SCHOOL NEWS AND VIEWS
Sunday, March 29, 2020
This week's update: End of Week 2 of Covid-19 Shut-down
Welcome back to school (at home) following spring break.
I pray that in spite of the circumstances, you and your family have enjoyed some time together during the spring break.
We at Holy Cross are committed to providing your children with the best possible education that we can under these strange and new circumstances.
For this to be as successful as possible, all three parts of the puzzle need to do their part.... teachers, students and parents... and we must have GREAT communication. Our teachers are here, ready willing and able to assist you.
All teachers will be available during school hours to communicate via messaging or email and all teachers will be providing to you their "office hours" and a contact phone number where you or your child can actually call in to ask questions or receive help and feedback during those specific hours. Please use these tools!
Where to find your child's online content:
PK - Class App
K4 - Remind App
K5 and 1st Grade - Class Dojo
2nd-8th Grade - Google Classroom
Teachers have been given guidelines to follow regarding the amount of time it should take students to complete their work each day. These are stressful times and our goal is to present engaging materials that will keep the students learning and their brains engaged but we do not want them to be working around the clock. Students need time for family time, fresh air, pleasure reading, chores, etc.
We also recognize that different families have different schedules and that maybe your children are being cared for by others, so there is a lot of flexibility built in to our online programming. My advice to you is to create a schedule that fits your particular circumstances. It should include time for school work, reading, recreation, creative activities and chores. Try to provide your children with a dedicated place to work and make sure that they have all of the materials that they need. Students should also continue with the usual 45 minutes per week of I-ready and IXL.
We must track attendance each day because we are accountable to the state of Florida as well as other programs. For a student to be marked present, there must be some type of contact between homeroom teacher and student via email, message, submitted assignment, phone call, etc. Teachers will be scheduling live meetings via zoom as time goes on. Parents, please make sure that your child is marked present each day. Teaches will be sending out a daily announcement/ greeting. Make sure that it is responded to.
In you or anyone in your family has been diagnosed with Covid-19, please reach out and let us know. If you have any other particular prayer requests or situations, please reach out and let us know.
You are being asked to do something very difficult and you may be overwhelmed and feel very unprepared or inadequate. However, you are not alone. We are here to help you. Reach out by whatever means necessary to teachers. They are ready to help.
I am constantly monitoring my email. I also can be reached in the event of an emergency at 786 471 7606.
Until this nightmare is over, we are all in this together and we will make this happen!
God's Blessing to you and your family,
Mrs. Mackey
Click to watch our WELCOME BACK video by our teachers and office staff!
Important Information about Billing/Finances
However, because we understand the many difficulties and challenges that this Covid-19 crisis are causing our parents, Holy Cross has cancelled all monthly tuition draws from FACTS for the month of April.
This is gesture of love and concern, and also an act of Faith on our part. Holy Cross truly is a non-profit school. In addition, for those of you who were billed for monthly OOS in March of $100, you will receive a $50 credit for those weeks that your student was out of school. I hope that this information helps relieve some of the stress that you may be feeling.
FEEDING OUR CHILDREN
Lunch will be served from 11:30AM until 1PM. Please observe the social distancing procedures that have been established.
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Only one family will be permitted into the cafeteria at a time to pick up their lunches. Please take them and leave immediately. While we are a very friendly and social place, unfortunately this is not the time for that.
If others are in line, please maintain a distance of 8 feet from any other person or family. Please keep your children with you at all times and under your control. There can be no roaming in the hallways or visits to any offices or classrooms. Our entire facility has been thoroughly disinfected in anticipation of a return to school and we must keep it that way.
Thank you to our hard working cafeteria staff for continuing to provide this valuable service to our children.
Tutorials on Google Classroom
Zoom
Uploading documents
Here is a link to more information and including Android and Desktop computers
https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6020285?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en
Chromebooks
NOTE: You must have wireless internet to use a chromebook.
Are your children watching our evening storytime?
Additional materials for you to look at to keep kids busy
NEW: https://www.miamichildrensmuseum.org/museum-at-home/
https://classroommagazines.scholastic.com/support/learnathome.html
https://www.playbill.com/article/15-broadway-plays-and-musicals-you-can-watch-on-stage-from-home
https://characterstrong.lpages.co/educator-resources/
https://www.weareteachers.com/things-to-do-during-covid/?
utm_source=WAT_MDR&utm_medium=Enews&utm_campaign=WAT_CVEnews03182020
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
COMCAST IS OFFERING FREE WIFI
To assist in Internet connectivity, Comcast continues to offer free WiFi via Xfinity hotspots where Xfinity service is available for 60 days. This is in addition to the Internet Essentials Program, normally $9.95 per month, that will provide an in-home modem and 60 days of free service for eligible low-income M-DCPS families.
Online Church
Are you following our Social Media
Facebook: @holycrossnorthmiami
Instagram @holycrossnmiami
Twitter - @holycrosslsnm
When posting photos, please hashtag #holycrossnmiami
How to Contact Us:
650 NE 135th St.
North Miami, Fl. 33161
School 305 893 0851
Church 305 893 0371
Office emails:
Sherri Mackey smackey@holycross-nm.org
Marluys Sejba msejba@holycross-nm.org
Natalia Escobar nescobar@holycross-nm.org
Soraya Trujillo strujillo@holycross-nm.org
Roslyn Noel rnoel@holycross-nm.org
Lisette Rogers lrogers@holycross-nm.org
Marie Innocent minnocent@holycross-nm.org
Follow us on Facebook:
Background check authorization
If you completed a background check last year, DO NOT complete this again UNTIL you receive an email stating that it is expiring.
http://www.holycrossnorthmiami.org/schools-background-check-authorization