We are moving forward with plans for distance learning in response to the state’s school closure announcement. Please be watching for important information later today about online classroom accounts for our students. We anticipate that we will, at least to some degree, be ready to go early next week.
Parents who did not pick up textbooks and belongings from school today should do so next Monday. The office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to noon.
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath) should call a doctor or the Spectrum Health hotline (616-391-2380) for a free virtual screening. Health care providers will then determine if further evaluation is needed. For more information, visit www.spectrumhealth.org/covid19.
Anyone experiencing severe or life-threatening symptoms should seek immediate medical assistance.
Our virtue of the month is COMPASSION. During the COVID-19 crisis, we are all called to exercise care for one another, especially those who are most vulnerable. Empathy is an important part of compassion, and now is a good time to pay special attention to occasions for seeing things from another’s perspective. While we are apart, we hope that you will continue to read together from Scripture and from The Book of Virtues and that you will spend time talking and praying together about ways to show compassion.
Because COVID-19 (coronavirus) is now present in Michigan and the guidance to schools is rapidly changing, we want to communicate again that we are staying current with the most recent information and recommendations from county, state, and federal agencies.
Although the risk to our children is reportedly low, local and state authorities are now telling us that the spread of COVID-19 to our area should be expected. We are committed to doing what we can to protect our community including parents, grandparents, and those at a greater risk. To that end, we want to communicate a number of items at this time:
Monitoring at home and evaluating symptoms
COVID-19 behaves like a common cold and starts slowly with a persistent dry cough. It may not be recognized until several days after onset, meaning it can be spread before a person realizes they have it. Therefore, regardless of travel, we ask that anyone who exhibits a fever (more than 100°F) OR dry cough OR persistent body aches stay home until you are symptom-free for 24 hours or as advised by your physician to help contain any cold, flu or other viruses such as COVID-19. If a student develops these symptoms at school, they will be isolated to our office and parents will be asked to pick their child up promptly.
Call your doctor if you or your child experience symptoms, or use the Michigan COVID-19 hotline (616.391.2380) to schedule a free virtual screening through Spectrum Health. For more information about this screening visit spectrumhealth.org/covid19. Read the rest of this entry »
You’ve heard of the 3 R’s of education (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic). What about the three F’s? In this CCEC, we talk about Fear, Frustration, and Failure.
Lesson 9. Keep calm and choose well: managing fear, frustration, and failure.
When I asked my children what advice they might give students and parents in their first year of classical school, one of them said, “Tell them things like lit and comp will be really hard for the first year.”
There will very likely be times when you hear something like: “The other kids know so much more!” “I don’t know what the teacher wants!” “I can’t do this!” “I’m gonna fail.”
Over the years, we’ve learned that it’s the parent’s job in these situations to calm everyone down. Yourself first. It’s like they tell you on an airplane: “Put on your own oxygen mask, before tending to your child.” You may be thinking, “I don’t know what the teacher wants either!” But, don’t let your child see your stress. Calmly try to calm him or her down.
We have a few ideas to share: Read the rest of this entry »
Along with other schools, Trinitas is receiving frequent updates on COVID-19 from Kent ISD, the Kent County Health Department, and state and federal agencies. We are following the CDC guidance for schools, much of which applies to all respiratory infectious disease (e.g., seasonal influenza).
At this time, we would like your help on some proactive steps. First and foremost, please keep your children home when they are sick. Students who exhibit any symptoms of illness (fever of more than 100°F, headache, fatigue, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea) should not be sent to school until their condition has been monitored for a minimum of 24 hours. Before they may return to class, students must be without fever (100°F) or signs of a fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are using antiviral drugs.
Please help us teach basic illness prevention:
1. Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) when soap and water are not available.
2. Do not share personal items (i.e., food, drink, utensils).
3. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
4. Cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).
In addition to teaching and taking time to allow for the above proactive behaviors, we are disinfecting common surfaces on a regularly scheduled basis.We will continue to review information and school-specific recommendations provided by the CDC and adopt best practices.
All schools are being told that if local officials report cases of COVID-19 in the area, decisions about closing should be done on a case-by-case basis in coordination with the local health department. Guidance may vary from school to school and from one district to the next. For more information, visit cdc.gov. For local updates, visit the Kent County Health Department.
Our virtue focus for March is COMPASSION. During this season of Lent, we remember the compassion our Lord has for us, and we will practice showing compassion for others.
Recommended readings* to read and discuss together:
Grades K-4:
Androcles and the Lion (118)
Beauty and the Beast (127)
Beautiful (134)
The Legend of Northland (148)
Grades 5-8:
Intro to Compassion (107)
Song of Life (142)
The Angel of the Battlefield (144)
Echo and Narcissus (152)
*Readings can be found in The Book of Virtues, ed. William J. Bennett. Copies can be found on Amazon Smile.
“Try This” ideas for families:
One: “We must make our homes centers of compassion and forgive endlessly.” –Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Practice doing one extra kind act for a family member each day and be quick to forgive.
Two: “What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” –St. Augustine
Who can your family visit or encourage in some way this month?
Three: Show compassion when you talk. Try hard not to say anything unkind to or about anyone. Say encouraging words instead. Make eye contact whenever you talk to someone; it shows you are attentive and care about what they are saying.
Our Parent Information Breakfast is just a week away. Please keep spreading the word and inviting those who might be looking for a school like Trinitas! Registration will close on March 4. Guests may register directly on Eventbrite or by clicking the “Reserve Your Place” button on our website.
If you pay tuition in full by check, you will need to submit your non-refundable deposit for the coming year (10% of the full annual tuition) by March 5.
If your family is enrolled in FACTS, the tuition deposit for 2020-2021 will be deducted automatically. Your March payment is the non-refundable deposit for the following year.
In case you missed the announcement last week, please note there will be no school on Wednesday, April 22, as Davies Owens, host of the Basecamp Live podcast, will be leading a staff in-service day.
Mr. Owens will be speaking at a special event for the Trinitas community on Tuesday evening, April 21. Details to come!
