Principal's Announcements

 

~Catholic Schools Week~

January 31st- February 5th

Virtual Open Houses begin on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Tell your friends!

The annual tradition of celebrating Catholic schools in our nation begins on Sunday, January 31st. Like so many of the traditions we have kept alive, virtually, during this unprecedented time, Catholic Schools Week will take on a virtual format. Please join us at 9:30 A.M. on Sunday, January 31st, for the opening Mass of Catholic Schools Week. Our theme is “We are ONE body in Christ.”  The Mass will be live-streamed on the Cathedral’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel for those who wish to attend virtually. 

Throughout the month of February, virtual tours of St. Agnes Cathedral School will be conducted. On these tours, you will meet the administration and parent leaders of the school community. You will see the classrooms and learn about the curriculum, academic programs, and extracurricular activities. Tours are available in two formats: One-on-One Zoom Tours or Small Group Zoom Tours. Contact Mrs. Cecilia St. John, Principal, at 516-678-5550 to book a tour and for more information about this year’s Virtual Open Houses and registration.

Children entering Kindergarten must be five years of age by Dec. 1, 2021. Children entering grades 1-6 must present their most recent report card and standardized test results. Applicants must present a birth certificate and baptismal certificate (if applicable) upon registration and $100.00 non-refundable registration fee for grades 1-6 and a $200.00 non-refundable registration fee for Kindergarten. Acceptance is contingent upon screening. Tuition assistance is available through the Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation. Applications are available on the Foundation’s website: www.tomorrowshopefoundation.org.
 

This Week’s Announcements: January 17-23

School is closed on Monday, January 18th in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “In the midst of outer dangers I have felt an inner calm and known resources of strength that only God could give. In many instances, I have felt the power of God transforming the fatigue of despair into the buoyancy of hope.”  ~Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.

Re-registration: Current families, please return your re-registration forms to school by Monday, January 25th to assist us in determining our enrollment for the 2021-22 school year. Please note, students re-registering for grades 1-5 do not submit a re-registration fee. Please fill out the form with your child(ren)’s name(s) who are returning next year. Students re-registering for grades 6-8, do have a $200.00 non-refundable (good faith) re-registration fee. This fee is applied to your August tuition payment.   

Re-registration Form 

Hallway Banner: If you did not send in a family picture for the main hallway banner, you can still be on the banner if you submit your picture by this Friday, January 22nd. Are you missing? Don’t be left out of our family picture!


Our Annual Dinner Dance was supposed to be held on Saturday, February 6th at the Carltun in Eisenhower Park. This year, however, the pandemic has resulted in plans for large social gatherings to be canceled. The Dinner Dance is the school’s biggest fundraiser. It helps keep the cost of tuition down, supports the school’s education fund, and school budget. Since we cannot fundraise in this manner, alternative plans are underway to support the school during this challenging time. Please be on the lookout for details from the School Board as to how we will support the school this year.


First Reconciliation: Due to the increase in the COVID-19 infection rate, and the challenge to properly social distance all the parents and the children in the Cathedral, the First Reconciliation Ceremony scheduled for Saturday, February 13th at 10:30 A.M. has been postponed to Saturday, February 27th at 10:30 A.M. The format of the ceremony is being changed so the children and their parents will be able to attend in a safe and socially distanced manner. Please note, only the 2nd graders and their parents are invited to attend the ceremony.


Morning Drop-off: I hope those who are using the morning drop-off are seeing the benefit. At this time, we can use more volunteers. Please contact the following people if you can volunteer:

• • For SAMC, Mrs. Keri O’Brien at jamesob17@gmail.com
  • For SAFC, Mr. Shaun Barry at shaun.barry@sas.com

Grade 8 Graduation Cap and Gown Pictures will be taken on Thursday, January 21st.  It is important that all 8th graders are present that day. If your child was not present for their yearbook picture, that picture will be taken too.  The 8th graders should come to school in a white button-down dress shirt and the uniform gym sweats. The boys should bring in their school tie. We will have some extras to loan; however, if your son has a school tie, he should bring it to school.


A Grade 8 ZOOM Parent Graduation Meeting will take place on Thursday evening, January 21st at 7:30 P.M. The zoom link will be emailed to you by the Mothers' Club.


MyFoodDays: Please log on between today and Wednesday, Jan. 27th to set up your orders for February. Please keep in mind that you must place your orders for the entire month of February during this open order period.
Once the order period is closed, there will be no changes or additional opportunities to order for February.  Credits will be issued for any students subject to quarantine as well as any additional remote school days.


Peace and blessings on this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time,

Mrs. Cecilia St. John, Principal

 

School Theme: 

St. Agnes Cathedral School: We are ONE body in Christ.

This year our school theme is the Eucharist. The Lord Jesus, on the night before he suffered on the cross, shared one last meal with his disciples. During this meal, our Savior instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.  During the Pandemic, there was a time when we could not receive the Eucharist. During this school year, we will show our thanks for the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist.

Pandemic Information:

COVID-19 Updates and Information

Air Doctor Purifiers: If you have not participated in the Air Purifier contribution, please do so. These units were very costly and each student’s $25.00 donation will help defray the cost of the units. Please click on the link below to submit the $25.00 contribution. 

Air Doctor  

Quarantine: As of December 26, 2020, the quarantine period in New York State has changed to 10 days as long as the quarantined individual shows no signs or symptoms of illness. This means without any onset of symptoms; the isolation and quarantine periods are now the same length of time. Individuals must still monitor themselves for symptoms through day 14. This shift is based on probability data and was made based on CDC recommendations and is not infallible. If the individual quarantining is a minor and resides with a person who tested positive, we are continuing the 14-day quarantine period because they are unable to isolate themselves fully as well as monitor themselves. If your child is on a mandatory quarantine due to an exposure and your child receives a negative test result, the full quarantine must still be completed.

Travel:  Anyone returning from travel for greater than 24 hours from a noncontiguous state is required to quarantine for 10 days unless they: receive a negative test within 3 days of departing the state they traveled to, quarantine when they return to New York, receive a negative test on day 4 of returning to New York, produce both negative test results, and fill out the travel health form. Day one of the quarantine when back in NY is calculated in this manner:

• Arrival in NY before 12 noon = day 1
• Arrival in NY after 12 noon, day 1 is the next day.

Contact Tracing: Goes back 48 hours from the onset of symptoms or when the COVID-19 test was administered if asymptomatic.

Return from Quarantine: Individual must complete the 10-day quarantine and be fever free for 72 hours.

Pending COVID-19 Tests: If your child has a pending COVID-19 test or resides with an individual who has a pending test, your child must quarantine until the test results come back. Once the test results come back, you must contact the school and report the results. Directives from the health office will follow accordingly.
 

NYS Cluster Initiative: Please be advised that in accordance with the New York State Micro-Cluster Strategy, the new zones and modifications to current zones announced on Monday, December 14th, 2020 have not gone into effect. 

Red Zone: A red zone will be implemented when a region, after the cancellation of elective procedures and a 50 percent increase in hospital capacity, is 21 days away from reaching 90 percent hospital capacity on the current 7-day growth rate.

Orange Zone: A geographic area will be eligible to an Orange Zone if it has a 4 percent positivity rate (7-day average) over the last 10 days and it is located in a region that has reached 85 percent hospital capacity. Alternatively, a geographic area may also become an Orange Zone if the State Department of Health determines the region’s rate of hospital admissions is unacceptably high and a zone designation is appropriate to control the rate of growth.

Yellow Zone: A geographic area will be eligible to enter a Yellow Zone if it has a 3 percent positivity rate (7-day average) over the past 10 days and is in the top 10 percent in the state for hospital admissions per capita over the past week and is experiencing week-over-week growth in daily admissions. 

As part of this, schools located in Yellow, Orange, and Red zones will be required to conduct weekly testing. Schools in Yellow and Orange Zones will be required to test 20 percent of in-person students, faculty, and staff over the course of a month, and schools in Red Zones will be required to test 30 percent of in-person students, faculty, and staff over a month.

Please see below for the total number of individuals needed to be tested should the 11570 geographic area be designated a micro-cluster.

20% (yellow and orange zone) of the in-school population equals 134 individuals
30% (red zone) of the in-school population equals 201 individuals

Please know that currently, the Rockville Centre zip code area, 11570, is not designated as being in one of these zones, and we can operate as we have been. 

Type of Test: The swab of the nasal walls of the nostril is needed to satisfy the testing requirement. This swab is not the deep swad of the nasal cavity. 

Testing Sites

On-site Testing: $30.00 Fee
ATC Healthcare Services:  Will provide on-site testing at St. Agnes Cathedral School.  ATC will provide all staffing and equipment to conduct the testing. The co-pay is $30.00 to be paid at the time of service. Insurance card will be needed.

Off-site Testing: No Fee
Firstcare: Baldwin: https://firstcarebaldwin.com/contact-us/

• 2360 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, New York 11510
• (516) 546-2266
• Dr. Wayne Sebastiano: Stags Parent
  •  Insurance card will be needed. No cost. Please click on the link below to access the registration paperwork that will expedite the service.

Firstcare

Off-site Testing: No Fee
UrgentWay: Two Offices: Hempstead and Hicksville
Hempstead: https://www.urgentway.com/locations/urgent-care-hempstead/                                          

• 2 Main Street, Hempstead, NY 11550
• (516) 489-6600

Hicksville: https://www.urgentway.com/locations/urgent-care-hicksville/

• 120 Bethpage Road~ Suite 309~ Hicksville, NY 11801
• (516) 252-3903
• Dr. Ali Hashmat: No students in the school, but he is a client of one of our parents.
  • Insurance card will be needed. No cost. Please click on the link below to access the registration paperwork that will expedite the service.

Urgent Way

Social Responsibility: During this time, it is of the utmost importance that everyone follows the COVID-19 protocols that have been established by the school, CDC, DOH, and State. Below, please find the major protocols. It is a good reminder of the social responsibility pledge that we took in September. If you are unsure of a protocol or in doubt of what to do concerning your child’s health, call the school health office for clarification.

• All students are to wear face masks. Masks must be worn correctly, covering the nose and mouth.
• Practice social distancing.
• Complete the screening questions accurately and honestly.
• When sick or feeling sick, stay home and call the school health office for directives.

We are preparing for the worst but praying for the best. Thank you all for your help and support in protecting God’s greatest gift, our children!
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Previous Announcements

Please remember the Social Responsibility Pledge. Please see the information, embedded below, from our school Nurse, Mrs. Kristine Keating. 

Medical FAQ 

As the chilly weather arrives, please remember that the heat will be on in the classrooms and the windows will be open to allow fresh air to circulate into them. Students should wear the school gym uniform with layers underneath. Knit hats and fingerless gloves are permitted. The Mothers’ Club ¾ zip sweatshirt is also permitted. 

Children should also come to school with their winter jackets as they will be going outside for mask breaks and recess, even on very chilly days.

Masks must be worn while waiting on-line to pick up your child from school. They must be worn correctly, ensuring that the nose is covered.

iPads must be charged and brought to school every day. The students will practice joining Google Meet. They will need their earphones. Please make sure your child brings them to school as we continue with our in-school Digital Days.


Announcements From the Cafeterias 
Snack coupons are purchased from the main office on Mondays. A sheet of ten water bottle coupons cost $10.00. A sheet of twelve coupons cost $9.00. Please place the exact amount or a check made payable to St. Agnes Cathedral, in an envelope with your child's name, his/her teacher's name, and your order will be filled and returned to your child through his/her teacher. Please note, the school's Venmo account cannot be used to purchase water bottle or snack coupons. 


School Fundraising Opportunity: iGive.com/StAgnesCathedralSchool: With the holidays approaching and online shopping on the rise, please help support the school by making your online purchases through iGive.com. Click on the link below for information and details.

iGive Details 

• Yearbook: The 8th Grade Yearbook is underway. Grade 8 Parents, please click on the link below to access important information regarding the Yearbook. Baby pictures are now due. 
• Yearbook 

• Missing work—Work that’s late at the time the email was sent.
• Upcoming work—Work that’s due today and tomorrow (for daily emails) or work that’s due in the upcoming week (for weekly emails).
• Class activity—Announcements, assignments, and questions recently posted by teachers.

• In your email program, at the bottom of any email summary, click settings if you haven't already, signed into your Google Account.
• Under Frequency, click the down arrow and choose when to get summaries: daily or weekly

A Message from Our Nurse, Mrs. Keating:

NYS Law mandates health appraisal forms for the following grades: Kindergarten, 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th grades.

6th-grade students are mandated to have a Tdap adolescent booster vaccine.  This vaccine must be administered at the minimum age of 10.  The student must receive the Tdap vaccine on or before their 11th birthday, but not before they turn 10 years old.  

7th-grade students are mandated to receive a meningococcal vaccine upon entry into 7th grade.  The minimum age for the first dose of meningococcal conjugate for grade 7 is age 10.   

PLEASE NOTE, THERE IS NO IMMUNIZATION ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THOSE STUDENTS MISSING IMMUNIZATIONS DUE TO COVID-19!

If you have NOT submitted your child’s forms, even if remote learning, they must be by this Friday, October 8. Please click on the link below to access the forms.

Medical Forms
 

Water bottles and Snack Coupons: Will be sold every Monday through the main office. A sheet of ten water bottle coupons cost $10.00. A sheet of twelve snack coupons cost $9.00. Please place the exact amount or a check made payable to St. Agnes Cathedral School, in an envelope with your child’s name, his/her teacher’s name, and your order will be filled and returned to your child through his/her teacher. Please note, the school’s Venmo account cannot be used to purchase water bottle or snack coupons.
 

Pick Up Patrol: Please continue to use Pick Up Patrol to report your child’s weekly health screening and daily temperature check. Thank you to all who have been consistently submitting your child’s screening on time. The cut off is 7:30 A.M. It is necessary to submit it by that time in order for your child to be permitted to enter the building.
 

Bus Students MUST wear their masks on the bus. I am receiving reports that students are standing up in the back of the bus and NOT wearing their masks. Not only is this a dangerous situation to the physical wellbeing of those students because they are not seated and wearing seatbelts, but it is also undermining the health and welfare of all the students on the bus by promoting the spread of disease instead of containing it. I will be following up with the bus drivers to instruct them to follow the bus protocol to pull over when students are out of their seats and include pulling over when masks are not worn.  Parents, please speak to your child about proper bus behavior and mask-wearing.

 

Morning Drop-off: Thank you to all the volunteers who are working the Morning Drop-off. Please see a few reminders below:

~All vehicles entering the back-parking lot in the mornings must use their turn signals to help security identify those coming into the parking lot.

~Parents, please watch your speed when exiting the parking lot after dropping your children off as there are a number of K-1 parents and students walking in the parking lot.

~Children need to exit their vehicles on their own as security cannot touch the cars, the students, their backpacks, etc.

~K/1st Grade placards should be visible on the dashboard of your car as it makes it easier for security volunteers to know. There are more available if needed. 

Students who are in-person learners and joining in remotely when they are absent from school do not submit work electronically and do not participate in tests unless otherwise directed by their teacher.
 

Personal Grooming: I realize that during the quarantine it was not possible to get a haircut; however, now is the time to schedule one. Boys’ hair should be neat, not in their eyes, and not be longer than where a dress shirt collar would fall. Besides the hair length, neat grooming is essential. Girls’ hair should not be dyed unnatural colors. After September 30th, Personal Growth Codes will be impacted for being out of compliance with these standards.

 

Social Distance Correctly!

Wash your hands and say your prayers because Jesus and germs are everywhere.
Emails are checked regularly at cstjohn5546@stagnes-school.org and it is the best method of contact. 

 

Pacella Family Contributions