🙏 The Messenger - March 20, 2020 🙏

March 20, 2020

Dear Parents of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School,

One week almost down! What a week it has been. Your positive emails of support and encouragement are much appreciated. I also appreciate the emails where you share your frustrations as this gives us a chance to improve. You have had great suggestions. We are so proud of the fact that we were able to start our program right away providing no gap in instruction and education for your children. Because we rolled things out quickly, we have hit a few glitches and also found additional resources that we think will make the upcoming weeks even better. Our goal for this week is for our teachers to work to implement more videos and some live lessons. Please continue to be patient as we work through this. Thank you!

One item that came up at my Archdiocesan online meeting on Tuesday was the need to take attendance. Thank you for your help so that we have the documentation needed for TCCBED. Here is how we are taking attendance:

Pre-K – 5th grades: We will use the distance learning plans that are being signed by parents. I have the forms for next week attached. They are also on our website.
Middle School: Students are asked to check in each day on Google Classroom. The attendance sheet is up each morning by 8 am. Middle school students have the entire school day to sign in. Please still complete the distance learning plans.

I have asked teachers to make next Friday, March 27th a “Catch-up Day ”. There may be assessments in middle school but no new classwork for that day. This would be a great day to catch-up on assignments and work on auxiliary classes. (Reminder: There is only one auxiliary assignment for each two weeks.)

Friday, March 27th will also be a day to drop off completed assignments and distance learning plan forms. This is also a time when classes with packets can distribute new materials for the second two weeks. This will be done in a carline fashion. Please be on the lookout for more information on the logistics of this morning as we work them out.

As you know, our current plan is to be closed through April 10th. The Archdiocese will review this decision during Holy Week. If the closure ends on April 10th, we will not take our extended Easter Break. We would return to school on Monday, April 13th.

Additionally, the Archdiocese will not be administering the IOWA, ACRE, CogAT or STAR tests. When we are able to resume school, we want to focus on instruction and not lose these days to assessments. For all the latest updates or to review previously shared e-mails, distance learning plan forms and other resources, please visit our website at: https://staopcs.org/covid19. Thank you for being patient and for taking the time to read these updates. I will continue to send these out as I have new information.

We continue to pray for all those impacted by the Coronavirus. We also ask for God's blessings, guidance and protection for each of us as we journey through these weeks of distance learning together.

Only by His Grace,

Veronica Tucker

Early Childhood Log - Week 2

Elementary Log - Week 2

Middle School Log - Week 2

ALL-SCHOOL NEWS

Send us your Spirit Week Photos to advancement@staopcs.org or @staopcs to be shared on our social media pages. Please note that your account settings must be set to public for us to view tagged photos - email is the easiest way for us to receive pics!

DEACON MIKE MIMS MEMORIAL FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

1st Place - $2,500 | 2nd Place - $1,500 | 3rd Place - $1,000

Provided By: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School

Deacon Mike Mims was constantly growing in his faith. His missionary spirit was seen in every aspect of his life. How has your family's faith grown at St. Anthony? How have you served as Christ's missionary within our school? Click the button for more details.

Deacon Mike Mims Memorial Scholarship

A MILLION WISHES GALA

Due to the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and consistent with guidance from government and county health officials, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School has made the difficult decision to cancel the A Million Wishes Gala on April 18th at The Woodlands Resort.

We are so grateful to our Gala Chairs, Shawn & Brian Velardo , and our Gala Committee for their dedication to this year's event and their flexibility during this difficult time. Our team is quickly adjusting our plans so that we can still have a successful online fundraiser – and will be emailing out details to all guests and the parent community in the near future.

The Auction Gala generates critical funds for our programs, our faculty, and our students. We hope that you, your friends, and your family will continue to support us by participating in the online auction or the raffle - More details to come! THANK YOU!

Our Winner's Choice Raffle is still happening AS PLANNED! The Winning ticket will be drawn on April 18th! At this time, all paper tickets and payments (sold & unsold) should be returned to the school when we return to classes. Please encourage your families and friends to purchase tickets ONLINE!

To purchase Raffle Tickets online with a credit card, please visit our gala website at: staopcs.givesmart.com and click ITEMS to find the RAFFLE listing and choose the quantity of tickets you are purchasing.

All online/credit card tickets will be mailed to purchasers within two weeks of purchase.

WINNER’S CHOICE RAFFLE • PRICE: $20.00 each

One Grand Prize Winner will win a choice of one of three trips :

Fairmont Bermuda - 4-Night Stay at The Fairmont Southampton in Bermuda with Airfare for 2
Disney World Adventure - 4-Night Stay at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress with Airfare for 2 & Disney Gift Card ($550)
New York Broadway - Choice of 2 Broadway Shows, 3-Night Weekend Stay with Airfare for 2

SPONSORED BY:

Jason & Leila Higham

GALA GIVING BY LIVING EVENT - We've gone VIRTUAL!

KENDRA SCOTT ONLINE SPIRIT DAYS

MARCH 22 & MARCH 23

Use the code GIVEBACK8320 to have 20% of your purchases donated back to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School! Great time to buy Mother's Day, anniversary or birthday presents and still support our students. https://www.kendrascott.com/

PARTIES & SOCIALS

We are hopeful that when our when we are able to be together again, we can celebrate through our Gala Parties & Socials. We will continue to update changes in dates and times when we are able. Please note that all of your purchases will go towards supporting our school during this difficult time. If you have any questions about your purchases, please contact advancement@staopcs.org .