Panther Press
AUGUST 19, 2021
ICCS Mission Statement:
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Welcome back to school! It is wonderful to see our students back on campus. My prayer for all of us this year is that our spirits, minds, and bodies will be continually strengthened through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Our school community is no stranger to the pursuit of greatness. In striving to be strengthened in the teachings of Christ, we ensure that our students have the opportunity to grow spiritually through our Catholic culture and virtue program, and to grow academically by offering a challenging curriculum. Our students are given the opportunity and fertile ground to become authentically Catholic, contributing members of our community.
I would also like to challenge every member of our ICCS community to grow in these same areas, especially parents, as the primary educators of our students. This time of the pandemic can be extremely frustrating and stressful. Instead of becoming stuck in this sense of frustration, let us look at this as an opportunity to grow deeper in community. Saint Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.”
As you are well aware, we have had some positive cases of COVID in our school. This is an opportunity to show our care for one another in helping to keep each other safe. I ask for great honesty from ICCS families in reporting illnesses and COVID exposure to our staff. If something remains hidden, the only thing that will result is a negative impact on the community. We are working hard to keep our doors open and to continue in-person learning, but we can only do this with your help. When our staff is made aware of an exposure, we can take the correct precautions in order to protect the student(s) and teacher(s) exposed and the rest of our community. Honesty and communication in uncertain times are extremely important.
I know that we can rise to the occasion and remain confident in the hope that our faith brings us. Please feel free to contact me at sistermarynoel@iccsweb.com with any questions.
In Christ,
Sister Mary Noel Pereira, RSM
Principal, Immaculate Conception Cathedral School
REQUIRED START OF SCHOOL FORMS NOW AVAILABLE
FACTS FAMILY PORTAL LOGIN:
Choose Parent Login
Choose Family Portal
Enter the district code: ICCS-LA
Enter your username and password
(Be sure "Parent" is selected)
COVID-19 GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL OPENING
Parents and students are asked to review the important information below in an effort to keep our students healthy and safe during the pandemic.
Face Coverings:
Following Louisiana Department of Education guidelines, ICCS faculty and staff members will wear masks throughout the school day. Students in Kindergarten through 8th Grade will be required to wear face coverings throughout the day, to the maximum extent possible. Students in Pre-K are recommended to wear a mask while indoors.
Students may choose to wear face coverings made of any solid or non-distracting print that adequately covers their nose and mouth and does not contain words or phrases aside from their name or a simple logo.
Symptom Monitoring:
All students and faculty members will not be required to have their temperatures checked at the beginning of each school day.
Parents are encouraged to monitor their children’s health prior to coming to school.
Parents are asked to notify the school principal or COVID reporter, Mrs. Ada O’Quain at asoquain@iccsweb.com , if a student has had direct contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or they themselves have tested positive.
Student Health & Safety:
Students and faculty will be required to wash hands or use hand sanitizer upon entering campus. The wash stations near the cafeteria will continue to be used upon arrival and at lunchtime. Distancing protocols and reminders will be in place. Sanitation stations will be easily accessible throughout campus and frequent visits will be encouraged throughout the day.
Water fountains will be closed for drinking. Students will use water filling stations and are required to bring their own plastic water bottles for consumption.
Facility Preparations and Campus Cleaning:
ICCS will continue to educate our faculty, staff, and student body regarding healthy hygiene practices. Good cleaning practices will continue to be used throughout the school year.
All surfaces, including walls, were professionally disinfected before welcoming students back to campus this week.
Operational Guidelines:
Quarantine protocols will be followed. Schools may ask for employee/student vaccination status, to assist with quarantine protocols. We will be limiting non-essential visitors to campus, as we did last year, until further notice. We ask that parents coming to check students out for appointments during the day follow the same procedures set forth last year by calling the front office at (337) 433-3497 and signing your student(s) out at the front door.
Field trips are permissible. Face coverings must be worn on buses.
** Understanding that due to the increased surge of COVID-19 cases, this plan is developed under current guidelines and is subject to change upon additional information from the Louisiana Department of Health and BESE.
DAILY DROP OFF AND PICK UP REMINDERS
An email detailing important student arrival and dismissal processes and procedures was sent to all ICCS families yesterday. Please review the information carefully and call (337) 433-3497 if you have any questions or concerns. We appreciate your cooperation, flexibility, and support as we work together as a team to get our students on and off the ICCS campus each day in a safe and efficient manner.
General Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders:
An important reminder for PK and Kindergarten "Early Bird" parents: please approach the Wilson Street pick-up area by way of Ryan Street, turning onto Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive then right on Wilson Street. All "Early Bird" students MUST BE picked up at 2:50 p.m. Regular dismissal on Wilson Street will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m.
During daily dismissal time, all drivers are asked to clearly display their family name placard signs so duty teachers can easily and quickly identify the student’s last name during the pickup process. If placard signs are consistently and clearly displayed it will help speed up the pickup process.
Morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up will occur on Wilson Street and Ryan Street (main entrance) ONLY. At no time should parents place a child’s well-being in danger by dropping a child off or picking them up around the corner or off-campus.
Children should NOT be dropped off at ICCS in the morning before 7:30 AM.
The use of cell phones in the drop-off and pick-up lines is strictly prohibited.
All students are to be dropped off from a vehicle to the loading dock at their respective drop-off/pick-up location. Parents must remain in vehicles during the drop-off and pick-up time.
ICCS parents should notify all alternate departure approved individuals (grandparents, babysitters, older siblings, etc.) of the ICCS drop-off and pick-up procedures.
Please do not block residential driveways and/or business parking lots during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.
MORE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- All students must enter the building with a mask on during arrival time. Please make sure your student has a mask available when he or she exits the vehicle during morning drop-off.
- Due to COVID restrictions, all water fountains on campus have been disabled. PK-8th Grade students should bring a bottle of water or plastic drinking container filled with water on a daily basis. Water refilling stations are available to students if additional water is needed throughout the day. Please remember to label all reusable plastic water containers with your student's first and last name.
- The Lost and Found shelf is located near the front lobby staircase. If your student has misplaced a uniform piece, lunchbox, plastic water container, etc. please have your child check the Lost and Found shelf for the item.
DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES LUNCH SERVICES UPDATE
Extra milk/juice: $0.50
Extra entree/fries: $1.00
Extra roll: $0.50
Water: $1.00
Extra vegetable/fruit: $0.50
The ICCS lunch menu is posted on the www.iccschool.org website. The monthly menu is listed under the Parent Information tab at the top of the homepage. In addition to the website, a quick link to the lunch menu can always be found at the bottom of the Panther Press each week.
Parents with questions regarding the free lunch program can contact Edrie Durio, CNP Supervisor at edrie.durio@lcdiocese.org.
Parents with questions regarding lunch billing, please contact Mrs. Jennifer Miller, ICCS Cafeteria Manager, at (337) 439-3579.
PLEASE COMPLETE THE ATTACHED SURVEY FORM SOON
MRS. JARREAU TO SERVE AS MENTOR
We are grateful for Mrs. Jarreau's continued commitment to ICCS and her willingness to share her knowledge and experience with Sister Mary Noel in her new position as Head of School.
WELCOME NEW SIBLINGS
We have more NEW students to officially welcome to ICCS. A BIG Panther welcome to the siblings of our current students.
Pre-K
Weston Bellow
Amelie Bentley
Anna Kathryn Boudreaux
Norah Broussard
Bella Canzano
Marli David
Michael Frick
David Harrell
Lillian Higgins
Benjamin Leonards
William Middleton
John Mitchell
Kaius O’Quain
Katherine Romero
Halle Simoneaux
Eliza Turner
Kindergarten
Maisy Elliott
Francis Lanthier
Calder Thayer
Reece Stout
1st Grade
River Turner
2nd Grade
Weston Stantz
5th Grade
Tyson Stantz
THANK YOU, MR. ROBICHAUX!
2021-2022 ICCS SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
MATTHEW KEATING: mkeating@mbklaw.net
CAREY BLEVINS: cblevins4@hotmail.com
CORLISSA HOFFOSS: choffoss@gmail.com
DONALD BRINKMAN: brinkmanengr@gmail.com
JOHN GREGORY: jbgreg@yahoo.com
ROBIN AUSTIN: raustin@polarisepc.com
CHRISTY PAPANIA-JONES: cjones@stnickcenter.org
2021-2022 ICCS School Advisory Board Meeting Schedule:
August 25, 2021
September 15, 2021
October 20, 2021
November 17, 2021
December 15, 2021
January 19, 2022
February 16, 2022
March 16, 2022
April 27, 2022
May 18, 2022
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS
**Parents, please make note of the newly released 1/2 day Teacher In-Service dates below.
Monday, September 6: Labor Day Holiday
Monday, October 11: Faculty In-Service Day
Friday, November 5: In-Service Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal
Monday, November 22 - Friday, November 26: Thanksgiving Holiday
Friday, December 17: In-Service Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal
Monday, December 20 - Friday, January 1: Christmas Holiday
Monday, January 3: Faculty In-Service Day
Monday, January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Friday, February 4: In-Service Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal
Friday, February 25 - Tuesday, March 1: Mardi Gras Holiday
Friday, March 4: In-Service Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal
Friday, April 1: In-Service Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal
Friday, April 15 - Friday, April 22: Easter Holiday
Friday, May 6: In-Service Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal
Last Week of School Schedule:
Tuesday, May 24: Records Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal (No Aftercare)
Wednesday, May 25: Records Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal (No Aftercare)
Thursday, May 26: Records Afternoon, 12:00 PM Dismissal (No Aftercare)
ICCS CONTINUES EDUCATION IN VIRTUE PROGRAM IN 2021-2022
ICCS will be utilizing the Disciple of Christ, Education in Virtue program again this year in all PK4-8th Grade classes. Education in Virtue provides easy-to-use resources and materials that have been developed by the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and are based on the St. Thomas Aquinas’ teachings on the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The resources help ICCS teachers and administrators provide a framework that helps children of all ages understand how to live a more virtuous life.
Throughout the 2021-2022 academic year, students of all ages will be specifically focusing on the following virtues: justice, responsibility, loyalty, sincerity, affability, fortitude, industriousness, magnanimity, magnificence, patience, and perseverance. The ICCS faculty members look forward to sharing more information, resources, and references with parents in an effort to help continue the learning and practice of these important virtues at home and in the community. Additional details will be shared in future issues of the Panther Press.
THANK YOU PARENT VOLUNTEERS
Ashley Powell
Joey Mathew
Erica & Scott Barrios
Patty Childress
Kathryn Bellow
Diane Mallett
Jennifer Watkins
Kelly & Lance Hurt
Ashlee Babin
Doris Mhire
Natalie Gouldin
Erin Bentley
Beaux Mixon
Claire Terracina
Amelia & Joey Crawford
Cassi Grinton
Toni Henry
Bart Pugh
Gloria Fernandez
Chellie & Clint LaBove
Raymond Lation
ICCS PTO NEWS
PTO GREENERY SALE DETAILS SHARED
Check out this informative video that contains important fundraiser details and how you and your family can help raise funds for ICCS and earn PTO points in the process. For more information, or to get involved, please reach out to Doris and Jessica via email at iccsgreenery@gmail.com.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
PTO GREENERY ONLINE ORDERING DATES: September 23-October 28
GREENERY DELIVERY DATES: November 27-November 30
CLASSROOM & SCHOOL NEWS
FACULTY RETREAT HELD THIS WEEK
1ST GRADE CITY ENGINEERS
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Full-Day PK/K (Boys & Girls)
Opening Mass for 1st-8th Grade students (led by the ICCS Faculty)
A special Blessing of Classrooms to immediately follow
REMINDER: Girls wear jumpers or skirts and boys wear pants to Mass
Friday, September 3:
September Birthday Mass
REMINDER: Girls wear jumpers or skirts and boys wear pants to Mass
Monday, September 6:
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, September 15:
Yearbook Picture Day
Friday, September 17:
Middle School Mass
(8th Grade Commissioning)
REMINDER: Girls wear jumpers or skirts and boys wear pants to Mass
Thursday, September 23:
ICCS PTO Greenery Sale Begins
QUICK LINKS
FACTS FAMILY PORTAL
Parent Portal access to student grades and assignments.
www.factsmgt.comDON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST ICCS NEWS AND EVENTS!
Contact Information
Email: kmorgan@iccsweb.com
Website: www.iccschool.org
Location: 1536 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA, USA
Phone: 337-433-3497
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iccschool