All Saints Catholic School Communicator
Friday, January 15, 2021

All Saints Catholic School Communicator  - Friday, January 15, 2021 

Greetings All Saints Families!  

Eighteen weeks of school completed! We are going strong!  MAP assessments are going well and continue to show positive on-track growth for the majority of our students.  

Covid -19 in New Bedford now surpasses MA state averages, with more than 110 cases reported daily and over 15 % positivity - nearly double the state average! Some of the surrounding towns are even higher. Sadly, cases among children to age 19 have risen in recent weeks and now are among the highest affected groups.  Massachusetts has improved its website for reporting  - check out https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting.

To date we have not experienced the spread of Covid within the school building, but as you have been informed, there have been a number of positive cases reported in our school community since the new year -  all of whom have or will isolate at home until their quarantine is completed.  We are hoping to continue to reduce or maintain smaller Grade 1 - 8 class sizes onsite through the cooperation of our families, in order to minimize the possibility of transmission. We invite families with these concerns or those who have the ability to continue to monitor their student at home without impacting work obligations, to voluntarily choose for their student to continue as a distance learner. 

Many thanks to those who were able to continue distance learning this past week. Please email Mrs. Massoud if your student will be changing from on-site to remote or from remote to on-site for the coming week.  No communication is necessary if there is no change.

ASCS will remain open on-site as long as we are able, and we continue to ask that students who are feeling ill, who may have been exposed to Covid, who have traveled within the past week, or who have engaged in large or unprotected group gatherings -  attend as distance learners.  It is crucial at this time for our families to be vigilant in taking precautions, as well as being forthcoming in notifying the school (Nurse Erin Costa and myself) if your student is exposed to Covid.

Finally, due to the daily uncertainty of the Covid situation, please check your email each morning and evening so that in the event of unanticipated changes or closure, you are informed.  

The CDC Covid link answers many questions about new Covid guidance and quarantine as it applies to the general community. Please note that ASCS and the Catholic and public schools in New Bedford are requiring the original 14 day quarantine for return to school, as it is safer for our school communities. Be sure to contact Nurse Erin when you are experiencing a specific Covid situation which involves your student.

The Massachusetts Department of Health is now requiring that students must be vaccinated against the influenza virus and must present a certificate of such vaccination to the school, now extended by the state to before February 28, 2021. Please contact your child’s pediatrician if you need to obtain certification that ‘vaccination endangers your child's health.

Re-enrollment time is here!  Please note that the re-enrollment form and fee is due by February 8, 2021. If you are planning on enrolling a sibling new to ASCS, please contact Mrs. Camara for a registration form. Preference will be given to providing seats for siblings until February 8th. If you have questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Massoud.

 

Re-enrollment forms were sent electronically and in paper form last week. Please contact Mrs. Camara if you need another copy.  An updated Tuition Preference Form, including the option of a twelve month payment program to meet the needs of those who prefer smaller monthly payments, will be provided in the coming week.

For the 21-22 school year, tuition has increased by $200 for most students.  That’s only $1.11 per day!  For our PreK & K families, after fees, the cost per day is $27.27 for the school day plus a maximum of $24 per day for Extended Care (6:30 am - 5:30 pm).  For Grade 1 - 8 students, after fees, the cost per day is $25.56, plus Extended Care.  Please know that this minimal increase is most necessary, as we have not raised our tuition for the past two years and the current situation plus hourly wage increases have challenged our budget!  You will also see that the annual family registration fee has increased to $250, as it  includes the FACTS fee, now assessed to all families, which was formerly a separate payment. We thank you for your continued support and we hope you believe that these small increases are outweighed by the huge benefits available at ASCS - especially in providing on-site classes in a safe environment during this most challenging time.

FACE Scholarship Applications for 2021-2022  are open! Those who have applied for the current year have been contacted directly by FACE to reapply. If you feel you are in need of financial assistance please see https://www.face-dfr.org/how-to-apply/. Don’t delay!  Start your application now and upload 2020 tax documents later this winter.

NWEA MAP Testing - Grades 1 - 8 MAP Assessment continues this week. See instructions for distance learners below.  Mrs. Massoud will provide the session ID and password shortly before the test begins.

Wednesday:

8:30 am - Grade 5 Math

9:30 am - Grade 3 Language

12:30 pm - Grade 4 Language

12:30 pm - Grade 7 Math

 

Thursday:

8:30 am - Grade 6 Math

8:45 am - Grade 2  Language 

12:30 am - Grade 3 Math

12:30 pm - Grade 7 Science

 

Friday:

8:30 am - Grade 3 Science

8:30 am - Grade 8  Math 

10:30 am - Grade 6 Science

12:30 pm - Grade 4 Math

 

Notes for Parents of Distance Learners:

• All distance learners will need to log into Google Meet ascsmrsm a few minutes before the times listed above. Please be sure your microphone is muted.

• Minimize distractions for your child as much as possible

• Provide a quiet testing environment - be sure your child has headphones (Grades K - 2 and those with documented accommodations) 

• Allow Mrs. Massoud to open the session first - a session ID and password will be provided a few minutes before testing begins.

• From a new tab log in at  https://test.mapnwea.org/#/nopopup

• Please don’t help your child with the content of the test.

• Make sure your student is on camera at Google Meet  ascsmrsm, Should your student get bounced out of the test or experience other difficulties, please reach out to me on Google Meet - or if necessary by phone - immediately.

 

Calendar Reminders: 

• Monday, January 18 - No school - Martin Luther King Holiday

• Tuesday, January 19 - PreK & K Report Cards sent home

• Wed & Thurs, Jan 20 & 21 - PreK & K Virtual Conferences 

• February 1 - 6 Catholic Schools Week - details TBA!

• February 15 - 19 - Winter Vacation - No school, No Ex Care

Looking Ahead

ASCS Summer Program - It’s not too early to reserve child care for this summer!  Enrollment is limited, please see our website for details and registration. 

Supporting Our School

• The ASCS 2021 Annual Fund is focused on defraying the costs of the special items we have and will need to purchase to keep our school community safe and socially distanced.  To date we have spent over $11,000, which was not originally budgeted - our goal is $15,000. To date we have raised $3200 thanks to the generosity of our parents! Our Annual Fund link remains open for anyone who would like to contribute. Please note that the website has been adjusted to accept both Annual Fund and Outreach donations for whatever charity is currently supported -- for January it will be Your Options Medical ( formerly A Woman's Concern), which supports Pro-Life efforts in assisting young families in need. Donations will be billed to your FACTS Incidental Billing or you may send a check to the school. 

• When you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/90-0748611, AmazonSmile donates to All Saints Catholic School! Please support our school as you shop! 

• BoxTops for Education - While the Box Tops program has shifted to on-line, it remains a booster to our school funds, without costing our families!  Please join the program and scan your receipts - 10 cent donation from products you buy can add up to hundred of dollars for ASCS!

• Stop & Shop Gift cards - We have these on site for purchase!  Please contact Mrs. Camara if you are interested. 5% of your purchase is credited to your Fundraising Fee.

• Shop With Scrip Program - see https://shop.shopwithscrip.com/ . Hundreds of gift cards available! This is a great way to support ASCS and earn back your Fundraising Fee! You may order and pay directly on-line or order on-line and pay the school. School payment orders are processed once per month. Our school # is  45CF5EE531292.  Next due date is February 4 .  

Important Links & Contacts:

• ASCS website: ascsnb.org.

• ASCS Calendar - http://ascsnb.org/calendar-1 

• Faculty and Staff Listing with emails: https://ascsnb.org/staff

• Learning Choices - On-site / Distance Learning / Hybrid -  https://ascsnb.org/2021-return

• Used uniform sales. Contact Mrs. Camara at 508-995-3696 or by email [email protected] 

• Purchasing new gym and spirit items from the school - https://ascsnb.org/gymwear-orders

• Purchase masks - https://ascsnb.org/mask-orders 

• 2021 Return and DESE links -https://ascsnb.org/2021-return

• NBPS menu for All Saints - see https://schools.mealviewer.com/district/NewBedfordPublicSchools,MA (skip the log in)

• FACTS SIS Family Portal Login https://ascs-ma.client.renweb.com/pw/

• ASCS Prayer Line - Submit prayer requests http://ascsnb.org/prayer-requests

• ASCS Parents Group on Facebook - search ASCS Parent Group and ask to join!

• Parent Tip Sheets for Eureka Math (Gr K- 5) - https://greatminds.org/math/parents 

In faith and together as a community, we can make this year a successful academic, social and spiritual journey for our students, as we try to keep everyone safe and healthy!  Please pray for our school, our students, and our families.  

Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Mrs. Susan Massoud

Principal, All Saints Catholic School

 

All Saints Catholic School provides quality Catholic education in a safe environment where Jesus Christ is the model for the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of each unique student.

We Are One + We Are All Saints

Academically focused, Spiritually alive Community of Saints in training