To our Saint James School Families,

While we are all adjusting to our new reality of distance learning I wanted to reach out with some reading resources that might help add some fun into our long days at home. Scholastic has added a great Learn at Home website which includes free resource articles, stories and learning challenges (www.scholastic.com/learnathome). There is also a #savethestories on Instagram that has authors and celebrities reading stories to children!  For our Manchester residents, our Manchester Public libraries have ebooks, audiobooks, and magazines that can be downloaded using your library card. Visit Manchesterctlibrary on Facebook or their website for info.

March is typically a very exciting time in our library, celebrating Dr. Seuss all month, we will continue with our Hats Off to Reading contest with an ending date when we return back to school. Please let our K-6 students know that any books, audiobooks, ebooks etc. they read or listen to over our time at home can be logged on paper and submitted to me when we return back to school. I will also continue with our fun activities and contests we had planned for March during our library when we return and hope this brings a smile to our students who were looking forward to this!

Thank you to all of the parents , teachers, and students for all working together as a team to make the most of our learning experiences during these difficult times! I am truly missing all of our students smiling faces during our library time and am looking forward to seeing everyone when we return to school.

We are blessed to be part of such a wonderful community; stay healthy and safe.

Mrs. Carpenter

We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who donated to the Community Partners in Action drive that we had started two weeks ago.  A representative from the organization came by today and picked up everything that had come in and they were exceptionally grateful for your support.

General Performing Maintenance:

1) Remember if you play at one range or one dynamic level you will lose the others. It is recommended that you play your highest and lowest notes as well as your loudest note and your softest dynamic range.

2) Sight read every day.  Go to a new lesson in your book or old band music you have not played in a long  time.

3) Brass players play long tones in the upper register striving for 30 seconds.

4) Move as far as you can in your books. I showed everyone the  rhythmic concepts on charts 7 and 11.

My e-mail is jcorcoran@snet.net feel free to e-mail with any questions about what or how to practice. I hope to be able to Skype in a few days to we can continue lessons.

Sincerely,

Mr. Corcoran

 

Monday, March 16, 2020

Dear SJS families,

We have a lot of important information to share, please read this entire email:

Materials Pickup & Drop-off

*Excluded from this is Kindergarten and 4th grade who already have everything they need*

As noted in yesterday’s email – a parent or guardian should come by the school to pick up a packet and/or books at the following times:

**TODAY – Monday, March 16th from 3:00pm – 6:00pm

**Tuesday, March 17th from 9:00am – 12:00pm 

All 8th grade students must turn in their research paper at one of these two drop off dates.

For anyone who was Absent on Thursday, these are the pickup times for your child’s materials as well.

Pickup/drop-off of assignments will be in the BREEZEWAY LOT only.  Please do not buzz into the school.

 

Office Hours

As of right now, the school will answer phone calls M-F between the hours of 9am and 1pm.  No parents, students, or teachers will be allowed in the school.

 

Distance Learning

Teaching will continue via distance learning.  All students are expected to keep up with their studies.
For grades K-4, your child’s teachers will email you daily as to what work should be completed and also will give you information about some online platforms that may assist your child in enrichment activities.

 

For grades 5-8, your child’s teachers will post assignments daily in Google Classroom.  All students will have daily required assignments that must be turned in by a time that will be communicated from your child’s teacher.  Please note, the Google Classroom servers are going to be exceptionally busy.  If your child gets a note that the server is unavailable, they should shut down and wait a bit (particularly today).

Illness

If your child is ill during these days and unable to complete their daily lessons, you must email lsager@saintjamesschool.net so we can record their absence.  Teachers will be notified of their absence and know not to expect the work that day.  However, the work will need to be completed and handed in asap.

 

Other Important Notes:

*This plan is in place until March 27th and we will communicate as we have information to share.

*For activities that we needed to cancel (basketball banquet, father/son event) we will return your money when students come back to school.  We are still deciding if the Soiree will be held at a later date.

*During this time that teachers and students are not allowed in the building, the entire school will be disinfected and cleaned.

*We still have a deadline to order yearbooks of Friday, March 20th.  If possible, please order online.  The website and school code are on the order form your child brought home last week.  Online orders are being accepted until April 6th.  If you are unable to order online, please bring your order form to school during today or tomorrow’s breezeway pickup times.  Or, mail it to the school so it will be here by Friday.  Questions can be directed to our volunteer yearbook coordinator Mrs. St. Jean at lstjean@saintjamesschool.net

*Book & Art Club will be rescheduled for when we return

*The soccer season is on hold for now

*At this time, there has not been a change to our 8th grade graduation date, but we will update you immediately if this changes.  Our Pre-K and Kindergarten “Stepping Up” celebrations will have a final date determined once we return back to school.

Please take every precaution possible to stay healthy and safe during this difficult time.  I am praying for all our students and families and appreciate the sacrifices everyone is making to keep our students moving forward.

May the peace of Our Lord be with you.

Sincerely,
Bridget Zorger
Principal