Dear Parents-
As we finish our 7th week of distance learning, student safety and security remain a primary concern. Teachers report that all is going well, and that we have not been the victim of any hacks or other unpleasant experiences. To continue keeping everyone safe, students are required to use their actual name as ID when entering any ZOOM meeting, and required to show their faces. These are standard safety practices and should not cause any hardship for anyone.
I remain extremely grateful to all our SJS families for the effort given to making distance learning successful. Each family situation is unique, and while teachers are working at capacity to provide live lessons, not all students can attend live lessons due to family circumstances at any given time, and so there are LOOM lessons and other video experiences, as well as paper and pencil activities, etc. The teachers continue to work on meeting individual student as well as individual family needs, but please bear in mind that no two family dynamics are exactly the same and so what is great for one family, is not as effective for another.
Executive Order 53
, signed by Governor Northam on April 15 is set to expire at 11:59PM Thursday, May 7. This is the order that closed all non-essential businesses. While the expiration of this order allows for some additional business opportunities, the order that limits group size to no more than 10, and recommends wearing masks and keeping social distance remains in effect until June 10. (EO 55)
Flynn and O’Hara
is mindful of the stress families face, and offers this statement:
During this time of uncertainty, the best way for families to stay in the loop regarding back-to-school uniform shopping this season is by opting into Flynn and O’Hara emails, or following social media accounts, where FlynnO’Hara will share updates in real time (think store openings, free shipping, discounts, etc.) to ensure parents have the information they need as soon as it becomes available.
Click here for more information
.
The following information is shared with you from Beth Covert, SJS Child Protection Liaison:
The Office of Child Protection
has issued a revised Policy on the Protection of Children/Young People and Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and/or Child Abuse dated January 1, 2020. The policy update was necessary to include changes in civil and canon law and church documents that relate to child protection.
All volunteers who are compliant, or are in the process of becoming compliant, must acknowledge this new policy to be able to continue volunteering. This acknowledgement will be done online through a form that will be sent to you from Beth Covert, Child Protection Liaison for St. Joseph Church and School. You will be required to provide basic identifying information and an electronic signature. It will require that you have Adobe Reader installed on the device you will use to sign the form. This is a free program.
Mrs. Covert will begin emailing volunteers Monday May 4,
,
2020. Please be aware of this email coming from Beth Covert,
bcovert@sjcherndon.org
, and that it should take about 2 minutes to complete and submit the form. Hopefully all volunteers will receive their email by May 31
st
.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions, or if I can be of any assistance.
Welcome one another...as Christ welcomed you!
(Rom 15:7)
Denise Rutledge
Principal