"Why St. Ann?" by Liz Wehmeyer

Liz, Olivia, and JT

This week's guest blogger is Liz Wehmeyer. Liz is an elementary school teacher with Bartlett City School and a mother of two students at St. Ann. J.T. is in 6th grade and Olivia is in PK4. Liz is also an Apple Certified Teacher, Webmaster, Social Media Coordinator, and 2nd grade teacher at Altruria who over the past two years has trained our teachers in using the iPad in the classroom. We now have about eleven teachers and one principal who are Apple Certified Teachers. Here is Liz's answer to "Why St. Ann?"

When Mr. Aur asked me to write a blog entry discussing my thoughts about St. Ann, I felt immediately overwhelmed. How could I possibly fit all the amazing things I witness in one blog entry? Where do I even begin? He suggested I just start writing and let my thoughts fill the page. So, I guess I will start at the beginning.

Mrs. Harty visits Olivia at home

When you teach at an awesome school less than a mile away from St. Ann, you get hit with the “Why don’t you bring your kids to school with you?” question pretty regularly. My standard answer is, “We are Catholic, and St. Ann is our parish.” That gets most people to accept the answer, but some press on. We always hear, “Can’t they just go to Sunday school or PRE?” I guess they could, but honestly, it’s the people and the relationships at St. Ann that are pretty high up on the list of reasons why we continue to sign our kids up year after year.

JT was only supposed to go to St. Ann for preK and then to school with me for elementary. Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. Sexton changed that plan pretty quickly for us. I attended Catholic Schools growing up in New York and Ohio, and these two amazing women quickly reminded me how important a Catholic education really is. The St. Ann teachers, administrators, staff, and volunteers help shape my children’s lives, moral compass, and religious base that help us navigate through this crazy life. They get to capitalize on those teachable moments and bring God and prayer into every aspect of life. 

JT and Online Learning

Over the years, we have watched change, growth, and innovation blossom at our school. Father Ernie and Mr. Aur have outlined a clear course to a strong future for St. Ann School and a bright future for our kids as learners. I have had the privilege to work with the students of St. Ann for the past two summers at Camp Invention. Y’all, these kids are thinkers! These teachers are teaching these kids to think outside the box and really break the mold. I was amazed with the thinking, planning, and experimenting that took place in the Innovation Lab.

Now that I have covered the “Why St. Ann”, let me switch gears and tell you what I have witnessed in the adventure that is remote learning. The COVID-19 pandemic launched into our worlds pretty quickly. St. Ann teachers and administration left their spring breaks early to come to school and learn in about 48 hours how to continue teaching without being at school, how to create a blog, post to a blog, record lessons, use new tools, and make a plan to be ready to start Monday. The fact that every teacher had a blog and assignments ready to roll for first thing Monday morning was nothing short of a miracle. I checked in with teachers and Mr. Aur to see what I could do to help. Not one teacher had a bad attitude. They were all working together and helping each other do what needed to be done to make sure our kids didn’t miss one day of instruction. How incredible is that!

The St. Ann family has truly come together to make this quarantine a strangely beautiful time where every person is doing their part to keep the learning going. Parents and grandparents are helping explain lessons at home and helping kids get assignments submitted, teachers are planning amazing and engaging lessons, our kids are being provided with meaningful feedback on work and making stronger connections with teachers.

JT on the first day of school

I know it is easy as parents for us to feel overwhelmed (me, included!) and sometimes feel frustrated hawking the online grade book to see what remote grading even looks like or wondering when the next assignment will finally be posted. I hope that we all remember that the teachers are working harder than ever in a way none of us were trained for in our college studies. Thinking of creative ways to deliver lessons, posting online, meeting virtually, and then waiting on a steady stream of work being emailed in a variety of formats to organize, grade, and provide feedback. We have asked so much of the St. Ann teachers, and they keep showing up with a smile and a new lesson for our kids. I am in total awe with the magnitude of excellence in this remote learning adventure. 

Shout outs!

• From day one of the quarantine, Ms. Ostrowski asked every 6th grader to pray a rosary every day.
• Ms. Angotti’s remote PE class is fun and hilarious. I have watched JT do yoga with his class and play basketball with socks while racing against his buddies through Google Hangouts. 
• Mrs. Wendenon’s shadow art project looks amazing, and I totally want to try it. 
• Mrs. Langford easily doubles her time on Google Meets to make sure every student is really mastering the skills. (And they better be showing their work!)
• Mrs. Harty is having Google Hangouts with her class and even did remote calendar time with the kids. And when one kid is really sad because she can’t be in Mrs. Harty’s real classroom, she totally drove to our house for a safe, social distanced visit to cheer up my Olivia. 
• Mr. Gage has assigned the coolest, real world assignments for the middle school kids. They have corrected celebrities social media, created memes, and written creative stories. 
• Mr. Cooper has the kids singing and also critiquing music from around the world.
• Mr. Maranise shared a beautiful Easter meditation for the 8th graders because we can’t attend mass
• Ms. Ostrowski sends the most thoughtful emails giving her feedback on assignments. I LOVE listening to her religion and social studies class. Her enthusiasm in contagious, and she loves our kids.
• Mrs. Metaxas has such variety in her lessons, and her animated tree project is awesome. 
• Mr. Green got every middle school student set up with a working email address in a matter of days so kids and teachers can communicate daily.
• Ms. Ghio’s blog has been incredible since JT was in 3rd grade (and probably before!), but she still is finding new and innovative ways to teach.
• Ms. Sellers’ blog is filled with pictures of our littlest learners completing remote learning projects.
• Ms. Lola has got our kids creating beautiful artwork and pushing them to get creative in every project. 
• Mrs. Griffith answers every email and hangout message even when the emails are blank and the hangout messages from 6th graders are asking if it’s legal to pick up birds or just to tell her they are hungry. (God bless these middle school teachers. For real.)

Online with Mrs. Harty

I know this is just a sampling of amazing things happening from PK3 to 8th grade at St. Ann. I love seeing my Facebook feed filled with pictures from these learning adventures. We will all get through this together, and because of the amazing leader and teachers at St. Ann, our kids will be smarter, ready for the next grade level, and will have a stronger connection to their faith. 

Stay strong, hold the course, we’re all in this together!

Liz Wehmeyer

Thank you Liz for sharing. We appreciate your kind words. You help to make St. Ann a better school. You have been there for me and all the teachers. We cannot thank you enough for your constant smile and positive words.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

From St. Ann to New Jersey: A Nurse's Story

Nurse Christy Matlock

I want to continue with this series of guest bloggers. I asked Christy Matlock if she would be willing to be a St. Ann guest blogger. Christy has been serving as our school nurse and has revamped and totally reorganized the school clinic. She also stocked it with everything needed in a school clinic. It is like a night and day difference in the clinic this year. Christy is on the frontlines of this COVID-19 battle. I'll let Christy share her story with you.

Most of y’all know me. I had the privilege of being your school nurse this year. Our daughter, Scarlett, started school at St. Ann in Pre-K 3 with Ms. Sellers and Mrs. Bannister. My husband, Coach Blake, coached flag football and basketball. I've been in Memphis most of my life. Born in Ohio but left as a baby to come here. We have grown to love this school and the people in it so much already.

I am a Registered Nurse and worked at Methodist North and St. Francis Hospital on Park until the outbreak of COVID-19. With surgeries cancelled and census low at the hospitals here, I joined up with a travel nurse agency and traveled up to New Jersey to help the nurses up here. I'm working at a hospital called CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ, which is about 45 miles from New York City. 

It was not an easy decision to make. It was a decision based on love for my family and love for my career. I’ve been in New Jersey a little over 2 weeks now, and what I see makes my heart tired. I see nurses who have been bravely fighting this battle for over a month, almost 2 month. I see ever changing policies on balancing patient care and the need to protect the staff members. I see the looming threat of diminishing supplies of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and the hospital administration doing their best to retain it and secure more. I see patients, so many patients, sick as I have ever seen them, alone with only us to comfort them. I have never taken care of patients this way, and I hope I never have to again.

I'm ok so far. We are running out of gowns here though. Using the same gown unless it becomes terribly soiled for every patient for entire shift, and they are trying to figure out how to extend the use longer. I asked the hospital today about trying to find some washable waterproof material and see about making everyone 2 or 3 gowns a piece that way at the end of each shift they can be laundered and decontaminated and ready for use next shift. If you know anyone that sews and thinks this is a mission they want to try, I would pay them to make me a couple to see if this will work for us! I'm not sure how much longer we will have gowns at all. I brought one rain suit with me in case we ran out. I may have to break it out soon! 

Matlock Family and
Fr. Favazza

Please pray for these patients and their families. Please pray for ALL frontline workers, including those who work in grocery stores and restaurants. Please pray for healing from this terrible virus.

God willing, I will see you all this fall. I miss my St Ann family. My contract is over July 11th, and I will be on my way home. I miss my babies and husband so much!!! Please stay safe out here y’all. Do the social distancing and wash your hands frequently!! 

Much Love,

Nurse Christy

Thank you Christy, for your service, not being afraid to face this pandemic on the frontlines, and for being a hero. You will be in our prayers as you continue to do God's work on earth.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Dr. Laura Battle- This Week's Guest Blogger

Laura and the Battle Boys

This week's guest blogger is Laura Battle. I met Laura back in 2013 when we worked together at Resurrection Catholic School. I have always highly regarded Laura as an educator, St. Ann mom,  and friend. I learned much about St. Ann back then from the many stories Laura shared about her boys, their teachers, and the school. I wanted to get Laura's take on the work taking place at St. Ann because Laura does view things with a critical eye. We need that critical eye to make sure we are doing the work well. So, here's Laura's take on the last five weeks of work by the St. Ann educators.

When Mr. Aur asked me to write about my experiences with St. Ann during this pandemic, I immediately said yes.  If you know me, you understand how risky that could be.  If you ask for my opinion, I will give it - the good and the bad.  I can honestly say that I have never been more proud to be a St. Ann parent than I am right now.

Reid, Brett, and Drew Battle

I have had one or more Battle boy at St. Ann for the last 15 years.  Many of you know me; we have laughed, cheered, cried, and supported each other and our children throughout the years.  We have spent years together in the gym or on the sidelines, car pools, and early morning pick ups to help each other out.  And Lord help us, the sleepovers!  We have built something at St. Ann to be proud of.  I can’t believe I only have 3 more years at the school!

The closing of the schools happened so suddenly.  No one expected it to happen so soon.  It was the Thursday of spring break week.  By Monday, my boys and I had heard from their teachers, had a chance to go to the school to get the supplies that they needed, and my boys were working.  There was not one minute of lost time in instruction.  Take a minute to understand how amazing that is! These teachers were on their vacations.  They came back to work, worked out a plan, and put it in to action.  There was no delay, no putting it off until they were more comfortable.  They embraced this new way of teaching and jumped right in.  They did this in 3 days!

Drew: Online Learning

There was a learning curve for everyone of course.  After that first day, I realized that we needed a daily schedule to help us stay on track and to provide some sort of normalcy.  By the time they starting their online learning through videoconferencing the second week of distance learning, things were so much smoother here at home.  Like many of you, I am working full time from home.  I appreciate the fact that the teachers have stayed on top of everything and are helping my boys stay on track and working with them. 

Brett: Online Learning

As much as I would love to say that I can do it all, it has been wonderful to still be able to rely on the teachers and staff of St. Ann to make sure my boys are still learning and doing what they are supposed to be doing.  It would be impossible for me to work from home if I had to take on their education also.  We are a family at St. Ann and we work well together.  It is such an amazing feeling to know that the teachers and I can still work as a team to educate my boys and that I can still rely on them to be there for my boys when I am working.  If something wasn’t working, they fixed it.  For example, for the middle school students, since they have several teachers, they need to check several teacher blogs.  To make sure assignments do not get missed and to help students and parents keep up, a weekly list of assignments is now sent out. 

Let’s look at this time line again.  On Thursday of spring break, schools were closed.  Over that weekend, we were allowed in the school to get what they needed.  By Monday, each teacher had a blog up with work posted for the students.  By the next week, my boys were having online classes with their teachers.  I am sure all of you join me in thanking everyone at St. Ann for getting out of their comfort zones and working together to do what is best for their students.     

Laura Battle, MSSW, Ed.D

Mom of:

Reid SAS ‘17

Brett SAS ‘20,

Drew SAS ’23

Thank you Laura for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the time you have taken to serve as a St. Ann guest blogger.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Previous Blog: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/04/holy-week-and-easter-during-time-of.html

Holy Week and Easter During a Time of Pandemic: A Spiritual Meditation

Painting by Ethan Nichols

St. Ann Class of 2022

Every so often, I ask a student or colleague to be a guest writer for my blog. Today, I received this spiritual meditation from Anthony Maranise. Mr. Maranise is the 8th grade religion/confirmation teacher at St. Ann. With Mr. Maranise's permission, I am sharing his spiritual meditation not only because I love what he has to say but also because what he has to say is so appropriate for this time we are going through. This spiritual meditation is definitely worth reading. Without further ado, here is his meditation.

Holy Week & Easter During a Time of Pandemic: A Spiritual Meditation

By Anthony Maranise, Obl.S.B.

We tend to view the happenings around us through a “me-centered” prism. Some examples help: That four-engine long train is going to make me late for work!; That Dow plunge cost me so much yesterday!; perhaps even, Social distance is making me stir-crazy! How relevant that last one, right?

This year, Holy Week and Easter are a bit different for us all. We are living the most hallowed of liturgical seasons amidst one of recent history’s most difficult, challenging, and uncertain seasons — that of a viral pandemic. ‘Social distancing’, then, is a term to which many of us have become accustomed. As an infection mitigation effort, it refers to the necessity to physically withdraw from close contact with one another. These efforts are not cruel, but selfless as through them, we can help to ‘slow the spread’ of illness and keep safer those with compromised immune systems and the elderly for whom illness can be more costly.

Painting by Zoe Geronimo

St. Ann Class of 2020

Be that as it may, how are we supposed to live Holy Week without being able to gather in our churches for worship? To celebrate Easter’s exceeding joys without being able to be close to our families and friends? It is truly a different kind of Holy Week this year, and it will be a different kind of Easter as well.

Let’s shift from that typical “me-centered” prism for a moment. Consider this, instead:
Both voluntarily and involuntarily, the object of our imitation and devotion in this holiest of time of the year — Jesus, Himself — experienced and knew ‘social distance.’

In two salient instances during what Religion scholars have revealed to be the timeline of historical events which make up the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) of Holy Week, Jesus either ‘socially distanced’ or was ‘socially distant’ from those He loved.

1. After His Last Supper, Jesus went with His Apostles into a nearby garden known as Gethsemane. He asks the Apostles to settle there for a bit, to pray, and to keep watch with Him. Though together at first, all the synoptic Gospels report that Jesus withdraws Himself from them for a while to be alone in prayer by Himself. He ‘socially distances’ Himself and experiences His agonia (literally, ‘a struggle towards victory;’ ‘severe emotional anguish’), only to emerge strengthened in will, spirit, and mission.
2. Hours later, after Jesus is arrested, mocked, condemned, shamed, brutally scourged, and made to carry His own instrument of torture — all willingly, for the sake of our redemption — He is nailed to the Cross. The base of His Cross is placed in a hole in the ground and filled in with rock-pebbles to support its vertical position. Here, in this second instance, when Jesus is lifted high up above the onlookers in the crowd, we see Him made ‘socially distant’, indeed, physically separated from those various others who were usually so physically close to Him.
   

Painting by Caydence Davis
St. Ann Class of 2020

In this different kind of Holy Week, this different kind of Easter, we can be sure that though we face our own sorts of ‘emotional anguish’ precipitated by being ‘socially distant’ from those we love, we do so, not out of a “me-centeredness”, but out of an expression of care and concern for the well-being of those we love — to keep them safe. We do this inspired by Jesus’ first instance of ‘social distancing’ in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Though ever fully Divine and God, we so often forget that Jesus, while on earth, was fully human as well. Like any human facing a major injustice and forthcoming unimaginable suffering, He ‘needed a moment’ to collect and compose Himself. He needed spiritual and emotional strengthening which God, the Father provided Him in earnest. He emerged from that agonia even stronger. From our own ‘social distancing’, so also shall we, if only we seek, as Jesus did, strength from God.

Anthony Maranise

Finally, our being ‘socially distant’ need not necessitate ‘spiritual distance’ in us. We should continue to look to Jesus in this Holy Week, as we have in all Holy Weeks past, as we should in all Holy Weeks to come, and always. We should look upon His Cross, but look into the ‘distance’ beyond it even more intently because Jesus’ own history ends not in His being ‘socially distant’ on that Cross. He rises! He rises from death and above it. He vanquishes it, conquers it, overcomes it, and returns from His ‘social distance’ to be once again reunited with and among those He loves!

The beauty is that includes us, even today. His Resurrection imbued into all of us who love Him and believe in Him a share in that strength He obtained through His ‘agonia’. Moreover, He has given us assurance that because He first endured the worst sorts of ‘social distance’ in pain, rejection, sorrow, shame, and death — but overcame it — so also shall we; and, all these things are so because of the events that took place on and are the reason for the Friday we call “Good.”


Thank you Anthony Maranise for sharing your spiritual meditation. You can learn more about Mr. Maranise on his website: https://amaranis.wixsite.com/amjm

God bless you,
Didier Aur, Principal
St. Ann Catholic School

How Are You Doing?

This morning I received a text from my sister-in-law asking the question; How are you doing? Thought I would take that question and make it the subject of this week's blog.

How am I doing? I'm doing well. Thank you for asking and for your concern.

In a running email conversation with a St. Ann parent, I wrote that I actually thrive on a bit of chaos. When things are smooth, I’m not at my best. I need to constantly be challenged. What is happening now, is definitely a challenge. This is my ideal work situation with fires everywhere!

There are three phrases that just drive me crazy. They are 1) Let's maintain the Status Quo, 2) I don't like change, and 3) We've never done it that way before. That cannot be said of our current world situation. If you want status quo, don't like change, and never done it another way, this is now a time for you to grow and embrace the changes in our lives. Time to change your way of thinking and doing. Definitely cannot bury your head in the sand.

Albert Einstein said, "Creativity is intelligence having fun." I absolutely embrace the opportunity we have been given to use our creativity to the fullest to improve our global situation. I think many people are just now realizing we have to start thinking globally and about others. We had a few days to change the way we live our daily lives. We've had to change the way we work. We've had to change the way we interact. It is a time for us not to despair, mope, think and act negatively. Anybody can complain. So don't. We are given an opportunity to shine. So, Shine! Every day, I see more people using creativity in helping to make everyone's situation just a little bit better. I want to be a part of that!

I took yesterday off from school work. I figured out yesterday that I had worked 17 days in a row and put in more hours each day than I normally do. Staying on the leading edge of this process we are creating is exhausting. I’m beat. Yesterday, I stepped back and let my mind rest. Spent most of yesterday doing chores: gardening, washing clothes, cleaning the house, even went shopping at Aldi’s and Big Lots (my two favorite stores along with Lowe's and Barnes & Noble). I also purposefully stayed away from the computer for most of the day. Today, I'm much better and looking forward to starting up again, but just maybe slowing down a bit.

View from my front porch

I am writing this blog while sitting on my front porch enjoying this cool, calm, beautiful morning, while soaking up some much needed sun, and listening to the birds chirp and sing. Since I have been sitting here, very few cars have driven down my street but lots and lots of neighbors have walked by with their dogs. Dogs are loving this.

A squirrel just came by and didn't notice me working on my blog. Neither did the squirrel realize it was going to become part of my blog. The squirrel was about 20 ft. away from me. It dug a little hole in the grass, buried some food, covered it up for safe keeping, and scampered away.

The reason I am sitting on my front porch is because our "Shelter at Home" ordinance and I cannot go anywhere. I don't want to sit inside on such a beautiful day when it is nice and peaceful out here. I could complain about the situation, but it is not in my nature to complain. To me, the glass isn't half full, it is overflowing. So, I'll make the best of it. If I would not have made the best of the situation and come sit out on my front porch, I would have never witnessed that squirrel burying its food in the ground. I've never seen that before. To me, squirrels are something my dogs chase, who climb all over my trees, and are constantly trying to chew their way into my attic. Today, I witnessed something different. I witnessed another one of God's creatures doing what it does every day, trying to survive.

Gacha Life Mr. Aur

All this to say, with the long weeks and days we have endured and will continue to face for God knows how long; with all the work that is required of us in these changing times; with the little sleep we are getting; and for the many unknown challenges we all face in our new world, let's embrace what is happening with some gusto. Be creative, do something different, accept the challenge, and thrive on the chaos.

In yesterday's homily, Fr. Ben Bradshaw said. "Let's hope that this will have some meaning and God will make us stronger." What we are going through will only have meaning and God will only make us stronger if we accept the challenges before us with love, compassion, generosity, and patience in making the best of what we have. After this is all said and done, I hope to be a better person, husband, father, son, brother, friend, educator, and most of all a better Christian.

So, as far as my situation and how I'm doing? Think I'll follow the squirrel's example and go plant some flowers, a few tomato plants, and maybe even some okra because my wife loves okra.

St. Ann...Pray for us!

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Previous blog: https://didieraur.blogspot.com/2020/03/apollo-13ed.html

"Apollo 13'ed"

Ken Buck is a school board member in Lancaster County, South Carolina. He posted the following statement on his Facebook page:

We gave educators almost no notice. We asked them to completely redesign what school looks like and in about 24 hours local administrators and teachers "Apollo 13'ed" the problem and fixed it. Kids learning, children being fed, needs being met in the midst of a global crisis. No state agency did this, no so-called national experts on curriculum. The local educators fixed it in hours. HOURS. In fact, existing state and federal policies actually created multiple roadblocks. Local schools figured out how to do it around those too. No complaining and no handwringing - just solutions and amazingly clever plans.
Remember that the next time someone tries to convince you that schools are better run by mandates from non-educators. Remember that the next time someone tells you that teachers have it easy or try to persuade you that educators are not among the smartest, most ingenious people in society. And please never say to me again, "Those who can't do anything else just go into teaching."

Get out of the way of a teacher and watch with amazement at what really happens.

Thank you to Jennifer Podesta for posting this on the Colt Parent Facebook page. I see Jennifer's post as an appreciation of the work being performed not only by the teachers at St. Ann, but teachers everywhere.

Our Catholic School teachers don't have to deal with government agencies and national experts on curriculum. We have the blessing of a very supportive Bishop and Catholic School Superintendent to figure out the solutions and move forward with doing our best to help the children. They both stated in our meeting yesterday that we will not stop educating our children. Gotta love it when your leaders support your mission and work 100%! The Catholic School principals are also providing each other guidance with the challenges of online learning for elementary and middle school students.

Ken Buck's statement is so true, and it makes me think about what a great staff of educators we have at St. Ann from the front office to the classrooms. I have the great privilege of working with these folks everyday. I know they would all rather be in their classrooms teaching the students face-to-face and being part of the miracle of learning as they have been for many years. The alternative of posting assignments on a blog page for parents to assist their children is not their choice but it is the best option for education at this time.

As with all parents, their world has been rocked. Their whole way of dealing with everyday activities has completely changed. They are putting in more hours per day than they did when the students were present. When I left yesterday at 4:00 for a 4:30 meeting, the PK teachers were still here trying to figure out how best to serve their students and parents. And, for awhile, it is only going to get more difficult until we can fill in all the potholes and the roads once again become easily navigable.

Think about the work of teachers. How do they put together lesson plans for students who are not sitting in front of them? How do they test the students to see if they are meeting educational objectives? Are they mastering the subjects/skills? Do they need extra help? How do they evaluate students' social/emotional development? How do they model their Catholic/Christian faith to the students? How do they show students love when they aren't present? That's tough to do.

We aren't exactly sure how to do this, but we are all trying to figure it out. It is a lot easier for high schools and colleges to administer online/distance learning. You plan out your classes, write your syllabus, post it, and expect the students to follow it. If they do, they get good grades. If not, that's their responsibility. This doesn't work with elementary and middle school students. They are neither ready nor equipped to deal with education without having the necessary guidance. My heart goes out to the teachers and parents of the younger students. You are the ones with the toughest job of all. Because of this and many more reasons, the faculty, staff, and families at St. Ann amaze me.

This is a teachable moment for all of us. Our children see how we react in times of adversity and learn from the examples we set. The result I hope to see from this is that our children learn to handle adversity without fear and with a level head. This will make them stronger, more compassionate people and be able to deal with whatever life throws their way.

The first wave of the Coronavirus storm is just now hitting us in the United States. The biggest part of the storm is yet to come if we don't heed the Center for Disease Control (CDC) precautions. CLICK HERE to access information from the CDC on how to protect ourselves from the Coronavirus.

We at St. Ann must keep in mind that school is in session, but how we operate looks completely different. Home, work, and school life have changed for all of us. Daily teaching and learning must continue and continue with purpose. We have an obligation to our children to work and continue the education process. Since we are going to fight this battle together, I like the side I’m on.

St. Joseph (today is his feast day)...Pray for us!

St. Ann...Pray for us!

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal

St. Ann Catholic School

Update On School Assignments for Next Week

St. Ann faculty members met this morning and many are still here at school working in order to plan how best to continue the teaching and learning process while the school is closed due to the Coronavirus.

Teachers have created or are in the process of creating blogs so they are able to post lessons, assignments, handouts, and videos. Please see the homepage of our website under "TEACHER BLOGS" to see what work is being posted. Only a handful of blogs are listed at this time. As teachers create the blog, we will update the list. Teachers are also sending out emails to the parents to update everyone on assignments.

We are limiting the different online programs to those each grade normally uses: PlusPortal, Khan Academy, IXL, easyCBM, BrainPOP, Istation, ACT Academy, Lyrics2Learn, RQ, ReadWorks, Padlet, Flocabulary, ShowMe…  If we aren’t currently using it, then the teachers probably aren't going to use it. The learning curve of adding a new program will not be helpful to the teachers. One of the exceptions is Starfall. We are sending home activation codes to the PK3, PK4, Kinder, and 1st grade students.

Remote/Distance Learning is something extremely new and different for all of us. It is common for some high schools and all colleges/universities, but not for elementary/middle schools. Even though I am sad we have to close our doors and we will not see the students for awhile, I'm happy about this opportunity for us to learn and grown as an educational community. Our focus is to keep things simple so we may all work together. Some of the things we do might not work, but we won't know until we try them.

I am thrilled with the work my teachers are doing and the positive attitudes as they work during Spring Break because of the love they have for their students. We have an incredible staff of people at St. Ann and it really shows when working through adversity.

Please keep the lines of communication between students, parents, and teachers open so we may support each other in the best ways possible. If there is something you would like to suggest so we may do the remote/distance learning process better, please contact me directly. My email is didier.aur@sascolts.org. We are taking a terrible situation and doing the best we can with it.

The Catholic School principals will meet on Wednesday to discuss future plans and the diocese will make a decision on Thursday regarding re-opening the schools for the following week. We will keep everyone posted.

On Sunday from 2-4pm and Monday from 8-9am, parents are to come to the school to pick up packets with student work and assignments, iPads, Kindles, books, and whatever else teachers want to send out.

Thank you for your support.

God bless you,

Didier Aur, Principal