May 20, 2020
Dear Parents and Students,
I hope this update finds each of you doing well. With Memorial Day right around the corner, I wanted to get you an update on a few items as we approach the end of May.
First, here is our schedule over the next few weeks:
- Wednesday, May 20 - Google Classroom
- Thursday, May 21 - Google Meet
- Friday, May 22 - to Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day Weekend
- Tuesday, May 26 - Google Meet
- Wednesday, May 27 - Google Classroom
- Thursday, May 28 - Google Meet
- Friday, May 29 - Google Classroom
- Monday - Wednesday, June 1 - 3 - "Student Work Days" (see below)
- Thursday, June 4 - Period B & C Exams
- Friday, June 5 - Period D & E Exams
- Monday, June 8 - Period F & G Exams
- Tuesday, June 9 - Period H Exams
Final Exam Details
As I previously announced, the vast majority of underclassmen final exams will be project-based. Teachers have begun to assign this work and most are integrating it into the remaining two weeks of classes. Even though these assignments will be broken up into manageable steps for students, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, June 1, 2, and 3 have been set aside as Student Work Days. Students should use these days to ensure their final exam projects (which will count as ten percent of their final grade) are completed with appropriate effort.
All papers and project-based final exams will be due to teachers by 11:59 pm the day prior to the actual exam period. For example, projects for Period B exams will be due by 11:59 pm on June 3. During the exam period, students and their teacher will gather for student presentations of the work they completed. This presentation will be part of the assignment grade.
The first exam period of the day will begin at 8:15 am. The second exam period of the day will begin at 10:30 am. Students will be expected to be on time for exams and have their camera on for the entire exam period.
Teachers have been asked to post assignments on Plus Portals by next week so parents can review. All students will be provided with a rubric for a project or paper.
Locker Contents Pick-Up
We are currently emptying all student lockers and bagging and labeling contents. We will announce a schedule shortly for the pick-up of all items.
Chromebook Return
Chromebooks that were borrowed from school will need to be returned during the week of June 8. We will announce a procedure for their return. Chromebooks must be returned prior to the release of report cards.
Outstanding Service Hours
Those students with outstanding service hours are reminded that this obligation must be wrapped up as soon as possible. An email was sent several weeks ago to those with hours still outstanding with several unique opportunities for service during these challenging times. Report cards will not be issued for students with outstanding service hours - as hours were originally due in early March.
Textbook Rental Returns
Textbooks will be returned directly to the SHU Bookstore (curbside) the week of June 8. A specific return schedule will be announced via email.
Return to School Planning
As I mentioned in an earlier email, we have begun to plan for a return to school this fall. Several task forces have come together to begin planning for the challenges of education with COVID 19. Thank you to the parents who volunteered to assist with this planning. The Committees will be in touch as appropriate.
Counselors Still Available
Guidance counselors and our social worker are still available for conversation with individual students. Students or parents can contact counselors via email to arrange a time to connect or visit during posted office hours (on Guidance's Google Classroom page).
Finally, I share some sad news with you ... please keep our Chaplain, Deacon John DiTaranto, and his family in your thoughts and prayers. Deacon John's mother passed away on Monday.
Click here
to view the obituary.
As always, thank you for your tremendous patience and support over the past several months. We will continue to get through this together. Please know that I remain extremely appreciative for our very special community. Be well and stay safe.
Sincerely,
