Conferences will be virtual~
No school on November 13th for students.
Teachers will contact you letting you know how to sign up for your child's conference/s. We will use SignUpGenius for reserving conference times.
Used Uniforms Needed~
We are in need of used Winter uniforms. There will be a box in the back of the school in the courtyard, starting Monday, 10/19. We will collect uniforms for a week and let you know when the next Used Uniform sale will take place.
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REMINDERS:
* Used uniform Drop Off is available 10/19-10/23
* SCRIP cards are waiting for you! An early purchase is a great way to prepare for the holidays ahead of time.
*Lifetouch Fall Photos, Thursday, November 12- Virtual students and make- up photos