Panther Press
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021
ICCS Mission Statement:
SCHOOL MASS CANCELLED TOMORROW
The next School Mass will take place on the Solemnity of St. Joseph on Friday, March 19. Planning and preparation are also underway for a special Mass and procession to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation on March 25. More details will be provided soon.
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
And just like that, it’s March! While the weeks have been flying by, we have certainly been busy ensuring our students are meeting their potential even with the many obstacles our community has worked to overcome. Our teachers have been working tirelessly to ensure that all academic standards are being met while protecting the time set aside to nurture spiritual development and celebrate milestones along the way.
This semester has included many joys thus far: Catholic Schools Week, the 1st-ever ICCS Virtual Variety Show, meeting AR goals, class retreats, First Penance, team building activities, the Krewe of Virtues parade, and now Dr. Seuss week. Upon entering Lent, we began reflecting on a Lenten scripture verse each morning that reminds us to draw close to our Lord and to serve Him through our service to others. This has been a great way to start each day mindful of being virtuous in our words and our actions.
As the beautiful Spring weather arrives and we enter the final stretches of the school year, it is important to remember that we must stay strong and persevere in our hard work until the very end of the school year. Parents can support this mindset by continuing to reinforce all ICCS expectations at home, from behavior and uniform code to attendance and academic effort. With so much going on, we all have to do our part to keep a marathon mindset rather than a sprint mentality for ensuring a successful and joyful end to the school year.
FACILITIES UPDATE:
Awning repairs are underway. The Wilson Street side awning repair is scheduled to be complete by the end of this week. We are grateful to have working awnings on both sides of the building before those unpredictable April showers arrive! The Park Avenue awnings remain patched and will be repaired during upcoming drainage work planned for that area.
Ongoing building repairs include ceiling tile replacement, windows and door repair. Landscape bushes that did not survive the February freeze have been removed and will be replaced in the weeks to come.
Bids requests for the security/drainage project will soon be released. This project has merged with our FEMA efforts to address drainage on the Park Avenue side of the building due to water intrusion in our gym during Hurricane Delta. Campus security will be improved as we create green space in the current Wilson Street parking lot, move the parking lot to the old PK/Kindergarten playground area, and place the entire campus within one secure fence. We will communicate all phases and timelines of the project with families once contractors are assigned.
We are very appreciative of the patience and cooperation our families have shown as we continue to make progress in repairing our campus following the storms. As always, thank you for your support and dedication to our ICCS community.
Yours in Catholic Education,
Christi Jarreau, Principal
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School
BISHOP'S SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION PROVIDED
COVID-19 GUIDELINES AND IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
As we continue to uphold the Louisiana Department of Heath and Center for Disease Control COVID-19 guidelines to the greatest extent possible, please be aware of the following reminders:
Students who are absent or who check out during the school day due to illness will be required to have a doctor’s excuse to return to school.
Students returning to school after an absence should not be dropped off in the morning carline, but should enter through the front doors and present a doctor’s excuse to return to campus.
All students must have a mask when dropped off for the school day. Students should not exit your vehicle in the carline if they do not have a mask.
Students should bring a water bottle to school each day. If students do not have a water bottle, they will be provided a bottle of water and your FACTS account will be charged $1 per bottle of water provided at the end of each month. Parents should not deliver forgotten items, including water bottles, to students during the school day.
THE VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE
DEFINITION OF OBEDIENCE:
Assenting to rightful authority without hesitation or resistance
- Performing your duties faithfully and thoroughly
- The Blessed Mother saying ‘yes’ to God
- Doing your homework
- Bringing your folder or needed supplies to school each day
- Doing your chores at home when asked
- I finished what I was asked to do.
- Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word.
- I did my homework.
- I will bring my folder and supplies to school.
- I did my chores.
LUKE 1:38
And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
ICCS PTO VIRTUAL AUCTION NEWS
HELP STOCK THE PTO AUCTION WINE CELLER
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
WINE IN THE LINE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Adult volunteers are needed to assist with collecting wine donations in the Wilson Street and Park Avenue pick-up lines on Wednesday, March 17 and Wednesday, March 24 from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Volunteer duties include safely collecting wine bottle donations from parents in the afternoon pick-up line and successfully logging donations to ensure PTO points are given to the appropriate families.
CALLING ALL "ARTS AND CRAFTERS!"
Do you have a Cricut vinyl machine? The Auction Committee is seeking help with a few projects that require vinyl cutting tools and skills. Extra PTO points will be offered in return for your help and the use of your personal equipment.
VOLUNTEER FROM HOME
ICCS parent volunteers are needed to help with several tasks and projects that can be completed at home on your own time. Currently, volunteers are needed to help place stickers on plastic wine glasses. Additional "at home" volunteer jobs are anticipated in the weeks to come. Please check the weekly ICCS PTO Auction Section in the Panther Press for more details.
If you are interested in helping out with any of the above volunteer opportunities, please contact Katie Devall and Kelly Serrano by email at iccsptoauction@gmail.com. PTO points will be awarded for time worked.
AUCTION ITEMS STILL NEEDED
Do you have an item or service you would like to contribute to the auction? If so, please click on the link below and complete the electronic auction item donation form by Wednesday, March 24. PTO points will be awarded for any and all donations. For more information, please contact Ada O'Quain by phone at (337) 433-3497 or by email at asoquain@iccsweb.com.
To donate an auction item, click here! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RYm0eQQ8NGNhT0WT4P8JXOXw2TC35xGj1-0hhzus0gY/edit?ts=60354d3c&gxids=7628
CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL NEWS
2021 ICCS VIRTUAL BASKETBALL BANQUET VIDEO LINK PROVIDED
READ ACROSS AMERICA CELEBRATION
It's Dr. Seuss Week at ICCS! PK-8th Grade students and faculty members celebrated National Read Across America Day on Tuesday and carried on with an array of "Dr. Seuss" themed days and activities throughout the week. From silly socks and colorful accessories to crazy hats and college t-shirt day, students and teachers joined forces to celebrate the countless benefits and joys associated with reading. Special thanks to ICCS Librarian, Mrs. Kyndel Heffer for coordinating the daily themes and activities during this special recognition week.
GLUE ENGINEERS HARD AT WORK
I LIKE GREEN EGSS AND HAM, SAM-I-AM!
To celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday, Mrs. Lea Poncho's Progressions students worked together as a team to cook green eggs and ham Tuesday morning!
STEP ONE
STEP TWO
STEP THREE
1ST GRADE CLASS RETREAT
I'M GOING TO HUFF...AND PUFF...AND BLOW YOUR HOUSE DOWN!
CHECK YOUR PULSE
Mrs. Ebersole's 8th Grade Science students were recently introduced to waves by looking at their pulse. Our pulse results from a wave of pressure that originates in our heart. The students used the properties of their pulse to calculate its frequency, a characteristic that all waves have. Students collected data on their pulse after different activities, such as lying down and after jogging for 30 seconds. The students also made compressional waves and transverse waves using springs.
ICCS TEACHERS AND STAFF MEMBERS CONTINUE TO RECEIVE COVID VACCINES
Our teachers, administrators and staff members continue to roll up their sleeves for health safety. The Office of Catholic Schools and CHRISTUS Ocshner Health Southwestern Louisiana are working hard to get ICCS faculty members vaccinated in a timely manner. Many have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine and will be following up in the next few weeks for the second dose.
LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE FOR NEXT YEAR
CATHEDRAL NEWS
LET THE CATHEDRAL KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COOK DINNER TOMORROW!
Mark your calendar! The Knights of Columbus will continue to serve fried fish dinners on Friday, March 12 and Friday, March 26 from 5:00 p.m. until they sell out.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION DURING LENT
Vespers (evening prayers) will be prayed at 4:30 p.m. concluding with the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Stations of the Cross will immediately follow at 5:00 p.m. For more information, contact the Cathedral Office at (337) 436-7251. All ICCS families and Cathedral Parishioners are invited to participate.
HOLY HOUR OF REPARATION
PENANCE NIGHT MARCH 24
SAINT CHARLES RETREAT CENTER LENTEN OFFERINGS
Every Monday during Lent
Candlelight Youth Mass at 7:00 p.m. in the Saint Charles Retreat Center Chapel (Led by Father Andy DeRouen)
Every Tuesday during Lent
Eucharistic Adoration/Divine Mercy Chaplet for Adults at 7:00 p.m. in the Saint Charles Retreat Center Chapel (Led by Father Andy DeRouen)
Every Wednesday during Lent
Eucharistic Youth Adoration at 7:00 p.m. in the Saint Charles Retreat Center Chapel (Led by Father Andy DeRouen)
For more information, contact the Saint Charles Retreat Center. The Retreat Center is located at 2151 Sam Houston Jones Parkway in Moss Bluff.
PRAYER AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS
O Mary, you shine continuously along our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who at the Cross were near to the pain of Jesus, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman people, know what we need, and we trust that you will provide for those needs so that, as at Cana of Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us, He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and took up our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
QUICK LINKS
FACTS FAMILY PORTAL
Parent Portal access to student grades and assignments.
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Contact Information
Email: mbmathew@iccschool.org
Website: www.iccschool.org
Location: 1536 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA, USA
Phone: 337-433-3497
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iccschool