St. Luke Parents & Guardians:
We are about to finish our fourth week of St. Luke School being closed, but it is also Holy Week. Easter Sunday starts the Easter season and marks the end of Lent. Easter is the last day of the Holy Week – Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday (Easter Triduum).
Easter reminds us that Jesus is alive and is among us, and he welcomes us in a new life with him. By His suffering and dying on the Cross, Jesus Christ saved humanity from the constraints of sin. His resurrection is a promise of a new life. This is particularly significant in 2020 as we all cope with the effects of COVID-19, and it shows us that our faith in him is alive and powerful.
While we are required to stay at home, we can still come together (via technology), as we did yesterday morning, to celebrate Mass with our school community. We have been asked to find new ways to continue those things in our lives that are important to us, and celebrating our faith must be a priority. Please take the time this weekend to celebrate Easter and the fulfillment of God's promise to mankind.
There will be no e-learning tomorrow, Good Friday, or on Monday, 4/13. E-learning will resume on Tuesday, 4/14. We still have three weeks (at least) of e-learning ahead of us. This has been challenging for our students, families, and teachers, and I know this is stress provoking for all. While we want our students to be engaged and learning, we also need to be flexible. Grades during e-learning will not adversely affect overall grades. Teachers will continue to track student learning and understanding so that e-lessons can address learning needs.
As we continue working together, I want to remind our students that they need to extend their best efforts on school work. Communicating electronically for extended periods of time lends itself to informal language. There have been some instances; however, where students have used emojis, “text language,” and unfortunately, inappropriate language in their communication with teachers. Also, all students in grades 4-8 must use their school email accounts when corresponding with teachers. If they use an outside email, chances are it will get quarantined, meaning, it will not be delivered to the teachers. Even though we are not physically together, we need to be respectful of each other by communicating appropriately.
I want to thank our families, students, faculty and staff for your continued efforts during these very difficult and challenging times. We are all looking forward to when we can return to school, and for all of us to resume our lives without staying at home and social distancing. Until we can do this, I want to wish you all a Happy Easter. Take comfort in the significance of Easter in our faith and our lives.
Tom Clausing
Interim Principal
