Principal's Announcements

In this week’s Gospel, we learn of the promise that Jesus made to send His Holy Spirit to “teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.” It is this Spirit, which we await in our anticipation of the Solemnity of Pentecost. 

The same Spirit that Jesus promised and then sent when he had returned to the right hand of the Father in heaven inspired the apostles to say in their letter to the Gentile believers that we saw in the first reading. With the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us by Baptism, making each of us a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” This surprising promise, that the creator will come to dwell in his creation, is one we ought to constantly return to and rely upon. 


Substantial Equivalency: If you have an older child in Chaminade, Kellenberg, or Holy Trinity, you probably received an email last week regarding the Substantial Equivalency law. Below, please find information regarding it.

In 2019 the NYS Council of Catholic School Superintendents, in conjunction with our coalition partners, soundly defeated then-Commissioner Mary Ellen Elia’s proposed regulation that would have required all religious and independent schools to be evaluated by Local Public-School Authorities (LSAs) on an ongoing basis. 

The defeat prompted the Regents and State Education Department (SED) to re-engage the religious and independent school community on ways to enforce the law.  Current Commissioner, Betty Rosa, recognizing the long-standing success of Catholic schools (and indeed the overwhelming majority of religious and independent schools), has clearly listened to the NYS Catholic School Superintendents.

Accordingly, the current proposed regulation embodies multiple pathways as means of determining schools to be at least “substantially equivalent,” obviating the need to be evaluated by an LSA.  Among those pathways are the three that encompass all Catholic schools:

being accredited by an agency approved by SED
being registered with SED
administering assessments approved by SED
 
As such, by falling under at least one of these pathways, all DRVC Catholic Schools are automatically determined to be at least “substantially equivalent,” thereby removing any role or authority of an LSA to review DRVC Catholic Schools.

Dr. Denise T. Smith, our Interim Superintendent, and the NYS Council of Catholic Superintendents met with Commissioner Rosa and her senior staff last week to thank her for incorporating these provisions into the proposed regulation and to point out an inconsistent, technical provision that allowed for the very remote possibility of an LSA evaluating one of our schools if that school was subject to a complaint.  Commissioner Rosa acknowledged the inconsistency and agreed to have the provision addressed.

 Additionally, the Catholic School Superintendents will continue to vigorously oppose and will include in our NYS Council of Catholic School Superintendents’ written comments on the regulations.

St. Agnes Cathedral Parish Choir Open Houses
Click on the links below to access the time of the Open Houses.

Boys Open House is tomorrow, Monday, May 23rd
Girls Open House of Tuesday, May 24th

On Monday, May 23rd, the students in grades 6- 8 will take their religion final. Finals are worth 20% of the 3rd-trimester grade. Please ensure that your children prepare for their finals. 

Tuesday, May 24th, the Fourth Graders will participate in the NYS Science Performance Exam. The students should come to school well-rested and have a nutritious breakfast.

Also on Tuesday, May 24th, The Eighth Graders will take their ELA Final and the Sixth Graders will participate in the State’s Math Field Test. The Field Test is not a graded assessment and takes one class period to complete.

Flynn and O’Hara Uniform Measurement is also on Tuesday from 9 - 11 AM. New Families to St. Agnes Cathedral School are invited to come to the school to get measured from 10-11 AM.
Flynn and O’Hara is not taking any payments, they are only taking measurements for those parents who are looking to have their child measured.   The measurements will be entered directly into their website. See link embedded below. You will have the opportunity to review the cart and add or remove quantities.


Flynn and O’Hara

There is an Open School Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 24th at 7:30 P.M. in the Parish Center. At this meeting, the newest members of the School Board will be introduced, the 2022-23 tuition schedule will be announced, and an in-depth overview of the Empowering God’s Children program will be presented. Please note the program has been postponed until the week of June 13th.


Wednesday, May 25th is Special People’s Day. The First Graders will sing some songs for the Special People in their lives and share some treats with them. Classes 1-1 and 1-2 will meet with their special people in the Parish Center from 9-9:45, and Classes 1-3 and 1-4 will meet with their special people from 10-10:45 A.M. 

Thursday, May 26th is Ascension Thursday. The school children will attend Mass as a school in celebration of this feast.  Following Mass, the Third Graders will enjoy a Field Trip to Long Island Children’s Museum. 

Friday, May 27th is a 10 AM Dismissal and our Faculty vs. the Eighth Graders Basketball Game. After the game, the faculty and I will meet to plan more fun and exciting events for the 2022-23 School Year. 

Middle School Sports

Girls Lacrosse
Practice: No Practice 
Games:
Monday 5/23 vs. Kellenberg @ 3:45 
Location: Kellenberg 
 
Play for Mary Game:
Tuesday 5/24 vs. Our Lady of Lourdes @ 3:45 
Location: Darcy
Wednesday 5/25 vs. Long Beach Catholic @ 3:45
Location: Long Beach Rec Center Field
 
Boys Lacrosse
Practice:
Monday 5/23, Wednesday 5/25, Thursday 5/25 @ 3:00-4:15
Location: Darcy Field
Tuesday 5/24 @ 3:00-4:15
Location: Ketler/Bligh Field
 
Boys Baseball
Practice:
Monday 5/23 @ 3:15-5:15 
Location: Lister Field
Games:
Tuesday 5/24 vs. Long Beach Catholic @ 3:45 
Location: Barasch
Wednesday 5/25 vs. St. Rose of Lima @ 3:45
Location: Barasch
 
 
Girls Softball 
Practice:
Monday  5/23 @ 3:00-4:15
Location: Joyce Field
Games: 
Wednesday 5/25 vs. Kellenberg @ 3:45 
Location: Merrick Avenue Complex
Thursday 5/26 vs. St. Aidans @ 3:45
Location: Joyce Field
 
Email the coaching staff or Mrs. Brower (mbrower5546@stagnes-school.org) with any questions.



School Board
There is an Open School Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 24th at 7:30 P.M. Please join the Board at 7:30 P.M. in the Parish Center.


Mothers’ Club
Thank you to the current Mothers’ Club Executive Board, for all your hard work, effort, and dedication this year. The year was a success, and I am truly grateful to you for all you have accomplished during this school year.

Congratulations to the new Executive Board Members who were installed last Thursday evening. I am looking forward to working with you next year.


Fathers’ Club
Golf Outing is on Thursday, June 2nd.

PSA
We are finishing out the year by helping to host 1st Grade Special People Day on May 25th in the Parish Center. We are looking forward to this special event with so many special people!

On June 3rd we will be hosting a communion breakfast for our 2nd graders and their teachers after mass.

Also on June 3rd, we will be hosting a Teacher Appreciation Luncheon- please be on the lookout for donation requests for this event. Thank you!

Peace and blessings to you and your families on this Sixth Sunday of Easter. 

Mrs. Cecilia St. John, Principal