Crusader Connection: December 22, 2020

Lancaster Catholic High School Crusader Connection December 22, 2020

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from everyone here at Lancaster Catholic High School Upcoming Events at Lancaster Catholic High School Dec. 23rd Dec. 24th - Jan. 4th - Jan. 18th Jan. 20th Early Dismissal ML King Day Jan. 22nd Jan. 4th Jan. 8th

No School Christmas Break

LCHS Virtual Learning

Midterm Exams

January 4-8th Schedule In an abundance of caution after the Christmas Break, Lancaster Catholic High School will implement Synchronous Virtual Instruction from Monday, January 4th- Friday, January 8th.

LCHS teachers will be teaching from their classrooms while students learn virtually from their homes.

Below are the guidelines for synchronous learning.

• Students must be logged into their Google classrooms at the start of each class and remain in the class the entire period.

• Students must attend homeroom on time since attendance will be taken during that time.

• Students must be physically present on video (and audio when applicable); not a picture/bitmoji, etc.)

• Students must be visible on video (enough light on face).

• Students must be wearing appropriate attire, according to the LCHS casual dress guidelines found in the student handbook which can be found on the student tab on the LCHS website or by clicking here.

• Students must be sitting at a table or desk (if possible) with the materials needed for each class. The environment should be quiet and well lit.

• Students must actively and respectfully participate in each class.

• Students must follow each teacher’s syllabus guidelines.

Unless the State protocols change, Lancaster Catholic’s extracurricular, co-curricular, and athletic activities may meet and function during this week.

Lancaster Catholic High School will resume in-person instruction on Monday, January 11, 2021.

COVID-19 Update from Leslie Aikens: LCHS COVID-19 Response Coordinator I would like to thank all the parents, students and staff for the support they have shown through asking questions about travel and testing for COVID-19, wearing your mask every day, and quarantining when necessary. The COVID-19 pandemic has made all of our lives more challenging in many different ways, so a special thank you for your patience, perseverance and communication with us to help keep the students in the school building and learning together. As you can tell I am very appreciative to this school community and how the community works together.

One of the areas that I have not addressed in the COVID-19 updates is testing.

I thought it would be helpful to give you some facts around testing for COVID-19. The COVID-19 positivity rate is monitored by John Hopkins COVID Resource Center. The Positivity rate for Pennsylvania on December 21, 2020 was 15.8%. This is the percentage of tests that are positive. The rate that the World Health Organization considers ideal is 5%. When the positivity rate is above this it may indicate a state may only be testing the sickest patients who seek out medical care, and are not casting a wide enough net to identify milder cases and track outbreaks.

In the Public Health area, the testing for COVID-19 is critical to measuring the spread of the disease and determining how to handle the pandemic. There are two types of COVID-19 tests available, serology tests and viral tests and they serve different purposes and have different limitations.

The viral tests are performed with an oral or nasal swab or a saliva test that looks for evidence of an active viral infection. Two major types of viral tests are performed, a PCR test and an antigen test. The PCR tests looks for the presence of a virus’s genetic material. The antigen tests look for specific proteins on a virus’s surface. A faster result is found with the antigen tests although this test may be less sensitive. These viral tests do not indicate whether someone was infected in the past only if a current infection is detected. The FDA formally approves these tests prior to use.

Continued on the Next Page

COVID-19 Update Continued The serology test is a blood test that detects evidence of someone’s prior infection with the virus.

This test is looking for evidence that someone may have been exposed to the virus in past, including individuals who were asymptomatic, by detecting antibodies specific to the virus. The serology test does not diagnose an active infection or determine an individual who is protected from reinfection (currently antibodies have not been proven to guarantee immunity). The FDA does not formally approve these tests prior to use, although a few have Emergency Use Authorization.

If you have an exposure to a person who has tested positive for COVID and you develop symptoms contact your medical provider immediately.

Stay safe and healthy!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

- Leslie Aikens, LCHS COVID-19 Response Coordinator

Fast FACTS FACTS Financial Application Portal opens on January 1, 2021.

Completed applications are due February 1, 2021 for priority financial aid. (Note that deadline is one month earlier than last year.)

You may apply after that deadline, but you run the risk of funds being exhausted. Funds will be available on a first-come, firstserve basis. You may use your 2019 Federal Tax Return with your 2020 W-2’s to apply for financial aid for the 2021-2022 School Year.

Help is available at the Business Office by appointment.

The re-enrollment process will begin in mid-January.

Virtual District 7 Band Congrats to Joel and Paige Olmsted for placing in the ‘virtual’ District 7 Band.

Auditions were held virtually this year and Joel was selected on Clarinet and Paige on French Horn. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic there will be no in person music festivals statewide.

Your State Taxes & LCHS Would you like to redirect the state tax dollars that you have to pay from Harrisburg and to the students of Lancaster Catholic High School?

Well, now you can! The state now allows individuals (personal state income taxes) and businesses both the ability to participate in the PA Educational Tax Credit Programs. These limited funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please contact Joe Sahd ‘01 in the Office of Advancement today by calling 717-509-0313 or emailing jsahd@lchsyes.org. Click here for more information.

Toys for Tots Varsity Club’s annual Toys for Tots campaign kicked-off on December 4th.

This year, Lancaster Catholic High School collected 372 toys to be donated to less fortunate children in our community.

AGA Nation Rocket League Tournament Champions Lancaster Catholic High School’s Adorn Binoy, James Johnson and Sean Cox participated in the AGA Nation Rocket League Tournament for Pennsylvania schools.

In this four round tournament; LCHS’s team won all of their games making them the Pennsylvania champions! AGA Nation also had a drawing for our students who watched the last game and Catholic High’s Colin McCullough won a pair of Beats headset by Dre.

Weather Related Flexible Instruction Days (asynchronous) When the Flexible Instruction Day is announced “A” or “B” day will be designated.

• If snow is predicted for the next day, teachers will have an assignment posted by 3:30PM before leaving the building. If an unexpected weather event causes the cancellation of school, all assignments will be posted by 10:00AM. • When a weather-related Flexible Instruction Day is called, an alert will be posted on the school website and included in the recorded phone message informing families of the cancellation. Guidelines on weather related Flexible Instruction Days will be included in the weekly Crusader Connection periodically beginning mid-November to parents and students so they are informed prior to the 1st “snow” day.

• Lessons and assignments will be posted on Google Classroom.

• Expectations are to be provided as to how the students are to complete and turnin the assignment(s).

• Assignment(s) are to be turned in electronically by the students no later than 8:00PM that day. Turn-in options include electronically on Google Classroom, Google Docs, Rediker or Turn-it In. • The entire lesson and accompanying assignments should take a minimum of 35 minutes and a maximum of 45 minutes.

• Teachers will notify students of their availability to answer questions via email.

Teacher availability will not exceed a 2-hour block. Teachers will take class “attendance” based on submission of work. This attendance will be forwarded to the Attendance Officer.

• If a student is legitimately sick on a Flexible Learning Day, parents will be expected to follow normal procedures for reporting illness; an excuse card for the Flexible Learning Day must be submitted by the student upon returning to school. Students will be expected to make-up the assignment per the teacher’s make-up policy.

• Students who have reported no home Internet connection may opt to use a smart phone to complete assignments. If this alternative is not an option, all assignments are to be submitted by 3:00PM the 2nd school day after the return to school.

• If there is a loss of power due to the weather, this will be taken into consideration for both students and teachers. This will be monitored and adjusted upon return to school.

LCHS Midterm Exam Information - January 20-22, 2021 In order to maintain our COVID-19 protocols, 2020-2021 mid-term exams will be administered following our Collegiate Schedule below. Exams will be proctored by the class teacher, and students will report to their regular classroom and sit in their assigned daily seats. Students must be in uniform for all mid-term exams.

Collegiate Mid-Term Schedule 8:00 a.m. – Students with an 8:15 exam must report to their classroom by 8:00 for prayer, attendance and announcements. Students who arrive after 8:00 a.m. are considered late.

Late students will not be permitted into the exam room without an admission slip from the Attendance Office between 8:00 and 8:15.

Students not taking the first exam at 8:00 a.m. must enter the building through the Main Office doors.

For the second and third exams, please report to your assigned testing room 5 minutes prior to the test time, so that the exams may begin promptly.

Wednesday January 20, 2021 Day 1 1A Classes (8:15- 9:15)

15 – minute intermission

2A Classes (9:30-10:30)

15 – minute intermission

3A Classes (10:45 – 11:45)

11:45 – Dismissal

Thursday January 21, 2021 Day 2

4A Classes (8:15 - 9:15)

15 – minute intermission

1B Classes (9:30-10:30)

15 – minute intermission

2B Classes (10:45 – 11:45)

11:45 – Dismissal

Friday January 22, 2021 Day 3

3B Classes (8:15 - 9:15)

15 – minute intermission

4B Classes (9:30-10:30)

10:30 – Dismissal

Study Hall will be held in the Cafeteria throughout the exam period. The Library will be used all 3 days for IS testing and will not be available for students or faculty use during exams.

LCHS Midterm Exam Expectations & Notes • Students taking a first period exam must report to their assigned testing room by 8 a.m. , just as any other normal school day.

• Once an exam begins, late students will not be permitted into the exam room. If late, you will need to reschedule your midterm exam with your teacher.

• The use of cell phones and bathroom breaks are not permitted during the exam period.

• Smart and Fitbit watches are prohibited in the classroom during exams.

• Talking is prohibited, until all exams are collected. Once an exam is completed, students may silently study/read. Students may not use electronics until the bell rings to signal the end of the exam period.

• Students will not be dismissed early from an exam period.

• There will be no extended time provided on mid-term exams unless a student was previously approved by the Instructional Support team. Those students who are approved for extended time will be dismissed to the Library for exam completion, as needed.

• Students with a first and third period exam time, but no second period exam, must report to the cafeteria for study hall during the 2nd exam period.

Wandering in the halls is not permitted. Leaving and re-entering the building is not permitted.

• Students must leave the building immediately after their last exam each day. If you need to wait for a bus, please wait in the cafeteria. School district bus transportation will be provided per the regular 3:00 p.m. schedule. The Elizabethtown, Ephrata Walmart, & Holy Trinity buses will follow separate schedules, which will be provided by the drivers.

• Note that testing may be in process throughout the building. It is important that a quiet environment be maintained, especially in lobby areas.

• Once out of the building, students may not re-enter without a valid purpose.

• Parents should note that supervision will not be provided between the end of the third final and end of the normal school day.

Thanks for abiding by the above expectations for mid-term exams, which provide an organized and fair testing environment for all students. Study well and good luck!

School Counseling Corner What’s New for Seniors $$$ Now that most students have applied for college, the search for scholarships should be next on your “To-do” list. A full listing of scholarships may be found on Naviance. We advise students to check this list early and often! To access this crucial information, students should log in to their accounts, click on the Colleges tab, scholarships and money and look at all the resources. Some of the scholarships may have deadlines that reflect last year--those will be updated as soon as we receive the new information.

This year, Naviance has included school-specific scholarship opportunities, so all students need to do is look up their college of choice and see what’s available. And don’t forget those non-interest loans from Lancaster Dollars for Higher Education. This is a great way to make up for any differences in grants or other financial aid. Please visit https://lancdollars.org PSAT Score Reports While score reports can be found on-line at collegeboard.org, it looks like the College Board will be sending paper copies of these reports to school in January. For anyone who is interested in how PSATs are scored, this youtube is helpful: https://youtu. be/1I6f51n3-dc Any parent who has questions may contact Jill Grosh (jgrosh@lchsyes.org) Young Adult & Virtual Caring Place If you have a child who has lost a parent or other significant person in their life, please reach out for support. In addition to Highmark’s Caring Place, Hospice provides Coping with the Holidays (via Zoom).

Please contact them at (717) 391-2413 or (800) 924-7610.

To All of Our Families May the celebration of the birth of Jesus bring you hope and peace this Christmas!