March 25, 2020 Newsletter

March 25, 2020

NEWSLETTER

All Saints Catholic School, a regional faith-based community, focuses on academic excellence while ensuring the dignity of each individual. While modeling Gospel values, the school incorporates a STEM approach to teaching and learning in order to prepare its population for the challenges of a global society.

March 25, 2020

Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear and panic. I will shut down businesses, schools, places of worship, and sports events. I will cause economic turmoil.”

Jesus: “I will bring together neighbors and restore the family unit. I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table. I will help people slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not the world. I will teach my children to trust me and not their money and material resources.”

In the Gospel from St. John for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, we hear the full recounting of Jesus healing the man born blind. There is much in this Gospel reading upon which we might reflect. I would propose that we reflect on our blindness. While we may not be physically blind, all of us by virtue of our humanity, experience some level of spiritual blindness. If we have experienced “anxiety, fear or panic” in the face of COVID-19, we have been spiritually blind! This spiritual blindness causes us to feel isolated and alone. We miss the blessings that are in our midst. Jesus is inviting us to “slow down and appreciate what really matters.” What truly matters are our relationships with one another!

We navigated the first week of “remote learning” quite well. Our ASCS teachers did an amazing job connecting with students and families while caring for their own families…and parents/guardians have been fabulous in working full time, both from home and on work sites as well as overseeing children’s learning. We are so grateful for the members of our community who are in the medical and health care professions and on the “front lines” in addressing the pandemic!

While the schoolwork and our jobs are truly important, we must take time to focus on and be present to one another. Take time to sit with or make a call to a friend, neighbor, or family member just to say, “Hi!” and ask, “How are you?” And then… really listen!

The staff and I will be setting up continued opportunities to connect with students and families virtually through Zoom and Google Meet this week. Our intent is to focus on what really matters…our relationships…because

Together, we are All Saints strong!

Be At Peace

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life;

rather, look to them with full hope that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same understanding Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

~St. Francis de Sales

Official School Closing Notification

from Diocese of Wilmington

Office for Catholic Schools

INCLUDE PRIVATE SCHOOLS

IN CORONAVIRUS RELIEF

All Saints Catholic School Community - Let us come together with one voice to let our legislators know that we are ALL SAINTS STRONG!!

Please take action on this important issue from the Council for American Private Education (CAPE), which concerns including private schools in Coronavirus Relief.

Click on this link for the full body of the letter's text.

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School Event Cancellations/Postponements

All School Events scheduled for the

remainder of March and April and some in May

have been cancelled including:

Thursday, March 26, 2020 - Spring Pictures

(will reschedule if possible)

Saturday, March 28, 2020 - The ASCS Bunny Breakfast & Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 4, 2020 - CYM Lenten Pilgrimmage

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 - McDonald's McTeacher Night

(will be rescheduled)

Thursday, April 23, 2020 - Evening of Sacred Music

Friday, April 24, 2020 - Delaware Bridge Competition

Saturday, April 25, 2020 - It's Academic

Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - Ball Drop/Walk-A-Thon/Special Person Day

(will be rescheduled for the fall)

Monday, May 4, 2020 - Golf Outing and Auction

(rescheduled for Monday, October 12, 2020)

Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - Eighth Grade Scholars Convocation

Middle School Field Trips

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Mrs. Bocanegra's "Quotes of the Day"

The above quotes may serve as good mantras when we experience feelings of being overwhelmed.

Mrs. Bocanegra has also posted resources for managing stress and talking to children about COVID-19 on her website in service to our students and families.

School News

Scenes from All Saints Catholic School

"Remote Learning"

All Saints Catholic School faculty, staff, students, and families have engaged in "remote learning" since March 15th when schools closed in response to COVID-19.

Our All Saints Spirit keeps us All Saints Strong, as we connect with each other through email, social media, Zoom, and Google Meet.

Our teachers are daily rising to the challenge of providing an excellent educational resources and learning opportunities to our students. Students and parents have been diligent and persevering in rising to the challenge of teaching and completing school work.

Students have created STREAM projects, doodled with Mo Willems' during Facebook classes and used Khan Academy, Freckle and a variety of other online learning platforms in addition to textbook assignments to continue academic growth.

Our youngest students have been busy working as well. Teachers have provided an abundance of resources including videos of themselves conducting morning circle time and number and letter lessons.

First grader Luka Pohorylo joins sister Larysa's Google Hangout to discuss literature.

PreK 4 B Teacher Mrs. Dzielak conducts Circle Time online.

Matthew Acholla working on an

e-assignment.

Jacqueline Marascio working in

her PreK book.

Lawson Ellis enjoying an online resource provided by his teacher.

Kamden Skinner working on letters and numbers in his PreK book.

Noah Zickgraf reviewing Freckle Math.

Find us and Friend Us on Facebook to read more posts from Week 1 of COVID-19 Closure and other posts about our amazing school!

Here is a Facebook Photo Album of Week 1 of At-Home Learning

Fifth Grade STEM Challenge

Mrs. Denhof's fifth grade class was challenged to use any material "from around the house" to build the tallest structure possible as part of their Friday STEM Class. Bricks, books, chairs, videos, and a variety of containers were the materials of choice!

Logan Orr creates his structure out of bricks....

Thomas Lawhorn creates his structure out of storage bins and trash cans.

Kostik Bancroft (with his little brother, Tony Alvarez - PK4B) uses a table, a chair, and a variety of containers for his tall structure.

Julian Onley builds a compact structure that is nearly as tall as he is!

Fourth Grade Bridge to Terabithia Dioramas

Fourth grader Jasio Piorkowski's diorama project for A Bridge to Terabithia . It shows the last scene when Jess builds a bridge to honor Leslie his friend who passed away trying to cross the river in the forest that became Terabithia.

Katherine Paterson's beautiful coming-of-age fantasy novel Bridge to Terabithia is being read by ASCS fourth graders. They follow the story of Jess and Leslie, who become fast friends and invent the magical land of Terabithia. As an assignment, the students are to write an essay and create a diorama depicting a scene in the book.

Front and back images of Patricia Gomes' Bridge to Terabithia diorama.

"How I Spend Time with My Family"

Some of the world's greatest authors and their ability to write engaging prose, have been created during challenging times. Mrs. Parsio's students are writing essays about how they are spending quality time with their families. As family bonds are strengthened through walks, games, bonfires, cooking, and movie nights, our second grade students are capturing the experiences through the written word and illustrations. With this assignment students are writing living history!

Trey Burrows and his sister, Jaelynn - Grade 4 brainstorm on family activites to enjoy and write about.

Mason Jones and his father enjoying a game together.

Mateo Flores enjoys riding his scooter on family walks.

Julia Barone writes about how she and her family enjoyed a bonfire together on a nice evening.

Acts of Kindness in honor of St. Joseph

On Thursday, March 19, the Feast Day of St. Joseph, Dr. Muir challenged the ASCS community to imitate Joseph in his care for Mary and Jesus with acts of kindness such as doing chores without being asked, reading a story to a sibling, creating cards for others, etc.

Our Facebook page documents the following kind actions completed: baking cookies for beloved family members who live close by, chalking encouraging messages on neighborhood sidewalks, helping neighbors with yard work, completing extra household chores, creating cards for residents in an assisted living facility, making masks for nurses and medical personnel, calling homebound members of churches with friendly and encouraging messages, and much, much more.

Our community has also been faithfully praying for people affected with COVID-19 here in the United States and across the globe. Our acts of kindness and generosity demonstrate that we are All Saints Caring , in addition to being All Saints Strong!

Savannah Zoladkiewicz made bunny cookies for her 92-year-old great-great Aunt as one of her special deeds

The Skirvins received cookies from their grandson Brayden!

Pl ease click here for the original post of the St. Joseph Feast Day Kindness Challenge

Please click here for updates on the Challenge

Olivia Fountain writes notes to friends and family members to let them know how much they mean to her.

School Nurse, Patricia Bakshi is making masks (that can be washed) for medical personnel.

Noah and August Zickgraf spent time outdoors last Friday creating positive messages with sidewalk chalk for passersby to read.

Rock Your Socks!

The ASCS school community honored World Down Syndrome Day on March 21, by wearing their crazy socks purchased specifically for the Rock Your Socks campaign sponsored by the Down Syndrome Association of Delaware. By purchasing and wearing these socks, All Saints joined a single, global voice in advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down Syndrome in schools and communities here in Delaware, across the nation and around the world.