January 2, 2020
Dear Parents,
Happy New Year! It was great to welcome all of our students back to school following the Christmas recess. Please know that the teachers and I were overwhelmed by your generous gifts as well as your expressions of love and appreciation. As I indicated in my December letter, we know how blessed we are to work at Hoboken Catholic Academy. Once again, you have affirmed that fact. Thank you!
Each year it seems that our concerts get better and better. I may be biased in my assessment, but I believe each of the concerts this year were just spectacular. From our amazing choir, under the direction of Ms. Laurie Campana, to the March of the Wooden Soldiers at the K-2 Program to the to the Living Nativity by our eighth graders, each show was special. The most amazing feat for me had to be after performing so well as individual classes, just under ninety three and four year old preschoolers presented a flawless finale! I often marvel at what our teachers and aides are able to get our littlest students to do, but this year’s concert was certainly their tour de force!
As you can imagine, we have hit the ground running. Mr. Francisco gave the entire school a good scrubbing over the break, and the shiny gym, classroom and corridor floors will hopefully withstand the effects of the winter months ahead. Our eighth graders are anxiously awaiting their high school acceptances which will be sent out in the coming weeks. Please join me in wishing our students and their parents well during this hopeful, but stressful time.
The second round of MAP Growth testing for students in grades 2-8 will take place during the testing window from January 21st through February 14th. As you will remember, not all students take the test at the same time. Only one subject will be tested per day, and will be part of the normal school day. Catholic Schools Week will take place during the testing window, but with all that we will have going on, we will not test during that week.
Speaking of Catholic Schools Week (January 25-31), we need your help. We will have some parents and students speak at our Hoboken and Weehawken parish masses on Saturday and Sunday, January 25th and 26th. If you are able to speak at the end of your parish mass on either of those days, please contact me at mmcgrath@hobokencatholic.org I will provide a script to which you are welcome to add your own comments about our school and your support for Catholic schools. Also, if anyone would like to speak at our Career Day, scheduled for Monday, January 27th from 9:00-11:00 AM, please contact me at the email address above. A schedule for all of the week’s events will be sent out as soon as it is completed.
Students will attend First Friday Mass on January 3rd, and there will be a full day of school. Parents are welcome to attend. Progress Reports for the second Trimester will go out on Friday, January 17th and school will be closed in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 20th.
Happy New Year and God bless you all!
Sincerely,
Matthew McGrath