SMM PARENT NEWSLETTER
May 1, 2020
TOGETHER WE MAKE GREAT THINGS HAPPEN
For all service men and women; first responders; police; firefighters; health care workers; and everyone who is keeping us safe, protected, and fed during the COVID 19 crisis.
Simone Boell, Brad Binder, Sister Donna Baker, Marion Ciulla, Cherie Stockton, Kathleen Craig, Kaleb Manuel, Gerald Doucet, Mike Reams, Dale Davis, Lorraine Olmo, ZacharyCresson, Keith Baumgarter, Leslie Bouvier, Kasey Hart, Patsy Meyers, Joshua Smith, Dave Bonnar, John Campbell, Dale McCloskey, Joe Burford, Lynda Donaldson, Nicole Griffith, Kevin Kiefer, Jr., and Joe Morehouse.
For all those sick and suffering from the Coronavirus, may they recover quickly and completely.
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL, MR. COLLINS
We have a lot to discuss in this issue of our weekly newsletter:
I. Grading Policies for 4th quarter and end of year final grade
II. PTO funding Request—needs your reply as we cannot host a formal meeting
III. Addressing the Archdiocese of New Orleans Chapter 11 filing
I. Grading Policies for the 4th quarter and end of year final grade
a. As you know, this quarter has introduced each of us to Home Learning. The teachers have adapted lessons to continue providing materials and instruction to students via online classes and, in some cases, Zoom meetings.
b. Parents, you have definitely stepped up to the challenge of Home Learning. We thank you for your assistance and support during this time. However, each home has had to deal with a variety of issues relating to the running of the home, child care, unemployment, stress, family illness, and many other concerns. Because of this, the ability to assist students with learning has been different for each household. Therefore, we want to recognize student achievement without hurting their grades due to external factors. While teachers have been providing feedback on student work, the 4th quarter grade will appear as either a Pass “P” for students who have been diligent in doing work for the quarter; a Fail “F” for students who have not done work and parents have not responded to any outreach from the teacher and/or administration; an asterisk “*” for students who have not been able to do much work due to family concerns and have been in contact with the school teacher and/or administration. Considering all of the factors, the administration and faculty have decided not to include the fourth quarter in determining grades for the year.
c. The Final grade for each class will be determined by averaging the first three quarters. Fourth quarter grades will not be a factor in academic recognition, and will not be a factor for students moving forward to eighth grade. While this may not be ideal, we do believe it to be just given the situation we find ourselves today.
d. Please encourage your children to continue working until the last day of school. I also encourage you to provide some time throughout the summer for review of materials for the benefit of your children.
e. The school handbook will be modified to address how we would handle future home learning should the need arise to avoid the uncertainty we all experienced during the Covid-19 crisis.
II. PTO Funding Request.
While the facility is closed, we are busy making plans for the education of students for the 2020-2021 school year. As a part of this, I have received feedback from parents wishing to bring back the computer lab to our school. Here is an explanation of my funding request to the PTO for the purchase of lab equipment:
1) I respectfully request 30 Chrome books to be used for the following purposes:
a. To create a Computer Lab where:
i. Students will be taught the skill of typing
ii. Students will be taught the skill of using programs to create research papers and other necessary skills for students to succeed in the 21st century
iii. Additional chrome books available in case a home learning situation were to occur again. (We have some chrome books that are no longer working in our inventory.)
b. Justification for request:
i. Many parents have asked that the skill of typing return to the curriculum. Personally, I believe that typing class during my time in school has served me well, even as technologies have changed. As our children grow older, they will be required to spend many hours during their education to create research papers and other documents necessary for their success. Until the day the keyboard disappears completely from society, I believe this will be a beneficial skill for our students to learn.
ii. This year, we distributed about 26 chrome books to families for use during the Covid-19 pandemic. Given the condition of some of our existing chromebooks, this would allow us the option of 30 additional chromebooks to be distributed if the need arose.
The purchase of these technology items will enhance learning for our students.
Thank you for your consideration and support of St. Margaret Mary Catholic School.
And finally, if there is a way that we can purchase play equipment for the Early Learning Center, that would be appreciated. We have looked into the cost of replacing the underlay, but that has proven to be too costly and not a good cost benefit for your funds.
III.Archdiocesan Chapter 11 Filing
1) As many of you know, the past few years have been extremely trying for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. The resurgence of the clergy abuse crisis and budget challenges have created an impossible situation for the administrative offices of the archdiocese. Beyond that, the Covid-19 crisis has affected our churches, schools and ministries, compounding an already difficult situation. Dr. Houston has let us know that Archbishop Aymond, in consultation with a committee of trusted advisors, has made the difficult decision to pursue Chapter 11 reorganization.
a. Our parish and school are separate legal entities, distinct from the Archdiocese. Similarly, schools run by Religious Orders will not be affected by this filing. As well, charitable entities such as Catholic Charities are similarly separate legal entities. Therefore, our parish school is unaffected by this filing.
b. Providing a well-rounded Catholic education is a top priority for our school and along with the Archdiocese, we renew our commitment to achieving excellence in our schools for our current students and future generations.
c. The Archdiocese of New Orleans is committed to doing their best to provide clarity about the implications of this reorganization; as such, they have developed a website page specifically devoted to this reorganization. I encourage you to visit www.nolacatholic.org/renew for updates, announcements and resources.
(Italicized wording provided by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.)
Our school year is NOT over. While the facilities will remained closed for the rest of this school year, Home Learning continues. Plans are underway to recognize the class of 2020 7th grade, PreK, and Kindergarten. All are subject to the Stay Home restrictions in place and gathering restrictions in place. More details will follow.
During the week of May 18-22, we will offer family time-slots for you to pick up any remaining supplies, clean out lockers, and/or pick up Spring photos. We look forward to seeing you at these times.
Please remember that the Grab-N-Go meals will be closed the week of May 25-29 but will continue through June 30 (as of this writing). Meals are served from 10:00am-12:00pm Monday-Friday.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all of your support and efforts during this time.
THANK YOU & REQUEST FOR A VOTE FROM OUR PTO PRESIDENT, AMY ENRIGHT
Dear SMM School Community,
I hope this letter finds you and your families well in this unprecedented time of uncertainty we are experiencing. As our year comes to a close, I just wanted to write to you thanking you for so many things. First and foremost, I love our Catholic faith and therefore I love and support SMM. I desire greatly for my children to have the freedom to praise God whenever they want and to be in such a habit of prayer that it sticks with them for their whole lives and is passed on to their children. The greatest peace and joy in my heart comes from this very prayer habit!!! So THANK YOU for sending your kids here so that this holy school can exist and my kids can be part of it.
Thank you for your unwavering support of PTO this year!!! We had record attendance at our meetings and board meetings. We’ve had many people sign up for Amazon Smile (woo hoo!! Free money!!). Your generosity was overwhelming with your participation in the Fun Run. We made 30 thousand dollars!!! Finally, anything that was needed was always answered with your yes to service.
A very heartfelt thank you goes out to our room moms!!!! You all juggle so much and always have a smile and a “no worries” attitude when we the parents forget to sign up or turn things in at the very last minute! Also, your reminders kept my kids from tears on so many occasions! The only way I ever know it’s spirit day or free dress day or anything else is because yall are so on the ball and send reminders out. Thank you!
A GIGANTIC thank you to Kelly Songy who is our PTO president next year!!!!! Because we cannot meet to hold officer elections that will be done at Open House next year when school begins. We have many openings!!! Please prayerfully consider serving us as President Elect or Secretary or as VP of fundraising. We also have a few committee chair seats open, for example we need someone to chair our teacher luncheons.
Last, we have some end of the year business to take care of. The school has asked the PTO to spend $9000.00 on 30 chrome books for a computer lab for the next school year. Many parents have asked Mr. Collins about their children learning to type and he’d like to see that accomplished. Further, if we find ourselves in another home learning situation next year these chrome books would be available to families to check out and use at home. As per our PTO by-laws there is a 48 hour window for you to vote yes or no to this request. The 48 hours will begin when Coach Gay sends her newsletter out which includes this letter from me. Your vote will be anonymous. Please click this link and vote now:
May God abundantly bless you and your families today and always.
In Christ,
Amy Enright
END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR PICK UP DATES
Please keep in mind that if the Grab n' Go lunches are still occurring, the back entrance by El Paso may be in use.
Here is the link to sign-up: https://signup.com/go/bcZrOYL
We are looking forward to seeing everyone.
A Statement from the Archdiocese of New Orleans Office of Catholic Schools
April 29, 2020
The Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent school closures have been a challenge for our Catholic school families, school leaders, teachers, and staff members. The ways our teachers and students have responded to the upheaval of routines and to the cancelation of anticipated events and long-awaited milestones have been extraordinary. We once again assure our school families as well as our school leaders, faculties, and staff of our prayers during this challenging time.
In light of Governor Edwards’ extension of the “stay-at-home” order through May 15, we are announcing today the closure of our Catholic school campuses for the remainder of the school year. Remote learning will continue according to each school’s calendar.
In the coming weeks, school leaders will be contacting school families with school-specific plans for closing the school year. We ask for parents’ continued patience as school leaders work with their faculty and staff to bring the school year to a close.
For families facing financial hardships in continuing tuition payments, we encourage you to contact your school leader for information about the possibility of applying for tuition assistance for the remainder of the school year through the established COVID-19 Tuition Assistance Fund. Anyone wanting to assist families through this fund by making a financial gift may do so by clicking here.
For more information contact Sarah McDonald at (504) 339-6375 or smcdonald@arch-no.org.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2020-2021 CHEERLEADERS & DANCE TEAM MEMBERS
Congratulations to our Cheerleaders:
Kennedy Brindell
Ryleigh Burras
Kallie DeHarde
Shelby Fischer
Carley Fischer
Virginia Gambina
Grace Manion
Allison Manion
Ryleigh McCreary
Addison Melerine
Ava Pender
Shae Spadoni
Emma Weaver
Congratulations to our Dance Team members:
Cristina Angelloz
Juliette Brewer
Jaiden Campbell
Caroline Cortez
Lillian Enright
Madison Forrest
Lauren Grant
Delaney Knight
Sophie Koniditsiotis
Gianna LeBreton
Isabel Powell
Annie Schneidau
Avery Showalter
Gabriela Silessi
Mary Wootan
COULD YOU USE A MATH TUTOR RIGHT ABOUT NOW?
If interested, you may contact her by phone at (985) 502-1532 or by email at kendraww@charter.net.
Yearbook Update
Our Yearbook may look a little different from previous years, but it will still be full of wonderful pictures of your children. We will offer an opportunity for you to purchase a congratulatory ad or a business ad at a small cost. This information will be sent to you this coming week. Please look for it in an email.
Since copies are limited and school schedules continue to change, we ask that you please order your year- book online as soon as possible. Jostens offers a payment plan at checkout for your purchase if you would like to use that option
I WANT TO GO TO MASS
The Archbishop advised us to begin inviting people to Mass with a limit of ten people per Mass.
If you would like to sign up, we are taking reservations (first CALL first ASSIGNED) BY CALLING OUR only I WANT TO GO TO MASS hotline number.
Please call Nita at 985-201-5504
Wednesday BETWEEN 9AM AND 1 PM ONLY
Thursday BETWEEN 9AM AND 1 PM ONLY
Friday BETWEEN 9AM AND 1 PM ONLY
ONE call per week per person-whatever Mass Nita is filling will be your Mass reservation day and time.
ONE CALL PER WEEK PER PERSON. Please urge others to call for themselves. Nita can only take one name at a time.
You may share the I WANT TO GO TO MASS hotline number with other members of St. Margaret Mary Parish, in order for each individual to call Nita directly.
The Archbishop has dispensed with the Sunday obligation, so attending ANY Mass during the week is a special opportunity to attend Mass.
If all Masses are filled for the present week, your name can be added to a Mass during the next week.
Nita will review the instructions about arriving 15 minutes early, checking in, wearing a mask, using sanitizer, sitting in reserved seats ONLY.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Father Ed
Mass Times are as follows:
SATURDAY
7:30am
VIGIL MASSES:
6:00 PM English
7:00 PM Spanish
8:00 PM English
SUNDAY
5:15 AM, 6:30 AM, 7:30 AM AND 6:30 PM
Masses begin this weekend MAY 2-3
Weekday Masses 6:30 AM and 7:30 AM; 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM
End of Year Pick Up
2019-2020 SMM SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
Our students and families are in our prayers. We miss you & love you. And, May God Bless America.
Don't Forget About These Important Links
PARENTS, DON'T FOGET TO LOGIN TO SMILE.AMAZON.COM WHEN BUYING ONLINE. A PART OF YOUR PURCHASE GOES TOWARDS SMM. WE ARE LISTED AS "ST. MARGARET MARY SCHOOL" IN SLIDWELL, LA. (OUR ORIGINAL INFO WAS INACCURATELY ENTERED, THUS THE MISSPELLING OF SLIDELL)
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Contact SMM
Email: smmschool@saintmm.org
Website: www.saintmm.org
Location: 1050 Robert Boulevard, Slidell, LA, United States
Phone: 985-643-4612
Facebook: http://facebook.com/SMMSlidell/