Dear Parents: Your feedback on the parent surveys is extremely helpful to us as we plan for additional weeks of distance learning. Many of our parents are working in healthcare and other essential jobs, some are working from home and juggling time between their own work and that of their children. Unfortunately, some of our parents have been laid off from their jobs and face an uncertain financial future. Because of work situations, some of our families are unable to have students participate in online sessions or turn in student work according to deadlines given by teachers. Please know that we understand that this is not easy. Please contact your child's teacher directly to make accommodations that work for your family.
As schools transition from campus-based to distance-based learning, our teachers and school staff continue to work daily to ensure our students are receiving the best instruction possible. As a ministry, it's important to remember that each Catholic elementary and high school operates on its own budget. Families, through tuition and fees, support the ministry of our school. We do not receive financial support from the church or the Archdiocese. As a result, tuition will continue to be applied during this period. We will continue to pay all our teachers and staff through this closure. Planning for next school year continues with re-registration and working to ensure that STM continues to provide the many excellent programs that we offer our students. While it is important that we continue to plan adequately for the future and we have deadlines that must keep us all moving forward, I also understand that some of you may be facing financial hardships. Please email me directly if you have concerns, need adjustments or extensions on your FACTS account or need emergency financial assistance.
Today we received an update from the Department of Catholic Schools announcing that all Archdiocesan Schools will continue distance learning until Easter break. We will then continue with our regularly scheduled Easter Break returning to school on April 20. Please see this letter from Superintendent Pam Lyons for more information. We are aware that local public schools will be closed until May 1.
Monday, March 30 will be a Professional Development day for our teachers and staff. There will be no additional work assigned to students on that day. This will allow us to plan and prepare for additional distance learning classes, catch up with correcting and grading assignments and continue to study best practices in distance learning. I am in complete awe of all that our teachers have accomplished over the past two weeks. There was little time to prepare for school closure but they have learned and adapted new skills to enable learning to continue for our students. | 
