News - December 2020 RSS Feed

The Archdiocese of Indianapolis recommends that families continue to report positive COVID cases to the school. I will share this data with the Archdiocese and the local health department. Please inform Mrs. Tucker of any student positive cases. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Our goal is to return to the school building on Monday, January 4. It is very important that we continue to do our part in practicing social distancing over the break so that we can return to school in a safe manor. Please continue to keep social gatherings small and wear a mask. If you are traveling over the Holidays, it is strongly recommended that you quarantine for 14 days before returning to school. So far we have done such a good job of keeping COVID from spreading in our school and I hope that we can continue to work together to stop the spread.

I want to give a shout to our teachers for their hard work and dedication during these past few weeks. They are working so hard to create meaningful lessons and keep the students engaged in learning. Even though students are not present in the building, I continue to witness wonderful things happening in the virtual classrooms. I know this is not what anyone signed up for, but our teachers are definitely stepping up to the challenge and I couldn’t be more proud.

The Faculty and Staff would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the wonderful school year that we have had so far. We know it has been a challenging year, but as a school community we have worked together and made the year a success. We want to thank each of you for the support and cooperation that you have given to St. Anthony School. St. Anthony’s is blessed in so many ways, and we are thankful and rejoice in our everyday blessings. The Faculty and Staff hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year. May your heart be filled with love and hope this holiday season for the wonderful gift of Jesus and the joy He brings to our lives. St. Anthony Faculty and Staff

Friday, December 18 is the last day of school before Christmas Break. Normally this is a ½ day and day of celebration for students and teachers. While this day will look different, we hope to still celebrate and make the day special for students. Teachers will have fun activities planned for this day. Students will finish by 12:00 on this day. Lunches will still be served from 11:00-12:00 for those taking part in our Drive-Through Lunch Program.

Christmas Break begins after school on Friday, December 18 and goes through January 1. School will resume on January 4th and we hope that we will all be returning to the school building.

First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to our students, parents, and teachers for all of your support and hard work during these challenging times. It is wonderful to be a part of a community that rallies together when times are tough. I am so thankful for everyone on this journey and I pray that you and your family are doing well. We definitely miss seeing the students in the building. We miss their smiling faces and the chatter and the laughter in the hallways, classrooms, and cafeteria. As I walk the halls, it is great to hear the teachers teaching and seeing students on the screen learning and interacting. Even though students are not physically in the building, I know learning is taking place and everyone is making sure it is a success. I am very impressed with our attendance during virtual learning. We have had very few absences during virtual learning. Students are checking in and attending Google Meets. This is key in ensuring that students continue to progress academically and stay on top of daily work. Currently, we are scheduled to return on January 4th and we are certainly looking forward to the time when we are together again. I feel confident that when we all return together, it will be with a greater sense of belonging and renewed perspective on being a part of St. Anthony School. I want to reiterate my gratitude for your continued support and wish you and your family good health and good spirits throughout the holiday season.

I want to give a huge shout out to our cafeteria staff for continuing to serve lunches during this time. I am thrilled that we are providing this opportunity for our families. We have over 60 students picking up lunches on a daily basis. If you have not taken advantage of this opportunity, please consider doing so. Lunches are still provided free of charge. If you were not able to place your order for this week, please contact Mrs. Tucker and she can place the order for you. We will send out the order form for next week on Thursday afternoon.

Please, REMEMBER, WE ARE ON OUR OWN AND YOU NEED TO LOOK FOR ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL for closings and delays. You may watch WDRB, check our website, check the Parent Facebook Page, or call the school phone answering machine. An alert will also be sent out through our Jupiter system. If we are on a 2-hour delay, the doors of the school will open at 8:00 AM, but school will begin at 9:50 AM. If the school is on a 2-hour delay, then the Preschool classes will still meet. Doors to the Pre School building will open at 8:00 AM. If school is closed due to inclement weather, virtual learning will take place for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Preschool students will not have class if school is closed. If school is in session or goes on a delay and you are uncomfortable with driving conditions, you always have the right to keep your child at home. Ultimately, you have the final decision if you want your child to attend school.

Our 8th graders spent the last few weeks of Art Class creating murals for our school community. We are so proud of them for using their creativity to share positive messages at a time when we all need it.

Our deepest sympathy goes to Laura Munson and her family on the loss of Laura’s mother, Barbara Munson. Please keep Ms. Munson and her family in your prayers during this difficult time.

Children will access their special area classes through Google Classroom. Directions for the assignment will be posted and students need to complete on a regular basis. Special area teachers may not do a Google Meet for classes.

Make sure that all children check in for attendance by 8:00 AM. It is important that children mute microphones when entering a Google Meet. The teacher will let them know if they need to unmute. The camera should be turned on during a Google Meet. Children should not use the chat feature unless they are answering a question or need assistance. Children should find a location that is conducive to learning with little distractions. Children should check their emails every morning and periodically throughout the day.

We made it through our first two days of virtual learning! We were able to work through some minor hiccups these past two days, but overall we feel it was a success. Each day will bring new challenges, however as a team, we will work through it together. Please make sure to stay in contact with your child’s teacher for any questions or concerns to ensure your child has a successful virtual learning experience.