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Welcome to the Class Pages, hosted by our Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, and Grade K to 8 Faculty!
June 21, 2021
Dear Our Lady of Lourdes School Families,
Greetings on the first full day of summer! I know we are all grateful that we have come to this point in time when things are looking a great deal more optimistic than they were at this time last year.
Thank you to the teachers and staff whose dedication and work meant that Our Lady of Lourdes School was open consistently throughout this past school year. Thank you to the students who despite masks, social distancing, remote learning, the hybrid model, and in person school, kept up with their studies and maintained good humor.
Thank you so much to the parents. I am sure that at times you felt like you were ricocheting from one thing to another – your children at home in front of their chrome books, trying to balance your own work schedule, then your children hybrid in school, sometimes quarantining, wondering if they should come back full-time to in person learning, etc., etc. You are true heroes and heroines!
I am grateful that you stayed with OLL through this crisis and trusted us.
Unlike last year, this year we were able to have our June end-of-year celebrations in person – Pre-K 3 had their traditional ice cream party celebration, Pre-K 4, their Stepping Up Ceremony, Kindergarten, their Graduation, complete with mini caps and gowns, and Grade 8 with their Commencement Exercises. Brother Tyrone Davis, CFC, Director of the ADNY Office of Black Ministry and Pierre Toussaint Scholars was the inspiring keynote speaker.
I thought you would be interested in learning that our 8th grade class received a total of $710,000 in scholarships to their high schools. Grade 8 students were accepted at the following schools: Fordham Prep, Xavier, Notre Dame, Dwight, Birch Wathen Lenox, Bard Academy, St. Vincent Ferrer, St. Jean Baptiste, Cardinal Hayes, All Hallows, Spellman, Christ the King, Mt. St. Michael Academy, Brooklyn Latin, High School of Art and Design, and Cathedral.
In May, twenty-five students received their First Holy Communion and twenty-one students received The Sacrament of Confirmation. Father Gilberto Angel-Neri, Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, was the celebrant at both Masses.
Congratulations to all!
Now for the summer: Reading needs to be a big push! Teachers have either posted summer work/activities in Google Classroom for students currently in grades Pre-K 4 through 7 which become our incoming classes Kindergarten to Grade 8 or the summer work/activities were placed in the report card envelopes or links were provided. Information is also posted on our website for the incoming grades of Pre-K 3 through Grade 8 as of September 2021. On the website, for example, on the Grade 3 class page, you will find assignments for students who will be in Grade 3 in the fall.
I cannot stress how important it is for your children to complete these Reading and Math assignments on an ongoing basis throughout the summer. These are even more important this summer than they have been for our students any other summer because of their interrupted education for the past year and a half.
The best way is to establish a routine. Set aside a certain portion of each day from the beginning of the summer when the student works on his/her assignments. With eleven weeks of summer vacation, there is plenty of time for relaxation, reading, assignments, and fun.
Students in incoming Grades 1-8 have three major assignments:
- A reading and writing assignment
- A math assignment
- An online assignment in Reading and Math on the Edgenuity program
The first two assignments are posted in your child’s Google classroom (or were given to your child) and will also be posted on the school website: www.ollnyc.org
As for the online Edgenuity program: Research has shown that students who use this ELA (Reading) and Math program consistently show significant gains in learning and score higher on standardized assessments, like the MAP (Measures of Academic Achievement) that students will take upon return to school. Ms. Angeles and I will be monitoring the program. We will be contacting parents and do feel free to contact us at mangesles@ollnyc.org and skaszynski@ollnyc.org See Edgenuity memo.
While most classes have assignments involving reading two books and a related writing assignment and math exercises, I strongly urge you to have your children read books throughout the summer. There is no substitute nor will there ever be for encouraging a love of reading in our students and having them read consistently on a daily basis. The level of their reading comprehension has ramifications for their success in elementary and high school, college, and beyond. Students need a lot less online video time and a lot more “reading a book” time!
I would ask that you review the New York Public Library website at www.nypl.org/summer where you will find resources like reading incentive programs, age-appropriate book lists, and literacy activities.
Here are additional websites with book lists by grade/age:
Commonsense Media: Reading List
New York Public Library Summer Reading
Bklyn Library: Summer ReadingVisit your local library as well.
I know that some of you have registered your children for the free online Summer Learning Experience Program beginning June 30. The email to register is www.summernyc@catapultlearning.com
Finally, this is not a requirement but Barnes and Noble has workbooks by grade level, for example, Grade 2 Reading, Grade 2 Math, for all the grades. Some of the companies that publish this type of workbook by grade level are Spectrum, Harcourt Learning Resources, and Summer Solutions, also available for purchase on those websites. (If a student was in Grade 2 this past year, that is the workbook he/she should be working on.)
Looking ahead: As you know, the Archdiocesan plans are to move to total in person learning in September with no remote learning option. I will contact you as soon as I hear any news about the new school year.
Our Lady of Lourdes School is open this summer from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM (1:30 in July and the first part of August) throughout the summer, although appointments at other times can be easily arranged. If you need anything, please call or email.
Parents, you need a chance to rest and re-coup so please take care of yourselves while you are taking care of everyone else. God bless you and yours. Have a great summer!
Warm regards,
Suzanne Kaszynski Principal