Lancaster Catholic High School Crusader Connection January 28, 2021
Remote Instruction: When is a student allowed to learn remotely? What are the rules if they do? As we move into the third semester of a very challenging year, there are some things we have learned. One of the most obvious, is that most students perform better academically when they are physically in the classroom. In this ever changing environment, we know there are many valid reasons why a student may choose to learn remotely. There could be compromised individuals in the home. A student may be ill, waiting for a test result, or told to quarantine. In the beginning of the year, we asked students to commit to at least two weeks of a particular method of instruction because we understood this was new for everyone. Unfortunately, the “trial period” has led to students changing their preferred method of instruction from day to day. Teachers are as prepared as possible each day when they know which students will be physically in the classroom, and those who will be remote. Not knowing this ahead of time creates many challenges and difficulties. Continued on next page
Upcoming Events at Lancaster Catholic High School Jan. 30th Jan. 31st Feb. 1-5th Feb. 12th Feb. 15th Admissions Winter Activities Fair
FPA Concert & Lecture SeriesCody McSherry Organ Concert
Catholic Schools Week
Faculty In-Service No School
Presidents’ Day No School
Remote Instruction: When is a student allowed to learn remotely? What are the rules if they do? Administration is imploring parents to allow your student to utilize remote instruction ONLY for the reasons listed above. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact your student’s counselor. Remote instruction is NOT intended for students to choose daily how they would like to attend school. Please choose a method and stick with it. If something needs to change due to a true emergency, please continue to make attendance and teachers aware. In addition, there are rules for attending school remotely. They are listed on the school’s website, under the parent tab. Students are required to abide by these rules in order to attend remotely. Please make sure your student knows the rules.
Re-Enrollment at LCHS If your Crusader will be entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade NEXT SCHOOL YEAR, the following information is critical for you as it pertains to re-enrolling at LCHS. Today, you should have received an email from Lisa Garner (lgarner@lchsyes.org) in the Business Office with details about the re-enrollment process. Lancaster Catholic is using SchoolAdmin for the Admissions and Enrollment portal. If you have any questions about re-enrollment or need assistance, please contact Director of Enrollment Management, Angela Baumler at abaumler@lchsyes.org. Why is re-enrolling now critical? LCHS Administration needs to be able to determine how many science classes, gym classes, electives, etc. are needed for next year and knowing who will be returning is an integral part of this planning process. This process also allows for student schedules to be produced more efficiently. PLEASE check your spam if you have not received this email. If you did not receive it, contact Lancaster Catholic’s Business Office at 717-509-0307.
Fast FACTS The FACTS Financial Aid Application Portal is Now Open 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. Fast FACTS Tips When filing for financial aid, please use the Financial Aid application on our website as it is tailored to Lancaster Catholic High School. Click here to apply for Financial Aid.
LCHS In the News: Building for the Future LCHS Plans Remodel And Expansion As Lancaster Catholic High School (LCHS) prepares to start construction on a new STEM Innovation Center, Phase 1A of the largest remodel effort in the school’s more than 90-year history, school president Tim Hamer is looking forward to equipping the building to match the curriculum. “The once-in-a-lifetime rebuilding was informed by what we need to do to teach what we want to teach,” said Hamer. Click here to read the full article.
COVID-19 Updates from Leslie Atkins: LCHS COVID-19 Contact Tracer Visit The Pennsylvania Dept. of Health website for COVID-19 vaccine locations or click here. Click on “Where Can I Get Vaccinated?�
If you choose, you may take the vaccine eligibility quiz.
On the next page is a map on that page as well to indicate where the COVID-19 vaccine is being given. The green indicates it may have spots available for you to sign-up if you are currently eligible.
COVID-19 Updates from Leslie Atkins: LCHS COVID-19 Contact Tracer
When you click on a green spot a box will appear as you see below. I highlighted the arrow on the top of the box because the website is on the second page of that box, you need to click that arrow to go on the second page then click the website to find availability of appointments and to sign up.
COV ID- 19 VA CCINE Get the Facts
A WE B IN AR F OR SC H OO L E MP L O YE E S , P A R EN T S A N D ST UD E NT S
How do these vaccines work? How effective are the vaccines? How safe are the vaccines? When will the vaccine be available to schools? And much more... Q&A Date: February 3, 2021 Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM Zoom: hempfieldsd.zoom.us/j/93809137297 1-646-558-8656 ID: 938 0913 7297
Facilitated by: Jeffrey R. Martin, M.D., FAAFP Chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Medical Director, Lancaster County Contact Tracing Program
Lancaster Catholic High School Presents: A Senior Recital on Pipe Organ By:
CODY McSHERRY Class of 2021 Cody will present a concert of classical music performed on the pipe organ at Historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church Cody is delighted to be collaborating with the following soloists: • • • •
Dan List - Cornet Don Peris - Guitar Heather Volpe - Voice Maryam Volpe - Voice
Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 2:00 PM Socially-distanced Seating Available / Masks Required Concert will be Livestreamed through the Historic St. Mary’s Facebook site Historic St. Mary’s is located at 119 South Prince Street, Lancaster PA, 17603
Historic St. Mary’s
Be someone else’s valentine this year!
Donate Blood Thursday, February 25th 8am - 2pm
Blood Drive
Lancaster Catholic High School In the Old Gym
Sign up in the Library 16 year old donors must have a signed written consent form. • We strongly suggest you schedule an appointment to donate blood. Appointments help us improve your donation experience. • Walk-Ins are welcome; however, donors with appointments will be taken first and this may result in a significant wait time. • Masks are required. If you aren’t wearing a mask, we will provide one for you.
Everyone at this drive may choose to receive a FREE Covid-19 Antibody test with each successful blood donation. Everyone giving at this challenging time will receive a FREE Blood Donor t-shirt! A form of ID is REQUIRED to donate 717giveblood.org
Campus Ministry Pro-Life Day Each Theology Class on Thursday, Jan 28 and Friday, Jan 29th will be praying a Pro Life Rosary as a class. As we do each Friday, we will have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our Chapel from 7AM until 3:30 PM with a Rosary at 7:20 am and a Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:20 pm. Teachers and students are encouraged to spend time in the chapel. Mass will be held in the Chapel at 11am, celebrated by our Chaplain, Fr. Arena. This Mass will be live streamed to our community. Campus Ministry has gathered a variety of text and video resources for teachers and students and they are on a Campus Ministry Web page dedicated to Pro Life issues. We have included the video clip of Bishop Gainers homily at the pro-life Mass from St. Patrick. In coordination with the Theology Department, each theology teacher over the course of the Thursday and Friday will be focusing on Pro Life issues with their classes. The teachers, who know their classes the best, will focus the discussion on a variety of Pro-Life topics that reflect the age and abilities of each of their classes. Given the restrictions on larger group gatherings we felt this was the most effect way to help our students understand this issue. Fr. Arena, the chaplain will be the guest speaker in two of our Junior Honors Morality classes on Friday and will speak and lead a discussion on Bio Ethics. Campus Ministry has collected a number of video and web resources for you personally and for your class room. This page will remain up permanently.
“A society will be judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; and among the most vulnerable are surely the unborn and the dying.�-St. John Paul II
Your State Taxes & LCHS Are you interested in redirecting the state tax dollars that you have to pay from Harrisburg and to the students of Lancaster Catholic High School? Pennsylvania allows individuals (personal state income taxes via SPEs) and businesses both the ability to participate in the PA Educational Tax Credit Programs (EITC & OSTC). SPE Joinder Agreements for the 2021 Tax Year are being accepted NOW! Do not delay as these are limited funds, 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.
https://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/1144/Employment-
*For more information, contact Tammy Agesen, Program Manager, at 717-299-8219 or agesent@co.lancaster.pa.us Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation, 1050 Rockford Road, Lancaster, PA 17602
School Counseling Corner AP Exam Payments All AP students and parents will be sent information regarding payment for the upcoming AP exams on Friday, January 29, 2021. We will once again use TotalRegistration as our vendor and payment is expected February thru March. If you are experiencing difficulty paying for exams, please contact Mrs. Grosh for information on a reduced fee. All students have registered for their AP exams in their classrooms this year, so all exams have been ordered at this time (even second semester AP Government exams). Report Cards & Incompletes Report cards for Quarter 2/Semester 1 will be sent to all families next week. Students who are not passing 4 or more credits will not be eligible to participate in sports and activities for 15 school days. In addition, if students have incomplete grades, they will not be eligible to participate in sports and activities until all incomplete work has been made up. Course Changes There are very limited elective courses available for the second semester. We will not be able to move full year courses to accommodate a semester class being added to a student’s schedule. Course level changes will only be considered upon a teacher’s recommendation.
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.