Panther Press
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2020
ICCS Mission Statement:
PRINCIPAL'S CORNER
Today we completed our 33rd day of face-to-face instruction at ICCS. This number seems quite small in comparison to everything we have accomplished during this time. When we stop to think about how much has been introduced, applied, taught, tested, and reinforced over such a short timespan, it really is astounding!
One of my favorite things being taught this year is the Education in Virtue program we are using school-wide. Moral instruction occupies a central place within Catholic pedagogy and there couldn’t be a better time to utilize a character education program rooted in virtue than now, as we navigate living safely during a pandemic. Virtues are good habits, and living a life of virtue allows us to consistently make choices that are holy and life-giving not only for one’s self, but also for our neighbor. With so much focus on the virtues of kindness, charity, faith, and gratitude over the past 33 days, our students are able to realize that masks, social distancing, seating charts, and quiet hallways are really about so much more than just new rules during a pandemic. While they are rules, choosing to do them willingly out of love for our neighbor and the safety of our community certainly make them much more bearable. I look forward to the many blessings that await our entire community as we continue learning and practicing ways to live a joyful life of virtue throughout this year!
When it comes to teaching virtue, as well as all other aspects of our faith, we know that families are the first and foremost educators of children. It is with this in mind that I will be focusing more of my time on my family. During the month of August, after prayer and discernment, I met with Father Rommel with the decision that this would be my last year as principal of the Cathedral School. Two hurricanes later, though this is still a difficult decision, I know it is the right decision for my family. Immaculate Conception Cathedral School is very special to me. Our school remains strong and successful in our mission, even during the pandemic and hurricane recovery. I am grateful for the opportunity to have served ICCS in this capacity and look forward to doing whatever I can to help transition our school to new leadership at the end of this school year.
Please continue to pray for the health and safety of our school community and remain diligent in your safety efforts at home so that we can continue to be on campus, learning and growing together. I pray you all enjoy a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.
Yours in Christ,
Christi Jarreau, Principal
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School
ICCS SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER UPDATE
We welcome three new members to the School Board team: Carey Blevins, Matthew Keating and Christy Papania-Jones. The ICCS School Board meets monthly. The members serve as a consultative board, assisting the pastor and principal in the governance of Immaculate Conception Cathedral School.
The 2020-2021 ICCS School Board Members are:
Father Rommel Tolentino, Pastor rommel.tolentino@lcdiocese.org
Christi Jarreau, Principal cjarreau@iccsweb.com
Robin Austin raustin@polarisengr.com
Carey Blevins cblevins4@hotmail.com
Donald Brinkman brinkmanengr@gmail.com
Matthew Devall mbdevall@devalltowing.com
Corlissa Hoffoss choffoss@gmail.com
Matthew Keating mkeating@mbklaw.net
Christy Papania-Jones cjones@stnickcenter.org
IMPORTANT COVID 19 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 updates and 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.
New: 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.
Hallway and classroom procedures, including seating charts and restroom breaks, are being strictly monitored and enforced for student safety in the event of tracing a positive COVID-19 test. Parental support with regard to all COVID-19 procedures is both expected and appreciated.
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 latest flowchart from the Louisiana Department of Health will be used for quarantining and contact tracing measures. It is provided below for your review. If your student has tested positive for COVID-19 or has had a direct exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, parents must contact Ada O’Quain at ICCS at (337) 433-3497 or by email at asoquain@iccsweb.com to confirm proper procedures for returning to campus.
Parents will be notified if a student tests positive for COVID-19 in their child’s grade level. In the event that students have had direct exposure to someone who has tested positive, parents will be contacted with quarantine details for their student.
LIFETOUCH PICTURE PROOFS ARE HERE
The Lifetouch picture proofs have arrived and are going home today. Ordering instructions are included in each envelope. Parents have the option to order online at www.mylifetouch.com, or by using the paper order form included with the proof. Paper order forms and payment must be returned to school no later than Friday, December 4th.
SIBLING FORMS DUE DECEMBER 18
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1wRcJKKlcjIHpwFbgsarpToe-za-KqJlpnYLCj1Lj7nQ/edit?ts=5fad58f0
GREENERY ORDERS ARRIVING NOVEMBER 28
ATTENTION ICCS PARENTS! Greenery orders will arrive at ICCS on Saturday, November 28. In order to guarantee the freshest products, parents and/or customers MUST pick up all orders either Saturday, November 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or Sunday, November 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the ICCS Gym. If you are unable to pick up your orders the weekend after Thanksgiving please contact Tiffany Bordelon at tiffanymbordelon@yahoo.com or by phone at (337) 302-0225 to make alternative arrangements.
***Volunteers are still needed to help unload and organize greenery orders around 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 28.
***Earn DOUBLE PTO points from your car! Volunteers are also needed to help deliver greenery orders around the Lake Charles and Sulphur areas on Sunday, November 29 and/or Monday, November 30.
For more information, or to sign up to help, please contact Kay Morgan at kmorgan@iccsweb.com ASAP. PTO points will be awarded for time worked.
PERKY PRIZE RAFFLE DRAWING COMING SOON
SAVE THE DATE! The Perky Prize Raffle drawing has been rescheduled for Friday, December 18. Students will have an opportunity to purchase tickets Monday, December 14-Thursday, December 17 during their homeroom class period. More details will be printed in the next issue of the Panther Press. Special thanks to Mike Hooks, Inc. for sponsoring the Perky Prize Raffle items.
ROOM PARENTS STILL NEEDED
The following classes are still in need of a Room Parent:
2A Mrs. Brown
6A Mrs. Romano
7B Mrs. Thibodeaux
8A Mrs. Ebersole
COMPLETE LIST OF BOX TOPS PRODUCTS SHARED
It's holiday cooking time! Look for Box Tops for Education labels on hundreds of products you know and love. Click the link below to view a complete list of Box Tops items.
https://www.boxtops4education.com/Participating-Products-Page
Remember, each Box Top is worth 10 cents for our school. Download the convenient new Box Tops App in your App store and start scanning receipts and earning free cash for ICCS! Store receipts must be scanned within 14 days of purchase to qualify for Box Tops earnings.
ICCS JOINS #iGIVECATHOLIC GIVING TUESDAY DONATION PLATFORM
Immaculate Conception Cathedral School will participate in the #iGiveCatholic Giving Tuesday program on December 1, 2020. From NOW until midnight on Giving Tuesday, ICCS supporters across the country can log on to www.iGiveCatholic.org, search for the Immaculate Conception Cathedral School page and donate $25 or more to our school. #iGiveCatholic on-line donations are secure and tax deductible. Please help spread the word! More information can be found on the ICCS Facebook page and website.
CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL NEWS
7TH & 8TH GRADE GUEST SPEAKER
REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE
CLASS REPRESENTATIVES ANNOUNCED
6A: Gabriella Barrios
6B: Madeline Hennigan
7A: Ella Bradbury
7B: Lizzie Austin
8A: Adele Foret
8B: Mason Fullington
PRAYING IN COLOR
"SEW" AWESOME
Many thanks to ICCS "Grandpanther," Pat Kelty for donating the fabric for the project.
AR SUPERSTARS
GO SAINTS!
LEARNING ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES
Peace is sharing, caring, kindness and love.
"BAKING" MEMORIES
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.
www.factsmgt.comDON'T FORGET TO LIKE US ON FACEBOOK AND KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST ICCS NEWS AND EVENTS!
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