Dear NCA Families:

As a community, we have had to modify the ways we live, work, worship, and educate. Over the past 2 ½ weeks we have all learned a great deal. Our teachers and staff have worked diligently and collaboratively to be not only a source for learning but also to provide comfort and consistency during a challenging time. We share the concern and anxiety our NCA community is experiencing. We are all trying to overcome the struggle and adapt during these unpredictable times. We believe that a sense of community, a sense of shared responsibility, will contribute to navigate us safely through the coming weeks.

Since Governor Pritzker has extended the Illinois stay-at-home order through April 30, this means we will continue e-learning following our Easter vacation. On Monday, April 20, NCA will resume with Week 5 of e-learning. The Office of Catholic Schools has also confirmed the suspension of the ACT Aspire testing for the 2019-2020 school year. As you know, our students would have been participating in this summative test this week. It is a relief to all of us in knowing this test will not have to be administered if we are able to return to our school buildings in May. That is one less stressor for students and teachers.

As we continue to plan our e-learning lessons, I am aware that each of our NCA households is different and all of us here are doing our best to address your needs. However, if the e-learning workload or assignments is affecting your child or family, please be sure to reach out to your child’s teacher. Based on feedback from some of our working families, our NCA teachers will be posting the next day assignments the evening before with a specified due date, if applicable, in order for families to access the assignments before 9:00 am the next day. That will allow families to review work and provide any directions to their children before leaving for work. Teachers will still be available for questions and Zoom meetings between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Please also know that the videos teachers post can be watched at any time that works with the schedule for your family. If your child is unable to attend a Zoom meeting, some of our teachers will record the meeting and post it for you to view at a later time. Also, take advantage of Fun Friday as a day to catch up on assignments. Again, we are making all attempts to alleviate unnecessary stress and anxiety. We need our strength to stay healthy.

I look forward to our families joining us for an All School Mass this Friday, April 3, as we celebrate an 8:30 am liturgy with Fr. Paul Wachdorf at St. Gregory the Great Church.

I pray that your family continues to remain safe and healthy.

God Bless,

Christine Huzenis
Principal

We were all so saddened by the news of Joan Harrington receiving hospice care at home, and many of us were wondering what gesture of love we could extend during this challenging time to honor someone who has been such an asset to the NCA journey.

This coming Friday, we are going to have a Love & Appreciation Car Parade to pay tribute to the many years Joan has contributed to NCA. We are going to meet at NCA Primary Campus at 1:15 pm. We will start north on Glenwood from the parking lot, head east on Rosemont, and then south on Broadway to pass the side of the street where Barr Funeral Home is located at 6222 N. Broadway. Tim Harrington will have Joan outside in her wheelchair. We can honk wildly and have signs or anything that you can come up with to express your love! Her son Ed is home from LA, and they are trying to get Patrick home from the Air Force. They will be there with her as well. This expression of love and appreciation will mean so much to Joan and her family as they try to get through this very difficult and sad time.

Another way to express love and show Joan how much she has meant to us over the years is by creating sidewalk chalk pictures and messages for Joan. Jessica (Abby and Kate's Mom) came up with this fabulous idea. Please see the image below for an example. If you and your family would like to create one, please do, then send a photo of it to picturesforjoan@gmail.com

Jessica will collect all the photos and create a digital book for Joan, so she and her family can look at your pictures and messages whenever they like. If you don't have access to chalk and/or a sidewalk, a paper picture – or any picture would be wonderful! Please submit all photos to Jessica by the end of Friday, April 3rd, 2020.

We hope to see you on Friday at 1:15 pm at NCA Primary Campus!

Thank you for joining us in honoring Joan, and let's keep Joan and her family on our hearts and in our prayers.

The beginning of the Third Trimester did not quite begin as we all planned. At this point in time, we are continuing to keep our students engaged in learning through e-learning and will do our best to assess through this mode of learning. Even with all this uncertainty and stress, those of us at NCA are already planning for a sensational 2020-2021 school year.
 

The following are some important dates for next year’s school calendar. I am hopeful this will help you in finalizing summer fun events and looking at your plans for next year. A more comprehensive review of dates will be made available to our families in late May.
 

2020-2021 Important School Calendar Dates
*Dates are subject to change.

August 24- First Day of School Gr. 1 – 8 Pre School, Kindergarten and Jr. Kindergarten Orientation A – M
Middle School Early Dismissal at 1:50
Primary School Early Dismissal at 2:10 ECP Available PM only

August 25- Pre School, Kindergarten and Jr. Kindergarten Orientation L – Z ECP Available AM & PM

September 7- Labor Day—No School

September 25- Professional Development Day—No School

October 12- Columbus Day—No School

November 13- Professional Development Day—No School

November 24- ½ Day Early Dismissal Middle School 11:10 Primary School 11:30 Conferences 1:00 – 8:00

November 25 – 27 Thanksgiving Holiday—No School

December 5 Catholic High School Exams

December 18 Middle School Early Dismissal at 1:50 Primary School Early Dismissal at 2:10

December 21 - January 1 Christmas Break

January 4- Classes resume

January 18- Martin Luther King Day—No School

February 5- Professional Development Day—No School

February 15- President’s Day—No School

March 11- ½ Day Early Dismissal Middle School 11:10 Primary School 11:30 Conferences 1:00 – 8:00

March 12- Professional Development Day—No School

April 1- Middle School Early Dismissal at 1:50 Primary School Early Dismissal at 2:10

April 2- Good Friday—No School

April 5 – 9- Easter Break

April 12- Classes resume

April 19 – 23- Aspire Testing

April 26 – 29- Aspire Make Up Testing

May 31- Memorial Day—No School

June 2- 8th Grade Graduation

June 7- Last Day of Pre School, Kindergarten, Jr. Kindergarten

June 9- Last Day of School ½ Day Dismissal Middle School 11:10 Primary School 11:30

Our School Counselor, Therese Schreiner, has been teaching and counseling students for 52 years, and she has learned a lot on her journey. She's here to share words of wisdom with our community. This month Mrs. Schreiner is talking to us about "Stress."

Stress—Guess what?

Though stress is often thought of as an adult condition, children often feel it as well. I have been thinking about that idea now that we are all following the “shelter in place” order and E-learning for NCA students as a daily habit. Stress has a cause and then a reaction. In children, it often can be disruptions of any kind in their daily lives, such as what is happening in the world, in their city, and in their home. It could also be a change in their daily routine or not seeing their friends. The reactions can be physical-headaches or crying or emotional- anxiety, uneasiness.

One technique I usually show children of all ages (it’s good for adults, too) is Deep Breathing Exercises. Breathe in through the nose, counting from one to four. Hold your breath and exhale counting to six. This can be done for several minutes. It definitely relaxes the most upset child.

Another technique is to exercise. There are many such videos on the Internet for young children, teens, or adults. Regular exercise can help everyone feel less stressed. Do some jumping jacks with your child. It is a fun way to spend quality time.

Visual imagery, that of identifying a special place, or a happy memory, is to close your eyes and imagine you are at your favorite place. It is a great way to relax.

For older children and adults, journaling is a great way to release some pent-up feelings, as well as to put into words some happy memories. Young children can draw simple pictures or create graphic story images.
One of the best and easiest ways to reduce stress and give a boost to feelings is to listen to music. It may be good to model a variety of music to cultivate new interests in these young minds.

Most important is for parents or older siblings to be active listeners. The child realizes you do understand what the fears may be. Thus, you and your family are able to work towards a less stressful environment.

Therese Schreiner
tschreiner@ncaschools.com

The team at Rogers Park Business Alliance has compiled a master list of all the open businesses, including who's doing delivery/carryout, selling gift cards, or doing staff fundraisers. We hope this is helpful and encourages the continued support of local businesses as government mandates negatively impact them.

Please click the link below to view the master list.
https://rpba.org/2020/03/rogers-park-businesses-that-are-open-or-accepting-donations/?fbclid=IwAR2BCHJm5ltjZ5oWyRt54AHdXNQQGxZzxfJbgP0U4FuRDb2POExg9xYwgHs