Dear Parents, Students, and Friends of Kelly,
Easter is quickly approaching. On Thursday, March 29 [Holy Thursday], students will be dismissed at 12:20pm. If your student sold all of his/her raffle tickets by the deadline, they will get the whole day off! All other students are expected to attend school as usual. Students who do not qualify for the day off and are absent, will be considered unexcused and will become ineligible for exam exemptions in May. Friday, March 30 is Good Friday and is a school holiday, as is Easter Monday, April 2. School will resume at 8:15 on Tuesday, April 3.
The 2018-19 school year calendar has been completed and is included elsewhere in this newsletter. School will begin on Monday, Aug. 13.
I have shared info about ‘Vaping’ recently – its rise in popularity with teens, and some of its dangers. I have added a letter to parents from a Catholic School priest in Rochester that I thought was worth the read.
Last week, the science department got some spring cleaning- old, out of date chemicals were removed by a licensed company. Due to environmental, as well as safety concerns, these substances must be removed and disposed of by qualified groups who take great precautions to ensure their proper removal.
Reminder: Applications and re-enrollment are now being completed on-line. We have been made aware of a few ‘bugs’, but for the most part, it is working smoothly. If you’ve not yet done so, please complete and submit your re-enrollment ASAP. If you need assistance, call the counseling or admissions office (ext. 110 or 139). The re-enrollment fee goes up to $300 on April 1.
As previously announced, the diocesan Catholic School principals have selected Tommy Hilfiger as the new uniform provider. Currently owned uniforms from Parker may still be worn. As old items are replaced with Hilfiger items, Parker items will eventually be phased out.
Easter Blessings,
Roger S. Bemis
Principal
I hope this message finds you well as we usher in the season of spring. I want to bring to your attention a recent phenomenon that has become prevalent in many schools across the country. Students are experimenting with a variety of vaporizer devices and liquid cartridges. Similar to cigarettes from past generations, vaporizers are used to transport tobacco liquids, typically scented, along with nicotine to the bloodstream. On some occasions, young people are substituting other types of liquids into the cartridges–including hemp oil and hash oil.
While Rochester Catholic Schools enjoys a community of shared values and goals for our students after high school, we are never immune to such societal pressures. To date, the high school has recovered two cartridges that are part of a “Juul” vaporizer. Coined the “iPhone of vaporizers,” the Juul is covertly disguised to look like a portable USB drive, and the cartridges resemble USB plug-ins that you may typically see for a remote mouse or other wireless devices. Additionally, a teacher discovered a “Juul wrap” from @myjuulwrap and myjuulwrap.com that coincidentally fell out of a student’s pocket. Faculty and staff have been made aware of these findings and, as a result, we have increased our awareness and supervision. Be aware that we have changed the language in our student handbook to specifically address the use and possession of these devices; use and possession also result in an MSHSL violation as stated in the MSHSL handbook.
Please speak with your child at a level that is developmentally appropriate about the topic of vaporizers, tobacco and chemical use, and the harmful effects of negative choices, including the newly linked ‘popcorn lung’ that can result from vaporization. Please let us know if you learn anything that would be helpful in helping our students correct their decision making. In case you are wondering if your child may be using or connected with children who are using, the product has a subtle scent of fruitiness, berries, and other sweets. Finally, here are some articles for your reference:
- The Juul’s So Cool, Kids Smoke It In School
- Students are sneaking discreet new e-cigarette that looks like thumb drive
- Students flock to JUUL e-cigarettes, even in school
Thank you for your support as partners in your child(ren)’s education.
