Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope you all had a blessed Easter break with your families. Jesus is truly Risen! Yesterday we celebrated the 2nd Sunday of Easter, which as we know, lasts 50 days ending on Pentecost Sunday. April 19 was also Divine Mercy Sunday, so I hope you all were able to make a spiritual confession and receive a Spiritual Communion in order to receive God’s abundant graces filled with love and mercy!
As you know, the stay at home orders were extended by Governor Newsom through May 15, so we remain hopeful that there is an opportunity to reopen school in some capacity before our last day of school in June. Our calendar will remain the same, and we will find ways to adjust to our new reality as each week goes by.
Before the break, we had our Holy Week Lenten retreats in grade levels (K-4 and 5-8), and all were invited to participate in our Stations of the Cross online. This solemn remembrance is always a striking way to enter into the Easter Triduum and prepare for all of us to spiritually experience the joyful Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday.
I want to remind you of our 3rd and final mandatory General Parent Meeting that was scheduled for May 7. Instead of a meeting online, a Powerpoint will be emailed to you that day. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at agrey@stanthonygardena.org.
We are now 5 weeks into distance learning. Many of you have gotten into a great flow with your home schedules. Some families still need extra assistance, and that is understandable. If your child has not yet completed or turned in all assignments since we started online learning, please talk to your child’s teachers and they will be flexible with you, as we know this is a trying time for everyone. We want to help support you as best we can, in your role as your child’s primary educators. Once again, if you or your child have any questions or need anything, please contact your child’s teacher ASAP to get guidance. We may be calling to check in on you and your family if we don’t hear from you. Our teachers are taking attendance daily. We care for your emotional health and want to touch base with you to make sure you are all ok. You remain in our daily prayers.
Just a reminder that the main school office has virtual hours from Monday-Friday from 7:30am-4pm. All staff have been encouraged to work remotely, so please schedule an appointment by phone or email IF YOU MUST stop by in person to the office. The office staff will be available to take your calls and emails remotely until 4pm when school is in session. Our calendar is updated below and online. Even though Fiesta is canceled, we will still have classes May 11-13 and teacher in-service days on May 14 and May 15 as originally planned (see calendar below).
Please continue to check emails from your child’s teacher for specific directions for their work/assignments this week, and visit your child’s teacher’s classroom blogs daily at www.stanthonygardena.org for more information. Administration will continue to stay in touch via emails, the Remind app, and on social media (follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). We will also continue to post the weekly school bulletin on the homepage, and updates on the school website under News and Events on the homepage at www.stanthonygardena.org.
The calendar as it currently stands is below. Should anything change, the teacher in charge will contact the classes affected with any news or updates. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
St. Anthony of Padua, Pray for us.
Mrs. Grey, Principal
SCHOOL CALENDAR 2020
(Be sure to always check www.stanthonygardena.org and your child’s teacher’s blog for the most current information.)
- April 20-23 – 8th grade Pilgrimage (POSTPONED TILL JUNE, PENDING REOPENING)
- April 22 – 8th graders pick up caps and gowns at school (Sign up Genius sent by Mrs. Navia) Email the office your graduate’s photos taken at home wearing cap and gown, email a short video of graduate for 8th grade slide show
- April 25 –First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Sacraments (POSTPONED TILL SCHOOL REOPENING)
- May 7 – Final Mandatory meeting: Powerpoint presentation will be sent home
- May 11 – Student Government (virtual Campaigns will be held on Google Classroom for grades 5-7)
- May 11-13 – School in Session (Fiesta canceled this week)
- May 14-15 – Teacher In-Service Days, Student Free Days
- May 13 – May Crowning (Mrs. Navia and Mrs. Dyogi to send updates)
- May 20 – Student Government Speeches (done virtually or on Google Classroom)
- May 25 – No School Memorial Day
- May 27 – Classroom shows K, 2, 4 ( Mrs. Garcia to send updates via Music blog)
- May 28 – Classroom shows 1, 3, 5 (Mrs. Garcia to send updates via Music blog)
- May 29 – Parent Service Hours due and Service hours on Gradelink cut-off date ($10/hour for those who have not yet served their hours or paid out in advance, per tuition contract)
- May 29-30 – Frozen, Jr. Musical (Mrs. Garcia will send updates to parents and students in Theater)
- June 2 – New Parent Orientation: Powerpoint presentation will be sent to new students/families, Vicki Marsha online orders
- June 3 – Closeout Daycare billing, Crossover day and 8th grade day of recollection (Virtual Zoom meetings with new teachers in the fall, virtual retreat with 8th graders led by Mr. Aguilar)
- June 5 – Inauguration of the New Student Government (updates from Mr. Perry), Gradelink blocked, end of 3rd Trimester for 8th grade
- June 12 – 8th grade Graduation and Last Day of School (updates from Mrs. Navia) End of 3rd Trimester for grades K-7, Feast Day of St Anthony of Padua
- June 16 – Kinder Promotion (updates sent to parents from Ms. Strohm)
- June 17 – Last Day of School, 3rd Trimester awards announced by teachers and sent home, report cards mailed home (electronic and hard copy)
SACRAMENTS, 8TH GRADE INFORMATION, KINDER PROMOTION
As of now, our school’s First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion must be postponed till further notice. We may have to push this back to June, when it’s safe to gather again. Our 8th graders’ Pilgrimage and all scheduled activities will have to be postponed or canceled until it is safe to return. We hope this may happen sometime in May or June. We have contingency plans in place so we are prepared if we are able to reopen school after May 15, or if we need to remain closed through June 17. We will be ready either way. As COVID-19 circumstances continue to develop, Room parents and teachers should remain in communication with the school to come up with alternate plans for scheduled events.
FUNDRAISING AND SERVICE HOURS
Our Parish Fiesta has been canceled this year, so no one will be fined the $200 for the hours of non-participation for this event, as stated on the tuition contract. Service hours are still due as usual. Any hours that have not been served will be invoiced. You have the option to roll it into FACTS for the remainder of the year. Thanks to all who have already finished serving their family service hours for the year or who have paid for the 25 hours ($10/hour) in advance. Since Jog-A-Thon was canceled, we now encourage you to meet the $100 obligation for fundraising by purchasing Scrip online or paying it outright. Some great Scrip suggestions: Amazon, restaurants in the area with food delivery, or drive-through service in the area such as Starbucks, Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr, Panda Express, and gas cards from Sam’s Club, Vons/Albertson’s, Shell or 76.
RE-REGISTRATION
We continue our planning process for the 2020-2021 school year and have been accepting new students, even in these circumstances. It is imperative for parents of returning students to complete the Registration process ASAP. We are in open enrollment and if you have not registered, your child will be waitlisted. Should you have any questions, please contact me via email at agrey@stanthonygardena.org. We are praying that you all remain safe and healthy as we round out the end of this school year together.
St. Anthony – Pray for Us
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