On July 1, 2021, Mrs. Debbie Sommer began her tenure as principal of St. Peter Catholic School. Mrs. Sommer grew up in New York where she attended Catholic school from Kindergarten through 12th grade. After high school she moved to NC and attended college at East Carolina University where she met her husband. She and Harry have two children, and their family has been a part of the St. Peter church and school community since 2000. Mrs. Sommer has two degrees from East Carolina University, a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in School Administration. Over her 20+ year career Mrs. Sommer has worked in both private and public education. She has experience in K-12 classroom instruction and curriculum development, as well as in standardized and diagnostic testing, differentiating instruction for varied learners, and planning and providing specialized instructional support. For the past four years, Mrs. Sommer has been the Assistant Principal for John Paul II Catholic High School. She is very excited to join the St. Peter’s family this year! Mrs. Sommer outlined her vision and goals for the school as the following: “To provide a faith based education that focuses on the spiritual, academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of the students, and promote a connected and caring environment for students to learn and teachers to teach.” The pastor of St. Peter Catholic Church, Fr. Jim Magee, says, "Mrs. Sommer is a gifted educator who desires to help each student achieve the greatness God has created them for. I look forward to working with her in continuing the great tradition of St. Peter Catholic School." |
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July 8, 2020
Dear Saint Peter Catholic School Family, The wait for answers continues about what the start of the school year will look like at Saint Peter Catholic School. We expected guidance from the Diocese of Raleigh by now, but the administrators are continuing to fine tune the guidelines. Please know that we are every bit as eager as you to find out how the school year will begin and move forward. We are committed to beginning the school year in person and on campus; we need the blessing of the Diocese of Raleigh to do so. As noted in my update on June 20, we are continuing to improve upon our remote learning tools used to finish up 2019-20. Teachers will be streaming their classes live on a daily basis, to allow students who cannot come to school to continue to participate in classes remotely and asynchronously with in-person classes. For the families who are joining our school this fall and did not get to experience our remote learning platform personally, we can say our platform, along with our sister school John Paul II Catholic High School, is the best in the area. While we are praying for in-person learning for the entire school year, we are grateful that we can be confident in our remote learning plan if we must use it. We ask you to continue to be patient, understanding and supportive. We welcome your productive and constructive input. Please check to ensure you have sufficient internet and devices for your child to use, should remote learning be required once again. If you have any questions, please let us know. We will do our very best to answer them. Sincerely, Joan Alexander Saint Peter Catholic School Principal June 20, 2020
Dear Saint Peter Catholic School Family, I hope you are all well and enjoying your summer. I know there is much angst about plans regarding returning to school for the 2020-21 Academic year. I am putting this update together with the intentions of providing you all confidence that we are working very hard on preparing and planning for 2020-21. First, school will start as scheduled one way or another. The absolute number one goal for the start of the 2020-21 school year is face-to-face instruction in our physical classrooms. Seeing the students and parents at the end of the school year for a few moments as you picked up belongings and dropped off school materials was one of many reminders over the last couple of months of just how much we miss being together as a family. However, keep in mind that there are many factors that are out of our control. Regardless, we have developed and are fine tuning plans for the three major possibilities. We are still operating with the following documented goals under the circumstances: 1. Provide at least some semblance of normalcy, balance, and routine for our students while mitigating, to the extent possible, health risks to all. 2. Reduce/avoid additional hardship and stress to the extent possible. 3. Deliver the best possible education under the circumstances such that our students can matriculate on schedule. What are we doing already? • Closely following mandates and guidance from the Diocese of Raleigh, State Health and Human Services, NC State Administration, NCDPI, CDC and local Health and Human Services. We should have more guidance from these organizations the first week or two of July. • Minimized class sizes and “mixing” of groups to the greatest extent possible. • Purchasing specialized disinfecting equipment and modifying our daily cleaning routines. • Purchased equipment and created systems for monitoring and tracing student/staff health as it relates to Covid-19. • Improving and implementing the systems and remote learning tools used to finish up 2019-20. This way students/staff that are at risk or must be under quarantine can continue to participate in classes remotely and asynchronously with in-person classes. With systems in place, if we should be required to switch to some remote learning model everything will be ready to “flip the switch” instantly. As a smaller school, we have luxuries our brother and sister educators in larger systems do not have, including the ability to pivot and adjust course quickly. While still difficult, it is much easier for us to stay in touch, support, and monitor each student and family for well being, progress, and success. Three possible scenarios with associated plans: Best case we return to school in the building as scheduled. This seems most likely at the moment, but again, things are changing by the hour. Many adjustments are likely even in this best case. Some may include but are not limited to: • Temperature check and quick screening at entry … drop off will be modified. • Limited number of “visitors” in the building. That is, students and staff only in the building unless by verified appointment. • Extraordinary cleaning and disinfecting • We won’t have large groups for lunch. Potentially classroom or outdoor lunch. • Postpone any large assemblies and field trips. • Weekly Mass … as the Bishop and our Pastors direct. • Mitigation and “quarantine” policy will be in place for those that have been exposed, tested positive for Covid-19 or have been traveling. • Tools used for remote learning will be incorporated into day-to-day in person classes such that people at risk or under quarantine may continue to participate remotely. • We will add or remove adjustments depending on the situation at the start of the school year. Intermediate case we start the school year under “limited density” requirements. • Example: only allowed half the student body at the time. • In this case students will likely rotate half live and half remote asynchronously over some designated period of time. For example, Group A attends live classes while Group B attends remotely and after a week or two switch. As stated in the best case scenario the tools and processes for such will already be in place. Worst case we start 2020-21 the way we finished last year … remotely. While this seems the least likely case, we will still be prepared with a contingency plan for it. • Tweak/modify what was in place the last 11 weeks of 2019-20 based on analysis and evaluation by faculty and staff. • Encourage everyone to do all you can at home to prepare: Internet, devices, work spaces etc. Some other unanticipated case: • Examples: Start and Stop, slightly delayed live start. • We will quickly adjust and be ready! As mentioned above we will have all tools in place to quickly pivot should the necessity arise. What are we asking of our SPCS family? • Patience, understanding, and support. • Productive and constructive input. • Stay focused on what we CAN do rather than what we CANNOT do. • Plan for the best but please be prepared for the worst: -----Is your internet sufficient? -----Devices in working order? -----Proper work spaces for your students? -----Prepare for how the less likely cases might affect adult’s schedules. Once again it will take all of us working together collaboratively to realize the three goals above. I am absolutely confident that we can do this together. Sincerely, Principal Alexander Saint Peter Catholic School Dear Saint Peter Families,
I hope this letter finds you healthy and happy. I want to share my sincere appreciation for all of you for embracing the challenges presented by Covid-19. Without your support and patience, what we accomplished would not have been possible. I also want to thank our faculty and staff who worked so hard to convert their lessons from a physical classroom to a virtual one. I can say without hesitation that students at Saint Peter Catholic School had the most comprehensive remote learning experience of any school in the area. With that in mind, I humbly ask you to share your positive SPSC remote learning experiences with other families in the area. We continue to work diligently to build our enrollment to strengthen our school and its future. Your support is a key part in that effort. Word of mouth and personal recommendations from friends are the most effective way to recruit a new family to our school. It is important for people to know that if the state chooses to close schools again and switch to remote learning, our school is ready with a proven track record of success. SPCS teachers are dedicated to our students learning in the classroom and remotely. If you use social media, I have included an image that I hope you consider sharing, along with some of your own words about your remote learning experience. How wonderful it would be to see a flood of support for our school and teachers as this year comes to an end! We are also excited to announce the dates for graduation ceremonies for our 8th graders and PreK 4 students. Parents of these students will soon receive more details on these ceremonies. The scheduled rain date will be Wednesday, June 10 at the same times.
I know you are wondering what the Fall will bring. The conclusion of the school year brings the opportunity for us to focus our efforts on preparing for the upcoming school year. We intend to start with our first day of school for all students on Wednesday, August 19 (students in PreK, Kindergarten, 6th grade and transfer students will have their first days on either August 17 or 18). We are examining the new guidelines for health and safety from the government and making plans to implement them. Administration, faculty and staff are preparing for face-to-face learning as well as remote learning in the Fall due to the uncertainty of Covid-19 rules and regulations. We will be prepared to begin instruction regardless of the way it is implemented. I am beyond grateful to all of you for entrusting your child’s education to our school. How fortunate we are to have this strong faith-based community during these challenging times! Please pray for our school, as we all continue to pray for our families. Yours in Christ, Joan Alexander Principal Dear St. Peter Family,
As we begin our seventh week of remote learning, I would like to continue to tell everyone how proud I am of your hard work and sacrifice during this crisis. Under extremely difficult circumstances, students are working hard and keeping up with their studies. In addition, teachers are putting in the extra hours to deliver the very best remote instruction possible, staff are keeping up with current end of year responsibilities and projects, as well as planning and preparing for the next. There will be a graduation for both our PreK-4 students and 8th graders. At the moment, I do not know when they will be nor what they will look like, but all are in agreement that this is an important symbolic step that our PreK-4 and 8th grade students deserve to experience. SPCS 2020-2021 academic year will start on August 19th for all students. With that being said, many factors out of all of our control will determine what that looks like. However, we will be prepared either way! Finally, we want to continue to be sure we are reaching out to all of our families so please continue to let us know how you are by filling out our Friday Family Check-In form. If you know of families that are struggling, please include that in your responses. Please continue to pray for our community’s health, peace, and grace in this most difficult time. Sincerely, Mrs. Alexander Dear St. Peter Family,
As you may have already heard, the Governor announced that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. As much as it pains me to say, SPCS will also remain at its current remote learning status through the end of the school year. We are well prepared and have come together to manage the first six weeks extremely well. I have full confidence in our family that this last five weeks will go even better. Please be on the lookout for further updates and instructions as the school year comes to a close. Sincerely, Mrs. Alexander Dear JPII and SPCS Family,
Another quick update: Together we have gotten through the first week of this awful situation. We are so proud of the students, families, and staff for such amazing work! We have gotten tons of positive feedback and notes of gratitude from so many of you. On the behalf of all of your Greenville Catholic School’s Faculty and Staff we would like to thank you! We will all continue to get through this together. It is readily apparent that getting back into the school buildings by Monday is not going to happen. The Governor has just announced school closures through May 15th. Rather than put a specific date on JPII and SPCS’s return let us just say the school buildings will be closed until further notice. This leaves room for optimism but lets us prepare for the rest of the year if necessary. We will give plenty of notice. Our goals remain: 1. Provide at least some semblance of normalcy, balance, and routine for our kids. 2. Reduce/avoid additional hardship and stress to the extent possible. 3. Deliver the best possible education under the circumstances such that our students can matriculate on schedule. With that in mind, your educators have been collaborating and working hard the past few days looking at best practices, longevity of our model, and any tweaks for improvement. Again, this will not be perfect. Perfect is our kids in the classroom with their extraordinary teachers. Here are some notes and slight changes we will implement over the coming days:
St. Peter … Pray for us!! St. John Paul II … Pray for us!! Principal Conticchio and Principal Alexander Fr. Ian Van Heusen will live stream Mass for SPCS faculty, students, and families at 12 p.m. Friday, March 20th.
From our Principal: Dear SPCS Family, As we complete our second day of remote learning, I just want to thank all of you and the students for doing an excellent job! This is not an easy time for anyone and I truly appreciate your continued support, time and effort. We are truly blessed to have such an amazing community here. With that being said, we will be having a Teacher Workday on Monday, March 23, 2020 to allow our students and teachers the time they need to continue doing such an outstanding job. Due to the fact that we do not know how long we will be teaching this way, we want to avoid “burn out.” Thank you to those of you that have offered constructive feedback; it is always welcome. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns moving forward. I will continue to pray for good health for all of you and your families. Sincerely, Joan Alexander Principal Dear JPII and SPCS Family,
All of your division leaders and faculty: preK, primary, intermediate, middle, and high schools have been working hard together these past few days such that we can make a smooth transition to remote learning starting tomorrow Wednesday March 18 at 8am. Please, if you have the chance … recognize that under these extreme and stressful circumstances they have left their families at home such that they could come to the school buildings and create this new model for all of our kids. It is perfectly understood by all that school might not be the highest priority right now. Rightfully so!! We want to do our part in trying to create some structure for our kids new daily normal. We are also trying to be sure they get everything academically possible under these circumstances. All the while trying not to create more stress for students, parents, and staff. This is a Herculean task for all of us! All that said I hope the Greenville Catholic Schools community understands that these solutions will not be perfect … perfect would be in the classroom with their teachers and classmates. However, we believe these solutions are better than no solution at all. Things are going to come up, kids and/or staff might not be able to get online, we might have tech issues, people might not be well or just too stressed to do this on a particular day … that is absolutely okay!! All we can do is the best we can. We want to assure you that this is going to be a flexible and fluid process. This is uncharted territory for your school staff, for parents and guardians, and most certainly for our students. Certainly there will be tweaks and changes as we progress and learn. We welcome feedback!! Tell us what is working well and what is not. Your teachers are going to be very flexible with all this. Please do not stress too much over this part. St. Peter … Pray for us!! St. John Paul II … Pray for us!! Principal Conticchio and Principal Alexander Dear JPII and SPCS Families,
With careful consideration, collaboration, and much prayer we have decided to make a transition from on-site instruction to remote learning. We understand how this impacts all of our daily lives. Some may not agree or be angry with this decision. However, we are in an extraordinary and unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic crisis. We humbly ask for your collective support in this decision. On Monday March 16th our school buildings will be open from 10am - 12pm for the few students that might need to obtain items, books, notebooks etc from their lockers and/or classrooms. We asked students on Friday to bring everything home with them so there should be very few that need to come collect absolutely necessary items. Starting March 17th the school buildings will be closed to students and families. They will remain closed for approximately two weeks. That is, through March 30th and pending any changes in advice and/or mandates from state and federal leadership. As this is a very fluid situation this term could be shorter or longer. Any changes will be communicated as quickly as humanly possible. Please be aware that remote learning will look very different for the high school division, middle school division, intermediate division, primary division, and pre-school program. You will be receiving more communication from school and division leaders as well as teachers with specific instructions and plans for each division and class. The transition to remote learning will officially begin Wednesday March 18th. However, please be on the lookout for an abundance of information from teachers and staff between now and then. We will need your help in getting students ready and prepared for the transition at 8am on Wednesday. The only way we can get through this successfully and without changes in the academic calendar is if the entire Greenville Catholic Schools community works together to maintain the integrity of our children’s education to the best of our ability. We need your help!! It will take much sacrifice and inconvenience by all … if we are diligent, work hard, and be patient with each other we will get through this together. Let us all continue to pray for our community’s health, peace, and grace in this most tumultuous time. St. Peter … Pray For Us!! St. John Paul II … Pray For Us!! Principal Conticchio and Principal Alexander |
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