May 4, 2020
“One who has hope lives differently.”― Pope Benedict XVI
Let us all have hope during this time full of despair. Choose hope. Choose to live differently.
 
A Parade sendoff is not how the teachers and I had planned the end of our year! As I know families feel the same way. I know I am heartbroken. I’m hoping though that this “Parade” will at least allow teachers and families to see each other and allow some closure for the school.
 
What will this look like?
This process will be similar to the Packets Distribution. Parents will enter from El Camino Real entrance through the large parking lot and drive to the breezeway and exit onto El Dorado Blvd. Please follow these instructions to keep the flow of traffic smooth and safe. Teachers will pass out materials prepared for each student. This will allow each teacher to personally connect with her students with social distancing requirements.
 
Details:

• Days are assigned as so

• Distribution Times 9am-11am
• At this time, there is not a plan to get “bags” to families after this distribution if you can’t pick up during your time. However, we hope there will be a way for parents to pick up later.  

 
For our Class of 2020 graduating students:
All of us a St. B’s ECC are heartbroken by the way our year ended. We know all families are affected greatly by the loss of our time together this semester. However our 4 and 5 year olds may have been hit the hardest. As with any school, there’s always that milestone last year of moving on. Here, at ECC,  it is our 4 and 5 year olds! They are OUR seniors, OUR 8^th graders, OUR 5^th graders.
 
We will plan to say good-bye with the sendoff Parade to our 4 and 5 year olds, of course. We hope, however, that we will be able to come together at a later date. Our hope is to still have a graduation to celebrate the “St. B’s ECC preschool seniors of 2020!” At this time though we cannot plan one just yet. We will communicate more in the future and hopefully things will look more promising.
 
Many blessings to everyone as we continue to navigate in these uncertain times. Prayers to all as Texas reopens.
 
Jennifer Nevins
Director of St. B’s ECC
 
May 4, 2020

Families,
Explore…Summer School Program is cancelled due to low enrollment. I know this is another disappointing announcement for so many children and families. However it’s understandable that during these uncertain times many parents are unsure of what they should do to protect their child. As parents, we know our children are safe when they are with us. So we here at ECC completely understand and look forward to next summer when we will again offer Explore…
 
Kindest regards,
Jennifer

April 6, 2020

Dear Families,
 
This quote from St. Teresa has been comforting to me "Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything." Hopefully you can find some comfort as well as we are enter Week 4 of this unusual time! I hope you’re embracing the extra time at home with your family despite the struggles this time naturally provides.
 
The Specials teachers have come through again with activities for this week’s activities for your children. Hopefully you are finding these helpful and enjoyable.
 
The teachers and I have decided on a plan for providing support for the additional weeks of school closures. Since we can’t pass out packets in the parking lot, we will follow in the footsteps of the specials teachers and create a Digital Support Page for each age group each week. I will email out the Digital Support Pages on Monday of each week until April 27^th. I hope you will find these Digital Support Pages helpful.
 
Many families have shared photos of your children learning at home. I love seeing all the pictures! If you’d like to share some, I like posting them to Facebook. I also want to share “blessings” on Facebook. Today I’m blessed that my children all have a device to complete all their school work. What are your blessings? How are you blessed today? I will not share names of who shares their blessings, just the blessing. I think this may spark some positive feelings during this time of distress. Check out the St. B’s ECC page https://www.facebook.com/St-Bernadette-Early-Childhood-Connections-1532384973641479/
 
Also I pray for all out families regularly. But if you have a specific prayer need, please share it and I’ll add it to my daily prayers.
Blessings,
Jennifer


Good Afternoon, Families!
Here is our plan to support of families:

• We are offering a packet for each child for each week for the next 4 weeks. Our teachers are compiling these packets from their lesson hoping to help you child still learn during this crisis.
• Distribution dates will be this Thursday, March 19^th, Monday March 23^rd, Monday March 30^th and Monday April 6^th. Distribution times will be 9-11am.
• What will distribution look like? Between 9-11am on the distribution day, parents will enter the church school parking lot from  El Camino Real. They will drive through the lot towards the Brandsma building/gym. They will “drive thru” the breezeway to and stop at the entrance to the gym under the cover of the breezeway. A teacher will ask the parent what age group and the child’s name. Teachers will wear gloves to distribute. Parents will drive thru the El Camino Real lot and stop at the door. Teacher will give the packet to the parent. The parent will then drive through the parking lot and exit onto El Dorado Blvd. These revised procedures will be in place, rain or shine on all distribution dates.
• Please keep in mind that this could be stopped at any moment due to requirements from the archdiocese, state or county.
• We hope to continue these procedures if postponed longer.
• If parents are unable to pick up the packets during the allotted time, the materials will be available in the lobby of the church office during business hours currently M-Th 8-5pm and F 8-4pm. Hours are subject to change at any time.

 
Here is a website to visit to with tips for helping children through a crisis.
https://www.mercycorps.org/blog/tips-helping-children-through-crisis
 
Princess Diana said, ““Family is the most important thing in the world.” So keep in mind that you have been given the gift of time with the most important thing in the world. So embrace this time, and hopefully this service will truly help with your day and routine for your child at home. I will continue to communicate as I find out more information. Please know I am praying for each of you.
 
Blessings,
Jennifer Nevins
 
Update as of Monday MArch 16th:
ECC is closed March 16-April 10th. We are following Clear Creek ISD closures.