COVID-19 School Updates
“In-Person” Classes Postponed through Thursday, April 30, 2020
UPDATED: MARCH 25, 2020
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Dr. Mike Rockers, Superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools, has just released this updated directive on our response to the Covid-19 emergency.
Due to our social responsibility, and in solidarity with our State leaders,
all parochial schools will extend the postponement of “in-person”
classes through Thursday, April 30, 2020.
For Saint Anthony School, this means that Distance Learning will begin next Monday,
March 30, 2020 and continue through April 30, 2020. Dr. Rockers has been very impressed with the quality of the distance learning programs being implemented throughout our school system. I am very grateful to teachers who are working hard to implement successful distance learning, and to school families for their commitment to spiritual and academic learning in this new form of instruction.
Please stay well and we will remain unified in the Spirit!
Yours in Christ,
Bridget Olsen, Principal
SPRING BREAK EXTENSION DUE TO COVID-19
UPDATED: MARCH 20, 2020
Dear Saint Anthony Parents and Guardians,
Hawaii Catholic Schools has closed all parochial schools through April l3th. Currently, schools are scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, April l4th. This decision was made for the well-being and safety of our community.
Teachers will be contacting you next week with information to begin our Distance Learning on Monday, March 30 2020. We will be updating our website with more information as it becomes available. Teachers will be posting assignments to the FACTS Family (formerly RenWeb.) If you have not logged into the Family Portal, you can connect to it through the tab, FACTS Family Online, at the top of our schoolʻs website: saskailua.org/facts-family-online
The Terra Nova standardized tests have been postponed.
All Masses have been canceled through March 31st. The Day Chapel and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel are open during the day from 8:00am to 4:00 pm. Please be sure to practice social distancing and limiting the number of people praying at the same time to be ten or less. The church office is open from 8 to 4pm Monday through Thursday.The Outreach program is closed.
If you would like to celebrate Mass it will be celebrated without a congregation and live-streamed from the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu each Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/HonoluluCathedralBasilica or www.hictv.com
Thank you to the families who have offered to donate food for children in need. This is a great time for us to care for each other. As restaurants are closing now, Iʻd like to encourage you to support two SAS families who have restaurants in Kailua..Baci Bistro and Maui Tacos and order take out meals! Please email us if you have a need or something to share.
With the various closures and discussions about COVID-19, children may begin to feel anxious and worry about themselves, their family, and friends getting sick with COVID-19. I have included a prayer that was shared with me at the bottom of this email to share with your children. The following link is to the CDC about Talking with Children : https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html
Please tell your children that we all miss them and look forward to reconnecting with them soon.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bridget Olsen
Principal
A Prayer Remembering God is with Us
Lord God, you are always with me.
You are with me in the day and in the night.
You are with me when Iʻm happy and when Iʻm sad.
You are with me when Iʻm healthy and when I am ill.
You are with me when I am peaceful and when I am worried.
Today I am feeling (name how you are feeling)
because (reasons you are feeling this way).
Help me to remember that you love me and are with me in everything today.
Amen
UPDATED: MARCH 17, 2020
Dear St. Anthony School Ohana,
We have been actively monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know this has been a rapidly changing situation.
Hawaii Catholic Schools and Bishop Silva have mandated that the diocesan schools extend the Spring break by one week and St. Anthony School will be closed through Friday, March 27, 2020. All school athletic leagues and after school classes have been canceled.
The PTSG Fundraiser, “Jackpot” scheduled for Friday, April 24th has also been canceled, with a plan to reschedule this event in the Fall of 2020.
The 4th Grade Big Island trip scheduled for April 22-24th has been canceled. We are planning on having a combined 4th and 5th grade Big Island trip next year, so that these students will not lose out on this experience.
We are planning for your children to return to school on Monday, March 30th. If this changes, we will immediately let you know. Our teachers and staff have been actively preparing report cards and Distance Learning lessons. Should this method of teaching become necessary to initiate, your child’s teacher will contact you by Thursday next week.
If your child or members of your family have traveled off the island of Oahu during Spring break, you must inform the school with the information regarding where you traveled to and the travel dates. Travel to any Level 2 or Level 3 Zone or to a US State under a state of emergency, may result in your child being asked to stay at home for l4 days after their return. Please email health@saskailua.org
We know that these changes and times are difficult for all of you and want you to know that you are in our prayers.
Yours in Christ,
Principal Bridget Olsen
https://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/2020/03/16/hawaii-catholic-schools-to-extend-spring-break-due-to-covid-19/
DIOCESE OF HONOLULU PRAYER FOR THE COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC
[by Bishop Larry Silva; March 12, 2020]
Dear God of all the living, you sent your Son Jesus to heal us from illness and sin. We turn to his healing power in this time of anxiety over the pandemic of this potentially deadly virus. St. Damien and St. Marianne Cope dedicated their lives to service of those who had an infectious disease. St. Marianne Cope said, “I am not afraid of any disease,” because she was confident of your power to save. At the same time, she took prudent precautions of hygiene to assure that she and her Sisters would not be infected.
Let us learn from this example to put our trust in you to save us from the ravages of disease and to take prudent measures to prevent its spread. Guide us to know when to isolate ourselves from the possibility of infection, but never let anyone be left
without the care and concern of others in the community.
As our Diocese of Honolulu has been dedicated to the Divine Mercy,
we pray with confidence, “Jesus, I trust in you.”