Monday Morning Assembly message sent to students and faculty this morning by Mr. Dupont!
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March 23, 2020
MONDAY MORNING ASSEMBLY
Good morning!
Trust you and your family are well. In spite of all the inconveniences and uncertainty in our lives, we completed an amazing week. Couldn’t be prouder of our entire St. Paul community. But it’s only the beginning … we have much more work to do.
MORNING PRAYER
By His Wounds We Are Healed
Given the attention and disruption that the coronavirus outbreak has had on our lives, one cannot be blamed if our Lenten journey has been somewhat derailed. If it has though, let’s make the effort to get ourselves back on track.
“This Lent we remember that Christ came to fulfill the Law of God, living a sinless life and enduring the cruelty of the cross in our stead that we would receive forgiveness, everlasting life and salvation. It is by His wounds that we are healed forevermore.”
We pray for all those who are suffering or will suffer from the effects of this terrible virus and that it’s spread will be contained for the benefit of all.
We pray for all of the healthcare professionals, local, national and around the world who serve as the unselfish front line risking their own safety to comfort and attend to the needs of all those stricken by the coronavirus disease.
We pray for our St. Paul community and for students and teachers everywhere who are making the unexpected transition from in-person learning in the classroom to online learning in their homes during this time of social distancing.
We pray for your special intentions held in the silence of your heart.
Together, we pray.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
St. Paul … pray for us!
SCHOOL CALENDAR UPDATE
- As previously announced, per Gov. Lamont’s State of Emergency, schools were closed through March 31. However, in recent conversation with the Archdiocese of Hartford and consistent with Bristol Public Schools, school closure will be indefinitely. While no one knows with any certainty, we will announce the return to in-person classes when we receive approval from the appropriate authorities.
- Given that we effectively transitioned to distance learning on Wednesday, March 18 and assuming this continues, we will observe the Easter Holiday and Spring Vacation as originally planned. Online learning classes will end at noon on Holy Thursday (4/9) and resume on Monday (4/20).
- The Third Quarter is scheduled to end this Friday, March 27 but will be extended to Thursday, April 9. Mr. Cooper will be sending correspondence to students and parents regarding this matter in the near future.
- The administration has decided to show our appreciation to the faculty for your tireless efforts in getting our online program launched in short notice and to the students for your overwhelming acceptance and participation, to date. In a grateful gesture that “we are all in this together,” classes this Wednesday will be on a two-hour delay. A Period will begin at 9:57 am and we will follow the normal two-hour delay schedule. Faculty will adjust their Zoom meeting times and Mr. Cooper will send students an email outlining actual class times to avoid any confusion. If you respond maturely and responsibly to this “delayed opening” schedule then other incentives may be appropriate in the future. My expectation is that everyone will remain engaged and perform at a high level during our distance learning period.
- As it relates to AP courses/testing, AP students should have received an email Friday from the College Board indicating that the AP exams will be administered online. Mr. Cooper, as well as your AP instructors, will be sending further correspondence/logistics to all AP students and parents once the new AP online testing dates are released on April 3.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Sr. Marie Benedict and Sr. Mary Mercy will be offering every Thursday morning a virtual chapel prayer service from 7:40 – 7:50 am. This week our prayers will be offered for the health and safety of our St. Paul community. Students and faculty wishing to participate can respond to the weekly Zoom invitation to join the prayer service.
- Student government will have a Zoom meeting this Thursday (3/26) after school at 2:20 pm. Mrs. Kendrick will host the meeting but students will have the opportunity to participate in breakout groups for brainstorming sessions.
- Friday, (3/27) is designated as SP Spirit Day … we can do this! Students and faculty are encouraged to wear any kind of school spirit wear for their online classes.
- Congratulations to Mr. Mancini who found out on Friday that he will begin in July his medical residency placement in general surgery at UCONN! That’s great news!
- Belated birthday wishes for last week go out to: Emily Esposito, Olivia Genovese, Madison Matava-Pickering and Haley Stuckman. Happy Birthday this week to: Derek Angelicola, Chase Aston, Sammi Bray, Christa Christmas, Reagan Davis, Joseph DiBiaso, Luke Dognin, Madison Sirois, Vanessa Visconti, Mrs. Lindquist, Mr. Sheedy, and Mr. Wallace.
GUIDANCE
- If seniors need transcripts for scholarship applications, please email Mrs. Kilbourne at lkilbourne@spchs.com.
- The College Board has cancelled the SAT on May 2. The next SAT test is scheduled for June 6. The ACT test on April 4 has been postponed until June 13. Students who were planning to take the ACT in April or SAT in May should have been notified of this decision and offered rescheduled dates. If you have any questions, email Mrs. Mancini at emancini@spchs.com or Mrs. Glynn at kglynn@spchs.com.
- Students taking the SAT prep class have been contacted by Lentz & Lentz regarding the transitioning of instruction for the SAT classes. In the meantime, they have provided podcasts for students to watch and complete. Contact your guidance counselor if you have any questions.
ATHLETICS
- As Mr. Dennehy shared in an email last week, the CIAC has announced that the spring athletic season has been postponed indefinitely. “These are unprecedented challenges for our schools, and it is of the utmost importance that we provide answers and a structure to support our membership and maintain the possibility of a spring sports experience for our student-athletes,” CAS-CIAC Executive Director Glenn Lungarini stated. “CIAC understands the value of providing students a spring sports experience, if possible. However, the health and safety of our communities must remain at the center of our decision making.”
- Mr. Dennehy has notified all spring coaches that while student-athletes may want to begin preparations for a potential season that respecting the recommendations for social distancing and avoiding group activities prior to the approved time will aid in keeping athletes safe and allow for the season to begin in a timely manner, if approved. Coach Joe and spring coaches will begin to offer student-athletes an individual workout schedule that you can begin implementing at home.
I think that’s it for now.
We miss you!
Stay safe … be well and let’s continue to define ourselves by being great in the face of this adversity.
Seniors lead us out of here to our online learning classes. Take care of yourselves and take care of each other this week.
Mr. Dupont
