St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School

Dear Parents, 

Attached is a letter from the CSO superintendent Dr. Matt Vereecke with information for you on Bishop Burn's announcement earlier today that our diocesan schools will continue to be closed through May 1, 2020. This extension coincides with Governor Greg Abbott's statewide executive order issued today.

Please know that our teachers are working diligently this week to provide engaging and interactive lessons for your children beginning Monday, April 6 and will continue until we can return to campus. You will receive an email from Andrew Price, our Instructional Technology Specialist, this afternoon with more information on the next phase of our distance learning program, including the use of Zoom for direct and interactive instruction. 

In the meantime, continue to check the parents' page on the website at www.staschool.org/parents to access the attendance form, Moodle, Classlink, information from our counselors, and our daily prayer. Feel free to reach out to your child's teachers, our principals, or me if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Dr. Patrick Magee
President

Dear STA Parents,

Like so many schools around the country, we will begin our transition to distance learning tomorrow. Thank you for picking up supplies on Saturday, and a huge thank you to FOSTA and my staff for executing a challenging project seamlessly.

Distance learning is a brave new world for all of us – one we’ve entered with little warning. This is one of the most novel – and disruptive – things about life in this pandemic culture: parents and children are forced to adjust to a new rhythm of school and work from home. I know you may have many questions about academics, attendance, technology, and grades. 

But allow me to share a few thoughts which I believe supersede academics:

Our kids are just as scared as we are right now. They see and hear everything that is going on and feel the constant anxiety and tension that we are all experiencing. Remember, they have never experienced anything like this before. In the coming weeks, you may see an increase in behavioral issues, either in opposition, meltdowns, or tantrums. This is normal and can be expected. Perhaps from a child’s perspective, the initial thought of having unexpected time off from school sounds amazing, the reality of the situation of not seeing friends and being isolated will be difficult for them.

So please, love and comfort your children. It is what they need now more than anything. Assure them that it’s all going to be fine and we will get through this together. This may mean that you evaluate your schedules. While “school time” is very important, so is taking a walk, baking cookies, or watching movies together.

Please do not worry about your children regressing in school. Everyone in our community is in the same boat. When we go back to Kenwood Avenue or Mockingbird Lane, we will meet every child wherever they are! STA teachers are the best, and this is what they do.

I firmly believe that your child’s mental health is more important than their academic progress over the next few weeks. Distance Learning should come second to their health and welfare. We’re here to support you!

God Bless,
Patrick

Dear STA Families,

Following the executive order issued by Governor Greg Abbott, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School will be closed through April 3, 2020. This includes all activities on campus, including the use of the gymnasiums, playgrounds, and athletic fields. We have updated our distance learning plan to reflect the change in date and are working on the delivery of new content material if the school continues to stay closed in April.

Today, the teachers and staff packed up books and belongings from student lockers and cubbies on both campuses. We will be passing these boxes out carpool-style on Saturday, March 21, beginning at 8 AM at the Lower School and 10 AM at the Upper School through the front Upper School carpool line. All the details will be posted in the Week at a Glance tomorrow, including pick-up date and time for those still out of town.

Please read your Week At A Glance each Friday. That is where we will communicate most of the information about calendar and activity changes, cancellations, and postponements. We are also working diligently to reorganize the Parents tab on the website, adding more resources and information for you as it becomes available.

We understand everyone is adapting to a new normal at home. Teachers and administrators will be available beginning Monday morning via email to help as we navigate this together. Again, we are very thankful for our STA community and pray for the continued good health of all our students and their families.

Sincerely,

Dr. Patrick Magee

Dear St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School Families,

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the PEACE of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

First and foremost, we hope you have had some downtime to focus on your health and the health of your family. It is hard to believe how fast everything revolving around this current situation is evolving.

I wanted to let you know we are working diligently behind the scenes to deliver impactful instruction during our closure, however long that will be. I promise we are doing our very best in this unchartered territory. I humbly ask for your patience and support as we begin to deliver instruction electronically.

We are about to embark on a very different educational journey. Our current plan for using Moodle as our Distance Learning platform is well organized and will meet our needs for the initial rollout of “e-learning” starting Monday.

Before Spring Break, all teachers prepared two weeks of online review lessons in the event of a temporary school closure. These lessons will keep students engaged in study while we finalize plans for conducting classes online, if and when needed. Teachers are currently training to develop pre-recorded video lesson plans and activities to cover the standards and objectives not yet taught. The administration is meeting daily to finalize procedures for instruction, student practice, assessment, and communications with teachers.

The Distance Learning lessons will be open and available on Monday, March 23rd, on our Learning Management System, Moodle, which can be found using this link. You may also access the Moodle page from the Parents tab on the school website.

When students go to the Moodle page, they should click on the blue words “Distance Learning” to see grade- level activities, folders, and links. Students in PK-5th may download and print documents to complete or record answers on notebook paper with the assignment’s title. The process for turning in work will be communicated to parents next week. Middle School students are familiar with submitting work online and should follow the directions in the assignments for turning in completed work.

If you are having trouble accessing Moodle or have technology-related questions, please email Leslie Reeves for PK – 2nd at lreeves@staschool.org and Andrew Price for 3rd – 8th grade at aprice@staschool.org. Your teachers will be available by email beginning Monday during school hours.

Additionally, we are in the process of finalizing a locker/desk items pick-up plan. I have ordered enough boxes for the entire school student body. We will pack up all student books and belongings, and distribute the items via a carline, similar to a grocery pick-up line. Our goal is to have times and locations confirmed and communicated to you by early next week. Again, I want to reiterate that the lessons posted on Moodle for Monday are review, not new content.

Please continue to adhere to preventative measures as recommended by public health officials. We pray that the peace of Jesus enters our hearts during this trying and stressful time. Thank you for your continued cooperation and flexibility as we navigate this together.

Sincerely,
Dr. Patrick Magee

Dear STA Families,
As we continue to receive more information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the U.S. State Department, and Dallas County officials, our response to how we can ensure the safety and well-being of our community also continues to evolve.

We have decided to transition to a distance learning environment for Monday, March 23 - Friday, March 27, 2020. No activities will take place at either campus during this time, including DPL sports, field trips, meetings, or programs. A decision for all scheduled events beyond March 27 will be determined at a later time.

This was a decision also made by the leaders at St. Monica, St. Rita, Christ the King, and Jesuit. We all recognize the burden that this potentially places on our families. The goal is to minimize the need to gather in large groups and spend prolonged time near one another. Our actions are consistent with the recommendations of leading health officials on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.

An email will be sent with more detailed information about distance learning, and access to the distance learning modules on Moodle will be available at the end of next week. Please try to enjoy time with your family next week, whether you are here or traveling.

Again, we appreciate your flexibility and cooperation at this time. Please know that we continue to keep the nation and everyone affected by COVID-19 in our prayers.

Sincerely,
Patrick Magee, Lauren Roberts, and Jen Watts

Dear STA Families,
Just a couple of updates today as we head out for the Spring Break holiday.

Distance Learning
In the event of school closure immediately after Spring Break, we will send a detailed email with instructions on how to access and navigate our distance learning contingency plan. This email will contain all the information you will need. Our teachers are prepared to begin distance learning should this plan be activated, and families will be able to access assignments and recommended learning resources through Moodle.

Student Support and Communication
Faculty and staff are here to support our students and their families during this ever-evolving situation. We appreciate the importance of open lines of communication. Send your questions or concerns to:

• Upper School - jwatts@staschool.org
• Lower School - lroberts@staschool.org

Information will be communicated to our families as soon as it becomes available. Communication regarding any change to the school schedule will be delivered to the community via our emergency text/email blasts.

Spring Break Travel
Last week we asked that you inform us of your travel plans by completing this online travel reporting form. If you have previously completed the form but have since changed your plans and will not be traveling, please complete the form again using the dates of Spring Break and indicate your change in plans in the destinations box. Again, consistent with CDC recommendations, students, faculty and staff, and their immediate close contacts who are traveling on a cruise and to areas designated as a Level 2 (Alert) or Level 3 (Warning) will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return from travel.

Access the travel survey here: https://www.staschool.org/travelsurvey

This uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 is an ever-evolving situation. Working together as a community of faith and learning, we will be able to journey through these upcoming days and weeks in a spirit of flexibility and partnership. Please join us in praying for all those affected by this health crisis.

Sincerely,
Patrick Magee, Jen Watts, Lauren Roberts

Dear Parents,

We want to update you on the status of STA as it pertains to coronavirus (COVID-19). We are planning to finish out the week of school tomorrow with our normally scheduled half day, as we are not aware of nor have there been any confirmed cases of coronavirus at or connected to the STA community.

We will remain in consistent communication with the Diocese of Dallas Catholic Schools Office and the Dallas County Health Department as well as continue reviewing the recommendations from the CDC guidelines as we monitor all aspects of the COVID-19 situation and will update you on any implications to student learning beyond Spring Break.

The Diocese has created a webpage that you can monitor at www.csodallas.org/precautions. Also, we also have included an attachment our counselors have found useful about how to talk to kids about the coronavirus for your reference.

We continue to keep all who have been impacted by COVID-19 in our prayers.

Sincerely,
Patrick Magee, Jen Watts, and Lauren Roberts

Dear STA Community,

I want to reach out to update you on the current situation concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19) and our school. We are aware that St. Rita and Ursuline have closed for the rest of the week. At this time, we have no information that would indicate our school needs to close. Because this remains an evolving situation, we will continue to keep you informed regarding changes in policy and procedures pertaining to our school based on directives from our local health departments, the CDC, and the Diocese, including a potential closure of our school.

In the case of extended school closure, we do have distance learning plans prepared for our students. These activities will be made public and accessed through our online learning platform, Moodle, at the time of closure.

Spring Break is next week, and we know many of our families are planning to travel domestically and abroad. At this time, we do not intend to enforce quarantines for families traveling over the break, but we do ask that you self-quarantine, according to CDC travel guidelines. These guidelines recommend a quarantine period of 14 days from the time an individual leaves an area with widespread or ongoing community spread (Level 2 and 3 Travel Health Notice).
Please know that if at any time you feel your child(ren) needs to stay home for an extended period, we will work with each family to resolve any attendance issues due to self-quarantine.

As we stated on Monday (see attached email), the following preventative actions reduce the spread of any respiratory virus:

• Keep your children home if they are sick. We will send students home when exhibiting signs of illness. Pick up your child promptly and follow the guidelines for determining when they can come back to school.
• Encourage frequent hand washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Remember that hand washing is the most reliable way to prevent the spread of disease.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands; germs spread this way.•
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve (not your hands).
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

We also encourage all parents to monitor the CDC and Texas Department of Health and Human Services websites as they provide the most up-to-date information.

Thank you for your continued cooperation as we prioritize the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. We continue to offer our most heartfelt prayers to those who have been severely impacted by COVID-19. Stay healthy and have a relaxing Spring Break.

Sincerely,
Patrick Magee

Adding the ClassLink Browswer Extension will be required in order to access Moodle through ClassLink. Please install the extension when prompted to do so. Mac Users: We have found that Chrome appears to be the easiest web browswer to install this extension.  

Please email Julie Hegarty or Andrew Price if you are unable to download and add the extension.

No, per Diocesan policy, we will not be able to playback any recorded Zoom session. Again, all Zoom sessions are for reinforcement, tutoring, and/or assessment of concepts already delivered through content posted on the Distance Learning Moodle page. Assignments are not based on Zoom sessions.

If your child’s teacher scheduled a small group or tutorial session for his or her class, she/he will send an invitation to join the meeting to your email address. Students do not need an account to join the meeting but simply click on the link. These Zoom sessions are for reinforcement, tutoring, and/or assessment of concepts already delivered through content posted on the Distance Learning Moodle page. 
 
Please take a moment to read the new policy located in Section 231 of the Student and Parent Handbook on Technology Acceptable Use Policy: Zoom Video Conferencing.

Padlet is an application to create an online bulletin board that your teacher can use to display information for any topic. You can add images, links, videos, columns for sorting or refining organization, and more.

• Flipgrid is a social learning platform for all students
• Teachers will create grids and add topics for our students to use and access
• Grids are the meeting place for your classroom
• Flipgrid is 100% free for all educators, learners, and families. Engage and empower every voice in your classroom or at home by recording and sharing short, awesome videos...together!

https://blog.flipgrid.com/news/remotelearning

General guidelines about social distancing include:

• maintain distance between you and other individuals (typically at least six feet or two meters);
• do not share any spoons, glasses, chopsticks or other utensils and wash hands frequently;
• limit nonessential travel;
• reduce group sizes, and
• avoid crowded locations.

For further information about social distancing, please see this article by the New York Times.

Questions on technology or accessing Moodle or ClassLink, please contact Leslie Reeves for Lower School issues and Andrew Price for Upper School issues.

Please contact your child's teacher for any information about tests and assignments during this period.

Following the new restrictions announced on Tuesday, March 31 by Governor Greg Abbott and from our Bishop, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School will be closed through May 1, 2020. This includes all activities on campus, including the use of the gymnasium, playground, and athletic fields. We have updated our distance learning curriculum to reflect the change in date and are working on new content material if the school continues to stay closed indefinitely.

If a member of a household is placed on quarantine order (QO) no member of the household will be allowed to leave their place of residence or quarantine facility for 14 days. We will work closely with the family to support student learning during that time. If this happens, you must inform the appropriate adminitrator at either campus. (contact information)

• Talk to your child directly in a calm way. A calm adult encourages a calm child
• Answer questions in a way that reassures and not scares them
• Ask them what they know about the coronavirus and give them the correct facts. Adults are there to help keep them healthy by being vigilant about handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes
• Gently correct misinformation. Separate imagination from reality
• Allow your child(ren) to express feelings
   

  CDC: Talking with Children about Coronavirus Disease 2019
  CBS This Morning Podcast: What Kids Needs to Know About the Coronavirus
  National Association of School Psychologists: Talking to Children About COVID-19

Click the Moodle button at the top of the page. If it asks you to login, simply login as a guest. Watch the video in the right hand collumn of this page below the attendance buttons to see step by step instructions.

No. You can access all distance learning materials from any device. Ipads, smart phones, laptops all will work for distance learning for every grade.