Letter from the Principal

Dear Parent,

I trust that you and your children are excited about getting back to school after a long summer break. All of us at the Academy share that excitement and are looking forward to welcoming them back. I am pleased now to contact you with important information about the opening of school. The Academy re-opens at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, for all returning students in grades one to eight. Returning students in grades 1 to 8 should enter through the main lobby doors on 44th Street and report directly to their new homeroom when they arrive. Homeroom assignments will be available on Option C after 3 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3.

New students in grades 1 to 8 should report to the main lobby at 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, September 4, and will be escorted from there to the auditorium/gym where they will have a brief orientation before joining the returning students.

Kindergarten will begin at 9:30 a.m. on September 4. All (new and returning) kindergarten students will enter through the main lobby doors and will gather in the auditorium/gym where they will be greeted by their new teachers and assistant teachers before being escorted to their classrooms.

Dismissal on September 4, 5, and 6 will be as follows: kindergarten at 11:35 a.m., grades 1 to 4 at 11:45 a.m., and grades 5 to 8 at Noon.

The Pre-K for All Program will begin on Thursday, September 5 at 9:30 a.m. Students in pre-kindergarten will attend on Thursday and Friday, September 5 and 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Entrance and exit procedures will be explained to parents at the Pre-K for All Orientation Meeting on Tuesday evening, September 3, at 7 p.m.

The first regular full-day school of classes will begin at 8 a.m. on Monday, September 9, for all students in pre- kindergarten to eighth grade. NYC Yellow Bus service will begin on September 9. Students entering our nursery program should arrive at the lobby with their parents at 9:30 a.m. on September 9 and be dismissed at approximately 10:30 a.m. after a short parent orientation meeting. Nursery’s first full day will be on Tuesday, September 10.

A Parent Orientation Night will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening, September 11, for parents of children in kindergarten and first to eighth grades. Following an important opening presentation, you will have the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher(s) and learn about the curriculum and class requirements. It is vital that at least one parent from each family attends the evening orientation. Please do not bring children to this evening event.

Beginning on Monday, September 9, entrance doors for kindergarten to eighth grade students will open at approximately 7:45 a.m. and children will be considered late for school after 8 a.m. Dismissal for kindergarten is at 2:35 p.m.; for grades 1-4 at 2:45 p.m.; for grades 5-6 at 2:50 p.m., and grades 7-8 at 3 p.m. We have made a change in the Wednesday schedule each month. Only on the first Wednesday of each month, dismissal is as follows: nursery at 12:30 p.m., kindergarten at 12:35 p.m.; grades 1-4 at 12:45 p.m.; grades 5-6 at 12:50 pm, and grades 7-8 at 1 p.m. Entrance and dismissal procedures for Pre-K for All will be explained during the pre-k parent orientation on Tuesday evening, September 3.

Beginning Monday, September 9, parents will be able to download a supply price list and order form from the website to purchase notebooks, assignment pads, absence note pads, etc. directly from the Academy. The Afternoon Extended Day Program (from dismissal to 5:45 p.m.) and Morning Program (7:10 a.m. to 8 a.m.) will begin on September 9. Registration Information about these programs will be posted on-line at www.sjcalic.org, in late August.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation in these matters. If you have any questions, the main office will be open from August 19 to 22, and 26 to 29 between 8 a.m. and Noon. I trust that you will enjoy the remainder of the summer and look forward to welcoming you in September.

Sincerely,
Luke Nawrocki
Principal