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The Pima County Health Dept. has strongly urged online learning at least through Labor Day. Our Mother of Sorrows is following these guidelines in an effort to keep our students, faculty, and families healthy. All students will begin online academic instruction on August 17th.
The state and local authorities have indicated that schools should have allowances for students to come onto campus in order to access the free and reduced lunch program, to access internet, and for the children of essential workers to have a place to take their online classes. Based on the guidelines, Our Mother of Sorrows will provide limited spaces for students in K-8 to access the online instruction on-campus beginning August 17th. Students using this service will be required to do the following:
Students will be arranged in classrooms, and an adult will monitor the online instruction for the students in grades K-8. The day will be structured to include:
During the week of August 10th, times will be scheduled for families to check-out Chromebooks, textbooks, and other learning supplies. All families will need to arrange a time to come and get the learning materials for the start of the year. In order to determine the number of monitors needed as well as the number of Chromebooks that need to be checked-out, we need all families to complete a survey by Wednesday, August 5th. In order to select the on-campus arrangement for online learning, you must complete the survey and meet one of the following criteria:
Here is the survey: https://forms.gle/vmhJ7yTJZv1yHKdt9 For students in preschool, on-campus learning will begin on August 17th. Preschools and childcare facilities are licensed through the Arizona Department of Health Services, and they are permitted to operate. The preschool will follow the guidelines as outlined on the pandemic plan. Can you believe we are less than one month away from starting the 2020/2021 school year?
Yesterday, Governor Ducey made an announcement related to schools. The announcement stated that schools and districts will receive additional guidance on August 7th. Following the additional guidance, an update will be sent to parents. Currently, on-campus learning is still scheduled to begin on August 17th for all students, and we are still offering a full online option for families who would like to participate in online learning. The school will continue to offer both options, and most of our families have already indicated whether they are choosing the online or on-campus learning option for the first trimester. In order for families to determine whether online or on-campus learning is the best option for your family, we ask that families notify Mrs. Lanik at clanik@omosschool.com by August 12th if you want to change your learning option from on-campus to online or from online to on-campus. On our website, families can review the full plan for the school related to COVID-19. Many of the pertinent details are in the COVID-19 re-enty plan, but there are also details in the Parent Handbook. I encourage all our families to review both these documents in their entirety since they include critical information for parents and students. The information related to the procedures due to the pandemic are subject to change based on the recommendations from the Diocese of Tucson, Pima Health Department, and the CDC. Thank you for your patience as we try to navigate this unprecedented situation. During this time when live Masses are impacted by the pandemic, I stumbled upon a weekly Children's Liturgy of the Word. Each Sunday, Catholic TV airs the Children's Liturgy of the Word hosted by Miss Heidi. The Liturgy incorporates sign language, songs, prayers, and God's Word into an engaging 20-25 minute program, and it can help children to understand the message in the Gospel. It is aired live at 5:30 a.m., but after that, families can watch the program at their desired time. The link for the weekly videos can be found here: http://www.catholictv.org/shows/childrens-liturgy
I hope you are all having a peaceful Sunday. We hope that you are having a safe summer! A few weeks ago, I sent out a revised calendar, but in light of Governer Ducey's order, we have revised the calendar again. Governor Ducey is requiring all schools to delay opening their on-campus learning until August 17th. In order to meet this requirement, we are moving our first day of school until Monday, August 17th for all students.
In order to move the start date back, we have revised the calendar. Here are some of the important changes:
We appreciate your flexibility with these changes. Our hope is to provide a safe learning environment for our students, and we will continue to follow the recommendations from Pima Health, Department of Catholic Schools, and the Governor's orders as we develop our plans including our school calendar for when classes are scheduled. In order to provide continuity in the learning, the school calendar has been changed for this year. For all the details for the school calendar, please visit the school calendar page.
Additionally, if the school is required to close for a short 2-3 day closure, we will count the break as days off from school and modify the spring semester by either shortening a break or adding days to the end of the school year. As we begin the Triduum and prepare for Easter, I pray that all our families are healthy and safe. Normally, the students engage in many prayers in preparation for Holy Week. As families, there are many ways that we can engage our families in this holy season even though we cannot go to Church and be together as one community.
Holy Thursday Today is the day that we celebrate the 1st Eucharist when Jesus shares in the Last Supper with his disciples. We also celebrate when Jesus institutes the Sacrament of Holy Orders, and the Holy Thursday Mass includes the washing of the feet. The Holy Thursday Mass does not have a sending. Parishes traditionally offer prayer time before the Blessed Sacrament because Jesus prayed in the garden until he was arrested. Today is a beautiful day, and it is the beginning of the Triduum. As a family, here are a few ideas that you can do at home to celebrate Holy Thursday at home:
Good Friday Today is the day that we pray and remember that Jesus died on the cross for us. We are called to reflect and pray on the fact that Jesus endured much suffering as He was condemned to death, carried His cross, and was crucified. As a family, here are a few ideas that you can do at home to celebrate Good Friday at home:
Holy Saturday, The Easter Vigil Following the crucifixion of Jesus, the world was quiet. On Holy Saturday, we wait for Jesus to rise from the dead. The Easter Vigil Mass is traditionally the Mass when the Catholic Church welcomes new members into the Church through the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation. The Mass begins in darkness, and Mass includes many readings which describe God's love and salvation for His people from Genesis to Jesus. Then, after waiting since Lent began, we finally sing the Alleluia which is when the Church changes from darkness to light! As a family, here are a few ideas that you can do at home to celebrate the Easter Vigil at home:
Please know that you will all be in my prayers, and I am anxious for the day that we can all be on campus together again! We recognize that remote learning is a new process for everyone. The teachers and administration want to see everyone be successful, and we do not want the format for the learning to negatively impact a student's grades. Below is an outline for how the teachers will grade during this third trimester:
Work Expectations
Academic Grades in K-4
Academic Grades in 5-8
Grade 5-8 Retakes During Remote Learning
On behalf of our faculty and staff, we want to send our prayers to our students and families. We miss having you on campus, and we are praying for your health and safety during this period of remote learning. We cannot wait for the laughter of our students to fill the halls once again! Current Context
Today, Governor Ducey announced that all schools in Arizona will be closed through April 10th. Beginning Monday, March 23rd, we will begin remote learning for students. The date that we are scheduled to return is April 13th, but that is subject to change based on how the pandemic unfolds. The end of the remote learning will be determined in consultation with Fr. Arnold, the Office of Catholic Schools, and the health department. The school is regularly coordinating with Fr. Arnold, the Office of Catholic Schools, and the health department since this is a rapidly evolving situation. Please be aware that as information surfaces we will communicate changes to families as quickly as possible. Picking Up School Supplies and Chromebooks If you need to come to school to pick up a Chromebook or your child’s school supplies, you are welcome to come at the following times:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B44AEA823A0FD0-chromebook Information for Family Support If you have not already done so, please complete this brief survey as soon as possible so that we can work with individual families who might need special support during this time. https://forms.gle/x8NXYs9Xa7fjBiyo6 Families Who Do Not Have Internet At Home Cox is offering internet deals for families in Tucson who do not currently have internet. If you are a family who does not have internet at home, please contact Crystal Lanik at clanik@omosschool.com if you would like for the school to share your information with Cox so they can discuss this opportunity with you. If you have not already completed the survey, please complete the family support survey so we can help support you and your child. If families need to pick up school work, the office will be available each Monday from 3:30-6:00 p.m. to pick up school work each week. We ask that families drop off the work from the week prior at that time as well. Procedures for Remote Learning to Begin Monday, March 23, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving quickly, and will monitor changes to the plan as needed. The school closure applies to all students grades preschool to 8th. Remote Learning Procedure for K-8 In order to continue the education for the students in the event of a school closure, the teachers will have online learning opportunities. Families can communicate with teachers via email, and students in grades 3-8 can communicate with their teacher via Google Classroom.
COVID-19 Diagnosis for PK-8 Should a student or family member be diagnosed with COVID-19, please let the school know. Front Office Closed for PK-8 If the school is closed, the office is closed. Based on the recommendations from Bishop, please contact the following people with your questions or needs:
The National School Lunch Program contacted us this week, and we will be able to provide the breakfast and lunch program to all families during the school closure. The breakfast and lunch program is free for all students regardless of income during the school closure. If you would like for your child to receive the lunch and breakfast, please order the meal in Renweb by 10:00 a.m. the day prior to ensure that the staff has time to plan to cook the proper amount of food. Food will be available to pick-up food from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Students will be able to pick up lunch and the breakfast for the following day during that time. Current Context
On Sunday, Governor Ducey announced that all schools in the state would close effective immediately. On Monday, Bishop Weisenburger announced that all Masses and Church gatherings would be suspended until at least April 6th. The students are still scheduled for spring break this week, March 16th. Beginning Monday, March 23rd, we will begin remote learning for students. The end of the remote learning will be determined in consultation with Fr. Arnold, the Office of Catholic Schools, and the health department. The school is regularly coordinating with Fr. Arnold, the Office of Catholic Schools, and the health department since this is a rapidly evolving situation. Please be aware that as information surfaces we will communicate changes to families as quickly as possible. Information for Family Support Please complete this brief survey as soon as possible so that we can work with individual families who might need special support during this time. https://forms.gle/x8NXYs9Xa7fjBiyo6 Procedures for Remote Learning to Begin Monday, March 23, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving quickly, and will monitor changes to the plan as needed. The school closure applies to all students grades preschool to 8th. Remote Learning Procedure for K-8 In order to continue the education for the students in the event of a school closure, the teachers will have online learning opportunities. Families can communicate with teachers via email, and students in grades 3-8 can communicate with their teacher via Google Classroom.
COVID-19 Diagnosis for PK-8 Should a student or family member be diagnosed with COVID-19, please let the school know. Device Check-out for K-8 If families need a device so that children can complete online work, 1 Chromebook can be signed out per family. Families will need to sign an agreement for the device, and the office will arrange for the pick-up of the device. Please make sure to complete the survey related to the need for family support so we can assist with this coordination. Families with No Internet at Home If families have not internet access at home, please make sure to complete the survey related to the need for family support so we can assist with this coordination. Front Office Closed for PK-8 If the school is closed, the office is closed. Based on the recommendations from Bishop, please contact the following people with your questions or needs:
National School Lunch Program for K-8 Due to the fact that the entire state has closed their schools, the National School Lunch Program is working at the state level to identify the schools that will remain open to serve lunch. Once we receive the information, we will share the details with families. Please make sure to complete the survey related to the need for family support so we can assist with this coordination and sharing the school that will be serving lunch closest to your home. Supporting Children During the Pandemic Social Distancing, what does that mean? There has been so much discussion surrounding the importance of social distancing as a method to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Social distance refers to the importance of separating from the larger community. As schools close, it is important that families work together to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by washing hands, keeping a distance from others, and avoiding large groups of people. This weekend, there was an article in the “Washington Post” which presented simulations representing the way that social distancing can slow and prevent the spread of the virus. https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/ Talking to Children about COVID-19 As the events surrounding COVID-19 evolve rapidly, it is important that we speak with our children. Some general guidelines for speaking with our children include the following. Depending on the age of your children will determine how much information you share; however, some general recommendations include:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smart-parenting-smarter-kids/202003/how-talk-kids-and-teens-about-the-coronavirus https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/ Power of Prayer With so much uncertainty, we can forget that we always have the power of prayer. During the season of Lent, I invite all our families to spent time in prayer for those impacted by COVID-19. One great prayer that families can pray during our time away from campus is the Rosary. As a Marian school, our students regularly pray the Rosary, and it is a wonderful prayer that can bring peace and clarity during times of trouble. https://dynamiccatholic.com/5-million-rosaries/10-reasons-why-pray-the-rosary If you would like a step-by-step guide on how to pray the Rosary, here is a guide: https://dynamiccatholic.com/5-million-rosaries/how-to-pray-the-rosary/ Bishop’s Announcement Regarding Masses and Public Gatherings As of Monday, 3/16/2020, all parish-based public gatherings are either cancelled or suspended. These directives are in place for the next three weeks, until April 6, 2020, at which time they will be reviewed and either brought to a close or extended. This effectively puts us a “ Level 3” in our response to the Coronavirus challenge and includes, but is not limited to:
I believe these directives, while a hardship and deeply regrettable for us all, are sensible, substantially consistent with directives for the other Catholic diocese in Arizona, and in line with the spirit of public health directives. -Bishop Weisenburger School Scheduled Events Many families have been planning for special events that happen in the spring to include the middle school play, 8th grade promotion, the preschool celebration, and the kindergarten celebration. The school administration is coordinating with Fr. Arnold, the Office of Catholic Schools, and the Health Department to make decisions regarding these events. The decision to cancel or modify any of the events would be based solely on the health and safety of the students and families. At this time, the Office of Catholic Schools is strongly recommending that all events be suspended or cancelled until further notice. There is no way to know how the pandemic will be impacting Tucson in May, so the special events may be cancelled this year. In the event that the recommendations from the Office of Catholic Schools changes, Fr. Arnold and I have plans in place which would allow for modified versions of the special events. Some of the options include limiting the people in attendance and videotaping the event so that other family members can participate remotely. Sacraments Students have been preparing for 1st Eucharist and Confirmation this year, and the dates for the sacraments are this spring. We realize that families may be traveling from out of town to be present, and every effort will be made to provide families with updates related to potential changes in the date of a sacrament. Any changes to the date of 1st Eucharist and/or Confirmation would be communicated by Fr. Arnold or Bishop Weisenburger. At this time, the two sacrament dates are still scheduled; however, it is likely that there may be some changes in the events based on the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus this spring. Some of the changes may include limiting the number of people in attendance and videotaping so that others can be remotely present. There is a chance that the dates for the sacraments may be moved based on the recommendations of the Fr. Arnold and Bishop Weisenburger. Today the report cards went home for all the students in grade K-8. Please review your child's academic progress, and plan to return the signed envelope to your child's homeroom teacher by Friday, March 6th. Parents can keep the copy of the report card at home. Summer will be here before we know it! This year, Our Mother of Sorrows is offering summer camps for students in preschool through grade 6. The camps are one week long. Families are welcome to register for the half day and full day options. The preschool camp will explore the ocean, the desert, fire, as well as the Vacation Bible School Camp entitled Rocky Railway. This camp is for students ages 3 to 5. Each week will include music, stories, special guests, messy fun, art, and more! The camps for students entering first to sixth grade will have sessions that focus on STEM, music, art, paper crafts and poetry, lego building and design, and the Vacation Bible School Camp entitled Rocky Railway. All the camps are run by the faculty and staff at the school. We hope to see you there! Important Dates:
Feb. 28: Report Cards sent home March 6: Family Event, Soup and Sacrifice March March 8: Family Fun Event March 16-20: Spring Break |
Mrs. VuMrs. Vu is the principal of Our Mother of Sorrows. This blog contains information regarding the exciting things that happen at Our Mother of Sorrows. Archives
July 2020
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