Dear SJOA Parents,

I wanted to start by thanking all of you for the many prayers, thoughts, messages, and kind gestures that you provided for me and my family over the last couple of weeks. I continue to be so blessed by the SJOA community. Yesterday morning, I woke up with such gratitude in my heart to be able to return to a school building full of people I love. There is much to be done this week to ensure a successful transition to remote learning following Thanksgiving Break.

Yesterday, I met with grade level teams and the entire instructional staff to provide a framework for this next period of virtual learning. Teachers will fill in the details according to the expectations that I gave them. I used the feedback and suggestions that parents provided in the survey sent home at the end of May and made adjustments accordingly. This time around, virtual learning will look different than it did last Spring. We have had ample time to prepare and we are ready to provide an enriching, engaging, and rigorous virtual education to your students. Teachers will offer live, synchronous instruction each day via Zoom or Google Hangouts, and students will "attend" virtual classes by following a routine, consistent schedule. The school day for grades 1-8 will begin at 8:00 a.m. and all students are expected to be on time.

As you know, your child's education experience at St. Joan of Arc is a true partnership between school and home. While virtual learning could never truly replace in-person learning, content will be delivered directly from the teaching staff; last March-May resembled an asynchronous approach where students learned more independently. However, it will be necessary for our parents to commit to the following to ensure your child's success:

• Students will wake up each morning, eat breakfast, and be ready to "attend" school by 8:00 a.m. each morning.
• Students will successfully connect on their devices to their Zoom class. Links will be provided each day on Google classroom. Parents will need to help ensure kids get to where they need to be. 
• Students will set up a space that is conducive to optimal learning such as a table or a desk (beds are not an acceptable space to attend classes).
• Parents will regularly read and respond (as needed) to communication and e-mails home from classroom teachers.

• November 23 and 24: NO SCHOOL (no virtual either); Special Persons Day is cancelled. 
• Nov. 23 - 27: Thanksgiving Break, NO SCHOOL
• November 30 - Dec. 18: Remote Learning Days; Christmas program is cancelled.
• December 19 - January 3: Christmas Break (NO SCHOOL)
• January 4 - 15: Remote Learning Days

Meals: We will still provide Grab and Go meals (available for the community) during the full remote period. Meals will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:45-9:15 and 11:00-Noon. Monday will include meals for Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday will include meals for the rest of the week.

Trust me, I realize this is a lot of information to digest. Here is the good news: we are here for you. The school office will remain open throughout this remote period unless we are mandated to close. Therefore, if you need anything from the school, please reach out to Amy Pierce, Patsy Johantges, or myself and we will be happy to accommodate you. We are all in this together, and just as we have before, we will survive this next phase together. 

Have a great week, and please let us know how we can further support you.

Love and God Bless,
Sarah

P.S. If you did not happen to see the "Intent to Return" Google form I sent earlier today, here is the link to complete the form.  I just completed it myself (as a parent) and it took me 30 seconds!  Thank you!

Intent to Return 2021-2022 Form

March 16- May 1 - COVID-19 Closure