March 18, 2020

 
Dear Parents and Friends of Kellenberg Memorial,
 
On behalf of the Marianist Community, Administration, and Faculty at Kellenberg Memorial I want to thank you for your support and encouragement during these challenging days. We all want to compliment your sons and daughters for their focus and cooperation as we move forward. As you may have heard, all schools in New York State must remain closed through April 1, 2020. In other words, the earliest any school can resume classes would be April 2, 2020.
 
A quick look at the Kellenberg Memorial School Calendar would indicate that we had designated April 2nd as a study day in preparation for the Second Trimester Exams. Please be aware of the following change in our Academic Calendar:
 
Kellenberg Memorial will remain in the pattern of following the regular schedule of remote instruction classes on Thursday, April 2, Friday, April 3, Monday, April 6 and Tuesday, April 7. On those days, only the six major subject areas will meet, meaning Religion, English, History, Science, Math, and Language Study. Courses such as Health and Introduction to Music will resolve their trimester work in assignments prior to these four days. Seniors are scheduled for a semester program and will not receive remote instruction classes during these four days. More information will be forthcoming to you as parents as these classes approach. In addition, the Faculty will be very clear with the students as to the expectations during these four days. Please assure your children that we understand that no one can replicate being in school and taking trimester exams. We are simply trying to share with them the most essential material in an attempt to maintain their education and to prepare them adequately for their comprehensive exams. In no way should the students be worried; they should simply stay with their daily lessons and follow the directions of the teachers. As a reminder, the class schedule is reprinted below for your convenience.
 

REGULAR SCHEDULE

  • Period 01 8:34 – 9:12
  • Period 02 9:16 – 9:54
  • Period 03 9:58 – 10:36
  • Period 04 10:40 – 11:18
  • Period 05 11:22 – 12:00
  • Period 06 12:04 – 12:42
  • Period 07 12:46 – 1:24
  • Period 08 1:28 – 2:06
  • Period 09 2:10 – 2:48
 
Religion Classes will meet on all four of those days in place of the Physical Education Class. Teachers will be sharing portions of the Second Trimester Exam each night prior to the four days listed above. Students will work on those sections of the exam as homework and the teacher will review the questions during class on the following day. This will serve as a good review of the material for which the students are responsible from January through March. Remember, students are responsible for knowing all material taught during the school year when they sit for the Comprehensive Exams in June. We will communicate more specifics about those four days of classes as we approach them.
 
In light of not taking Second Trimester Exams, I would like to communicate how the Second Trimester Grades will be issued. Teachers have sufficient grades from tests, quizzes, and homework assignments that were administered prior to the school building closing. In addition to these assessments, we continue to monitor student attendance during the remote learning and the homework submitted during these days of social distancing. Report cards will be issued at the end of the Second Trimester to students in Grades 6 – 11. We may have to adjust the date for issuing report cards. Stay tuned for further information regarding the time and date of publishing second trimester grades. 
 
Essentially, the school building will continue to be closed until Monday, April 20, 2020. Whether or not teams can resume practices after April 2, 2020, will be determined when we have a better understanding of the continued need to refrain from gathering. I can say with absolute certainty that our Spring Athletic Teams will not be regrouping until after April 2, 2020, and perhaps later if the situation warrants it. Please remind your sons and daughters that any large group gathering compromises the purpose of social distancing.  
 
I will be communicating more information to you over the days to come. Please encourage your sons and daughters to maintain the routine of attending their virtual classes. Most importantly, let’s strengthen each other by maintaining a rhythm of prayer in our lives. The Kellenberg Memorial Family will be united in Prayer on Thursday Morning from 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. as Father Daniel celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary. Mass will be broadcast via the school website beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday morning.  
 
Following the Mass on Thursday, Brother Timothy will lead us in the recitation of a decade of the Rosary. At that time, he will explain that we will all be united in prayer reciting a decade of the rosary each day for a week praying for those suffering from this epidemic and the world’s recovery from it.  
 
I would also like to communicate to you that we are postponing our Day of Giving originally scheduled for March 25, 2020. We are declaring it to be a Day of Prayer rather than a Day of Giving. It is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. In addition to the usual routine of virtual classes on that day, we will intersperse times of prayer keeping in mind all of those who are suffering from the effects of the Covid -19 epidemic.
 
Finally, I would like to share with you a prayer from Pope Francis that we will be reciting from March 19 through March 25 when praying the Rosary in solidarity with all Marianists throughout the world.  
 
PRAYER OF POPE FRANCIS (11 March 2020)
 
O Mary,
You always shine on our path as a sign of salvation and hope.
We rely on you, Health of the sick,
You who, at the cross, united with Jesus’ pain, keeping steadfast your faith.
You know what we need and we are sure that you will provide
for, as at Cana of Galilee, may joy and celebration return after this trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father
and to do what we are told by Jesus,
Who has taken our suffering upon Himself and has burdened Himself with our sorrows
to lead us through the cross, to the joy of resurrection. Amen.
 
Under your protection we seek refuge, Holy Mother of God.
Do not spurn the pleas of we who are in trial
And free us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
 
 
All of you continue to be in our prayers as we move forward during these strange and discomforting days. May God bless you and your family and friends. 
 
Brother Kenneth M. Hoagland, S.M.
Principal

March 15, 2020

Dear Parents,
 
In accordance with County Executive Curran’s decision to close all Nassau County schools for two weeks beginning on Monday, Kellenberg Memorial High School will be extending the remote instruction period through the week of March 23 – March 27, 2020. Please look for additional email correspondences from KMHS as information becomes available to us. We pray for everyone’s continued well being and health in the coming days and weeks!

 

Sincerely,

Brother Kenneth Hoagland, S.M.
Principal

March 13, 2020

Dear Parents and Friends of Kellenberg Memorial High School,

This letter is to further advise you of Kellenberg Memorial’s response to the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).  

As you are aware, Kellenberg Memorial cancelled all classes on Thursday, March 12th and today, March 13th.  We cancelled classes because we had been informed that a staff member at Kellenberg Memorial had experienced flu-like symptoms and sought the care of a physician late Wednesday afternoon.

After seeing the physician, the staff member sought a definitive medical diagnosis yesterday, March 12th.  At our request, and upon the staff member’s own volition, the individual went to a facility specifically to obtain COVID-19 testing.  Unfortunately, the facility would not test the staff member.  The staff member was told that no testing would be provided because the staff member was not experiencing COVID-19-like symptoms, was not out of the country and was not (to the person’s knowledge) exposed to anyone who had been diagnosed with COVID-19.  Apparently, the staff member was not considered a person under investigation for COVID-19.

As you may have read, COVID-19 tests are currently being rationed for only those patients who are considered at high risk for the virus.  The staff member was not considered someone likely to have the virus.  The person was therefore denied the test.

Given that the staff member has not been definitely diagnosed as not having COVID-19, and given all of the circumstances surrounding the nature of the virus, we have come to the conclusion that it is prudent at this time to cancel classes at Kellenberg Memorial for one additional week.  Classes will be cancelled through Sunday, March 22, 2020.    

Therefore, all activities and athletic events which were scheduled to take place at Kellenberg Memorial or sponsored by Kellenberg Memorial through and including March 22nd are cancelled.    No practices will be held during that time and the Kellenberg Memorial campus will be closed.  Cancelled events include all Kellenberg Memorial events scheduled through March 22nd, including the Alumni Communion Breakfast on March 15th, Spring PAC meeting scheduled for March 18th, Blue and Gold Practice on March 21st, and the KAPA Murder Mystery Dinner on March 21st.

All events which had been open to visitors are cancelled through April 19th.  Those cancelled events include: the NYSSMA Solo Festival scheduled for March 27th – March 28th, the Grades 6 – 9 Communion Breakfast scheduled for March 29th and the Communion Breakfast for Grades 10 – 12 scheduled for April 5, 2020.   

All checks received for the Communion Breakfasts will be returned.

At the current time, the Senior Trip and the Lourdes Trip are planned to proceed as scheduled.  We will continue to monitor the situation and advise you should circumstances require.

Throughout next week, from Monday through Friday, students will be required to participate in remote instruction with the use of the iPad.  Further information on remote instruction will be provided to you in a separate email to you today.

As your child will be learning remotely through the iPad next week, please ensure that your child maintains a regular daily routine and gets the appropriate amount of sleep each night.  Please also speak with your child about the importance of using the technology in a responsible manner as we charter this unprecedented challenge.  

In closing the school campus through March 22nd, please realize that no federal, state or local authorities recommended or required that Kellenberg Memorial change any of its regular school activities.  We have no information that anyone associated with Kellenberg Memorial has tested positive for COVID-19 or was in contact with anyone with COVID-19.  It is out of an abundance of caution, and to protect the Kellenberg Memorial student body, staff and community, that we believe these steps should be taken in the best interests of everyone involved.   The health and safety of our students, faculty and community are our greatest priority.

The building is locked and is not accessible to students through March 22nd.  Please know that the reopening of the school building will be continuously evaluated as the situation unfolds.   We have developed further plans should the closure of school become necessary. 

We will be in contact with you on or before Friday, March 20th with a further update.  Please realize that we are prepared to take additional measures should they become necessary.

Please be assured of our continued prayers for the safety and health of your families. 

 

Sincerely,

Brother Kenneth Hoagland, S.M.
Principal

March 11, 2020

Dear Parents of Kellenberg Memorial Students,

We have just been informed that a staff member at Kellenberg Memorial has experienced flu-like symptoms earlier today and immediately sought the care of a physician.

While the staff member awaits the results of a test for Covid-19, Kellenberg Memorial will cancel all classes on Thursday, March 12, and Friday, March 13. During this time, the building will be cleaned and sanitized. Once we have further information, we will contact all students and faculty with a plan going forward for next week.

Students should consult Schoology for assignments on Friday morning.  Further instructions for tele-schooling will be sent in the event we are closed for additional days.

Further information will be disseminated over this weekend. All school and sporting events are canceled Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15. We will be consulting with the Nassau County Board of Health regarding the most appropriate course of action.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and understanding as we navigate this unprecedented and challenging situation.   Please continue to keep the health and safety of all the Kellenberg Family in your prayers.

Brother Kenneth M. Hoagland, S.M.
​​​​​​​Principal