News - April 2020 RSS Feed

Let me begin by saying how nice it has been to hear so many positive comments with regards to the distance learning that has taken place over the last four weeks. The teachers have been working very hard to keep your child(ren) engaged in the learning process. All of us are learning right along with the students, as this is new territory for everyone! Thank you to all families who have been able to pay their tuition, pre-registration fee, aftercare bills, etc. Thanks also to those of you who have reached out to the school to explain your family situation. Our Lady of Las Vegas is very understanding of your circumstances and will work with you. Many of you have been inquiring about First Holy Communion, kindergarten graduation, 8th grade graduation and events, and walk-a-thon. Fr. Gerry and I have been discussing these issues at length, but due to the social distancing protocol that remains in place, these events will not take place as had been planned. Sadly, our First Holy Communion, that would have taken place this weekend, will be postponed until further notice. Until there is more information from Bishop Thomas and Governor Sisolak and his plan to reopen in phases, this remains an unknown for us. Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Probst are working on something virtual with regards to the Walk-a-thon. Perhaps a jump-a-thon or something of that sort will be put in place? This would be something that all students could do at home, but as an entire school. I should have a definite plan for you very soon. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten graduation will be postponed until after the summer, perhaps in August when the new school year is beginning. Eighth grade graduation will be postponed, as well. All principals have been brainstorming different ways to make this last year for our students special; plans will depend upon the loosening of the emergency procedures currently in place. We will keep you apprised as information becomes available. With regards to graduation fees paid by families for kindergarten and eighth grade, once all expenses such as caps and gowns, diplomas, and other expenses such as ribbons and pins for the eighth grade have been deducted from the fees, the remainder will be either put towards tuition or refunded to families. All hot lunch money that was paid for April either in cash or by credit card was put towards tuition. All April hot lunch payments made by check have been shredded, so that money will not be deducted from your checking account. The last two weeks of March hot lunch has also been applied to tuition. More updates will be sent to you as I have them. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make this time easier for your family. Stay well, and thanks you for your continued support.

I hope that this letter finds you and your family well. In order to plan for enrollment for next school year, I need to have as close a student count as I can get. Thank you to all families who have paid their pre-enrollment to date. If you have not paid a pre-enrollment fee for the coming school year, please do so by next week, if you are able. If you can only pay a portion of the fee, please call the office and pay what you are able. If you are unable, at this time to make a pre-enrollment payment, please call the school office to give Mrs. Didier or Mrs. Araujo a verbal confirmation of your intention to return for to Our Lady’s for school year 2020-2021. With this information I will be able to estimate how many students will be enrolled for next year and decide if more classes other than grades kindergarten and first need to be lowered to one class, as well. Since the letter from the Diocese went home last week stating that school will be closed for the remainder of the school year, there have been numerous calls with regards to tuition reduction. As our superintendent stated in a previous letter, our teachers are working very hard to keep the students engaged and learning. I am aware that parents play a big part in their child(ren’s) learning right now, but this pandemic is something very unexpected with no blame to be placed. Unfortunately, I can only offer extensions on tuition, if needed. I cannot excuse families for April and May as some have requested. If you need an extension or can pay only a portion of tuition, please call the school office. The office is open on Monday through Thursday from 8am-12 noon. Please call the school office with regards to pre-enrollment, even if it is only to give a verbal confirmation of your intention to return or not return! It is so very essential that I have more accurate numbers for next year’s student population. More information will be coming with regards to communion, graduations, and reimbursement of graduation fees. If you have any questions or need assistance with anything, please email meat [email protected] or call the school office. Thank you for your continued support.

Many thanks to those of you who have inquired about making payments and also those who have reached out to let me know how you are doing with regards to finances. Hopefully, you received the short letter that was sent on Monday with updates about a few school items. Please note that both Mrs. Araujo and Mrs, Didier will be alternating days to answer the phone calls and take payments beginning Monday 4/20. Mrs. Araujo will be in the office from 8am-noon Mondays and Wednesdays, and Mrs. Didier will be in on Tuesdays and Thursdays 8am –noon. The two best ways to make a payment to the school is either through the mail ( 3046 Alta Drive, LV NV 89107) or over the phone with a credit or debit card. If you have a card on file, rest assured that payment will not be deducted without your permission over the phone. Walk-in payments cannot be accepted! If you have any questions or concerns, please call the school office during the times that the secretaries will be in the office or email me at [email protected]. Thank you for all your patience and support!

April 13, 2020 Dear Parents/Guardians, I hope all of you had a very Happy Easter, and were able to relax a little. I know that this holiday was different from what we were used to, but hopefully, the next holiday will be a time when we can get together with family and friends and enjoy each other’s company once again. Progress reports for the mid third trimester are scheduled to go home this Friday April 17th. We are working on sending these reports to you through Plus Portal, but I am not sure if they will be sent on 4/17. If they are not to you by 4/17, they will be to you sometime during the following week. The SLE (School-wide Learning Expectations) Progress Reports, that usually go home with the regular six week progress reports, will not be sent through Plus Portal, so they will not be sent at this time. I will inform you on the status of these reports soon. The teachers will resume their teaching with the students this week and will continue until the students are actually sitting in their seats in their classrooms.Please let me know if you have questions and/or concerns with regard to student work. Thank you for all the tuition and aftercare payments that were collected over the last two weeks, and more payments will be processed this week for the April tuition as the envelope would have gone home today 4/14/20. Some of you who have paid graduation fees for kindergarten and eighth grade are wondering what will happen with those fees. Caps and gowns and diplomas have already been purchased. If the school is allowed to do something for the graduates, then the money for that will also be added to the cost of the caps, gowns, and diplomas. The remainder will be applied to tuition, but at this time, the amount is unknown. I will keep you posted as the school year progresses. Many of you have reached out requesting extensions with regards to payments, and I have taken the requests very seriously. OLLV does not want to put more pressure on its families than they already are facing. Please know that Our Lady’s will work with you. Thank you for all your patience and support, and I will keep you posted on all school items.

First, let me say how I appreciate all the support that you have shown to my teachers and to me during this time. I know that it has been difficult, but your comments and kind words have been of tremendous help and encouragement. As you know, at this time, school is not set to resume until May 1st. That could change too, but for right now, this the date to resume. Going forward, the teachers will continue to keep your child(ren) engaged until we return to school. They will continue using various platforms to give instruction and assign work, and do all that they have been doing over the last three weeks. Hopefully, by now, everyone is used to the schedule of work, and because of that, it will all seem a bit easier to manage. Next, I would like to wish all of you a very “Happy Easter”! I am sure this holiday will be different from what we are used to, but the main objective is to keep our loved ones and ourselves safe. Lastly, if you have any concerns or questions, please email me at [email protected]. I would be happy to help you with whatever you need. Calling the school would not be as efficient as using my email address because I am in the school office only about half the week, and working from home the rest of the time. Thank you for all your support and be well!