Exceptional Education Anchored by Faith
**UPDATE** We raised more than $10,000 for the St. John’s Catholic School Scholarship Fund. Thank you!!!
Please remember and honor those who’ve passed before us by contributing to the St. John’s Catholic School Memorial Scholarship Fund. You can make your donation and add your loved ones to our scroll of names by going to our secure payment site.
St. John’s Catholic
School 2020-2021
First Day of School Newsletter
August 26, 2020
From the Principal’s Desk
We had a wonderful first day of school! There was a lot of learning new routines, a lot of reconnecting with old friends and meeting lots of new friends! The first day of school is always a little challenging, and this year was no different. Many students were nervous to return to school because it’s been so long. Others were a little nervous to start at a new school. Asking students to wear a mask is challenging, and not what they’re used to. Listening to their teacher with a slightly muffled voice is challenging, and not what they’re used to. Things will get better and we will work through the bumps as we go! Overall I do think there were many successes of the day.
Morning car line worked very well, thank you to everyone for completing your online screening form in a timely fashion! Afternoon car line needs a little practice, but just as kids need to practice, adults do too – particularly with new procedures and expectations that are a little different than what you may be used to. Each day should get a little smoother and within a week you’ll be out of here in no time at all! Particularly for the primary parents, it is okay to step out of your vehicle, with a mask on, to let your child see you. Many of our younger students didn’t recognize their parents’ vehicles which made it challenging to get them into their vehicles quickly. Additionally, if your child is going to Learning Center, please let your child’s teacher know via email – at least for the first week or so. Some students were very confused and couldn’t remember where they were supposed to be. (Which is understandable after such a long day!)
Please read through the important items below and keep scrolling for a few pictures from our day! I’m looking forward to tomorrow! I think we’ll all rest pretty well tonight!
God Bless,
Shelly Wheeler
Click below for access to the SJCS Student Handbook and PDF files of the PowerPoint from last weeks’ Zoom meetings.
Student Handbook & Zoom Slideshow PDF
Things to Remember
THANK YOU FOR A GREAT DAY!
We are excited to be returning to the classroom, but there are some things we have to do to be safe for everyone. Please see the attached document for more information about the Back2School COVID-19 Tracking System.
The first day of the school year of 2020-2021 is August 26, 2020. We plan to fully open. We can’t wait to see you then!
PORTLAND—The Office of Maine Catholic Schools is pleased to announce that schools will be open for in-school learning for the 2020-21 school year. Barring unforeseen developments, classes will be held five days a week with a full day schedule. Both before and after care at the schools will also reopen.
“In conjunction with the Diocese of Portland, our administrative team has been and will continue planning for a safe and efficient opening in the fall for our schools,” said Marianne Pelletier, superintendent of Maine Catholic Schools. “Following CDC guidelines for reopening schools, we are in the process of modifying our classrooms and facilities to successfully comply. Additional cleaning supplies have been ordered, and extra staff is being brought on to assist. We are confident that our schools’ health protocols and processes will keep our school environments as healthy and as safe as possible for all members of our communities.”
The schools overseen by the Office of Maine Catholic Schools are All Saints School (St. John Campus/St. Mary Campus) in Bangor, Holy Cross School in South Portland, St. Brigid School in Portland, Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn and Lewiston, St. James School in Biddeford, St. John’s Catholic School in Brunswick, St. Michael School in Augusta, and St. Thomas School in Sanford. If you would like to enroll or learn more about Catholic schools in Maine, visit www.mainecatholicschools.com.
In March, Catholic schools, along with all public schools across Maine, closed their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two days later, Catholic schools in Maine successfully opened their virtual doors, providing a high-quality, distance learning program for all of their students across the state, efforts that were lauded by both school families and the wider community.
“Our Catholic schools continued to nurture the souls of our students while providing a comprehensive academic plan, building on their tradition of excellence,” said Pelletier. “The excellence was visible in both our attendance data and parent surveys. On average, 96% of our students participated daily in direct instruction offered virtually by their classroom teachers.”
Administrators at the schools believe and recognize that learning and formation are at their best when occurring in a classroom, but in acknowledgement that some families might not be comfortable sending their children to school during this academic year, Maine Catholic Schools is offering a solution.
“The Diocese of Portland is assisting each of our schools in developing a virtual, distance-learning option where interested families will still be able to receive instruction for children in core content areas while remaining connected to their local school community,” said Pelletier.
Due to social distancing requirements that will be in place in classrooms, families are encouraged to enroll their student or students soon.
“We recognize that parents are the first teachers of their children, and we fully understand that they are making a cognizant choice to offer their child a Catholic education,” said Pelletier. “Though there are many alternatives to Catholic education, there are no substitutes, and we thank everybody for their continued support and prayers.”
