Hawk Happenings!

I hope you are having a wonderful week. The kids are settling in nicely. Everyone is doing a fantastic job with masks, hand washing, and sanitizing. We are still doing frequent reminders about spacing/social distancing, but the kids are so excited to see each other, I think that is normal. We are making sure to take all necessary/recommended precautions. It was fabulous seeing all of those smiling eyes (since the masks cover their mouths) yesterday and today. How wonderful to have the kids back with all of us and learning, in a safe environment.

We will continue to watch the numbers, but we are hopeful that we may be able to add the last small group (7th/8th grade) as early as the middle of next week (waiting 7 days from our first opening). The 7th/8th grade is just 12 students and will be the last group to complete our school re-opening plan. They are currently doing Zoom and are anxious to be back with their teachers.

Speaking of Zoom, since the announcement about the return to school last Friday, we have had just a small handful of families ask about having us do Zoom for full remote instruction for their child at home, while we are back on campus. We are working through each situation individually, based on the circumstances, but this is typically not feasible. A teacher who is fully engaged in teaching a class of students in front of them at school cannot be expected to offer a full remote learning environment at the same time. This would require them to change the way that they teach (to stay in what part of the room), constantly be adjusting the camera, and be interacting thought the computer and webcam, while also trying to work with the 12 - 22 students in front of them. We are happy to try to Zoom a class or two (reading and math) if possible and provide work (in the other subjects) for the student to complete at home, but a full remote learning environment is not possible when we are back in school. Please know that we sympathize with the different situations you are dealing with, but we have a limited staff and there are certain limitations to what we can provide. If you have any questions about this policy, please email me at kdempsey@holyrosarybilingual.org. Some parents have asked what happens if our case numbers increase after Labor Day. If there is an increase in cases (beyond 75/100,000) for 6 - 7 days, the health department could tell all schools to go remote for a period of time again. If that happens, teachers will do full remote and all students will be on their Chromebooks (except for our Pre-K and K "campers"). For now, the case counts have been in the 20s daily, so that is great news!

One last item...the crazy wildfires. Please keep those around us in your thoughts and prayers as our region battles these wildfires. We have had people in our community have to evacuate homes, people have lost power and internet, some have not been able to get to school due to road closures, and the list goes on. We are certainly living in a difficult time with the virus, school changes, fires, and so much more. It is important, now more than ever, for us to remember that the one constant in our lives is God. He never leaves us. So, please take this time to reconnect or deepen your connection with Him. A good way to do this is to join us for school mass tomorrow (Thursday) at 3 pm. Students are welcome with an adult. 8th grade will be hosting us this week and it will be held in the church. I hope to see you there.

Blessings,

Katie Dempsey

• Pre-K and K should be dropped off between 7:30 and 8 am. Pre-K cannot be dropped off before 7:30 am. Pick up is from 2:30 - 3 pm. They MUST be picked up by 3. Please park in the lot near the Food Bank to drop off and pick up.
• Grades 1 - 6 (and 7/8 when they arrive) should be dropped off between 7:45 and 8:15 am. They will be allowed in the building beginning at 7:45 am. Pick up is from 3 - 3:15. They MUST be picked up by 3:15.
• ****CHANGE IN AFTERNOON PICK UP AREA: To encourage better social distancing, the students will be in the field by grade level. Cars will still pull in from the stoplight, drive by the school building, and wind down by the parish hall and around by the food bank. Students will be loaded into cars from the field as the cars come around the corner near the Parish Hall. Then, you just go straight to exit near the church. This should prevent a big back up. Also, K and Pre-K parents who are parking for pick up will be done by 3 so this should not interfere with them. Again, thank you for your patience. We will be directing traffic to help us all learn.