Sheldon Wade
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We regret to inform you of the passing of Mr. Sheldon Wade on Sunday afternoon. This was a sudden death. We pray for his children, Princeton, Trenton and Clarabeth, his beloved wife, his parents and his entire family. May he rest with angels and the loving embrace of Jesus and Mary.
Sincerely,
Fr. Nixon, Mrs. Freebes. Teachers and Staff
Letter from Superintendent about a Safe Reopening
Office of the Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
310 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, New York 11215 718-965-7300 fax: 718-965-7353
July 29, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians of Catholic Academy and Parish School Students,
The changes in our lives due to the COVID-19 have been many. Unfortunately, the impact of the virus continues to change the most fundamental aspects of how we live, including how we hold school, which is the purpose of this letter. While we cannot predict what the COVID-19 pandemic will look like this fall, the Catholic Academies and Parish Schools are planning to implement a number of enhanced health and safety measures, based on guidance from local health and government authorities.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), aside from a child’s home, there is no other setting which has more of an influence on a child’s health and well-being than their school. The in-person school environment: provides academic instruction; supports the development of social and emotional skills; creates a safe environment for learning; addresses nutritional needs; and facilitates physical activity.
School leaders have been working tirelessly to develop plans for the safe return of as many students as possible, to in-person school, in order to best meet students’ academic, social-emotional and faith-based needs. Over the coming weeks, we will be meeting with principals, Board Chairs and Pastors, to discuss site-specific plans. Based upon the current medical status, the expectation today is for students to return to full in-person instruction in September; however, schedules may vary, and these reentry plans are subject to change, based upon the final determination, to be made by Governor Cuomo.
The health and safety of the children and adults in our schools is paramount. Health and safety considerations must always come first in every decision made and every action taken by our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools throughout the Diocese of Brooklyn. In planning for school opening, our goal is to establish best practices for ensuring a healthy and safe return to school. This will include but not limited to: health checks; healthy hygiene practices; social distancing; personal protective equipment (PPE) and face coverings; and cleaning and disinfection.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate these extraordinary times. We acknowledge that there are likely to be more questions than answers at this time, and we will continue to communicate with you in the coming weeks.
In preparation for a safe re-opening of our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools, I offer you the following prayer to share with your family:
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.
Loving Jesus, be with us,
as we prepare to open our
Catholic Academies and Parish Schools
in September. Amen
Let us all pray for a resolution to and decrease of the COVID-19 virus.
May everyone be healthy, safe, and well.
Sincerely,
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
New Uniform Shorts
SsJA will be offering new uniform shorts to be worn during September, October, May, and June! Light Gray shorts will be available for girls and dark gray shorts will be available for boys. They can be purchased from Ideal Uniforms in Brooklyn. All children are to wear the red cardigan shirt with logo of the school with this uniform. Children may wear the regular uniform at any time during the year.
Letter from the Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
310 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, New York 11215 718-965-7300 fax: 718-965-7353
July 13, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians of Catholic Academy and Parish School Students,
Catholic Academies and Parish Schools, within the Diocese of Brooklyn are planning to open in September! The Office of the Superintendent Re-Opening Task Force continues to work tirelessly to ensure that our students, faculty and staff remain healthy and have access to the most current information. Moreover, the Diocese of Brooklyn Re-Opening Task Force, led by Chief Esposito, has been most impressed with the thoroughness of the Office of the Superintendent’s Task Force’s comprehensive plan for a successful safe opening of our school buildings this Fall.
Principals have been working diligently, planning for a September re-opening. The New York State Education Department just recently shared the framework for school reopening plans with formal guidance. This framework will be disseminated later this week and will serve as a roadmap, providing schools with guidelines, expectations and mandates, to safely open our schools this fall. We also anticipate receiving information shortly from the New York State Department of Health and the Board of Regents. The Office of the Superintendent Re-Opening Task Force will continue to share all information with our schools.
Governor Cuomo will be informing us of his final decision on school openings, during the week of August 1-7. In anticipation of schools re-opening, please know there are essential elements included in all the re-opening plans being developed:
- Our goal for opening schools is a 5-day a week, in-school model, ensuring that as many students, using social distancing, can safely be in our buildings. We are aware that many buildings cannot accommodate their total student population, in a socially distant way, for a full 5 days. Plans are being developed by principals, using alternative scheduling; hybrid learning, combining in-person and remote learning.
- We are deeply committed to ensuring that each Catholic Academy and Parish School continue to provide a loving, nurturing Catholic School environment. We will stand firm on continuing academic excellence. Social-emotional learning and mental well-being has been and will continue to be a priority.
- The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff will continue to be our number one priority, with enhanced cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing protocols, and the implementation of student and faculty wellness checks and symptom screening.
- We have and will continue to advocate for the many resources our students are entitled to under State and City law, as well as through the local school districts. We will continue to stress that all public-school districts provide a nurse/medical professional to our schools and provide transportation for eligible students. Unfortunately, at this time, we are uncertain if they will be able to fulfill these requirements. We will continue to be persistent in engaging local school districts and lobbying for our students. Further updates on these issues will follow.
We have studied the re-opening plans from around the world, and across our country. We have worked collaboratively with Principals, Pastors and Academy Boards, to envision a re-opening plan that is safe and strong in academics and is Christ-centered.
As we continue to plan for September 2020, we must remember that all plans are based upon information we have presently received, never looking to compromise the health and safety of all. We will continue to work and plan, accepting changes with patience and common sense.
We thank everyone for their continued support through these unpredictable times and continue to ask for God’s blessings.
Sincerely,
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
Tell Congress ACTION ALERT
Action Alert: Tell Congress to give Catholic schools
their fair share in COVID-19 relief bill
Congress is preparing to introduce additional COVID-19 relief legislation this week, which we anticipate will include hundreds of millions of dollars for public schools. It is critical that you join the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops and the NYS Catholic Conference in urging Congress to set aside an equal percentage to assist tuition-paying families in our Catholic and other religious and independent schools.Time is of the essence, so please add your voice today by clicking the link below. It takes less than one minute to send your pre-written, editable message. Thank you and God bless you!
Superintendent’s Office Sends Summer Packets to our Students
Dear Families,
Welcome to Summer! We thank you for the time and effort you have invested in your child’s education, particularly over the past few months. Distance learning has been a challenge for all and we applaud you (and your child) for making the best of these unprecedented times. The end of the school year hasn’t been what anyone would have expected but we are happy to welcome summer and hopefully some time to relax and recharge.
As we move into summer, we would like to provide options for at-home enrichment. The summer months are an important time to relax and unwind but are also an opportunity to keep your child engaged and on track for the fall. Attached you will find summer choice boards to use with your child. It is important to note that these are NOT required. This is simply a tool to provide parents with activities and ideas for summer enrichment.
How it Works
Download a packet of choice boards that match your child’s grade level. Choice boards are grouped by grade level band based on the grade your child has completed. For example, a child finishing 1st grade will use the K-1 document. Each page of the document is one week of themed activities (6 weeks total) with different activities in categories such as reading, writing, math, STEM, etc. Each activity follows a theme for the week but can be done independently of all other activities. For example, all activities in week two are about ice cream but you do not need to complete the activities in any particular order so your child can pick and choose the activities that interest them. You can also use grade level bands above or below your child’s grade based on your child’s needs.
What do I Need?
As you view the choice boards, you will notice that they are divided by subject/ category. Materials needed are italicized in the top of the boxes. Many items will likely be available in your home or easily accessed at the supermarket. For reading activities and some of the other categories, you will need device with internet access. Texts sourced from www.myon.com can be accessed using the following login info:
School: Brooklyn Reads Elementary
Username: brooklyn
Password: read
My Child (and I) are Tired of School
Your child might be tired from weeks of distance learning and the stress of our current situation. This is not intended to add to anyone’s stress or become a point of contention in your household. To make this seem less like “school” you can:
- Empower your child to choose the activities themselves. Let them pick what they are interested in (i.e. complete all the math activities first)
- Challenge your child to see how many boxes they can complete in a week
- Designate a short (20-30 min) block of time to complete an activity and then offer free choice time
- Use the board like tic-tac-toe and try to complete a whole column or row across.
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need structured activities to “do enrichment.” Trips to the library, talking about books, taking a walk and talking about what you see, planning a trip together, cooking by following a recipe, and even going to the grocery store discussing quantity and pricing are all learning opportunities. Do what is comfortable for you and your family. Take time to relax, unwind, and enjoy your summer. We look forward to our time together in September.
Summer Instructional Plans – Nursery-PK July Plans
Summer Instructional Plans – Gr. K-1 July Plans
Summer Instructional Plans – Gr. 2-3 July Plans
Superintendent’s Letters to Parents and Students
LETTER TO PARENTS
Office of the Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
310 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, New York 11215 718-965-7300
fax: 718-965-7353
We are not alone, the Lord goes before us on our journey, and removes the
stones that paralyze us.” This is the hope that no one can take from us.
Pope Francis
June 19, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians of Catholic Academy and Parish School Students,
As has been previously shared, our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools have always had a strong relationship with our parents and guardians. This has contributed greatly to the success of our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools. The past three months have been a challenging time for families. Parents have dealt with their own jobs shifting to at-home work status or, even worse, having their jobs being eliminated altogether. Add to that, the stress of having to assist your children with their learning, which presented some additional challenges. I think the hardest part about the COVID-19 crisis has been the uncertain time frame and lack of consistent information from New York City and New York State officials.
Every day, updates and new developments are being shared by Governor Cuomo and Mayor DeBlasio. Looking ahead, we are making plans to re-open our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in Brooklyn and Queens for the upcoming academic year (2020-2021). Though we cannot determine what the health conditions will look like for the Catholic Academies and Parish Schools, as we approach September, our goal is to return to in-class instruction with all the necessary safety precautions.
A Re-Opening School Task Force has been developed and convening weekly meetings, to develop a strategic plan for the re-opening of Catholic Academies and Parish Schools in September 2020. The implementation of this strategic plan will include a variety of health and safety precautions. It is highly likely that social-distancing requirements will necessitate the need to limit the number of students in a classroom/school building at one time. The summer will allow us time to further our plans and put the necessary measures in place. Our priority is to ensure that our students, teachers, and staff can confidently return to a safe and healthy school building, conducive to teaching, learning, and faith formation.
Our Catholic Academy and Parish School buildings might be empty, but their ministry of Catholic education endures. We continue to journey together though these difficult times. We must continue to act together to ensure that our Catholic Academies and Parish Schools will remain strong and healthy both now, and when we can gather together again in the future.
In preparation for the summer months of July and August, I offer you the following prayer to share with your family:
Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family, and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
Amen.
Wishing you a safe and healthy summer.
We promise to keep you informed as plans evolve. Continue to monitor your Catholic Academy/ Parish School and Diocese of Brooklyn websites (https://catholicschoolsbq.org/).
Sincerely,
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
LETTER TO STUDENTS
June 18, 2020
Dear Students in the Catholic Academies and Parish Schools,
Wow… another school year is ending. Can you believe it?
While the past three months of the school year, have been done remotely, your Catholic education has continued. You are to be commended for your hard work and effort. Your achievements and accomplishments have been noted by your principal, teachers and parents.
Remember the start of the school year in September, the excitement of making new friends, the reconnecting with old friends, your new teacher(s) and your renewed enthusiasm to start anew?
This time of year (June 2020) is an excellent time for reflection on the closing school year. I ask you spend some time with your parents reflecting on the questions below:
- What are the two best memories you have of this school year?
- What was your favorite event/excursion/special performance this school year?
- What is the nicest thing someone did for you this school year?
- What was the nicest thing you did for a classmate?
- In what area do you feel you have improved in the most?
- What are 3 new things you’ve learned, that you didn’t know at the start of the school year?
- What’s the best piece of work/project/assignment you’ve done this year?
- What subject have you enjoyed the most? Why?
- What are 6 adjectives you could use to describe the best parts of this school year?
- What have you learned about yourself this school year?
- What are you most proud of this school year?
As you move into the summer months, I ask that you remember to set time aside for daily prayer and reflection.
I offer you this prayer to you as you begin summer 2020:
Take time to claim your strength; they are gifts of God.
Take time to have fun; it’s God’s way of teaching you your strengths.
Take time to grow yourself; only you can grow you.
Take time to trust yourself; God trusts you.
Take time to be self-reliant; it is better than being dependent.
Take time to share with others; they will bless you, and you will bless them.
Take time to have hope, you are a child of God
Best wishes for an enjoyable and safe summer!
Continued prayers!
Thomas Chadzutko
Thomas Chadzutko, Ed.D.
Superintendent ~ Catholic School Support Services
Schedule for Books and Materials
Ss. Joachim and Anne’s Schedule to Return and Pick up Books
and other materials
Tuesday – June 23, 2020
Grade 1-1 Ms. Barnard- 9:30 – 10:45 AM
Grade 1-2 Ms. Burpoe- 10:45- 11:45 AM
Nursery Mrs. Liz- 12- 1 PM
Wednesday – June 24, 2020
Grade 7 Mrs. Walden 9:30 – 10:45 AM
Grade 3-1 Ms. Reid 11AM- 12 PM
Grade 3-2 Mr. Grasso 12:15 – 1:15 PM
Thursday – June 25,2020
Grade 4-1 Ms. Farrell- 11-12 PM
Grade 4-2 Ms. Frederick 1-2PM
Grade 5- Mr. Lauro- 9:30 – 10:45 AM
Friday – June 26, 2020
Pre K -1 Ms. Cotellessa 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Pre K-2 Mrs. Cullinan 10:45 – 11:45 AM
Grade 6-2 Ms. Reisman- 12- 12:45 PM
Grade 6-1 Mrs. Savasta 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Monday, June 29, 2020
Grade 2 -Mrs. Thomas – 11- 12 PM
Computer- Ms. Pierre
Summer Letter to Parents
Dear Parents and Guardians,
May the peace of Christ be with you.
Each day has brought us close to hoping for a cure for COVID19. We pray that during the summer months, either a treatment or a vaccine will be found. Thank you, dear families, for all your support, patience and understanding during these trying times. You have been the best parents and guardians. I want to take this opportunity to thank my teachers and staff for their dedication and unceasing effort to make remote learning an effective tool for our students.
We are very proud of the Virtual Graduation for our 8th Grade on June 12th. We especially want to thank those who handled the technology for the Graduation. They went over and above to make the Graduation a precious moment for our students.
June 17 will be the last day of remote learning for Grades Nursery to 7. On June 19, there will be a Prayer Service at 10 AM for all the students, families and teachers. Students in Nursery to Grade 7 will be able to receive their Report Cards digitally. No reports will be copied.
Next week, students will be given a time to pick up and return their schoolbooks, etc.
Children who must go to Summer School will be given information to attend or a packet to do over the summer. All children will be given a packet to do over the summer to be prepared for the next grade.
Please remember we will be waiting patiently for our students’ return in September. Be healthy, safe, and blessed.
With love and prayers,
Mrs. Freebes, Teachers and Staff