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Dear IHM Parents,
Well, here we are at the end of the year! It was an unexpected ending and not one anyone anticipated,
but we did it with many curves and bumps along our year’s journey. With each others’ support, we were
#SAINTSSTRONG. For that, we are very thankful and very proud. Our teachers, parents and students have
risen to meet every challenge along the way, and we know there were quite a few. Our teachers have gotten a
serious crash course in technology, our parents see our teachers in a whole new light and our students realize
how important our school community is to them. Lessons have been learned and we are stronger for them all.
In keeping as transparent with you as we can, we recognize that the plans for facilitating instruction
are ongoing for our return date of August 12th. While we can’t give you our specific plan at this time, we do
want to ease your anxiety by giving you the realm of suggested guidelines (see below) that we could be faced
with in August. Currently, we are forming a task force of expert advisors in their fields to collaborate with us
and the Department of Catholic Schools to draft tentative plans for returning to school in August. Once those
proposed plans are approved, we will also be sending out a survey to our parents that will give us your
feedback. We thank you for your partnership and we know that your choice to enroll your child at IHM
during these unprecedented times is not one to be taken lightly. We thank you for the trust you place in us
and know that we are already planning with our faculty to further streamline NTI, the platforms that we use
as a school and utilize as much teacher/student virtual interaction as possible. We hope to keep our students
as engaged in our school community as possible if/when remote learning takes place. As directed, our faculty
will remain in a “readiness” state, in the event that an intermittent or extended closure would be warranted.
From Kentucky Department of Education’s (KDE’s) COVID-19 Considerations for Reopening Schools
Initial Guidance for Schools and Districts (May 15, 2020):
Preparing for Intermittent Closures: Regardless of start time, schools and districts should remain vigilant
in preparing for sudden intermittent closures or rapid transitions to extended periods of remote learning.
KDE encourages schools and districts to build and communicate transition plans and maintain a constant
state of readiness throughout the school year. This may involve changes to the way students store
materials, the types of materials students take home daily and considerations for blended learning in
lesson planning. For example, schools may determine that it would not be appropriate to use lockers and
students should be encouraged to take all of their materials home every day.
KDE encourages districts to prepare alternative schedule models that may be deployed if the DPH
recommends that schools reduce the number of students in the building. Districts may build alternative
schedules that meet the needs of their population. KDE has prepared four possible alternative schedules as
a starting point for consideration:
May 21, 2020
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Synchronous Opt-In: Under a synchronous opt-in model, parents may choose whether their children
attend school in person or virtually. Instruction would be delivered synchronously to students who are at
school and at home through virtual live streaming. This option requires heavy use of instructional
technology, including digital tools that already are available in most classrooms (mobile devices, web
cameras, digital meeting platforms and learning management systems). Careful consideration will need to
be made for intentional activities to engage and support students participating from home as the in-person
students may more easily draw the teacher’s attention. This model leverages the strengths of teachers and
staff and may require greater flexibility for co-teaching, co-facilitating and coaching opportunities to drive
learning successes.
Fully Online: Under a fully online model, students would receive instruction while at home through a
combination of synchronous and asynchronous digital delivery methods. This method may be more
appropriate for students in higher grade levels who can be more self-directed. This model reflects existing
remote learning models in place through Kentucky’s virtual learning providers, as well as many successful
Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) Program designs.
Our communication with you will be essential as we begin to discern the direction for our students in August.
We will continue to be transparent with you, proactive for our students and diligent in upholding the integrity
of the education we provide. Likewise, please feel free to reach out to us if we can do anything to help you
and your family. Obviously, we want to keep our school and parish community as strong as we can. If you
have any questions or concerns, we ask that you reach out to us so that we can foster our partnership and
continue to be #SAINTSTRONG. We wish your family a healthy, rejuvenating and relaxing summer. May
God bless our families, Father Rottman on his new assignment and Monsignor Dominic as he adjusts to our
IHM family during this uncertain time. Again, thank you for choosing IHM!
God Bless Your Day,
Mrs. Marcos and Mrs. Harper
NTI instruction will continue through tomorrow, Friday, May 22nd
Teachers will be averaging grades the week of May 26th
Report cards will be electronically released Friday, May 29th
Textbook/library book drop off has been moved to the Cafeteria,
please see schedule below:
May 26th 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM
May 27th 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
End of the Year Information
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Our Catholic Church’s Catechism defines Christian Hope as “the power by which we firmly and
constantly long for what we were placed on Earth to do.” Our world is full of people who need our help to
have Hope. But one group, parents whose unborn children are diagnosed with a disorder, especially needs our
attention. Parents in these situations are often encouraged to choose abortion so that they do not have to go
through with the birth and the baby does not have to suffer an impairment. This type of logic creates a
“Culture of Death.” Our society thinks that new life is disposable if it does not fit its requirements for a
“normal” baby. It’s our job as Christians to eliminate this ideology.
Indeed, it is very challenging for parents to realize that their unborn child will have a disorder. Many
parents react by ending the child’s life, thinking this does some good for him/her. But God gives parents in
these situations Hope that their child will be able to have a meaningful life. The Bible tells us, “Before I
formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the
nations,” (Jeremiah 1:5). So, we, as the people of God, must spread this news to anyone considering an
abortion. A lot of future parents could benefit from knowing that there is a God who has a plan for their
disabled baby. They must know that when God made their baby, He knew what He was doing and He never
makes mistakes. “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future,” (Jeremiah 29:11). So although some people believe that a baby
born with a disorder is some type of mistake, we know this is not true. We know we have no right to take
away the gift of life that God has given to impaired children. How can we feel that our evaluation of their
value is superior to God’s?
Furthermore, the sanctity and value of every life must be preserved. Even though human standards
may regard disabled babies as imperfect and therefore expendable, we, as children of God, know that life is
precious because it has resemblance to the existence of God himself. “God created mankind in his own
image, in the image of God he created them.” (Genesis 1:27). Our society needs our help to realize that babies
are handcrafted by God. This means that all people, not just people of certain religions, must respect the
divine gift of life. It is our duty to persuade our world that God means for us to be respectful of his wonderful
gift of life.
Even if people do truly want the best for their disabled children, some still believe that abortion is the
best choice. In fact, “many women terminate their pregnancies when they learn that their child has Down
Syndrome,” or other conditions. Ending the baby’s life before it is even born is often considered a way of
ending their suffering, so future parents may believe this to be the best choice for their child. However,
suffering is not a reason for one’s life to be deemed expendable. Accordingly, “Pope Francis said that
abortion is never the answer to difficult prenatal diagnoses.” This means that we must protect the lives of the
disabled babies that our society puts at risk. The parents of these children need us because they have been
separated from God’s source of Hope. We can help them find it, even if we give just a small act of kindness.
We can show them the respect that they, in turn, must give their unborn child, regardless of developmental
diagnosis.
To summarize, the lives of all babies must be treated with respect. The parents of unborn children
with disorders need our help to discover the Hope that can be found in God. We must make sure they
understand terminating their baby’s life is not a choice. We must protest any agencies or doctors that tell
hopeless parents abortion is the best way to face an alarming diagnosis. We cannot let them fall into the idea
that this is morally acceptable. We must tell them that their child deserves a chance at the life that God has set
out for them to live. We must give them Hope.
Diocese of Covington Pro-Life Essay Contest 3rd place winner Written by IHM 8th grader Emma Linkugel
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On Saturday, May 30th (original graduation date) the virtual Graduation Ceremony will be
posted on our IHM YouTube channel at 11:00am, followed by a pickup sendoff parade at
IHM at 3:00pm! Link to our Immaculate Heart of Mary School YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC3_JcYt4pNH7hyQrUlw54Q
Please be advised that if your student(s) have a balance due on their lunch accounts for the 2019-2020 school
year, these charges need to be paid by Friday May 22, 2020. You can pay the charges online at
K12paymentcenter.com or by sending a check to the school office C/O the cafeteria.
If you have an 8th grader that is not going to a diocesan high school or a student that is not returning for the
2020-2021 school year, you can request a refund of your lunch balance for amounts of $5.00 and above by
completing a refund form that can be found on the cafeteria web page at https://ihm-ky.org/school-lunch-
program on the left side of the website under documents. Refunds will be processed by the Diocesan School
Lunch Program and mailed to you.
If you have any questions please email Toni Sturpe, Cafeteria Manager, at [email protected].
Save the Date: Join us for NEW and FREE Sports and Adoration on Friday evenings twice a month!
Required 8th Grade Theology of the Body Retreat: Saturday, October 17, 2020 @ IHM 8am-
6pm
EDGE Halloween Party: Monday, October 26, 2020 @ IHM 7-8:30pm
EDGE Retreat: Saturday, November 7, 2020 – Sunday 8th @ IHM
Children’s Carnival: Saturday, February 6, 2021 @ IHM 4-8pm
Required 8th Grade Theology of the Body Retreat: Saturday, February 20, 2021 @ IHM 8am-
6pm
IHM Youth Ministry Important information from our Youth Minister Brad Whittle
8th Grade Graduation Information
End of the year lunch account balances
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School is Out—What’s a Parent to Do?
For the past two months, the Coronavirus has created havoc in our lives. Suddenly, parents were not only
working from home, but students were learning from home too. Hopefully, your family began to find some
sort of routine, and the dust has settled a bit. But now, we’re in for a new challenge. Parents no longer have to
worry about children completing their schoolwork, but with many summer camps and activities cancelled,
what happens now? Summer is going to look very different indeed.
The best way to tackle summer is to take some time to come up with a plan. First and foremost, have a
routine. Routines provide structure for a child. Knowing what to expect helps a child to be successful and will
hopefully allow for less interruptions for working parents. Having a routine will also combat boredom that
will eventually set in.
Here are some ideas:
Determine set times for your child to wake up, have breakfast, and lunch.
Fitness: Schedule a time for your child do some sort of fitness daily. This could be doing Go Noodle,
selecting a fitness program on TV, or a handful of basic exercises such as jumping jacks.
Daily Chores: Assign daily chores such as cleaning up after meals, walking the dog, feeding pets,
making the bed, etc. Establish specific times for chores to be completed.
Other Chore Time: Designate times where you assign special chores (clean bathroom, sweep porch,
etc.)
Daily Reading Time: Reading is so important for your child’s brain development. Let them choose
something they enjoy (and you approve of).
Creative Time: Research and list out as many ideas of fun things your child would enjoy doing.
Gather supplies for these ideas and encourage them to select one once or twice a week (or more).
Game time: If your child has siblings, schedule a game time twice a week. Make sure you develop a
fair way of selecting which games to play.
Outdoor play time, weather permitting.
Meal Planning: Have your child plan a meal. For more fun, have them prepare the meal (help if
needed).
Science Experiments: Purchase a science kit or research ideas on the internet and schedule one or
more each week.
Tech-Free Free Time: Give your kid free time without technology. This often allows for creative play.
The more structured your routine is, the more likely your children will follow it. They may grumble and
groan at first, but within a couple weeks, they will settle in and know what to expect. Of course, there will be
days you’ll need to be flexible with the routine -- but that’s okay!
If you need any help, support, advice, or suggestions over the summer, please don’t hesitate to reach out to
me, Ann Williams, School Counselor, at [email protected]. Have a safe, happy and healthy summer!
See you next fall!
Counselors Corner
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PTO is very excited to offer back to school supplies kits through 1st Day School Supplies. This will be
offered as a convenience option for incoming IHM students grade K-5.
This is not mandatory and a K-5 grade school supply list is attached for those who wish to shop on
their own.
This is a great option for 3 reasons:
1. The first is parents are looking for a RISK FREE back to school shopping solution. Our service
provides parents a contact free solution to get supplies that oftentimes require multiple visits to
multiple stores with HUGE crowds and long lines.
2. Second, we have a full supply of all the brands you and your teachers want including:
Ticonderoga, Mead, Elmers, Crayola, Avery and Fiskars... not to mention the impossible to find
germ fighting brands like Clorox and Purell. Retailers have made it hard to find these brands in
the past. Can you imagine what it will look like this summer? We are hearing impossible. Not
with us! WE HAVE THEM ALL!!!!
3. Finally, we had no control on how the school year ended but we can do something about how
next year will start. We owe it to teachers, parents and students to make the start of this year to
be the best ever. 1st Day School Supplies can be a huge part of this celebration. Our supplies
provide confidence to teachers, parents and students.
The link below is open and orders can be placed starting today.
Last Day to place an order will be June 15th.
Supplies will be available for pick up at our back to school open house in August.
http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=42658
Also please see below for items that are not included in kits and will need to be
purchased:
Kindergarten $15 for rest mat will be collected from teacher on the first day of school.
$7 for misc. projects given to teacher on the first day of school.
1- headset for Computer class
1st Grade 1- Sock for white board
1 - headset(no I-phone or wireless) for Computer class
2nd Grade 1 - headset (no I-phone or wireless) for Computer class
3rd Grade 1- roll of Aluminum Foil for STEAM class
1 - headset (no I-phone or wireless) for Computer class 4th Grade 1- headset (no I-phone or wireless) for Computer class
5th Grade 1- Green 2 pocket plastic folder & 1 notebook for Spanish class
1- Yellow 2 pocket plastic folder for Music Class
1 pack of Dixie Cups for STEAM
1- headset (no I-phones or wireless) for Computer class
Grades K-5 school supply information for 2020-21 school year
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(Check out the local libraries, Barnes and Noble, Half-Price Books for copies of books) Kindergarten: Please read with your parents Dr. Seuss’s ABC Book Grade 1: go to ihm-ky.org school parents page under Summer Reading to retrieve 1st grade packet
Grade 2: Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip, by Cynthia Rylant
Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea, by Cynthia Rylant
go to ihm-ky.org school parents page under Summer Reading
to retrieve 2nd grade packet.
Grade 3: Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
go to ihm-ky.org school parents page under Summer Reading
to retrieve 3rd grade Packet.
Grades 4-8: go to ihm-ky.org school parents page or go to link below to retrieve
your Summer Packet.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1woKPehFV7g1USG18axVRdwRlLAFRQHRz/view?usp=sharing
IHM 2020 K-8th Grade Summer Reading
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Tentative Assigned Dates for First Holy Communion are as follows: For families formerly scheduled for the Saturday, May 2nd First Communion, your
new date is Saturday, August 1st at noon. For families formerly scheduled for the Saturday, May 9th First Communion, your
new date is Saturday, August 8th at noon.
Tentative Practices for First Communion Thursday/Friday, July 30 & 31, 6:30pm – 8pm, practice for the August 1, First Holy
Communion. Thursday/Friday, August 6 & 7, 6:30pm – 8pm, practice for the August 8, First Holy
Communion.
Remember: These dates are contingent on the directives of Governor Beshear & Bishop
Foys as to when we can safely return to our churches in larger groups.
First Holy Communion Rescheduled Dates & Practices
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Immaculate Heart of Mary School Calendar 2020-2021 School Year
August 9 Open House – 1:30-3:00 pm
August 12 First day of school for students
August 14 No School – Assumption
September 7 No School – Labor Day
October 9 No School- Professional Development
October 12 No Bus Service
November 2 No School – All Saints
November 3 No School – Election Day
November 24 Parent/Teacher Conferences –1:00-8:00 pm
Dismissal at noon, no pm bus service- Private Transportation
November 25-27 No School – Thanksgiving Break
December 8 No School – Immaculate Conception
December 21 – Jan. 3 No School – Christmas Break
January 4 School Resumes
January 18 No School – Martin Luther King Day
January 25– 29 Catholic Schools Week
February 15 No School – Presidents Day
March 19 No School – Professional Development
April 1-9 No School – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Spring Break
April 12-16 No Bus Service all week – Private Transportation only
May 18 No Bus Service – Private Transportation only
May 20-25 No Bus Service – Private Transportation only
May 26 Last Day of School – Dismissal at noon – No Bus Service –
Private Transportation Only
June 1-4 May be utilized as Snow makeup days as needed
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