The Parent Quarterly

May 2021
Dear Parents,

On behalf of Loughlin administration, we hope this letter finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe. 

The pandemic has been with us for close to 14 months. It feels like it has been forever. The lack of progress addressing social justice issues and the toxic political climate has made this period exponentially more challenging for all of us. I am extremely proud of how our Loughlin community/family has responded to this crisis. We have done all we can to address the needs of our students.  

In the spring of 2020, we were able to start remote instruction without the loss of a single instructional day. We held a "live graduation" on August 1, 2020, in our schoolyard. Our PTA and the 88th Precinct worked together to allow parents the opportunity to be present for the event. As well as we did to finish the 2020 school year, we knew we would have to do even better as we prepared for the 2020-2021 school year. 

One of the major obstacles facing many students was the lack of a sufficient computer, dependable wifi, or access to a device that supported online learning. We knew that supplying every student with a high-end device would be expensive. However, we also knew that some of our families were struggling financially. Our Alumni and friends quickly responded to the needs of our students and raised the necessary funds that enabled us to purchase a new iPad for every student. 

We immediately provided extensive professional development for our teachers. We also developed a schedule for hybrid and remote instruction. We began our school year on time and gave our families a choice between live and remote instruction. We instituted safety guidelines and a COVID testing program, which continues to this day.
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Above: You Belong Here Video produced late in 2020
All of these measures afforded us the ability to provide live instruction throughout the year. We pivoted to full remote when necessary. We have been sensitive to the needs of our students and listened to our parent’s concerns as we have worked together to address these needs. One example of the adjustments made - we created a "bye day" for one content area each day of the week. Many parents and teachers were concerned that students working remotely were putting in extremely long days in front of their computers. 
 
This change gave every student an extra break each day. As a result, students have been more productive. After three quarters we have 59% of our students on the Honor Roll! 

We have many students who are not meeting with the same level of success. Some are suffering from Zoom fatigue and others feel the effects of working in isolation. We are doing everything we can to support this cohort of students and assist them in their efforts to get back on track. If your teenager is having difficulties, please contact their guidance counselor and teachers ASAP.  

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Performing Arts Have Excelled This Year
Above: If you didn't have the chance to view on Friday - our students put a great performance together for the 43rd annual Spring Show.

Below: You don't want to miss this professional production of Before I Let Go!
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Most of our sports teams and clubs have been able to meet throughout the year. Although some seasons have been shortened, most have had some opportunities to compete. Our Performing Arts program has live-streamed a number of events this year. The Spring Show (above) broadcasted on Friday, April 30th starting at 4:00. 

The prom for the Class of 2021 will be held at Giando’s on May 27th. We will have our graduation ceremony here at Loughlin in our schoolyard on June 5th. There are many other senior and student activities scheduled over the next two months.    
    
At this point of the school year, we are looking to finish the year strong and plan for the Fall of 2021. As part of the planning process, we will send out a parent survey to gather information on how parents are feeling on a number of topics. There will be an end-of-year PTA meeting via zoom. It is important for us to have parent input as we develop our plans for moving forward. 

The goal of our Parent Quarterly is to keep parents well informed of all that occurs at Bishop Loughlin. Having a strong relationship with home and school is an excellent way to assist our teenagers as they meet the challenges of high school. We will continue to send email blasts throughout the year as needed. As always, if you have any concerns, please feel free to call or email us.

Our staff is committed to touching the hearts and minds of our students. We look forward to having another outstanding year and appreciate the continued support from our dedicated parents and their spirited teenagers.
 
Live Jesus in our Hearts! Forever!!
 
Edward A. Bolan '78,
Principal  
2020-2021 Highlights

We believe it is important to share some of the many successes we have had here at Loughlin during this extraordinary year.

These successes are the result of the hard work and dedication of every member of our community. Our Teachers, Parents, Staff, Deans, Guidance Counselors, Custodians, Development Team, Technology Department, Security Guard, Nurse, Kitchen Staff, Finance officers, Board of Governors, and a long list of Alums have all worked to give our students a path to a successful future.  

One of the many blessings we have been afforded here at Loughlin is having a tremendous group of parents leading our Parent Teacher Association. Adrienne Loiseau, Sandra Bryce, Paulette Hines, Lisa Francis, Michele Lopez, and Wendy Morgan are doing a fabulous job keeping home and school well connected. The planning and organization of the wellness workshops were a great support for many of our families. The workshop sessions were led by Ruby Aguirre. She is the parent of a 2020 graduate from Loughlin and has a Master’s in Forensic Psychology with a specialization in child sexual, physical, and intergenerational trauma. The evenings were informative and comforting. 
The iPad distribution program. In the fall every student that wanted one received a new iPad at no cost. Alumni funded this initiative and Mr. Moe, Ms. Freeman and Mr. Montes prepared them for pickup. Mr. Moe has worked day and night supporting the tech needs of every member of our community. 

In February, we held our third annual White Coat Ceremony. The event gave students and families an opportunity to attend in person or watch it virtually. We were able to celebrate the success of students in our Bio-Medical program. The Keynote speaker, Dr. Gladyne Confident from the Class of 2009 did an excellent job sharing her story with our students. I think it is important for students to see themselves in our successful alums.

Also in February was our National Honor Society Induction Ceremony. Keeping traditions going and celebrating the accomplishments of our students is essential for keeping students engaged.  This year’s chapter of NHS has 72 students earning a place in this prestigious organization.

Our Performing Arts Team ensured that the music program continued to give opportunities for students to receive high-quality musical instruction. They have been able to host performances for virtual viewing. 

Our athletic department has been busy. Every sports team that was able to play has engaged in competition. Student-athletes have embraced this opportunity. The Track team has been going strong all year and we have multiple teams playing this spring. We thank Ms. Proce and all our coaches for their efforts. 
This year’s Black History Assemblies had to be spread out over two days. We had a multitude of speakers and performers deliver an informative learning experience for all. The titles and activities covered were impressive. Students had a choice of plays, lectures, and contests on a variety of topics.  

Judgement Day - Black History Month play where a judge put the U.S. on trial for past injustices.
Pan Girl –Women History Month/Black History Month: play about a young lady’s struggle to play a “Man’s instrument”.
Finance for Students - Kwame Egerton is an alum who lead a discussion on financial things that he wished he had learned in High School that would have changed his life.
Kahoot – Trivia contest to test student’s knowledge of Black History. 
Sports Activism – CB Buchnor, a Major League Umpire, presented the history of black athletes involved in the fight against injustice.
Prominent Black Entertainers -Looking back at prominent Black Entertainers in the Performing Arts.
Listening Session On Racial Justice – An opportunity for Juniors to share their thoughts and feelings on Racial Justice in a small group setting. 
Cops & Teens – Two retired Police Officers covered many challenging concerns and issues facing teenagers today. 

One of our responsibilities as a Lasallian School is to touch the Hearts and Minds of our students. This is at the center of how we interact with our students. A key aspect of this approach is to make sure that every student is supported. Our Guidance Counselors and our Campus Minister have worked endless hours connecting with students struggling in this time of great challenge. There are dozens of weekly interventions via Zoom to meet this need. Lasallian Youth moved from Thursday morning live meeting to Zoom sessions in the evening. This has been a great way for students to make connections with peers. 
DEPARTMENT SNAPSHOT
What's Next?

Looking ahead we see that there is still a great deal of work to do. There are a significant number of events planned for May & June and we need to be ready for the fall. The Senior Prom will be held at Giando’s on May 27th. Students should purchase their tickets ASAP as there is limited seating. AP Exams start on May 4th and end on May 12th

We will have a live graduation on June 5th in our schoolyard. We have a planning committee in place. Each graduate will be able to have two guests attend the ceremony. More details will follow. Look for a schedule of all Senior activities in early May. Underclassmen will have their last day of class on June 15th. There is a limited number of Regents exams on the schedule this June: the English Regents, Living Environment, and Algebra.  The PLTW Biomedical Students will have a special testing schedule. Seniors on May 10th and all others on June 16th through the 18th. The schedule for textbook and iPad return will start on June 16th and end on the 18th.

As for the Fall we are preparing for a number of possibilities. Our goal is to have all students back in school as soon as it is safe to do so. For students that have been remote all year this transition will not be easy. We understand that each family has to do what is best for their unique situation. We are open to our remote students changing to hybrid instruction now. Starting this now could ease the transition in the fall.