All Saints Catholic School Communicator
Friday, November 20, 2020

All Saints Catholic School Communicator  - Friday, November 20, 2020 

Greetings All Saints Families!! 

We have just completed our twelfth week of school!  Our first trimester is drawing to a close and Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We wish all of our students and families a blessed Thanksgiving and an enjoyable break.  Please remember that your family’s choices and actions in the coming days may impact not only your family, but your child’s classroom in the coming weeks. Thank you ahead of time for supporting our efforts to keep all of our students and staff safe!

SAFETY DURING THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS

From the Massachusetts Department of Public Health -We have been asked to pass this message onto our staff and families to help keep everyone safe during the Thanksgiving holiday:

 

As Massachusetts residents plan for the Thanksgiving holiday, we offer the following considerations to help keep our friends, families, and communities safe during COVID-19. If you host a holiday celebration, keep it small. If you are considering travel, be aware of Massachusetts travel orders. If you participate in a celebration, please follow public health guidelines.

Any time you’re near people you don’t live with:

• Wear a mask when not eating or drinking

• Wash your hands often with soap and water

• Stay at least six feet apart from others

• Consider if those around you may be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, such as older adults or those with certain medical conditions, and take extra precautions

• If gathering indoors, improve ventilation by opening windows and doors

Keeping you informed -  Since last week, the daily Covid case count in New Bedford has risen from a fourteen day average of 29.9 to 39.2 cases per day, and the percent positivity rate has risen from 6.17% to 7.31%.  The both of these metrics in surrounding towns are rising as well. While it remains true that the spread of the virus has been minimal within schools, increased positivity in the area means that there is higher overall risk, despite our continued efforts to keep our students safe. At present we will continue to offer our program on-site, however we know that some of our Grade 1 - 8 families may wish to switch to distance learning for a few days or weeks after Thanksgiving. If you are planning to keep your student home for distance learning, even for a day or two, kindly email the teacher and principal ahead of time (at least the day before) and be sure your student has taken books and materials home.  

Calendar Change - In the interest of the health and wellbeing of our staff and students the Catholic Schools Office has allowed schools to change the start date of Christmas break to end of day on Friday, December 18th.  All Saints will provide Extended Care service until 5:30 pm, December 18, then will be closed for two weeks - December 21 - January 1 - reopening on Monday, January 4.  It is our hope that this break provides much needed and deserved change of pace for our staff and students! An updated school calendar is attached. 

 

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 before December 31, 2020. Please contact your child’s pediatrician if you need to obtain certification that ‘vaccination endangers your child's health.

This Week: 

• Thanksgiving Spirit Day  - Tuesday, Nov 24  - $2 or more donation to benefit St.Vincent dePaul, St. Mary’s Conference. Students and staff are invited to wear a fall or Thanksgiving themed/colored top with jeans or sweatpants and sneakers.  ASCS customarily has a food collection at this time of year to support the efforts of the St.Vincent dePaul Society, which provides holiday meals for needy families in the local area.  Your generous support is most appreciated now and at our Christmas dress down planned in the coming weeks, both to benefit those in need in our community. Please note that donations are now placed in the office bin in each homeroom.  Donations may also be made on-line at https://ascsnb.org/annual-fund-2021. 

• Wednesday, Nov 25 - 11:30 dismissal - Ex Care to 4 pm - Thanksgiving Break begins

• Thursday / Friday, Nov 26,27 - Thanksgiving Break - No School

Calendar Reminders: 

• Sunday, November 29 - Advent begin

• Wednesday, Dec 2 - Lifetouch retakes and candids

• Friday, Dec 4 - Bishop Stang Placement Exam for all Grade 8 students at school - distance learners will also take the exam on-line with Bishop Stang Proctors at the same time.

• Wednesday, December 9 - Middle School Advent Spirit Day -  $2 or more donation to benefit Box of Joy - Cross Catholic Advent project sponsored by ASCS Middle School. Gr 5 - 8 students and staff are invited to wear an Advent themed or purple colored top with jeans or sweatpants and sneakers. 

• Wednesday, Dec 23, 11:30 am Dismissal, Ex Care is available - Christmas Vacation begins

• Dec 23 - January 1  - Christmas Vacation - No Ex Care

• Monday, January 4 - school reopens 

Attendance reminders:

• When students are returning to school after experiencing COVID-19  symptoms or quarantine, a negative COVID test or doctor’s note clearing the student for return must be provided to the school the day prior to returning. Doctor’s notes may be emailed, faxed or dropped off in the office.

• Traveling?  Please be sure you are aware of Massachusetts Travel Order: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-travel-order . Please check for the latest advisory on states considered “safe travel” as of the date of your trip.  As of November 11, only four states (New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Hawaii) are considered low risk - and that may change within days. If your student will miss more than two or three days of school while traveling, we highly suggest distance learning while you are away - and note that all assignments are available on your student’s Google Classroom.

The schedules for Grades 1-8 remain unchanged, except for Wednesday, November 25.  Please see the attached schedule for details. Your student’s Google Classroom is the “go to” for information about schedule changes, etc!  

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. To date we have raised $1050 through our on-line campaign! Our Annual Fund link remains open for anyone who would like to contribute. Donations will be billed to your FACTS Incidental Billing or you may send a check to the school. Many thanks to all who participated in the Fall Fun Spirit Day this past week - we raised $290 plus a few larger donations to our Annual Fund on-line!

• 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 December 11. An order sheet is included with this week’s communicator for those who prefer it.  For best selection, please order online.  Check out the Holiday Gift Guide available at https://www.shopwithscrip.com/giftguide

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