News

Lumen News – September 3, 2020

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Tomorrow!! – Friday, Sept 4th: Virtual Back to School Mass, 9a – see below for details!
• Monday, September 7th: Labor Day – No School
• Tuesday, September 8th: School Picture Day

Principal’s Update:

Well, our first full week of school is almost complete!  Again, we appreciate all the parents and guardians and students who are self-screening before coming to school and staying home if warranted.  As cold and flu season sets in, this will be even more important to keep our community safe and sound.

This week, the seven members of our Class of 2021 are on retreat at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center.  The theme is Servant Leadership and Spiritual Warfare.  Although we could not go out to St. Therese’s Camp in Wasilla for an overnight as per our tradition, our Campus Minister, Mrs. Liz Loeffler, has scheduled a deeply thoughtful, reflective, and spiritual event for our Senior class.  Tomorrow–Friday–they will represent the school at our “Back to School” Mass and process the Light of Christ into our building (see details below).  This a beautiful and moving annual event that we are excited to be able to do, despite the school year already starting.   Even though most of our students will be watching the Mass from their Advisory classroom, tomorrow is still a Mass day, so we expect all our students to “dress up” with their oxford shirt, Lumen tie, and dress shoes.

We will also welcome Mr. Scott Gross, a local reporter from CBS5, who will be with us to do a story on how our first couple of weeks has gone.  I will let everyone know when we can expect his story to air.

There is no school on Monday, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday.  Start and end times for next week are the same, but we have modified our class meeting schedule to ensure all academic classes get sufficient classroom time.  Please see just below for class meeting days.

On behalf of my family and the school staff, we wish everyone a blessed, safe, and wonderful Labor Day weekend.

Front Office News:

Next week the school will be operating in YELLOW (7:45a-12:30p, all days on campus).

Schedule for Next Week:

Monday:  No School – Labor Day

Tuesday:  Periods 1, 3, 5

Wednesday:  Periods 2, 4, 6

Thursday:  Periods 1, 3, 5

Friday:  Periods 2, 4, 6 (with Mass at 9am – students need to be in their button down shirts and ties. And pants. Don’t forget the pants. Or a skirt.)

Back to School Mass – TOMORROW:

For new families: A ‘Back to School Mass” is how we kick off the ‘faith’ side of our year each fall. This year will be a bit different of course since we all can’t be in the church together, but with a combination of livestreaming and then Fr. Tom bringing the Eucharist (Holy Communion) back to the school, it will still be awesome.

Following the distribution of the Eucharist, Fr. Tom will bless individual classrooms, per tradition. While we normally encourage all parents to join us for this celebration, this year we invite you to log in to the St. Benedict’s Facebook Page to watch Mass live with us (you don’t need a FB account to watch); and then watch the school’s FB page for pictures of the “Light of Christ” candle procession (another annual tradition) and the classroom blessings!

Archangel Attic:

Students are welcome to begin volunteering at the Archangel Attic on Fridays after school. This is a great way for them to earn their “Faith in Action” hours and help the school while they’re at it. There are always 2 adults present who are there to keep them busy and on track; up to 3 students can sign up for the 12:30-2:30p shift. Have your student stop by the Office if they have questions or want to sign up.

School Picture Day: 

School photos will be taken on Tuesday, September 8th. Order forms went home last week, if you suspect that form is still wadded in the bottom of your student’s backpack and you want to order items, contact Fitzgerald Photo: http://fitzgeraldphotos.com/pre-order-schools-pictures/ Students are welcome to wear their polo shirts since it’s a Monday, or if you want them looking fancy – make them dress up with their shirt and tie.

 

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

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Lumen News – August 28, 2020

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Friday, September 4th: Virtual Back to School Mass, 9a – see below for details
• Monday, September 7th: Labor Day – No School
• Tuesday, September 8th: School Picture Day

Next Week’s Schedule:

Next Week the school will be YELLOW mode.

Thank you to everyone who called in to listen, ask questions and provide feedback at last night’s Principal/Parent Forum. After considering the input from all of you, our teachers and students, we have decided to adopt a new “Academically Focused” or “Condensed” Yellow schedule.

This wasn’t a decision made lightly and we understand that a 12:30 dismissal time may be challenging for some families. If you are one of them, please let either Mr. Ross or Ms. Gore at the Front Desk know – we have had several families offer to help drive other students and are committed to finding ways to make it work for our whole community.

A copy of the new schedule is included here, but important points moving forward into next week:

1. Students are on campus Monday – Friday, 7:45a – 12:30p.

2. Both the Eagle River/St. Andrews and South Side/St. Elizabeth Ann Seton busses will continue running on the same schedule that they’ve been on the past two weeks.

3. Teachers will have virtual Office Hours after school up and will post specific days and hours in their Google Classrooms by the end of .

4. Students are encouraged to bring snacks and water bottles to school. For students (mainly high school) who are moving between classrooms, they shouldn’t leave their snacks in their Advisory Room tote, but keep them in their backpacks which they are allowed to carry between classrooms. This way, no matter what class they are in, as long as they have their backpack they have their snacks and can take them outside on mask breaks to eat.

We have a new water bottle filler in the hallway – and according to its counter, we’ve already kept a whopping 24 plastic bottles out of a landfill by refilling student containers with it!  It’s absolutely fine to drink water in class, students can quickly remove their mask, take a drink and remask up. We’re also purchasing paper straws for each classroom so students can use those if they choose. Ms. Gore in the Front Office uses a straw and swears by it.

This new schedule will be posted to the school’s website on Monday, with paper copies available in the Office if you want to have one for your refrigerator.

YELLOW BELL SCHEDULE:
(All Students on campus 5 days a week; 12:30p Dismissal) “Covid Act Now” Positive Test Rate = 1.5% – 2.9%

 

School Announcements:

Back to School Mass:

Like so many things, Covid sidelined our traditional “Back to School” Mass usually celebrated the  first Thursday we are all back together. Our new “Condensed” Yellow schedule allows us to celebrate Mass on Fridays, with that, our traditional Back to School Mass has been scheduled for next Friday, September 4th. Mass will be celebrated on-line in classrooms for all students with the exception of our Senior Class and 1-2 select underclassmen who will be present in the church and serving in different roles (lector, altar server, etc.) as appropriate. Once Mass concludes, the Seniors will process with the “Light of Christ” candle (per tradition) down to the school. Fr. Tom will also transport the Eucharist for distribution to students who wish to receive. Following the distribution of the Eucharist, Fr. Tom will bless individual classrooms, also per tradition. While we normally encourage all parents to join us in person for our Back to School Mass, this year we extend the invitation to attend mass virtually, and then watch for pictures on our FaceBook page of the “Light of Christ” candle procession and classroom blessings.

School Picture Day: 

School photos will be taken on Tuesday, September 8th. An order form is attached below, and a paper copy will come home with your student next week. If you want to pre-order prior to the 8th – click here: http://fitzgeraldphotos.com/pre-order-schools-pictures/

Have a great weekend. Hopefully the weather will hold – fingers crossed!

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Lumen News – August 20, 2020

Friday, August 21st Information:

Even though students are at home tomorrow, Friday, August 20th, they are still expected to sign into all of their classes, following this schedule:

• 8a = 1st period
• 9a = 2nd period
• 10a = 3rd period
• 11a = 4th period
• *lunch break*
• 12:30p = 5th period
• 1:30 = 6th period

Next Week’s Schedule:

Next Week the school will be in ORANGE mode.

See below in the Principal’s Update for more information on this.

Orange = on campus Monday-Thursday 7:45a – 12:30p, with Friday Mass and Advisory at home.  Questions? Check here: https://lumenchristiak.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-21-Bell-Schedule-1.pdf

There will be bus service to/from Eagle River/East Side and St. Elizabeth’s/South Side every day next week, except Friday when students are at home. Click here if you have questions: https://lumenchristiak.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Bus-Schedules.pdf

Principal’s Update:

Happy Thursday Lumen Families,

What a wonderful first week this has been!  Our students’ and teachers’ smiles shone brightly even behind the masks!  We all agreed it is such a blessing to see students again in our hallways and classrooms.  From veterans to new, there is a spirit of cooperation, excitement, excellence, and safety among our student body.

This week, we deeply appreciate your flexibility in allowing us to orient our junior high school students to their classrooms and to our health and safety protocols over two days, and then doing the same with the high schoolers later in the week.  This has given our teachers and staff some much needed time and, most importantly, space to observe, orient, decide and act on revisions, modifications, and improvements to our plan.  While we had to adjust a few things, our safe return plan as written over the summer is working in our building.

The next phase is to integrate the entire school in the building at one time.  This will happen on Monday, August 24th.  To give us further time and space to do so safely, I am setting our operating status as ORANGE next week.  Although the current positive test rate in the Municipality could allow us to open at YELLOW, in consultation with our school staff, we would like to take at least one more week to ease into the school year.

This may be disappointing news for some.  While I know that many families would like their son or daughter to attend a full day of school right away, I ask for your continued patience and prayers.  As stated consistently from the beginning of the planning process, the safety of our staff, students and families is our highest priority.

So just like driving a new car, I feel this school year needs a break-in period.  After a great first week, I believe we are driving at about 20-25 miles per hour.  Things are looking good and steady and students are doing the right thing.  Adding all students together next week will increase our speed to 40-45 miles per hour.  I’d like to see how the school handles at that speed without further adding the speed of a full school day and a lunch period.  I have no doubt we will learn more next week that will help us confirm and validate our procedures going forward.

School Announcements:

COVID Crazy:

Know that as we adjust to operating in Covid Crazy mode, we may identify new needs around the school.  One that came up this week:

Morning Temperature Taker:   Mr. Ross and/or other staff have been doing this and will continue to do so, but if you’re organized early and want to knock out 30 minutes of Share Hour time in the morning – this is an easy job, plus you get to learn the name of every student at Lumen! 7:15a – 7:45a, just point & click the thermometer to make sure everyone’s under 100.0. This is not an every day commitment, you select what day(s) will work for you. Contact Anne at the Front Desk if you’re interested in flexing your medical muscle.

REMIND:

New families: within a few days you’ll be getting a text from “Remind” which is the online text system we use to communicate with parents. Don’t be alarmed, it’s not spam!

PowerSchool:

New families – if you’re having trouble logging in to PowerSchool (the Lumen equivalent to ASD’s Zangle), make sure you’re starting at this point: Ps.lumenchristiak.com otherwise you’ll get loads of error messages. Your Parent PowerSchool login was on your student’s schedule that you received at registration and is different from your student’s PS login. Contact Anne at Front Desk if you’re having difficulties.

School Picture Day:

School photos will be taken on Tuesday, September 8th and a paper copy will come home with your student next week. If you want to pre-order prior to the 8th – click here: http://fitzgeraldphotos.com/pre-order-schools-pictures/

Senior Portraits: 

Senior Portraits are due on Wednesday, October 21st, please submit your digital files to arlson@lumenchristiak.org.

Thanks for a great first week everyone!  Don’t forget to turn in your Covid School Waiver Forms!

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Lumen News – May 21, 2020

Upcoming Important Dates:

• Tuesday, August 4th: Back to School Registration and BBQ
• Thursday, August 13th: Junior High Orientation
• Monday, August 17th: School Begins (Grades 7 & 8 only)
• Tuesday, August 18th: School Begins (Grades 9-12)

Principal’s Update:

Watch your email next week for an end of the year wrap up from Mr. Ross.

Campus Ministry:

Thank you to all our upperclassmen who are working as mentors and group leaders! Mentors will keep in touch through summer.

May God bless you all with peace, faith, safety, rest and health during these summer months!

School Announcements:

End of Year Survey

PLEASE take just a few minutes to complete this end of year “on-line school” survey for us. It includes questions for families with multiple students at different schools – make sure when answering respond based only on your student(s) at Lumen!  We are trying to get an understanding of how well we did in providing quality education remotely, and what we could have done differently.  Even if you have students of other ages and at other schools, please “pretend” that those at Lumen are the only ones!  Thank you! Your input is very valuable. Click here to start your survey:    https://bit.ly/2020onlineparent

Tuition Scholarships

For families applying for tuition scholarships, remember that the deadline to do so is Monday, June 1st.  For more information, visit: http://cts-tuition.com/app/lumancak/

2020-21 Parent Share Hours

As a reminder, each family has an obligation to contribute volunteer hours in support of our school community. We have two immediate needs that will help you get a jump on your Share Hours for next year and then anticipate having two other opportunities during the summer.

Immediate needs:

1. Help weed, water and keep the “Mary” garden by the front door of the school looking fresh and beautiful. This has been managed by the family of a graduating senior who would like to hand the job off. If gardening is your thing, please call Michell Goodwin at 317-0690.

2. The Archangel Attic is planning on reopening on June 6 but need our assistance to make this happen. Many of the regular weekday volunteers, or their family members, fall into a high risk category.  A separate email with detailed information and a link to sign up to help will be coming soon.

Anticipated needs:

1) A Lumen parking lot garage sale with all proceeds designated for school needs (date not yet set);

2) Helping True Value Hardware on Jewel Lake (a long time school supporter) distribute 4th of July flags to neighborhoods around the school.

Senior Pictures

Summer is a fantastic time to get senior pictures done, so *hint hint* parents of seniors, schedule those photo shoots now and get that checked off your list of things to do.

End of Year Administrative Wrap Up/Registration Information 

Look for an email from the Front Office in the next week or so which will (hopefully) answer any final questions from this year and get you ready for back to school registration and first week of school next year.

St. Benedict’s & Other Community Events:

St. Benedict’s Youth Group

Don’t forget that St. Ben’s Youth Group will continue to meet over the summer. Check in with Elise at emartinez@stbenedictsak.com to keep up on the weekly plan of events.

Thanks one and all for a great year! It’s been a delight for me to be a part of your student’s Lumen experience and I can’t wait to see everyone in a few months. – Ms. Gore

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Lumen News – May 14, 2020

Upcoming Important Dates:

Details for all of these are located in School Announcements, below

• TOMORROW – Friday, May 15th, 7p: LCHS Drama Department Presents: “Cat & Mouse” Reader’s Theatre
• TOMORROW – Friday & Saturday – May 15th & 16th, 9a-5p, MASSIVE Garage Sale!
• Monday, May 18th – Thursday, May 21st: Finals Week
• Tuesday, May 19th, 4-6p, Junior High Text Book Drop Off
• Wednesday, May 20th – 4-6p, High School Text Book Drop Off
• Tuesday, August 4th: Back to School Registration and BBQ
• Thursday, August 13th: Junior High Orientation
• Monday, August 17th: School Begins (Grades 7 & 8 only)
• Tuesday, August 18th: School Begins (Grades 9-12)

Principal’s Update:

Check out this week’s Principal’s Update here:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_hTwqlGw3u8

Gotta wear shades!

Campus Ministry:

Many blessings this week on students as they prepare for the last week of school!

Thank you to our upperclassmen who are mentoring younger students!

St. Benedict Youth group is active and getting out into the sunshine! Visit https://www.stbenedictsak.com/65 for upcoming activities.

Please contact Mrs. Loeffler if we can give support to students, parents and/or families.  Social Distancing is becoming somewhat normal, but still has a real effect on all of us.

You are all invited to our virtual school Masses everyThursday at 9. Join via Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/stbenedictsak/

Prayer Spot

Please pray for

• Students, teachers and families as they move to the last week of school

• Medical professionals and first responders

• Those most vulnerable to illness

If you would like special intentions listed in Lumen News and Prayer Book of Intentions send them directly to Mrs. Loeffler. eloeffler@lumenchristiak.org

School Announcements:

LUMENary Drive

It’s with great fanfare that we announce that we have met our LUMENary drive goal of $50,000, with a bit extra to boot! We are humbled and grateful for all who donated, sometimes more than once. Your giving, as well as that from other generous individuals and organizations throughout the city, state and even country, is a visible expression of our core vision and values and we couldn’t be more thankful.

MASSIVE Garage Sale!

Please venture up to the Hillside (or tell all your friends) for a massive garage sale at the Ross household (13041 Midori Dr) this Friday and Saturday, from 9a-5p. Thanks to all who have donated items for it – 100% of proceeds will go towards the purchase of new warm ups for our Girl’s Sports Teams. Thank you Tracy Ross for taking this on!

Student Leadership Board Positions

Applications are now being accepted by Advisory teachers for the Student Leadership Board’s 2020-21 Spirit, Social and Service Leadership Committee Chairs.  Encourage your incoming 11th & 12th grade students to apply for one of the slots – each are critical and all help guide student directed activities throughout the school year!  Elections for class representatives for each grade level will be done once we return in the fall.

CAT & MOUSE Reader’s Theater

Another COVID-19 related cancellation at the school was our annual drama production. But as they say in the biz….“The show must go on!” Thanks to our dedicated Drama Coach Mrs. Stacy Robertson, students continued to work and while they can’t perform together on stage, they can present the play live in a “Reader’s Theater” format.  Please join us tomorrow night, May 15th at 7p on Lumen’s Facebook page and watch a live reading of  “Cat & Mouse” – a murder mystery set against the darkest days of WWII.

 

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