Celtic Newsletter Spring 2020

dents have internet access, the reliability of the internet varies from student to student. Using new platforms for instruction and assessment was uncomfortable; however with the help of great colleagues and patient students, I was able to make the switch to a virtual classroom. ” On March 16, marketing director Michael Hemphill launched a daily noontime “ Quarantine Edition ” broad- cast on the school ’ s video live - streaming service, CelticsLive.com. The broadcast featured videos by our students and teachers revolving around regular segments -- Musical Monday, Talent Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, Science Thursday and Faith Friday. Our junior and senior Broadcast Journalism students produced regular videos for the show. In a weekly sci- ence segment, upper school teacher Sara Plante, aided by her 3rd and 8th grade children and husband camera- man, showed us how to see your DNA, collect your fin- gerprint, and measure the height of a tree in your yard. Campus minister and theology teacher Ellen Vanden Ey- kel and 1st grade aide Lynn Drapac led weekly faith pro- jects, from crafting Rosaries and Palm Sunday palm branches from handprints to organizing a school - wide card - writing project for residents in Our Lady of the Val- ley who could no longer receive visitors. ( By the date of the final broadcast on May 29, we had aired 41 “ Quarantine Edition ” shows, which are still avail- able at CelticsLive.com under “ On Demand ” and “ Special Events. ”) March 18 was Roanoke Valley Gives Day, a 24 - hour online fundraising competition among 155 of the region ’ s

Above: RCS Kindergartner Ashling Carr and 1st grader Patrick Carr tune in to CelticsLive.com ’ s “ Quarantine Edition, ” a Monday - Friday noontime show that kept Roanoke Catholic families better connected while we carried out classroom instruction online. Below: 1st grader Kennedy Lavinder writes a thank - you note for the daily show.

biggest nonprofits. Roanoke Catholic had always been a fundraising champion since the event ’ s inception in 2016. Despite the uncertainty with our country ’ s economy and family finances, we still raised $90,450 plus $6,000 in bonus prizes -- double the second - place nonprofit.

RCS parent John Renick used the first day of our coronavirus closure to rent an aerator and donate 200 pounds of grass seed to revitalize our recess - worn mall.