Parent Connection
Wednesday, April 14, 2021
NYS Testing for Grades 3-8 in English Language Arts
Dear Families,
On Tuesday, April 20th, we will be giving the New York State Assessment in English Language Arts to all students in grades 3-8. Opting out will not take place this year for the following reasons:
- Only Part 1 is being given this year. This is all multiple choice and should take approximately an hour much like assessments that students take on a regular basis.
- We use the data from these tests to guide our curriculum. We are possibly looking at different Reading programs for next year and the data from the test results will help determine whether our current curriculum matches up with state standards. (For example, if many students answer the same question incorrectly, we can determine there may be a gap in our curriculum.)
- Student performance on these tests does not affect their report card grades.
- Teacher evaluations are not conducted using test result data.
- It is important to know how DeSales compares with other private and public schools in our area and across the state.
- Our Covid guidelines for remaining open prevent us from combining students from different classrooms and placing them all in one opt-out room together.
Thanks for your cooperation in helping us ensure your child is receiving the best education we can provide!
Sincerely,
Karen Rahill, Principal
Dress Down Day - Friday, April 23rd
Thank you in advance!
Absent or Tardy
If your child will be absent or tardy, please call or email the DeSales Main Office at 716-433-6422.
If an absence is due to illness please call the school nurse at 716-434-4690.
Please note, students that arrive after 8:20am are tardy.
School Calendar Change
Spring STREAM Academies
We are very excited to announce that we will once again be offering STREAM academies this spring.
Below you will find a list of our STREAM Academies for Spring 2021. Courses begin on Monday, April 19, 2021 and run through Thursday, May 27, 2021. Students can choose to enroll in as many STREAM academies as they would like.
If you are interested in having your child participate in STREAM Academies or Girls’ Running Club, please return the attached registration form along with payment no later than Thursday, April 15, 2021. Please note that due to social distancing guidelines provided by the Niagara County Department of Health, we have had to put limits on the number of students that are able to participate in each academy.
Registration is based on a first come, first serve basis.
If you have any questions regarding our STREAM academies, please contact our STREAM Coordinator, Mrs. Katie Badura at (716) 433-6422 ext. 443 or by email at badurak@desalescatholicschool.org.
Bid for Quality Education Auction
The Annual Bid for Quality Education Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year! This year's event will be held virtually on April 16, 17th & 18th via the Auction Facebook Group. You and your family and friends will be able to bid on items from the comfort of your own home!
Join the Auction Facebook Group to take part in this year's Annual Bid for Quality Education Auction! Please invite your family and friends to join the group!
50/50 tickets and a Home Technology Raffle (worth $1,200) are taking place now. Don't miss the opportunity to get your tickets.
Buy 50/50 or Home Technology Raffle Tickets Now
Thank you for your support!
Spiritual Life - Little Bites from Heaven
What are Little Bites from Heaven? The Spiritual Life Committee knows how important faith is to our families at DeSales. However, we also know families lead busy lives and finding time to sit down to foster that faith, read the Bible together and answer the questions our children have about God sometimes takes a back seat to other things. That’s why we think Little Bites from Heaven is a great tool to do just this. Dinnertime allows an opportunity to connect over food while having fun, joyful and meaningful faith-building conversations with your children. Little Bites from Heaven provides devotional time for all family members that includes scripture, questions to discuss and a short devotional. It’s as simple as read the scripture and devotion and discuss the questions together. We believe Little Bites from Heaven will help to prioritize what is most important and at the same time, foster and grow a deeper understanding of your family’s faith rooted in Jesus Christ.
Devotional: FAITH : How much is enough?
Have you ever run through an obstacle course – maybe crawled through a barrel or jumped over a bar or stepped through a series of tires to cross the finish line?
Some people see the life of faith in God kind of like an obstacle course – they think they have to prove to God that they’ve got what it takes in terms of faith. But does God really set up hoops for us to jump through? And in terms of faith, how much is enough? How do you measure it?
When the disciples asked Jesus how to get more faith, he didn’t give them a formula for increasing the amount of their faith. He told them that it isn’t the amount of faith that matters but the object of faith. In fact, the only thing that matters about your faith is who you put your faith in. Jesus showed what it meant by telling them all they needed was faith the size of a mustard seed – a tiny seed no bigger than a freckle on your nose. He was saying that if faith in God is present at all , even if it is no bigger than a mustard seed, it can accomplish wonders because of who God is.
It's not up to us to work up enough faith and get rid of all doubt so that God will be convinced we’re worthy of whatever it is we’re asking for. That’s putting our faith in faith, and not in God.
Scripture:
You can have a Bible close to the dinner table to use during devotions. The kids can take turns reading the scripture each week out of the Bible!
“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”
Matthew 17:20
Discussion Questions (pick a couple or all questions and allow for everyone to answer. There’s no answer key! As parents, we sometimes think we have to have all the answers, but we don’t. It’s ok to sometimes not have all the answers! But God does and it’s good to let our kids know when tough questions arise that some things only God knows, and we can’t always understand, but we can always trust Him )
1. If you had to pick a size to describe your faith, how big would you say it is? Why?
2. What’s the difference between depending on your faith in God to make something happen and depending on God to do something?
Little Bites from Heaven are excerpts taken from Dinner Table Devotions written by Nancy Guthrie
Meet our Teachers! 1st Grade Teacher, Mrs. Jolynda Elsenheimer.
Mrs. Elsenheimer has been teaching for 35 years. She has taught for many years at first, second and third grade as an elementary classroom teacher. Mrs. Elsenheimer has also been a vocal music teacher for grades K-12.
Choosing education as a profession: “I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I was in first grade. The desire to teach never left. I would play school at home often. My stuffed animals and my dog were my students, and they sat near a big chalkboard ready to learn. Yes, they were very well behaved!”
Favorite Classroom Lesson: “I don’t really have a favorite lesson, but I enjoy the uniqueness of each subject area, and how I can relate it to real life experiences. As a teacher, my favorite moment is when a student has that ‘Got It!’ look on their face! That look is always priceless. You can feel the excitement with each success. Each year I look forward to these special moments.”
Why DeSales: “I absolutely love being a teacher at DeSales! It is a wonderful school and a community filled with loving, supportive families. Every child is so different! It is so special to be able to share our faith and God’s love for us, then weave it in the teaching moments throughout the day. It is extra special to be here at DeSales, as both of my children attended here a few years back.”
Favorite movie: “Forrest Gump”
Favorite quote(s): “I actually have 2 quotes that I think about often.”
“There is no such thing as failure. You either succeed or learn. – Kevin Kruse
“Less is more.” – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Meet our Teachers! Spanish Teacher, Mrs. Cristina Magan
Mrs. Cristina Magan was born and raised in Barcelona, Spain. She speaks a few languages including Catalan. Ms. Magan has always loved the English language. She is truly a world traveler, she has lived/taught in Barcelona, Madrid, Ireland and now USA! Ms. Magan is very passionate about psychology, especially emotional intelligence. She has her MA in psychology of education. She has been practicing meditation for a few years. Ms. Magan enjoys travelling, reading and going for hikes with her husband.
Choosing education as a profession: “I was young when I knew I wanted to become a teacher. I remember having all my toys on my bed and teaching them English. My parents even bought me a whiteboard to aid in ‘my class.’”
Favorite Classroom Lesson: “I love teaching ‘false friends.’ There are words that are very similar in both languages but have completely different meaning. I like when I teach idioms. Idioms are words or phrases which means something different from its literal meaning. This is a way for the students to see things from a different perspective and get a better idea of the language and culture.”
What do you like about teaching at DeSales: “I really like the community we have in DeSales, the feeling of belonging and the values with the students. “
Favorite movie or book : “My favorite books are about emotional intelligence/psychology.”
Furry friends: "I have a dog. His name is Lolo. He lives in Barcelona with my parents. I miss him!”
Favorite quote:“Don´t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree.”
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
**Update: Breakfast and Lunch will be a provided FREE to ALL DeSales students through June 2021.**
DeSales Catholic School
Email: knuutilak@desalescatholicschool.org
Website: www.DeSalesCatholicSchool.org
Location: 6914 Chestnut Ridge Road, Lockport, NY, USA
Phone: (716)433-6422
St. Joe's Summer Sports Camps
For decades, the St. Joe’s Marauders have been a dominant force in Western New York high school sports and the school has become synonymous with success on the fields of play. And now, the winning team at St. Joe’s brings this champion spirit to you. With guidance from some of the top coaches and players in Western New York, the St. Joe’s Summer Sports Camps are sure to give you a competitive edge. St. Joe's is proud to offer 12 Summer Sports Camps for 2021. Learn more, and register you son at the link below.
Cardinal O'Hara HS Open House
OPEN HOUSE: Cardinal O'Hara High School is offering its annual spring open house with a few choices. The in-person event from 4 to 7 p.m. April 20 will be by appointment only. We have added a second day on Sunday, April 25th from 9am-12pm.
A virtual tour will start at 6:30 p.m. April 27. Each will give visitors an opportunity to meet students and faculty and learn what O’Hara has to offer. O’Hara students will lead tours of the 17 acre campus and discuss the opportunities available including more than 50 sports teams and clubs. Explore the school’s culinary professional kitchen, new science labs, fine arts, engineering and world languages. Faculty members will be on hand to answer questions. For more information or to make an appointment, contact Thomas Wilkie, admissions director, at 695-2600 ext. 357 or visit www.cardinaloahara.com.