A Message from the Head of School
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July 17, 2020
Dear RPA Families,
I am happy to finally share with you our Return of the Kings Reopening Plan. However, before I do, please
allow me a moment to introduce some of our new faculty members. We will be sharing bios with our families soon, but join me in welcoming these teachers to our RPA family:
Andrew Olson, 5th - 8th Grade Catholic Formation
Jeff Loomis, 5th Grade Math and Science
Tim Devita, 4th Grade Language Arts and History
Sara Ryan, 2nd Grade (Jen Clarke will be teaching 4th Grade Math, Science, and Religion)
Martha De la Barrera (PreK and Kindergarten Spanish)
God has truly blessed RPA with these experienced and gifted educators. We are excited about the passion and talents each of them will bring to our faculty and look forward to a great year ahead.
Now, transitioning to the Reopening Plan, I'd like to highlight a few ideas. First, as we have all come to know and understand, this is a very fluid situation. We are getting new information daily, and we will continue to update our policies and procedures as needed to reflect current data and to protect our students, faculty and staff. The attached plan is meant to be an overview, highlights of the modifications and enhancements we will put into practice to promote safety and learning continuity for the 2020-21 school year. Please read the document in full. More specific information will be shared as we head into and during the first weeks of school, especially where implementation of the plan is concerned. Know that many of the measures will be temporary and not a permanent part of our policies and procedures.
I would like to thank all who have given so much of their time and effort to this project including the Reopening Task Force, Advisory Committee, and our Board of Directors.
It has been, and will continue to be, a truly collaborative effort and I am grateful to all.
Also, please note that we have changed the start date for students to Thursday, August 20. This decision was made to allow more time for teacher training and planning during Pre-Planning and to have everything we need in place to implement this Reopening Plan successfully.
We have ordered additional supplies, equipment, and technology, and teachers will be trained in new safety protocols and in using new live-streaming technology that will simplify and enhance our ability to provide remote instruction should it be needed by families temporarily or for a mandated campus closure.
In this climate of change and uncertainty, RPA must remain a solid foundation for our families, for our students, and for our faculty and staff. We know that our students thrive in an environment that is rooted in faith and where they are surrounded by a community who understands their needs and knows who they are and how they learn. We are committed to providing that safe "home away from home," a place where our students can continue to grow academically and as well-rounded, virtuous human beings.
Thank you for your patience, continued prayers, and support during this comprehensive and exhaustive planning process and for trusting us with the education and formation of your children-- with God's grace and in partnership with you. We welcome your feedback and questions--now more than ever--as we work together to navigate through these exceptional times!
In His service,
Mr. Baier
Scott J. Baier,
Head of School
Royal Palm Academy
16100 Livingston Rd.
Naples, FL 34110
239-594-9888
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”
~Philippians 4:6
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What is happening on campus this summer?
Despite the quiet campus, there have been LOTS of things happening behind the scenes to get ready for the upcoming school year!
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With smiles on their faces, Karen Evans, Administrative Assistant to our Business Manager, and Pat Bolser, Administrative Assistant to our Head of School,
are busy keeping everything and everyone organized this summer!
They are assisting with the enrollment process as payments need to be finalized, updating student files, answering phones, and greeting visitors!
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Ms. Jennifer Wojcik, Dean of Faculty, had the task of making adjustments to report cards to accommodate for the remote learning at the end of the semester.
She is now busy with personnel adjustments, schedules, and ordering textbooks. Ms. Wojcik has also been modifying the teaching methods and the curriculum to help keep our students safe.
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RPA Re-Opening Task Force
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Mr. Baier has been communicating through daily meetings with his Re-opening Task Force.
Mr. Baier along with Mr. Frodsham, Ms. Wojcik, Mrs. Scarafile, and Ms. Greene are collaborating on numerous items and changes that need to take place prior to the opening of school.
From physically walking to each and every classroom, to researching best practices, to ordering the necessary equipment for a safe return, this committee is keeping very busy!
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RPA Board of Directors
Annual Retreat
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The collaboration between the Board of Directors and the RPA Task Force has been comprehensive and ongoing. Below is just one of the many early morning Zoom meetings they have been a part of.
We thank them for their support, guidance and countless hours during this unprecedented time.
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A Huge THANK YOU to our
2020-21 Board of Directors who volunteer their time, treasure and talent on a regular basis to advance the mission of our school.
This past week, our Board, along with our Head of School and Business Manager participated in their annual board retreat. In addition to reviewing Mr. Baier's plans on re-opening the school, they were involved in reviewing the school's short and long range Strategic Plans.
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Also- coming soon- Uniform updates, Lunch Service and much more!
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CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR FOURTH QUARTER HONOR STUDENTS!
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RPA Summer Enrichment!
Thank you to our Librarian, Joyce Wheeler, and her commitment and dedication to keeping our students enriched this summer!
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A COPY OF THE LETTER THAT WAS MAILED TO FAMILIES AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR:
Dear RPA Families,
We hope you are enjoying your summer with your family and that you are enjoying the “RPA-LIB-SUMMER PROGRAM 2020” class dashboard resources. If you haven’t done so already, go to
lms.renweb.com
and login as a student. Enter district code “RPA-FL,” your username (first initial + last name, no spaces ie. jdoe) and password (rpa123 if you did not change it during remote learning).
On the RPA Library Summer Program 2020 dashboard, students have access to a “RPA Summer Reading” unit, which provides information about REQUIRED summer reading by grade level, helpful links for finding “just right” books, and a READING LOG to print and record the books read.
Remember, for younger children, list the books you read aloud with them on the log as well. The reading log will be collected upon our return to school in August.
You will also find a “
Khan Academy Math
” unit. Here students in grades 2 - 8 may link their most recent MAP Growth Math scores to practice math geared to their specific learning level and readiness. Pat Bolser emailed these scores to all families on March 31st. Students in Kindergarten and 1
st
Grade can practice grade-level math as well. Khan Academy will adapt as they progress in their learning and mastery of skills. We are not requiring a specific number of minutes or hours of math practice over the summer; however, we highly encourage students to take advantage of this individualized learning tool to keep their math skills sharp and to avoid any “summer slide.”
Finally, Mrs. Wheeler has created 8 WEEKS of Enrichment units in a variety of subjects/themes to keep students busy, engaged, and learning all summer long! New Enrichment units will open every Wednesday, but students will always have access to previous weeks’ units as well.
Stay safe and well and enjoy these precious summer months. We are busy here at school, preparing for our return to campus in August. Until then, God bless our RPA families!
Kind regards,
Jenn Wojcik
Dean of Faculty
Royal Palm Academy
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Thank you to our dedicated PVO who is already making plans for the 2020-21 school year!
Trisha Schwartz, PVO President, has been holding regular monthly meeting filled with new ideas for the 2020-21 school year!
Help make this year Incredible for our students-
please join our PVO for their next virtual meeting in July!
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Royal Palm Academy is pleased to announce our new partnership with
St. Moritz Sercurity Services
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A familiar face, John Flores, (aka Officer John) will again be on campus to keep your children safe and well protected.
We thank Dan Royael for his service to RPA and everything he has done for our families. This year he will be working closer to his home and unfortunately not be returning to RPA.
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Parents
- Please check your Family Portal to be sure your enrollment contract(s) have been submitted. If they still show a status of OPEN/Edit, your child could risk losing their place in the classroom.
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Call Jennifer Scarafile, Admissions, for further information
(239) 594-9888 ext. 102
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Royal Palm Academy's Prayer List
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God."
~James 5:16
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“O Lady of Good Health,
our Merciful Father chose you to be a powerful intercessor in times of trouble and woe.
As in past centuries when you have ended contagious diseases, we implore you now to end the Coronavirus which is damaging the health of many and spreading fear in our communities.
Teach us not to be afraid, to be courageous and generous in offering assistance to others, and to live joyfully in the state of grace.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
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Prayers Needed For:
Baby Riley Goddard
Rusty Browning
Johnny Ross
Clyde Quinby
Pearl Quinby
Andres Valenzuela
Penelope (Penny)Lagergren
Gustavo Otero
Tereze Knowles
Paul Hojlo, Jr.
Rebecca King
Jane Cox
Reginald Hart
Mark Rogers
Kayson Davis
Ed Fitzpatrick
Gladys Blanco
Carlos Mendelzon
Dorothea Brown
Ruben Seoanes
Col J.T. Sehulster
Elaine Buscemi
Dave Bolser
Steve Evans
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Repose of the Soul:
Hilda Saadeh
Judi Schwartz
June Toner
George Royael
Bobby Hebert, Sr.
Fr. Thomas Glackin
Patrick Hidalgo
Marguerite Scharf
William Bergold
Matt Jackson
Joseph Franzese
Daisy Hernandez
Emily Spencer
Frank John D’Agostino
Ada Cossio-Fernandez
Elvira Pinera
Nick Menist
Dorothea Brown
Jacob Valdez
Briggs Connolly
Logan Connolly
Brendon Shea
James Farrell
Sister Margarita Mongalo
Dr. Jose Ramon Menéndez
Diane Stellwag
Ann Guettler
Daniel Cuenya
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Parents, please share any special intentions for family and friends:
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Show off your School Spirit
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Click on the BSN image or link below to start
personalizing
your RPA Spirit wear!
Get ready for Back to School-order your Spirit Wear now!
Shopping has never been so much fun!
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