April 3, 2020

" You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds of knowledge which were never dreamed of before; yet, if you have not developed in the soul of the pupil strong habits of virtue which will sustain her in the struggle of life, you have not educated her, but only put in her hand a powerful instrument of self-destruction . "

 ~St. Philippine Duchesne
Virtual Congé

While we cannot gather together for our annual Congé celebration, we can still celebrate while apart. Here are some ways that you can join in:
  • T-Shirts - They are being sorted and delivered by zip code by our IA team and others who have volunteered. They will just be dropped at the door or in the mailbox to avoid any contact. Hopefully, this will be a nice surprise and bring a little bit of joy to our families! The shirts will have a label with name, address and size and will also explain to wear your t-shirt on Saturday, April 4th and post on Social Media tagging @ashrosary #ashrosary #beyondthegates and #tocongeandbeyond! Those who still want to buy shirts can do so here, and they will be delivered.
  • Vote - for your favorite decorated dessert, here
  • Confetti Eggs - Make homemade Confetti Eggs or buying them as an activity with your family since they are the most popular! Instructions available here and here.
  • Social Sharing
  • Post a photo of the food you are having for Seafood Friday on April 3rd
  • Post pictures of your families in their Congé t-shirts on Saturday, April 4th
  • Don't forget to tag! @ashrosary #ashrosary #beyondthegates and #tocongeandbeyond  
Black and Gold Day - Monday, April 6

On Monday, April 6 ESPN is rebroadcasting the Saints/Falcons game from 2006 when the Saints returned to the Superdome following Hurricane Katrina. We are going to celebrate the Saints with a Black and Gold day. 

Send in photos of your family in your black and gold gear to [email protected] , or tag us @ashrosary!
Easter Break

The School community will be on Easter break April 9, 10, 13 and 14. Please take the time to rest in the hopes that we will be able to return to school sooner, rather than later. When we return to school on the 15th it will be a Wednesday. Faculty will be offering make-up testing, additional extra help and small group review.
Counselor’s Corner

When speaking to friends, family, students and colleagues, I am reminded how the lack of control and the not knowing when “it” will end raises our anxiety and stress levels. We don’t know when we will be back in school. We don’t know when we will be able to eat at a restaurant again. We don’t know when we will hug a friend or classmate, and we have no control over it. It's a hard pill to swallow especially when you are a teenager and the most important thing to you is your peers. We need to focus on what we do have control over, and that is keeping social distance and the mindset that this will end. If we can try to keep a positive mindset and stay healthy, it will make it easier moving forward. I don’t pretend to think this is easy to do. Here are some tips:
  1. Keep a Routine
  2. Exercise Daily
  3. Connect with those in your household and virtually with those outside of it. 
  4. Make a daily list of the things you are most grateful for
  5. Perform an act of Kindness
  6. Be Flexible 

Click here for a New York Times article with some additional tips and tricks to help navigate virtual school. 
Learning Specialist Tips

Looking for ways to be more productive while studying at home? Here are some tips adapted from examstudyexpert.com/study-productivity :
  1. Map out your study plan in advance-Create a study timetable in which you plan when you want to work, for how long, and what you’ll focus on. When you sit down to study, just follow your plan.  
  2. Be aware of your “mental study units”- You have a limited number of working hours in a day. Think of each hour as a “mental study unit.” More complex assignments use up more units. Keep these units in mind when creating a study plan.
  3. Identify your roadblocks- you will be much more productive when you give the study task at hand your full attention. What distracts you? Your phone? Place it in another room. What interruptions cause you to lose focus?  Hunger? Prepare a snack in advance.  
  4. Use breaks to reset- Set a timer and work solidly for the duration of that time. Stop work when the timer goes off and take a break to recharge.
  5. Preserve your mental space- Worrying zaps your mental space. Prioritize your study tasks rather than worrying about everything that needs to be done. Use your study plan as your guide, and stick to the plan!
College Counseling

IMPORTANT COVID-19 CHANGES TO UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS AFFECTING THE CLASS OF 2021-2023: Many colleges and university systems are relaxing their standardized testing policies and moving to test optional for either ONLY the class of 2021 or for a 3-year period (2021-2023). Updates are being made almost hourly to the list of colleges adopting these changes. For example, Tufts, Boston University, the UC system, Davidson, and Trinity are just a few examples. I am checking websites and tuning into to conversations across many national professional organizations regarding these changes. Let’s discuss how these changes will affect your college applications before cancelling any scheduled tests. With test centers closed through May, the implications for students is tremendous. Colleges are responding by relaxing these requirements. 

Attention 9th grade parents:
Please join our college counselor, Allie Pierson, on Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m. via Google meet to learn more about the PSAT 8/9 that was offered to your daughter on March 3. Allie will explain how the test results are used to develop curriculum, build enrichment opportunities, and explore how scores can highlight areas where your daughter may need academic support. If you have not yet examined your daughter’s score online, you may do so at psat.org/myscore. This video is a helpful resource as well Understanding PSAT 8/9 scores . If anyone is having trouble signing in (you must first create an account), you may need an access code. Please reach out to Mrs. Pierson if your login attempt requires an access code; most do not. To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/jxs-nokb-ntm. 

Attention 10th grade parents:
This week I asked your daughter to register via email for access to SCOIR, the college admissions platform we use in our work together these next 2 years. SCOIR has replaced Naviance (in case you are familiar with our old partner); SCOIR is the best program currently on the market, and we are excited to offer this tool to your family! You will receive an invite to establish an account as well. Please respond to this invite within 72 hours, or the link will expire. Learn more about SCOIR here: SCOIR Parent Overview . You can learn more about the student interface here as well (your daughter received this video along with her invite to register with SCOIR on Wednesday, April 1): Student SCOIR Overview

A few things to consider:

  • This is in no way a rush to get started on the college admissions journey. I had to cancel an engaging event that was scheduled for this week that is a perfect introduction into a conversation about selective college admissions (hopefully we can reschedule for May), and at that event I make it clear - we will go at your pace and on your schedule.
  • Some students are eager to learn more and many are planning to participate in exciting summer enrichment programs this summer. These opportunities allow students to deeply invest in an area of interest and often give them an opportunity to live on a college campus. Spending some time on the SCOIR platform is a great way to start the conversation about what you value as a family and to learn more about some of the college programs your daughter is considering.
  • For others, and particularly right now in a time of such turmoil and transition, this conversation may be too much and an added, unnecessary pressure. Please, let’s hold off if this is how you or your daughter is feeling. I want this to be fun, and the main stressor for me as it relates to the Class for 2022 is that I don’t have the benefit of face-to-face engagement that is typical for my work with them this semester, a time when I focus on building trust and rapport. 
  • If it feels like a good exercise, then jump right in and start to dig around. The tool has many, many features, and as we work through the next 18-24 months, we will use it in different and increasingly important capacities. The platform offers incredible virtual tours - the only tours available right now! Go on a virtual college tour around the country! This is an easy and fun activity for you and your daughter. 
  • Let’s schedule a quick check in and chat for those interested. I will host an online SCOIR overview and Q&A on Wednesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. via Google Meet. The link to join the meeting is here: https://meet.google.com/tve-wwdy-ren. Again - no pressure! All of this can wait. But for some of you, this is a good time to get started on the conversation! 

Class of 2021 parents:
College planning and advising is full speed ahead despite our inability to meet in person. I sent the following “to do list” to the Class of 2021 and would love your help encouraging your daughter to stay on track with their college planning. Fall 2020 will be here before we know it, and I want everyone prepared and ready to submit applications! I welcome Google Meet meetings anytime with your daughter or with you! Email me to arrange a meeting or quick check-in!

Here is what was sent via email to the Class of 2021 last week:
Let’s finish up...

  1. Resume writing. Many of you have made great strides or finished this activity, especially those of you who applied for NHS. I would like you to add the resume as you finish it to your SCOIR platform. Let me know if you need help doing so. Also, I am happy and eager to review resume drafts and make suggestions for updates. The best way to do this is share in a google doc. DUE: 4/15/20
  2. Complete THROUGH the activities section of the Common Application. We started this and were scheduled to finish it this month during one of your religion classes. Please continue working on this and have it COMPLETE through the activities section by 4/15/20.
  3. Complete the survey I just published in SCOIR. You should have received a message to complete it. This is very important and great care should be taken to complete the responses. Your letter of recommendation will not be completed without this survey complete. Do not rush through it. Ask your family to help you! The more personal the better! DUE: 5/15/20
  4. Want to schedule a meeting? GREAT! Reach out to me and we can have an individual or family meeting anytime - morning or night, weekday or weekend via Google Meet. Easy peasy. Just let me know and we will get it scheduled. 
  5. EXCITING FREE CLASSES!! Coursera.org is offering a ton of very interesting and FREE classes during the COVID-19 outbreak. Topics range from Fashion design classes offered by NYC’s MOMA to courses that help you build an app or learn to code to classes offered by the University of Pennsylvania on what you need to know to apply to top colleges. This is a great activity to learn something new and can be added to your resume! These are the types of experiences that can elevate your application - many colleges will want to know how you spent your free time during the COVID-19 pandemic! Free online courses are available until 5/31/20. Learn more here: https://www.coursera.org/promo/free-courses-high-school
Your ASH Community, Beyond the Gates

While geographically separate and at safe social distances, our community is still together, beyond the gates. We've been updating our website and social media feeds with support resources developed for our school community, and we'd love to receive (via email or social media) more pieces of your day and reflections of this time. Our community is strong, and every day we are discovering new ways in which our light, our espirit de corps shines through.
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